Dear Colleagues,
Please join me in congratulating Dr. Chris Smith, Director of the UTC School of Nursing, who will be recognized next week as a recipient of a 2017 President’s Award when Dr. Joe DiPietro gives his annual State of the University address in Nashville. Dr. Smith was selected from nominees representing every campus and institute in the University of Tennessee. The President’s Awards were created in 2016 to honor and celebrate UT employees’ contributions and achievements. The State of the University address is scheduled for Tuesday, February 21, at 3 p.m. Central time. Watch for an email with a link to view the address on line.
In addition to Dr. Smith, the other UTC campus nominees for the UT President’s Awards include: Yancy Freeman, Associate Provost for Enrollment Services, SUPPORT category; Dr. Hope Klug, UC Foundation Associate Professor of Biological and Environmental Sciences, DISCOVER category; and Laurie Melnik, Executive Director of the Southeast Center for Education in the Arts, EDUCATE category.
February is National TRIO Month. TRIO programs are federal outreach and support services designed to help disadvantaged students, including low-income individuals, first-generation college students, and individuals with disabilities. Sandy Cole and her team in the Center for Community Career Education administer UTC’s TRIO programs, which include Upward Bound, Upward Bound Math/Science, Talent Search, the Educational Opportunity Center, and Student Support Services. UTC has participated in the TRIO program for almost 50 years. Learn more about UTC’s TRIO programs.
Please consider participating in or attending this year’s “ReSEARCH Dialogues” conference, scheduled for April 11-12. The two-day event will showcase and celebrate the Scholarship, Engagement, Arts, Research, Creativity, and Humanities on our campus. All UTC faculty, staff, and students are invited to apply to participate. Individual, class, and small group presentations are welcomed. The deadline for application is February 28. Thank you to all of those organizing the event. Learn more about ReSEARCH Dialogues 2017.
Remember to show your UTC pride by wearing a Power C lapel pin. Stop by my office in 101 Founders Hall to pick one up from my assistant, Teresa McKinney.