Campus Updates

Transition from Cayuse to DASH Research Grants & Agreements Modules

Chuck Wasserstrom — Mon, 02 Nov 2026 21:03:50 +0000

The Office of Research & Sponsored Programs is preparing for the UT System’s transition from the Cayuse platform to the DASH Research – Huron Grants & Agreements (HGA) modules for sponsored projects. The new Grants & Agreements modules will go-live in early December.

I hope you will join us on Friday, November 13 at 12pm for a webinar on the upcoming transition from Cayuse to DASH Research Huron Grants and Agreements (HGA). In the webinar, we will cover everything you need to know about proposal routing, award management, and requesting agreements in DASH Research HGA when it launches in early December and feature a step-by-step demonstration of key functions in the HGA Stage Environment. Questions before, during, and after the event are welcome and encouraged. Register here to attend the webinar.

This is a complex transition and the cutover will be disruptive to standard business operations, so I am reaching out to give you advance notice of ORSP’s plan to make the transition as seamless as possible. Additional information about the transition plan, timeline, and campus resources can be found at ORSP’s DASH Research HGA webpage and the UT DASH Research HGA Sharepoint site.

While this enterprise-level transition will be a challenge, we are confident UTC can meet it with teamwork and coordination.

Key Info At-a-Glance:

For PIs and Proposal / Award Teams – Notify ORSP immediately if you anticipate a proposal submission, incoming award, supplements, agreements, or modifications on existing awards in November or December.
For PIs and Approvers – Please note that ORSP will be functioning with provisional, manual business processes during the cutover period. To ensure adequate time for proposal compliance reviews, ORSP will be strictly enforcing internal proposal deadlines and may not be able to accommodate last-minute proposals or quick-turnaround actions.
Resources – UT and UTC-specific resources are available at ORSP’s DASH Research HGA webpage and the UT DASH Research HGA Sharepoint site.
Training & Campus Engagement
- Attend the webinar on Friday, November 13 at 12pm for a comprehensive overview of the new system including details on proposal routing, award management, and requesting agreements in DASH Research HGA when it launches in early December. Register here to attend the webinar.
- At go-live and beyond, ORSP staff will offer UTC-tailored resources and individualized support and guidance for all users.
- Reach out to ORSP for individual support or resources anytime. We are here for you!

Meredith Perry

Assistant Vice Chancellor for Research

Office of Research and Sponsored Programs

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Policy Reminder: Finance & Administration Updates on Policy

Stephanie Cona — Mon, 02 Nov 2026 19:39:37 +0000

Entertainment and Group-Arranged Events (UT Policy FI0715) and UTC Procedure

To promote consistent application of hospitality and event-related expenditures across campus, Finance & Administration is sharing information regarding UT System Fiscal Policy FI0715: Entertainment and Group-Arranged Events, along with UTC’s campus procedure outlining approval thresholds and requirements.

As part of ongoing efforts to strengthen fiscal stewardship and ensure consistent compliance with UT policies, UTC has formalized a campus procedure supporting UT Policy FI0715. The procedure documents campus approval requirements for Entertainment and Group-Arranged Events and provides guidance regarding spending thresholds, approval requirements, and related compliance expectations.

The UTC procedure clarifies campus requirements related to:

Approval thresholds for event-related expenditures
Per-event and per-person spending limits
Requirements for events involving alcoholic beverages
Expectations regarding compliance with procurement and contracting requirements
Restrictions on dividing expenses to avoid required approvals

Effective November 1, 2026, UTC departments should follow these approval requirements when planning and sponsoring Entertainment or Group-Arranged Events.

Resources

Please review the following resources:

UT System Fiscal Policy FI0715
Entertainment and Group-Arranged Events
UTC Procedure for Entertainment and Group-Arranged Events
UTC Procedure Entertainment and Group-Arranged Events
UTC Fiscal Policies and Procedures
Fiscal Policies and Procedures
UTC Finance & Administration Updates on Policy
UT Policy FI0715 and UTC Procedure for Entertainment and Group-Arranged Events

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this a new policy?

No. UT Policy FI0715 is a UT System policy. UT System requires campuses to maintain documented procedures supporting the policy. The UTC procedure documents campus approval thresholds and requirements for Entertainment and Group-Arranged Events.

What has changed?

Very little. The requirements for Entertainment and Group-Arranged Events have been longstanding campus practice. The new UTC procedure formally documents these requirements as required by UT System. The primary change is that the event-cost approval threshold has increased from $1,000 to $2,500 per event.

When is Chief Business Officer approval required?

Chief Business Officer approval is required if either of the following thresholds is met:

The total anticipated cost of the event is $2,500 or more, or
The anticipated cost is $100 or more per person.

If my event costs more than $2,500 but less than $100 per person, do I still need approval?

Yes. If the total anticipated cost of the event is $2,500 or more, prior approval is required regardless of the per-person cost.

If my event costs less than $2,500 but more than $100 per person, do I still need approval?

Yes. If the cost is $100 or more per person, prior approval is required regardless of the total event cost.

Can expenses be split between multiple accounts or transactions to avoid approval requirements?

No. The procedure specifically prohibits dividing the cost of an event across multiple accounts, funding sources, or transactions to avoid the $2,500 event threshold or $100 per-person threshold.

Are the thresholds based on individual purchases or the total event cost?

The thresholds are based on the total anticipated cost of the event, not on individual purchases or transactions associated with the event.

How should departments determine whether an event is an Entertainment Event or a Group-Arranged Event?

Refer to UT Policy FI0715 and the UTC procedure for definitions and requirements. Departments should work with their business manager and leadership to determine the appropriate event classification before committing funds or incurring expenses.

Key Takeaway: This procedure documents existing campus practice and clarifies approval requirements in support of UT System Policy FI0715. The most significant change is the increase in the event-cost threshold from $1,000 to $2,500.

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Notice of Final Defense – John Melton to Present Master’s Research

Chuck Wasserstrom — Tue, 20 Oct 2026 12:47:16 +0000

The UTC Graduate School is pleased to announce that John Melton will present Master’s research titled, Investigation of Networked SISO Bistatic ISAC for Aerial Target Localization on 10/30/2026 at 2:00-4:00PM in ECS 340A. Everyone is invited to attend.

Engineering

Chair: Donald Reising

Co-Chair:

Abstract:

Integrated sensing and communications (ISAC) has been widely identified as an enabling technology for future wireless systems to simultaneously accomplish information transfer and sensing tasks. Through sharing hardware, spectrum, and waveforms, ISAC has the potential to accomplish both goals without additional resource overhead. Deployment into existing systems will often limit hardware to low-complexity, single-antenna transceivers. This thesis assesses the feasibility of using single-input single-output (SISO) bistatic ISAC links for distributed target localization. Each transmitter-receiver pair uses an OFDM communications waveform primarily to transmit data. Independent bistatic ranging measurements are extracted from target-dependent channel estimates over a set of transmission frames. Measurements from multiple pairs are then fused to estimate a three-dimensional aerial target position. Numerous simulations evaluate localization accuracy under varying SNRs, ratios of target-reflected signal power to direct-path signal power, static ground clutter positions, network geometries, and timing offsets. The results provide a foundation for future research into larger cooperative ISAC networks.

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Notice of Final Defense – Nishat Tasnim Nisha to Present Master’s Research

Chuck Wasserstrom — Fri, 16 Oct 2026 17:58:01 +0000

The UTC Graduate School is pleased to announce that Nishat Tasnim Nisha will present Master’s research titled, Microplastic Treatability Using Agricultural Byproducts in Aquatic Samples on 10/30/2026 at 11.30-12.30 in Maytag Room, ECS Building. Everyone is invited to attend.

Engineering

Chair: Dr. Jejal Reddy Bathi

Co-Chair:

Abstract:

Microplastics (MPs), or plastic particles less than 5 mm in size, are becoming a global concern as an environmental pollutant. As the occurrence of MPs continues to increase, it is important to control in the environment. Therefore, this research investigated two agricultural by products, raw coconut husk (RCH) and its biochar (CHB) and chestnut shell biochar (CSB), as a MPs treatment media using batch and column experiments. RCH showed removal rate of more than 70% of MPs in aquatic sample, while biochar media showing the removal rates of more than 90%. Morphological structures and the electrostatic properties of media as well properties of MPs are expected to be influencing the treatment potential. Overall, based on the research findings, agricultural by products has a potential to treat MPs in from water environmental media.

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Celebrating the Centennial of Hemingway’s “The Sun Also Rises”

Chuck Wasserstrom — Thu, 15 Oct 2026 01:24:36 +0000

–

The year 2026 marks the centennial of one of American literature’s true masterpieces: Ernest Hemingway’s breakout novel “The Sun Also Rises,” the story of a wounded American World War I pilot named Jake Barnes, who tries to put his life back together amid booze, breakups, and bullfights in postwar France and Spain.

To celebrate this literary milestone, the George C. Connor Professorship and the UTC Department of English are hosting Dr. Suzanne del Gizzo, the editor-in-chief of the celebrated “Hemingway Review,” for a free public lecture on the novel’s enduring legacy.

Dr. del Gizzo’s lecture will be held at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 9, in the University Center Tennessee Room.

The event will also serve as a preview of Take Five 2027, whose theme will be “the passage of time.” In the spirit of Take Five, del Gizzo will be joined after her lecture by UTC professors Andrew McCarthy and Aaron Shaheen for a panel discussion of the novel.

Moreover, the 2027 presenters and their book selections will be released that night. The Mocs Bookstore will also be selling the five books before and after the event. Please note: unlike regular Take Five sessions, the Nov. 9 lecture will not offer a light dinner.

Aaron Shaheen

George C. Connor Professor of American Literature

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Notice of Final Defense – Andrew Stuckey to Present Master’s Research

Chuck Wasserstrom — Tue, 13 Oct 2026 15:03:45 +0000

The UTC Graduate School is pleased to announce that Andrew Stuckey will present Master’s research titled, Early Warning Signals for Cholera Resurgence in Haiti: Evaluating Deep Learning Under Epidemic Regime Shift on 10/28/2026 at 3:30 PM. Everyone is invited to attend.

Mathematics

Chair: Xiunan Wang

Co-Chair:

Abstract:

Deep learning classifiers trained on stochastic epidemic simulations show promise as early warning signals for epidemic transitions, but whether they generalize from historical outbreak dynamics to post-elimination resurgence remains untested. We trained a CNN-LSTM classifier (convolutional neural network–long short term memory network) on simulations from three cholera models parameterized to Haiti’s 2010-2019 epidemic, then evaluated it on an independent model of Haiti’s 2022 resurgence. The cholera-trained classifier performed well in distribution but near or below chance under regime shift. A generic epidemic-model trained classifier transferred at short input windows but collapsed at longer ones, suggesting disease-specific training did not improve generalization. Training the same architecture on resurgence simulations produced near perfect discrimination, confirming the failure reflects distribution mismatch, not architecture. Lag-1 autocorrelation remained robust under regime shift, while rolling variance did not. These results suggest lag-1 autocorrelation is as reliable as the best classifier for anticipating post-elimination cholera resurgence.

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Notice of Final Defense – Hannah Kirtlink to Present Master’s Research

Chuck Wasserstrom — Fri, 09 Oct 2026 20:20:40 +0000

The UTC Graduate School is pleased to announce that Hannah Kirtlink will present Master’s research titled, Aquatic Ecosytems Under Pressure: Landscape and Biological Influences on Organic Matter Decomposition in Streams of the Tennessee River Watershed on 10/28/2026 at 12:00 pm in Holt 123. Everyone is invited to attend.

Environmental Science

Chair: Richard H. Walker

Co-Chair:

Abstract:

Freshwater ecosystems are increasingly affected by anthropogenic stressors, including altered land use, nutrient loading, and hydrologic modification, which can influence biogeochemical processes. I conducted a 140-day organic matter (OM) decomposition study in 18 streams across the Tennessee River watershed, spanning gradients of land use and flow intermittency. I used piecewise structural equation modeling (PSEM) to evaluate direct and indirect relationships among landscape, hydrologic, habitat, water-quality, and biological variables and OM decomposition rates (k). Macroinvertebrate abundance was the strongest direct predictor of decomposition, with greater abundances associated with faster decomposition. Land use and substrate composition were indirectly associated with decomposition through their relationships with macroinvertebrate abundance. Water quality was associated with microbial activity, but microbial activity was not retained as a predictor of decomposition in the final model. These findings highlight the complexity of landscape conditions and biological communities in shaping decomposition patterns across streams with differing environmental characteristics.

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AI Symposium on Research and Teaching Across the Humanities and Social Sciences

Chuck Wasserstrom — Fri, 09 Oct 2026 20:11:23 +0000

The College of Arts and Sciences is delighted to invite faculty, staff, and students from across campus to join us for the AI Symposium on Research and Teaching Across the Humanities and Social Sciences, scheduled on October, 29 from 9.00 am – 2.30 pm in the University Center Conference Room 315. The symposium will bring together faculty from across the humanities and social sciences to share their AI-related research, exchange ideas, and learn from one another.

The symposium will feature three panels highlighting AI initiatives and research across the College of Arts and Sciences. The first panel, scheduled from 9:30 to 10:00 a.m., will offer a cross-disciplinary conversation about the new AI Certificate being developed by the College of Arts and Sciences.

The second panel, from 10:10 to 11:45 a.m., will showcase faculty research projects, with presentations by Zachary Simoni, Chandra Ward, Andrew J. Van Slyke, Marcus D. Mauldin, and Nagwan R. Zahry.

The third panel, from 1:35 to 2:20 p.m., will feature additional faculty research on AI, with presentations by Chris Vidmar, Rowan Johnson, Brandon Bouchillon, and Jeremy Strickler.

A highlight of the symposium will be a guest session with Professor Hunter Heyck, Director of the Center for Creativity and Authenticity in AI Cultural Production at the University of Oklahoma. Dr. Heyck will discuss building interdisciplinary research teams and exploring opportunities for external funding across the humanities and social sciences.

The full symposium agenda is included below.

Faculty, students, and staff are encouraged to attend and join the conversation on how AI is transforming the landscape of research and scholarship. Please use this link to register in advance for the in-person panels.

https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/hZsXn1gkCT

AI Symposium on Research and Teaching Across the Humanities and Social Sciences

Thursday, October 29, 2026

9.30 am – 2.30 pm

University Center – Room 315

Time	Session
9:00–9:05 a.m.	Welcome & Opening Remarks Dean Pam Riggs-Gelasco – College of Arts and Sciences
9:05–9:10 a.m.	Symposium Overview Nagwan R. Zahry – Symposium Chair
9:10–9:30 a.m.	Who’s in the Room? Meet & Connect A brief session for attendees to introduce themselves and connect
9:30–10.00 a.m.	*The New AI Certificate: Overview and Faculty Perspectives* Moderated by Lucy Schultz Lucy Schultz – Assistant Professor of Philosophy Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies Ahmet Kule – Associate Professor Department of Social, Cultural, and Justice Studies Feng Guo – Assistant Professor Department of Psychology
10:00 –10:10 a.m.	Coffee Break

Time	Session
10:10 – 11.45 a.m.	Faculty Research Showcase I – Research Panel & Discussion *Interdisciplinary Perspectives on AI: Research and Society* *Moderated by: Chandra Ward* *AI-Mediated Impression Management on College Campuses* Zackary Simoni – Associate Professor Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Geography *Perceptions of Passenger Safety of Human-Operated Rideshare and Robotaxis among Women and Queer-Identified People* Chandra Ward – Associate Professor Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Geography *Using AI-HTR to Develop a Maritime Historical Research Collection of the Revolutionary War in the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico (1778–1783)* Andrew J. Van Slyke – Underwater Archaeologist/Visiting Lecturer Department of Anthropology, Sociology, and Geography *Using Artificial Intelligence to Teach Public Administration and Policy* Marcus D. Mauldin – Professor Department of Political Science & Public Service Leveraging AI in Crisis Communication Nagwan R. Zahry – Associate Professor Department of Communication
11:45 a.m. –12:30 p.m.	Lunch Provided
12:30–1:30 p.m.	Virtual Guest Speaker Session Building Collaborative Teams for AI Research & External Funding Speaker: Hunter Heyck, PhD Professor Director of the Center for Creativity and Authenticity in AI Cultural Production University of Oklahoma

Time

Session

1:35–2:20 p.m.

Faculty Research Showcase II – Lightning Talks: AI Research Across Disciplines

Moderated by Nagwan R. Zahry

Men’s Intimate Engagement with AI Companions

Chris Vidmar – Assistant Professor

Department of Sociology, Anthropology & Geography

Student Attitudes Toward Using AI in Professional Writing Assignments

Rowan Johnson – Senior Lecturer

Department of English

The Social, Emotional, and Cognitive Implications of Artificial Intelligence

Brandon Bouchillon – Associate Professor

Department of Communication

The American Presidency and the Politics of AI Development

Jeremy Strickler – Associate Professor

Department of Political Science & Public Service

2:20–2:30 p.m.

Closing Remarks

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Notice of Final Defense – Craig Gosnell to Present Doctoral (EdD) Research

Chuck Wasserstrom — Fri, 09 Oct 2026 15:09:59 +0000

The UTC Graduate School is pleased to announce that Craig Gosnell will present Doctoral (EdD) research titled, Research Project of Practice: An Evaluation of First-Year Student Career Readiness Programs on 10/23/2026 at 12:30 pm ET in Zoom Meeting ID: https://tennessee.zoom.us/j/86913219289. Everyone is invited to attend.

Leadership and Instructional Practice

Chair: Jessica N. Taylor

Co-Chair:

Abstract:

This summative outcomes evaluation examined Portland State University’s Freshmen Learners Acquiring Skills in Higher Education (FLASH) program, a first-year student employment program designed to support career readiness development, belonging, campus engagement, workplace confidence, and continued professional growth. The study determined the extent to which FLASH achieved its stated goals and student learning outcomes (SLOs). Six research questions addressed employment confidence, continued career readiness development, transferable workplace skills, post-program engagement, attribution of later professional development to FLASH, and overall program success. A mixed-methods design was used to collect quantitative and qualitative data from former FLASH participants. Thirty-eight participants completed the survey, and six completed one-on-one interviews. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, including frequencies and percentages. Qualitative survey responses and interview transcripts were analyzed thematically to identify patterns related to belonging, institutional connection, workplace confidence, transferable skill development, developmental support, experiential employment, continued leadership and professional growth, and variation in participant experience. Participants generally perceived FLASH as positively influencing workplace confidence, transferable workplace skill development, belonging, campus engagement, continued employment, leadership attainment, and confidence in pursuing additional career readiness opportunities. The strongest transferable skill findings involved teamwork, diversity and inclusion, communication, and professionalism. Qualitative findings showed that participants connected their development to different combinations of experiential employment, developmental support, peer connection, professional development sessions, and exposure to campus resources. Participants also described FLASH as an early entry point into continued employment, leadership, campus involvement, and professional growth. However, the type and extent of perceived influence varied among participants and program components. Overall, the findings suggest that FLASH was generally successful in meeting several stated goals and SLOs. Recommendations for improvement include maintaining the program’s multi-component design, strengthening consistency across employment placements, formalizing developmental support and mentorship, reinforcing structured reflection and comparatively lower-rated outcomes, developing continued career readiness pathways, and expanding assessment. Although the study was limited by self-reported data, retrospective recall, multiple cohort experiences, and one institutional context, the results suggest that intentionally designed first-year student employment programs may support belonging, career readiness development, and continued professional growth.

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ORSP FY 2027 Quarter One Report

Chuck Wasserstrom — Thu, 08 Oct 2026 17:48:04 +0000

Q1 FY27 YTD Report PDF

Award Highlights:

UTC closed Q1 with $12,170,323 in sponsored awards generated by 31 unique lead PIs.
FY27 Q1 awards reflect a 29% increase over the same period in FY26.

Proposal Highlights:

UTC closed Q1 with $39,406,840 in proposal dollars requested via 65 individual proposals, reflecting the work of 52 unique lead PIs.
FY27 Q1 proposals reflect a 174% increase over the same period in FY26.

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