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Updates and news for the week of August 1 – 7, 2023
The UTC Campus Weekly newsletter is distributed every Tuesday morning. If you have news, events or announcements you would like shared with campus, please submit your information to chuck-wasserstrom@utc.edu in the Division of Communications and Marketing by 3 p.m. on Friday for placement in the following Tuesday’s newsletter.
Innovative, Embracing and Excelling in All They Do
 Abeer Mustafa, David Rausch and Michelle Rigler Three members of the UTC family—Executive Director of the Disability Resource Center Michelle Rigler, Associate Dean of the College of Health, Education and Professional Studies David Rausch, who also is a professor and director of the Learning and Leadership program, and Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Abeer Mustafa—are being honored this week for the work they do by UT System President Randy Body and his Be One UT cabinet.
Rigler, Rausch and Mustafa are among 14 winners of 2023 President’s Awards, the highest accolade an employee can receive from the UT System. The award winners will be honored at a special luncheon in Nashville on Thursday (Aug. 3).
Calling all Mocs: Submit your events for Welcome Week 2023
A message from Student and Family Engagement …
Our goal for Welcome Week 2023 is to offer a calendar full of fun and engaging events that welcome our students to the start of a new semester, and we need your help. If you are hosting an event or program during the first week of classes (Aug. 20-26), please submit your event to the official Welcome Week calendar found on the Welcome Week website.
- The deadline to submit events for the Welcome Week calendar is Friday, Aug. 11. Click here to access the event submission form.
- More information about submitting an event for the Welcome Week calendar can be found here. Contact laura-petrus@utc.edu with questions.
Mocs Resource Fair Coming Soon
Student Success Programs invites departments to table at this year’s Moc Resource Fair, which takes place from 2-4 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 17, on the first floor of Lupton Hall. More than 400 students attended last year’s event.
Mocs Resource Fair is a chance for students to get to know departments on campus that will play a critical role in their success. It is a part of First Flight, a pre-Welcome Week experience designed to help students after move-in and before the semester starts.
- Student Success Programs asks that each participating department sponsor a school supply to give away at your tables; please let them know if you have trouble purchasing school supplies.
- There also is an opportunity to sponsor an item for the grand prize drawing of a rolling laundry basket with towels, cleaning supplies and more.
- Click here to sign up.
The outstanding people of UTC
 David Wade and Zan Guerry David Wade, a 2004 UTC alum, and Zan Guerry have been recognized as UTC 2023 Distinguished Alumni Award and Outstanding Service Award recipients, respectively.
The Distinguished Alumni Award is the highest annual commendation presented to a UTC alumnus or alumna and recognizes extraordinary service to their alma mater, field and community.
The Outstanding Service Award recognizes community leaders who demonstrate exemplary personal service and commitment to UTC and the community.
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Check out these Mocs making a difference:
MocSync Training for Faculty and Staff
As we get ready for the new academic year, the Office of Student and Family Engagement will be offering a series of trainings on MocSync to prepare faculty, staff and campus departments for the return of students excited to engage in campus programming. Check out the list of offerings below to see what training might be most beneficial for you or click here for more information.
What is MocSync? Your Guide to UTC’s Student Engagement Platform
- Tuesday, Aug. 8: 1-2 p.m., Library 204 | RSVP here
MocSync 101 for New or Returning Page Administrators
- Monday (Aug. 7): 11 a.m.-noon, Library 204 | RSVP here
MocSync 101 for Student Organization Advisors
- Tuesday, Aug. 8: 11 a.m.-noon, Library 204 | RSVP here
MocSync How To: Tracking Attendance at Events
- Friday (Aug. 4): 11 a.m.-noon, Library 201 | RSVP here
- Wednesday, Aug. 9: 4-5 p.m., Library 204 | RSVP here
MocSync New Feature: Room Reservation Integration
- Thursday (Aug. 3): 10-11 a.m., Library 201 | RSVP here
- Friday (Aug. 4): 2-3 p.m., Library 201 | RSVP here
Questions can be directed to laura-petrus@utc.edu or hannah-turcotte@utc.edu.
Mocs Soccer Returns to Finley Stadium
The Southern Conference regular-season champion Mocs soccer team announced that its nine-match home slate this season will take place at Finley Stadium, beginning this Saturday (Aug. 5) with a noon exhibition against Western Kentucky.
Admission is free to all home soccer matches; click here for the Finley Stadium schedule. Concessions are available and the Southside Gate will open one hour prior to kickoff. There is a charge for parking and the Chattanooga Market is open on Sunday game days. The Mocs continue to follow the clear bag policy, and no coolers or outside food will be allowed into the stadium.
Latin America and Existentialism
Associate Professor of Spanish Edwin Murillo’s new book, “Latin America and Existentialism,” will be released on Friday (Aug. 4).
“Latin America and Existentialism” is an intellectual history, prioritizing literature and contextualizing philosophical contributions from the 1860s to the late 1930s—decades that coincide with the canon’s foundational years. The focus on Latin America’s existentially-hued interest in the human condition is an invitation to the reader to reconsider its peripheral status in the existentialism canon. Click here to learn more.
This week’s events
Registration is now open for the 22nd Annual Hamilton County Minority Health Fair, which takes place from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. on Saturday (Aug. 5) in the University Center. Known as the area’s largest health fair event, the Minority Health Fair was created to address an essential need: Providing free health services for the benefit of underserved communities in Chattanooga.
Register for free health screenings by calling (423) 778-6598 or online at minorityhealthfair.com.
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Campus Recreation asks: Want to try the fastest-growing sport in the U.S.? Campus Rec is hosting a series of pickleball clinics this summer, and no experience is necessary for the beginner clinics. The clinics are free to those with active memberships to Campus Recreation. Participants should bring their tennis shoes and meet at the ARC’s north basketball court; Campus Rec will provide the paddles.
- Thursday (Aug. 3): Advanced techniques and strategies, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
- Monday (Aug. 7): Advanced techniques and strategies, 4-6 p.m.
- Thursday, Aug. 10: Beginner clinic, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Learn the basics and how to play.
Notice of Final Defense: Upcoming Research Presentations
The UTC Graduate School announced that the following student will be presenting his final work of research as an advanced degree candidate. Everyone is invited to attend.
- Friday, Aug. 11: William Hanson-Regan will present master’s research titled, “Geographical, ecological, and genetic drivers of gut microbial diversity in native and invasive minnows of the genus Cyprinella (Actinopterygii: Leuciscidae),” Holt Hall Room 208, 2 p.m. | Calendar Info
Campus Updates
A message from the Office of the Bursar …
This message is for all students who are continuing the UTC experience. The process for completing payment of fees for fall 2023 has begun in the Office of the Bursar.
- Students who have registered for fall 2023 should view their E-Mocs statement via their MyMocsNet accounts. The first E-Mocs statement was available on July 13.
- The last day to pay to avoid cancellation is Thursday, Aug. 10.
- Cancellation of classes due to non-payment will occur at noon ET on Monday, Aug. 14.
- Employees and dependents, ensure that you have submitted the proper documentation for the tuition waiver if applicable.
- All students are encouraged to set up ACH/Direct Deposit for refunds through their MyMocsNet accounts. Note that a paper check mailed to the permanent address on file can take 5-10-plus days via USPS. If assistance is needed in adding the refund account information, please go to utc.edu/bursar, click the “Video Instructions” tab in the middle of the page, and click on the video titled, “Bursar Series: Direct Deposit.”
If you have any general questions, please contact our office at (423) 425-4781 or email Bursars-Office@utc.edu. The office is open weekdays from 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Ensure that anyone permitted to discuss your account has a MyMocsPass Passphrase to receive specific information about your account.
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The student organization re-registration process for the 2023-2024 academic year is now open. All UTC student organizations are required to complete re-registration annually to maintain active status and campus privileges.
Re-registration eligibility, steps, deadlines and resources can be found here. Contact Laura-Petrus@utc.edu with any questions.
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UTC Campus Recreation is hosting a series of family nights at the Aquatic and Recreation Center this summer open to all faculty and staff, with the next event taking place Friday, Aug. 11. Come on out for games in the gym and try out the pool and the rock-climbing wall.
The cost for non-ARC members is $10 per person. Adult guests must show their UTC photo ID.
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UTC has launched the new Off-Campus Student Services (OCSS) program for the 2023-2024 academic year. Housed in the Office of Student Outreach and Support, Off-Campus Student Services aims to help students find off-campus housing, educate students on their rights and responsibilities as renters, and assist with other needs they may experience living off-campus.
In addition, UTC has entered a partnership with College Pads, which provides an online tool to help students become more-educated renters, compare off-campus housing options, and find potential roommates. The link to College Pads’ Chattanooga off-campus housing listings can be found here.
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This summer, UTC will be rolling out a new events calendar using software from Localist. The new UTC calendar will enable members of the campus community to easily share, manage and publicize events from a single, convenient platform. Event information shared via this platform also is accessible to the public.
In addition to enabling easily adding an event to the calendar, the platform will automatically incorporate events from other calendars—such as events hosted by Mocs Athletics, the UTC Library and more. The new calendar tool will offer:
- Ease of use
- Customizability
- Possibility of improved engagement/turnout at campus events
Teams involved with the project are in the final stages of development.
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Do you know a young Mocs fan? Now is their chance to join our team and get in on all the fun-filled action that Mocs Athletics has to offer.
Scrappy’s Kids Club is the official kids club of Chattanooga Athletics and membership is open to all kids in eighth grade and under for only $15. Memberships include Mocs swag, free tickets to select home athletic events, exclusive events and opportunities, monthly emailed newsletters and more. Click here to purchase a membership.
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Space is still available in International Business Experience: Portugal and Spain, a fall 2023 course open to all UTC students. This course, which is being led by Professor Bento Lobo, has no prerequisite and includes a 10-day study trip to Lisbon, Portugal, and Madrid, Spain.
Students earn three credit hours on the undergraduate level (MGT 4950) or graduate level (MGT 5950). Submit a course application as soon as possible to be considered. For more information, contact COBInternational@utc.edu or visit COB International Programs.
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The Institute of Internal Auditors Chattanooga chapter is hosting a networking event and student night from 5:30-8 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 25, in 540 McCallie Ave. Building Room 104. The event is open to all business and computer science majors who are interested in learning about careers in internal auditing. Dinner is provided and chapter members from several large employers will be in attendance, including those in the corporate, nonprofit and governmental spaces. This is a fantastic opportunity for students, particularly those majoring in accounting, finance or computer science, to learn about the industry and network with hiring managers in an informal setting. Seating is limited and registration is required. | Calendar Info
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“The First Amendment, the Academy, and the Media: Restoring a Marketplace of Ideas,” is the topic of the 13th Annual Dr. Richard Gruetzemacher Constitution Day Lecture Series, which takes place at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 13, in the University Center Tennessee Room. The lecture series is presented by the UTC Center for Reflective Citizenship.
The featured speaker is Joshua Dunn, the inaugural executive director of the Institute of American Civics at the Howard H. Baker School for Public Policy and Public Affairs. For more information, contact the Center for Reflective Citizenship at crc@utc.edu or call 423-425-5603. | Livestream Link | Calendar Info
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Mocs Card Services is issuing new ID cards to all faculty, staff, and students. As campus card readers are being replaced, this new card will be necessary for door access and use.
The ID Office summer hours of operation are 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday. Please anticipate a higher-than-normal volume of customers on Orientation days.
What is the difference in the current Mocs Card and the NEW Mocs Card? The new Mocs Card is embedded with an RFID chip (tap technology) that will coincide with the installation of new card readers across campus.
- Bring your current Mocs Card to the ID Office in University Center Room 262 to exchange for the new card.
- If you do not bring your current ID, there is a $30 replacement fee. Replacement fees are processed in the Bursar’s Office (University Center Room 274).
- Contact Mocs Card Services (423-425-5819) or the ID Office (423-425-2218) with questions.
Music to Our Ears
Listen as Alex Singleton (alto saxophone) performs Off Kilter, composed by UTC composition major Katherine Fair, at the spring Campus Composers Concert.
Looking back
UTC GIS Director Charlie Mix won a Cartography Special Interest Group Excellence Award for “A 21st Century Park System for Chattanooga, Tennessee” at the 2023 Esri User Conference—one of two awards won by the UTC IGTLab.
Here are some other recent UTC stories featured in the Newsroom:
- MOC Academy, created by Student Success Programs, is celebrating its second year at UTC. The program aims to prepare first-year undergraduate men of color for a successful transition to college.
- Eighteen veterans took part in this year’s Veterans Entrepreneurship Program boot camp on the UTC campus. Now in its 11th year at UTC’s Gary W. Rollins College of Business, the VEP is a nationally acclaimed program that offers free training, mentoring and management expertise for small businesses founded by military veterans.
- Tired of cracking up test cars for General Motors, Dr. Roger Thompson spent 36 years as a full-time criminal justice professor at UTC. Before retiring, however, he began working with Haman’s New Drivers to teach student drivers and rehabilitate others behind the wheel—and now works with teenagers, those with special needs and immigrants whose home countries require driving on the left side of the road.
- From University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Magazine: When Dr. Mina Sartipi was in the second grade, she began tutoring other children in her neighborhood and discovered a lifelong passion: The classroom. “Teaching has always been my passion,” she said. “As a university faculty member, I train our students and the next-generation workforce. Our students are the workforce behind every project, result—everything.”
Tales from the UTC PodLab
 Giselle Palmer and Alejandro Guimoye “Tennessee Valley Across the Table” is a student-led podcast that brings locals, often strangers with different views, together to learn who we are as people. It is inspired by StoryCorps’ One Small Step program.
In 2022, community members came to the UTC PodLab and opened their lives with stories about their families, their politics and their hopes for the future. This year, UTC Honors students, under the direction of Will Davis, studied the recordings and chose the material that most resonated with them. This episode by UTC communication student James Ortiz features a conversation between Giselle Palmer and Alejandro Guimoye.
You can subscribe to “Tennessee Valley Across the Table” on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
WUTC Spotlight: Scenic Roots
 Photo credit: The Housing Fund The Housing Fund is a nonprofit that unlocks opportunities for people of low and moderate income to attain affordable housing and homeownership. Here in Chattanooga, the agency works with banks to provide down payment assistance and shared equity loans for residents while building and renovating properties to increase the local supply of affordable housing.
Marshall Crawford, president and CEO of the Housing Fund, and housing consultant and UC Foundation trustee Donna Williams were recently featured on WUTC-FM’s Scenic Roots.
UTC Student Lens: Heather’s Story
From Rising Rock: “When people tell you to live life to your fullest, you never know what’s going to happen or it can be taken from you in an instant, oh did I really experience that,” said UTC senior Heather Kounthapanya.
In the late evening of Sept. 16, Kounthapanya was struck by a car while crossing the road with her friend, Athena. “I just wanted to get dessert,” Kounthapanya said. She never could have imagined how her life would change in such an instant.
Click here to see Rising Rock’s Heather’s Story, filmed by Jules Jackson.
- Rising Rock features student-developed non-fiction stories about greater Chattanooga. The site is a combined effort of the Department of Communication and UTC student media—including The Echo (student newspaper), MocsNews (student video news program) and The Perch (student digital radio station).
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