August 26-September 1, 2025
Updates and news for the week of August 26-September 1, 2025
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 Peyton Schultz (peyton-l-schultz@utc.edu) in the Division of Communications and Marketing by 3 p.m. on Friday for placement in the following Tuesday’s newsletter.
Highlights
Mocs Express makes it easier than ever to get around UTC and beyond
A seat on the Mocs Express—UTC’s shuttle system—is always free.
The shuttle system, run in partnership with the Chattanooga Area Regional Transportation Authority (CARTA), has been serving UTC for more than a decade and is free to all students, faculty and staff with a Mocs ID.
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SEND IN YOUR INFORMATION FOR THE UTC PARENT AND FAMILY ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER
It is again time to recruit campus partners to send in information for the UTC Parent and Family Association newsletter, a monthly roundup distributed to more than 5,400 parents and family members.
To share information with the families of UTC students—upcoming events, important deadlines, helpful suggestions and departmental news—email Hannah Turcotte by 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 27. The September newsletter will be emailed to members Wednesday, Sept. 3.
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Submit Events and Announcements to the Scrappy Newsletter
The Scrappy Newsletter is distributed to all students at 9:30 a.m. on Monday mornings. This newsletter highlights campus events, important deadlines and wellness information. Use this link to see past newsletters.
If you would like to have your events and/or announcements featured in the next Scrappy Newsletter, please click here and complete the submission form. All submissions are due by noon on Thursday the week prior to the event or when the announcement needs to be made. For questions, email Kidron Bullock.
If your event already exists on your organization/department page in MocSync, you do not need to submit it using this form. Events in MocSync with visibility set as “The Public” or “Students & Staff at UTC” are automatically pulled for inclusion in the Scrappy Newsletter each week.
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House Calls 2025
House Calls, an annual Housing and Residence Life initiative launched in 2008, will take place on Wednesday, Sept. 10. The program connects faculty and staff with first-year students during the critical early weeks of the semester, fostering engagement, active learning and meaningful connections outside the classroom.
The evening will begin with a brief orientation and dinner for volunteers at 5 p.m. on the first floor of Lupton Hall. From 6-8 p.m., faculty and staff participants will join resident assistants and resident directors in visiting first-year residential communities to talk with students about their UTC experience so far.
Faculty and staff interested in volunteering should sign up using this link by noon on Friday, Sept. 5. Questions can be directed to housing@utc.edu.
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Grammy-Winning Jazz Pianist Alan Broadbent to Perform Benefit Concert at UTC
 Alan Broadbent (photo courtesy of Alan Broadbent/Savant Records) Two-time Grammy Award-winning jazz pianist, arranger and composer Alan Broadbent will perform a solo piano concert Thursday, Sept. 11, at the UTC Roland Hayes Concert Hall, with proceeds from ticket sales benefiting WUTC-FM 88.1.
The concert was made possible by a gift from Ken and Nancy Dryden.
Tickets for the 7:30 p.m. performance can be purchased online at utc.edu/arts-and-sciences/fine-arts-center and through the UTC Fine Arts Center Box Office—in person or by phone at 423-425-4269. VIP seating in the lower center sections is $35, all other adult tickets are $25, and student tickets are $15 with a valid student ID.
Outstanding People of UTC
 Vinny Nguyen UTC’s Vinny Nguyen, a junior double majoring in political science: international/comparative studies and economics: international public policy, with a minor in Asian studies, was selected to receive the Boren Scholarship to study in Vietnam. Nguyen is also an Innovations in Honors student in the Honors College.
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 The RAIL System team includes, from left, Dr. Heather Nudd (UTC), Dr. Merilee McCurdy (UT Knoxville), Dr. April Ebbinger (Tennessee Department of Education), Dr. Amanda Hardin (UTC) and Dr. Patrick Morin (UTC). As UTC welcomes the class of 2029, the Department of School Psychology is ready to introduce the Rural Assessment Intervention Library (RAIL) System for school districts across the state to use to help children get the services they need.
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 Lexi Foley (left) and Daniela Duran Perez Communication majors Lexi Foley and Daniela Duran Perez won the Tennessee Association of Broadcasters award for Best TV News or Feature Story (College) for “Tiny Bailarinas,” which they produced for Rising Rock under the direction of Billy Weeks.
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 Dr. Liz Hathaway (right) during her Jed & JR Mornings interview live from UTC. Jed & JR Mornings came to campus on the first day of classes to interview various faculty, staff and students outside of the UTC Library, including:
Mark Your Calendar
The Gary W. Rollins College of Business will hold virtual information sessions for the Master of Business Administration, MS Management, MS Data Analytics, and Master of Accountancy graduate programs. The Rollins College of Business graduate programs provide flexible course options and exclusive career support resources to elevate your education and advance your career.
MSDA Information Sessions
MBA Information Sessions
MAcc Information Sessions
MSM Information Session
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The Sweet Treats and Meet and Greet will take place from 4:30-6 p.m. today (Aug. 26) in the Fletcher Hall fourth floor lobby.
- Connect with Graduate School staff
- Learn more about advanced degrees at UTC
- Discover resources for graduate students
- Enjoy refreshments, snacks and giveaways
This event is open to current and prospective graduate students, program representatives, staff and faculty.
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Mark your calendars for the 2025 Study Abroad Fair. If you’re interested in studying abroad at all during your time at UTC, you don’t want to miss this event. Stop by from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 27, in McKenzie Arena Room 301 to talk to our partners from across the globe, chat with study abroad alumni, eat food from around the world and grab some swag.
If you’re interested in studying abroad and haven’t joined the Study Abroad 101 Canvas course, you can sign up for it here.
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The first meeting of the semester’s Quantum Seminar series will take place at 4 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 28, in the UTC Library, Room 435. Formerly known as the Quantum Journal Club, the series will continue with biweekly meetings at the same time and location unless otherwise announced.
Dr. Adrian Del Maestro, professor and head of the Department of Physics and Astronomy at UT Knoxville, will present “Active Learning a Quantum Phase Transition.”
His talk will highlight a numerical study of the Berezinskii-Kosterlitz-Thouless (BKT) transition in the one-dimensional Bose-Hubbard model. By combining advanced simulations with Bayesian analysis, the study pinpoints the critical interaction strength with high precision and provides a new benchmark for understanding BKT physics in one-dimensional quantum systems.
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In recognition of International Overdose Awareness Day on Sunday, Aug. 31, the Center for Wellbeing will host two events:
- Friday, Aug. 29: Faculty and Staff Training: Opioid Overdose Response Training, Center for Wellbeing, 10-11 a.m., Register here
- Tuesday, Sept. 2: Student Drop-in: Naloxone 101 (in under 5 minutes), Lupton Hall Lobby, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
Naloxone (Narcan) is a life-saving medication that reverses opioid overdoses by blocking the effects of opioids and restoring breathing. It is safe, effective and easy to use.
UTC has expanded opioid overdose prevention and response efforts to support the health and safety of the campus community:
- ONEboxes—emergency response kits stocked with naloxone and an instructional video—have been installed in all residence halls.
- Six additional ONEboxes are scheduled for installation in high-traffic areas.
- Free harm reduction supplies—including naloxone and fentanyl test strips—are available at the Center for Wellbeing (UC 350).
To request supplies or a customized training, email Kat James.
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The Center for Wellbeing offers a monthly line-up of trainings for faculty and staff. If interested, please sign up here. Trainings counting toward completion of the Mental Health Ally Program are noted with an asterisk (*).
The Center is happy to schedule trainings for specific teams or departments at other times throughout the year. Reach out to Megan McKnight with questions or to request a training.
- Thursday, Sept. 4: Opioid Overdose Response and Naloxone, University Center Room 350, 10 a.m.-11 a.m.
- Friday, Sept. 12: Sleep Matters: Improving Sleep Among Employees and Students (Zoom), noon-1 p.m.
- *Wednesday, Sept. 24: Suicide Prevention Using Question, Persuade, Refer and the C-SSRS, Library Room 209, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
- *Tuesday, Sept. 30: Psychological First Aid (Zoom), noon-1 p.m.
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For the first time in school history, Chattanooga volleyball will host matches in McKenzie Arena during the 2025 Chattanooga Classic, taking place Sept. 4-6. The tournament features seven matches, with the Mocs welcoming Alabama, Cincinnati, Ohio and Jacksonville State. Admission is free, and all UTC matches will stream on ESPN+.
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Chattanooga Connect 2025, hosted by the UTC Research Institute, will take place Oct. 6-8 at the Chattanooga Convention Center. Following its successful debut last year, Chattanooga Connect will again convene industry leaders, policymakers, and researchers to explore the future of urban transportation and cutting-edge advancements in quantum computing, digital infrastructure, AI, connected and automated vehicles (CAV), and vehicle-to-everything (V2X) technologies.
Campus Updates
The Center for Academic Support and Advisement offers peer-to-peer academic support at no cost to currently enrolled UTC students. All programs are internationally certified by CRLA and/or ICSI.
- Peer academic coaching: Students can schedule an appointment with a peer academic coach to improve skills such as study habits, motivation, goal setting, time management, organization, navigating Canvas and using campus resources.
- Supplemental instruction: The SI Program provides group study sessions twice a week for selected courses. SI leaders review challenging course content in interactive ways that build understanding through games, practice materials, discussions, simulations and study skill activities.
- Tutoring: Free tutoring is available for a variety of courses, with NetTutor and walk-in options offered. Tutoring provides a personalized learning experience, encourages better study habits and enhances critical thinking skills.
For more information, email Academic Support or stop by Library Room 335.
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UTC opens the 2025 schedule on the road at Memphis on Saturday, Aug. 30, and the home opener is against Stetson University at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 13.
The Mocs were picked to finish second in the Southern Conference Preseason Coaches Poll. UTC is coming off a 7-5 record in 2024 and is the only team in the league to have winning records in conference play since head coach Rusty Wright took over at his alma mater in 2019.
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Undergraduate Admissions announced its Power C Tour and other important dates for the 2025-2026 academic year:
- Sept. 17: Power C Tour Nashville/Franklin
- Oct. 2: Power C Tour Memphis
- Nov. 4: Power C Tour Knoxville
- Nov. 12: Power C Tour Chattanooga
- Nov. 15: Blue and Gold Preview
- Feb. 27: Accepted Student Day
- March 25: Power C Tour transfer at ChattState
- April 11: Blue and Gold Preview Spring Edition
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Are you in need of physical therapy services? The Department of Physical Therapy offers short-term care for students, faculty and staff for free. The on-campus clinic is led by PT faculty and doctoral students during the fall and spring semesters. If you are experiencing functional limitations, pain, lingering injuries, recent injuries, or would like guidance to improve overall fitness, they are happy to evaluate you.
The clinic is located in University Health Services in Maclellan Gym (545 Terrell Owens Way). Hours of operation are 8 a.m.-noon on Tuesdays and 1-3 p.m. on Thursdays.
To schedule an appointment, call University Health Services at 423-425-2266. For additional information, email ptclinic@utc.edu.
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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 $20.
Memberships include an official membership pack with tons of Mocs swag, free tickets to select home athletic events, exclusive events and opportunities, monthly emailed newsletters and so much more. Click here to learn more.
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The Center for Wellbeing launched its Mental Health Ally training program for faculty and staff to recognize employees on campus who are engaging and learning how to best support our students’ mental health. Trainings included in the Mental Health Ally program are QPR (one hour), Suicide Prevention Using the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) (one hour), Psychological First Aid (one hour) and Mental Health First Aid (eight hours). Complete trainings and receive recognition on campus for your dedication to improving outcomes for students.
Recognition tiers:
- Certificate of completion: Every training
- Mental health ally sticker to display: Complete QPR, Suicide Prevention Using the C-SSRS, and Psychological First Aid
- Mental health ally sweatshirt: Complete Mental Health First Aid
- Mental health ally recognition on Center for Wellbeing website and Campus Newsletter: Complete all four trainings
If you have questions about this program, please reach out to Amy Kyriakidis or Megan McKnight.
UTC Newsroom
 Students dance during Headphone Disco at Lupton Hall. An array of photos of Welcome Week 2025 activities captured through the lens of UTC photographer Angela Foster. Click here to view the full Welcome Week Flickr gallery.
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 UTC Honors College students Izebella Lamb, left, Summer Wilson, Lilliana Jessen and Andrew Capelety flash the Power C while standing on the famous “water steps” in downtown Chattanooga as part of City as Text. Approximately 140 incoming UTC Honors College students in the Brock Scholars and Innovations in Honors programs were divided into groups of four to five and tasked with exploring local historic neighborhoods. The students were encouraged to walk through a neighborhood or area to gain a better understanding of their community.
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Here are some other recent UTC stories featured in the Newsroom:
- Every spring, occupational therapy students at the UTC enter their final semester with a single directive: identify a challenge people face and fix it. It’s the essence of occupational therapy, a field dedicated to helping people build or regain the skills needed for daily life after an injury, illness or other life change.
- UTC has been named a Top Yellow Ribbon School by U.S. Veterans Magazine, earning national recognition for its support of military-connected students. The honor puts UTC in select company nationwide. It also puts something else in focus: the people and programs behind that support. Click here to read the full U.S. Veterans Magazine article.
WUTC
In an episode of “Chatting with the Chancellor” on WUTC’s “Scenic Roots,” Dr. Lori Bruce discussed her vision for UTC, community and campus engagement, and Operation Move In.
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