August 27-September 2, 2024
Updates and news for the week of August 27-September 2, 2024
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-l-schultz@utc.edu or 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.
Highlights
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/family members.
To share information with the families of UTC students—upcoming events, important deadlines, helpful suggestions and departmental news—email hannah-turcotte@utc.edu by 5 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 29. The September newsletter will be emailed to members Wednesday, Sept. 4.
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Parade in honor of Olympic gold medalist Olivia Reeves
 Olivia Reeves with her gold medal in front of the Eiffel Tower. Photo courtesy of Getty Images. On Tuesday, Sept. 3, join the city of Chattanooga and UTC, along with Notre Dame High School and St. Jude School, in celebrating Olympic gold medalist Olivia Reeves.
The event will include a parade down Vine Street and a celebration on Chamberlain Field for remarks and special presentations from UTC, St. Jude Elementary School, Notre Dame High School, Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp, City Councilman Ken Smith and a key to the city presentation by Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly.
The parade will start at 5:45 p.m. at the intersection of Vine and Lindsay streets and will proceed to campus. Members of the public can park in any available UTC lots starting at 5 p.m.
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House Calls 2024
House Calls 2024 will take place on Tuesday, Sept. 10. House Calls is an Enrollment Management and Student Affairs initiative for campus partners to help us check in on our students after living on campus within those crucial first six weeks of school. We will provide resources but also engage in meaningful conversations right at the resident’s door. We would love many different offices across campus to participate so our residents can have a versatile experience.
The training will be from 5-6 p.m. with dinner provided in the West Campus Multipurpose Room. We will be going to all resident spaces from 6-8 p.m. to check in with residents. Please fill out the House Calls form before Monday, Sept. 9, and communicate with Sabrina Sims if your plans have changed or if you have questions.
Outstanding People of UTC
 From left: Francesca Leasi, Lucy Schultz and Catherine Quinlan Meeks Congratulations to UTC faculty and staff who received awards or submitted proposals for sponsored programs in June and July. The Office of Research and Sponsored Programs announced that faculty and staff attracted $5,182,550 in external grant and contract awards during those two summer months and submitted proposals for the potential to generate over $12,819,897 in external funding, if awarded.
Among those receiving awards in June were Catherine Quinlan Meeks (English) and Dr. Lucy Schultz (Philosophy and Religion), who received $149,957 from the National Endowment for the Humanities for the project titled “Implementing a Humanities-Informed Environmental Studies Major at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.”
Among those receiving awards in July was Dr. Francesca Leasi (Biology, Geology and Environmental Science), who—in collaboration with Florida International University—received $696,680 from the National Science Foundation for the project titled “The Evolution of Salinity Tolerance in Monogonont Rotifers.”
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When you step into the Bursar’s office at UTC, it won’t be difficult to spot Jackie Jones. Her bubbly personality is inviting, and she will not hesitate to answer your Bursar-related questions. Click here to read what she had to say about her role in the Bursar’s office.
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 May 2024 graduate Marietta Song is UTC’s first recipient of the Stevens Initiative Alumni Fellowship. Marietta Song, a May 2024 UTC graduate with a bachelor’s degree in studio art, has been awarded the highly competitive Stevens Initiative Alumni Fellowship. She is the first UTC alum to receive this fellowship, which is supported by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
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Dr. Amy Doolittle has recently been elected to serve on the Board of Directors for the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Tennessee Chapter in the Director at Large position. Her two-year term will run from August 2024 to July 2026.
In addition, UTC alumni Martha Law, who completed both her BSW and MSW programs at UTC, has been appointed as the NASW Southeast Branch Representative.
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Check out these Mocs in the news:
- UTC senior and Olympic gold medalist Olivia Reeves was interviewed by Local 3 News about her experience at the Olympics and returning home.
- Recent Chattanooga women’s basketball alumnus Jada Guinn—who played for the Mocs during the 2023-24 season, was featured in a gomocs.com article about signing a pro contract with the Newcastle Eagles of the Women’s British Basketball League.
- Two players on the Mocs football team, defensive tackle Marlon Taylor and defensive back Reuben Lowery III, have been selected to the prestigious Senior Bowl Watchlist.
Mark Your Calendar
 Photo courtesy of gomocs.com This week’s Mocs home athletics calendar:
- Thursday, Aug. 28: Soccer vs. Xavier, Finley Stadium, 6 p.m.
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The director of the Tennessee Legislative Internship Program will be available to meet students in the University Center lobby from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. today (Aug. 27). Students participating in this program can earn academic credit while learning about the legislative process by doing meaningful work with legislative members and committees during the spring legislative session in Nashville. Stop by to learn more, visit www.capitol.tn.gov/Intern or contact Dr. Jeremy Strickler (Jeremy-Strickler@utc.edu) about the 2025 application process. Details about the application process will be distributed early this fall.
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Don’t forget to sign up for intramural sports. Registration for sand volleyball and pickleball ends Wednesday, Aug. 28. Visit imleagues.com to register.
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Come to the Graduate School Fall Meet and Greet from 4-6 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 28, in the UTC Library Southern Writers Room. Guests will have the opportunity to connect with graduate school staff, learn more about advanced degrees at UTC and discover valuable resources for graduate students. Light refreshments and snacks will be available.
This event is open to all current and prospective graduate students and graduate faculty.
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Get the latest on the UTC Artificial Intelligence Initiative—or CH-AI, for Chattanooga’s Artificial Intelligence—at a listening party to launch the new CH-AI Brews podcast. The event is from 5-6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 29, and will offer free pizza and T-shirts.
Save the date and reserve your spot by registering here.
You’ll hear brief excerpts from the student-led first season of the UTC CH-AI Brews podcast, to which you can subscribe here on Spotify. Season one covers topics from academic integrity to AI course innovations to what AI could mean for the job market. UTC Vice Chancellor for Information Technology Vicki Farnsworth also will give a update on the AI Initiative.
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Aug. 31 is International Overdose Awareness Day. The Center for Wellbeing will be recognizing this day on campus on Thursday, Aug. 29, by providing education, recovery resources and harm reduction tools like Narcan and fentanyl test strips. We will also be creating a visual display down Vine Street representing those in our community who have been impacted by overdose.
Narcan and fentanyl test strips are available year round in the Center for Wellbeing (UC 350). Stop by to request a quick training.
If you would like to schedule an opioid overdose prevention and Narcan training for your department or student organization, reach out to megan-mcknight@utc.edu.
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Gary W. Rollins College of Business information sessions are taking place for the spring 2025 study abroad course, German Culture and Doing Business in Germany, which is open to all UTC students. The course has no prerequisites and includes a two-week international study trip to Germany, visiting Berlin, Wolfsburg and Cologne (tentatively scheduled for May 4-17, 2025). The Germany course is led by Associate Dean Michael Jones.
Information Session
- Thursday, Aug. 29: Zoom, noon
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Students may now request a meal plan change by emailing mocscard@utc.edu. Remember to include your UTC ID number and the meal plan you would like for the fall 2024 semester.
Any requests received after Sunday, Sept. 1, will not be accepted.
Meal plan eligibility is based on earned credit hours. The University classifies undergraduate students as freshmen, sophomores, juniors or seniors according to the number of credit hours the student has completed:
- Freshman: 0-29 semester hours
- Sophomore: 30-59 semester hours
- Junior: 60-89 semester hours
- Senior: 90 or more semester hours
The meal plans are listed by student classification. Please refer to this link for that information: mocsdining.campusdish.com/MealPlans
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The 2025 UT Grand Challenges Summit will take place Feb. 13-14, 2025, at the Embassy Suites in Murfreesboro.
Join the UT System for an impactful summit aimed at addressing Tennessee’s most pressing issues. By convening a diverse group of experts and stakeholders to think in terms of wholes rather than fragmented parts, the summit’s goal is to foster innovative solutions and strategic partnerships to drive meaningful change across the state. This is a unique opportunity to delve into interconnected challenges and collaboratively explore ways to advance our communities.
The Grand Challenge areas are overcoming addiction, advancing K-12 education and strengthening Tennessee’s rural communities.
The UT System also is seeking engaging presentations from University-affiliated faculty and staff for this summit. Share your insights and lead discussions by providing an overview of your work. Click here to apply to be a presenter; the submission deadline is Sunday, Sept. 1.
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The Gary W. Rollins College of Business will hold virtual information sessions about UTC’s Master of Business Administration, MS Management, MS Data Analytics, Master of Accountancy, and Business Analytics Certificate graduate programs. The Rollins College of Business graduate degree programs provide flexible course options and career advancement resources to advance your education and elevate your career.
MAcc Information Sessions
MBA Information Sessions
MSDA Information Sessions
MSM Information Sessions
Business Analytics Certificate Information Sessions
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UT System Chief Wellness Officer Jessi Gold, M.D., M.S., announced an exceptional opportunity for students to shape the wellness culture at their campus and across the UT System. In collaboration with the UT System Student Success team, Gold is inviting you to apply for the 2024-25 Student Wellness Advisory Council.
Joining the Student Wellness Advisory Council offers students the chance to be wellness ambassadors, drive cultural change and gain valuable professional experience through monthly meetings and wellness projects. Members will also have the opportunity to connect with peers across their campus and the UT System, participate in a summer wellness summit and engage in social media and other wellness initiatives. At least two undergraduate and two graduate representatives will be selected from each campus.
Interested students can learn more and apply here. The application takes less than 10 minutes to complete, and the deadline to apply is Wednesday, Sept. 4.
If you have any questions, contact UT System Student Success Coordinator Dominique Harrison
at dharri91@tennessee.edu or Center for Wellbeing Director Megan McKnight at megan-mcknight@utc.edu.
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Join the Department of Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures, including Spanish, Latin American studies and the Life Out Loud Residential Learning Community, as well as Pedro Abriles of the River City Company Emerging Producers program, for Canta: Festival de la Canción en Español, from 5-8 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 6 in the UC Auditorium. More than 20 soloists ranging in age from 15 to 78 years of age will present original songs and covers in Spanish from a variety of style and genres.
The audience will help the jury select finalists, who will present their songs again on Saturday, Oct. 5, at Miller Park’s Fiestaval: A Taste of Latin America. Click here to reserve your free tickets.
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UTC is excited to participate in the United Way of Greater Chattanooga’s city-wide “Day of Caring” volunteer service initiative on Friday, Sept. 20. Make your plans to join your fellow Mocs, the United Way and 500-plus volunteers from around Chattanooga. Your servant leadership hands are needed for efforts such as cleaning, sorting, painting, mowing, mulching, moving debris and writing cards.
UTC volunteers have an opportunity to address community needs at project sites across the city. Interested volunteers need to be available from 7:45 a.m.-12:30 p.m. A grab-and-go breakfast, transportation and lunch will be available. Click here to register and for additional details.
Email Daniel-Grzesik@utc.edu, the director of Leadership Development and Programs, if you have any questions about getting involved with this volunteer service initiative.
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The Center for Women and Gender Equity will be conducting Safe Zone Aspiring Ally training sessions on the following dates:
- Thursday, Sept. 5: 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
- Monday, Oct. 7: 1-5 p.m.
- Monday, Dec. 16: 1-5 p.m.
- Thursday, Feb. 6: 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
- Wednesday, March 5: 1-5 p.m.
- Tuesday, April 1: 1-5 p.m.
- Monday, May 5: 1-5 p.m.
A Safe Zone is a space in which anyone in the LGBTQ+ community will be supported and affirmed. Safe Zone training will help participants learn to create a supportive environment for LGBTQ+ members of campus by providing education, resources and advocacy. The training includes small group activities, an information session and large group discussions. Participants will then be able to display a UTC Safe Zone Aspiring Ally sticker in their office to demonstrate their commitment to the LGBTQ+ community.
Space is limited, so please click here to register.
Campus Updates
In accordance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security and Campus Crime Statistics Act (20 U.S.C. § 1092(f)), UTC publishes an Annual Security and Fire Safety Report (ASFSR).
The ASFSR contains information regarding campus safety and security including, but not limited to, the following topics:
- Campus law enforcement authority
- Crime reporting policies
- Campus alerts (e.g., Timely Warnings, Emergency Notifications)
- Fire safety policies and procedures
- Programs to prevent dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking
- The procedures the University will follow when these crimes are reported
The report also contains information about crime statistics for the three most recent calendar years concerning reported crimes that occurred on campus, in on-campus student housing facilities, in non-campus buildings or property owned or controlled by the University or a recognized student organization and on public property within or immediately adjacent to and accessible from the campus.
The Annual Security and Fire Safety Report is available online at go.utc.edu/asfsr.
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Welcome back students! As a reminder, your Mocs Card does not expire, only the sticker. Please come by the ID Office, located in the University Center next to the bookstore, to get your updated sticker.
ID Office hours of operation: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Questions? Email mocscard@utc.edu or call 423-425-2218.
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A message from the Office of the Registrar:
The fall semester is underway. Below is a list of important dates and deadlines pertaining to registration.
- Friday, Aug. 30 (5 p.m.): Full Term, Last day for currently enrolled graduate students, seniors, and anyone adding contract courses to finalize registration. Registration form(s) for Individual Studies Contracts or 2nd Week Late Add Request approved by the instructor must be submitted before 5 p.m. If any overrides are required, they must be entered by the department before the registration can be processed.
- Sunday, Sept. 1: Full Term, Last day to drop a class before a grade of W (withdrawal) is recorded (one or more courses).
- Tuesday, Sept. 17: Part of Term 1, Last day for official withdrawal on a course-by-course basis with a grade of W (one or more courses).
- Monday, Oct. 28: Full Term, Last day for official withdrawal on a course-by-course basis with a grade of W (one or more courses).
Information regarding refunds and charges is published by the Office of the Bursar.
Registration forms are published here.
Additional Academic Calendar information is available here. You can subscribe to these dates/deadlines by following the instructions linked here.
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From Sept. 20-22, Mocs Recovery will be taking students to YMCA Camp Cosby in Alpine, Alabama, to join collegiate recovery programs from across the southeast. We will enjoy a weekend making new friends, canoeing, paddle boarding, rock climbing and engaging in recovery peer support spaces. All meals, travel and lodging are provided.
The retreat is open to currently enrolled students who identify as in recovery related to substance use. Interested participants should contact megan-mcknight@utc.edu.
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Preparations for the University Center renovation are well underway. The Chattanooga Rooms have been converted into surge space; the Foundation Room has been emptied and is offline permanently; and the Game Room has been moved to its temporary location in the Blue and Gold section of the Commons. There have also been some temporary departmental moves that you should be aware of:
- Mocs One Center – Chattanooga A
- Career Connections – Chattanooga C
- Mocs Recovery Program – UC 350 (Center for Wellbeing)
- Veteran and Military Affairs – Hooper 102
- Office of the University Registrar – Library 4th Floor
Construction is scheduled to begin on the west side of the building (1st floor and Upper Gallery areas).
As always, we encourage everyone to reserve their space for the fall semester early. Reservations for spring 2025 events and meetings will open on Monday, Sept. 30.
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 UTC Associate Vice Chancellor for Public Safety and Chief of Police Sean O’Brien The Department of Public Safety sent a welcome message to the campus community. Click here to read the message.
UTC Newsroom
 Headphone Dance Party has become one of the signature events welcoming UTC students back to campus. View the array of photos of Welcome Week 2024 activities captured through the lens of UTC photographer Angela Foster.
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Around 140 UTC students visited Chamberlain Field on Wednesday, Aug. 21, to unwind during the first week of classes, along with some four-legged friends—goats. Read about Goat Yoga and view the photo gallery here.
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Here are some other recent UTC stories featured in the Newsroom:
- Of almost $3 million in funding for a combined seven projects announced by the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development (TNECD), UTC is leading one project and a collaborator on two other projects. The total $2.9 million in grants is being awarded through TNECD’s Transportation Network Growth Opportunity, or TNGO, initiative.
- The Gig City’s reputation as a national leader for next-level technological innovation and mobility solutions takes a big step forward this fall when the UTC Center for Urban Informatics and Progress (CUIP) hosts Chattanooga Connect 2024 from Oct. 21-23 at the University Center.
- A project involving UTC and multiple public and private sector partners is being highlighted by Local Infrastructure Hub, a prestigious national entity that advocates for federal municipal funding and is affiliated with Johns Hopkins University. Federal funding of $2 million for “Planning and Prototyping” was awarded to the project through the SMART grant program established by the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
WUTC
Nick Lutsko, a multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and comedian, joined Richard Winham for an episode of WUTC’s “Live in the Library” ahead of his “Cuatro de Lutsko” performances around Chattanooga.
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