December 3-9, 2024

Updates and news for the week of December 3-9, 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.

UTC News  |  UTC Events Calendar  |  Campus Updates

Click here to view this week’s newsletter in your browser

Highlights

It’s Reading Day

The UTC Library is offering extended hours during finals. Beginning today (Dec. 3), the library will be staffed from 7:30 a.m.-2 a.m. weekdays; from 7:30 a.m.-10 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 6; from 9 a.m.-8 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 7; and from noon-2 a.m. on Sunday, Dec. 8. At various times during finals week, library personnel will convert a book cart into a snack cart and wheel it throughout the library to bring students a tasty treat.

• As part of Reading Day, the library will host a creative study break in the Library Studio (Room 305). Drop by for a hand-sewing workshop from 2-3 p.m. This study break provides a refreshing brain reset while also providing attendees with a practical skill. Click here for more info.

*   *   *   *   *

Counting down the days to Commencement

UTC will celebrate its 264th commencement next week, honoring the accomplishments of its graduates with two ceremonies at McKenzie Arena. Together, the ceremonies will recognize approximately 730 undergraduates and 130 graduate students earning their degrees this fall.

• The Graduate School commencement will take place at 2:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 13. Suzanne Forlidas, a two-time UTC alumna (’75, ’87) and member of the UC Foundation Board of Trustees, will deliver the graduation charge. Click here for the livestream link.
• The undergraduate commencement ceremony for all UTC colleges is scheduled for 9 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 14. Dr. Ken Grubbs, also a two-time graduate of UTC (’97, ’20) and a distinguished leader in health care, will serve as the featured speaker. Click here for the livestream link.

*   *   *   *   *

UTC gifted Raccoon Mountain Caverns

Students in Dr. Amy Brock-Hon’s “A Moc’s First Year” course toured Raccoon Mountain Caverns in September.

Raccoon Mountain Caverns, gifted by Dr. Steven Perlaky, is now UTC’s newest classroom and research laboratory.

Located approximately 15 minutes southwest of campus, Raccoon Mountain Caverns is a complex cave system known for its extensive underground formations and diverse ecosystem. Part of a karst system that includes a landscape characterized by caves, sinkholes and underground streams, the caverns has over 5.5 miles of explored passageways. Its formation dates back millions of years and is caused by the dissolution of soluble rocks like limestone.

*   *   *   *   *

Gold Cords for Graduating Seniors

To all our fall 2024 graduating Mocs, congratulations from UTC Advancement. As your status advances from student to alumnus, you have the opportunity to create a lasting impact here at UTC. By donating just $5 or more, you can receive an exclusive Gold Cord to wear at commencement that signifies your commitment to future Mocs.

This small donation can go a long way in helping to fund scholarships and enhance programs all over campus. Plus, wearing the gold cord at commencement will set you apart as a proud UTC supporter. Donate today and leave a legacy for future students at your alma mater. Students can pick up their gold cord at the Alumni House (551 Oak St.) weekdays from 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

*   *   *   *   *

Nominate Award-Winning Alums

Chancellor Steve Angle and Vice Chancellor Kim White present Lily Sanchez (‘16) with the 2024 GOLD Excellence Award.

The 2025 Distinguished Alumni, Outstanding Service and GOLD Excellence Award nomination forms are live. If you know an alumnus/a who is exemplary in their field, someone who champions UTC with their time and talents or a newer graduate making early strides in their career, nominate them today. More information and simplified nomination links can be found at alumni.utc.edu/awards. The deadline for nominations is Jan. 31.

*   *   *   *   *

A message from the office of the bursar

The Bursar’s Office has begun the process for spring 2025 fee payment. The first E-Mocs statements were available on Nov. 20 for registered students. Fee payment for spring 2025 is due on Thursday, Dec. 12. Cancellation for non-payment for registered students will occur at noon on Monday, Dec. 16.

It is important to check your MyMocsNet account frequently for updates and notifications. Your statement questions may be directed to the Bursar Office team at 423-425-4781 or via email at bursars-office@utc.edu.

*   *   *   *   *

Update your residential meal plan

The Manage My Housing portal will be open Dec. 4–Jan. 1 for students to change their spring 2025 residential meal plans. Meal plan eligibility is based on earned credit hours. If your fall 2024 credits will change your student classification, please wait until final grades are posted before you attempt to make a change.

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.

*   *   *   *   *

2025 is just around the corner

Two weeks from today (Dec. 17) is the final Campus Weekly newsletter of 2024—so make sure to send in any notes that must appear before the start of the spring semester.

• There will be an abbreviated edition of the newsletter going to campus on Thursday, Jan. 2.
• Campus Weekly will resume its weekly Tuesday morning cycle starting Jan. 7.

Outstanding People of UTC

Dr. David Levine (pictured) is a professor and the Walter M. Cline Chair of Excellence in Physical Therapy at UTC, an adjunct professor at UT College of Veterinary Medicine and works closely with UTCVM’s Small Animal Physical Rehabilitation and the Equine Performance and Rehabilitation Center. Animal physical therapy research, he said, focuses on investigating therapeutic techniques and modalities aimed at improving the physical health and well-being of animals.

*   *   *   *   *

A multidisciplinary team consisting of faculty and students from Civil Engineering, Computer Science, Social Science and Environmental Science—led by Professor of Civil Engineering Ignatius Fomunung—was recognized with an American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials High Value Research Award for the quality of research conducted for the Tennessee Department of Transportation under contract RES2021-06.

*   *   *   *   *

Twelve Chattanooga Mocs were honored in the annual All-Southern Conference voting by league coaches.

• Mocs on first-team offense: RB Reggie Davis, WR Sam Phillips, C Reid Williams
• Mocs on first-team defense: DB Josh Battle, DB Reuben Lowery III, DT Marlon Taylor
• Second-team: WR Javin Whatley, DB Jordan Walker, DT Quay Wiggles, K Jude Kelley
• Freshmen team: DE Leroy Harris III, DB Beni Mwamba

*   *   *   *   *

Check out these Mocs making news:

• Greg A. Vital-Franklin Farrow Professor of Healthcare Management Deborah Mullen, a collaborator with authors affiliated with the University of Minnesota Methodist Family Medicine Residency and the University of Minnesota Medical School, had their Innovations in Primary Care paper titled “Adult ADHD Diagnosis in a Family Medicine Clinic” published in the November/December 2024 issue of Annals of Family Medicine.
• Howard Wall, director and chief economist of the UTC Center for Regional Economic Research, did a Q&A with the Times Free Press about job growth, pandemic impacts and 2025 forecasts.
• UTC alum Sarah Mattson spoke with the Times Free Press about her journey to becoming Chattanooga’s director of entrepreneurship.
• Students, faculty and staff spoke to the Times Free Press about UTC’s entrepreneurship programs.
• Rollins Scholars Pare Chalamaneeporn, Zoe Butler and Taylor Dunagan were featured in a Times Free Press article about their experiences in the Gary W. Rollins College of Business.

Mark Your Calendar

Karsen Murphy (photo credit: Laura O’Dell/GoMocs.com)

This week’s Mocs home athletics calendar:

• Today, Dec. 3: Men’s basketball vs. Lipscomb, McKenzie Arena, 7 p.m.
• Sunday, Dec. 8: Women’s basketball vs. Kennesaw State, McKenzie Arena, 2 p.m.

*   *   *   *   *

The campus community is invited to join bi-weekly sessions of a forum to discuss select topics in Quantum Information Science and Engineering in which important developments are underway at UTC or elsewhere. All sessions are from 4-5 p.m. in Lupton Hall Room 389. For more information, visit utc.edu/research/quantum-center.

Upcoming discussion dates and topics:

• Thursday, Dec. 5: Tam Bang, “Quantum Computing in Intelligent Transportation Systems”

The series resumes in 2025 on these dates: Jan. 9, Jan. 23, Feb. 6 and Feb. 20. Details on topics will be shared as soon as they are finalized.

*   *   *   *   *

The UTC Department of Physical Therapy class of 2026 is hosting a gift-wrapping fundraiser to help cover expenses for students to attend the APTA CSM in Houston, Texas. Bring your gifts to be wrapped this Thursday, Dec. 5, and Friday, Dec. 6, in the James R. Mapp Building.

Drop off: 7-10 a.m.
Pick up: 12-3 p.m.

Pricing:

• $5 per gift
• $40 for 10 gifts
• 10% discount if you provide your own wrapping paper.

Please bring boxes if needed for your items. If you are interested, reach out to Holly Harris at 615-947-7303 or hhw894@mocs.utc.edu to schedule times and fill out a form.

Campus Updates

UTC Mocs Mail and Print Center can now only accept departmental account charges and Scrappy Cash payments. Due to a UT System policy change, we will no longer be able to accept cash or checks. We apologize for the late notice relative to this policy change.

If you are a UTC student or employee, please add Scrappy Cash (using a credit card) to your Mocs Card using the following instructions:  

1. Go to https://get.cbord.com/utc/
2. Log in to GET with your UTC ID and password
3. Select Add Funds
4. Enter your payment method

If you are a non-UTC community member, funds can be added to a guest card to be used at the Mocs Mail and Print Center as well as campuswide. Guest cards are available at the Print Center located in the Administration Building, Room 208 (400 Palmetto St.). For questions, please contact Print Services at 423-425-4092.

*   *   *   *   *

Register and reserve your spot for the 2025 UT Innovative Technologies Symposium, taking place Jan. 28-29 at the Knoxville Convention Center.

Hosted by the Office of Innovative Technologies, this two-day symposium will focus on our everyday IT challenges, shared interests, honed skills, and newfound passions. Together, we aim to foster innovative IT solutions, expand knowledge, and form strategic collaborations that can significantly impact the University of Tennessee system. We encourage anyone from the entire UT System to participate, present, and attend.

• Event Registration
• Lodging information for attendees traveling to the symposium is available on the registration site and the symposium website: https://oit.utk.edu/general/ut-itsymposium/.

*   *   *   *   *

UTC Newsroom

The Athletics Department held its annual Education Day at the women’s basketball game against Lipscomb on Nov. 25, welcoming more than 2,000 elementary and middle school students for the mid-day contest. Education Day has become an annual tradition at UTC, with one game close to Thanksgiving or holiday break moving to an early tipoff to allow local students to come to campus and experience the atmosphere.

*   *   *   *   *

For military-connected students at UTC, balancing classes, service commitments and civilian life isn’t easy. Events like Holiday for Heroes help lighten the load, offering camaraderie, practical support and a touch of holiday cheer.

WUTC

Sean Paul Lorentz was featured during an episode of “Scenic Roots” on WUTC-FM 88.1 to discuss his sculpture “A Sailor’s Son,” which is now on display at the Sculpture Fields at Montague Park.