January 6-12, 2026
Updates and news for the week of January 6-12, 2026
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
Dr. Mina Sartipi Named Interim Vice Chancellor for Research
 Dr. Mina Sartipi Dr. Mina Sartipi has been appointed interim vice chancellor for research. Sartipi is the executive director of the UTC Research Institute and the founding director of the Center for Urban Informatics and Progress (CUIP). She is a Guerry Professor and UC Foundation Professor in UTC’s Department of Computer Science and Engineering and holds a joint faculty appointment with Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
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25Live going live
Our new space reservation management program, 25Live, will go live on Wednesday, Jan. 7. You’ll find a link to 25Live at reservations.utc.edu.
If you have questions about how to submit a request, check out the Knowledge Base article. We also encourage you to attend one of our upcoming 25Live training sessions:
Did you submit a request for 2026 in EMS? Don’t worry. Reservations for 2026 that were submitted in EMS have been transferred over to 25Live.
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Mocs men’s basketball vs. Furman
 Photos by Ray Soldano/gomocs.com UTC faculty and staff are invited to cheer on the men’s basketball team on Wednesday, Jan. 7, as the Mocs host Furman University in the first home conference game of the year in McKenzie Arena.
Note the special tipoff time of 5 p.m. for the nationally televised game on CBS Sports. Discounted tickets are just $10 by entering promo code “FACSTAFF” using this link. For more information, call the ticket office at 423-266-6627 or email MocsTicketing@utc.edu. Hours of operation are 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
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Winter Welcome Week
Welcome to the start of the spring 2026 semester!
Winter Welcome Week provides a week of relaxing and exciting activities hosted by various departments and student organizations to help ease students into the spring semester. The calendar of events includes:
- Monday, Jan. 12: Transfer Meet-Up: Make a Button and Mingle, Lupton Hall Lobby, 2-4 p.m.
- Tuesday, Jan. 13: Veteran and Military Affairs Operation Supply Drop, Hooper Hall 102, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
- Wednesday, Jan. 14: Center for Student Leadership, Engagement, and Community Grand Opening, Lupton Hall Lobby, noon-3 p.m.
- Thursday, Jan. 15: Warm Welcome with the Graduate School: Hot Cocoa and Cider Bar, University Center Lobby tables, noon-2 p.m.
- Friday, Jan. 16: Dinner and a Show featuring comedian and magician Trent James, University Center Tennessee Room, 6-8 p.m.
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New Phone or Apple watch for the Holidays? Don’t Forget Your Mocs Card!
Students, faculty and staff: Did you receive a new phone or Apple watch over the holidays? Make sure your Mocs Card is added to your new device by following these simple steps:
- Email mocscard@utc.edu and let us know you have a new phone (and provide your UTC ID number)
- We will update your account and send simple instructions for adding your ID to your new device
- Important: You must notify us so we can remove your original phone (or Apple watch) from your account
- Questions? Call us at 423-425-2218
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Meal Plan Change Request Deadline
The spring 2026 meal plan change request deadline is 5 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 25.
Students may now request a meal plan change by emailing mocscard@utc.edu. Remember to include your UTC ID number and the eligible meal plan you would like for the spring 2026 semester. Any requests received after Sunday, Jan. 25, 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.
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John “Art” Phillips Sales Institute established at UTC
 John “Art” Phillips The sales institute in the Gary W. Rollins College of Business has been named the John “Art” Phillips Sales Institute, honoring the late entrepreneur, extraordinary salesman and business leader. The institute’s naming was made possible through a generous gift from the Phillips family.
The transformational gift will expand opportunities for UTC students by:
- Providing scholarships for students with financial need.
- Funding student and faculty participation in national sales competitions, conferences and workshops
- Positioning UTC as a leader in sales education with a dedicated Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in Sales
- Enhancing sales simulation labs and advanced learning technology
- Supporting the growth and professional development of sales faculty and staff
Guided by his motto, “Let’s Double It,” John Arthur Phillips Sr. helped a small local bakery—now McKee Foods—grow into a regional, then national marketer of snack food and home of Little Debbie®, America’s No. 1 snack cake brand.
Outstanding People of UTC
 Dr. Rahul R. Bhosale and Dr. Bradley Harris Two UTC chemical engineering professors and a pair of Hamilton County educators have co-authored a research paper published in the International Journal of Hydrogen Energy—one of the field’s leading academic journals.
Guerry Assistant Professor of Chemical Engineering Rahul R. Bhosale and Associate Professor Bradley Harris, head of the Department of Civil and Chemical Engineering, mentored Henry Enerson of East Ridge High School and Jasmine C. Johnson-Jackson of Tyner Middle High Academy through a National Science Foundation-funded Research Experience for Teachers program at UTC.
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UTC women’s basketball junior guard Caia Elisaldez has been selected as the Women’s Basketball Student-Athlete Engagement Group’s liaison to the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Playing Rules Committee, making her one of only two student-athletes nationwide appointed to the role. Elisaldez will provide a student-athlete perspective during meetings with coaches and administrators as the committee reviews playing rules focused on game flow, fairness and player safety, while continuing to lead on the court and pursue her pre-med studies at UTC.
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The Chattanooga Mocs set another athletics department record during the fall 2025 semester, posting a cumulative 3.443 GPA. Ten of the University’s 15 programs recorded GPAs of 3.50 or higher, while 14 finished above the 3.0 mark. The performance marks the fourth consecutive semester above a 3.30 GPA and the 15th straight semester with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better.
241 of the 333 enrolled student-athletes made the Dean’s List (72.4%), including 79 completing the semester with a 4.0 GPA.
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Check out these Mocs in the news:
- College of Nursing Dean Chris Smith and Professor Linda Hill were interviewed by the Times Free Press about a Department of Education policy change.
- School of Education Director Kim Wingate and junior Grace Hixson spoke with Local 3 News about stipends for student teachers.
- Assistant Professor of Sociology Chris Vidmar was a guest on Jed & JR Mornings to talk about dating apps.
- Director of Bands Randall Coleman spoke to FanSided about the demands of students in marching band.
- Paddling Magazine published a story about engineering’s concrete canoe and its race against the UTC Rowing Team in the Tennessee River.
- Center for Regional Economic Research Director Howard Wall was interviewed about the shortage of pennies by NewsChannel 9.
- Department of Marketing Associate Professor of Practice Alycia Franklin was interviewed by NewsChannel 9 about AI shopping tools.
- UC Foundation Associate Professor of Political Science Saeid Golkar was interviewed by the Wall Street Journal for a story about protesters in Iran.
- Political Science Professor Marcus Mauldin spoke to the Times Free Press as part of a reelection campaign story.
- 2023 Master of Environmental Science alum Will Stuart, now a GIS analyst with the City of Chattanooga’s Department of Technology Services, was a recipient of a Mayoral Award for his work creating a data rich interactive map that shows the hotspots for food insecurity in the city.
Mark Your Calendar
 Photos by Ray Soldano/gomocs.com This week’s Mocs home athletics calendar:
- Wednesday, Jan. 7: Men’s Basketball vs. Furman, McKenzie Arena, 5 p.m.
- Thursday, Jan. 8: Women’s Basketball vs. Wofford, McKenzie Arena, 6 p.m.
- Saturday, Jan. 10: Women’s Basketball vs. Furman, McKenzie Arena, 2 p.m.
- Saturday, Jan. 10: Men’s Basketball vs. Samford, McKenzie Arena, 4:30 p.m.
- Monday, Jan. 12: Mocs Club Chat With the Mocs, Miller’s Ale House (Hixson), 96.1 FM, 7 p.m
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“Drawing the Future from the Past,” an exhibition highlighting student work from UTC’s Interior Architecture and Design program, will be on view Jan. 9-Feb. 26 at the Association for Visual Arts Landis Education Gallery (30 Frazier Ave.).
The exhibition features projects from a two-semester capstone sequence in which students research historically significant buildings and develop adaptive reuse proposals informed by architectural, cultural and social context. Students collaborate with professional mentors, architects, historians, code officials and building owners, as well as community partner Preserve Chattanooga, to create design solutions that support preservation advocacy and potential community revitalization.
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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.
MSM Information Sessions
MSDA Information Sessions
MBA Information Sessions
MAcc Information Sessions
Business Analytics Certificate Information Sessions
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The Lookout Wild Film Festival (LWFF) is coming to the UTC Fine Arts Center’s Roland Hayes Concert Hall Jan. 15-18.
LWFF presents stories of diverse people who seek, explore and protect wild places. Across four days and seven screening blocks, the festival will showcase thrilling outdoor adventures, environmental stories and character-driven films from around the world. Whether you’re into climbing, paddling, mountain biking, conservation or simply discovering something new with friends, there’s a block of films for you. Click here to watch the 2026 festival trailer.
Students can purchase tickets and passes at LWFF.org or through the Fine Arts Center box office, open Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Students should use the code LWFF2026 for discounted pricing. Come for one block or make a weekend of it to see why Chattanooga’s own outdoor film festival has become a winter tradition.
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Career Connections invites on-campus employers to participate in a part-time job fair during Winter Welcome Week. The event will take place from 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 15, in the University Center Tennessee Room.
The fair is an opportunity to meet students seeking part-time, on-campus positions and to bring new talent into your department. On-campus employers interested in participating can contact Community and Employer Relations Specialist Jillian Duke for registration details.
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Faculty, staff and students are invited to submit proposals for the UT Innovative Technologies Symposium, hosted by the University of Tennessee, Knoxville’s Office of Innovative Technologies. The three-day symposium will take place March 24-26 at the Knoxville Convention Center and will focus on shared IT challenges, skills and emerging ideas across higher education in Tennessee.
The goal is to raise awareness and encourage proposal submissions by Friday, Jan. 16. Additional details, proposal information and a media toolkit are available here.
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Join a community conversation with UTC’s Interior Architecture and Design program connected to the exhibition “Ghosts in the Walls: Preservation as Memory.” The event will take place at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 24, at the Association for Visual Arts on 30 Frazier Ave. Presented in partnership with Preserve Chattanooga, the event will feature a panel discussion with local preservationists Todd Morgan, Melissa Mortimer and Rachel Hunt.
The program will examine preservation efforts in Chattanooga, including successes and shortcomings of existing city ordinances, gaps in protections for historic structures and practical ways community members can engage in advocacy and influence local policy. The event is designed to inform, engage and encourage collective action to protect the city’s historic built environment.
Campus Updates
UTC Campus Recreation has launched the Adventure Awaits Scholarship Fund to expand access to Mocs Adventure Camp, one of the University’s youth summer programs. The fund will provide scholarship support for children who may not otherwise be able to attend the camp due to financial barriers, with a goal of supporting 25 campers this year.
Donations of any amount help make camp accessible to more families. As a thank you, the first 50 donors who give $50 or more will receive a limited-edition “This Shirt Did Some Good” T-shirt. Those whose children have previously attended Mocs Adventure Camp are also invited to share their camp stories to help highlight the program’s impact.
To learn more, make a gift or share a story, visit the Adventure Awaits Scholarship Fund page. Questions can be directed to MocsAdventureCamp@utc.edu.
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UTC Veteran and Military Affairs has partnered with BJ’s Wholesale Club in Hixson to support the Holiday for Heroes campaign. The goal is to reach 200 memberships and raise funds for veteran and military-connected students as part of the Holiday for Heroes event series.
Participants can receive a discounted BJ’s membership while giving back to UTC Veteran and Military Affairs. To join, scan the QR code or click the flyer link, or call 800-313-8887 and use group code 827042 to ensure your sign-up counts toward UTC’s campaign.
Sign up here by Jan. 30 to secure pre-club opening discounts. Spread the word—every membership helps support our veterans.
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In August, the UTC campus experienced a criminal act intended to cause disruption, chaos and trauma. While similar incidents have impacted other institutions across the country, UTC was among the first targeted this academic year—serving as a reminder of the importance of preparedness and collective resilience.
At the direction of University administration, UTC will now require mandatory Active Violence Response Training for all regular full-time employees (faculty and staff) and affiliated staff (Aramark, Barnes & Noble and Canon). This marks the first year the training is mandatory for the campus community.
To assist in delivering the program, the Department of Public Safety (DPS) has partnered with Defend Systems, a life safety and security consulting firm specializing in active shooter response and emergency preparedness. The training will focus on emergency awareness, critical response actions and strategies that improve survivability. Click here to register for a session.
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The Office of Research Integrity has announced a new go-live date for DASH Research IRB: Monday, Feb. 16. Below are key deadlines to support the transition to the new submission system.
- Monday, Jan. 5: Investigators are encouraged to submit new IRB applications by this date, though there is no formal cut-off.
- Monday, Jan. 12: For studies expiring before Feb. 28, investigators who plan to continue the study should submit an application for changes by this date to avoid a lapse in approval.
- Monday, Jan. 19: The IRB recommends returning any pending revisions by this date to allow adequate review time.
- Tuesday, Jan. 27: Only IRB submissions that are fully approved by 5 p.m. will be moved into DASH Research IRB. Any submissions not approved by that time must be resubmitted in the new system after go-live.
- Monday, Feb. 16: All new IRB applications must be submitted through the DASH Research IRB module.
For questions or assistance, contact Baley Whary at irb@utc.edu or 423-425-5867.
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Free short-term physical therapy services are available to UTC students, faculty and staff through the PT Pro Bono Clinic, led by physical therapy faculty and doctoral students. The clinic provides evaluations and treatment for a range of concerns, from ankle sprains to lingering back pain.
The clinic is located in University Health Services in Maclellan Gym and is open 8 a.m.-noon on Tuesdays and 1-5 p.m. on Thursdays. Appointments can be scheduled by calling 423-425-2266. Questions can be directed to ptclinic@utc.edu.
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The National Science Foundation Noyce Track 2 fellowship project is accepting applications from STEM-degreed professionals to prepare to teach secondary mathematics and science through the Master of Education degree program. The 2026-2027 cohort will begin coursework in May 2026. Please contact Deborah McAllister or click this link for project details.
UTC Newsroom
A lot of great things happened at UTC during the 2025 calendar year. We celebrated student and faculty research, welcomed new faces (including Chancellor Lori Bruce), broke ground on new buildings and commemorated big wins.
With so much happening across campus, the UTC newsroom published 427 stories over the course of the year. Here are our top 20 personal favorites in chronological order of website publication.
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 Natale Mertens UTC’s fall commencement ceremonies were a time for families to celebrate their students’ hard work and accomplishments. Natale Mertens graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing at the fall 2025 commencement, joining her three sisters as UTC alumni.
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 Eric Meadows Three recent graduates of UTC’s accelerated BAS-IT CyS program—Eric Meadows, Brennan Fugate and Ben Craig—spent the past year inside Unum, seeing how cybersecurity functions at one of the city’s largest employers and a Fortune 500 insurance company.
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Before winter break, UTC hosted its fourth annual Inventanooga competition, where middle and high school students pitched ideas to innovation leaders from the Chattanooga area.
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Here are some other recent UTC stories featured in the Newsroom:
- Vice Chancellor for Research Reinhold Mann retired at the end of December. Mann helped shape a new era for the University’s research enterprise, building faculty capacity, deepening community partnerships, and advancing major strategic initiatives that elevated UTC’s role in regional innovation and discovery.
- “When a faculty member is actively practicing their discipline through research, the classroom benefits. Students benefit,” Chancellor Lori Bruce said in a story initially published in Our Tennessee magazine. “When a student is getting to participate in the research and be at the cutting edge of their discipline, it’s even more powerful.”
- Prior to NightinGala 2025, Dr. Cherry Guinn, Professor Emeritus Martha Butterfield and Professor Emeritus Barbara Norwood sat down with the UTC video team to reminisce about the founding of the University’s School of Nursing.
WUTC
 The founding team at Cultra: Ethan Poliner, Jack Washburn, Jesus Miranda and Cooper Martin. Photo courtesy of Cultra. A recent episode of WUTC’s Scenic Roots featured Cultra, a Chattanooga-based startup helping farmers make better use of soil data that guides planting decisions. Founded by Jack Washburn and Ethan Poliner, Cultra’s online platform is designed to bring clarity to information that has traditionally been scattered and difficult to use.
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