January 7-13, 2025
Updates and news for the week of January 7-13, 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-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
It’s Winter Welcome Week
Welcome to the start of the spring 2025 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:
- Today, Jan. 7: International Tea Time, sponsored by Center for Global Education, Lupton Hall, 3-4:30 p.m.
- Today, Jan. 7: Cozy Carnival, sponsored by Lupton Hall Offices, Lupton Hall, 6-8 p.m.
- Wednesday, Jan. 8: Winter Welcome Org Fair, sponsored by Student and Family Engagement, University Center Tennessee Room, 3-5 p.m.
- Thursday, Jan. 9: Campus Job Fair, sponsored by Housing and Residence Life, Lupton Hall, 12:30-2:30 p.m.
- Friday, Jan. 10: Acrylics and Apps, sponsored by Housing and Residence Life, Lupton Hall, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
- Sunday, Jan. 12: Clarence T. Jones Observatory Open House: MOCs Under the Stars, sponsored by the Department of Chemistry and Physics, 10 N. Tuxedo Ave., 6-8 p.m.
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Submit your Black History Month events
The Office of Multicultural Affairs has selected the theme “A Celebration of Firsts” for Black History Month, emphasizing the landmark experiences of African Americans. This month will showcase the intellectual and collective impact of African Americans who have championed excellence and innovation in their respective fields.
If you are sponsoring or are aware of events (on campus or in the Chattanooga area) you would like to see included in the UTC Black History Month calendar, please submit your information to Christopher-Stokes@utc.edu.
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Nominate Award-Winning Alums
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 Fri, Jan. 31.
Outstanding People of UTC
On Jan. 1, Dr. Robert Dooley assumed his role as interim chancellor—becoming the 18th leader in University history. Before the holiday break, he sat down for a conversation, sharing his insights on topics ranging from international travel to pinball.
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Professor of Civil Engineering Ignatius Fomunung, the director of UTC’s Center for Energy, Transportation and the Environment, is headed to Washington, D.C., via special invitation for his leadership in tackling one of transportation planning’s most persistent challenges.
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Assistant Professor Katelyn Hancock has been selected as the recipient of the 2024 Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences’ Ken Peak Innovations in Teaching Award. ACJS is an international association established in 1963 to foster professional and scholarly activities in the field of criminal justice. She will be honored during the organization’s annual conference in March.
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Dr. Majdi Alghader has joined the Office of Research Integrity as the new senior compliance officer focusing on research security. Prior to arriving at UTC, Alghader acquired experience in research and compliance as a senior research professional at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and Mount Sinai Hospital, a case investigator supervisor with the NYC Health and Hospitals COVID-19 Test and Trace Program, and—most recently—as a clinical research compliance professional at Weill Cornell Medicine.
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Check out these Mocs in the news:
- Dr. Claudia Kramer, the Probasco Distinguished Chair of Free Enterprise, spoke to the Times Free Press about the increasing adoption of AI in the workplace.
- Vice Chancellor for Advancement Kim White recently met with NewsChannel 9 to talk about the gifting of Raccoon Mountain Caverns to UTC.
- UTC graduate student Daniel Duggin was featured in a Local 3 News story about how AI is revolutionizing job hunting.
Mark Your Calendar
 Dr. DeAnna Beasley and Terrence Banks have been selected to the prestigious 2024-2025 All-Southern Conference Faculty and Staff Team. They will receive engraved plaques presented by SoCon Commissioner Michael Cross at the Jan. 9 Mocs men’s basketball game. This week’s Mocs home athletics calendar:
- Thursday, Jan. 9: Men’s basketball vs. UNCG, McKenzie Arena, 5 p.m.
- Saturday, Jan. 11: Men’s basketball vs. VMI, McKenzie Arena, 2 p.m.
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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.
The series resumes on Thursday, Jan. 9, when Matthew (Gage) Plott presents on “Quantum Tensor Networks.” The session will take place from 4-5 p.m. in Lupton Hall Room 308.
Upcoming dates for the Quantum Information Science and Technology Journal Club and Seminar Series include Jan. 23, Feb. 6 and Feb. 20. Details on topics will be shared soon. For more information, visit utc.edu/research/quantum-center.
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Join the UTC Jones Observatory for an open house on Sunday, Jan. 12, as part of Winter Welcome Week. Learn about the historic observatory and watch a free planetarium show. If it’s a clear night, look through the historic telescope at objects in the night sky.
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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 and Master of Accountancy 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.
MSDA Information Sessions
MBA Information Sessions
MAcc Information Sessions
MSM Information Sessions
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Interested in advancing your career and education? Attend UTC’s Virtual Grad Fair via Zoom from noon-3 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 22, to:
- Explore programs: Discover your path with UTC’s 30-plus graduate degree programs.
- Meet experts: Connect with faculty, staff and program representatives.
- Get answers: Gain insights on career paths, admissions processes and more.
Free application fee waivers will be available for attendees when attending a program breakout session (domestic students only). The event is open to anyone interested in transforming their future with a graduate degree from UTC.
Visit utc.edu/virtual-graduate-fair to learn more and register today.
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The Prism Center will be conducting Safe Zone Aspiring Ally training sessions on the following dates:
- 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
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The Staff Senate will represent non-exempt and exempt staff on campus and is intended to be one of unity and cooperation. Our shared goals are to consider methods and means by which employment conditions may be improved at UTC, to receive and consider matters concerning working conditions of membership, to make such recommendations it deems appropriate to promote and support the strategic goals and vision of UTC, and to provide a means of communicating problems of mutual concern to the Chancellor’s Strategy Team, formerly the Executive Leadership Team.
Furthermore, the Staff Senate will not include faculty (currently represented separately by the Faculty Senate) or members of the Chancellor’s Strategy Team; however, the voice of the Employee Relations Committee will continue to be present through the Staff Senate’s subcommittee for ERC. The Chair of the ERC will also hold a seat on and be a voting member of the Staff Senate’s Executive Committee.
We are excited to have a Staff Senate as it will allow us to sit, listen, share and learn about the concerns our various areas and roles face and work collectively toward solutions. We encourage you to be involved in the process, to ask questions, to share problems and to brainstorm ways for us to do better. We are truly one team, and our Staff Senate will highlight our collective power.
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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.
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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 2025-2026 cohort will begin coursework in May. Please contact Deborah-McAllister@utc.edu or visit this link for project details.
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The Survivor Advocacy Services, a program within the Center for Women and Gender Equity, is partnering with the Office of Title IX compliance on our “Don’t Cancel Your Class” initiative. Rather than canceling your class when you have a time conflict (conference, scheduled time off, etc.), consider using it as an opportunity for your students to learn about resources for survivors of gender-based violence.
The educational sessions can be offered in person or virtually when professors are needing to cancel class or bring in a guest speaker. The objective of these programs is to educate students about resources for survivors, connect them with advocates and facilitate discussions about the chosen topic. We can discuss adapting presentations to a topic not listed if that better suits your class. Use this link to request a presentation.
The topics include:
- Overview of Gender-Based Violence
- Realities of Gender-Based Violence
- Rape Culture
- Media Impacts on Gender-Based Violence
- Gender-Based Violence in the LGBTQ+ Community
- Supporting Survivors
- Consent
- Healthy Relationships
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Mark your calendar for Feb. 13-14 and join the UT Grand Challenges Summit in Murfreesboro for a two-day event that brings together UT faculty, staff, state organizations, private industry and community leaders to address Tennessee’s most pressing issues. With a focus on K-12 education, strengthening rural communities and overcoming addiction, this summit is your opportunity to engage with colleagues from across the UT System, share innovative research, and ignite transformative partnerships.
This year’s summit features presentations by faculty and staff from all UT campuses and institutes, as well as keynote speakers, including celebrated author and former school superintendent Dr. Joe Sanfelippo, UT System President Randy Boyd, and leadership from every campus and institute during the “State of UT” address.
Don’t miss your chance to be part of the conversation shaping Tennessee’s future. Use this link to learn more and register before all spots are taken.
UTC Newsroom
In case you missed it, more than 900 graduating UTC students heard their names called and crossed the McKenzie Arena stage as part of December commencement ceremonies.
Click here for UTC photographer Angela Foster’s Flickr photo gallery. Click here for Commencement 2024 stories.
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Here are some other recent UTC stories featured in the Newsroom:
- Before the holidays, UTC hosted its third annual Inventanooga competition—where middle school and high school students pitched solutions to real-life problems like runoff water pollution and damage, efficient grocery packaging and rampant cheating at local pickleball courts.
- The federal government estimates distracted driving contributes to more than 3,000 fatal vehicle crashes annually in the United States, prompting researchers at UTC to explore new ways of predicting and preventing inattentive driving behavior. By integrating advanced sensing technologies, machine learning algorithms and virtual simulation environments, UTC’s CUIP researchers are working to predict driver distraction—and then use that information to deliver timely, data-driven alerts.
- With more than 370 stories published in the UTC Newsroom during the 2024 calendar year, it’s easy to say that a lot of good things happened for UTC students, faculty and staff this year. Picking out the top highlights—not so easy. Here are some of our favorites.
WUTC
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