July 14-20, 2026
Updates and news for the week of July 14-20, 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
Important federal aid updates
The Working Families Tax Cuts Act of 2025 includes significant changes to federal student aid programs for enrollment periods beginning on or after July 1, 2026. Updates include new federal loan borrowing limits for students and parents, a new Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP), changes to Pell Grant eligibility and revisions to FAFSA need analysis.
UTC has launched a dedicated resource page with information about the legislation and its potential impact on students. The page will be updated as additional guidance becomes available. Faculty and staff are encouraged to review the website regularly for the latest information.
* * * * *
Join the 1886 Challenge
As part of the 140th anniversary celebration of UTC, Chancellor Lori Bruce kicked off the 1886 Challenge last week with a letter to campus that outlines the goal of 18,860 hours of community service among faculty, staff and students during this academic year.
A special thank you to the athletics department for helping kick off the challenge with a recent community cleanup day, completing 90 of the 226 total reported hours from across campus. Remember to log your community service hours here to help us reach this goal and show the impact UTC has on the community.
Here are a few reminders:
- Volunteer work should take place during the 2026-27 academic year, though submissions from late May and June will also be accepted.
- Eligible activities include any volunteer service, from board membership to school or church volunteering, completed individually or as part of a group.
- A separate submission is encouraged for each volunteer event or project to help accurately track service hours across the categories included in the form.
* * * * *
SUBMIT YOUR EVENTS FOR WEEKS OF WELCOME 2026
The goal for Weeks of Welcome 2026 is to offer a calendar full of fun and engaging events that welcome our students to the start of a new semester, and your help is needed.
If you are hosting an event or program during the first two weeks of classes (Aug. 23-Sept. 5), please submit your event to the official calendar found on the Weeks of Welcome webpage. Click here to access the event submission form. The priority deadline to submit events for the Weeks of Welcome calendar is Friday, July 17. The final deadline is Friday, Aug. 7.
More information about submitting an event for the Weeks of Welcome calendar can be found here. Contact Laura Petrus with any questions.
* * * * *
Volunteer for Operation Move In
 Dr. Andrew McCarthy helps unload belongings from a pickup truck into a move-in bin during 2025’s Operation Move In. Operation Move In (OMI) 2026 is scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday, Aug. 19-20, in residential spaces for new students across campus.
OMI provides an opportunity for faculty, staff, students and organizations to come together and create a welcoming, supportive environment for incoming students and their families. A campuswide committee is coordinating the two-day event, with volunteer roles including unloading, moving, parking and greeting.
Those interested in volunteering can register here. For more information, contact the OMI Volunteer Committee co-chairs Erica Holmes Trujillo and Dr. Andrew McCarthy at omi@utc.edu.
Outstanding People of UTC
 Dr. Jin Wang Congratulations to UTC faculty and staff who received awards or submitted proposals for sponsored programs in June. The Office of Research and Sponsored Programs announced that faculty and staff attracted $3,878,199 in external grant and contract awards during the month and submitted proposals for the potential to generate over $11,989,784 in external funding, if awarded.
Among those receiving awards in June was Dr. Jin Wang (Mathematics), who received $173,777 from the National Science Foundation for the project titled “Collaborative Research: Multiscale modeling of viral infections: Dynamics and applications.”
* * * * *
 Dr. Jason Peter For Mary B. Jackson Assistant Professor of Nursing Jason Peter, service has always been a passion. Teaching at the UTC College of Nursing, Peter serves as the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program director, a concentration within UTC’s Doctor of Nursing Practice program.
Peter also leads the Shield Program, which delivers preventive health screenings directly to residents in partnership with the Chattanooga Public Library.
* * * * *
 Dr. Kristin Pope Career Connections Executive Director Kristin Pope has been selected for the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Chattanooga Class of 2026-27, a professional leadership development program for emerging and established leaders across the Chattanooga region.
* * * * *
Check out these Mocs in the news:
- Dr. Mark Johnson, an assistant professor of history and author of “American Bacon: The History of a Food Phenomenon,” was featured in a story and video by Our Tennessee magazine.
- UC Foundation Associate Professor Karen Babine penned The Last Word for Our Tennessee, titled “Gentle Rebellion And Cat Camping.”
- UC Foundation Associate Professor of Political Science Saeid Golkar was interviewed by the New York Times and The Wall Street Journal on the conflict in Iran. He also wrote pieces for the Middle East Forum and Persuasion.
- Hamid Andalib, who will teach as an adjunct instructor in the Gary W. Rollins College of Business beginning in spring 2027, spoke to the Hamilton County Herald about growing up in Iran and his philanthropy in Chattanooga.
Mark Your Calendar
The Staff Senate Curiosity Committee invites faculty and staff to the Summer Staff Conference, taking place from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. on Thursday, July 23, in the Lupton Hall Lobby. The conference will feature opportunities to learn more about the work taking place across campus, explore workplace strategies and connect with colleagues from across the university. Check-in begins at 8:45 a.m. with a staff resource fair.
Attendees are also encouraged to bring donations for a food drive benefiting Scrappy’s Cupboard or a clothing drive supporting the Career Connections Closet. Click here to register.
* * * * *
UTC departments seeking student employees are invited to participate in the Part-Time Job Fair during Weeks of Welcome. The event will take place from 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 27, in the University Center Tennessee Room and provides an opportunity to connect with students looking for part-time employment opportunities on campus.
Departments interested in participating can contact Marli Wolff, assistant director of community and employer relations, for registration information.
* * * * *
 Photo courtesy of Derek Daniel/GoMocs.com Kickoff times and promotions have been announced for the Chattanooga Mocs’ 2026 home football schedule at Finley Stadium:
- Sept. 5 vs. Tennessee Tech, 6 p.m.
- Future Fans Night (free admission for children 12 and younger)
- Annual Little Mocs Walk
- Light-up rally towel giveaway for the first 1,000 fans
- Sept. 19 vs. Wofford, 6 p.m.
- White Out Game
- UTC Fall Family Weekend
- Mocs Flock Finley
- Academic Night
- Oct. 10 vs. Samford, 1 p.m.
- Oct. 31 vs. VMI, 1 p.m.
- Halloween with the Mocs
- Scrappy Kids Club Day
- Senior Day
- Nov. 7 vs. Mercer, 1 p.m.
- Homecoming
- Fan Appreciation Game
- Band Day
Season tickets are on sale now through GoMocs.com.
Welcome to UTC
The following employees joined UTC in June:
- Samantha Dean – Pre-Award Coordinator, Research and Sponsored Programs
- Tiara Lynn Fourkiller – Education Preparation Program Research Associate, School of Education
- Clark Gibson – Production Associate, WUTC
- Joshua Latham – Systems Analyst, Information Technology
- Teresa Bargfeldt – Academic Records Evaluator, Registrar
- Alisa Lim – ESL Program Manager, International Education
- Amarree Hardaway – Assistant Teacher, Children’s Center Little Miss Mag
- Ryan Michael Dilts – Assistant Athletic Director, Marketing and Promotions, Athletics Administration
- Jaycee Abigail Giles – Academic Records Evaluator, Registrar
- Kailon Braden – Enrollment Counselor, Mocs One Center
- Paul Dominic McCarthy – General Maintenance Technician, Boling Apartments
- Sharnell Robinson – Housing Facilities General Custodian Technician, Stophel Apartments
- Annie F. Schmidt – Head Coach, Women’s Golf
- Shane Austin Campbell – Maintenance Specialist, Club Sports
- Abigail Krueger – Academic Advisor, Advisement
- Lauren C. Fussell – Administrative Associate II, Gary W. Rollins College of Business
- Catherine Griffin – Administrative Specialist, School of Education
- Russell Wyane Paris Jr. – HVAC Mechanic, Remodel Renovations
- Alexandra Paige Smith – Evaluation Counselor, Recruitment
- Matthew Charles Sims – Financial Associate, Housing Administration
- Sean Patrick Costin – Director of Equipment for Football, Athletics Administration
Campus Updates
UTC will kick off a yearlong celebration of its 140th anniversary on Founder’s Day, Sept. 15, honoring the university’s history while highlighting its continued impact on Chattanooga and beyond.
As part of the celebration, the campus community is invited to participate in two anniversary initiatives:
- 1886 Challenge: Faculty, staff and students will work together to complete 18,860 hours of community service during the anniversary year.
- 140 Community Events for 140 Years: UTC will recognize and support 140 community-focused events led by faculty, staff and students that strengthen connections with the Chattanooga community.
Additional information about Founder’s Week events, the anniversary initiatives and ways to participate will be shared in the coming weeks.
* * * * *
The Institute of Contemporary Art Chattanooga is now showcasing “Reconsidered Recollections,” a new exhibition co-curated by UTC students featuring works from the ICA’s permanent collection. The exhibition explores themes of identity, memory and interpretation through artworks that are rarely on public display.
The exhibition is free and open to the public at the Fine Arts Center on UTC’s campus. Learn more about gallery hours and programming at ICA Chattanooga.
* * * * *
The UTC Library is making it easier for students, faculty and staff to explore all the city has to offer.
Through the Chattanooga Passport program, members of the UTC community can check out passes to some of the area’s most popular attractions, including the Tennessee Aquarium, Chattanooga Zoo, Ruby Falls, Chattanooga Theatre Centre and Chattanooga Football Club.
* * * * *
UTC is launching the MocsBooks Total Access Program for undergraduate students beginning in fall 2026. The new course material delivery program provides required materials for participating courses by the first day of class, with costs included on the university billing statement at $22 per credit hour. The program is expected to save students 35-50% compared to purchasing materials individually. Click here to learn more.
How it works:
- Register for classes as usual.
- Approximately one month before classes begin, students will receive an email from the bookstore partner with instructions for reviewing courses and selecting how they would like to receive materials.
- The UTC Bookstore will prepare course materials and notify students when they are ready.
- Physical materials can be picked up at the UTC Bookstore or shipped directly to students.
- Digital materials will be available through Canvas.
- Students with rental materials will receive reminders about return deadlines at the end of the semester.
Benefits include:
- Lower costs on required course materials
- Access to course materials by the first day of class
- Digital materials delivered directly through Canvas
- One streamlined process for obtaining required course materials
* * * * *
Due to nearby construction, the Oak Street entrance to Lot 26A is closed and several parking spaces near that entrance have been temporarily fenced off. The closure is expected to remain in place through Aug. 1.
Faculty, staff and students should use the McCallie Avenue entrance to access Lot 26A during this time. Please plan accordingly and allow extra time when traveling to campus.
* * * * *
If someone experiences an opioid overdose on UTC’s campus, University leaders want a life-saving resource nearby.
This spring, UTC completed the installation of 52 ONEbox naloxone stations across campus, placing them in buildings alongside other emergency equipment such as automated external defibrillators (AEDs).
* * * * *
Starting this summer, UTC will begin a modernization project for campus telephone services. As part of this initiative, we will be transitioning from Avaya to RingCentral to provide an improved and more modern telecommunications experience across campus.
The migration will take place in phases beginning this summer, one building at a time. IT will communicate directly with department leadership before any work begins within their area, to provide additional details, timelines, and expectations for that phase of the transition. Visit the RingCentral project page for the latest information.
* * * * *
Please be advised that Vine Street, between Palmetto Street and the University Greenway, will be temporarily closed to vehicular traffic during Freshman Orientation sessions on the following dates and times:
- 4 p.m. Wednesday, July 15, through 5 p.m. Friday, July 17
- 4 p.m. Tuesday, July 28, through 5 p.m. Thursday, July 30
Parking Lots 10, 11 and 12 will remain open. Access to these lots will be available through the detour route via Parking Lot 15. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the UTC Department of Public Safety at (423) 425-4357 or dps@utc.edu.
* * * * *
The Manage My Housing portal is open now until 5 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 2, for students to change their fall 2026 residential meal plan. Meal plan eligibility is based on earned credit hours. If your spring 2026 or summer 2026 credits will change your student classification, please wait until final grades are submitted 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.
* * * * *
A Moc’s First Year is seeking faculty and staff volunteers to host a First Class session on Friday, Aug. 21, immediately following Convocation.
Volunteers will spend about an hour welcoming new students, leading a brief activity, sharing tips for a successful first week and helping students feel more comfortable as they begin their college experience. Click here to volunteer.
* * * * *
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. Please contact Deborah McAllister or click this link for project details.
* * * * *
UTC Choruses has openings for tenor and bass singers for the upcoming academic year, with scholarship opportunities available for select positions.
Openings are available in the UTC Chamber Singers and Orpheus Chorale. The Chamber Singers is an advanced, auditioned ensemble with a history of regional, national and international touring. Auditions take approximately 10 minutes and include a brief vocal selection, range check and sight-reading. Students interested in auditioning can contact Kevin Ford to schedule a time.
Students can also join Chattanooga Singers (MUS 0020) or Orpheus Chorale (MUS 0027), both of which are open to all experience levels and do not require an audition. All ensembles are offered for one credit or zero credit, allowing flexibility for students with varying course loads.
* * * * *
An Academic Meeting Professionals Conference will take place Aug. 27-28 in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, offering professional development and networking opportunities for meeting and event planners across the University of Tennessee System.
Designed specifically for UT employees, the conference features sessions focused on event planning, logistics, budgeting, communication, vendor management and guest experience. Attendees will hear from industry professionals, including Dollywood experts, and have the opportunity to connect with UT colleagues and a range of vendors. Click here to register.
* * * * *
The Counseling Center has partnered with Parkridge Mental Health Therapy Center to offer extended services on the UTC campus. Parkridge at UTC is open from 11 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and offers individual therapy, group therapy and intensive outpatient services for students, faculty and staff.
The Parkridge Mental Health Therapy Center is located off the UC Foundation Apartments courtyard (Suite 5217). To schedule an initial appointment, call 423-468-5213. Students who are already receiving services through the UTC Counseling Center are encouraged to speak with their provider about whether Parkridge at UTC is a good fit for their needs.
* * * * *
UT Promise is a last-dollar scholarship that covers remaining tuition and mandatory fees for eligible Tennessee residents at UTC and includes required mentoring and community service. Student Success Programs has received requests from UT Promise students for mentors to help support them during their time at UTC, with students required to meet with a mentor at least once per semester for guidance, questions and goal-focused encouragement. Faculty and staff can complete the interest form or contact Student Success Programs with questions, and additional information will be shared with those who express interest.
UTC Newsroom
 Dr. Shawn Bingham UTC’s new Honors College dean, Dr. Shawn Bingham, is a sociologist whose research has taken him from disability advocacy and consumer culture to the tiny house movement and political art. He’s also passionate about working closely with students and creating interdisciplinary classes that don’t fit into a single department. Click here to read his Q&A.
* * * * *
 Carter Graham and educators across the Tennessee region participate in a polarization activity during QCaMP. Recently, Division of Communications and Marketing staff writer Carter Graham spent five days with a cohort of Tennessee middle and high school teachers at the 2026 Quantum Computing, Mathematics and Physics Camp (QCaMP), exploring the future of quantum technology.
* * * * *
Imagine you’re traveling for work. You need to leave Chattanooga, visit Knoxville, Nashville and Memphis, then make it back home before the end of the week. There are several ways to make the trip, but one route gets you home using the least time and distance. Easy enough, right?
Now imagine the trip gets more complicated. Instead of four cities, you have 24. Some meetings have to happen at certain times. Others depend on stops you’ve already made. A flight is delayed. Suddenly, one change ripples through the rest of your itinerary. Finding a route may still be easy. Finding the best route becomes much harder.
WUTC
 Dwight Birdwell Medal of Honor recipient Dwight Birdwell joined an episode of WUTC’s “Scenic Roots.” Last year, the Charles H. Coolidge National Medal of Honor Heritage Center in Chattanooga opened an exhibit on Birdwell.
|
