July 15-21, 2025

Updates and news for the week of July 15-21, 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 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.

UTC News  |  UTC Events Calendar  |  Campus Updates

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

Highlights

UTC named 2025-2026 College of Distinction

UTC has been designated a 2025-2026 College of Distinction for undergraduate education and was recognized as both a top Tennessee and public institution. The University also attained College of Distinction status for its business, education, engineering and nursing programs; for affordability and career development; and for its support of international students.

*   *   *   *   *

UTC celebrates historic year in fundraising and alumni engagement

UTC achieved a remarkable fundraising milestone in fiscal year 2025, securing $31.9 million from 7,086 donors. Excluding gifts from the Rollins family, this was the University’s largest fundraising year ever.

Alumni engagement also soared to new heights, with 54,441 alums engaged over the year—a 10.6% increase and the highest on record.

*   *   *   *   *

UTC and Siskin Hospital expand partnership with new geriatric PT residency

The program directors for the new Siskin Hospital/UTC Geriatric PT Residency Program, Dr. Matt Annessi and Dr. Stephanie Eton.

UTC’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program and Siskin Hospital for Physical Rehabilitation are expanding their collaborative partnership with the creation of a Geriatric PT Residency Program—one of just two of its kind in Tennessee.

The residency will provide advanced clinical training in skilled nursing, home health care and outpatient therapy settings for patients aged 65 and older. Residents will work with complex, age-related conditions such as cardiovascular disease, neurological disorders and other geriatric syndromes while also assisting in UTC labs and research.

*   *   *   *   *

Submit your events for Welcome Week 2025

Our goal for Welcome Week 2025 is to offer a calendar full of fun and engaging events that welcome our students to the start of a new semester, and we need your help.

If you are hosting an event or program during the first week of classes (Aug. 17-23), please submit your event to the official calendar found on the Welcome Week webpage. Click here to access the event submission form. The priority deadline to submit events for the Welcome Week calendar is Friday, July 18. The final deadline is Thursday, Aug. 7.

More information about submitting an event for the Welcome Week calendar can be found here. Contact Director of Student and Family Engagement Laura Petrus with questions.

Outstanding People of UTC

Dr. Tian Li and Dr. Donald Reising

The Office of Research and Sponsored Programs (ORSP) provided its fourth-quarter report for the 2025 fiscal year, including a downloadable PDF: Q4 FY25 YTD Report PDF.

Among those receiving awards during the quarter were Dr. Tian Li (Chemistry and Physics) and Dr. Donald Reising (Electrical Engineering), who—in collaboration with Purdue University, received $447,621 from the National Science Foundation for the project titled, “Collaborative Research: Sub-Shot-Noise Limited Distributed Quantum Sensing on a Commercial Metropolitan-Scale Quantum Network via Deep Learning Aided Noise Suppression.”

*   *   *   *   *

UTC’s Division of Communications and Marketing has earned a gold award in the 2025 Circle of Excellence competition from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE).

The award recognized a UTC social media campaign celebrating student and Olympic gold medalist Olivia Reeves. Social Media Director Laura Bond and Social Media Specialist Kaylah Santos created and ran the campaign, which documented Reeves’ gold medal win at the 2024 Paris Olympics and the celebrations that followed on campus and in the community. 

*   *   *   *   *

Dr. Francesca Leasi

The microscopic animals Dr. Francesca Leasi studies can’t be seen with the naked eye. Yet for all their size, they may hold vital clues to how life adapts to environmental change and what traits allow organisms to survive it.

*   *   *   *   *

Dr. Thomas Lyons, Clarence E. Harris Chair of Excellence in Entrepreneurship at UTC, recently released his latest book, “Rethinking Community Economic Development.” The book, published by Edward Elgar, challenges traditional economic development models and offers a new framework rooted in entrepreneurship and community networks.

Now in his sixth year at UTC, Lyons has authored 18 books on economic innovation and social impact.

*   *   *   *   *

Chancellor Lori Bruce did a live interview with Paul Shahen at the Local 3 studios.

Chancellor Lori Bruce has been meeting with Chattanooga media outlets to talk about UTC. She recently sat down for interviews with the Times Free Press, Local 3 News and Jed & JR Mornings.

*   *   *   *   *

Check out these Mocs in the news:

• School of Professional Studies Director Elizabeth O’Brien and School Psychology Program Director Amanda Hardin were featured in a Times Free Press article for leading a $2.4 million federal grant project to expand the region’s youth mental health workforce. O’Brien also discussed the grant for a News 12 Now story.
• College of Health, Education and Professional Studies Dean Valerie Rutledge spoke to News 12 Now about the new geriatric physical therapy residency in partnership with Siskin Hospital.
• A Tullahoma News story featured GIS Director Charlie Mix for leading an urban canopy assessment using satellite imagery and artificial intelligence to help the city target areas for tree planting and heat mitigation.
• UC Foundation Associate Professor Liz Hathaway was a guest on Jed & JR Mornings to discuss the weight loss medication Ozempic.
• Dr. Eric Hungenberg, associate professor of sport, outdoor recreation and tourism management and head of the Department of Health and Human Performance, spoke to News Channel 9 about the Incline Railway shutdown and what it meant for Chattanooga’s tourism.
• An episode of Jed & JR Mornings featured Ruth S. Holmberg Professor of American Music Jonathan McNair to discuss a song composed in memory of local physician Sam Binder.
• Scott L. Probasco Chair of Free Enterprise Claudia Kramer was featured in an Our Tennessee magazine story about taking chances. Kramer also authored a Business Trend column about free markets.

Mark Your Calendar

The Center for Wellbeing is offering a series of trainings and discussions for faculty and staff this summer. If interested, please sign up here. The Center is happy to schedule trainings for specific teams or departments at other times throughout the year. Reach out to Megan McKnight with questions or to request a training.

• Wednesday, July 16: QPR: Question, Persuade, Refer and Suicide Prevention Using the C-SSRS, University Center Room 350, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
• Wednesday, July 23: Thriving, Not Just Surviving: Prioritizing Wellness Through the Semester Discussion, University Center Room 350, 11 a.m.-noon
• Thursday, July 31: Recovery Allyship: How to Support Students Who Are Struggling or Have Struggled with Substance Use, Zoom, noon-2 p.m.

*   *   *   *   *

Operation Move In takes place Wednesday, Aug. 13, and Thursday, Aug. 14, for incoming freshmen and transfer students.

Housing and Residence Life could use as many hands as possible to make this day go as smoothly as possible for our newest residents. If you are interested in volunteering for OMI, please fill out the OMI volunteer signup form and share the link with others.

Those who volunteer will receive a meal voucher for UTC Dining and a signature OMI T-shirt as a special thank you. Learn more here.

For more information, contact OMI committee chair Jason Harville.

*   *   *   *   *

For the first time in school history, Chattanooga volleyball will host matches in McKenzie Arena during the 2025 Chattanooga Classic, taking place Sept. 4-6. The tournament features seven matches, with the Mocs welcoming Alabama, Cincinnati, Ohio and Jacksonville State. Admission is free, and all UTC matches will stream on ESPN+.

Campus Updates

*   *   *   *   *

Employees enrolled in the State of Tennessee and Higher Education Health Insurance plan can earn $50 by completing a biometric wellness screening. Screenings will be held from 8:30-10:30 a.m. on Aug. 5 and Aug. 6 at University Health Services.

Register for an appointment here by using your UTC login and selecting “appointments.” There is no employee access fee, but lab billing will be filed through your insurance—please bring your insurance information to your appointment. To prepare, download and print the Physician Results Form. You must complete your RealAge assessment before accessing the form.

Click here to learn more. For assistance, call 1-855-623-9355. For questions about the screening process, call 423-425-2266.

*   *   *   *   *

The Esports Complex is usually reserved for our students, but this July, we’re opening it up just for you. We’re planning a faculty and staff-only tournament, and we want to hear which games you’d like to compete in.

Whether you’re casually competitive or secretly elite, now’s your chance to step into the arena, connect with colleagues and have some fun.

Help us choose the game with this link. The top selection will be featured during the tournament in mid-to-late July. We’ll follow up directly with those who complete the survey to share next steps and registration info.

*   *   *   *   *

The CEACSE Research Innovation and Strategic Expansion (RISE) program is now accepting proposals for early-stage, high-potential research projects that strengthen UTC’s Center for Urban Informatics and Progress (CUIP) and the Quantum Center.

Selected projects may receive up to $70,000 for the 2026 calendar year, supporting one month of summer salary for faculty or research staff, full-year PhD student support and additional research expenses.

• Deadline: Proposals must be submitted as a single PDF by 5 p.m. today (July 15), to both Hannah Archer and Claudia Colpo.
• Eligibility: Lead PIs must be faculty, research faculty or postdocs at a UT System institution. If not UTC-based, the PI must advise a UTC PhD student supported by the project.
• Project Period: Jan. 1-Dec. 31, 2026.

For full details and submission guidelines, view the Request for Proposals (RFP). Questions may be directed to Hannah Archer.

*   *   *   *   *

Faculty and staff, are you passionate about student well-being and fostering a culture of wellness on your campus or with partners across the UT System? The new Wellness Mini Grants Program is here to support your innovative ideas.

The program offers up to ten $5,000 grants for faculty and staff to pilot projects that focus on the eight SAMHSA-defined wellness dimensions, promote collaboration across and between campuses, and create scalable, measurable student wellness innovations.

Projects that are measurable, collaborative and have a role for a student will be prioritized. Click here to learn more and apply. The application is just a short, three-page PDF and is due Friday, Aug. 1. For questions or concerns contact the UT Chief Wellness Officer.

*   *   *   *   *

Undergraduate Admissions announced its Power C Tour and other important dates for the 2025-2026 academic year:

• Sept. 17: Power C Tour Nashville/Franklin
• Oct. 2: Power C Tour Memphis
• Nov. 4: Power C Tour Knoxville
• Nov. 12: Power C Tour Chattanooga
• Nov. 15: Blue and Gold Preview
• Feb. 27: Accepted Student Day
• March 25: Power C Tour transfer at ChattState
• April 11: Blue and Gold Preview Spring Edition

*   *   *   *   *

The Center for Wellbeing launched its Mental Health Ally training program for faculty and staff to recognize employees on campus who are engaging and learning how to best support our students’ mental health. Trainings included in the Mental Health Ally program are QPR (one hour), Suicide Prevention Using the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) (one hour), Psychological First Aid (one hour) and Mental Health First Aid (eight hours). Complete trainings and receive recognition on campus for your dedication to improving outcomes for students.

Recognition tiers:

• Certificate of completion: Every training
• Mental health ally sticker to display: Complete QPR, Suicide Prevention Using the C-SSRS, and Psychological First Aid
• Mental health ally sweatshirt: Complete Mental Health First Aid
• Mental health ally recognition on Center for Wellbeing website and Campus Newsletter: Complete all four trainings

If you have questions about this program, please reach out to Amy Kyriakidis or Megan McKnight.

UTC Newsroom

Hunter Hall

UTC is the recipient of a $2.4 million federal grant to bolster the pipeline of highly trained behavioral health professionals serving children, adolescents and young adults in underserved areas of Southeast Tennessee.

The four-year award was provided by the Health Resources and Services Administration, a federal agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, through its Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training Program for Professionals. The funding supports UTC’s newly launched B-HIP initiative, an acronym for the project titled “Behavioral Healthcare through InterProfessional Training.”

UC Foundation Professor Elizabeth O’Brien, director of the School of Professional Studies, is the lead PI for the project. Other members of the collaborative team are:

• Mental Health Counseling Program Coordinator and Counselor Education Program Director Kevin Doyle
• School Counseling Program Coordinator Alexandra Frank
• Master of Social Work Program Director Amy Doolittle
• Associate Professor of Social Work Bethany Womack
• School Psychology Program Director Amanda J. Hardin

*   *   *   *   *

Elementary school summer campers recently had the opportunity to experience science firsthand thanks to the Rocket Mocs. The young campers participated in every step of the process, creating, designing, decorating and finally retrieving their rockets after they were launched.

*   *   *   *   *

The “History of Psychology” study abroad course included visits to Sigmund Freud’s homes in both London (pictured) and Vienna.

When 13 UTC students boarded flights to Europe in May, they weren’t just traveling for leisure. They were retracing the roots of modern psychology. The “History of Psychology” course, led by UTC Department of Psychology Assistant Professor Bret Eschman, took the group on a two-week study abroad experience to England, Germany and Austria.

WUTC

Tim Kelly

Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly joined an episode of WUTC’s “Scenic Roots” to discuss land donation on Missionary Ridge, the city’s new budget, affordable housing and new UTC Chancellor Lori Bruce.