June 2-8, 2026

Updates and news for the week of June 2-8, 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. 

UTC News  |  UTC Events Calendar  |  Campus Updates  |  In the Media

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Highlights

UTC advances to final four in U.S. Department of Transportation National Innovation Challenge

Chancellor Lori Bruce, Dr. Mina Sartipi and members of the Center for Urban Informatics and Progress (CUIP).

UTC has been selected as one of only four finalists nationwide in the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Advanced Research Projects Agency-Infrastructure (ARPA-I) Ideas and Innovation Challenge, advancing from a field of 448 submissions from innovators across the country.

UTC is the only university-led team among the competition’s Final Four and will represent higher education on the national stage as finalists compete for a share of $700,000 in prize funding.

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2026-27 Basketball Season Ticket Renewals Open Today

Season ticket renewals for the 2026-27 Chattanooga men’s and women’s basketball seasons open at 10 a.m. today (June 2). Fans who renew by June 30 will be entered to win exclusive experiences, including Mocs Club hospitality access, season-long parking passes, premium suite tickets, courtside warmup access and team-issued memorabilia from the men’s 2025 NIT championship run.

Renewals can be completed online through GoMocs.com or through the UTC Ticket Office at McKenzie Arena. The 2026-27 season will also introduce NFC-enabled mobile tickets and parking passes through the new Mocs Go Mobile platform. For more information, contact the UTC Ticket Office at mocsticketing@utc.edu.

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Corporate Challenge this Saturday

If you’re a bowler, runner, can dodge a ball, good at trivia or the best cornhole player in your neighborhood, we need you to help us score points for UTC in the Chattanooga Corporate Challenge.

UTC is entering a team in this adult field day on Saturday, June 6, at Finley Stadium, competing against companies from all over town. You can score points for the team in events as simple as a one-mile walk or as competitive as a tug-of-war. Click here to learn more. To register, email JAy Blackman.

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Transition from Avaya to RingCentral Phone Services

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.

Outstanding People of UTC

Dr. Lee Williams Weldon

UTC has named Lee Williams Weldon, Ed.D., as its next vice chancellor for advancement and executive director of the UC Foundation, effective July 16. Weldon brings more than 15 years of advancement leadership experience in higher education, campaign strategy and foundation governance, most recently serving as senior associate vice president of development for Miami University and chief development officer for the Miami University Foundation.

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Hamid Andalib’s return to UTC comes on the heels of receiving the 2026 Ellis Island Medal of Honor. Photo by Patrick Mashburn.

Ellis Island Medal of Honor recipient and UTC alumnus A. Hamid Andalib is returning to his alma mater to help prepare the next generation of entrepreneurs through a new teaching role in the Gary W. Rollins College of Business.

Beginning in spring 2027, Andalib will serve as an adjunct instructor for ETR 1010: Entrepreneurship: The Mindset and Skillset, a general education course designed to introduce students across campus to entrepreneurial thinking, innovation and opportunity recognition. The course explores the mindset and skillset needed to think and act entrepreneurially across industries and career paths, including both for-profit and nonprofit organizations.

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The UTC Division of Communications and Marketing earned 11 Tennessee College Public Relations Association Communication Awards at the organization’s annual conference, bringing home five gold, two silver and four bronze honors.

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Check out these Mocs in the news:

• Center for Regional Economic Research Director Howard Wall spoke to Local 3 News about out-of-state migration to Chattanooga. He also spoke to Local 3 about wages in the Chattanooga region.
• College of Nursing Dean Chris Smith joined HOK for a LinkedIn Live about competency-based nursing education.
• Assistant Provost for Student Success Delight Yokley spoke to Jed & JR Mornings about A Moc’s First Year
• Vice Provost for Academic Affairs Elizabeth O’Brien joined Jed & JR Mornings to discuss AI and mental healthcare.

Mark Your Calendar

Research Conflict of Interest (COI) disclosure training will take place at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, June 3, via Zoom. Brandon Williams, research integrity compliance officer, will lead the session covering why disclosure matters, what constitutes a conflict of interest or commitment, the role of a discloser and how to navigate the UT DASH Research COI system.

Faculty, staff, graduate students and affiliated individuals are encouraged to attend. To receive the Zoom link, email Brandon Williams or utcori@utc.edu.

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Faculty and staff are invited to serve, rally and have some fun in the Intramural Pickleball League, running June 8-July 2 at the Aquatic and Recreation Center. Whether you’re a seasoned player or brand new to the game, it’s a great way to unwind, connect and get moving. Games will take place from noon-1 p.m. on Mondays and Thursdays.

Registration is open through Wednesday, June 3, in the Fusion Play app for iPhone and Android. Grab a teammate and join the action.

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Please save the date for 2026 Weeks of Welcome, which will take place Aug. 23-Sept. 5. This year, UTC is moving to a two-week model designed to create more opportunities for students and campus partners to connect while better incorporating events already taking place during the second week of classes, particularly those hosted by student organizations.

Campus departments are not expected to add new events because of the expanded schedule. Instead, the two-week model is intended to provide greater flexibility, reduce scheduling overlap and make it easier for students to explore programs, services, departments and student organizations across campus.

The Center for Student Leadership, Engagement, and Community will share information in early June about submitting events for the Weeks of Welcome calendar and meeting with departments interested in participating. Questions can be directed to engage@utc.edu.

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The UTC Graduate School announced that the following student will be presenting final works of research as an advanced degree candidate. Everyone is invited to attend.

• Tuesday, June 9: Khowshik Dey, ECS Room 415D, 9 a.m., Calendar

Campus Updates

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. today (June 2), through 5 p.m. Wednesday, June 3
• 4 p.m. Tuesday, June 16, through 5 p.m. Friday, June 19
• 4 p.m. Wednesday, June 24, through 5 p.m. Friday, June 26
• 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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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UTC students, faculty and staff can explore the city through the UTC Library’s Chattanooga Passport program, which provides free access to a variety of local attractions and events through community partnerships.

Participants can check out passes or reserve tickets for experiences such as the Tennessee Aquarium, Chattanooga Zoo, Chattanooga Football Club, Tivoli Theatre performances, Chattanooga Symphony and Opera, Hunter Museum of American Art, Ruby Falls and more. Passes may be available in physical or digital formats, with details provided upon reservation.

Each user may reserve one pass or set of tickets per partner per calendar year and must present a valid UTC Mocs ID when redeeming or picking up passes. Click here to learn more and check out passes.

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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. Please contact Deborah McAllister or click this link for project details. 

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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.

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Two new Oracle Fusion Data Intelligence (FDI) reporting resources are now available in DASH, offering enhanced tools for reviewing payroll and labor data. Step-by-step guidance is available through the job aid links, and users can access the dashboards via the FDI Landing Page.

The Payroll Balances – Department Dashboard (roadmap ID #54) allows departments to review and verify payroll totals, pay composition and potential outliers. Replacing the IRIS Check Register, the dashboard provides current information to help identify issues early, prevent errors from carrying forward and reduce the risk of unexpected budget impacts. A brief review after each payroll run is recommended to better understand key payroll drivers, including regular pay, overtime and other variances. Access to this dashboard is limited to users with Human Resources roles.

The Labor Encumbrance Dashboard (roadmap ID #13) provides compensation distribution and encumbrance amounts for compensation, fringe and F&A. The dashboard includes three levels of detail—Department, Project and Person—for streamlined navigation and reporting.

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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.

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UTC is gearing up for a summer full of camps for local K-12 students, with options ranging from quantum computing to sports clinics. Designed to keep students active and engaged, camps are led by UTC faculty, staff and athletics programs and offer opportunities for elementary, middle and high school students to explore new interests and sharpen skills.

• Mocs Adventure Camp (K-8): Weekly sessions June 1-July 31; activities include climbing, swimming, sports and games; $320 per week.
• Challenger Exploration Camp (rising 3rd-6th graders): July 6-31; space missions, coding, robotics, rocket launches and local excursions; $290.50 per week.
• Quantum Summer Camp (rising 10th-12th graders): June 15-18; hands-on exploration of quantum computing and real-world problem-solving; $200.
• Chattanooga Volleyball Camps (various ages): June and July sessions; costs vary.
• Men’s Basketball Camps (ages 7-17): June 22-25 and July 20-23; $310.

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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.

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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

Menekse Adar demonstrates her research in the UTC NeuroTech Lab.

Only a week after commencement, graduate Menekse Adar traveled to Arlington, Texas, to present her graduate research at the Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers (IISE) Annual Conference, funded by a competitive grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF).

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Kimele Carter and Boys and Girls Club of Greater Chattanooga student Brianna Mitchell (photo courtesy of Joni Martin)

The 2026 edition of the UTC Middle School to Mocs Scholars initiative took place May 15 through May 19, with staff and faculty attending eighth-grade Hamilton County Schools promotion ceremonies to celebrate students and share the University’s message.

The program, a joint initiative between UTC and Hamilton County Schools, is meant to help students picture college as part of their future. As part of that effort, every eighth-grade student received a certificate welcoming them to UTC, pending high school graduation and fulfillment of admission requirements for the fall 2030 semester.

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Hope Klug takes students from across her courses to the Tennessee Aquarium. In addition to her research on the Tangerine Darter, Klug and her students have studied lemur behavior.

Research at the UTC extends from campus laboratories into the Chattanooga community. For Dr. Hope Klug, UC Foundation and Guerry Professor in the UTC Department of Biology, Geology and Environmental Science, her research has cultivated a 14-year relationship with the Tennessee Aquarium. The partnership not only advances her research and provides the aquarium with knowledge but also serves as a teaching tool for her students.

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Vanee Patel (white shirt) poses with Olga Eichenberg (left), Dr. Veronica Venezia, Elle Lassiter and Dr. Jejal Bathi at the Tom Eichenberg Scholarship dinner. Photo courtesy of Vanee Patel.

Vanee Patel recently graduated from UTC with a degree in finance. Weeks before, she received the Tom Eichenberg Scholarship through the Cultural Value Leadership Institute, recognizing outstanding leadership and values.

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Mimi White

Research allows students to gain hands-on experience in their field by developing knowledge and skills as they pursue their degrees. For UTC graduate research assistant Mimi White, research has helped her discover a new passion and deepen her understanding of the field as she pursues her Master of Science in Environmental Science.

WUTC

Karen Shostak, director of parks and recreation for Hamilton County; Mitch Patel, founder and CEO of Vision Hospitality Group; Bob Corker, former Chattanooga mayor and former U.S. senator from Tennessee; and Brian Smith, administrator of the City of Chattanooga Parks and Outdoors Department. Photo by Ray Bassett.

A recent episode of WUTC’s “Scenic Roots” featured “The Parkside Podcast,” a discussion on the transformation of Chattanooga’s riverfront, smart growth and the importance of public spaces. Guests included former Chattanooga Mayor and U.S. Sen. Bob Corker and Mitch Patel, founder and CEO of Vision Hospitality Group. The podcast is hosted by Brian Smith of the City of Chattanooga’s Parks and Outdoors and Karen Shostak of Hamilton County Parks and Recreation in collaboration with Ray Bassett of WUTC’s Scenic Roots.