March 11-17, 2025

Updates and news for the week of March 11-17, 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

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Highlights

DOUGLAS STREET AND OAK STREET INTERSECTION TO CLOSE

The intersection of Douglas Street and Oak Street will be temporarily closed beginning this week as part of the Fletcher Hall expansion project.

This long-term closure will reroute vehicular traffic and affect pedestrian access in the area. Douglas Street will be closed from McCallie Avenue to Oak Street, with limited one-way access for Christ Church Episcopal (located at 663 Douglas St.).

Construction fencing will be installed around designated work zones, impacting access to Fletcher Hall (660 Douglas St.) and Alumni House (551 Oak St.). ADA-accessible paths have been adjusted and new detour routes will be put in place to accommodate the closure.

Motorists and pedestrians are advised to plan alternate routes and use caution when navigating near the construction zone. UTC Facilities Planning and Management, in coordination with the Department of Public Safety, will provide updates as needed.

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CHANGES TO ACADEMIC CALENDAR

UTC is making a significant shift in its academic calendar, with changes set to begin in spring 2026 as part of a transition to a new long-term structure.

To prepare for this shift, the spring 2026 semester will start one week later than usual, beginning on Jan. 12, and this adjustment will help bridge the transition to the new calendar—which will start in fall 2026. At that point, the first day of the fall semester will move to the fourth Monday in August and the spring semester will begin the Tuesday after Martin Luther King Jr. Day—except in years when the holiday falls on Jan. 21 (the next time that occurs is in 2030).

To maintain accreditation requirements, class meeting times will increase beginning in fall 2026:

• Classes meeting three times per week will increase from 50 to 55 minutes.
• Classes meeting twice per week will increase from 75 to 85 minutes.
• Lab courses that previously started in the second week of the semester will now begin in Week 1.

To learn more, visit this link.

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NOMINATE OUTSTANDING FACULTY AND STAFF FOR THE ALUMNI AWARDS

Dr. Jose Barbosa

Each year, the University of Tennessee Alumni Association (UTAA) honors outstanding UTC faculty and staff through two prestigious awards: the Outstanding Teacher and Public Service Awards. Each award includes a $1,000 honorarium and an invitation to the reception and dinner of the UTAA Board of Governors. Applications are due Monday, March 31. Click here to nominate.

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SCIENCE ON TAP RETURNS

Science on Tap returns with Dr. Amy Brock-Hon and “Mocs Underground: Advancing Research and Experiential Learning at Raccoon Mountain Caverns.”

Join the discussion from 5-7 p.m. today (March 11) at the Tap House in St. Elmo. Brock-Hon, the Robert Lake Wilson Professor of Geology at UTC, will take Science on Tap participants inside the research and learning opportunities at Raccoon Mountain Caverns, a newly gifted site to UTC.

She’ll explain how studies in the cave may advance understanding of complex karst systems and the unique cave environment. Brock-Hon also will discuss the value of cave research for the community—beyond just UTC students and faculty—and take your questions.

Enjoy free snacks and appetizers, with local brews and other beverages available for purchase at happy hour prices. Additional 10% discount for military, first responders and students with ID. Register here. 

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SEND IN YOUR INFORMATION FOR THE UTC PARENT AND FAMILY ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER

It is again time to recruit campus partners to send in information for the UTC Parent and Family Association newsletter, a monthly roundup distributed to more than 5,400 parents/family members.

To share information with the families of UTC students—upcoming events, important deadlines, helpful suggestions and departmental news—email Hannah Turcotte by 5 p.m. on Monday, March 24. The April newsletter will be emailed to members Wednesday, April 2.

• Please keep info to one paragraph of 200 (or fewer) words.
• Images or logos to accompany the paragraph may be submitted.
• Click here to see a sample of a recent PFA newsletter.

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WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH AT UTC

To honor the sacrifices and changes women have set forth in history, the Center for Women and Gender Equity (WaGE) at the UTC celebrates Women’s History Month throughout March.

Women’s History Month calendar of events include:

• Monday, March 17: Stitch and Bitch, Lupton Hall 118, noon
• Monday, March 24: Gender and Neurodiversity Chat, Disability Resource Center (University Center 352), noon
• Friday, March 28, through Sunday, March 30: Women’s Leadership Academy, Ocoee Retreat Center
• Monday, March 31: Stitch and Bitch, Lupton Hall 118, noon

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Welcome to McKenzie Arena

The UTC McKenzie Arena installed new high-definition digital video boards that are displayed on the outside of the Roundhouse.

Outstanding People of UTC

UTC third-year DPT students Jaimin Rasmussen, Rebecca Sullivan, Candace Ricketts and Lauren Clark took home top honors in the 2025 American Physical Therapy Association Knowledge Bowl.

Third-year UTC DPT students Lauren Clark, Jaimin Rasmussen, Candace Ricketts and Rebecca Sullivan—all set to graduate in May—defeated student teams from some of the nation’s top-ranked DPT programs in winning the APTA Combined Sections Meeting Knowledge Bowl in Houston.

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The 2025 UTC SMILE Fund team (from left): Daniel Goodman, Caden Christenson, Breonna Gandhi, Justice Cardenas and Kyle Leivas.

For the ninth straight year, a team of SMILE Fund students emerged victorious in the CFA Institute Greater Tennessee Research Challenge. The SMILE Fund (Student Managed Investment Learning Experience) group of Gary W. Rollins College of Business undergraduates Justice Cardenas, Caden Christenson, Breonna Gandhi, Daniel Goodman and Kyle Leivas demonstrated financial acumen and research expertise in winning the CFA event held on Feb. 26 in Nashville.

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Photo of Dan Earl, courtesy of Ray Soldano/GoMocs.com

Leading the Chattanooga Mocs men’s basketball team through a historic 2024-25 regular season, head coach Dan Earl was named the Southern Conference Anton Foy Coach of the Year.

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Check out these Mocs making news:

• The Chattanooga Mocs wrestling team took fourth place in a hotly contested Southern Conference Championships at Kimmel Arena in Asheville, North Carolina. The Mocs claimed two titles with Noah Castillo (157 pounds) and Sergio Desiante (174 pounds) both winning their first such titles. Blake Boarman also qualified for the NCAA Championships winning the true second-place match at 133 pounds.
• Assistant Vice Chancellor of Communications and Constituent Relations Amy Donahue was on Jed & JR Mornings to discuss the expansion of the Gary W. Rollins College of Business.
• Billy Weeks, associate professor of photojournalism, was featured in a Times Free Press article about his photo “Southern Exposure.”
• An episode of Jed & JR Mornings featured Manuscripts Archivist Molly Copeland to discuss the UTC Special Collections unveiling of the Chattanooga Lookouts digital collection.
• UTC Center for Regional Economic Research Professor Howard Wall spoke to Local 3 News about local impacts from tariffs on imports.
• Christina Policastro, a UC Foundation associate professor of criminal justice, joined an episode of “3 Plus You” on Local 3 News.
• A Local 3 News story featured Center for Wellbeing Director Megan McKnight ahead of the opioid and overdose prevention session on UTC’s campus.

Mark Your Calendar

Savannah Presson (photo credit: Ray Soldano/GoMocs.com)

This week’s Mocs home athletics calendar:

• Friday, March 14: Women’s tennis vs.Tennessee Wesleyan, UTC Tennis Center, 2 p.m.

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The Center for Wellbeing is offering a monthly line-up of trainings for faculty and staff. 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, March 12: Promoting Healthy Sleep Among Students, Zoom, 11a.m.-noon
• Thursday, March 13: QPR: Question, Persuade, Refer, University Center Room 350, noon-1 p.m. (Lunch will be provided)
• Thursday, March 20: Suicide Prevention Using the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale University Center Room 350, noon-1 p.m. (Lunch will be provided)
• Thursday, March 27: Psychological First Aid, University Center Room 350, noon-1 p.m. (Lunch will be provided)

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Professor M.T. Samuel of the UTC Department of History is offering an LSAT prep workshop for students interested in applying to law school. The four-session workshop will take place on from 4:30-5:45 p.m. on Tuesdays in EMCS 232. Sessions will take place on March 18, March 25, April 1 and April 8.

Students interested in participating should email M.T. Samuel by Sunday, March 16.

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The Meacham Writers’ Workshop, one of UTC’s longest-running literary traditions, will celebrate its 40th anniversary this spring with a series of readings, receptions and special events featuring award-winning writers, UTC alums and emerging voices.

The 2025 Spring Meacham Writers’ Workshop, taking place March 19-22, is free and open to the public—with events held at various locations on the UTC campus and at Stove Works (1250 E. 13th St. in Chattanooga). Since its inception in 1985, the workshop has provided a platform for nationally known authors, local writers, students and novice writers to engage in an open exchange of ideas, works and readings.

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Please join the CAS Access and Inclusive Excellence Committee in celebrating Dr. Amye Warren and her work. For the last four decades, Warren’s work has involved applying lessons from language and cognitive development research to improving educational and justice outcomes for children, adolescents and autistic individuals. Her talk at 7 p.m. on Thursday, March 20, in Lupton Hall Room 120, will discuss the intersectionality between psychology, language and the justice system. A reception will be held afterwards.

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The Department of Chemistry and Physics continues its spring semester seminar series with “Ether Dynamics and Unification of Gravitational and Electromagnetic Forces,” a talk presented by Dr. Ling Jun “Eddie” Wang, professor of physics in the Department of Chemistry and Physics. The event will take place from 3:30-4:15 p.m. on Friday, March 21, in Grote Hall Room 129.

In this talk, based on over 30 years of scholarship at UTC, Wang will present his theory of Ether Dynamics, which unifies the Biot-Savart law and the Lorentz force law in electrodynamics. His research demonstrates that the magnetic field arises from the vorticity of ether and introduces a dynamic gravitational force to complement Isaac Newton’s static gravitational force. This work contributes to the long-standing effort in the physics community to unify gravitational and electromagnetic forces.

For event details, click here.

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Join Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturday, March 22, in Derthick Hall Room 101, for a queer theory film screening of “Angels in America.” This is an opportunity to view both parts of HBO’s broadcast of Tony Kushner’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play.

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Join the Master of Public Health program for Nourishing Minds in Research Bites from 1-2 p.m. on Thursday, March 27, in the Metropolitan Building Room 306. The event, sponsored by Cengage Learning and the HHP Department, will feature presentations by MPH students Emily Holden and Brittany Rogers and faculty member Marissa McElrone. Food and beverages will be provided.

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Join the Women’s History Month Book Club from 2-4 p.m. on Friday, March 28, in the Southern Writer’s Room (Library Room 440) to discuss “The Grace Year” by Kim Liggett.

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The School of Nursing is excited to invite you to the MobileMOC campus celebration from 12:30-3:30 p.m. on Monday, March 31, between Hunter Hall and Chamberlain Field. Stop by to tour our new Medical Outreach Clinic, an interprofessional primary care unit designed to serve older adults and caregivers in rural Tennessee while also providing students with a unique, nontraditional clinical experience. A ribbon cutting will be held at 1:45 p.m.

For more information, text/call (423) 402-0330 or email MobileMOC.

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Business students are invited to an exclusive Unum Luncheon from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. on Wednesday, April 2, at Unum’s downtown office, where they can explore internship and full-time opportunities, network with company representatives and tour the office.

A van is available for 11 students on a first-come, first-served basis, or attendees may drive themselves. Space is limited, so RSVP by emailing Megan Cales by 5 p.m. on Friday, March 28, indicating transportation needs and any dietary restrictions.

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

• Monday (March 17): Berri Rawls, 540 McCallie Room 357, 9 a.m., Calendar
• Monday (March 17): Jared Lambert, Lupton Hall Room 372, 3 p.m., Calendar
• Wednesday (March 19): Collin Kilmer, ECS Room 239, 4 p.m., Calendar
• Friday (March 21): Mark Horlu, Lupton Hall Room 303, 1:30 p.m., Calendar

Campus Updates

For spring break, planning ahead is key to ensuring a safer and enjoyable experience. Here are some essential tips from the Center for Wellbeing:

• Research your destination ahead of time, find reliable accommodations and share your itinerary with family or friends. You can also research local emergency services and resources near your destination.
• If you are 21 and plan to drink, pace yourself by alternating alcoholic beverages with water and knowing your limits. Staying with friends and using the buddy system ensures no one is left alone. It’s also important to be aware of local laws, as alcohol regulations may vary by destination.
• Taking care of your health is essential while traveling. Stay hydrated and wear sunscreen, as dehydration and sun exposure can catch up quickly. Eating regularly helps prevent fatigue and getting enough sleep ensures better decision making and reaction time.
• Carrying a first aid kit with pain relievers, Band-Aids and any necessary medications can also be useful in case of minor injuries. We recommend also carrying Narcan and fentanyl testing strips, especially if you or your friends are using anything besides alcohol or cannabis.

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Details for the Spring 2025 CHAIN (Chattanooga’s Artificial Intelligence Network) Lunch and Learn Series have been posted. From practical applications to the future of the AI landscape, you’ll learn how to utilize AI in your business and in your life while networking with peers in the Chattanooga area.

Monthly sessions will be held at 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. on Thursdays through May, and lunch is included. Check out the CHAIN webpage or call the Center for Professional Education (423-425-4344) to register or for more info. The cost is $25 per session. Departments may pay with a transfer voucher after registration.

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The Humanities Program invites all UTC undergraduates to participate in the North Callahan Essay Prize, awarded each year to an undergraduate whose exceptionally fine essay addresses a subject related to the Humanities (art, music, philosophy, religion, rhetoric/literature, history, theater, or interdisciplinary studies that combine these disciplines). Essays will be evaluated by an interdisciplinary committee of professors. The prize carries a $1,000 award.

Funding for the award is provided by an endowment established by the late Dr. North Callahan, distinguished professor emeritus of history at New York University, author of 17 books and an alumnus of the University of Chattanooga.

Essays must be submitted by 5 p.m. on Friday, March 21. Click here for the submission form PDF. Email Jose Luis Gastanaga with questions and to submit the essay.

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The Center for Wellbeing is launching 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.

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WUTC 88.1 FM, Chattanooga’s NPR station, is excited to announce changes to its program schedule. These updates are designed to provide a more seamless listening experience by offering longer blocks of music and talk programming, while also introducing new local shows to the lineup.

Listeners can look forward to an expanded roster of locally produced programs, including:

• “Tuesday Bluesday” with Jhett Black
• “Grateful Dead Monday” with Chants In The Void
• “Scenic Sounds” with Alex Volz
• “All Request Chattanooga” with Alex Volz
• “The Moonlight Mile” with Clark Gibson
• “Night Drive” with Sara Mirucki
• The return of “Please Be Quiet Please” with Josh and Jeremy Pickard
• “Chord Drift” with Paul Jorgensen
• “Signal and Nosie” with Brandon Herring

Popular WUTC programs like “The Richard Winham Show” and “Scenic Roots” with Ray Bassett will continue in their familiar time slots, with some expansions to better serve audiences. “The Haley Solomon Show” is now airing live from 1-3 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Learn more and view the full schedule here.

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Starting in June, rising second to sixth graders in the Challenger Exploration Camp will have the opportunity to participate in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) challenges, rocket launches and explorations of space and Earth. Each day, campers can also go on excursions to locations such as the Chattanooga Zoo, the UTC Aquatic and Recreation Center, the Clarence T. Jones Observatory and the National Medal of Honor Heritage Center.

To learn more about the Challenger STEM Learning Center and to access a link to the Challenger Exploration Camp, visit this link.

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Registration is now open for Mocs Adventure Camp, a summer experience filled with adventure, exploration and fun. Designed for rising first through eighth graders, the camp takes place at the UTC Aquatic and Recreation Center and offers a mix of outdoor activities, team-building experiences and skill development, all led by experienced and enthusiastic staff. The cost is $300 per week.

Camp dates:

• Week 1: June 2-6
• Week 2: June 9-13
• Week 3: June 16-20
• Week 4: June 23-27
• Week 5: July 7-11
• Week 6: July 14-18
• Week 7: July 21-25
• Week 8: July 28-Aug. 1

Spots fill up quickly, so don’t miss out on an unforgettable summer. Visit utc.edu/mocs-adventure-camp to register. For questions, contact Mocs Adventure Camp or call 423-425-4213.

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UTC Aquatics is now hiring lifeguards for summer 2025. Applicants must be 16 years or older, pass all lifeguard prerequisites, be able to teach swimming lessons (training provided) and must have American Red Cross Lifeguard Certification. If applicants can work all summer, certification can be provided.

Lifeguards will make $13 an hour. Contact Kate Dennis if interested.

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UTC students, faculty and staff can try out a subscription to Ground News thanks to the UTC Library.

Ground News is a platform that makes it easy to compare news sources, read between the lines of media bias and break free from algorithms. Nearly 60,000 articles from publications around the world are compiled every day, and users can explore political biases, factuality and ownership data from just about every news organization. Users can also take advantage of the Blindspot feature to see stories covered by different sides of the political spectrum.

To sign up:

• Make sure you are connected to UTC Wi-Fi or logged in to a computer on the UTC network.
• Visit https://ground.news/register or download the Ground News app in the App Store or Google Play.
• Use your own e-mail and password. No need to use the “Continue with Institution” feature.

Trial access ends on Saturday, March 22. If you have any questions, feedback or would like to see this resource stick around, please contact us via e-mail.

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UTC Campus Recreation provides a variety of ways to stay active, from fitness classes and outdoor adventures to intramural sports, weightlifting and club sports. The Campus Recreation office, located in the Aquatics and Recreation Center, is open to anyone interested in learning more about available programs. Full-time faculty and staff memberships are $25 per month and can be set up as a payroll deduction.

Current opportunities include intramural registration for 7×7 soccer, indoor pickleball and indoor volleyball. Campus Recreation is also hiring lifeguards for the summer. Those interested can contact Kate Dennis for more information.

UTC Newsroom

Music students Collin Sutton, Emily Bruce, Christian Cantrell, Bradley Bee and Remington Prado-Bonner and Associate Professor Ali Allerton (yellow top) surround DuPont Elementary School music teacher Lauren Cardenas after presenting her with a gift of $1,042 for school supplies.

A heartwarming surprise awaited UTC alum Lauren Cardenas when she walked into her DuPont Elementary School music room on Friday, Feb. 28. Members of UTC’s Music Educators Social Society student organization, accompanied by the group’s faculty advisor—Associate Professor Ali Allerton—had come to DuPont to present her with more than $1,000 raised to support her classroom.

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Jess Harris (left) and Billy Weeks on the Photo Night stage in the Roland Hayes Concert Hall.

With nearly 500 people in attendance, the UTC Department of Communication hosted its ninth Photo Night on Wednesday, March 5, celebrating student storytelling and featuring speakers like UTC alum Jess Harris.

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Spot, left, and Goddard

On a recent Friday morning, two robot dogs—Spot and Goddard—roamed across the Chamberlain Field grass as UTC Associate Professor of Mechatronics Gokhan Erdemir and two student researchers captured movement data. Their goal? Refining an artificial intelligence-driven control system to make the robots’ motions more closely resemble those of real dogs.

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Here are some other recent UTC stories featured in the Newsroom:

• A December 2024 graduate of UTC’s Bachelor of Applied Science in Information Technology in Cybersecurity program (BAS-IT CyS), Cecily Holland’s transition from restaurants to IT shows what’s possible with persistence and adaptability.
• “Economics and Etiquette” was organized by Dr. Claudia Kramer, the Scott L. Probasco Jr. Distinguished Chair of Free Enterprise, whose mission “is to study the American free enterprise system and the conditions under which it operates most efficiently, engage in high-level scholarly research and contribute to the public knowledge and understanding of economic theory and practice.”
• Last summer, two UTC students—Grace Allen and Stephen Scott— traveled abroad for the first time. It wasn’t a vacation, though. The pair spent two weeks in Thuringia, Germany, participating in a workshop with students from around the world at Mittelbau-Dora—a concentration camp that saw tens of thousands of enslaved inmates during World War II.

WUTC

Jennifer Andrews (photo credit: Chattanooga 2.0)

Jennifer Andrews, director of early childcare strategies for the nonprofit Chattanooga 2.0, joined an episode of “Scenic Roots” on WUTC-FM 88.1.

IN Memoriam

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This section is reserved for memorial announcements of current and former UTC employees as the Office of Communications and Marketing becomes aware. To publish an announcement, a publicly available obituary must be provided. Please send any announcements to Vice Chancellor JAy Blackman at jay-blackman@utc.edu.