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Updates and news for the week of March 5-11, 2024
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 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.
UTC Celebrates Women’s History Month
 Image credit: Wahyu Arfiansyah March is Women’s History Month, and the Center for Women and Gender Equity is honoring and celebrating women’s contributions to history throughout the month. Check the Women’s History Month events calendar for a complete listing of activities.
This week’s events include:
- Today (March 5): Barbie Screening—in collaboration with the Office of Student and Family Engagement, Lupton Hall Room 120, 5 p.m.
- Wednesday (March 6): Run the World Luncheon, University Center Tennessee Room, noon (by RSVP only)
UTAA Outstanding Teacher and Public Service Awards
 2023 UTAA winners (from left): Dr. Karen Babine, Dr. Spencer Usrey and Dr. Jamie Harvey The University of Tennessee Alumni Association (UTAA) seeks nominations for two Outstanding Teacher Awards and one Public Service Award for UTC. The outstanding teachers must be full-time faculty and exhibit exceptional engagement in the classroom. The public service award is available for faculty or staff and aims to recognize someone whose service to our community goes above and beyond the standard to advance UTC.
Each winner will receive a $1,000 award and recognition at the UTAA Alumni Board of Governors’ reception at the end of May 2024. Applications are due by Sunday, March 31.
Nominate Students for the Annual Blue and Gold Awards
Many students have worked hard this academic year, and the annual Blue and Gold Awards celebrate those achievements. This year’s Blue and Gold Award ceremony will take place at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, April 3, in the University Center Tennessee Room.
The Student Government Association (SGA) invites nominations of students or student organizations deserving of an award:
In addition, we encourage departmental, office, programmatic or student organization awards to be presented at the ceremony:
If you have any questions, please contact SGA Student Affairs and Academic Support Chairperson Jordan Fall at hhl476@mocs.utc.edu.
Smart Cities Awards
UTC’s Quantum Initiative and the UTC Research Institute have been named finalists in the IDC Government Insights seventh annual Smart Cities North America Awards. The awards were designed to recognize the progress North American municipalities have made in executing Smart Cities projects, as well as provide a forum for sharing best practices to help accelerate Smart City development in the region. As the next step in the nomination process, IDC invites the public to vote on the finalists, and voting is open through Friday (March 8).
The outstanding people of UTC
The fall 2024 “A Moc’s First Year” roster of first-year experience courses, including the faculty and staff who will be teaching them, has been launched.
“A Moc’s First Year” will connect current and new initiatives toward a centralized learning community model that increases student and faculty interaction, the sense of community on campus, new students’ connectedness to Chattanooga, and overall UTC student success.
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Check out these Mocs making a difference:
- For the eighth consecutive year, a UTC SMILE Fund student group won the CFA Greater Tennessee Research Challenge. The 2024 team, comprised of seniors Blade Kisler and Ava Kelton and sophomores TJ Lowe and Ryan Rinker, beat out student groups from 10 other universities. The SMILE Fund faculty mentor is Robert L. Maclellan and UC Foundation Associate Professor of Finance Hunter Holzhauer, and Ray Ryan is the industry mentor.
- Forty teams from 37 collegiate institutions—including UTC—are advancing to the final stage of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Solar Decathlon 2024 Design Challenge based on their cutting-edge, zero-energy building designs. Finalist teams will compete to win their division—and to become the overall grand winner—at the hybrid Solar Decathlon Competition Event April 19–21 at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, Colorado.
- Center for Wellbeing Assistant Director Jami Hargrove was interviewed for a Times Free Press story about naloxone kits.
- Students Katie Mullins and Nancy Tillman and Steve Ray, head of the Department of Theatre, were on The Daily Refresh to talk about “9 to 5 the Musical.”
- Safety and Risk Management Director Bob Jackson and the Safe Mocs app were featured in a Local 3 News report about campus safety.
Mark your calendar
UTC faculty and staff are hitting the road on Tuesday, March 19, making the six-mile trek to Chattanooga State Community College for our latest Power C Tour event.
Chatt State students will get the opportunity to network with faculty, advisors, financial aid experts and current students and learn about the seamless transition to pursuing a bachelor’s degree at UTC. Click here to learn more.
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The Gary W. Rollins College of Business will hold virtual information sessions about UTC’s Master of Business Administration, MS Data Analytics, MS Management and Master of Accountancy graduate programs. The Rollins College of Business graduate degree programs provide flexible course options and career advancement resources to elevate your education and propel your career.
MSDA Information Sessions
MBA Information Sessions
MAcc Information Sessions
MS Management Session
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Leadership Development and Programs presents a session with Brandon Clift, a master trainer and coach, from 4:15-5:30 p.m. today (March 5) in the University Center Chickamauga Room.
With 10-plus years of elite coaching experience, Clift focuses on transforming the way leaders connect with their teams, organizations, committees and communities. Students, faculty and staff will walk away with applicable tips that they can use to appropriately motivate and recognize their teams.
Food will be provided at the session and RSVP is highly encouraged. Email Daniel-Grzesik@utc.edu, the director of Leadership Development and Programs, with questions.
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The Department of Political Science and Public Service invites the UTC community to our spring Sweet Research series, where we share our research along with dessert. All events are on Wednesdays from noon-12:50 p.m. in 540 McCallie Building Room 462D (PSPS suite).
- Wednesday, March 6: Dr. Jeremy Strickler, “Beyond the ‘Two Presidencies’: A Developmental Perspective”
- Wednesday, March 20: Dr. Hassan Afzal, “Navigating through Educational Pathways to Political Participation”
- Wednesday, March 27 (Student Edition): Sophia Chrisco, “How Misinformation Regarding Covid-19 Caused a Decline in Childhood Vaccination Rates in the United States,” and Kristina Thompson, “Asian American Women: Political Prowess and Effective Participation”
- Wednesday, April 3: Dr. Sarah Heise, “The Left-Right Spectrum: Another Look at Ideology and Partisan Sorting in the United States”
- Wednesday, April 10: Dr. Christopher Horne, “Christian Public Administrators’ Integration of Faith and Work”
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The College of Engineering and Computer Science continues its Distinguished Speaker Series with a visit from Chip Baker starting at 3:30 p.m. on Thursday (March 7) in the Maytag Conference Room (ECS Room 426). The topic of his talk is “A Dialogue Surrounding the Intersection of Health Care and Engineering.”
Baker is president of Crestcom International, a leadership training partner for firms ranging from small and medium-sized businesses to Fortune 500 enterprises. He has 37 years of health care administration experience.
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Have you wanted to learn basic Spanish? Here is your chance to jumpstart your learning in a low-pressure, social setting.
The College of Arts and Sciences is offering UTC faculty and staff a free six-week Beginning Conversational Spanish course. The class will meet from 12:15-1:30 p.m. on Thursdays from March 21 until April 25 in Lupton Hall Room 240. Participants should plan to bring their lunch to class; drinks and dessert will be provided. Dr. Jorge Correa Londoño will be your course instructor.
The primary language curriculum will focus on conversational skills, including greetings/personal introductions and courtesy expressions; university life; family; talking about yourself and others; discussing work and careers; and food. Course materials and participation are free, but the program has only 20 spots available. To enroll, click here and complete the registration form by Monday, March 18.
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Sponsored by the George C. Connor Professorship of American Literature and the UTC Department of English, the Take Five 2024 lineup explores what it means to be educated in the modern world.
Take Five sessions occur Tuesday nights at 6 p.m. in the University Center Chattanooga Room. Each session will offer a light dinner, and no RSVP is necessary. Upcoming spring dates:
- Tuesday, March 19: Dr. Victoria Bryan presents R.F. Kuang’s “Babel, or the Necessity of Violence”
- Tuesday, April 9: Dr. Bryan Hampton presents Julie Schumacher’s “Dear Committee Members”
All books are available through online retailers and at the UTC Bookstore (423-425-4107). Contact Aaron-Shaheen@utc.edu with questions.
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The UTC Center for Professional Education is offering a seven-week Project Management Professional (PMP) Exam Prep Course from March 19 through May 2. The course will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5:30-8 p.m. ET via Zoom.
Many project managers, program managers, team leads and administrators pursue the globally recognized PMP certification to boost their professional credibility, increase their earning potential, gain a project management framework and develop risk-ready skills.
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Join UTC Veteran and Military Affairs for a celebration of women veterans. A buffet lunch event, open to staff, faculty and students, will take place from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 20, in the University Center Tennessee Room. Come meet women veterans and learn about their military service and unique experiences. Please RSVP as seating may be limited.
The guest speaker is Cmdr. Elaine Brunelle (U.S. Navy, Retired). Cmdr. Brunelle served for 10 years as an enlisted airman in the U.S. Air Force and was commissioned as a Surface Warfare Officer in the U.S. Navy after earning her bachelor’s degree.
Veteran and Military Affairs is gathering photos of women veterans in uniform or during their service to be featured at the luncheon. Photos may be sent to vma@utc.edu.
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Join UTC’s Commission on the Status of Women for a free luncheon from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. on Wednesday, March 20, in the University Center Chattanooga Room. The conversation with health care and psychology experts specializing in women’s issues will explore how topics like aging, regenerative medicine, sexual health and more can impact our daily lives.
The Commission welcomes all UTC faculty, staff and students to this luncheon. Click here to RSVP.
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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 3 p.m. on Friday, March 22. Click here for the submission form PDF. Email jose-luis-gastanaga@utc.edu with questions and to submit the essay.
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On Thursday, April 11, the College of Arts and Sciences will be co-hosting Pulitzer-Prize-winning author and sociologist Matthew Desmond in collaboration with the Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga. Desmond’s latest book, “Poverty, By America,” reached #1 on the New York Times best sellers list shortly after its release; his book “Evicted” won a Pulitzer Prize.
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The 2024 Technology Symposium, hosted by the UTC College of Engineering and Computer Science, will be held on Monday, April 15, in the University Center Tennessee Room.
The Technology Symposium showcases innovative research projects conducted across multiple disciplines, including engineering, engineering technology management and computer science. Students at all education levels, educators, business and industry representatives, entrepreneurs and the general public are welcome. There is no cost to attend.
Notice of Final Defense: Upcoming Research Presentations
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.
- Wednesday (March 6): Ciara Carl, 540 McCallie Building Room 394, 2:30 p.m., Calendar
- Thursday (March 7): Laura Wright, ECS Room 440C, 10 a.m., Calendar
- Thursday (March 7): Arielle Nord, Lupton Hall Room 373, 12:30 p.m., Calendar
- Friday (March 8): Daniel Acosta Soba, Online via Google Meet, 10 a.m., Calendar
- Friday (March 8): Amira Marquez Moreno, 540 McCallie Building Room 394, 1 p.m., Calendar
- Friday (March 8): Julia Anglin, 540 McCallie Building Room 357, 2:30 p.m., Calendar
Campus Updates
Search committee orientation is a critical component of UTC’s hiring process. What was previously conducted via Zoom as search committee training has transitioned to a new and refreshed self-paced asynchronous online training module that can easily be accessed in K@TE through this link: Faculty and Exempt Staff Search Committee Orientation.
This shift ensures a more streamlined process, consistency in content, accessibility and convenience for all participants. It emerged as a collaboration between the Office of Equity and Inclusion and Human Resources and underscores our institutional commitment to continuous improvement in fostering an inclusive and equitable hiring environment at UTC.
Faculty and exempt staff members serving on search committees must undergo search committee orientation every two years if they plan to participate in the hiring process for positions at UTC. It is not required for non-exempt staff searches but is highly recommended. For more information, click here. Email oei@utc.edu with questions, comments or concerns.
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Scrappy’s Cupboard needs you! Inventory is low and use has increased. Please consider donating non-perishable food and personal care items. Donations are accepted in University Center Suite 399.
If you are interested in hosting a food drive, please email ScrappysCupboard@utc.edu.
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Just like UTC employees submit a ticket to IT when help is needed, the Communications and Marketing team is excited to announce our own ticketing system. The growing service catalog list includes:
- Submissions for the Campus Weekly Newsletter.
- Request a publication number for campus-related print communication.
- Request a story be published in the UTC Newsroom.
- Logos and electronic letterhead for your college, department or unit.
- University-related graphic creations.
- Request campus-related photography.
- Request campus-related video creations.
- General inquiries if you are unsure of what you need.
Each service request provides prompts to help you submit a ticket. A team member will contact you with questions and/or next steps so that you will hear from a human within a business day. Bookmark this link and share it with folks around campus.
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Friday Nights are Family Nights at the ARC. Every Friday from 5-7 p.m., UTC families are invited to swim, climb (5-6 p.m. only) and use our basketball courts. Our outdoors staff will teach the basics of climbing and belay youth on the wall from 5-6 p.m. Bring your family and come play at UTC Campus Rec.
The cost: Free for members; $10 per person for faculty/staff/alumni non-members and their families and guests. For more information about youth programs available through Campus Recreation, visit our new webpage.
For more information about membership options or Friday Family Nights, contact Colleen-DeMarco@utc.edu.
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Injured in intramurals? Tweaked something in the gym? Back and neck soreness from hours of studying? Just need guidance getting back to your favorite activities? Check out UTC’s free physical therapy clinic.
The Pro Bono Physical Therapy clinic, located in the Mapp Building, is staffed by UTC Doctor of Physical Therapy students and professors and is 100% free. Clinic hours are 8 a.m.-noon on Tuesdays and 1-5 p.m. on Thursdays. Call University Health Services at 423-425-2266 or email ptclinic@utc.edu for more information.
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It’s never too early to think about summer camp! Mocs basketball is hosting a kids camp for girls and boys ages 7-14 on June 24-27. Camp sessions will run from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. daily.
The cost is $260, including T-shirt and meals, and discounts are available for early bird signups, siblings and UTC employees. To register, visit chattanoogawomensbasketballcamps.com.
For questions, email tyler-r-clark@utc.edu.
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The UTC Volleyball program is offering a 10% discount to all faculty, staff and students for the following volleyball summer camps:
Click here to register online. For more information, contact julie-torbettthomas@utc.edu.
Looking ahead
The UTC basketball games are headed to Asheville, North Carolina, this weekend for the Ingles SoCon Basketball Championships. Check out GoMocs.com for schedule information.
This week’s Mocs home athletics calendar:
- Today (March 5): Softball vs. Georgia State, Frost Stadium, 5 p.m.
Looking back
During the 2024 spring semester, a collaboration between the UTC pre-health advising program, Erlanger and the University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Medicine – Chattanooga is providing a new opportunity for students to gain much-needed and hard-to-find job shadowing experience. From early February through late April, 76 UTC students spanning 11 majors are getting the opportunity to job shadow in the Erlanger Baroness Hospital Emergency Department, obtaining valuable experience watching emergency room doctors and other medical personnel in action.
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 Photos courtesy of Emma Sprayberry Emma Sprayberry’s senior year is filled with traveling and perfecting her resume. While at UTC, Sprayberry has studied in Korea, Germany, Canada, and Spain and is Panama-bound for a study-abroad opportunity in March. How has she managed all the traveling? Sprayberry utilized study abroad resources available at the Center of Global Education (CGE) and applied for programs aligned with her academic and professional aspirations.
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Here are some other recent UTC stories featured in the Newsroom:
WUTC Spotlight: Photo Night
The Department of Communication will present its eighth annual Photo Night at 6 p.m. on Wednesday (March 6) in the UTC Fine Arts Center’s Roland Hayes Concert Hall. Presentations will include Atlanta Braves team photographer Kevin D. Liles, documentary photographer Kathleen Greeson, award-winning Associated Press photographer Wade Payne, UTC alum Marielle Echavez Mathis and associate lecturer and award-winning photographer Billy Weeks.
Photo Night was the focus of a recent segment on WUTC-FM’s Scenic Roots featuring a conversation with Weeks and students Bethany Cothran, Olivia Smith and Taylor McKinley.
Spring Ahead
Daylight saving time will begin at 2 a.m on Sunday (March 10). Don’t forget to spring FORWARD one hour.
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