November 10-16, 2026
Updates and news for the week of November 10-16, 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
UTC Named Top Veteran School
UTC has been named a Top Veteran School by U.S. Veterans Magazine, recognizing UTC’s continued commitment to supporting veterans, military-connected students and their educational success.
The recognition appears in the magazine’s November 2026 issue, available in print and digital formats. U.S. Veterans Magazine identifies schools that demonstrate long-term commitment, measurable impact and support for veterans and transitioning service members.
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Mocs rewind to Y2K for Homecoming 2026
 Homecoming King Mason Lowe (left) and Homecoming Queen Jayda Turner pose with Chancellor Lori Bruce. UTC brought back the early 2000s for Homecoming 2026. The week of Y2K festivities wrapped up on Saturday when the Mocs faced Mercer University at Finley Stadium. Although UTC lost to the Bears 14-7 in overtime, the clear fall weather and Homecoming activities kept spirits high.
Jayda Turner and Mason Lowe took the crowns as UTC’s 2026 Homecoming Queen and King. The awards announcement, held during halftime of the football game, included the presentation of Public Service awards to Samantha Hite and Rachel Smalley.
Smalley, a sophomore business administration major from Lilburn, Georgia, is a Brock Scholar in the Honors College with a minor in nonprofit administration/public administration. She serves as community service specialist and director of philanthropy for Alpha Delta Pi sorority, where she has helped organize events supporting Ronald McDonald House Charities. She also serves on the Greek Cru executive board and as a Young Life leader. Her volunteer work includes Hurricane Helene relief efforts, IRONMAN Chattanooga and Scrappy’s Cupboard, among other organizations.
Hite, a senior pre-professional exercise and health science major from Mount Juliet, Tennessee, serves as a resident assistant, physiology supplemental instruction leader and campus ambassador. She is also involved in Sigma Kappa sorority, the Pre-Occupational and Physical Therapy Society, and Students Providing Aid.
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Millennium magic: A MOCS2K photo gallery
MOCS2K brought back flip phones, roller skates, CD artwork and early-2000s music to showcase school spirit. Photos in this gallery include UTC football facing Virginia Military Institute at Finley Stadium; the unveiling of the Homecoming Court; a Party Like a Moc-Star block party; banner and window painting; Donut Stop the Music; Terrell Owens’ return to campus; lip sync battles photographed by Ashlyn Yoes; and the Nov. 7 Homecoming game against Mercer. Click the link for the Flickr gallery.
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Volunteer for Blue and Gold Preview Day
Help welcome future Mocs to campus by volunteering for Blue and Gold Preview Day on Saturday, Nov. 14. Student volunteers will guide prospective students and families between campus tour stops, share their UTC experiences and help throughout the day. No tour guide experience is necessary.
Volunteers will receive a free T-shirt and lunch voucher, approximately four volunteer hours and priority consideration for students interested in becoming a UTC Campus Ambassador.
Interested students must attend one required information session at 4 p.m. today (Nov. 10) or Wednesday, Nov. 11, in the Admissions Tour Center on the second floor of the University Center, across from the POD Market. For questions, contact Nevaeh Morris.
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UTC advances proposed 90-credit-hour degrees
UTC is advancing plans for two proposed 90-credit-hour bachelor’s degrees designed to expand access to workforce-focused higher education in Tennessee. The proposed programs are designed to recognize professional training, reduce the cost of earning a degree and create career advancement opportunities for law enforcement and corrections professionals.
The Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC) has determined that UTC’s proposed 90-credit-hour programs in Police Science and Corrections Science meet the criteria for focused baccalaureate degrees, allowing the University to begin the formal academic program approval process.
Outstanding People of UTC
 Dr. Venkatesh Pulletikurthi Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering Venkatesh Pulletikurthi arrived at UTC in August. Within weeks, he learned that research he began at Purdue University had resulted in a U.S. patent, opening another path for his work on urban airflows and energy sustainability for nextGen cities.
Pulletikurthi is one of five inventors on U.S. Patent No. 12,746,507 B2, issued for a “carbon capture entrainment system and method.” The work asks a practical question: What if wind turbines could do more than generate electricity?
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UTC’s RN-BSN Gateway Program has been ranked No. 3 in RNtoMSN.org’s 2027 ranking of the best online RN to BSN programs in Tennessee.
The ranking recognizes UTC’s 100% online program for registered nurses who want to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing while continuing to work and meet family responsibilities. The RN-BSN Gateway program includes 22 nursing credit hours completed over three semesters, or 12 months.
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Check out these Mocs in the news:
- Dr. Murat Barisik, director of the Nanoengineering Center and an associate professor of mechanical engineering, spoke to the Times Free Press about a $600,000 award to contribute advanced computational modeling expertise to an Army-supported research project
- Clinical Assistant Professor of Social Work Mary Andrews joined Jed & JR Mornings to discuss volunteering for the Remote Area Medical Clinic during their visit to Chattanooga.
- Associate Professor of Political Science Jeremy Strickler spoke to Jed & JR Mornings and the Times Free Press about the midterm election results.
- Associate Professor of Political Science Sarah Heise spoke to NewsChannel 9 about the midterm election results.
- UTC alumnus and Pro Football Hall of Fame wide receiver Terrell Owens discussed Homecoming Week activities on NewsChannel 9.
- Director of the Clarence T. Jones Observatory Steven Kline spoke to Jed & JR Mornings and the Times Free Press about the “Lights Out Chattanooga” event at Greenway Farm Park.
- Data gathered on degus in central Chile by Dr. Loren Hayes, a professor in the Department of Biology, Geology and Environmental Science, was featured in EurekAlert.
Mark Your Calendar
 Photo credit: Ray Soldano This week’s Mocs home athletics calendar:
- Sunday, Nov. 15: Women’s Basketball vs. Lipscomb University, McKenzie Arena, 2 p.m.
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The Department of Philosophy and Religion will continue its “What’s the Big Idea?” faculty talk series with Dr. Jonathan Yaeger’s presentation, “Was America Founded as a Christian Nation?” from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. today (Nov. 10) in Lupton Hall Room 235. The event is open to all, and pizza will be provided.
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The Gary W. Rollins College of Business will hold virtual information sessions for the Master of Business Administration, MS Management, MS Data Analytics, Business Analytics Certificate, and Master of Accountancy graduate programs. The Rollins College of Business graduate programs provide flexible course options and exclusive career support resources to elevate your education and advance your career.
MAcc Information Sessions
MSM Information Sessions
MSDA Information Sessions
MBA Information Sessions
Business Analytics Certificate Information Sessions
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The Gary W. Rollins College of Business has upcoming events and opportunities focused on entrepreneurship, artificial intelligence and the economy.
- Today (Nov. 10): The Economic Impact of AI, hosted by the Probasco Chair, will take place from 3:30-5 p.m. in Fletcher Hall Room 200. Bitcoin expert Jimmy Song will explore how advances in AI are reshaping productivity and the modern economy, including potential effects on growth, incentives and long-term economic trends.
- Tuesday, Nov. 17: Ladder or Lottery will take place at 4:25 p.m. in Derthick Hall. Dr. Gary Hoover will draw from his book to explore economic mobility, the social contract and how much control people have over their position on the economic spectrum.
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Learn about the “Doing Business in Germany” study abroad course for spring 2027 during a virtual information session at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 11, via Zoom. Open to all UTC students with no prerequisites, the course includes a two-week study trip to Berlin, Wolfsburg and Cologne in May 2027 and is led by Dr. Michael Jones, senior associate dean of the Gary W. Rollins College of Business.
Students earn three credit hours on the undergraduate level (MGT 4950) or graduate level (MGT 5950). For more information, contact COBInternational@utc.edu or visit COB International Programs.
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The Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Geography will welcome Dr. Aldon D. Morris, Leon Forrest Emeritus Professor of Sociology and Black Studies at Northwestern University, for “Democracy in Crisis: Why We Need Emancipatory Sociology” at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 11, in the Guerry Center Reading Room.
Morris is the award-winning author of “The Origins of the Civil Rights Movement” and “The Scholar Denied: W.E.B. Du Bois and the Birth of Modern Sociology.” A book signing will follow the lecture.
The event is free and open to the public. Sponsors include the Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Geography; Africana Studies Program; Urban Studies Program; Black Faculty and Staff Association; Alpha Kappa Delta Sociology Honor Society; Department of Political Science and Public Service; and Division of Access and Engagement.
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The UTC Quantum Center will continue its Quantum Colloquium Series with Dr. Mohandas Pillai, assistant professor of mathematics at UTC, from 4-5 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 12, in UTC Library Room 201.
Pillai will present “Near Soliton Dynamics for the Critical, 2-Equivariant Schrödinger Map Problem,” discussing collaborative research on soliton dynamics and recent progress related to the Landau-Lifshitz equation for ferromagnets.
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The Department of Chemistry, Career Connections and the American Chemical Society will host Chemistry Career Night from 6-8 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 12, in Lupton Hall Room 120.
Local chemical industry representatives will discuss their career paths and the role of chemists in their companies. The event will include a Q&A and opportunities for job seekers to learn about local jobs and internships. Pizza and salad will be provided. Visit MocSync for more information.
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The Department of Mathematics’ Math Colloquium Series will feature William Erickson on Friday, Nov. 13, sharing his work, followed by a Q&A and conversation from 3:30-4:30 p.m. in Lupton Hall Room 393.
Undergraduate and graduate students, faculty and anyone curious about mathematics are invited to attend, ask questions and connect with the Math community.
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The Department of Biology, Geology and Environmental Science is hosting its fall 2026 seminar series every Monday from 12:40-1:35 p.m. in Holt Hall Room 229. Events are open to all.
Fall 2026 speakers include:
- Nov. 16: Ryan Davenport, University of New Hampshire
- Nov. 23: Dr. Jane Kenney-Hunt, Department of Biology, Valparaiso University
- Nov. 30: Speaker to be announced
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Scrappy’s Market will offer free, fresh produce to students from 2-4 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 17, on Vine Street near Derthick Hall or in the University Center second-floor lobby, depending on weather. Check MocSync for location updates.
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 The cast of the UTC Theatre Co.’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” includes Thatcher Schulmeister (left) as Robin Goodfellow/Puck and Jacob Belcher as Nick Bottom. Photo courtesy of UTC Theatre Co. The UTC Theatre Co.’s production of William Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” takes audiences from the ordered city of Athens into an enchanted forest where lovers, fairies and amateur actors collide.
Directed by Assistant Professor of Acting and Directing Drew Davidson, the production will be presented at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 17-21, with a 2 p.m. matinee on Saturday, Nov. 21, in the Dorothy Hackett Ward Theatre at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Fine Arts Center.
Tickets can be purchased online by clicking here and through the UTC Fine Arts Center Box Office, either in person or by phone at 423-425-4269. Tickets are $20 for general admission (plus service fees) and $15 for students with a valid student ID and seniors.The Fine Arts Center is located at 752 Vine St. Parking is available in the adjacent Lupton Hall Parking Garage (700 Vine St.).
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The UTC Center for Applied Geospatial Data Science and the City of Chattanooga GIS Division will co-host Chattanooga GIS Day 2026 from 10-11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 18, in the Multidisciplinary Research Building Auditorium, 701 E. M.L. King Blvd.
Andrew J. Van Slyke, an underwater archaeologist specializing in shipwrecks and maritime cultural landscapes, will present “Submerged Landscapes and Sunken Ships: Mapping the Underwater Cultural Heritage.” The presentation will explore how geospatial technology, marine remote sensing and GIS are used to discover, document and preserve submerged cultural heritage and historic shipwrecks, with examples from Jamaica and the Tennessee River in Chattanooga.
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UTC faculty and staff are invited to try the Aquatic and Recreation Center for free on Tuesday, Dec. 1. Faculty and staff who purchase a membership that day can receive access for December and January for $25, the cost of a one-month membership.
Campus Updates
The Office of Research and Sponsored Programs is preparing for the UT System’s transition from Cayuse to the DASH Research Huron Grants and Agreements modules for sponsored projects. The new modules will go live in early December.
A webinar on the transition will take place at noon on Friday, Nov. 13. The session will cover proposal routing, award management and requesting agreements in DASH Research, along with a step-by-step demonstration of key functions. Click here to learn more and to register.
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The UTC community continues to make a difference through the 1886 Challenge, with faculty, staff and students contributing 9,241 volunteer hours toward the University’s goal of 18,860 hours in celebration of its 140th anniversary.
Recent Halloween festivities brought a wave of volunteer submissions, highlighting the many ways Mocs are giving back. Pictured above, members of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc., Mariame Coulibaly, Asani Knox, Messiah Underwood and Amani Wilson, helped spread Halloween cheer by distributing candy to children and families at Orchard Knob Middle School’s Trunk-or-Treat event.
Every hour counts! Faculty, staff and students who have volunteered in the community are encouraged to submit their hours through the 1886 Challenge form and help UTC reach its goal. Be sure to check out the growing 1886 Challenge photo gallery to see Mocs making a difference throughout the community.
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UTC Admissions is looking for enthusiastic, dependable and outgoing students to join the Campus Ambassador team. Campus Ambassadors lead campus tours, assist with Admissions events and share their UTC experiences with prospective students and families.
Interested students should apply here by Saturday, Nov. 14. Selected applicants will be invited to interview. For questions, contact Mattie Mills.
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The Mocs to Memphis (and points in between) initiative provides safe and affordable charter bus transportation during selected school breaks for UTC students living in Nashville, Jackson, Memphis or surrounding areas. The cost is $55 per seat for either one-way or round-trip travel.
Upcoming transportation dates include:
- Thanksgiving Break: Depart Wednesday, Nov. 25, and return Sunday, Nov. 29. Registration closes Friday, Nov. 20.
- Winter Break: Depart Wednesday, Dec. 9, and return Sunday, Jan. 17.
- Spring Break: Depart Saturday, March 20, and return Sunday, March 28.
Buses departing UTC will leave from Lancing Court on Terrell Owens Way at 9 a.m. Eastern time, with stops in Nashville, Jackson and Memphis. Return trips will leave Memphis at 11:30 a.m. Central time, stop in Jackson and Nashville, and arrive on campus at approximately 7 p.m. Eastern time.
Students are limited to one suitcase stored under the bus and one small carry-on item. A separate reservation is required for each trip, and students should use the personal email account and password they used when applying to UTC to purchase a ticket. Riders should also plan to arrive early at their pickup location and arrange for timely transportation from their drop-off location, as buses cannot wait with individual students. Click here for more information and to buy your ticket.
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The Chattanooga AI Summit will bring together business leaders, educators and technology professionals on Thursday, Dec. 3, at Erlanger Park, home of the Chattanooga Lookouts.
The daylong event will explore how artificial intelligence is changing the workplace, education and the community, with speakers and interactive workshops covering AI tools, workplace integration, privacy and security, and technology adoption. Attendees will also learn about AI initiatives underway across Chattanooga, including work at UTC.
The UTC Center for Professional Education is supporting the event. Learn more, view the agenda and register.
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For the second year in a row, UTC is hosting Open Source Camp Chattanooga on Friday, Nov. 13, and Saturday, Nov. 14, at the UTC Library. The two-day event brings together developers, designers, marketers, content editors, project managers and anyone interested in what’s happening on the web.
Friday will feature hands-on workshops in Drupal, WordPress and Laravel, including options for beginners. Saturday will feature a full day of seminars covering topics such as UX and design, accessibility, digital marketing, SEO, content strategy, analytics, AI, project management and more.
UTC students, faculty and staff can attend for free using the code OSCHA2026. Lunch, swag and opportunities to connect with other web-minded folks will also be available. Click here to learn more or register now.
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Math Kangaroo, an annual international mathematics competition for students in kindergarten through 12th grade, is returning to UTC. Registration is now open for the competition, which will take place from 5-6:15 p.m. on Thursday, March 18, 2027, in Grote Hall.
UTC’s competition center is open to Tennessee students in grades K-12 and has a capacity of 50 participants. Kindergarten students will take the Grade 1 test and must be able to read and work independently.
Regular registration is $20 through Thursday, Dec. 31, with late registration available for $35 from Friday, Jan. 1, through Monday, Feb. 1. All registered students will receive mathematical gifts and participation ribbons, with additional awards available for top performers nationally and statewide.
Click here to learn more and register. For questions, contact Dr. Tatiana Allen, UC Foundation Professor of Physics and associate department head of the Department of Physics and Astronomy.
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Have a rock, mineral or fossil you’d like identified? The UTC Department of Biology, Geology and Environmental Science is hosting free identification nights on Mondays every four weeks from 5-7 p.m. on the first floor of Grote Hall (701 Vine St.).
Visitors should enter through the double doors on the exterior of the building. Free parking is available in Lot 10 after 5 p.m.
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The world-famous Harlem Globetrotters are returning to Chattanooga on Friday, Jan. 29, at McKenzie Arena. The show will feature basketball skills, trick shots, laughs and family-friendly entertainment. Click here to purchase tickets.
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Measles is highly contagious—even more so than COVID-19. To ensure campus is healthy, it is vital that you know your immune status by verifying your vaccination records or laboratory proof of immunity.
Take action today:
- Check your status: Log in to the UTC Medicat Patient Portal to review your records.
- Need a blood titer? If you do not have documentation of immunity through vaccination, call UTC Health Services at 423-425-2266 to schedule a blood test.
- Titers can be billed through insurance or paid out of pocket for $11
- Feeling sick? Do not walk into the clinic. Call first to help protect others.
UTC reports that 98% of students on campus have immunity, which serves as a strong shield for the community. Having immunity significantly reduces the chances of getting measles and keeps you from needing to be quarantined for up to 21 days if you are exposed.
Click here for more information.
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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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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.
UTC Newsroom
UTC launched a new Homecoming tradition last week with a parade through campus and a pep rally on Chamberlain Field that brought together students, alums, faculty, staff and members of the Chattanooga community.
Hundreds of people lined Vine Street as the parade began in Lot 52, traveled along Vine and turned near Brock Hall before making its way to Chamberlain Field. Twenty-six groups representing approximately 600 people registered to participate.
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 Dennis Waters Dennis Waters, a former placekicker for the UTC football team, returned to campus in 2024 as a corporal with UTCPD. The Mocs football team’s current placekicker, Jude Kelley, recently surpassed Waters (40) in career field goals made.
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Between 1945 and 1965, the University of Chattanooga’s student population more than doubled, from just under 1,000 to more than 2,000. During that rapid growth, the institution lacked an indoor facility large enough for campuswide gatherings and relied instead on outdoor spaces, nearby churches, and other venues for events such as commencement and convocations. This situation changed with the dedication of Maclellan Gymnasium in September 1965.
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Here are some other recent UTC stories featured in the Newsroom:
WUTC
 Neko Case On WUTC’s “Chord Drift,” Paul Jorgensen spoke with singer-songwriter and New Pornographers member Neko Case ahead of her Neon Midnight Green Tour stop at The Signal in Chattanooga.
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