|
Updates and news for the week of November 8 – November 14, 2022
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.
Campus Updates | University Events Master Calendar | UTC News
On the Road Again
UTC Road Trip: The Power C Tour continues this evening at the DoubleTree by Hilton Memphis from 6-7:30 p.m. CT. UTC Road Trip: The Power C Tour is part of a statewide outreach effort to prospective students on academic programs, housing options, financial aid and campus life at UTC.
- Representatives from the academic colleges, student services and the UTC Executive Leadership Team—plus current students and mascot Scrappy—will be on hand to answer questions and make connections in a fun, relaxed environment.
- Upcoming stops include Knoxville (November 15, Hilton Knoxville) and Chattanooga (November 16, University Center).
Celebrating First Gen Week
Today (November 8) is National First Generation College Celebration Day, honoring the anniversary of the signing of the federal Higher Education Act of 1965—which strengthened the educational resources of colleges and universities to provide financial assistance for students in postsecondary and higher education.
In 2019, UTC Director of Student Success Programs Crystal Edenfield took that celebration a step further, creating First Gen Week—a series of programs recognizing first generation UTC students who are the first in their families to pursue college degrees.
- First gen faculty and staff are encouraged to attend a professional networking event with UTC’s many first gen students this Friday (November 11) from 6-8 p.m. in the Guerry Center Reading Room.
- Click here for the complete First Gen Week schedule of events.
A Celebration of Veterans
Veterans Day is this Friday (November 11), a time for everyone to reflect on the commitments and sacrifices of our armed forces and the service they provide to our country.
UTC events include the annual TAPS Project, a moving musical event beginning at 9:45 a.m. in which the melody of “Taps” will slowly make its way across campus thanks to the strategic placement of trumpet players around University grounds. Approximately 30 trumpeters, comprised of UTC students, faculty and community members, will participate; please be on the lookout for trumpeters and stop and listen if you are able.
- Thanks to generous donations from partners and sponsors, UTC Veteran and Military Affairs will host Veterans Day food trucks on campus from 2-6 p.m. All are welcome to attend.
- The Chancellor’s Annual Veterans Day Luncheon for students, faculty and staff who are veterans or active military will take place at 11 a.m. at the University Center Tennessee Room. UC Foundation Associate Professor of Electrical Engineering Don Reising, who served in the U.S. Army from 1995-1999 and the Ohio Army National Guard from 1999-2005, will be the keynote speaker.
Celebrating a Legendary Educator
During a ceremony last Friday , the section of Vine Street running from Lupton Hall to Palmetto Street was officially renamed Dr. Roland Carter Street to honor the professor emeritus—an educator, music composer and conductor whose impact on UTC students reaches around the globe.
The dedication included a series of musical performances by the UTC Chamber Singers, Singing Mocs, the Guthrie Quartet and the Chattanooga Society for the Preservation of African American Song.
- Throughout his career, Carter has been an advocate for the musical traditions of African American heritage. He is most celebrated for his arrangements of “Lift Every Voice and Sing” and the spiritual “In Bright Mansions Above,” as well as for his arrangement of the Langston Hughes’s poem “Hold Fast to Dreams.”
- In December 2021, he donated 50 years of sheet music, newspaper clippings, national and international awards, recordings and other items to the UTC Library’s Special Collections.
The outstanding people of UTC
Guerry Professor and UC Foundation Professor of Psychology Chris Cunningham (pictured) was a steering committee member for a recently initiated professional association—the Society for Total Worker Health—which prioritizes providing all employees with a safe working environment.
Check out these Mocs making a difference:
- Sgt. Rebecca Tolbert of the UTC Police Department recently taught a R.A.D. (Rape Aggression Defense) course that was featured by Local 3 News. Tolbert was interviewed for the segment along with students Scarlet Pardue and Sarah Larson.
- Why do some people age quicker than others? News 12 Now’s “More to the Story with (Dave) Staley” talked to Dr. Hong Qin for an extended segment.
- CUIP’s Austin Harris was a recent guest on HxGN TV to talk about a new research project that uses a machine learning-based model to predict where roadway accidents will take place.
Nominations Sought for 2022-2023 All-Southern Conference Faculty and Staff Awards
Each year the Southern Conference recognizes a faculty and staff member from each conference institution for their exemplary service to the university.
UTC faculty and staff nominations for the 2022-2023 All-Southern Conference Faculty and Staff Awards are due by noon on Friday, November 18. Nominations must include a brief description of the service the nominee has provided to the institution. Nominations should be submitted online by clicking on this link.
Read more for guidelines, eligibility criteria and past UTC recipients.
McKenzie Under Construction: What That Means on Game Day
 Photo credit: GoMocs.com Reminders from Athletics about McKenzie Arena:
Drive past McKenzie Arena and changes can be seen to the outside of the building, but the inside—on the court—looks virtually untouched. However, there are many changes taking place within the Roundhouse that fans need to know about.
- The box office moved. With construction taking place at Gate One and that portion of the arena shut down, the box office moved to Gate Three (daily 10 a.m.-5 p.m.). On game days, the box offices at Gates Two and Three will both open 90 minutes prior to tip-off. Will Call and Player Pass are located at Gate Two.
- While Gate One is redshirting, a new entrance is added to the roster. Walk down a flight of stairs at the corner of Alumni Drive/Mabel Street and Fourth Street and enter on the court level. Once inside the arena, enter the stands to locate your seat.
Read more
Doing Business in the Balkans
Information sessions are taking place this week for International Business Experience: Balkans, a spring 2023 course open to all UTC students. The course includes a 13-day study abroad trip to Greece, Albania and North Macedonia led by UTC Professor Beni Asllani.
- Today (11/8): Zoom, 1:30 p.m.
- Wednesday (11/9): Fletcher Hall 109, 3:30 p.m.
- Thursday (11/10): Fletcher Hall 109, 4:30 p.m.
Students earn three credit hours on the undergraduate level (MGT 4950) or graduate level (MGT 5950 or PMBA 5950). For more information, contact COBInternational@utc.edu or visit COB International Programs.
Taking the Next Step with Jennifer Pharr Davis
 From left: Jennifer Pharr Davis, JhéDienne Adams, Wendy Reynoso-Diaz and Lane Gutridge Speaker, author, hiker and entrepreneur Jennifer Pharr Davis will be participating in a session moderated by Dr. Dawn Ford called Taking the Next Step: UTC Pandemic Graduates Panel with Jennifer Pharr Davis at 3 p.m. Wednesday (November 9) in the Guerry Center Reading Room. Young alums JhéDienne Adams, Wendy Reynoso-Diaz and Lane Gutridge will share stories and lessons learned from the trenches and mountaintops of being the first UTC COVID graduates, comparing notes with Davis. Refreshments will be provided, and the first 15 students arriving for the discussion will receive a signed copy of Davis’ latest book.
Gary W. Rollins College of Business Graduate Programs
The Gary W. Rollins College of Business will be holding information sessions today and Wednesday (November 8-9) to learn about the MBA (Master of Business Administration) and MSDA (Master of Science in Data Analytics) graduate programs. Discover more about the region’s only Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business-accredited business graduate degree programs, the highest business accreditation in the world.
- Today (11/8) MSDA: Zoom meeting at noon … In-person meeting at 3:30 p.m. (no registration required), Fletcher Hall Room 109
- Wednesday (11/9) MBA: Zoom meeting at noon … Zoom meeting at 6 p.m.
Workplace Perspectives
The Center for Career and Leadership Development and the Division of Diversity and Engagement are hosting a panel discussion of workplace perspectives at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday (November 10) in the University Center Tennessee Room.
Workplace Perspectives is a conversation centered on understanding your own experiences, culture and perspective, as well as the perspectives of others. This understanding is important to your success in college and as you prepare to start your career. Please RSVP through MocSync.
Our Endangered Democracy: Protecting the Right to Vote
On Thursday (November 10), founding members of the Fannie Lou Hamer National Institute on Citizenship and Democracy will present “Our Endangered Democracy: Protecting the Right to Vote,” beginning at 5:30 p.m. in the University Center Signal Mountain Room. Co-sponsored by the Adolph S. Ochs Professor of Government, Department of Political Science and Public Service, Africana Studies and Multicultural Affairs, presenters include:
- Dr. Leslie Burl McLemore, Jackson State University Emeritus Professor of Political Science and Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party member, on “The Fight for the Voting Rights Act.”
- Dr. Michelle D. Deardorff, UTC Adolph S. Ochs Professor of Government, on “The Erosion of the Voting Rights Act.”
- Dr. Jeff Kolnick, Southwest Minnesota State University Professor of History, on “History, Progress and Democracy in the United States.”
Romeo and Juliet
 Senior Noah Fernandez, left, and junior Maegan Whitlock as “Romeo and Juliet.” The UTC Theatre Company presents “Romeo and Juliet”—William Shakespeare’s timeless tale of young love against unfathomable odds—November 15-19 in the Fine Arts Center’s Dorothy Hackett Ward Theatre. First performed more than 400 years ago, “Romeo and Juliet” is one of history’s most recognizable stories.
The cast includes 14 UTC theatre majors or minors, one theatre alumnus and one theatre faculty member. The lead roles are performed by Noah Fernandez, a senior from Ooltewah, Tennessee, and Maegan Whitlock, a junior from Nolensville, Tennessee.
Visit the UTC Theatre web page for ticket information.
Self-Proclaimed “Troublemaker” Coming to UTC
An activist whose advocacy for a message of empowerment helped him win a landmark free speech case at the U.S. Supreme Court—in a unanimous decision—is coming to UTC to share his story.
Author, musician and speaker Simon Tam will be featured at an event titled “Simon Tam: A Musical Account of a Journey to the Supreme Court,” taking place at 4:30 p.m. on November 15, in the UTC Fine Arts Center’s Roland Hayes Concert Hall.
- In telling his story, Tam’s multimedia presentation includes both spoken words and music.
- The event is sponsored by the College of Arts and Sciences and the UTC Division of Diversity and Engagement. Admission is free, but registration is required.
Lunch and Learn with Chris Cummings
As part of its entrepreneurship lunch-and-learn series, the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship is hosting Chris Cummings, founder of Pass It Down and Iconic Moments. Cummings will share how he’s helping museums survive and thrive by partnering with them to develop their collections into unique NFTs (non-fungible tokens).
The event, which will take place from noon-1 p.m. on November 16 in the Mapp Building, is open to all UTC students, faculty and staff. Space is limited and lunch will be provided, so register by Thursday (November 10) to ensure you receive lunch.
Fall 2022 Quilts of Valor Nominations
Veteran and Military Affairs is asking for your assistance in identifying three military service members and/or veteran nominees for the Quilt of Valor award for the upcoming Fall 2022 Graduation and Holiday 4 Heroes Celebration on Friday, December 1. For more information about the Holiday 4 Heroes series of events or to RSVP, click here.
A Quilt of Valor is a civilian award to our service members and veterans. Recipients are nominated based on their selfless service and sacrifice in defense of our Nation.
- Please review the nomination rules before submitting names.
- Nominations must be received and processed by the end of business day on Friday, November 18.
The Stars are Aligned
 The Clarence T. Jones Observatory is located at 10 N. Tuxedo Ave. in Chattanooga. The Clarence T. Jones Observatory has reopened this fall, with events scheduled every Sunday through December 4. The observatory, owned and operated by UTC, is free and open to the public. Gates open at 5:30 p.m., with a lecture and Planetarium show beginning at 6 p.m. and telescope viewing until 8 p.m.
Compost-O-ween 2022
It’s that time of year again. Pumpkins are everywhere and it’s Compost-O-Ween time. You may have seen our pumpkins around campus helping to raise awareness for this event. This year it’s bigger than ever as we continue to grow this event.
- Each year, over 1 billion pounds of Halloween pumpkins end up in landfills, where it may take a decade or more for them to fully break down. To help reduce this, EDGE will again be hosting Compost-O-Ween in partnership with New Terra Compost.
- The event will run through November 16, including a pumpkin-smashing event November 15 at Chamberlain Field.
Read more
December Update: Parent and Family Newsletter
The December edition of the UTC Parent and Family Association newsletter will be emailed to members on December 7.
If you have information to share with the families of UTC students—upcoming events, important deadlines, helpful suggestions and departmental news—email details to hannah-turcotte@utc.edu no later than Wednesday, November 23. The monthly newsletter is distributed to more than 4,600 parents/family members; you can view the October newsletter here.
- Keep info to one paragraph of 200 (or fewer) words.
- Images or logos to accompany the paragraph may be submitted.
Freight Broker Course — Virtual Preview Event
Learn more about UTC’s new Freight Broker Professional Course by attending today’s virtual preview event from noon-12:45 p.m. You will learn about the freight broker role, freight broker career benefits and how UTC’s program will help you gain the skills you need to succeed in Chattanooga’s red-hot freight industry.
You will also learn about how eligible students have tuition reimbursement, sign-on bonuses and job opportunities post-course through our current employer partners, including BlueGrace Logistics, FitzMark, LYNC Logistics, Steam Logistics, Taimen Transport, LLC and U.S. Xpress, Inc. Register for the virtual event here.
Campus Updates
Congratulations to UTC faculty and staff who received awards or submitted proposals for sponsored programs in October. The Office of Research and Sponsored Programs announced that faculty and staff attracted $1,135,276 in external grant and contract awards during the month and submitted proposals for the potential to generate over $3,610,918 in external funding, if awarded.
Among those receiving awards in October was Dr. Kim Wingate (pictured)—the interim co-director of the School of Education—who received $650,288 from the Tennessee Department of Education for the project entitled, “Grow Your Own: Teacher Occupation Apprenticeship.”
The Study Abroad Fair takes place on Wednesday (November 9) from 11 a.m.–2 p.m. in the University Center Tennessee Room. Stop by to talk to partners from across the globe, chat with study abroad alumni, eat food from around the world and grab some swag—T-shirts, magnets, stickers and more. Learn more by signing up here for the Study Abroad 101 Canvas course.
 Join the Disability Resource Center and the Center for Women and Gender Equity for a conversation from noon-2 p.m. on Wednesday (November 9) around how gender impacts those with non-apparent disabilities. The conversation takes place in the Disability Resource Center (University Center 352).
In collaboration with the UTC Master of Public Health program, the American Heart Association will host “Healthy For Life Cooking and Nutrition Classes” for students on Wednesday (November 9) from 5-8 p.m. in the UTC Food Science Lab (Metro 305) Email beth.wright@heart.org to register.
The College of Arts and Sciences Environmental Studies Program is hosting an interdisciplinary panel on Environmental Justice from noon-1:30 p.m. on Wednesday (November 9) in the University Center Chattanooga Room. Contact evst@utc.edu for more information.
The Latin American Dialogues Speaker Series presents “Gold or Guano? Fictions of Resource Extraction and Sustainability in Latin America,” a presentation by Dr. Lisa Burner, assistant professor of Spanish at Sewanee University, at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday (November 9) in the University Center Signal Mountain Room.
Food and Culture in Costa Rica: A Study Abroad Trip in Spring 2023 is a unique program offering the opportunity to learn global diversity on the context of food and cuisine while experiencing Costa Rica in a one-week trip. Site visits and workshops include coffee and chocolate tour, San Jose city tour, famous Monteverde cloud forest, Costa Rican cooking and dance classes, and much more. Students interested in this trip must register for one of the following SP 2023 UTC course: NUTR 3330 (UG) or PUBH 5880 (GR). The study abroad application deadline is Friday (November 11). For more information or questions, contact MPH Program Director Amir Alakaam or Study Abroad Programs Director Laura Livermore.
A workshop covering the fundamentals of GPU programming using CUDA, including a hands-on interactive learning segment, will take place from 10 a.m.-noon on Friday (November 11) in the Multidisciplinary Research Building (SimCenter) conference room or remotely via Zoom. The workshop will be presented by UTC alum and current SimCenter researcher Riley Shipley, who has developed and published a comprehensive library of tutorials on CUDA topics for all experience levels and continues to learn more through his ongoing research. There are no prerequisites for this workshop; however, programming experience in at least one language is recommended.
The Department of Chemistry and Physics continues its seminar series with a talk from 3-4 p.m. this Friday (November 11) with Dr. Constance B. Bailey, a faculty member in the Department of Chemistry at UT Knoxville. The seminar, which will take place in Grote Hall Room 411, is titled “Strategies to Expand Synthetic Biology with Bacterial Megasynthases.”
Real estate investor Cody Davis (pictured) is the keynote speaker for the UTC Real Estate Club’s Investment Luncheon, taking place from 11:45 a.m.-1:30 p.m. on Monday (November 14) in the University Center Tennessee Room. Join us for a free lunch as we learn from Davis—a 22-year-old real estate investor based out of Union, Washington, who has built a $20,000,000 real estate portfolio in just four years—about his creative financing approaches to real estate investing. The event is open to all, but an RSVP is required for attendance. Click here to register.
The UTC Chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers is hosting a free ACT Workshop from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. on Saturday, November 19. Lunch and snacks will be provided. Click here for registration information. For more information, please email raga-ahmed@utc.edu or nsbeutc@gmail.com.
Jeff Flowers, our Retirement Plan Advisor with Empower Retirement (aka Retire Ready Tennessee), will be on campus at the UTC Library Monday (November 14) and Tuesday (December 13) for in-person 401k and 457 retirement planning meetings. These meetings are beneficial for employees at all stages of their careers. To schedule an appointment, please follow this link to see available times. Virtual meetings are also available on other days.
The UTC Center for Wellbeing, Human Resources and Employee Wellness are sponsoring a campus visit by Dr. Garland Vance on Tuesday, December 6, on the topic shared by the title of his recent book, “Gettin’ (Un)Busy.“ He will provide a workshop for supervisors in the morning (invitation to supervisors forthcoming), and a workshop for faculty and staff in the afternoon. Please join and register.
The UT Concur Travel Team will be offering training on specific topics in November. All sessions will be recorded and posted at Learn More About Concur and are eligible for HR128 credit. You can enroll by visiting the Concur Topics area of the K@TE learning management system; Zoom details, including the password, will be provided in the confirmation email. The list of topics and dates can be found by visiting the Campus Updates post.
Reminders:
Save the Date: Grateful Gobbler Walk
The Annual Grateful Gobbler 5K Walk/Run will take place on Thanksgiving morning. Walkers will gather at Coolidge Park for festivities before the 8 a.m. start.
The Division of Diversity and Engagement is sponsoring Team UTC for this event. To register for the race and receive 50% off, click here and use the discount code 2022UTCTeam.
- 100% of the proceeds of the walk will benefit the Maclellan Shelter for Families, an emergency homeless shelter located on site at the Community Kitchen on 11th Street in Chattanooga. The shelter, which features 13 units with 68 beds for families experiencing homelessness, provides a stable environment for families to remain together as they search for permanent housing solutions.
Looking ahead
Events posted to this week’s University master calendar include:
- Today (11/8): MSDA Graduate Program in-person presentation, Fletcher Hall 109, 3:30 p.m.
- Wednesday (11/9): Neurodivergence and Gender, University Center 352, noon
- Wednesday (11/9): Environmental Justice Panel, University Center Chattanooga Room, noon
- Wednesday (11/9): Gold or Guano? Fictions of Resource Extraction and Sustainability in Latin America, University Center Signal Mountain Room, 5:30 p.m.
- Wednesday (11/9): Creative Writing Club, Lupton Hall 392, 6:15 p.m.
- Friday (11/11): Chemistry and Physics Seminar Series, Grote Hall 411, 3 p.m.
- Sunday (11/13): The James Webb Space Telescope, UTC Jones Observatory, 5:30 p.m.
- Monday (11/14): UTC Real Estate Club Luncheon, University Center Tennessee Room, 11:45 a.m.
- Monday (11/14): International Education Week, Lupton Hall, noon
 The women’s basketball team returns home Saturday night to take on Austin Peay. Photo credit: Chattanooga Athletics/Ray Soldano This week’s Mocs Athletics calendar:
- Wednesday (11/9): Volleyball vs. ETSU (Maclellan Gym), 6 p.m.
- Wednesday (11/9): Women’s Basketball at Belmont (Nashville, Tenn.), 7:30 p.m.
- Thursday (11/10): Men’s Basketball vs. Oakland City (McKenzie Arena), 7 p.m.
- Friday (11/11): Cross Country at the NCAA South Region Championships (Huntsville, Ala.), 10 a.m.
- Saturday (11/12): Football vs. Samford (Finley Stadium), 1:30 p.m.
- Saturday (11/12): Women’s Basketball vs. Austin Peay (McKenzie Arena), 7 p.m.
- Saturday (11/12): Volleyball at The Citadel (Charleston, S.C.), 7 p.m.
- Sunday (11/13): Wrestling at The Citadel Open (Charleston, S.C.)
Looking back
Brent Goldberg (pictured) was introduced as the University’s next vice chancellor for finance and administration. He will assume his new duties at UTC on December 1.
Here are some other recent UTC stories featured in the Newsroom:
- UTC and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to increase cooperation and promote collaboration in areas of mutual interest.
- A new Bachelor of Applied Science in Information Technology in Cybersecurity degree program at UTC will directly address workforce needs. Approximately 6,700 cybersecurity jobs are open in Tennessee—including 300-plus in southeast Tennessee and north Georgia—and employment demand is expected to grow 22-24% in the next five years.
- An articulation agreement between UTC and Volunteer State Community College, located in Gallatin, Tennessee, guarantees UTC admission to mechatronics students who have successfully completed the 60-credit-hour Associate of Applied Science in the Mechatronics degree program at VSCC.
- A ribbon-cutting took place in Fletcher Hall to introduce both the Sales Institute and the Business Skills Laboratory.
- Native American Heritage Month recognizes the major contributions Native Americans have made to growth and culture in the U.S.
- Bob the barn owl was one of eight birds that graced Benwood Auditorium, a flock that included Gilbert the kestrel, Zim the peregrine falcon, Buddy the screech owl, Zeke the Harris’s hawk, Cayce the black vulture, and Atsa Yashi the bald eagle.
WUTC Spotlight: Scenic Roots
Jennifer Lynberg (pictured), an assistant professor in the School of Education, recently was a guest on Scenic Roots to talk about her work with the University’s Arts-Based Collaborative—which aims to transform education in and through the arts.
From the Podcast Time Capsule
 Roland Carter and Nicole Brown. Photo credit: StoryCorps/WUTC. Back in 2019, Nicole Brown—at the time a member of the Department of Communication and now the manager of Community Benefits and Diversity for CHI Memorial Hospital—talked to her friend and mentor, musician Roland Carter, about his celebrated version of “Lift Every Voice and Sing” as part of the Tennessee Valley StoryCorps series.
Tennessee Valley StoryCorps was a series of conversations with people who went to the StoryCorps recording booth in Chattanooga’s Miller Park in the spring of 2019. The series was produced and edited by Will Davis.
Be Well Tip of the Week: Food Insecurity
What are some elements of food insecurity?
- Worried food would run out
- Food bought did not last
- Could not afford a balanced meal
- Cut the size of the meal or skipped meal(s)
- Hungry but did not eat
- Lost weight
Food insecurity is often rooted in poverty and has long-term impacts on the ability of families, communities and countries to develop and prosper. For on-campus resources, students, faculty and staff should check out Scrappy’s Cupboard and Scrappy’s Market.
|
