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Updates and news for the week of October 11 – October 17, 2022
Employee Open Enrollment Ends This Week
Annual enrollment is your opportunity to choose benefits or make benefit changes that will become effective on January 1, 2023. The annual enrollment period for calendar year 2023 coverage is October 1-October 14.
Coming Up: Fall Break
Fall break is next Monday and Tuesday (October 17-18), but not for the UTC Campus Weekly newsletter staff! Please keep sharing your news and notes. Next week’s edition will hit email boxes the morning of October 18.
Students, during fall break, Auxiliary Services in partnership with Information Technology will be performing system maintenance on the GET system—which is used to load funds onto your Mocs Card. Maintenance will be in effect beginning at 6 a.m. on Saturday (October 15) through next Tuesday (October 18). Please contact the Mocs Card office at mocscard@utc.edu if you have any questions related to the scheduled maintenance.
Affected Services:
- Loading Scrappy Cash funds through GET
- Checking Mocs Card Balances through GET
- Using a Mocs Card for purchases at the UTC Bookstore
- Using a Mocs Card to purchase items at vending machines
- Replacement of lost, stolen or damaged Mocs Cards
FAFSA Fridays
Need help filling out the FAFSA application? Excellent news: the Financial Aid and Scholarship Office wants to help, offering virtual Zoom sessions to assist students in completing their application throughout October on FAFSA Fridays.
Fall 2022 Registration Information
The Office of the University Registrar provided a series of important dates and deadlines (above) for the rest of the fall semester. Those dates, and more, can be found on the Academic Calendar.
For more information, please check out Campus Updates.
Feathers and Teeth
 Freshman Karlee Jamieson, left, and senior Drew-Michael Roedel in the UTC Theatre Co.’s production of “Feathers and Teeth” UTC Theatre Co. is presenting Charise Castro Smith’s “Feathers and Teeth” today through Saturday (October 15) in the Fine Arts Center’s Dorothy Hackett Ward Theatre. Performances will take place at 7:30 p.m. each night, with a 2 p.m. matinee performance on Saturday. Check out the UTC Theatre page for ticket information.
“This show will put audiences in the mood for Halloween,” said director Steve Ray. “A scary, bloody show with lots of laughs.”
The actors include students Karlee Jamieson, Katie Forrester, Blaine Evans and Drew-Michael Roedel.
MOC Forward Week: Embracing and Engaging Our Diverse Community
MOC Forward Week continues through Monday (October 17), and the theme is “Embracing and Engaging Our Diverse Community.” The activity schedule includes:
- Today (October 11): Coming Out Day Cookout, Chamberlain Field, 2 p.m.
- Today (October 11): Trending Towards Triumph: Mental Health and Wellbeing featuring Ed Garnes, University Center Auditorium, 6 p.m.
- Wednesday (October 12): Hispanic Heritage Networking Event and Artist Showcase, Multicultural Center, 5:30 p.m.
- Thursday (October 13): Chattanooga Hip-Hop Summit Concert, Roland Hayes Concert Hall, 7 p.m. A Mocs ID will be needed to gain access.
- Friday (10/14): Fiesta Friday, Multicultural Center, 11 a.m.
- Saturday (10/15): Diversity and Engagement “Community Engagement Tailgate,” First Horizon Pavilion, 10 a.m.
For questions about MOC Forward Week, email the Division of Diversity and Engagement at dde@utc.edu.
Rocket Mocs Back in Launch Mode
 Rocket Mocs team members Mat Ormaza, left, and Elijah Schmiesing-Joyce work on their certification rockets. The Rocket Mocs have launched into a national competition for the fifth consecutive year.
Last week, the team—comprised of mechanical engineering students in UC Foundation Associate Professor Trevor Elliott’s senior design class—was accepted into the NASA-sponsored 2023 Student Launch Challenge. UTC is one of 51 university-level teams moving forward in the nine-month-long competition.
Notice of Final Defense: Upcoming Dissertation Research Presentations
Announcements from the UTC Graduate School:
Jewel Rana Palit will present Master’s research titled “Application of Predictive Modeling to Support Traffic Intersection Control and Safety” on Wednesday (October 12) at 11 a.m. in EMCS 426. Everyone is invited to attend.
Jibril Babatunde will present Master’s research titled “A Novel Game-Theoretic Approach for Fuel Consumption-Based Optimization of a Traffic Corridor” on Thursday (October 13) at noon in EMCS 426. Everyone is invited to attend.
Hip-Hop Hurray
This week’s Chattanooga Hip-Hop Week includes a free concert Thursday night (October 13) in the Fine Arts Center’s Roland Hayes Concert Hall open only to UTC students, faculty and staff. A Mocs ID will be needed to gain access to the Hayes Concert Hall.
Held from 7-11 p.m., artists slated to perform include Trap Beckham, Swayyvo, T Rizer, Isaiah Wallace, Qualls, Calle & Band, Honcho Truth, Sayso and Frost.
From Kyiv to Chattanooga
During their visit to Chattanooga, members of the Kyiv City Ballet dance company participated in several masterclasses, including a trek to the Chattanooga High School Center for Creative Arts.
Dating and Domestic Violence Awareness Month
Join the Center for Wellbeing and the Center for Women and Gender Equity at programs throughout the month to learn more about dating and domestic violence, the resources available on campus to help, how to intervene when hearing or seeing peers engage in abusive behaviors, and how best to support those who are experiencing abuse. For more information on all programs, please visit Mocsync.
This week’s events:
- Wednesday (10/12): DVAM Chalking, Vine Street, 11:30 a.m.
- Thursday (10/13): Can We Talk?: Dialogues on Healthy Relationships, University Center Suite 350, 2 p.m.
- Week of 10/17: Red Flags Campaign Display, Chamberlain Circle
Exercise is Medicine on Campus Month
October is Exercise is Medicine on Campus Month at UTC, a social media-driven initiative that promotes physical exercise through activity challenges for students, faculty and staff.
This week’s events include a White Oak Bike Co-op Pop-Up Shop at Chamberlain Pavilion on Thursday (October 13) from 10 a.m.–1 p.m. Volunteers from White Oak Bicycle Cooperative will be on campus to perform basic maintenance to bikes and collect bicycle donations.
- Month-long activities include an October Employee Step Challenge; McKamey Mocs and Mutts, in which dogs can be borrowed from McKamey Animal Center for afternoon hikes or morning coffee dates; a monthly EIMOC bingo card where every bingo earns an entry in a raffle for a Series 3 Apple Watch; and a Daily #DidYouKnow (follow @UTCHHP on Instagram and Facebook).
Cybersecurity Awareness Month: Be On the Lookout
October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month. As helpful as it is to have a whole month devoted to cybersecurity, one month is never enough because hackers never take a day off.
Starting this week for the month of October, you will be receiving a weekly email from KnowBe4 that is labeled, “Scam of the Week.” These emails are informational and will educate you on the tactics used by hackers to trick users. KnowBe4 is the company that UTC leverages to help train employees to recognize phishing emails.
As a reminder, if you see something suspicious come across your inbox, please forward it to security@utc.edu or check phishbowl.utc.edu for the latest phishing emails going around.
Southern Lit Alliance Book Discussion
The Southern Lit Alliance will offer a free book club discussion of William Faulkner’s “Flags in the Dust” tonight (October 11) at 6 p.m. in the Arts Building (301 E. 11th Street, second floor). The discussion will be led by English Professor Aaron Shaheen. Space for the free, in-person event is limited; use this link to register.
In Celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month
Hispanic Heritage Month continues through Saturday (October 15), and the Office of Multicultural Affairs has several more festivities planned as part of “Unidos: Inclusivity for a Stronger Nation.” This week’s activities include:
- Wednesday (10/12): Hispanic Heritage Networking Event and Artist Showcase, Multicultural Center, 5:30 p.m.
- Friday (10/14): Fiesta Friday, Multicultural Center, 11 a.m.
- Through Friday (10/15): Celebrating Hispanic Heritage with UTC Library; click here to see electronic collections.
As part of its entrepreneurship lunch-and-learn series, the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship is hosting Briana Garza, co-founder of Chatt Taste Food Tours. After losing her job of 10 years due to COVID-19, Garza decided to take a chance on herself.
The event, which will take place from noon-1 p.m. on October 20 in the Mapp Building, is open to all UTC students, faculty and staff. Space is limited and lunch will be provided; register by Thursday (October 13) to ensure you will receive lunch.
Songbirds Documentary Screening
The Music Division of the UTC Department of Performing Arts hosts the campus premiere of “Songbirds: A Documentary,” the Emmy Award-winning documentary that tells the story of the world’s largest collection of vintage guitars. The screening is at 7:30 p.m. on October 20 in the Roland Hayes Concert Hall. Admission is free and all are invited.
Director Dagan Beckett, a 2012 graduate of UTC, will be in attendance along with producer Irv Berner and composer Brook McGarity.
History Department Panel Discussion
On October 21 in the Guerry Center Reading Room, the Department of History will be hosting a public lecture and discussion with University of Georgia Professor Scott Reynolds Nelson about his recent book, “Oceans of Grain: How American Wheat Remade the World.” The discussion, moderated by Associate Lecturer Mark Johnson, will begin at 7 p.m.
University Club Open House
 Patten House is located on the corner of Oak and Palmetto. The University Club is hosting a combination open house/happy hour from 5-7 p.m. on Friday, October 21 at the Patten House.
The University Club, a social club open to all UTC faculty, staff and retirees (as well as their families), meets for informal socializing two Fridays a month. For questions or more information, please email Charlene-Simmons@utc.edu.
Acclaimed string duo ARKAI coming to UTC October 24
ARKAI, an award-winning string duo comprised of violinist Jonathan Miron, left, and cellist Philip Sheegog, will perform at UTC on October 24. The free concert, open to the public, will take place at 7:30 p.m. in the Fine Arts Center’s Roland Hayes Concert Hall.
“These guys are versatile; they play electric versions of their violin and cello as well as the traditional instruments and they feature a pop-classical fusion in style,” said Jonathan McNair, Ruth S. Holmberg Professor of American Music and the sponsor of ARKAI’s performance.
UTC Community Research Forum on Ending Homelessness
The Vice Chancellor for Research and the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs are hosting a forum with the Department of Emergency Medicine at Erlanger Hospital focused on research related to ending and alleviating the health disparities associated with homelessness. The forum will include representatives from Erlanger, the City of Chattanooga and the Chattanooga Interagency Council on Homelessness.
The event will be held from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. on November 4 in the University Center. Lunch will be provided. Please RSVP by October 28.
The No Club: Putting a Stop to Women’s Dead-End Work
The UTC Commission on the Status of Women is excited to offer an informal fall book club featuring “The No Club: Putting a Stop to Women’s Dead-End Work.”
Research shows women are disproportionately assigned tasks that do not help them advance in their organizations. The authors of this book set out to find practical and systemic ways to change this trend.
Trumpeting the Taps Project
There are many faculty, staff and students on campus who play the trumpet, and trumpeters of all abilities are invited to participate in the TAPS Project. On Friday, November 11, beginning at 9:45 a.m., trumpets can be heard performing “Taps” in sequence around the UTC campus in honor of Veterans Day.
Click here for more information and to register.
The outstanding people of UTC
 Irina Khmelko, left, and Bob Boyer Prior to the arrival of the Kyiv City Ballet dance company, Irina Khmelko, UC Foundation professor of political science and public service, and Marina Peshterianu, executive director of Bridge Refugee Services in Chattanooga, sat down for a panel discussion on policies and politics surrounding the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The discussion was moderated by Bob Boyer, director of the UTC Performances Series and the Fine Arts Center box office supervisor.
Check out these Mocs making a difference:
- Recent UTC graduate Serretta Malaikham was the subject of a Times Free Press feature about coming to terms with her feelings about being from a family of Asian immigrants.
- Mocs football players McClendon Curtis and Devonnsha Maxwell have been invited to participate in the Hula Bowl, an annual end-of-season college all-star football game.
- Saturday at the Ron Moore Invitational in Denver, senior women’s golfer Dorota Zalewska shot a 3-under 69 for her 11th career round in the 60s, establishing a Mocs program record. She finished the tournament at 2-under par for her 32nd career par or better score, tying Hall of Famer Emma de Groot for tops in program history.
Campus Updates
 Thanks to generous donations from partners and sponsors, UTC Veteran and Military Affairs will host Veterans Day food trucks on campus on Friday, November 11. All are welcome to attend. Veteran and Military Affairs is calling on everyone to spread the news and support.
All are invited to the Asian Studies Student Social from 3:50-5:10 p.m. on Thursday (October 13) in Holt Hall Room 119. Food will be provided.
Innovations in Honors invites everyone to experience fall multicultural traditions from around the world, such as the Islamic Lunar Calendar, Tết Trung Thu, and the night of lights from India, at the Sunset Fall Festival on Thursday, October 20, from 6-9 p.m. in the Lupton Hall main lobby. Sample foods, learn about traditional practices and engage in fun activities.
The Honors College invites full-time faculty members from all colleges to submit proposals for special-topics general education seminars to be taught in the 2023–2024 academic year. “We’re asking for your ‘dream courses,’ classes you’ve always thought would engage and transform students, but that may not fit easily into a departmental program,” said Will Kuby, associate dean of the Honors College. Click here for more information, including the application process.
The UTC Philosophy and Religion Department and the UTC Philosophy Society are inviting the campus to “Dreams, Ghosts, Buddhism, and Skepticism: Vasubandhu’s Spooky Philosophy,” at 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, October 20, in Lupton Hall Room 389.
Human Resources announced important changes to annual employee compliance training requirements.
The Office of Research and Sponsored Programs (ORSP) provided its first-quarter report for the 2023 fiscal year, including a downloadable PDF: FY23_Q1_Report_Final.
The Offices of Equity and Inclusion and Human Resources announced Search Committee Training dates for Fall 2022. Search Committee Training is mandatory for anyone serving on a faculty or exempt staff search committee at UTC, and the training must be repeated after two years. This Zoom training provides essential information and resources for search committee members.
Save the dates for the upcoming Grant Writing Workshop and individual technical assistance consultation sessions on February 2-3, 2023. The Vice Chancellor for Research and the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs will again be partnering with The Implementation Group to bring valuable proposal development activities to campus. Stay tuned for the agenda and registration links.
Hatch It! Mocs Big Business Idea Competition is the Gary W. Rollins College of Business’ fall pitch competition where a good idea can earn you some cash and start-up resources to get your business going. This year, we will have two tracks and the winners of each track will be eligible to compete in the SOCON Challenge pitch competition to be held at Mercer University in 2023.
October is IT Security Awareness Training Month, and IT security awareness training consists of six videos spanning approximately 25 minutes. You should receive an email from K@TE with instructions for logging in and accessing training. Training will be due December 31, with reminders starting in November. If you have any questions about Security Awareness Training, email security@utc.edu. If you have issues logging in, email askkate@tennessee.edu.
The Undergraduate Admissions Office will be hosting the annual Blue and Gold Preview Day for prospective students and their families on Saturday, November 5. We anticipate hosting over 700 prospective students and their family members on campus for this event. Blue and Gold Preview Day includes a tour of campus, an academic department fair, a student organization showcase and a residence hall open house. Click here for a link to the online registration.
Mark your calendars for the 2022 Study Abroad Fair. If you’re interested in studying abroad during your time at UTC, stop by the UC Tennessee Room on November 9 from 11 a.m.–2 p.m. 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.
Jeff Flowers CRPC®, our Retirement Plan Advisor with Empower Retirement (aka Retire Ready Tennessee), the 401k and 457 will be on campus October 24, November 14 and December 13 for in-person retirement planning meetings. These meetings are beneficial for employees at all stages of their careers.
Looking ahead
Events posted to this week’s University master calendar include:
- Today (10/11): Fall 2022 Job and Internship Fair, University Center Tennessee Room, noon
- Today (10/11): Employee Event: Introduction to Walking/Running for Fitness Workshop, UTC Library, 11:30 a.m.
- Today (10/11): Southern Lit Alliance Book Club Discussion, Arts Building (301 E. 11th St.), 6 p.m.
- Today (10/11): Trending Toward Triumph: Mental Health and Wellbeing, University Center Auditorium, 6 p.m.
- Wednesday (10/12): Notice of Final Defense – Jewel Rana Palit to Present Dissertation Research, EMCS 426, 11 a.m.
- Wednesday (10/12): DVAM Chalking, Vine Street, 11:30 a.m.
- Wednesday (10/12): Creative Writing Club, Lupton Hall 392, 6:15 p.m.
- Thursday (10/13): White Oak Bike Co-op Pop-up Shop, Chamberlain Pavilion, 9:30 a.m.
- Thursday (10/13): Notice of Final Defense – Jibril Babatunde to Present Dissertation Research, EMCS 426, noon
- Thursday (10/13): Can We Talk?: Dialogues on Healthy Relationships, University Center 350, 2 p.m.
- Monday (10/17): Red Flags Campaign Display, Chamberlain Circle
 The Mocs volleyball team plays at Maclellan Gym on Friday and Sunday. Photo courtesy of Dale Rutemeyer/GoMocs.com This week’s Mocs Athletics calendar:
- Wednesday (10/12): Volleyball at ETSU (Johnson City, Tenn.), 7 p.m.
- Thursday (10/13): Men’s Tennis at the ITA Ohio Valley Regionals (Louisville, Ky.)
- Friday (10/14): Men’s Tennis at the ITA Ohio Valley Regionals (Louisville, Ky.)
- Friday (10/14): Cross Country at the Chattanooga Invitational (Camp Jordan), 9 a.m.
- Friday (10/14): Soccer vs. Western Carolina (UTC Sports Complex), 5 p.m.
- Friday (10/14): Volleyball vs. The Citadel (Maclellan Gym), 7 p.m.
- Saturday (10/15): Men’s Tennis at the ITA Ohio Valley Regionals (Louisville, Ky.)
- Saturday (10/15): Men’s Golf at the Wolfpack Intercollegiate (Raleigh, N.C.)
- Saturday (10/15): Football vs. VMI (Finley Stadium), 1:30 p.m.
- Sunday (10/16): Men’s Tennis at the ITA Ohio Valley Regionals (Louisville, Ky.)
- Sunday (10/16): Men’s Golf at the Wolfpack Intercollegiate (Raleigh, N.C.)
- Sunday (10/16): Soccer vs. ETSU (UTC Sports Complex), 1 p.m.
- Sunday (10/16): Volleyball vs. Alabama A&M (Maclellan Gym), 3 p.m.
- Monday (10/17): Men’s Tennis at the ITA Ohio Valley Regionals (Louisville, Ky.)
- Monday (10/17): Women’s Golf at The Ally (West Point, Miss.)
Looking back
 James Moreland, left, and Tennessee State Sen. Todd Gardenhire A look back at the recent James Moreland Scholarship Celebration, held September 29 in the Guerry Center Reading Room.
Here are some other UTC stories recently featured in the Newsroom:
Be Well Tip of the Week: Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Regardless of gender identity, everyone should have awareness of breast and chest health. Breast/chest irregularities or symptoms to look for include: lump or mass (may or may not be painful), swelling under the arm or around the collarbone, general and/or nipple pain, redness/thickening/itching of the skin, discharge, and unusual warmth in the chest area, to name a few.
You should practice monthly self-exams (shower, mirror, laying down) involving visible checks, as well as physically using the pads of your fingers in circular motions to check for the symptoms listed above. Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you detect any changes or abnormalities.
For more information:
If you have news, events or announcements you would like shared in UTC Campus Weekly, Campus Updates and the University events calendar, please email Chuck Wasserstrom in the Division of Communications and Marketing.
- Please submit your information by 3 p.m. on Friday for placement in the following Tuesday’s newsletter.
- The Division of Communications and Marketing will work with campus calendar users to ensure events are properly posted so they can be featured in the newsletter.
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