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Updates and news for the week of October 17 – 23, 2023
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.
UT Board of Trustees Approves Kennedy Foundation Building Gift
On Friday afternoon, the UT Board of Trustees approved an $8-million gift from the Kennedy Foundation, Inc. to name the future home of UTC’s School of Nursing the Dorothy and Jim Kennedy Health Sciences Building—representing the largest single gift in School of Nursing history.
The building will be the first on campus to be named for a UTC alumna.
Get your tickets now!
With the start of the basketball season right around the corner, single-game tickets for both the men’s and women’s basketball teams are now available. Single-game ticket options begin at just $10 (general admission) for the women’s slate and $12 (200 level baseline) on the men’s side.
The season opens for both programs on Monday, Nov. 6, at McKenzie Arena—with the women taking on King University at 11 a.m. and the men facing Covenant College at 7 p.m.
Click here to learn more and to buy tickets.
Off-Campus Housing Fair
For the first time, UTC is hosting an Off-Campus Housing Fair. From 11 a.m.-2 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 26, Off-Campus Student Services (OCSS)—housed in the Office of Student Outreach and Support (SOS)—will host informational sessions for UTC students wishing to live off campus.
Stop by the University Center Tennessee Room for free food, giveaways and prizes—and meet representatives from off-campus properties, utility companies and municipal services to learn more about the options now available to students. For more information, click here.
Fall Family Weekend 2023
The Office of Student and Family Engagement is gearing up to welcome over 300 families to campus for Fall Family Weekend this Friday-Sunday (Oct. 20-22). To provide the best possible experience for our attending families, we need your help. We are seeking volunteers for various roles over that weekend to help welcome, check-in, engage and serve the families of our current students.
Please visit our volunteer sign-up form to review the roles and sign up to volunteer with us. We appreciate your support.
Send in your Information for the UTC Parent and Family Association Newsletter
It is again time to recruit campus partners to send in information for the UTC Parent and Family Association newsletter, a monthly roundup distributed to more than 5,400 parents/family members. The November newsletter will be emailed to members Wednesday, Nov. 1.
To share information with the families of UTC students—upcoming events, important deadlines, helpful suggestions and departmental news—email hannah-turcotte@utc.edu by Wednesday, Oct. 25.
WUTC Reaches Fall Pledge Drive Goal
WUTC-FM 88.1 achieved its $55,000 fall pledge drive goal early, thanks to 234 contributors—including two individuals who each pledged $11,000 in support.
With $22,000 needed to reach the $55,000 goal last Friday, a donor offered to contribute $11,000 on the condition that a matching $11,000 be donated. Another donor accepted the challenge and made an $11,000 contribution, taking the pledge drive to its goal.
Interested in Studying Abroad?
If you’re interested in studying abroad at all during your time at UTC, don’t miss the Center for Global Education Study Abroad program’s biggest event of the year.
Stop by the Study Abroad Fair on Wednesday, Oct. 25, to meet with partners from across the globe, chat with study abroad alumni, eat food from around the world and grab some swag. The event will take place from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. in the University Center Tennessee Room.
Calling all students!
Mocs students, you should have received an email about the Student Experience Survey. This survey is administered to all 54,000 students across the UT system to learn about your current needs, well-being and preferences, and we need everyone’s help in completing the two-minute questionnaire. Click here to go to the survey. Student feedback informs us about the Mocs experience and helps identify opportunities for the future.
The outstanding people of UTC
 Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering Murat Barisik is the principal investigator on a research grant looking at how things move and change in a particular gas environment seen in many applications—such as protecting spacecraft from heat.
Congratulations to UTC faculty and staff who received awards or submitted proposals for sponsored programs in September. The Office of Research and Sponsored Programs announced that faculty and staff attracted $4,041,401 in external grant and contract awards during the month and submitted proposals for the potential to generate over $6,052,997 in external funding, if awarded.
Among those receiving awards in September were Dr. Murat Barisik and Dr. Reetesh Ranjan (Mechanical Engineering), who received $562,497 from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Funding for Accelerated, Inclusive Research (FAIR) initiative for the project titled “First principles multiphase modeling of mesoscale gas transport in porous reactive systems.”
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 Rocket Mocs (from left): Joshua Tang, Isaiah Schmelzer, Sam Mossbeck, Jared Fiveash, Connor Mackey, Rett Stockman, Adrianne Glover and Canyon Blaylock. The Rocket Mocs earned NASA recognition as one of the best in the country for a fifth consecutive year. The team is again competing in the NASA Student Launch Challenge, a nine-month-long competition in which student teams from across the U.S. design, build, test and launch high-powered rockets carrying scientific or engineering payloads.
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Check out these Mocs making a difference:
- Three UTC alums will be honored on Wednesday (Oct. 18) as Women of Distinction of Greater Chattanooga: Dr. Kristi Wick, the Vicky B. Gregg Chair of Gerontology and UC Foundation assistant professor in the School of Nursing, UC Foundation trustee Suzanne Forlidas and Cynthia Dale.
- The UTC NAACP student chapter has been selected by the Chattanooga-Hamilton County NAACP Ruby Hurley Image Awards as the recipient of the 2023 Viola Mapp Membership Award.
- School of Nursing Lecturer Laurel Rhyne will be leading a session titled “The Role of a Death Doula” from 10-11 a.m. on Friday (Oct. 20) as part of Welcome Home of Chattanooga’s Demystifying Death conference. The session will take place at First Baptist Church of Chattanooga (401 Gateway Ave.).
- Dr. Jejal Bathi’s microplastics research was recently featured by Teknovation.biz.
Beginning Tai Chi for Mind and Body Wellness
This fall, the College of Arts and Sciences is offering UTC faculty and staff a Beginning Tai Chi for Mind and Body Wellness course, taught and led by Dr. Zibin Guo. The free course will meet from 12:20-1:20 p.m. on Tuesdays from Oct. 24 until Nov. 28. The program has only 15 spots available; click here for course registration.
What is tai chi? Sometimes described as “meditation in motion,” the martial art tai chi is widely recognized for its ability to improve physical and mental health without requiring special equipment or skill level.
Guo, funded by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, recently completed a seven-year journey implementing the wheelchair/Inclusive Tai Chi Chuan program within the U.S. VA health care system.
Mark your calendar
The Tasty Tidbit Leadership Lunch Series, a trio of sessions open to UTC students, faculty and staff, kicks off from noon-1 p.m. on Thursday (Oct. 19) when anxiety relief therapist Sheaba Chacko hosts “Understand What is Holding You Back” in the Aviary Room of the Stacy Town Center. Chacko will be talking about her complicated relationship with school and how she ended up running her own business here in Chattanooga. A light lunch will be provided. Click here to RSVP.
- The ensuing session takes place on Tuesday, Oct. 24, in the West Campus Housing multipurpose room, titled “Aspire to INSPIRE with Taylor Tipton.” Click here to RSVP.
- The third session occurs on Monday, Nov. 6, in University Center Chattanooga Room C, titled “What Is Servant Leadership Anyway? A Discussion with Ken Jones.” Click here to RSVP.
Email Daniel-Grzesik@utc.edu, the director of Leadership Development and Programs, to learn more about the Tasty Tidbit series.
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Washington Post opinion writer Jennifer Rubin joins the Tennessee Democracy Forum on Thursday (Oct. 19) for the next “Conversation on Democracy,” sponsored by the Adolph S. Ochs Professor of Government, the Division of Diversity and Engagement and the Honors College. The event will take place at 7 p.m. in the Guerry Center Reading Room and will also be available via Livestream.
Click here to register for the event.
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The Department of Chemistry and Physics continues its fall seminar series from 3-4 p.m. on Friday (Oct. 20) with a visit from Dr. Christopher Chouinard, a member of the Clemson University Department of Chemistry. The title of the seminar, which will take place in Grote Hall Room 411, is “Leveraging High-Resolution Ion Mobility-Mass Spectrometry Approaches for Improved Biomolecular Identification.” Click here for the Chouinard Research Group website.
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Five writers whose passion for creative writing blossomed during their undergraduate days at UTC will be featured at an upcoming Meacham Writers’ Workshop event. On Saturday (Oct. 21), a UTC Alumni Reading—with conversation and Q&A to follow—will take place from 1-3 p.m. at ArtsBuild (301 E. 11th St. in Chattanooga). Light refreshments will be provided.
The five UTC alums participating in the Meacham Writers’ Workshop program are May 2023 graduate Jude Keef, George Conley Jr., Rebecca Cook, Rachel Crumble and Gwen Mullins.
The Meacham Writers’ Workshop promotes writing as an expressive art and brings together University and community writers and readers.
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 The Clarence T. Jones Observatory is located at 10 N. Tuxedo Ave. in Chattanooga. Look through Chattanooga’s historic 20.5-inch telescope. View a show with the new planetarium projector. Learn about the latest astronomical research. Meet members of the Chemistry and Physics department and the Barnard Astronomical Society.
The Clarence T. Jones Observatory reopens this Sunday (Oct. 22). The observatory, owned and operated by UTC, is free and open to the public. Gates open at 6:30 p.m., with a lecture and Planetarium show beginning at 7 p.m. and telescope viewing until 9 p.m.
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 Clockwise from left: Colum McCann, Ishmael Beah, Felice Bell, Christian J. Collier and Sybil Baker. Can storytelling change the world? A pair of best-selling authors are coming to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga for a conversation exploring how storytelling can broaden perspectives.
National Book Award winner Colum McCann, author of the New York Times bestseller “Let the Great World Spin,” and Ishmael Beah, a Quill Award-nominated author and human rights activist, will participate in a panel discussion called “Changing the World with Stories” from 7-9 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 24, in the University Center Auditorium. The event is free and open to the public. To register, visit the Changing the World with Stories website.
“Changing the World with Stories” panelists will also include UC Foundation Professor and Associate Department Head Sybil Baker and Christian J. Collier, a Chattanooga-based spoken-word artist and musician.
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The UTC Online Criminal Justice Program is one of the sponsors of the Sinclair Broadcast Group of Chattanooga’s Fifth Annual First Responders Salute from 7 a.m.-2 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 25, at the First Horizon Pavilion (1826 Reggie White Blvd.). Chattanooga area EMTs, EMS, firefighters, law enforcement and medical personnel will be provided breakfast and lunch to thank them for their service. For questions or to learn more, email sherah-basham@utc.edu in the Department of Social, Cultural and Justice Studies.
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Join Pre-Health Professions Advising on Thursday, Oct. 26, for an inspiring exploration of the ethical considerations doctors encounter as they strive to create a health care landscape that is equitable, affordable and rooted in patient-centered care.
Doctors participating in the panel discussion, taking place from 4-5:30 p.m. in the University Center Chattanooga Room, include a rural emergency medicine physician, a family practice physician, a plastic surgeon and a pediatrician. Everyone is invited—from medical professionals to students from any major to anyone interested in the future of health care ethics.
The discussion will explore topics ranging from health care to the humanities, social sciences and allied health fields. Audience members will deepen their understanding of the innovative approaches doctors apply to the ethical challenges they face.
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Please join UTC Campus Recreation from 6-8 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 27, for a Family Festival: Spooky Waters Pool Party. Tickets may be purchased by UTC Campus Recreation members and non-members. Our pool will be decorated and themed for a not-so-scary family night featuring trunk-or-treat-style booths, log-rolling music and much more.
Tickets are $10 per person in advance and $15 day of event and can be purchased through the UTC Campus Recreation portal. Email campusrec@utc.edu with questions.
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In his documentary “Beautiful Faces,” 2012 UTC alum Dagan Beckett explores the journeys three young patients, their parents and local surgeon Dr. Larry Sargent took through multiple plastic surgeries to address their medical problems.
On Friday, Nov. 3, the Chattanooga premiere of “Beautiful Faces” takes place at 7 p.m. in the Fine Arts Center’s Roland Hayes Concert Hall. The film screening will be followed by a Q&A with the cast and filmmakers. Admission is free for students and $5 for non-students, but registration is required. Click here for the registration link.
Research and Networking Opportunity
The Vice Chancellor for Research and the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs (ORSP) are planning to support a site visit and networking opportunities with researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the UT-Oak Ridge Innovation Institute. We are seeking to gather information about faculty interests and preferences to help us plan for the visit and other potential activities in 2024.
Any UTC faculty member or researcher is eligible to participate. Please take a few moments to complete the brief survey here to help us schedule activities of interest to you.
Campus Updates
The Office of the University Registrar provided important upcoming registration dates and deadlines.
The list includes an important date taking place soon:
- Monday, Oct. 30: Last day to withdraw from any full-term course on a course-by-course basis with a grade of W (one or more courses)
MyMocsNet will be unavailable for portions of Oct. 20-22 due to banner maintenance.
Online withdrawal is available through 11:59 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 30.
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The Institute of Contemporary Art, housed in the Fine Arts Center, is conducting a planning study to better emphasize areas of growth and change. In order to better understand ourselves and how we can serve you both now and in the future, we request your survey participation as a valued member of the UTC community. This anonymous survey will take approximately 3-5 minutes.
As an incentive for completing the survey, you will have the ability to enter your contact information for a chance to win a $50 gift card. Click here for the survey link.
To learn more about who we are and what we do, visit https://icachatt.org/about.
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Senior Brock Scholar Katie Hopper is looking for students, faculty or staff to participate in a documentary about first-time hikers. The creative project will include a two-hour guided hike and an interview. Interested participants can sign up here. For more information, email jws712@mocs.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, a part of University Health Services, 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.
Looking ahead
 Mocs sophomore wide receiver Javin Whatley put on a show on Oct. 7, setting a school record with 353 all-purpose yards. This week’s Mocs home athletics calendar:
- Wednesday (Oct. 18): Softball Blue-Gold Series, Frost Stadium, 3:30 p.m.
- Thursday (Oct. 19): Softball Blue-Gold Series, Frost Stadium, 3:30 p.m.
- Friday (Oct. 20): Softball Blue-Gold Series, Frost Stadium, 3:30 p.m.
- Saturday (Oct. 21): Wrestling Blue-Gold Match, First Horizon Pavilion, 10 a.m.
- Saturday (Oct. 21): Football vs. ETSU, Finley Stadium, 1 p.m.
Looking back
 1969 UTC Marching Band (photo courtesy of Department of Music) The unofficial birth of the Marching Mocs band is thought to have begun when eight students from the University of Chattanooga got together to play music for a student body meeting. What may have cemented the band’s future happened the next day, though, when the eight played at a football game between UC and Cumberland College. The dates were Oct. 12-13, 1923, making this year the band’s 100th birthday.
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 Members of the UTC CUIP team include (from left) graduate students Yasir Hassan, Monireh Rahmati, Medhi Khaleghian and Giang Do, Director of Operations/Chief Engineer Austin Harris, graduate student Tuan Nguyen, Grant Writer/Administrator Jordan Gwarjanski and Dr. Mina Sartipi. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has awarded $1.1 million for research to enhance detection of “vulnerable road users” within the Smart City Corridor overseen by the Center for Urban Informatics and Progress at UTC. In addition to the funding awarded through the FHWA “Exploratory Advance Research” program, UTC and research partners will invest $300,000 to enable additional technology along the M.L. King Boulevard site to detect “vulnerable road users”—essentially, anyone not traveling inside an enclosed vehicle.
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Here are some other recent UTC stories featured in the Newsroom:
Tales from the UTC PodLab
 Jill Kinnett and Kurt Faires “Tennessee Valley Across the Table” is a student-led podcast that brings locals, often strangers with different views, together to learn who we are as people. It is inspired by StoryCorps’ One Small Step program.
In 2022, community members came to the UTC PodLab and opened their lives with stories about their families, their politics and their hopes for the future. This year, UTC Honors students, under the direction of Will Davis, studied the recordings and chose the material that most resonated with them. This episode by UTC creative writing student Koy Skinner features a conversation between Jill Kinnett and Kurt Faires.
You can subscribe to “Tennessee Valley Across the Table” on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
WUTC Spotlight: NPR’s Steve Inskeep
 Copies of “Differ We Must” at the Abraham Lincoln Bookshop, Inc. in Chicago. National Public Radio “Morning Edition” co-host Steve Inskeep, heard weekdays on WUTC-FM 88.1, is an historian. His new book, “Differ We Must: How Lincoln Succeeded in a Divided America,” looks at President Abraham Lincoln’s political strategy.
Inskeep was a recent guest on WUTC’s Scenic Roots.
That’s a Wrap: Looking Back at Homecoming 2023
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