February 1 marked the move to more in-person classes. I would like to thank everyone in the campus community, especially our students, for taking COVID-19 precautions seriously. Students checking into housing were tested upon arrival, and we ended up with less than a 0.5% positive test rate! COVID-19 is still a major health risk, and we must continue to wear a mask, socially distance and limit group sizes. We are starting February in a really good place with Mocs looking out for Mocs.
Our celebration of Black History Month is underway with more than 20 special events scheduled throughout February. Activities include panel discussions, guest speakers, workshops, screenings of film documentaries and weekly Fresh Friday networking events at the Multicultural Center’s new Lupton Hall location. Our Office of Multicultural Affairs, in partnership with many other units across campus, has worked tirelessly in putting the Black History Month schedule together.
Community partnerships and civic engagement are a huge part of the UTC mission, so it is exciting to share the news of a collaboration involving the Department of History and RISE Chattanooga—a community-based nonprofit organization. This partnership aims to gather and share the stories of Chattanooga’s historic neighborhoods and churches and preserve past and present African American culture.
Congratulations to Gary W. Rollins College of Business students Melissa Mueller and Ben Trussel on winning the Second Annual Equity Research Report Challenge. Their award-winning research report focused on CanWel (CWX)—a small cap Canadian basic materials company. This was the second year of the national competition, and UTC SMILE Fund students have won both times. Well done, Melissa and Ben!
The 31st annual Scholars-in-Residence ceremony will take place at 4:00pm on February 15 via Zoom. This annual ceremony recognizes on-campus residents who have demonstrated academic excellence by making the Dean’s List during the fall semester. A record 54% of our residence hall students made the Dean’s List last fall, including 38% of our on-campus freshmen—achievements even more remarkable given the pandemic. The entire campus community is welcome to view the event. Please click here to register.
Congratulations to the Department of Engineering Management and Technology. Great Business Schools, an online guide for current and prospective business students, rated the UTC engineering management bachelor’s degree the 24th-best in the nation for 2021 and the best in the South. The national recognition is a credit to the hard work of the faculty, staff and students in the program. Great work!
It is time to call for nominations for the 2021 THEC Harold Love Outstanding Community Service Award Program. In 1971 the Tennessee legislature created this program that recognizes higher education faculty, staff and students demonstrating exemplary public service. Each year, five students and five faculty/staff members from public and private two- and four-year institutions across the state of Tennessee are selected by a representative task force to receive a $1,000 award check in honor of their service. UTC had two recipients last year: assistant professor of nursing Priscilla Simms-Roberson and student Briana Brady. Please email your nomination form and supporting materials to Teresa-McKinney@utc.edu in the Chancellor’s Office no later than noon on Friday, February 19.
The annual Blue and Gold Memorial Service is a tradition honoring UTC faculty, staff, students and alumni who have passed away over the last year. This tribute is our way of symbolizing that—while they are no longer physically with us—they are permanently among us. The ceremony for our departed UTC family members will not be held in-person this year, and a virtual memorial tribute has been created. We encourage you to visit the Blue and Gold Memorial web page to watch the video, view the names of the Mocs we have lost and leave a comment with a tribute to, or memory of, the individuals you knew. These Mocs are always in our thoughts and forever in our hearts.