Chancellor’s Update

We have less than five weeks of classes remaining in the semester and commencement is just around the corner.  Due to McKenzie Arena construction activity, a ticket or credential will be required for entry into the arena by any individual, regardless of age.  This includes graduates as well as event staff and guests.  Graduation candidates may claim up to 10 tickets (including one for themselves) by completing the RSVP survey that will be distributed to students via email on April 3.  Faculty wishing to participate should contact the Provost’s office.  Additional information, including ceremony schedules, is available online.

I want to thank everyone for the part they played during the recent SACSCOC site visit to campus.  The visit was a great success and we received positive feedback from the On-Site Review Team.  We should obtain the official report from SACSCOC within the next few weeks and learn the next steps.  Thank you for the critical role you played!

I Love UTC Week, which continues through Saturday (March 25), is a tremendous opportunity for our campus to share why we are all proud to be Mocs.  This week’s events calendar has been loaded with activities, including a “zooTC” petting zoo coming to Chamberlain Field tomorrow (March 24).  What a fun way to show how much you love UTC!

It is always special when scholarship benefactors get the opportunity to meet their UTC student beneficiaries.  Tomorrow (March 24), the Division of Advancement will hold its annual Scholarship Recognition Event, bringing donors and student recipients together to honor the generosity of donors and celebrate students’ academic achievement as scholarship recipients.  The event allows students to say “thank you” and discuss educational and career aspirations with their benefactors.

On Saturday, April 1, the Undergraduate Admissions Office will host its largest spring campus recruitment event—the annual Blue and Gold Preview Day for prospective students and their families.  The day includes a campus tour, an academic department fair, a student organization showcase and a residence hall open house.  Staff and faculty who can come and greet prospective students and guests from 10 a.m.-noon that day should reach out to Carrie-Sherbesman@utc.edu.

We talked to over 200 prospective students during Tuesday’s Power C Tour event at Chattanooga State Community College.  As part of the event, a signing ceremony marking ChattState UTC Connect took place to reiterate our commitment to ensuring a smooth transfer of Chattanooga State students to UTC to complete their bachelor’s degree programs.  The dual admission signing agreement served as an example of how higher education institutions work together to provide pathways in preparing students to contribute toward state and regional workforce needs.

A big “Go Mocs” to the Marching Mocs on being invited to participate in the London New Year’s Day Parade.  The parade is expected to have more than 8,000 performers, a street audience of more than 500,000, and a global television audience.  What an excellent opportunity to perform on an international stage and showcase UTC worldwide!

For the second consecutive year, a UTC student has been recognized in the national Hearst Multimedia Narrative Storytelling Competition for collegiate journalism.  Jules Jackson (senior/art and communication/East Ridge) placed 19th in the 2022-23 competition for “Movements of the Mill,” a project in which he used video, photos and a written story to focus on the Pop-up Project, a nonprofit dance company in Chattanooga.  Congratulations Jules!

What great news to share!  College of Engineering and Computer Science alums Stephen Craven (1999), Clay Hoover (2010), Gabe Kurtz (2001), Jason Moon (2008) and Matthew Wilson (2000) were recently honored as the Engineer of the Year for their respective business units by TVA.  Craven, also a UTC adjunct faculty member, was chosen as Engineer of the Year by TVA and the National Society of Professional Engineers.

From March 30-April 1, UTC will welcome more than 300 civil engineering students from 14 visiting universities to participate in various technical and non-technical competitions and events throughout Chattanooga.  UTC hosts the American Society of Civil Engineers Mid-South Student Symposium, and events include the Concrete Canoe Competition and the Steel Bridge Competition.

Congratulations to Coach Shawn Poppie and the Mocs women’s basketball team on a tremendous season, culminating with the program’s 19th Southern Conference Championship and a trip to the NCAA Tournament.  Raven Thompson (freshman/sport management/Atlanta, GA) had a tremendous first season with the team, earning SoCon Freshman of the Year honors and being named the Most Outstanding Player of the conference tournament.

A huge round of applause to Coach Frank Reed on recording his 700th victory at the helm of the Mocs softball program.  During his time at UTC, he has led the team to 15 Southern Conference championships and 12 NCAA Tournament appearances.

Kudos to Mocs wrestlers Brayden Palmer (senior/exercise science/Hendersonville, TN) and Rocky Jordan (grad school/post-bacc/St. Paris, OH) on winning individual titles at the SoCon Championships to automatically qualify for the NCAA Wrestling Championships.  Matthew Waddell (senior/construction management/Ellijay, GA) joined them at the national competition after earning an at-large bid.