Welcome to a new academic year! This is a fall semester like no other, one for the record books.
During the academic year, I like to share news of University happenings with a C-Note on the first and third Thursday of the month.
I cannot express how great it is to see students back on campus. I must say I have been so pleased to see nearly everyone with a mask on to protect our campus community from the spread of COVID-19. We can never say this enough: Mocs helping Mocs is how we are going to keep this campus safe—and it must be a team effort. Maintain social distancing. Wear a face mask. Wash your hands. Disinfect your workstation. Do not gather in large groups. Remember, we are all in this together.
When you leave campus, continue to follow the same precautions we take: wear a mask, social distance, and avoid large gatherings. Other universities have eliminated face-to-face instruction for the fall, but with your help, UTC will continue to provide face-to-face instruction and minimize the spread of this highly contagious virus.
The fact that we are open for business is a tribute to every member of our campus community. There are hundreds of people to thank for all they have done to get the campus ready for the school year. On behalf of the Executive Leadership Team, we would like to thank each and every one of you for all that you do!
For those of you who are new to UTC, the Executive Leadership Team (ELT) is comprised of my Chief of Staff and the Vice Chancellors. You can see a picture at https://new.utc.edu/chancellor/chancellors-executive-leadership-team. I am honored to work with such an outstanding group of higher education leaders who do their very best each day to provide a high-quality educational experience for our students.
The new campus map (explore.utc.edu) allows users to receive walking or driving directions to campus destinations and find the location of COVID-19 resources like where to find a face mask if you forget yours. The map is accessible from the utc.edu website on mobile devices by clicking on the Campus Maps link at the bottom of the homepage. Kudos to the many people on campus who collaborated to make this vital tool a reality!
What a remarkable performance from everyone involved in Operation Move In! Instead of the typical one-day event, OMI was stretched out over seven days to accommodate social distancing. Getting students back into residence halls smoothly could not have been done without the attention to detail and excellent work of the Housing and Residence Life staff.
I want to share some news about two UTC deans. A big hello to Pamela Riggs-Gelasco, the new dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, who joins us from the College of Charleston. Welcome to UTC! Valerie Rutledge, dean of the College of Health, Education and Professional Studies, has been selected for a national leadership fellowship committed to improving educator preparation. Deans for Impact, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to ensuring that every child is taught by a well-prepared teacher, named Valerie as one of 17 fellows for the Impact Academy fellowship’s fifth cohort. What a tremendous honor!
Go Mocs!