Happy New Year! Like all of you, I am keeping my fingers crossed that 2021 will be a much better year than 2020. As we get ready for the spring semester, just like this past fall, the situation will be fluid. When classes resume, wearing masks, social distancing and limiting group sizes will continue to be part of our life for the spring semester.
However, 2021 has already presented us with challenges — opportunities to live our values. This week former UTC offensive line coach Chris Malone posted a tweet regarding Georgia politician Stacey Abrams that was hateful, hurtful and untrue. Mr. Malone is no longer a part of the university. University faculty and staff are expected to lead in a way that achieves and maintains a respectful, tolerant and civil campus environment. The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga does not tolerate and unequivocally condemns discrimination and hatred in all forms.
The 2021 MLK Day of Service program will occur in a virtual setting on Monday, January 18. The event will include speakers, service highlights, performances, tributes and historical reflections. Program coordinators include the UTC Office of Multicultural Affairs, the City of Chattanooga Office of Multicultural Affairs and the Unity Group. Please be sure to check your UTC email for finalized details.
UTC was recently rated among the country’s best schools for its programs and accommodations to help disabled students. Collegeconsensus.com, using information compiled by various publishers—including U.S. News and World Report—ranked UTC No. 22 in the nation. Kudos to the outstanding work being done by the UTC Disability Resource Center staff.
The UTC Center for Career and Leadership Development will be hosting Mind the Gap—a student-focused professional development mini-conference—January 12-15 via Zoom. The 30-minute virtual segments will cover a variety of topics. For information and to register, please check out Mind the Gap.
Congratulations to undergraduate physics majors Sara Bey, Rebecca Godri, Genevieve Benkert, Lillian Gensolin and Hannah Holmberg on being selected to present their research at the virtual 2021 American Physical Society Conferences for Undergraduate Women in Physics.
Congratulations to Chris Smith, chief health affairs officer and director of the School of Nursing, and Endia Butler, student employment coordinator in the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships, on being named to the All-Southern Conference team of distinguished faculty and staff. Chris and Endia were selected for demonstrating the common characteristics of dedicated service to this institution and contributions to both campus life and the local region. They truly exemplify the excellence of UTC.