UTC Recognized Nationally for Community Impact: UTC has once again earned the Carnegie Community Engagement Classification, one of the nation’s most selective and respected recognitions of a university’s commitment to sustained community partnership. This 2026 designation affirms what we know to be true: community engagement is fundamental to who we are and how we serve.
This recognition speaks to the trust and long-term relationships we’ve built with partners throughout Chattanooga and the region.
My sincere thanks to everyone who contributed to this effort, especially those who collaborated across campus to document our work and ensure it remains embedded in our mission. The Carnegie classification reminds us that this work only matters if we keep listening to our community and working together.
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Charting the Path to 15,000 Mocs: As the semester began, we officially launched the Mocs Flight Plan, moving our Strategic Enrollment Plan from planning to implementation. This campuswide effort reflects a shared commitment to expanding access and improving student outcomes as we work toward our goal of serving 15,000 students by 2030.
Faculty and staff from every corner of campus are leading eight implementation workgroups focused on enrollment growth, student experience and student success. This work recognizes that enrollment and student success are inseparable, and progress depends on collaboration.
I’m grateful to everyone who is contributing their time, expertise and ideas to this vital effort. By working together, we are building a stronger, more accessible UTC and creating clear, supportive pathways for students to enroll and stay on track through graduation.
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Research That Matters: Research at UTC is a powerful driver of learning and regional impact. Across disciplines, our students work alongside faculty to ask meaningful questions and apply knowledge in ways that serve our community.
This work strengthens teaching and fuels innovation, preparing students to think critically and lead with purpose. When faculty are actively engaged in research, classrooms are energized. When students are part of that work, learning becomes transformative.
UTC is uniquely positioned to do this well—large enough to support diverse expertise yet agile enough to collaborate across disciplines and with community partners. As we continue our progress toward Carnegie R2 classification, we are building on a strong foundation of scholarship and discovery that benefits our students, strengthens our region and elevates UTC’s national research profile.
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Partnering for Safer Streets: UTC is proud to partner with the City of Chattanooga on a new $1.06 million federal transportation grant that advances our commitment to roadway safety. Through this award from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Safe Streets and Roads for All program, the City and the UTC Research Institute will develop a Roadway Safety Design Technology Platform to better understand and address safety risks across high-risk corridors throughout Chattanooga.
With technical leadership from the Center for Urban Informatics and Progress, this work builds on the city’s Comprehensive Safety Action Plan by combining intersection-level data with continuous roadway imagery. The result will be more proactive, data-informed decision-making, helping prioritize investments and reduce serious injuries and fatalities on our streets.
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Expanding Our Leadership in Quantum Science: UTC has taken another important step in strengthening its leadership in quantum science and engineering by joining the Southeastern Quantum Collaborative, a regional partnership focused on advancing quantum research and field-ready applications for national security, space and advanced manufacturing.
This invitation recognizes the intentional investments UTC has made in quantum research, infrastructure and academic programs and affirms the growing national recognition of our UTC Quantum Center and its faculty. This work strengthens Tennessee’s competitiveness while driving innovation that benefits communities across the Tennessee Valley Corridor.
I’m proud of the work our faculty, researchers and partners are doing to expand UTC’s impact in this critical area. By collaborating with industry leaders, national laboratories and peer institutions, we are positioning our students and our region to lead in next-generation technologies that will shape innovation and economic growth.
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Excellence in the Classroom and in Competition: I want to take a moment to applaud our Mocs student-athletes for an extraordinary fall semester in the classroom.
This fall, our athletics programs posted a record-setting cumulative GPA of 3.443, continuing a 15-semester run of 3.0 or higher. More than 72% of our student-athletes earned Dean’s List honors, with 79 recording perfect 4.0 GPAs.
Success like this does not happen in isolation. My thanks to our coaches, who reinforce the importance of academic excellence; to Vice Chancellor for Athletics Mark Wharton for his leadership; and especially to the Athletic Academic Enhancement team in the Alling Family Student-Athlete Academic Center, led by Dr. Emily Blackman, whose commitment to supporting student-athletes makes these outcomes possible.
Our student-athletes continue to show us what it looks like to compete with purpose in every arena.
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Welcoming the Center for Student Leadership, Engagement, and Community: Last week, we marked the grand opening of the Center for Student Leadership, Engagement, and Community, a new space focused on student involvement and leadership beyond the classroom.
The center brings together opportunities that help students find connection and take on leadership roles during their time at UTC. It is designed to support the experiences that shape student life and strengthen a sense of belonging on our campus.
As the center opens, our focus remains on making sure students have access to support and meaningful opportunities throughout their journey at UTC.
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Honors Students Shine on National Stage: Congratulations to two members of our UTC Honors College who earned national recognition for their outstanding undergraduate research at the National Collegiate Honors Council (NCHC) conference.
Vio Midgett, a recent graduate and Brock Scholar, was named a Portz Scholar—an honor awarded to just four undergraduate researchers nationwide each year—for her work examining public memory of World War II in Japan. Her work reflects the kind of research students can pursue in UTC’s Honors College.
Noah Wyatt, a junior physics major and Brock Scholar, placed third out of more than 200 participants in the NCHC research poster competition for his work on particle physics research connected to Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
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A National Championship Moment: Please join me in congratulating Vu Nguyen, a sophomore management major in the Gary W. Rollins College of Business, who earned a national championship in the 2025 T.E.A.M. University Challenge. Competing against more than 600 students from 14 universities, Vu finished first overall in this prestigious financial planning competition.
I also want to recognize senior Chandler Mason, who placed eighth overall, and Dr. Hunter Holzhauer for his guidance and mentorship.
Achievements like this showcase the talent of our students and the strength of the learning experiences we provide. Vu’s success shows careful preparation and the kind of global perspective we aim to instill across our academic programs.
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Opening Doors Through Global Learning: Stories like this reflect the persistence and purpose our students bring to UTC. Jessica Hobbs, a chemical engineering major in our College of Engineering and Computer Science and an Innovations in Honors student, has been awarded the prestigious Gilman Scholarship—a nationally competitive award that makes study abroad possible for students of limited financial means.
Jessica’s path to this moment proves determination and resilience. After stepping away from college earlier in her academic journey, she returned with renewed purpose, serving in the U.S. Army Reserve, deploying overseas, and ultimately enrolling at UTC as a transfer student. This spring, she will study abroad in the Netherlands, where she will gain international experience that will strengthen her preparation for a career in chemical engineering.
Jessica’s story is a powerful reminder that there is no single path to success. We are proud to have her as part of the UTC community.
