The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga has officially launched its College of Nursing, elevating the longstanding nursing program to full college status effective Jan. 1, 2026 — UTC’s fifth academic college. The change formalizes nursing’s critical role in regional health care workforce development, serving nearly 1,000 students across undergraduate and doctoral programs. UTC Chancellor Lori…
Make it make cents: Now-retired pennies pose puzzle for Chattanooga consumers, businesses
Howard Wall serves as director and chief economist of the Center for Regional Economic Research and is a professor in the Department of Finance and Economics in the Gary W. Rollins College of Business. A regular source for expert commentary across local, regional, and national outlets, Wall offers perspective on timely economic issues. In this…
AI tools help during holiday shopping, UTC professor says you probably already used them
As AI-powered shopping tools grow this holiday season, UTC marketing professor Alycia Franklin says many consumers are already using AI without realizing it and urges caution about what these technologies can and cannot do. Franklin notes that while retailers’ tools can help find deals, track prices and suggest gifts, shoppers should see them as helpers—not…
Turkey prices drop, veggie costs rise this Thanksgiving for shoppers in Tennessee, Georgia
University of Tennessee Chattanooga economist Howard Wall says Thanksgiving grocery costs largely depend on what you buy and where you shop. With turkey prices falling about 16%, holiday meals for many Tennesseans are cheaper this year — but rising costs for vegetables and sweet potatoes offset some savings. Wall notes that while some studies show…
UTC campus feels pawsitively brighter with Sophie’s wagging tail therapy
A one-year-old Labrador retriever named Sophie has joined University of Tennessee at Chattanooga’s campus as a therapy dog, partnering with Corporal Aaron Bayer from the UTC Police. Originally trained for service work, Sophie now works with the Counseling Center to boost mood and wellbeing among students, faculty, staff and officers. Her presence is already lifting…