Blue and Gold Preview Day brought hundreds of students and their families to the ARC. Photo by Angela Foster.
Hundreds of prospective students and their families explored the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga on Saturday, Nov. 2, during Blue and Gold Preview Day.
In addition to campus tours, information sessions and an application workshop, UTC faculty, advisors and current students set up booths in the Aquatic and Recreation Center.
Representatives from each academic department shared insights and answered questions from prospective students and their families.
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Lori Waite, lecturer, Department of Sociology
Lori Waite
Waite wanted students and their families to leave with a clear understanding of what sociology can offer.
“Many people don’t know what it is,” she said. “But it’s the kind of major that enables students to work in any number of occupational positions, and it’s so flexible.”
Waite pointed out that sociology students gain a number of practical skills such as data analysis, critical thinking and both quantitative and qualitative research abilities.
“I want people to know what sociology is and to be excited about it,” she said, “and for students to think of it as a major or a minor.”
Meredith Jones, academic advisor, School of Education
Jones highlighted the various licensure plans that the UTC School of Education offers.
“We have a lot of different licensure options, so hopefully students can find the grade they want to teach,” she said.
She also spoke about the benefits of the teaching profession, acknowledging that while teaching is challenging, there are incentives.
“Hamilton County is paying teachers well, especially in high-need areas like math and science,” she said.
Jones explained that Preview Day often helps students find a path that excites them.
“We just throw out those benefits and see what resonates.”
Taylor Dunagan, senior accounting major, Gary W. Rollins College of Business
As a college student, Dunagan knows the value of introducing high school students to a field they might not have encountered.
“A lot of students may have taken some career-focused courses in high school, but many haven’t had the opportunity to take accounting,” she said. “So it can be very new to them.
“That’s my favorite part of events like this because we can tell them about a career that could be great for a lot of them—and they may not even know about it yet.”
Curel Jones, senior marketing major, Gary W. Rollins College of Business
Jones, a member of the First in Fletcher Council—a mentorship program for first-generation students in the College of Business—represented the college at Preview Day.
“There are so many majors and minors in the College of Business,” she said. “If you want to do a completely different major, a business major is always an option.”
Jones said that business skills are applicable to many fields and will prepare you for the “real world.”
“Even the basics of business are fundamental for everyone,” she said.
Theresa Blackman, assistant director, Pre-Health Student Services
Theresa Blackman
For Blackman, Preview Day is an opportunity to address misconceptions surrounding pre-health studies.
“We want students to know that they can major in anything that interests them,” she said. “They don’t have to be a biology or chemistry major. While those are fabulous majors, if it’s not your thing, you have options.”
Blackman emphasized that pre-health isn’t a one-size-fits-all path, and UTC’s pre-health advisors are there to help students navigate the process.
“There are a lot of misconceptions about getting into med school,” she said, “and we want to debunk those assumptions.”
Alex Coker, outreach coordinator, College of Engineering and Computer Science
Coker used Preview Day to highlight the hands-on experience and job readiness that engineering and computer science provides.
“We like to think that we are one of the best in the area,” Coker said, “but our proof is in the pudding that all of our programs are ABET (Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology) accredited.”
He said that around 75-80% of students in the program secure internships, with on-the-job training that pays anywhere from $15 to $35 an hour.
“We have amazing faculty and staff,” he said. “Students rave about our programs.”
Monica Miles, associate lecturer, Department of Biology, Geology and Environmental Science
Miles recalled how academic expos felt intimidating when she was a college student, so she is determined to make her department approachable to newcomers.
“The main thing that I would like them to get out of this is to be able to see the cool things that our department has to offer,” she said.
Miles highlighted the department’s work in community outreach and connecting students to future employees through internships and research opportunities.
“We do a lot of work to connect students to future employers, and that’s something we try to highlight,” she said.
Emma Hoffbauer, assistant professor of scenic design, Department of Theatre
Emma Hoffbauer
Hoffbauer used Preview Day to introduce students to the inclusive approach UTC’s theatre department takes.
“Our BA in theatre gives students a full picture, from acting to backstage work,” she said. “Not just being an actor, not just being backstage, but they—as a theatre artist—are understanding all of the aspects of theatre that just makes them a better theatre person at the end of their education.”
She encouraged students to tour the department, meet the faculty and see the available opportunities. She also suggested prospective students talk to current students about what the program is truly like.
“I can tell them how much I love the department,” she said, “but students telling them what it’s really like is great.”
Marcia Noe, director, Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies
Noe aimed to eliminate misconceptions about careers in her field.
“There are lots of jobs for women’s studies graduates,” she said, explaining that alums from the program have found work in profits, law, education and other fields. “It gives you deep knowledge across a spectrum of disciplines and through the lens of gender.”
The coursework, she said, covers religion, literature, criminal justice, history, philosophy and political science.
She described the program as a “strong educational foundation” and encouraged students to explore.
Angie To, head of the Department of Art
“My job is to be the biggest cheerleader for the art department and to share information about the wonderful programs for our students,” To said of her role.
She said that she wanted potential students and their families to understand the impact of studying art.
“Art is often thought of as a luxury, but at this particular time, it’s a way to develop critical thinking and to consider how you fit in the world,” she said.
She added that the art department encourages students to use creative expression as a way to understand issues in society and the environment.
“You can paint, make sculptures, take photography or design,” she said. “UTC is a great school, and it’s a school where all of your faculty will know your name.”
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