The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga highlighted the growth and long-term vision shaping campus during the “Join the Momentum” event on Wednesday, May 6, in the Wolford Family Athletic Center.
The event brought together elected officials, donors, alumni, faculty, staff, students and community leaders for an overview of major campus construction projects totaling more than $460 million and UTC’s future direction under its 2030 Strategic Plan.
Displayed throughout the room were renderings of upcoming and ongoing construction projects, including the University Center dining and lobby renovations, Oak Street Residence Hall, the Dorothy and Jim Kennedy Health Sciences Building, the Gary W. Rollins College of Business expansion, the Steiner Family Women’s Athletic Center, a new dining hall and a parking garage.
Longtime “Voice of the Mocs” Jim Reynolds opened the program by emphasizing the scale of growth taking place across campus.
“Momentum is something real, something measurable, something created by so many people in this room,” Reynolds said. “Momentum with a record enrollment of over 12,000. A freshman retention rate from fall to spring of 91%. Momentum created by nearly half a billion dollars in capital investments in construction projects on this campus.”
Reynolds thanked donors and supporters for helping drive the University’s recent growth.
“Created by all the generosity of so many supporters—over 7,000—$30 million in gifts,” Reynolds said. “I’ve had the privilege to be on this campus for a long time and there’s a vibe on this campus now that has never been before.”
Chancellor Lori Bruce said UTC’s momentum can be seen in its enrollment growth, evidenced by the nearly 18,000 applications to date for fall 2026 admission, expanding research activity and growing impact across the region.
“It’s about the impact of higher education on individuals, on communities, on workforce development and on the future of Chattanooga and Tennessee,” Bruce said. “It’s really about people. It’s about the students who learn here, the faculty who teach and mentor here, the researchers who discover and innovate here, and the communities that benefit from it all.”
Bruce highlighted UTC’s continued enrollment growth, expanding research activity and growing doctoral education, noting that the University now serves more than 12,000 students, including more than 500 doctoral students.
Bruce announced that as of spring 2026 commencement, UTC meets all current metrics required to attain Carnegie R2 status, including doctoral degree production and annual research and development funding levels.
“Beyond any Carnegie designation, it is really the internationally recognized research of our faculty and students that are elevating this University’s reputation and delivering meaningful impact locally and globally,” Bruce said. “The transformation of this campus’ facilities will help provide the much-needed, high-quality space to support our faculty and students in their R&D work.”
Bruce also thanked the Hamilton County legislative delegation, UT System leadership, alumni and donors for supporting UTC’s continued growth and investment in campus infrastructure.
“Your generosity is truly inspiring,” she said. “Your gifts enable us to provide the very best facilities and programs that our students deserve.”
She pointed to the relationship between campus growth and workforce preparation, emphasizing that UTC students are already contributing throughout the region while completing their degrees.
“Our students are not just the future workforce; they’re the current workforce,” Bruce said. “Our students are training in our hospitals, supporting our school systems, working in our businesses and applying what they’ve learned in our entrepreneurship programs to launch new businesses.”
Bruce highlighted the scale of construction underway across campus and thanked those who have continued investing in UTC’s future as the projects move forward. She said the work happening now will shape the University for generations of students to come.
“Yes, there’s a lot of cranes and there’s a lot of construction happening on this campus,” Bruce said, “but what we’re really building is opportunityfor students, for Chattanooga and for the state of Tennessee. That is our future, and that is our momentum.”
University of Tennessee System President Randy Boyd connected UTC’s growth to broader goals across the UT System, particularly workforce development and expanding access to higher education.
“UTC is helping the workforce of Tennessee that will rely on it for decades to come,” Boyd said. “This University is educating the teachers in our classrooms, the nurses in our hospitals, the engineers and our industries, and the leaders who keep our communities moving forward.”
Boyd also emphasized the value of a UT education and pointed to increasing numbers of students graduating debt-free across the system.
“Two years ago, 45% of our students graduated with zero debt,” Boyd said. “Last year, 54% graduated with no debt. Our goal by 2030 is 65% will graduate with no debt.”
Looking ahead, Boyd said UTC plans to continue growing enrollment, research and its role in emerging technologies.
“We’re working toward 15,000 students here at UTC by 2030,” Boyd said. “We have the vision, we have the talent, we have the support, we have the momentum.”
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Photo gallery by Angela Foster
