Exterior of Old Main, circa 1900s. Photo courtesy of the UTC Library.
Every September, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga commemorates its beginning with Founder’s Week—a campuswide celebration of the first day in the University’s history.
On Sept. 15, 1886, Chattanooga University opened its doors with seven faculty members and 118 students. The University became the Chattanooga campus of Grant Memorial University in 1889 and adopted the name University of Chattanooga in 1907. That name remained until 1969, when the private University of Chattanooga merged with Chattanooga City College and joined the University of Tennessee system to become the institution known today as UTC.
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Click here to learn more about Founder’s Week 2025
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This year’s Founder’s Week takes place Sept. 15-19, marking UTC’s 139th anniversary with a calendar of events focused on celebration, reflection and service.
A centerpiece of the week is the Annual Service Awards Luncheon, taking place Tuesday, Sept. 16, at the Wolford Family Athletic Center. A total of 194 employees will be recognized for career milestones, with awards presented in five-year increments starting with the fifth year of service.
Among this year’s honorees are 42 employees who have reached at least 25 years of service with the University.
Chancellor Lori Bruce, who is experiencing her first Founder’s Week at UTC, described the luncheon as an opportunity to recognize the people who define the University.
“What truly defines UTC? It’s the faculty and staff whose hard work, passion and commitment shape the experiences of our students every single day,” Bruce wrote in a recent C-Note to campus. “I am grateful for all you do to make this University such a special place.”
The Founder’s Week schedule offers events that bring together students, faculty, staff and alums:
- Scrappy’s Cupboard Food Drive (Monday-Friday): Donation bins will be located in the Chancellor’s Office, University Center, UTC Library and Lupton Hall. The drive supports members of the UTC community through access to food, clothing, personal care and household items.
- Make and Shake: Airbrush and Coke Floats (Tuesday, Sept. 16): From noon to 3 p.m. on Vine Street, students can enjoy Coke floats and take home a custom airbrush tote bag or T-shirt while supplies last.
- Scrappy’s Market (Tuesday, Sept. 16): From 2 to 4 p.m. on Vine Street, free fresh produce will be available to students, faculty and staff.
- Coffee with the Chancellor (Wednesday, Sept. 17): Chancellor Bruce will host her first informal coffee conversation with faculty and staff from 8:15 to 9:30 a.m. at the Wolford Family Athletic Center.
- United Way Day of Caring (Friday, Sept. 19): UTC will partner with the United Way of Greater Chattanooga for its citywide volunteer initiative. From 7:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., students, faculty, staff and alumni can take part in service projects across the city, ranging from preparing meals and sorting food to painting and building projects. Breakfast, transportation, lunch and a volunteer T-shirt are provided.
Bruce noted that Founder’s Week is not only about remembering the past but also about serving others.
“It’s a reminder that Mocs take care of Mocs, and that—together—we can support one another in meaningful ways,” she said.
Honoring the University’s legacy
The history and significance of Founder’s Day—which evolved into a more extensive week of activities over the years—was best explored in a piece written by University Archivist and UC Foundation Associate Professor Noah Lasley for the UTC Library webpage.
“Founder’s Day is a tradition that has varied in name and consistency over the years but has always been recognized as an opportunity to celebrate the University and those who are a part of it,” Lasley wrote.
“A speech from the early 1960s explains, ‘Founder’s Day could be thought of as the University’s birthday party, a ceremony celebrating the official opening of the institution. It could also be thought of as a day set aside to recognize the founding fathers of the University.’”
As Lasley noted, many of the individuals involved in establishing the University in 1886 were memorialized on campus in a building name change in 1950, when the Administration Building—which was completed in 1916—was renamed Founders Hall.
Learn more
The history and purpose of Founder’s Day
