With 36 acceptance letters and full-ride scholarships from schools across the country and beyond—including an Ivy League institution—Chello Gardner had an important decision to make. Gardner will graduate with a degree in communication on Saturday, May 3. She tacked on minors in both criminal justice and women, gender and sexuality studies—and was a Brock Scholar in the Honors College—during her time at UTC.
UTC bringing realistic police training simulation to the classroom
A high-tech simulation, VirTra, will be introduced to the classroom in the fall. The program trainees to participate in realistic, scenario-based training where their decisions, verbal commands and reactions directly influence the outcome.
Peak performance: UTC criminal justice professor honored for innovation in teaching
UTC Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice Katelyn Hancock has been named the recipient of the Ken Peak Innovations in Teaching Award by the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences (ACJS). The Ken Peak Innovations in Teaching Award recognizes faculty members for innovative and effective teaching methods that enhance learning experiences and have the potential to be replicated by other educators.
UTC announces launch of the Violence Reduction Initiative
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga has officially announced the creation of the Violence Reduction Initiative (VRI), a research center housed within the Department of Criminal Justice dedicated to bridging the gap between academic research and real-world solutions to violent crime in Chattanooga and beyond.
City of Chattanooga and UTC receive $2 million federal grant for CURV initiative
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Department of Criminal Justice is partnering with the City of Chattanooga on the Chattanooga United to Reduce Violence (CURV) initiative, funded by a $1,999,187 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance.
UTC announces spring 2025 dual enrollment options
High school juniors and seniors can now experience college-level learning through UTC’s newly announced spring 2025 dual-enrollment courses. Ten general education courses—chosen for their strong transferability to most four-year institutions—will be available in various formats: on the UTC campus after the high school day, online with set schedules, and online with flexible options.
Coloring outside the lines: UTC criminal justice students blend art, ethics and community service
This fall, students in Dr. Katelyn Hancock’s “Ethics in Criminal Justice” course are confronting complex ethical issues in policing, courts and corrections through the lens of art. The project, titled “Pouring for Purpose,” invites students to create abstract paintings that explore ethical dilemmas and potential solutions within the justice system.
Justice on display: Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals holds session at UTC
On Wednesday, Oct. 23, the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals took to the road and heard three cases in the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Library’s Roth Grand Reading Room, allowing UTC students the opportunity to witness the legal process in action.
Hamilton County and UTC receive $844,294 federal grant to support Recidivism Reduction Initiative
The three-year project, titled the Recidivism Reduction Initiative (RRI), is designed to improve public safety by reducing recidivism rates among justice-involved individuals in Hamilton County’s misdemeanor supervision programs. Hamilton County is the lead on the project, with UTC’s Department of Criminal Justice providing research and data analysis to assess program effectiveness and measure outcomes.
Dr. Anovia Slaughter named University ombuds
Dr. Anovia Slaughter has been appointed University ombuds for the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, effective June 28. Slaughter’s background includes serving as a State of Tennessee Rule 31 independent family/domestic and civil law mediator; overseeing all operations of victim support services for Partnership for Families, Children and Adults; and spending 12 years as a marriage and relationship educator for First Things First.