The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga has recorded an unofficial spring 2026 enrollment of 11,085 students, marking the first time in University history that spring enrollment has exceeded 11,000.
MOCS Innovate! mini-grants help researchers take the next step
Small amounts of early funding are often what determine whether a research idea moves forward or loses momentum. At UTC, that push comes from the MOCS Innovate! The Harris Chair Seed Fund for Innovation award, a mini-grant program that—for the past five years—hasprovided seed funding to UTC researchers working to develop their work into real inventions.
Chandler Mason finds passion for data through UTC SMILE Fund
Chandler Mason, a senior finance major, is scheduled to graduate at the spring 2026 commencement. Mason has spent his time at UTC discovering his passion for backend data organization.
The people of UTC: Get to know Lisa Piazza
Dr. Lisa Piazza came to UTC in 2018 with a goal to help more students see themselves as researchers. As a first-generation college student, Piazza learned much of higher education as she went, often with the help of mentors who took the time to guide her. That perspective carries over into her work at UTC, where she aims to make research feel approachable rather than intimidating.
Mocs Flight Plan takes flight: UTC enrollment strategy moves from planning to action
UTC leaders, faculty and staff gathered Monday, Jan. 12, for the kickoff meeting of the Mocs Flight Plan, marking the start of a coordinated, campuswide effort to implement the University’s Strategic Enrollment Plan approved in fall 2025. The Mocs Flight Plan establishes UTC’s roadmap for reaching 15,000 students by 2030 while strengthening retention, student outcomes and the overall student experience.
Nguyen with the win: UTC student earns national championship in T.E.A.M. University Challenge
Vu Nguyen isn’t one to seek the spotlight. But when the final scores were tallied in a national financial planning competition, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga sophomore found his name at the very top. Nguyen’s investment portfolio finished first among more than 600 students from 14 universities in the 2025 T.E.A.M. University Challenge, hosted by The E-Valuator Asset Management.
UTC earns national recognition for community engagement
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga has been nationally recognized for its long-standing commitment to community engagement, earning the 2026 Carnegie Community Engagement Classification—awarded by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching in collaboration with the American Council on Education.
Winter Welcome Week rings in the new semester
New and returning students at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga are heading back to campus for the spring semester with opportunities to connect during the 2026 Winter Welcome Week. The week of festivities will begin Monday, Jan. 12—when students start classes—and continue through Friday, Jan. 16.
Top 20 of ’25: A year’s worth of cheers
A lot of great things happened at UTC during the 2025 calendar year. We celebrated student and faculty research, welcomed new faces (including Chancellor Lori Bruce), broke ground on new buildings and commemorated big wins. With so much happening across campus, the UTC newsroom published 427 stories over the course of the year. Here are our top 20 personal favorites in chronological order of website publication.
Dr. Mina Sartipi named interim vice chancellor for research at UTC
Dr. Mina Sartipi has been appointed interim vice chancellor for research, effective January 2026. Sartipi currently serves as the executive director of the UTC Research Institute and as the founding director of the Center for Urban Informatics and Progress (CUIP). She is a Guerry Professor and UC Foundation Professor in UTC’s Department of Computer Science and Engineering and holds a joint faculty appointment with Oak Ridge National Laboratory.