UTC’s recent gift acquisition of Raccoon Mountain Caverns marks a new chapter in research opportunities for both faculty and students, but it’s not a new story for UTC students and researchers who have already delved into the wonders of the cave. Over the years, numerous students have conducted research or taken up roles in managing and exploring the caverns.
Raccoon Mountain Caverns gifted to UTC
Donated to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Raccoon Mountain Caverns is UTC’s newest classroom and research laboratory. Located approximately 15 minutes southwest of campus, it is a complex cave system known for its extensive underground formations and diverse ecosystem.
Connecting the classroom to Chattanooga with “A Moc’s First Year”
“A Moc’s First Year” officially launched during the fall semester, and first-time, first-year UTC students explored what the city of Chattanooga has to offer. The University initiated the new program with the intention of building learning communities to ease the transition of first-time students into college while creating a community with fellow students.
Learning, growing and leading together at the UTC Children’s Center
In November, six UTC Health and Physical Education students taught physical education lessons at the UTC Children’s Center at Brown Academy. These lessons taught children the importance of taking care of their bodies and finding happiness through physical activity.
Calming effect: UTC Honors College students help to make a safer community
Each weekday around 3 p.m., parents and families from Chattanooga’s Oak Grove neighborhood gather outside East Side Elementary to pick up their children. What should be a safe and routine part of the day can actually be quite dangerous as cars speed through the residential area.
From small town to space: UTC student leads the way in engineering
When Alayna Grover came to school at the UTC, her goal was to change the world. Coming from the small town of White House, Tennessee, Grover viewed college as a fresh start.
Launch point: Rocket Mocs aim high in NASA competition
The Rocket Mocs have plans to ascend to new heights. The team, comprised of junior and senior mechanical engineering students in the UTC College of Engineering and Computer Science, has been accepted into the 2025 Student Launch Challenge—an annual competition sponsored by NASA—for the seventh consecutive year.
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.
The people of UTC: Get to know Jordan King
Dr. Jordan King, director of the Innovations in Honors program in the Honors College, answered some questions about his role and how students can get involved in the program.
Hands-on learning: UTC communication classes collaborate with local nonprofits for public relations projects
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Department of Communication is partnering with 10 local nonprofits to help students gain real work experience outside the classroom. Lecturer David Norman and Assistant Professor Tony Cepak are the two UTC faculty members leading the course, which is a combination of Public Relations Campaigns and Publication Design II classes. The 40 students in the course are divided into 10 groups of four and are assigned a nonprofit to work with throughout the semester.