September 30-October 6, 2025

Updates and news for the week of September 30-October 6, 2025

The UTC Campus Weekly newsletter is distributed every Tuesday morning. If you have news, events or announcements you would like shared with campus, please submit your information to Peyton Schultz (peyton-l-schultz@utc.edu) in the Division of Communications and Marketing by 3 p.m. on Friday for placement in the following Tuesday’s newsletter.

UTC News  |  UTC Events Calendar  |  Campus Updates

Click here to view this week’s newsletter in your browser

Highlights

MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR MOCS GIVE DAY

You can also be a Mocs Give Day Advocate. You’ll receive an exclusive T-shirt when you commit to making a gift on Oct. 7 and encourage others to donate as well. Visit mocsgiveday.utc.edu to learn more.

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Submit your homecoming 2025 events

Homecoming 2025: Calling All the MOCsters is right around the corner (Oct. 25-Nov. 1). Homecoming Week is UTC’s official week of programs and events geared towards students, alumni, faculty/staff and the community to provide a fun, welcoming and positive experience for the UTC and Chattanooga community.

Please submit a form for each individual event your office or department plans to host. This will help us keep track of all programs. This form is not open to the general public. The final deadline to submit your events is 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 15.

Check out these opportunities to get involved as an individual, student organization or office this year.

• Student Organization Banner Painting: Closes at 11:59 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 10, MocSync
• Office and Residence Hall Decorating Competition: Closes at 11:59 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 10, MocSync
• Day of Service registration: Closes at 11:59 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 10, MocSync

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UTC announces launch of the Center for Applied Geospatial Data Science

Charlie Mix and Nyssa Hunt of the UTC Center for Applied Geospatial Data Science

UTC has announced the creation of the Center for Applied Geospatial Data Science (CAGDS), an interdisciplinary research hub housed within the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research. Building on the legacy of the long-standing Interdisciplinary Geospatial Technology Lab (IGTLab), the center will advance applied geospatial research, education and community partnerships.

Outstanding People of UTC

Guerry Professors (from left) Hope Klug, Mina Sartipi, Yu Liang

For over 60 years, UTC has awarded Guerry Professorships to tenured faculty who have distinguished themselves nationally through teaching, research, scholarship and other significant contributions to their respective fields. This year we welcome three new faculty members as Guerry Professors:

• Dr. Hope Klug, Professor, Department of Biology, Geology and Environmental Science
• Dr. Mina Sartipi, Professor, Department of Computer Science and Engineering
• Dr. Yu Liang, Professor, Department of Computer Science and Engineering

Each faculty member holds a Guerry Professorship for five years and receives a $10,000 stipend each academic year to support continuation and expansion of their work.

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May 2024 UTC School of Nursing Zeta Alpha Chapter induction ceremony.

The Zeta Alpha Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing (Sigma Nursing) at UTC has earned the Chapter Key Award—the organization’s highest distinction.

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Check out these Mocs in the news:

• A NewsChannel 9 story about a new alert system at UTC included Public Information Officer Brett Fuchs and UTC Police Chief Sean O’Brien.
• Professor of Practice in Theatre Education Laurie Allen promoted this week’s UTC Theatre Co. production “Dracula: Mina’s Quest” on an episode of Jed & JR Mornings.
• A Times Free Press story about an expanding literacy tutoring program in Hamilton County Schools featured Assistant Professor and Literacy Director Yvette Stewart.
• Associate Lecturer of Marketing Ryan Russell joined Jed & JR Mornings to discuss consumer behavior.

Mark Your Calendar

Photo credit: Ray Soldano/GoMocs.com

This week’s Mocs home athletics calendar:

• Today (Sept. 30): Softball vs. Cleveland State, Frost Stadium, 5 p.m.
• Thursday, Oct. 2: Soccer vs. Mercer, Finley Stadium, 6 p.m.
• Friday, Oct. 3: Volleyball vs. UNCG, Maclellan Gym, 6 p.m.
• Saturday, Oct. 4: Volleyball vs. Wofford, Maclellan Gym, 6 p.m.
• Monday, Oct. 6: Softball vs. Lee University, Frost Stadium, 5:30 p.m.
• Monday, Oct. 6: Chat With the Mocs, Miller’s Ale House (Hixson), 96.1 FM, 7 p.m.

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Hosted in partnership with the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee, UTC will host a campus-wide symposium on the rule of law today (Sept. 30), in the Guerry Reading Room.

This all-day event invites members of the campus community to engage with federal district judges, Ochs Professor of Government Michelle Deardorff and Assistant Professor of History Michael Samuel, to explore the role and relevance of the rule of law in a democratic republic.

Attendees may join individual sessions or participate in all five public sessions to earn a certificate and be eligible for prizes demonstrating mastery of the topic.

• Importance and Meaning of Rule of Law: 8-9:15 a.m.
• A Day in the Life with Federal Judges: 9:30-10:45 a.m.
• Invitation-only lunch with students and judges: 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
• Panel of Federal Judges: 12:30-1:45 p.m.
• Media and the Judiciary: 2-3:15 p.m.
• Contemporary Challenges to the Rule of Law: 3:30-4:45 p.m.

For questions or to register for the certificate, contact Michelle Deardorff.

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The Center for Wellbeing offers a monthly lineup of trainings for faculty and staff. If interested, please sign up here. Trainings counting toward completion of the Mental Health Ally Program are noted with an asterisk (*).

The Center is happy to schedule trainings for specific teams or departments at other times throughout the year. Reach out to Megan McKnight with questions or to request a training.

• *Today (Sept. 30): Psychological First Aid (Zoom), noon-1 p.m.
• Thursday, Oct. 2: Opioid Overdose Response and Naloxone (Zoom) 2:30-3:30 p.m.
• Friday, Oct. 10: Sleep Matters: Improving Sleep Among Employees and Students (Zoom), noon-1 p.m.
• *Wednesday, Oct. 22: Suicide Prevention Using Question, Persuade, Refer and the C-SSRS (Zoom), 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
• *Tuesday, Oct. 28: Psychological First Aid, University Center Room 350, noon-1 p.m.

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Dracula is played by sophomore theatre minor Liam Phillips.

The UTC Theatre Co. will open its 2025-2026 season with “Dracula: Mina’s Quest,” Steven Dietz’s reimagining of Bram Stoker’s novel. Performances will take place nightly at 7:30 p.m. tonight (Sept. 30) through Saturday, Oct. 4, with a 2 p.m. matinee performance on Saturday, Oct. 4.

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Stop by Mocs Marketplace on Wednesday, Oct. 1, in front of Founders Hall to shop student businesses. From handmade goods to services, you’ll find one-of-a-kind items and fresh ideas right from your campus community.

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Scrappy’s Cupboard Food Pantry is open from 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday despite the construction in the UC. UTC community members can use the food pantry once a month, no questions asked. Volunteers and donations are needed to help the pantry thrive.

Scrappy’s Markets are back this semester and will continue through the fall. The next market will be from 2-4 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 1, on Vine Street.

Here is the upcoming Scrappy’s Market schedule:

• Tuesday, Oct. 21: 2-4 p.m.
• Wednesday, Nov. 5: 2-4 p.m.
• Tuesday, Nov. 18: 2-4 p.m.

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WUTC’s Fall Pledge Drive begins Thursday, Oct. 2, and runs through Friday, Oct. 10.

A public service of the University, WUTC is home to NPR programming in our area, local hosts Ray Bassett and Haley Solomon, and learning opportunities for students on the UTC campus.

The Decosimo Success Center in the Gary W. Rollins College of Business is hosting the following events:

• Thursday, Oct. 2: Career Fair Ready Workshop, Fletcher Hall Room 213, 11 a.m.-noon. RCOB students will prepare for the Career Fair by practicing elevator pitches, reviewing résumés, creating digital business cards, sharpening LinkedIn profiles, and learning networking, dress and follow-up strategies. Register here.
• Monday, Oct. 6: RCOB Fall Career Fair, Fletcher Hall lobbies (first through fourth floors), 9 a.m.-noon. Meet with employers at the annual career fair. Email Megan Cales for more information.
• Wednesday, Oct. 8: Unum Scholars Tour and Bridge Luncheon, Unum, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Transportation available if needed, RCOB students register here.
• Wednesday, Oct. 22: Elevate Financial Bridge Luncheon, Fletcher Hall Room 214, noon-1 p.m. RCOB students register here.

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Information sessions are taking place for the spring 2026 study abroad course, “Doing Business in The Balkans,” which is open to all UTC students. The course has no prerequisites and includes a two-week international study trip to the Balkans, visiting Italy, Croatia and Albania (tentatively scheduled for May 11-24, 2026). The Balkans course is led by Dr. Beni Asllani, head of data analytics and native of Albania. 

• Thursday, Oct. 2, 2 p.m., Zoom
• Thursday, Oct. 9, 12:30 p.m., Zoom
• Thursday, Oct. 16, 2 p.m., Zoom
• Tuesday, Oct. 21, 12:30 p.m., Zoom
• Tuesday, Oct. 28, 12:30 p.m., Zoom
• Wednesday, Nov. 5, 1:30 p.m., Zoom
• Tuesday, Nov. 11, 12:30 p.m., Zoom
• Thursday, Nov. 20, 2 p.m., Zoom

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Dr. Trevor Paratore (UTC Chemistry ’20) will present “The Search for Life on Venus: How biophysical chemistry is informing an exploratory mission to our nearest planetary neighbor” from 3:30-4:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 3, in Grote Hall Room 411.

Paratore, now at MIT, will discuss how his group is adapting biophysical models of cell membranes to explore whether lipids could form structures in Venus’ sulfuric acid-rich atmosphere that might support life. He will also reflect on his path from UTC to MIT and share his perspective on the evolving societal role of American scientists.

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The Chattanooga Ballet will showcase its professional company in the opening performance of the 2025-2026 season at the UTC Fine Arts Center. Performances take place at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 4, and 3 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 5.

The program features a versatile collection of works, ranging from classical to contemporary, including Robert Joffrey’s “Remembrances,” Salvatore Aiello’s “The Waiting Room,” Silas Farley’s “Werner Piano Trio,” and Brian McSween’s “Impeded Stream” and “Full Circle.”

Tickets are available here. Use promo code CBAC2025 at checkout for discounted tickets.

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Interested in learning more about the Graduate Athletic Training Program? Join us for one of our virtual information sessions during the fall 2025 semester. Each session will be similar in format, featuring a 30-minute program overview followed by a Q&A panel with two to four current students. Sessions will not exceed one hour total. If you’d like to attend, please fill out this form.

Upcoming sessions are 9 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 6; 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 28; and 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 19.

A Zoom link will be sent to you within 24 hours of the session you sign up for. If you are unable to make one of these sessions but would like more information, please email program director Shellie Acocello.

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Chattanooga Connect 2025, hosted by the UTC Research Institute, will take place Oct. 6-8 at the Chattanooga Convention Center. Following its successful debut last year, Chattanooga Connect will again convene industry leaders, policymakers, and researchers to explore the future of urban transportation and cutting-edge advancements in quantum computing, digital infrastructure, AI, connected and automated vehicles (CAV), and vehicle-to-everything (V2X) technologies.

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Graduate students are invited to stop by from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 8, in the Graduate School Office in Race Hall Room 103 for Grad School Drop-in + Fuel Up. Free caffeinated and non-caffeinated drinks, snacks and giveaways will be available to help power through the mid-term push.

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The Changemaker Challenge is a business concept pitch competition for UTC students—all majors welcome. If you have an idea for a new venture, sign up to compete. No business plan required. Bring your creativity, passion and vision to solve a real-world problem.

The winner will receive a set of four Totem Compasses, including a rare collector’s edition crystal-faced compass. The event will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 8, in the Max Fuller Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (Mapp Building).

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Anyone considering graduate school is invited to join the Graduate School for a virtual “Ask Us Anything” Q&A session via Zoom from 2-3 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 9. Participants can get tips on programs, applications, funding and more, and chat live with Graduate School staff. The session is open to anyone interested in UTC’s 30-plus advanced degree programs. Learn more at utc.edu/gradschool.

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The Quantum Seminar series has been restructured and will now be known as the Quantum Colloquium Series. The series will occur monthly, with speakers encouraged to give high-level talks for a broad audience.

The next meeting will take place at 4 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 9, in the UTC Library Room 435.

Professor Enrique Solano, co-chief executive officer and co-founder of Kipu Quantum in Berlin, Germany, will present “Quantum Advantage and Quantum Usefulness for Academic and Industrial Applications.”

In his talk, Solano will introduce the current state of quantum computing paradigms and quantum processor modalities. He will discuss how quantum advantage and usefulness can be extracted for academic and industrial applications, with examples demonstrating their relevance to combinatorial optimization and quantum artificial intelligence.

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Walgreens will be on campus Oct. 22-24 to offer flu vaccine clinics from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. in 120 Lupton Hall Commons. No appointment is needed. Just bring your current insurance and pharmacy benefits card. If you don’t have insurance, free vouchers will be available.

Please click here to visit our website for more information and to complete and print your vaccine consent form. 

COVID-19 boosters will not be available at the clinics. They will be available at the Walgreens at the 110 N. Market St. location in the pharmacy for those who are eligible. Click here to schedule an appointment online for your COVID-19 booster.

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The Graduate School will offer a professional development workshop, “Digital You,” via Zoom from noon-1 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 22. Participants will learn how to use social media and online tools to grow their professional network and advance their careers. The session includes sign-ups for free headshots in partnership with Career Connections. More information is available at utc.edu/gradschool, and students can RSVP on MocSync.

Graduate students are also invited to take part in a Grad School Tour from 5-6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 23 to explore campus, discover new opportunities and learn more about UTC’s advanced degree programs. Visit utc.edu/gradschool to reserve a spot.

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The UTC Graduate School announced that the following students will be presenting their final works of research as advanced degree candidates. Everyone is invited to attend.

• Today (Sept. 30): Stacie Grisham, Zoom, 10 a.m., Calendar
• Friday, Oct. 3: Julia Jones, Holt Hall 211, 2 p.m., Calendar
• Friday, Oct. 3: Major Schwartz, ECS 313-G, 5 p.m., Calendar
• Tuesday, Oct. 7: Jason Harville, Zoom, 9:30 a.m., Calendar
• Wednesday, Oct. 8: Giitoun Martin, Zoom, 9 a.m., Calendar
• Thursday, Oct. 9: Marci Reiter, Zoom, 10 a.m., Calendar
• Friday, Oct. 10: Mohamedelfateh Mohamedkhir, ECS 347, 10 a.m., Calendar
• Friday, Oct. 10: Megan McCoy, Lupton Hall 302, 10 a.m., Calendar
• Friday, Oct. 10: Vijayalakshmi Karattuppalayam Kumarasamy, MDRB Conference Room, 10 a.m., Calendar

Campus Updates

October is recognized as Mental Health Awareness Month, with World Mental Health Day taking place on Friday, Oct. 10. It’s a chance to remind ourselves of the importance of caring for our mental health every day. This month also emphasizes the need to create supportive communities where everyone feels seen, heard and valued. College can bring a mix of excitement, stress and change, so this month is all about encouraging open conversations, reducing stigma and reminding each other that it’s okay to reach out for support. Whether that means attending an event, talking with a friend or exploring resources, let’s use October as a reminder that nobody has to go through challenges alone. 

Students may contact the UTC Counseling Center at 423-425-4438 and the Center for Wellbeing at 423-425-5357.

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Mocs students, you will be receiving an email this week about the Student Experience Survey. This survey is administered to all students across the UT System to learn about your current needs, well-being and preferences, and we need everyone’s help in completing the two-minute questionnaire. Click here to go to the survey. Student feedback informs us about the Mocs experience and helps identify opportunities for the future. Students are encouraged to complete the survey by Friday, Oct. 31.

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The R.A.D. (Rape Aggression Defense) Program is a national self-defense course that focuses on awareness, prevention, risk reduction and realistic hands-on training. Classes are taught by certified UTC Police and Public Safety instructors.

• Free for students, faculty and staff
• No experience necessary
• Emphasis on safety and empowerment
• Offered multiple times throughout the year

Click here or email Marion Perkins to register or learn more.

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The Center for Professional Education is launching a new course this fall to help working professionals learn how to use artificial intelligence effectively, responsibly and with confidence. “AI Essentials for Business Applications” is a six-part, 24-hour virtual course running from Tuesday, Oct. 7, to Tuesday, Nov. 11. The instructor-led sessions will take place from 1-5 p.m. on Tuesday afternoons.

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The Clarence E. Harris Chair of Excellence in Entrepreneurship in UTC’s Gary W. Rollins College of Business is excited to announce the third year of Mocs Innovate: The Harris Chair Seed Fund for Innovation. This mini-grant program is designed to foster inventive research and entrepreneurial initiatives on campus. UTC faculty and staff are encouraged to apply for grants of up to $4,000 to support new ideas with commercialization potential.

The Mocs Innovate mini-grant program aims to inspire and support creative projects at all stages of development and is open to any UTC faculty or staff member with innovative ideas that demonstrate clear pathways for licensing or entrepreneurial ventures. By providing up to $4,000 in funding, the Mocs Innovate initiative seeks to accelerate the development of ideas that can have a meaningful impact both within and beyond the University.

Click here to learn more. The deadline to apply for this cycle of grant funding is Dec. 15.

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The Center for Academic Support and Advisement offers peer-to-peer academic support at no cost to currently enrolled UTC students. All programs are internationally certified by CRLA and/or ICSI.

• Peer academic coaching: Students can schedule an appointment with a peer academic coach to improve skills such as study habits, motivation, goal setting, time management, organization, navigating Canvas and using campus resources.
• Supplemental instruction: The SI Program provides group study sessions twice a week for selected courses. SI leaders review challenging course content in interactive ways that build understanding through games, practice materials, discussions, simulations and study skill activities.
• Tutoring: Free tutoring is available for a variety of courses, with NetTutor and walk-in options offered. Tutoring provides a personalized learning experience, encourages better study habits and enhances critical thinking skills.

For more information, email Academic Support or stop by Library Room 335.

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Are you in need of physical therapy services? The Department of Physical Therapy offers short-term care for students, faculty and staff for free. The on-campus clinic is led by PT faculty and doctoral students during the fall and spring semesters. If you are experiencing functional limitations, pain, lingering injuries, recent injuries, or would like guidance to improve overall fitness, they are happy to evaluate you.

The clinic is located in University Health Services in Maclellan Gym (545 Terrell Owens Way). Hours of operation are 8 a.m.-noon on Tuesdays and 1-3 p.m. on Thursdays.

To schedule an appointment, call University Health Services at 423-425-2266. For additional information, email ptclinic@utc.edu.

UTC Newsroom

Several times a year, a collaboration between UTC, TVA and OTI brings industry professionals to the College of Engineering and Computer Science for a weeklong ETAP course. Group photo from the August 2025 course courtesy of College of Engineering and Computer Science.

When the ETAP/TVA Power Simulation Laboratory opened in 2011, it marked the start of a three-way partnership between UTC, the Tennessee Valley Authority and Operation Technology, Inc. (OTI)—the developers of ETAP electrical power system software.

Fourteen years later, the lab in the University’s College of Engineering and Computer Science still serves the same purpose: giving UTC students and industry professionals hands-on experience with the software used by TVA and electric power companies worldwide.

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Sofiia Skrypkar

UTC senior Sofiia Skrypkar wants to make a difference, and this summer had the opportunity to attend the University of Texas at Austin’s Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs Public Service Weekend.

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Chancellor Lori Bruce talks to students at Walker Valley High School.

The UT System’s “Find Your Future” high school tour visited Southeast Tennessee last week, delivering a message about the value of higher education to more than 1,000 seniors and juniors at two Bradley County schools.

WUTC

Dr. Claudia Kramer

Scott L. Probasco Distinguished Chair of Free Enterprise Claudia Kramer joined an episode of WUTC’s “Scenic Roots” to discuss tariffs and her monthly column for Business Trend.