Chattanooga's Time to Achieve: We're Aiming High
As one of UTC’s most dedicated supporters put it, “Anyone would have to be crazy to launch a fundraising campaign at a time like this!”
UTC’s “Time to Achieve” campaign actually began in 2005, building gifts that now total $44 million of the $65 million campaign goal. A celebration at The Chattanoogan hotel launched the public phase of the campaign.
“Time to Achieve” is the UTC fundraising component in the $1 billion UT system’s Campaign for Tennessee, which has raised nearly $800 million among the five campuses.
Volunteer leaders include Brenda G. Lawson, who co-chairs the UT Campaign for Tennessee. Joining her in support of Chattanooga are Lewis Card, Jr., Fred Decosimo, Ruth Holmberg, and Scott Probasco, Jr. Additional campaign leaders will be recruited over the next three years.
In each of the UTC Colleges—Arts and Sciences; Business; Health, Education and Professional Studies; Engineering and Computer Science—as well as in the Graduate School, there are immediate needs for scholarships and faculty support.
The Office of Development at UTC manages campaign operations for the “Time to Achieve” campaign. Contact the development staff at 423-425-2303 for campaign information or to play a role in UTC’s future achievement. Gifts of stock and estate or deferred gifts will augment cash gifts to bring UTC to a new level of achievement.
Campaign goals include:
- support for more nursing faculty to offset the deficit of nursing professionals
- facilities and equipment upgrades in engineering to support Volkswagen’s arrival in Chattanooga, a revitalization of the nuclear energy field and productive partnerships with regional businesses
- expansion of online and physical collections and services for the new University Library
- a visiting writers, artists, and scholars series
- a “Math Mall” where students complete lower level math courses using computer-based instruction
- an Honors College to build on the success of the William E. Brock Scholars Endowment and University Honors
- a new track and field complex, a football and a golf practice facility.
Below is a more detailed account of the campaign goals:
- As the national deficit of nursing professionals grows, the UTC School of Nursing faces the same challenges. Support for more nursing faculty is needed. Approximately 40 nurses graduate annually from UTC’s outstanding program and those graduates typically demonstrate 100 percent first-time passage on their state boards.
- In Engineering, Volkswagen’s much-anticipated arrival in Chattanooga coupled with a revitalization of the nuclear energy field and productive partnerships with many regional businesses have brought new goals to the forefront. UTC must upgrade facilities and equipment to meet the educational expectations of the automotive industry, as well as provide the resources to further the success and growth of the SimCenter: National Center for Computational Engineering.
- A visiting writers, artists, and scholars endowment would allow UTC to entertain teaching visits by notable faculty or arts professionals to enrich instruction and enliven the learning experience for students and faculty alike. With the support of alumni and friends, enhanced undergraduate research and international study opportunities will broaden intellectual and cultural horizons for our students.
- The new University Library planned for the corner of Vine and Douglas Streets will take on instructional, research, and professional roles for the campus and the greater community. The capital campaign represents an opportunity for the expansion of online and physical library collections and Special Collections holdings and services.
- A new Honors College will build on the success of the William E. Brock Scholars Endowment and University Honors. With additional scholarship funding and support for exceptional faculty, UTC could attract even greater numbers of outstanding applicants.
- Educational innovation and student success will be well served by the establishment of a “Math Mall” where students could complete their lower level math courses using special computer-based instruction. National results from Research I institutions with similar facilities, like Virginia Tech’s Math Emporium, show higher student achievement and better utilization of math faculty. A key to the success of this approach lies in the students’ ability to “go to math class” at unconventional times close to their residence hall, with caffeine breaks available nearby.
- A new track and field complex, a football training facility, as well as a new golf practice facility are on the drawing board. Endowed support for student-athlete scholarships and support for enhanced student academic achievement are important goals. The new Brenda Lawson Student–Athlete Success Center, funded by the generosity of several UTC donors, will open early in 2009.
