The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga adopts email as an official means of communication with students.
Each student, upon enrolling, is issued a UTC email account with an address on the utc.edu domain. This is the account used for University business and official University communications to students. Students are expected to regularly check their UTC accounts for University communications. Students may use the UTC account for personal communication at their discretion.
UTC accounts remain the property of the State of Tennessee. The University reserves the right to disable accounts after graduation or other severance from the University.
The expanding reliance on electronic communication among students, faculty, staff, and administration at UTC is motivated by the convenience, speed, cost-effectiveness, and environmental advantages of using email rather than printed communication. Because of this increasing reliance and acceptance of electronic communication, email is considered an official means for communication.
Implementation of these guidelines ensures that students have access to this critical form of communication. These guidelines seek to ensure that all students can access email as the need arises.
These student email guidelines regard the following aspects of email as an official means of communication: University use of email; assignment of student email addresses; and student use of and responsibilities associated with UTC email.
- University use of email
Email is an official means for communication within UTC. Some communications may only be made by email. Therefore, the University has the right to send communications to all students via email and the right to expect that those communications will be received and read in a timely fashion. - Assignment of student email addresses
UTC will assign all students an official University email address. It is to this official address that the University will send email communications; this official address will be the address listed in the University’s records database for that student. - Expectations regarding student use of email
Students are expected to check their official email address on a frequent and consistent basis in order to stay current with University communications. The University provides a limited amount of storage space so students are expected to manage (read, delete, file, etc.) their accounts accordingly. The campus recommends checking email several times a week at a minimum, in recognition that certain communications may be time-critical. - Educational uses of email
Faculty expect that students’ official email addresses are being accessed, and faculty may use email for their courses accordingly. Faculty members determine how email will be used in their classes. Faculty may have email requirements and expectations that they specify in the course syllabus. - Appropriate use of student email
Email is not appropriate for transmitting sensitive or confidential information. All use of email will be consistent with the Administrative Guidelines Statement on Use of Electronic Email and UTC’s Acceptable Use Practices. Confidentiality regarding student records is protected under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA). All University use of email will be consistent with FERPA guidelines.
The Office of the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Information Technology will review these guidelines as needed. Changes will be authorized by the approval of the Information Technology Coordinating Council and the Chancellor's Executive Council. Students with questions or comments about these guidelines should contact the UTC Help Desk at 425-4000.
Exchange Programs
The University offers a wide range of opportunities for students to study abroad while earning academic credit. Through the University's membership in the International Student Exchange Program (ISEP) and the Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE), UTC students may participate in special exchange programs of a semester or more throughout the world. UTC's membership in the Cooperative Center for Study Abroad (CCSA) allows our students to study in countries where the English language is dominantly spoken: Australia, Belize, England, Ireland, Kenya, Scotland, South Africa and New Zealand. Classes in CCSA are taught by UTC faculty and faculty from other CCSA member colleges and universities. UTC also offers students several exchange opportunities with foreign universities who have signed a bilateral exchange agreement with UTC, including Masaryk University in Brno, Czech Republic; Haifa University in Israel; Lulea University in Sweden; Kangnung National University in South Korea; and Nagoya University of Foreign Studies in Japan. Many students have also found programs outside of UTC's consortium agreements in which to participate and have been to Madagascar, China, Costa Rica, Italy, Morocco, Slovenia, Argentina, Spain and many other countries.
Students will be required to register for a non-credit class that certifies them as participants in the UTC Study Abroad program. There is a placement fee required of all students who plan to study abroad. Interested students should contact UTC's Office of International Exchange Programs by visiting 326 University Center, or calling (423) 425-4735.
Normally, nontraditional credit will not apply toward the last 24 hours of residency. However, students who have completed their last 24 hours of traditional course work at UTC prior to participation in the UTC Study Abroad program need not petition for an exception to the final 24-hour residency requirement.
Information Technology (IT)
The mission of the Information Technology Division is to provide students, faculty, and staff with information technology services that are available, reliable, responsive, cost effective, and delivered in a proactive and courteous manner.
