Beyond the Classroom Challenge
How does the Beyond the Classroom Challenge work?
- Sign up to receive a weekly list of the best fun, free events on campus and in the community.
- Complete the Beyond the Classroom Challenge in one of two ways:
- Fully participate and reflect on 10 events
- Have completed a designated experience the prior semester, then fully participate and reflect on five events.
- Complete a post-challenge reflection survey and turn in a photo.
Weekly Events List - Listed Below
The Beyond the Classroom Challenge is a way for students to jump into a broad variety of FREE campus and community events, learning more about UTC, Chattanooga, and themselves—all based on their own schedules and interests. Each event will help students get to know UTC and Chattanooga and learn where to get more involved.
By completing the challenge, students can receive the Beyond the Classroom Challenge Award, which includes a pictorial award signed by UTC's Chancellor, Dr. Lori Bruce, a celebratory dinner with your fellow award winners, and all points accumulate toward being recognized as a ThinkAchieve Graduate.
Beyond the Classroom Challenge
Weekly Events for 02/09/2026 - 02/15/2026
In-Person/Online Events
Monday, February 9th
"Camping and the Public Good" with Drs. Schultz and Strickler
11:00 am – 12:00 pm
540 McCallie Building, Room 268
Drs. Schultz and Strickler will discuss their forthcoming chapter, "Camping and the Public Good," included in the volume Camping and Philosophy: Big Ideas in the Great Outdoors (Milestone Press). Their work brings together the philosopher John Dewey's ideas about democracy and education with an overview of the development of recreational camping and public parks in the U.S. They argue that camping in publicly maintained campgrounds aids in the formation of the "public" in Dewey's sense, which may promote civic engagement and the cultivation of environmental values. Pizza and donuts will be provided! Learn more here.
The Art of Patterning Miki Boni
5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
In-Town Gallery
Join us for the opening reception of Miki Boni’s new show at In-Town Gallery, The Art of Patterning, reflects her love of color, pattern, and the sensibilities of Latin American art, which speaks to her time living and teaching art in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. Her art invites the viewer to reflect on the world and to join in a flight of poetic imagination. Learn more here.
Tuesday, February 10th
International Tea Time
3:00 pm – 4:30 pm
Lupton Lobby
Join the UTC Center for Global Education for tea, cookies, games, and good company! Come meet international and domestic students and learn about upcoming Center for Global Education events this semester. RSVP here.
Try Archery
3:00 pm – 5:00 pm
200 River St, Philip Grymes Outdoor Chattanooga Center
Take aim at Outdoor Chattanooga’s “Try Archery” class. This free indoor class located at the Philip Grymes Outdoor Chattanooga Center in Coolidge Park offers a hands-on opportunity to learn more about the sport of archery. Concentrating on range safety rules and fundamentals of archery, the class is taught using the National Archery in Schools NASP equipment and procedures. The session is walk-in during the program hours and open to ages 6 years all the way to 106 years of age. No reservation or prior experience required. All equipment provided. Learn more here.
Monsanto, GMOs, and the Future of Food
5:30 pm – 6:30 pm
Guerry Center
Prof. Bart Elmore author of Seed Money, Citizen Coke, and Country Capitalism discusses Monsanto, GMOs, and the future of food. RSVP and learn more here.
Wednesday, February 11th
Book Chatt Connections
10:30 am – 11:30 am
Downtown Library
Calling all book lovers! Join your local librarians and fellow readers at the Downtown Library each month for a fun book discussion. What might you find at Book Chatt? You never know where these chats will lead… you might learn something new, meet a new friend, or find your next favorite book series! We might throw in a book challenge or prompt. Either way, our no-pressure Book Chatt is a chance to spend time with others in your local or even wider community! Theme: Romantic Reads; Who is your favorite romantic fictional character and what appeals to you and why? Learn more here.
Spring 2026 All Majors Job & Internship Fair
11:00 am – 3:00 pm
University Center Tennessee Room
A diverse group of employers from across the region will be gathered to describe their unique professional and internship opportunities. Please prepare several copies of your professional documents to share. In addition to preparing your professional documents, please arrive wearing a prepared outfit. we are requesting that you prepare an outfit that represents yourself and your professionalism well. We are so excited to have an opportunity to serve and support you on your journey. If we can help with anything, please let us know. RSVP and learn more here.
Thursday, February 12th
Faith and Work Initiative: Dr. Claudia Kramer
4:45 pm – 5:45 pm
Fletcher Hall, Room 326
Dr. Claudia Williamson Kramer is the Scotty Probasco Chair of Excellence in Economics at the UTC Rollins College of Business and will be speaking and taking questions about Economics as a part of the Faith and Work Initiative, a student led and student center group discussing the intersection of faith and work. Open to all UTC students.
101 and Gear Shakedown with AT Thru-Hiker
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
200 River St, Philip Grymes Outdoor Chattanooga Center
Ready to take your adventures farther off the beaten path, but skeptical of the backpacking advice you read online? Have some questions you want answered but don’t know who to ask? Join Outdoor Chattanooga for our Intro to Backpacking Workshop and Gear Shakedown led by our very own program specialist and thru-hiker, Ellie! Learn more here.
From Rag Dolls to Role Models - The History of Black Toys
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Bessie Smith Cultural Center
Join us for an engaging evening exploring the evolution of Black representation in toys and play. Enjoy a screening of the Netflix film “Black Barbie,” which traces the powerful story behind the creation of Black dolls and their impact on culture and identity and experience a curated exhibit highlighting the history of Black toys, from handmade rag dolls to contemporary role models, celebrating the creativity, resilience, and representation that have shaped generations. Register and learn more here.
Friday, February 13th
No events for today!
Saturday, February 14th
Scratching Your Roots Black Genealogy Society
10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Downtown Public Library
The Scratching Your Roots Black Genealogy Society (SYRBGS), in partnership with the Chattanooga Festival of Black Arts & Ideas, meets every other month to discuss and explore family history research with support and resources from the Library’s Local History and Genealogy Department. Meetings are open to the public, and SYRBGS welcomes anyone interested in learning more about African American genealogy and discovering ancestors of African descent. Learn more here.
Cardmaking Demo - Mary Lynn Portera
1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
River Gallery
Learn how to make pamphlet-stitched cards with local artist Mary Lynn Portera this Valentine’s Day. Using recycled paper makes these cards great for any occasion! Learn more here.
Sunday, February 15th
Star Party: Love in Deep Space
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Clarence T. Jones Observatory
Join us for a night of learning and stargazing at UTC's Clarence T. Jones Observatory! Steven Kline will be presenting a talk on various cosmic objects and phenomena with a common thread: attraction. A planetarium show will feature the night's constellations and topics complementary to the lecture. Gates open at 5:30. Lecture and Planetarium show begin at 6:00. Telescope viewing until 8:00. RSVP and learn more here.
Library Events
Monday, February 9th
Free Workshop: Recording Live Music Performance
3:30 pm – 4:30 pm
Library: Room 204
Do you need to capture audio? Are you looking to record your band? Have you tried recording, but there's just too much background noise? Come learn about the recording devices that the Library has to offer. Handheld recorders, Microphones, and everything in-between will be covered in this workshop on recording devices. RSVP here.
Tuesday, February 10th
Free Workshop: Microsoft Word for Undergraduates
11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Library Room 201
Word is one of the the most commonly used computer programs in the world. However, just because it’s widely used, it doesn’t mean everyone knows how to use it properly (and that’s okay). Join this beginner-friendly workshop as we all learn the tools, formatting skills, and bare bone basics that you will need for undergraduate writing assignments. RSVP here.
Wednesday, February 11th
Free Workshop: Avoiding Plagiarism
10:00 am – 10:50 am
Library Room 205
There are a lot of varieties of plagiarism. Attend this session to learn what they are and how to avoid them! RSVP here.
Free Workshop: Understanding Media Manipulation
12:30 pm – 1:30 pm
Library Room 205
Understand how misinformation moves from social media to traditional media, and the impact it has on our lives. Topics include analyzing images and captions posted by influencers, breaking down hashtags, and spotting deep fakes. RSVP here.
Free Workshop: Excel: Organizing Data with Tables and PivotTables
6:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Online
Do you need help being able to easily organize and manage your data? Two of the most powerful organizational tools in Excel are totally tabular! No matter what your skill level is, join us for this workshop as we break down step-by-step all things Tables and PivotTables! RSVP here.
Thursday, February 12th
Free Workshop: Colors and Composition: The Art of Visual Storytelling
3:30 pm – 4:30 pm
Library Room 205
Whether you are interested in animation, film, or graphic design, join us to learn the fundamentals of creating captivating stories. This beginner-friendly workshop will cover storyboarding, color psychology, frame composition, and lighting to assist in planning out your ideas and creating an emotional connection between your work and your audience. We will also have hands-on practice through a storyboarding activity. RSVP here.
Friday, February 13th
Free Workshop: Avoiding Plagiarism
10:00 am – 10:50 am
Library Room 205
There are a lot of varieties of plagiarism. Attend this session to learn what they are and how to avoid them! RSVP here.