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 02/16/2026 - 02/22/2026
In-Person/Online Events
Monday, February 16th
Global Spotlight: Spain
3:30 pm – 4:30 pm
Lupton Lobby
Come learn about Spain during Global Spotlight! Global Spotlight is a platform through which UTC international students and scholars can share their culture and traditions with the UTC community. This program is very casual and may include presentations, dance performances, music, and Q&A. Global Spotlight allows for cultural exchange and learning between attendees and is open to the whole UTC community. RSVP here.
Tuesday, February 17th
Try Archery (Drop-In Program)
3:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Outdoor Chattanooga -- 200 River Street
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. No reservation or prior experience required. All equipment provided. Learn more here.
Adult Archery
5:30 pm – 6:30 pm
Outdoor Chattanooga
Take aim at Outdoor Chattanooga’s “ADULT only ARCHERY- Aim your Game” 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 adults only. This session follows the all ages, Try Archery. No reservation or prior experience required. All equipment provided. Cost: free. Just show up, take aim and give archery a try! Learn more here.
Grad School Tour + Nursing Lab Preview
University Center, UTC Admissions Tour Center - Room 272
4:00 pm – 5:30 pm
Join us for a campus tour and learn more about advanced degree opportunities at UTC – plus an added bonus for prospective nursing students. This guided tour will introduce you to UTC’s historic campus, modern facilities, and graduate student experience – while providing an overview of available graduate programs and campus resources. Attendees interested in nursing will also have the opportunity to preview UTC’s nursing skills lab and facilities firsthand. Optional DNP Info Session: Following the tour, attendees are invited to stay for a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) information session beginning at 5:30 p.m. – to learn more about our Family Nurse Practitioner, Acute Care and Psychiatric Mental Health programs, including admissions details and next steps. Learn more here.
Lead Belay Clinic
5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
UTC Outdoors
Learn how to lead climb and lead belay at the UTC Climbing Wall. Each clinic will provide in-depth instruction and experiential learning to safely lead climb indoors. This clinic is free and requires pre-registration in the Outdoors Center Office, on the first floor of the Aquatics and Recreation Center (ARC). All equipment is included. *You must be belay certified to participate in this event. * Learn more here.
Build Your Own Zen Garden
7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
The Aviary, Stacey Town Center
Stop by The Aviary and build your very own mini Zen Garden! Zen Gardens create a peaceful environment for relaxation and are a great way to destress after along day. RSVP here.
Wednesday, February 18th
Open Canvas: Art Workshop
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
UC 207C, Center for Wellbeing
Wellbeing through creativity. Using art to express, explore, and care for yourself. All materials provided—just bring yourself. RSVP here.
Majors & Minors Fair
1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Tennessee Room, University Center
The Center for Academic Support and Advisement invites you to UTC’s annual Majors & Minors Fair. If you are an undecided student or considering changing your major, this event is a great opportunity to talk with faculty members in departments across campus about majors or minors you may be considering. If you have already chosen a major or minor, this is also a great opportunity to connect with faculty in your chosen department! RSVP here.
Getting Started in Undergraduate Research Workshop
4:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Library: Room 209
Workshop attendees learn about available undergraduate research opportunities, the benefits of UR engagement, and how to prepare for success in research. Students who attend a Getting Started workshop are enrolled in the URaCE Canvas Community, which includes information about UR opportunities on campus and beyond, how to create an e-portfolio, templates, and guides to help guide your research journey, funding opportunities, and more. Learn more and RSVP here.
Thursday, February 19th
Make a Bouquet: Build Your Own Flower Bouquet
11:00 am – 2:00 pm
Lupton Hall
This is your sign to stop and smell the flowers. Build your own bouquet with free flowers + refreshments in Lupton Hall First Floor! RSVP and learn more here.
Finding a Mentor - Getting Started in Undergraduate Research Workshop
4:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Library: Room 209
This hands-on workshop guides students through the process of identifying UR positions and connecting with prospective mentors. RSVP here.
ASA's Dance Fest
5:30 pm – 7:30 pm
ARC Room 129
Come dance with ASA! The African Student Association will be hosting a dance event as a preview of our spring event. This is a great opportunity to meet members of the African Student Association and to learn fun dances. Open to everyone, support, connect, and celebrate African culture with us! RSVP and learn more here.
Lift Every Voice: A Celebration of Black Spirituality
6:00 pm – 7:30 pm
Bessie Smith Cultural Center
Experience an evening honoring the rich legacy and enduring power of Black spirituals. Dr. Michael Williams, UTC’s Director of Africana Studies, will lead a compelling talk on the cultural, historical, and spiritual significance of these songs and their role in shaping African American identity. Following his presentation, local vocalists will bring these timeless works to life through live performances that uplift, inspire, and remind us of the resilience woven into this musical tradition. RSVP and learn more here.
Symphony - Finlandia Side-by-Side
7:15 pm
Memorial Auditorium
In celebration of its 40th anniversary, the Chattanooga Youth Symphony joins the CSO onstage for a special Side-by-Side collaboration during select works, highlighting the mentorship and artistic legacy that connect today’s professional musicians with tomorrow’s. Together, CSO musicians and CYS students set the stage with Smetana’s The Moldau, evoking the glistening river that flows through Bohemia into Prague. The CSO then takes center stage for Tim Hinck’s Prairie Nightscape, a quietly radiant snapshot of dawn breaking across wide open land. From there, Milhaud’s Le Bœuf sur le toit brings a whirlwind of Brazilian melodies and French playfulness—quirky, jazzy, and irresistibly fun—followed by Schumann’s expansive and joyful “Rhenish” Symphony, inspired by the majesty of the Rhine. Learn more here. Show starts at 7:30 pm. *ThinkAchieve will purchase tickets for students. Please email [email protected] by Wednesday, February 18, if you are interested, tickets are limited!
Wildlife Encounters with a Tennessee Aquarium Naturalist
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Outdoor Chattanooga
Curious about the animals you might encounter in your own backyard or on the trail? Join us for a classroom-based winter workshop offered in partnership with the Tennessee Aquarium and guided by an Aquarium naturalist. Through interactive discussion and demonstrations, participants will learn how to safely and responsibly interact with wildlife, including best practices for encountering fawns and baby birds and tips for observing reptiles and amphibians while protecting both animals and people. Appropriate for all ages! Indoor program at Outdoor Chattanooga! RSVP and learn more here.
Friday, February 20th
Art-A-Nooga
6:30 pm – 8:00 pm
Stove Works
A variety hour where presenters are given 7 minutes to do anything they want! Each Art-A-Nooga is completely unique, and we never know what’s going to happen. Previous presentations have featured artist talks, experimental videos, movie reviews, dance, live jazz, live songwriting, collaborative storytelling, science experiments, travel photos, performance art, arm wrestling, cryptids, poetry reading, resource sharing, tutorials, bathroom renovation, dogs, and terrible cakes. That’s just to name a few! It’s all-out anything-goes at Art-A-Nooga Tonight! Learn more here.
Saturday, February 21st
Winter Journey to Hemlock Falls: Sitton’s Gulch to Hemlock Falls
9:30 am – 3:00 pm
Outdoor Chattanooga
Join Outdoor Chattanooga for a beautiful and invigorating winter adventure! This Winter Waterfall Hike takes you on a moderate 4-mile round-trip hike to stunning Hemlock Falls in Georgia’s Sitton’s Gulch at Cloudland Canyon State Park. An experienced Outdoor Chattanooga instructor will lead the way, setting a safe and manageable pace tailored for our group. This is the perfect opportunity to enjoy the unique tranquility of the winter woods and take in rewarding seasonal views of the falls. We’ll pause along the way to enjoy a leisurely lunch before heading back to the trailhead. Participants may carpool with Outdoor Chattanooga or meet the group at the trailhead. Please note that a parking fee for Cloudland Canyon State Park at Sitton’s Gulch applies for those driving separately. All you need is lunch, snacks, plenty of water, and warm layers. Get out and enjoy the best of the season with friends and expert guidance! RSVP and learn more here.
Black History Month: Art as Resistance
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
Eastgate Library
Join us Saturday, February 21st at Eastgate Library from 12-1 pm as the Bessie Smith Center presents Art as Resistance: Creativity in Black History, art, music, and creativity as forms of protest, pride, and cultural survival. Learn more here.
Let’s Get Crafty – Blackout Poetry Collage
3:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Downtown Public Library
Join the Downtown 1st Floor staff twice a month for a fun craft session just for adults! Seats are limited, so please reserve your spot! This week's theme is a Blackout Poetry Collage. RSVP and learn more here.
Mountain to Town
10:00 am
UTC Outdoors
Come soar down Lookout Mountain on a mountain bike with UTC Outdoors! A downhill mountain biking trip starting on Lookout Mountain and leading back to UTC. We'll provide the bike, and you just ride along! Costs include transportation, equipment, and instruction. *Pre-registration for this event is required. Please email [email protected] to get a voucher for this event. Please note that space is limited, if you receive a voucher we expect you to attend. If you do not attend we may not give you a voucher in the future.
Sunday, February 22nd
Star Party: Where Have the Fireflies Gone?
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! Tommy McElrath will be presenting light pollution and its effects on biodiversity. 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 here.
Library Events
Monday, February 16th
No events scheduled for today.
Tuesday, February 17th
Free Workshop: EndNote Desktop
9:30 am – 10:30 am
Online
Learn how to use EndNote Desktop citation management software to save time and frustration when incorporating citations into papers and presentations. Please note: this software is ideally suited for long-term research projects and will be most relevant for graduate students and faculty. RSVP here.
Free Workshop: Excel: Formulas and Functions
11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Library: Room 201
Excel has many functions and formulas to choose from. Need help figuring out what's what? Join us for this workshop to check out some common formulas and some lesser known yet useful ones too! Plus, bonus content to help bring out a more Excel-efficient you! RSVP here.
Free Workshop: How to Read a Scholarly Article
12:30 pm – 1:15 pm
Library: Room 205
Are you having trouble reading scholarly articles? Confused or overwhelmed about the different sections? Come to this short workshop and learn some tips and tricks for tackling tough reading, find out what research looks like in different disciplines, and practice reading an article to pull relevant information. RSVP here.
Wednesday, February 18th
Free Workshop: Avoiding Plagiarism
2:00 pm – 2:50 pm
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: Excel: How to Make Visually Stunning Charts
6:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Online
Charts are a great way to visually represent tons of data with uses ranging from the workplace, personal projects, and the homework assignment that’s due in an hour. With so many options, it can be overwhelming. Which type of chart should you use? How do you plug in your information? Take some time to check out this workshop as we explore our options with charts. RSVP here.
Thursday, February 19th
Free Workshop: How to Read a Scholarly Article
2:00 pm – 2:45 pm
Library: Room 205
Are you having trouble reading scholarly articles? Confused or overwhelmed about the different sections? Come to this short workshop and learn some tips and tricks for tackling tough reading, find out what research looks like in different disciplines, and practice reading an article to pull relevant information. RSVP here.
Friday, February 20th
No events scheduled for today.
Saturday, February 21st
No events scheduled for today.
Sunday, February 22nd
No events scheduled for today.