UTC Center for Wellbeing Director Megan McKnight attended a summit hosted by the White House Domestic Policy Council and the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy.
The White House Challenge to Save Lives from Overdose event honored McKnight and nearly 250 other stakeholders for expanding access to lifesaving opioid overdose reversal medication and reducing preventable drug overdose deaths.
According to data provided by the Center for Wellbeing from the 2023-24 academic year and the start of the fall semester, McKnight and her team had:
- Trained 1,189 campus stakeholders in the use of opioid overdose reversal medications, such as naloxone
- Distributed 595 units of opioid overdose reversal medications
- Established 17 emergency stations across the UTC campus where these medications are stored
UTC Announces Record Enrollment
This fall’s final enrollment figure made UTC history.
The total headcount of 11,834—a 4 percent increase from last year—comprised of 10,245 undergraduates and 1,589 graduate students. The overall figure surpassed the previous high of 11,695 in fall 2020.
This fall’s incoming freshman class of 2,473 represented a 4.8 percent increase from last fall’s then-record 2,359. The campus also saw a 13.7 percent increase for graduate student enrollment.
Mocs Give Day Raises Nearly $2.9 million
UTC raised almost $2.9 million from 2,201 donors during its fifth annual Mocs Give Day. The day’s original fundraising goal of $2 million from 2,000 donors was exceeded by nearly 45 percent in dollars raised.
“Almost 7 percent of all gifts on Mocs Give Day were $100 or less,” UTC Vice Chancellor of Advancement Kim White says. “That’s a powerful statistic showing that, when people who love UTC come together, we can make a big difference.”
It’s Personnel
UT President Randy Boyd appointed Dr. Robert Dooley as interim chancellor at UTC. Dooley, who will assume the role Jan. 1, is a longtime leader at UTC and a proud alumnus of the university.
Dr. JAy Blackman was appointed vice chancellor of communications and marketing in October. Blackman, who had served as deputy athletics director for internal operations since April 2021, brought experience and a deep understanding of UTC to his new role—having worked for the institution since 2008.
Ethan Carver was appointed associate provost for academic affairs and dean of the Graduate School.
Collaboration Lands Grand Challenge Funding
Fifty Brainerd High School students showed Bradley Harris, an associate professor in the UTC Department of Chemical Engineering, the power of problem-based learning (PBL) as the inspiration behind a UT System Grand Challenges grant.
The project, “Thermal runaway in EV batteries: A transformational PBL unit for high school chemistry,” will receive more than $96,000 for supplies, equipment, personnel compensation and transportation to and from UTC for as many as 120 Brainerd High chemistry students.
