The Gary W. Rollins College of Business is growing. Officials broke ground on an 81,000-square-foot expansion to Fletcher Hall in March. “This extension of our facility will allow us to graduate more career-ready students to support our regional workforce, to serve as a hub for Chattanooga and regional engagement and to equip our students to build fulfilling careers and lives,” says UTC Interim Chancellor Robert Dooley. In addition to $66.4 million in state support, Gary W. Rollins (Chattanooga ’67) and his wife, Kathleen, donated $30 million to the expansion project. They previously made a $40 million gift in 2018 to name the college and create the Rollins Scholars program.
Reducing Violent Crime
UTC announced the creation of the Violence Reduction Initiative (VRI), a research center housed within the Department of Criminal Justice dedicated to bridging the gap between academic research and real-world solutions to violent crime in Chattanooga and beyond. Led by UC Foundation Associate Professor Rick Dierenfeldt, a former police officer and head of the UTC Criminal Justice department, the VRI utilizes data-driven research to tackle pressing public safety challenges. Two VRI collaborations have already secured grants through the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance. Hamilton County Alternative Sentencing Programs was awarded $844,294 for an initiative to reduce recidivism rates in the county’s misdemeanor supervision programs. The city of Chattanooga was awarded nearly $2 million for Chattanooga United to Reduce Violence, which focuses on high-crime, high-risk neighborhoods.
Senior Health Programs
UTC is expanding its reach in southeast Tennessee by partnering with the Southeast Tennessee Area Agency on Aging and Disability (SETAAAD) to bring evidence-based programs to senior centers in Bledsoe, Bradley, Grundy, Hamilton, Marion, McMinn, Meigs, Polk, Rhea and Sequatchie counties. SETAAAD has a wide array of programs available, covering topics such as chronic disease management, physical activity and caregiver support. UTC will be central to both delivering and expanding those programs, offering valuable learning opportunities for students from various disciplines. The UTC interprofessional initiative is being spearheaded by UC Foundation Assistant Professor Kristi Wick (nursing), Associate Professor Erin Melhorn (occupational therapy) and Associate Professor Cathy Scott (social work). “We have enjoyed a great collaborative relationship with the Area Agency on Aging for years now,” Wick says. “Being able to help meet their needs and foster student development and faculty engagement has been a real asset to this partnership.”
