Chattanooga State Community College and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga are launching the ChattState UTC Connect program, a dual admission initiative for transfer students.
The program is designed to transition students who have earned an associate degree at Chattanooga State to a bachelor’s program at UTC.
The program guarantees admission to participating students who have earned their associate degree at Chattanooga State.
Participating students also will receive tailored guidance from UTC advisers throughout their time at Chattanooga State to ensure a seamless transfer to UTC.
In addition, students participating in the program will be granted priority registration at UTC during the semester they graduate from Chattanooga State.
Finally, participating students will be able to take advantage of the benefits offered to UTC students, such as access to the Aquatics and Recreation Center, university housing, the new library and student health services.
Chattanooga State president Dr. Rebecca Ashford says the partnership is an open door for Chattanooga State students.
“Most of our students transfer to a university to complete a bachelor’s degree after they complete an associate degree – and most of those students transfer to UTC. The ChattState UTC Connect program makes the transfer process easier and provides students with support from UTC while they’re still at Chattanooga State.
“Our collaborative partnership with UTC gives our students opportunities to learn without limits and create a pathway to a bright future.”
CNE hosting money school
Chattanooga Neighborhood Enterprise is inviting Chattanoogans to “gain the knowledge they need to succeed financially and prosper in life” at its ninth annual Money School set for Saturday, April 22.
One attendee will leave the event with an extra $500 in their pocket.
Taking place from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. at Brainerd Crossroads on Austin Street, participants will hear from Chattanooga area financial experts about topics ranging from credit to investing, retirement and more.
“Studies show individuals lacking financial literacy tend to borrow more funds without accruing any wealth. Unfortunately, this leads to them paying incredibly high loan fees,” says Chelsea Smith, communications director for CNE.
“We launched this program in 2014 to help people in our community avoid this financial trap. By educating individuals and families, we can give them tools to help them prosper financially.”
The five-hour Money School is free to attend and will feature a keynote from Vanderbilt trained therapist and author of “Change Your $tory” Noelle Schwantes. Participants can also pre-register to attend one of CNE’s limited-capacity Financial Fitness workouts during the event.
Register
Chattanooga launches Gig City Goes Quantum
Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly says a new initiative branded Gig City Goes Quantum will prepare the city for education, jobs and business opportunities in the emerging quantum technology sector.
Gig City Goes Quantum will leverage EPB’s Qubitekk-powered quantum network to accelerate the commercialization of quantum technologies through collaboration with community leaders, universities, schools and companies.
Qubitekk is a commercially available quantum network designed for running equipment and applications in an established fiber optic environment.
Gig City Goes Quantum’s first effort begins on World Quantum Day, April 14, with the goal of engaging people of all ages in more than 1,000 quantum learning activities by May 31.
“The launch of EPB’s quantum network has positioned Chattanooga to lead in quantum information technology, but we have a lot to do to prepare our city to thrive in the new quantum age,” says Kelly. “Gig City Goes Quantum is a collaborative effort to build a new quantum ecology in Chattanooga, with student education, workforce preparation and support of companies that are leading the way in translating quantum possibilities into real-world solutions.”
Gig City Goes Quantum collaborators include educators, scientists, entrepreneurs and community leaders focused on preparing Chattanooga for the emerging quantum sector, which is poised to impact computing, cybersecurity, health care, finance and other in-demand fields, says Qubitekk president, chief technology officer and co-founder Dr. Duncan Earl.
“Quantum technology holds the promise for revolutionary, groundbreaking possibilities that change how we all live and work, which is why it’s important to prepare students for the industry’s future.
“From protecting against cyberthreats and launching a next-generation internet to uncovering life-changing advancements in health care, education and other industries, today’s students will be the ones who will make these possibilities reality.”
Gig City Goes Quantum will offer educational resources for students in Grade 5 and up through support from Hamilton County Schools, Chattanooga State Community College, UTC, Chattanooga 2.0, the Public Education Foundation Chattanooga, the National Science Foundation, National Q-12 Education Partnership and Xairos.
The following events will be broadcast live on GigCityGoesQuantum.com:
• Friday, April 14, 10 a.m., Chattanooga State Community College, “The Coming Quantum Age” with Earl
• Friday, April 14, 1:30 p.m., EPB Institute of Technology and Networking at Tyner Academy, Hands-on demonstration by Earl
• Monday, April 17, noon, UTC, details to be announced
• Wednesday, April 19, noon, UTC, Quantum networking by Xairos chief scientist Dr. James Troupe
• Friday, April 21, noon, UTC, Quantum sensing by UTC assistant professor of physics Dr. Tian Li
The livestream videos will be archived along with other activities developed by national and local educators, physicists, workforce development professionals and entrepreneurs.
According to the Quantum Information Science and Technology Workforce Development National Plan, preparing the United States workforce is essential to economic and national security. Current talent shortages could compromise advancements with more job openings than qualified applicants.
Chattanooga’s entrepreneurial community already is mobilizing around the quantum industry with CO.LAB’s focus on sustainable mobility. CO.LAB’s inaugural MOBILITY Summit May 9-11 will feature quantum technology and networking advancements.
Several organizations worked together to launch Gig City Goes Quantum and will continue to collaborate to develop strategies for advancing Chattanooga’s position as a quantum innovation leader, including Chattanooga 2.0, Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce, Chattanooga Public Library, Chattanooga State Community College, City of Chattanooga, CO.LAB, The Enterprise Center, EPB, Hamilton County Schools, Hamilton County Government, Public Education Foundation, Qubitekk, UTC and Xairos
Future Ready Institute for Early Learning launched
The city of Chattanooga and Hamilton County Schools say a new Future Ready Institute for early childhood education will help build a new pipeline of early learning professionals while providing high school students with a direct path to a career.
Located at Tyner Academy, the One Chattanooga Institute of Early Care and Learning will accept its inaugural freshman cohort beginning this fall. Participating students will earn their child development associate credential upon graduation, making them employable by early learning centers across the city.
The COVID-19 pandemic led to an acute shortage of early learning professionals in cities across the country, including Chattanooga, a shortage that has prevented parents – and new mothers in particular – from returning to work.
The Kelly administration is investing $1 million in federal American Rescue Plan funds to support the new institute for the next five years as part of the mayor’s One Chattanooga Relief and Recovery Plan.
A number of early learning centers and providers have already agreed to assist with job shadowing and post-graduation job placements, including Chattanooga Head Start, Purpose Point Learning Academy, Pneuma Christian Center, 21st Century Child Development Center and Champion Christian Learning Academy.
Early learning providers that would like to become involved in the program may submit a request at cha.city/earlylearninginstitute.
Kelly appointed to Workforce Dev. Board
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee has appointed Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly to the Tennessee State Workforce Development Board, which provides leadership and guidance on workforce development strategies that promote economic growth and vitality for the state.
The 33 board members represent a diverse group of business and labor leaders, education and economic development specialists and government representatives. Kelly will serve as the only city mayor on the board.
The board was established to oversee Tennessee’s workforce development system, which consists of a series of programs and initiatives funded primarily through the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act.
WIOA programs serve hundreds of thousands of Tennesseans each year.
The State Workforce Development Board is responsible for developing local allocation formulas and accountability measures for WIOA programming, recommending technology-based strategies to improve one-stop-shop workforce development services and identifying best practices for business partnerships and training programs that respond to real-time labor market changes.