For dozens of students spending time at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga this summer, a gathering hosted by the Office for Undergraduate Research and Creative Endeavor (URaCE) offered a chance to meet their peers and get a feel for the academic journeys ahead.
Cheers and applause filled the Roland Hayes Concert Hall on Friday, May 9, as the inaugural graduating class of University High crossed the stage—celebrating both their diplomas and a pioneering partnership between UTC and Hamilton County Schools.
Shi Mae Bowling has known for years that she wanted to become a costume designer. What she didn’t know was that a high school initiative located on a college campus would turn that dream into a real, reachable goal—and connect her with a mentor who could help make it possible. But thanks to her time at University High, a collaboration between UTC and Hamilton County Schools, Bowling—a graduating senior from the program’s first cohort—has found guidance and a sense of belonging while earning college credit.
High school juniors and seniors can now experience college-level learning through UTC’s newly announced spring 2025 dual-enrollment courses. Ten general education courses—chosen for their strong transferability to most four-year institutions—will be available in various formats: on the UTC campus after the high school day, online with set schedules, and online with flexible options.
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga has announced a new dual-enrollment initiative designed to provide local high school juniors and seniors with the opportunity to earn college credits while completing their high school education. Beginning with the start of the University’s 2024-2025 academic year, UTC is offering two on-campus dual-enrollment courses—English 1010 (Rhetoric and Composition 1) and Math 1130 (College Algebra)—to eligible students who have completed their sophomore year of high school while maintaining a 3.0 GPA.