Considering the lack of space on campus, and the looming renovation of
Grote Hall and loss of that space, I'm not so sure this is such good news.

Gail

At 07:54 AM 10/29/2004, Richard Rice wrote:
>You may have been as surprised as I was to read this morning in the paper
>about our new UTC business incubator, to be housed in the School of
>Engineering, if the article is accurate. Chuck Cantrell tells us in the
>article about the positive things that will happen for the community, UTC,
>and our students with this exciting new program. Good news.
>
>I have often wondered why the campus needs to read the newspaper each
>morning to learn about such important new initiatives, which may have some
>impact on our budget (nothing is mentioned of costs, only benefits in the
>article). This program is probably a good idea, but by not announcing the
>program first via Raven or via other campus communication, it gives the
>impression of plans formulated in secrecy. This can create a negative image
>of a new activity, as the public is informed before the campus. Done deal.
>
>Of course it forestalls debate and discussion of what the UTC mission is
>all about. The vague rubric of "engaged metropolitan university" allows us
>to go off in all sorts of directions without much reflection. Maybe this is
>the first step in the new Master Plan for Tennessee Higher Education? Who
>knows.
>
>  I do not read anything about "technology incubator" in the current UTC
>mission statement, nor for that matter anything about "sports-spectator
>promotion," nor about "urban development," but since a committee is
>rewriting the mission statement, perhaps to be accurate and transparent we
>should expect these activities to be mentioned. Certainly the UTC budget
>now strongly reflects these realities. Be honest.
>
>Richard Rice
>History

Gail M. Meyer, Ed.D.
UC Foundation Professor of Chemistry
UTC Chemistry Department - 2252
615 McCallie Avenue
Chattanooga, TN  37403
Phone:  (423)425-4486
Fax:    (423)425-5234
e-mail: [log in to unmask]
office:  329 Grote Hall