Mission, Vision, Values and Co-Chairs 

 

The Steering Committee held its first meeting on Friday, February 16th. There was robust discussion around the biggest opportunity that lies ahead for UTC. There was also deep recognition that engagement of the campus community is vital to developing a plan that positions us for success. The first formal opportunity for engagement is to help shape our mission, vision, and values. 

 

The mission, vision and values of UTC are key to ensuring we establish a strategic direction as a campus community. We would like to get your thoughts on the current vision, mission, and values. We would also like your input on what makes UTC unique and what opportunities lie ahead that we should pursue as a campus community. To set context, we want to ensure that we operate with common vocabulary around mission, vision, and values. For purposes of this survey: 

• Mission is a summary of aims and values. It is a statement of why we exist, what we provide and how we will achieve our goals.
• Vision articulates where we are going as an institution. It is aspirational and communicates what we desire to become.
• Values are guiding principles that shape the culture, decisions, and behavior of the university.

 

We ask that you complete the survey below sharing your thoughts and ideas by Monday, March 4, 2024. We appreciate your input in advance as we begin this foundational work. We will share common themes once the survey is completed.

 

   Mission Vision Values Survey

Strategy 2030 Co-Chairs

 

As we engage in the development of the strategic plan, we felt it important to identify co-chairs that would represent three distinct groups (faculty, staff, advancement/community). Dr. Valerie Rutledge, Brandalyn Shropshire and Amy Donahue have agreed to serve in this capacity through this process. They will play key roles in keeping our process on track and ensuring there is a deep level of transparency and engagement from the campus and community. Learn a little more about each of them below. 

 

Dr. Valerie Rutledge, Dean of the College of Health, Education and Professional Studies, earned her B.S. and M.Ed. degrees from The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in Secondary Education: English, and received her doctorate degree in Higher Education: Leadership Studies from The University of Tennessee-Knoxville. After joining the UTC faculty in 1995 as an assistant professor, Dr. Rutledge became Department Head of Teacher Preparation, Director of the School of Education (2003); and Dean of the College of Health, Education and Professional Studies (2013). She is a UC Foundation Professor, holds the Mildred Routt Distinguished Teaching Professorship and is UTC’s Faculty Athletic Rep. In 2019 she received the UT President’s Award for Diversity and in 2022 was selected to participate in the Deans for Impact Fellowship. Her research interests include teacher candidate preparation, curriculum development, elementary and secondary literacy, and effective instructional practices, while her education expertise lies in the areas of literacy, Latin, and English as a Second Language. 

 

Brandalyn Shropshire is the Associate Director of Student Engagement in the office of Undergraduate Admissions. She earned her B.A. in communications at The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in 2008 and immediately began her journey as a UTC staff member. She became Associate Director in 2022 and has since made impactful changes to recruitment. New programs, including Spanish speaking tours, Hamiton County bus tours, Halloween tours, UTC Road Trips, have allowed The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga to reach new groups of prospective students. Brandalyn has received numerous recognition awards for her work at UTC, including the Blue Ribbon Award. She shares her passion for UTC everyday through community involvement and student engagement. Currently, Brandalyn is a graduate candidate in the creative writing program at UTC and plans to receive her master’s in 2024.

 

Amy Donahue is the UTC Advancement team's Assistant Vice Chancellor of Communication and Constituent Relations. Before coming to UTC in 2022, Amy served as the Vice President of Marketing for HHM CPAs and Director of Marketing and Communication for River City Company, an economic development nonprofit for downtown Chattanooga. Having moved to Chattanooga in 2012, Amy has received various professional recognitions and accolades along with service to her community and profession. Amy is an alumna of the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, earning both a master’s and bachelor’s degrees in communication, and has served as a lecturer at UTK, UTC and the University of South Carolina Aiken.