Stophel Apartments, outside
Nearly 25 years ago, visionaries looked both ways and crossed the street. It was a decision that changed the landscape of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Back in the mid-to-late 1990s, UTC was known as a 9-to-5, Monday-to-Friday commuter school. With only a handful of residential housing options, the campus was a virtual ghost town every weekend. The University didn’t seem ripe for any sort of expansion. Directly west of campus sat downtown Chattanooga. To the north, the Tennessee River and a trio of cemeteries. To the east, the historic Fort Wood neighborhood. But on the south side of McCallie Avenue, just across from the University, was a declining neighborhood. Future-thinking UTC leaders envisioned an opportunity for growth by crossing McCallie and— after pitching the idea to the University of Chattanooga Foundation—buying land to build student housing. Thanks to philanthropy, generous donations from the Foundation allowed for 20
UNIVERSITY OF CHATTANOOGA FOUNDATION
the construction of the Scott L. Probasco Jr. South Campus—a 1,668-bed, five-apartment student housing complex. The investment and collaborative risk taken by the UC Foundation and UTC changed the trajectory of the institution. Building the South Campus complex was a game changer, literally and figuratively growing the University. The substantial upgrade in campus housing options became an effective recruitment tool, increasing enrollment. Just as important, it became a focal point in changing the culture, transforming UTC from commuter school to a lively, seven-day-a-week campus. Besides expanding housing for out-oftown students, most notably from the Memphis and Nashville metropolitan areas, UTC became an institution of choice for local students who wanted to live on campus and get the total college experience. The largest housing complex on the UTC campus, South Campus is the landmark distinction between the University and the M.L. King neighborhood. The complex is comprised of five buildings: Guerry, Decosimo, Stophel, Walker and UC Foundation apartments. The three- and fourstory structures provide apartment-style living in a range of floor plan configurations. UTC enrollment has gone up by approximately one-third since opening the five South Campus residential apartment complexes from 2001 to 2004. The buildings comprise nearly 47% of today’s UTC on-campus bed spaces.
