Officials with University of Chattanooga Foundation, which runs an endowment for UTC, reported that the economy wasn’t hindering financial contributions to the university.

The UC Foundation received $14 million in gifts this year, an increase from $9 million in gifts last year, said Roger Brown, UTC chancellor.

There are also more individual donors, he said.

Dr. Brown also told the UT system board that Ruth Holmberg, former publisher of the Chattanooga Times, will be the first female chair of the UC Foundation since it was founded 40 years ago.