FEBRUARY 2016
IN THIS ISSUE
QUICK LINKS
Upcoming Dates
HELLO NINER NATION FAMILY!
Welcome to another semester at UNC Charlotte! We hope you and your family had a wonderful holiday and beginning to the New Year.

As temperatures drop outside, campus life and business is ramping up for another semester. Spring semester offers a variety of new opportunities for you and your students, ranging from necessary business items to involvement options. For this month's newsletter, we have pulled together information from across campus to keep you informed about important University business, exciting events and student leadership opportunities.

One special article comes from Chancellor Dubois. He provides information about an important bond vote coming up in March and how it will affect the University. We encourage you to take a few minutes to read through this great article!

We also are excited to be hosting our inaugural Spring Family Reunion on Feb. 13. We will welcome our families back to campus to show our #NinerPride and connect with other families and students at the event. More information about the program is below, including how to register. We hope to see you there!

As always, Niner Nation Family exists to serve our families and ensure you are informed and engaged in your student's 49er experience. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us at [email protected] or 704-687-0341.
 
Go Niners!
Jordan Holliday
Assistant Director for New Student & Family Services
Niner Nation Family
Dean of Students

From the Chancellor: Bond Issue Greatly Benefits UNC Charlotte
Dear Niner Parent:

I am pleased to bring you greetings from UNC Charlotte. The spring 2016 semester is off to a great start, with lots of excitement and activity here on campus.

I am writing to let you know about a legislative matter of great importance to UNC Charlotte: the Connect NC bond proposal. The proposed bond measure includes $2 billion for UNC system campuses, community colleges, public safety, water and sewer grants, state parks and agriculture.

UNC Charlotte's interest in the bond measure is a proposed $90 million science facility that is crucial to ensuring our continuing ability to respond to ever-increasing demand for enrollment among well-qualified freshmen and transfer students.

We welcomed N.C. Gov. Pat McCrory and several other statewide leaders to campus in October for a ceremonial signing of the Connect NC bond bill that will be included on the ballot for a statewide vote on March 15. The governor had previously visited campus last April as he was launching the public conversation about the need for a major statewide bond measure.

In November, I began traveling across the Charlotte region touting the benefits of the bond package, joining Rowan-Cabarrus Community College (RCCC) President Carol Spalding in appearances before the RCCC trustees and foundation, local elected officials and community supporters. Next stops include Gastonia, Mooresville, Monroe and Charlotte. Investments in the Charlotte region include $40 million for seven community colleges and funding for improvements at three popular state parks: Crowder's Mountain, Morrow Mountain and Lake Norman State Park.

For UNC Charlotte, there is definitely a sense of urgency concerning this bond initiative. Enrollment at UNC Charlotte has grown by 142 percent since the current science building (Burson) was built in 1985. UNC Charlotte accounts for more than 63 percent of the enrollment growth in the entire UNC system since 2009. Over 50 percent of our students with declared majors are in science, technology, engineering and math-related fields, and 15,000 students take laboratory courses each year. The new science facility is crucial to ensuring continued growth and to meet strong demand for talent by Charlotte region employers.

The business case for the bond package is straightforward and strong: no tax increase is needed to pay for the bonds, the debt service level is below the recommended amount to maintain the state's AAA bond rating, interest rates are at historic lows and the costs of construction will surely be less today than tomorrow.
What can you do?

First, learn more about the Connect NC Bond:
Second, if you are a North Carolina resident, be sure to register to vote or to update your voter registration. And make sure your student and other family members are registered to vote, too!
Third, take note of key election dates for the March presidential primary and bond vote:
  • Absentee voting begins: Jan. 25
  • Last day to register to vote:  Feb. 19
  • Early voting: March 3-12
  • Election: March 15
Finally, make sure you (and your student) vote!

Go Niners!

Cordially,



Philip L. Dubois
Chancellor
CAB Sponsors Events Galore for Spring
Cassidy Sansone, Student Activities

The Campus Activities Board (CAB) is excited to kick off another semester full of programs for students. Highlights feature live performances that include Friday Night Live with comedian JR De Guzman Feb. 5, Poetry Open Mic Night with poets G Yamazawa and Rudy Francisco Feb. 24, Mike Super: Magic and Illusion March 18 and the Freestyle Funny Comedy Show April 8.  READ MORE
Join Us for Spring Family Reunion Feb. 13
Jordan Holliday, New Student & Family Services

Niner Nation Family will host a new event for parent and family members of UNC Charlotte on Feb. 13. Spring Family Reunion will bring families back to campus to help cheer on the men's basketball team as it faces the University of North Texas Mean Green. Which team is the meanest green? We'll find out!

Spring Family Reunion grew out of the need to provide more opportunities during spring for families to come back to campus. Participants will receive a reserved seat basketball ticket, a concessions voucher worth $5 and Niner Nation Family spirit items. All of this is included in the small $18 per-person registration fee.

Parents and family members do not want to miss this event as we create a new Niner Nation Family tradition at UNC Charlotte. For information about the event and registration, visit the Spring Family Reunion page on the New Student & Family Services website. 
REGISTER NOW
Welcome to Our Orientation Counselors for 2016-17
Jordan Holliday, New Student & Family Services

Orientation Counselors
After a competitive application process, New Student & Family Services is excited to welcome 37 new students to the Orientation Counselor (OC) family.

Those selected for this role serve as student facilitators for SOAR (Student Orientation, Advising and Registration) during summer 2016 and spring 2017. The role allows students to learn more about themselves as leaders, develop teamwork and communication skills and show pride in Niner Nation.

To be selected, students submitted an application detailing their academic and involvement successes on campus, as well as their reasons for wanting to be an OC. Applicants then participated in a group interview that looked at their teamwork and communication skills.

Following the group activity, select applicants were invited for a personal interview with the New Student & Family Services and SOAR staff to get to know the candidate better. READ MORE
Remind Your Student to Monitor Classroom Progress
Henrietta Thomas, University Advising Center

studying
The third or fourth week of the semester is a good time to remind your student to self-monitor progress in his or her courses. Though many instructors issue early alerts or kudos, in many cases there may not have yet been any quizzes, tests, papers or other forms of evaluation.  However, students should still ask these questions related to their courses:
  • Am I attending classes regularly?
  • Have I reviewed all my syllabi to fully understand the expectations of the course? Do I understand how the final grade will be determined? Have I written or posted due dates for assignments/tests/quizzes in my planner?
  • Do I have a good understanding of the course content thus far?
  • Am I committing enough time to study and preparation on a daily/weekly basis?
  • Have I looked into resources to help me be successful in the course (study groups, tutoring, etc.) well in advance of midterm evaluations?
  • If I have not done well on a test/quiz/paper, have I made time to meet with the instructor to discuss how I might improve?
 
READ MORE
Black Student Union Hosts Events Celebrating Black History Month
Daniel Watson, Black Student Union

In 1926, Carter G. Woodson, former slave and historian, declared the second week of February as "Negro History Week." This week was chosen because it corresponded with the birthdays of fifth U.S. President Abraham Lincoln and slavery abolitionist Frederick Douglass. Woodson felt strongly about the indispensable importance of teaching black history: "If a race has no history, it has no worthwhile tradition, it becomes a negligible factor in the thought of the world, and it stands in danger of being exterminated."

Nearly a century later the Black Student Union (BSU), one of approximately 375 student organizations at UNC Charlotte, strives daily to keep Woodson's legacy alive. The Black Student Union, founded in 1969, uses the month of February as a platform to educate the campus community about the peaks and valleys of the African-American race. READ MORE
Seeking Financial Aid? March 1 is Important Deadline
Joan F. Lorden, Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs

The next few months are important for students seeking financial aid, with March 1 being one of the most critical dates to remember. It is the University's priority deadline for your student to submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, also known as FAFSA.

UNC Charlotte uses the FAFSA as its financial-aid application. Students must renew this form each academic year for which they seek assistance. Students who have completed their federal application by the priority deadline of March 1 will be among the first considered for financial aid.

When filling out the form, the student needs to be sure to list UNC Charlotte in the school section; our federal school code is 002975. As a parent or family member, you also can remind your student to provide accurate, complete information on the FAFSA. Inaccurate or estimated information may cause delays in the processing of the application. READ MORE
Study Abroad in Spain: Great Opportunity, Bargain
Brad Sekulich, Office of Education Abroad

A major or minor in a foreign language is often an enhancement to another degree, setting a student's resume apart from others crossing a hiring manager's desk.

UNC Charlotte students who have passed or placed out of intermediate Spanish (SPAN 2202) can spend a semester in Santander, Spain, earn 15 hours of credit and finish the program with both a minor and fluency in the Spanish language that only comes from living immersed in the language and culture for a semester.

If a student is majoring in Spanish, credits earned from this program will be a substantial base from which to finish the major. And again, the student will have oral skills in Spanish they likely would not have if they had not studied abroad.

The program has a single fee that includes airfare, three meals per day, housing, instructional costs, three to four one-day excursions from Santander and two longer (three to five days each) excursions within Spain. This is one of the best bargains in study abroad. If you are an out-of-state student, the program is considerably cheaper than regular tuition and fees. Students can also apply for scholarships through the Office of Education Abroad. READ MORE
Our Meal Deal: Sign up for the ODA, Get Bonus Meals
Lou Ann Lamb, Auxiliary Services

Auxiliary Services offers a great deal for students who enjoy the convenience of dining on campus. Commuters may find it especially beneficial.

Here is the rundown on the Optional Dining Account (ODA):
  • Deposit $300-$499 in ODA and get three Bonus meal swipes for SoVi Dining in South Village Crossing or Crown Commons in the Student Union.
  • Deposit $500-$699, get seven Bonus meal swipes for SoVi or Crown Commons.
  • Deposit $700-$899, get 13 Bonus meal swipes for SoVi or Crown Commons.
  • Deposit $900 or more, get 20 Bonus meal swipes for SoVi or Crown Commons.
Bonus meal swipes may be used at SoVi and Crown Commons, Monday through Sunday, for any meal period. ODA funds do not expire; they roll over from semester to semester, year to year, but Bonus meal swipes expire May 11, 2016.

How to sign up... READ MORE