Longtime UNCG volunteer and donor David Sprinkle was awarded an honorary degree in May 2023.
Colleagues,
The Committee on Honorary Degrees invites you to identify people who would be good candidates for honorary degrees to be granted at a future commencement ceremony. The purpose for awarding honorary degrees includes the following:
To recognize individuals who demonstrate extraordinary achievement over their entire scholarly or artistic careers or who have performed distinguished public service in their lifetime;
To recognize excellence in the scholarly fields of degrees awarded by the University as well as those that exemplify the history and mission of the University;
To honor those individuals whose lives and achievements are consistent with the qualities and values espoused by the University in order to provide examples of the University’s aspirations for its graduates;
To elevate the visibility and reputation of the University by honoring those individuals who are widely known and regarded in their field or in society as a whole.
The person selected may be distinguished in any number of areas: humanities, sciences, arts, public service, and education, to name a few. Those currently holding public office in the state and the permanent staff of our state universities are not eligible. The achievements may vary in scope from prominence on the international or professional scene to vital contributions to the University, North Carolina, and beyond. A previous connection to the University or state is not mandatory but is considered a strength.
In order for you to have an idea of the persons who have received Honorary Degrees, we invite you to examine the names of awardees from past years: David Sprinkle (2022); Dennis Quaintance (2021); Nancy King Quaintance (2021); Rhiannon Giddens (2019); Emmylou Harris (2019); Mansukh C. Wani, William Mangum (2017); William Black, Harold Schiffman (2016); Timothy Rice (2015); Norman Anderson (2013); Bonnie McElveen-Hunter (2012); Thomas Haggai (2011); Margaret Maron (2010); Rebecca Lloyd, Nido Qubein (2009); Fred Chappell, Tom Ross, Kay Yow (2008); Irvin Belk, Betty Ray McCain, Edwin S. Melvin (2007); Molly Broad, Henry Frye, Shirley Frye (2006); Muriel Siebert (2005); Jim Hunt (2004); Jaylee Mead (2003).The committee asks that you submit candidates using the Honorary Degree Candidate Nomination Form. Please keep in mind the need for confidentiality, as candidates should not be aware that they are being considered. The deadline for nominations is Friday, September 13, 2024.
Alan Boyette, Interim Provost & Executive Vice Chancellor Beth Fischer, Vice Chancellor of University Advancement
Get the full Spartan experience by participating in Blue and Gold Fridays and catching a soccer or volleyball game this fall.
Lasting Impact Marked By 2024 Ezekiel Robinson Staff Emeritus Awards
Posted on August 27, 2024
UNCG proudly announces the recipients of the 2024 Ezekiel Robinson Staff Emeritus Award, an esteemed honor that recognizes retired staff members for their long, distinguished records of service, dedication, and leadership.
Get the full Spartan experience by participating in Blue and Gold Fridays and catching a soccer or volleyball game this fall.
Save the Date: State of the Campus
Posted on August 26, 2024
Join Chancellor Franklin D. Gilliam, Jr. will deliver The State of the Campus Address on September 3 at 11 a.m. It will be held in person at the Elliott University Center Auditorium, where he will recognize the University’s collective achievements and learn about our collaborative Go Forward strategy.
Doors will open at 10:45 a.m. Please stay for coffee and conversation immediately following the address.
The address will be in-person only with an ASL interpreter present. A recording of the address will be posted on chancellor.uncg.edu after the event.
Get the full Spartan experience by participating in Blue and Gold Fridays and catching a soccer or volleyball game this fall.
UNCG Becomes NC’s First Family Forward Certified Public University
Posted on August 27, 2024
UNC Greensboro proudly announces it has been certified by Family Forward NC, an initiative that encourages North Carolina employers to create a family friendly environment for their employees, fostering incentives that boost employee retention and recruitment.
UNCG is the first of North Carolina’s public universities to be recognized and one of 51 employers certified in Greensboro.
Jeanne Madorin, Associate Vice Chancellor for Human Resources, says, “I am very happy that UNCG has received certification and excited to share this with candidates who want to work in an environment that supports the commitment employees have to their families.”
The certification speaks to UNCG’s belief that our employees should have every tool at their fingertips to create a healthy work-life balance, and they should not feel they have to pass up career-building opportunities due to a lack of support or prioritization for their families.
Additionally, decades of research have shown that children need supportive and supported families and communities to build strong brains, and their health and development benefits from regular attendance in high-quality birth-through-age eight learning environments.
Mutual Benefits for NC Children, Families, and Economic Development
Launched in 2018, Family Forward NC is an innovative initiative to improve children’s health and well-being and keep North Carolina’s businesses competitive. It is employer-led change to increase access to research-based, family-friendly practices – big and small – that improve workplace productivity, recruitment and retention; grow a strong economy; and support children’s healthy development. To date, Family Forward NC has engaged with more than 9,600 employers across North Carolina.
A Family Forward NC Employer Certification designates employers that offer policies and practices that support the health and well-being of working families and children. To achieve certification, it looks at employer benefits in the following policy and practice categories:
Paid leave and wages
Accommodations for pregnant and breastfeeding workers
Childcare supports
Health and wellness benefits
Scheduling practices
UNCG’s mission of prioritizing families extends to its students. The University makes earning a degree in higher education accessible to student-parents through its Child Care Education Program. In 2024, it was awarded a grant by the U.S. Department of Education’s Access to Child Care Enhances Student Success (ACCESS) Project to provide free childcare for qualifying students.
Get the full Spartan experience by participating in Blue and Gold Fridays and catching a soccer or volleyball game this fall.
Call Taker Volunteers Needed
Posted on August 26, 2024
In the event that an emergency was to impact the UNCG campus community, staff and faculty play a crucial role in our return to normalcy. Many staff and faculty members are part of the Emergency Planning and Response Team (EPART). This group is comprised of key administrative personnel from various business units that provide critical operations and resources during emergencies and disasters.
We have learned from incidents that impacted other communities, including colleges and universities, that a constant flow of information is critical to ensuring the safety of everyone and maintaining calm and trust during rapidly changing circumstances.
If the UNCG community were to face such an incident, the Office of Emergency Management along with ITS and EPART group members have developed a Crisis Information Center (CIC). The CIC can relay information not only to the campus community but also to parents, stakeholders, and the general public.
Volunteers from UNCG staff and faculty members are needed to relay information both to and from the campus community, assisting first responders with communication flow, and allowing EPART members to focus on additional operational needs to mitigate the impact of the emergency.
Volunteers for the CIC must be current UNCG staff or faculty and must not already have obligations within the EPART group.
Anyone interested in volunteering for the CIC may sign up using this link or by clicking the QR code below. After a form is submitted a representative from the Office of Emergency Management will reach out to volunteers to schedule a time for a brief training on the CIC process and to address any questions they may have.
Get the full Spartan experience by participating in Blue and Gold Fridays and catching a soccer or volleyball game this fall.
UNCG Students Ask What ‘the Future’ Holds at Short Film Screening
Posted on August 27, 2024
A still from a student-produced short film premiering at the Sanarchy Student Film Screening.
Nearly four dozen UNC Greensboro students will start their Fall 2024 semester walking the red carpet. They get their own premiere for short films they’ve created around the theme “the Future.”
Looking to “the future” comes with some reflection on the past, specifically four years ago when an in-person celebration like this would not be possible.
Classes Go Virtual, Professors Make Them Global
Media Studies professors Jennida Chase and Hassan Pitts formed the Sanarchy Consortium with professors from other colleges and universities. It was a response to the restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic, which took them out of the traditional, face-to-face environments where they normally taught their crafts.
“As a result of the whole world getting thrown online for education, quite a few of us got together and thought about how we can make lemonade with some lemons,” says Chase.
Sanarchy is a portmanteau of several words. It comes from the Turkish sanat, meaning “art.” Since the educators are also fans of J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Lord of the Rings” works, they also drew from his Elven Quenya word sanar, meaning “thinker” or “reflector.” They combined those with “anarchy” as a nod to the rebellious spirit of youth and because of its similarity to “synergy.”
Sanarchy includes media, art, and design programs in Virginia, Ohio, Oklahoma, New Jersey, and the nation of Turkey. Together, the instructors designed coursework that could be done remotely. Students could contact any of the educators at the other institutions for help with an assignment, particularly if they wanted help in a field of expertise not readily available at their school.
“These professors have all collaborated pretty regularly,” says Chase. “And we have done that for some time, even before we decided to build a working consortium together.”
Each few semesters, Sanarchy picks a theme centered around a word or phrase. Their first theme was “mask,” and so some of the students’ works examined identity, isolation, and social displays. The second was “map,” which invited them to explore their relationship to physical space or specific locations.
“We asked what we can do to support our medium and our students and their interests,” says Chase. “What can we do so that we can reach out and speak with other people in other practices and other cultures?”
Students’ Work Comes Alive on Screens and Streams
At UNCG, Chase implemented Sanarchy into her Introduction to Media Production and Editing classes. Other students represent the School of Art’s animation program with Assistant Professor Dan Hale.
Since most of Chase’s students produced videos, she asked the Weatherspoon to host a film screening in their Margaret and Bill Benjamin Auditorium.
Sanarchy also gave the students a platform for their work by having them build a digital museum. Some students had their works eventually showcased in physical museums, such as Greensboro Project Space, and in South Korea and Turkey.
Stills from films to premiere at the Sanarchy Student Film Screening
Stills from films to premiere at the Sanarchy Student Film Screening
Stills from films to premiere at the Sanarchy Student Film Screening
Stills from films to premiere at the Sanarchy Student Film Screening
Stills from films to premiere at the Sanarchy Student Film Screening
Stills from films to premiere at the Sanarchy Student Film Screening
Stills from films to premiere at the Sanarchy Student Film Screening
Digital art students can take advantage of new technologies to get their work out into the world, and Sanarchy showed them those techniques at the height of the pandemic. “One thing that’s very exciting for our medium is that the streaming universe exists for us,” says Chase. “The ability to send your work digitally anywhere in the world is a super useful part of our practice that’s not true of a sculpture, which you must package carefully and send out at a very high expense.”
Chase is eager to give the students a chance to put their work out in front of an audience. She says, “I want to show students how good it feels to have a bunch of people come together and see something that they worked so hard to make and recognize that their ideas are resonating with other people.”
The Sanarchy Student Film Screening at the Weatherspoon Art Museum is free and open to the public.
Story by Janet Imrick, University Communications Photography courtesy of Jennida Chase, College of Arts and Sciences
Get the full Spartan experience by participating in Blue and Gold Fridays and catching a soccer or volleyball game this fall.
Spartan Athletics Kicks Off a New Season
Posted on August 23, 2024
Photo by Lynn Hey.
As the new school year begins this week, the campus is simmering with Spartan spirit. Wanna join in the fun? Wear your blue and gold and support our Spartan athletes on the pitch and the volleyball court this fall. Save the dates and make games a part of your routine to take advantage of the full UNCG experience.
Every Friday is Blue and Gold Friday
When Chancellor Gilliam addressed a gymnasium full of first-year students at NAV1GATE, he advised them to wear UNCG’s colors. “Don’t let me catch you in a sweatshirt from another school,” he warned. “Remember: I’m the one who signs your diploma!”
Each Friday, all students, faculty and staff are encouraged to wear blue and gold as part of UNCG’s Blue and Gold Fridays initiative. Do it today and make your chancellor proud. Next Friday, August 30, is national College Colors Day when campuses all over the country will be repping their schools. Be a part of the movement and let your Spartan blue and gold shine!
You could have a front row seat to a SOCON playoff run this fall.
Action at the Net
Women’s volleyball is also in season with action in Fleming Gym. Weekend tournaments kick off the season with the Spartan Classic hosted here on August 30-31. Then in late September, the conference games begin.
Don’t miss an exciting game from our Spartan spikers.
Not only are regular season home game tickets free for students, but UNCG’s athletics department amps up the home game anticipation by planning giveaways and promotions for most games. Enjoy two-for-one hot dogs, special themes encouraging spectators to dress up or honoring certain groups, food trucks, and giveaways like pizza, bookstore credit, or Krispy Kreme doughnuts. If you keep up with the Spartan athletics promotional calendar, you could be set to walk away with more than just a first-person game recap.
Nothing makes you feel the school spirit more than wearing your colors and cheering for your team. Get into the game, Spartans!
Story by Becky Deakins, University Communications. Photos by Sean Norona, University Communications, unless otherwise noted.
Get the full Spartan experience by participating in Blue and Gold Fridays and catching a soccer or volleyball game this fall.
Faculty Embrace AI’s Potential in UNCG Classrooms
Posted on August 26, 2024
Artificial intelligence tools, namely large language models (LLM) like ChatGPT and image generators like Dall-E, exploded into public view this year. For some, they are an exciting new tool to learn and create. Others fear the risks are greater than the rewards, and AI could have ramifications on hard work, accuracy, and quality.
“It’s important that we teach students how to use AI ethically and responsibly while they’re here with us, because they will most definitely be engaging with it in practice.”
Dr. Lindsay Draper, clinical associate professor of nursing
UNC Greensboro faculty are at the forefront of innovation, in the programming of AI and its impacts on business, cybersecurity, and other fields. Many have already spent time practicing with AI tools to understand their benefits and drawbacks. This year, the University Teaching and Learning Commons (UTLC) announced generative AI implementation grants for faculty to incorporate AI tools into their Spring 2024 courses.
Professors and lecturers from theatre, nursing, media studies, and Spanish shared how they will empower their students to lead a changing technological landscape.
Theatre
Tara Webb, lecturer of costume technology; and Jehann Gilman, lecturer of wigs, hair, and makeup, are excited to unpack the possibilities for AI in an artistic field. It is also one field where people are most worried about the impact of AI on jobs. Webb and Gilman have a keen eye for determining the parameters of what AI can and cannot do in the professional world of theatre.
“We’re really interested in having those conversations with students,” says Webb. “Just like anything else, this is a tool. I’m sure people have had this conversation about tools throughout history. We’re at that part of the conversation now.”
They used ChatGPT to design an AI module for Canvas for some of their courses, but they will allow students in other classes to explore how AI can help them design theatrical wardrobes, hairstyles, and makeup. They want to build standards for AI to handle time-consuming preparation and training tasks, so that artists can get to the hands-on process that they love.
Courses Using AI
THR 101 Foundations in Theatre
THR 145 Stagecrafts: Costumes 2
THR 147 Stagecrafts: Makeup & Wardrobe 2
THR 244 Technical Production: Costumes 2
THR 262 Technical Production: Wigs, Hair and Makeup 2
Gilman says, “The ability of a human to think on their feet, to be able to work with another person, and to have that creative spark inspired by the way they think and the experiences they’ve had, can’t be replaced by a program.”
Gilman says AI could bolster students’ technical skills, a challenge that has emerged in recent years as children become less exposed to the arts in their formative years. More students, she says, have become nervous about their ability to visualize an idea and draw it.
“AI makes the subject itself more accessible, because it gives them a place to start, while not being the finishing point,” she explains.
Potential
“It can generate a breakdown of how much things cost. So, you can put in your budget and a list of items. Then it will break down, “good, better, best” for those items in terms of cost breakdown. Let’s say, ‘Find me the top five mascaras you commonly find in Walgreens,’ and it’ll give you all that because that information is out there on the internet right now.”
– Webb
AI Put to Work
Pitfall
“Because AI gives me a wider variety of things to look at, we have to verify its authenticity. For example, I was looking for a specific Andrew Wyeth painting, and I kept coming across one image. I didn’t remember ever seeing this Wyeth painting. I put it in a reverse image search. It was AI-generated in the style of Wyeth. That’s where we start getting into those ethical implications. But to reach the level that I was not sure if it was a painting in Wyeth’s collection, that was a little scary.”
– Gilman
Nursing
AI is already part of healthcare, according to Dr. Tiffany Gibson, clinical associate professor in the School of Nursing. “I’m sitting here with an AI here at my desk,” she says. “If my patient signs a release, then I can use it to intuitively take notes of what we discuss.”
Gibson is one of several faculty championing AI in the School of Nursing, among them Dr. Lindsay Draper, clinical associate professor and Nursing’s director of faculty credentialing, compliance, and special initiatives. “AI is here to help us to be more efficient and effective so that we can provide the very best care for our communities,” says Draper.
They designed a module for teaching AI’s benefits, challenges, and ethical implications. Students will do presentations tying AI to real-world scenarios. “I’m redesigning every single assignment in nursing informatics to use AI,” says Draper.
Courses Using AI
NUR 355A and B: Pathophysiology and Pharmacology
NUR 450-Evidence-Based Practice and Nursing Research
NUR 714 Foundations of Informatics and Computational Systems
Nurses must sift through lots of information. Gibson’s pathopharmacology courses are particularly challenging in that regard. She will teach students how to use prompt engineering – steering AI with intentional choice of words, phrases, or formats to gain substantive responses – to create effective study guides and parse through the data. “It’s not going to do the work for them,” says Gibson. “They still have to get this information, apply it, and use it in the nursing world.”
Draper says students can also help train AI used by the public. People will no doubt use LLMs to research symptoms and treatment, but the information AI presents may be inaccurate or biased. “It’s going to become the next Dr. Google,” says Draper. “This is a great learning opportunity for students to ask Dr. ChatGPT questions as if they are patients. Then they can evaluate: Was it accurate? Was it not accurate? What was inaccurate? Was what it generated superficial, or did it give information that you would really need if you were a patient?”
Draper, Gibson, and other AI-pioneering faculty within the School of Nursing also organized a conference-style faculty retreat on AI for the School of Nursing to kick off the semester.
Potential
“The models won’t know your name or your identity, but we can set parameters – let’s say, 47-year-old females that live in High Point – and run geomapping with an insurance database. Then healthcare workers can say if there may be a problem in that area, such as mold or mildew or other contaminants.”
– Gibson
AI Put to Work
Pitfall
“We have to be really careful about privacy safeguards. Those systems are working together to create the firewalls that put the information into your healthcare system and keep it there. But people have to be warned, just like they are when there’s a big insurance breach.”
– Gibson
Media Studies
Media has been blending digital and physical tools for a while. Disney’s “The Mandalorian” is one recent example, says Kevin Wells, senior lecturer of media studies. “They have an LED wall behind the talent. They have physical actors and a physical set in the foreground, and a digital background that’s generated by something like Unreal Engine that corresponds to the camera moving in real time.”
He has used similar innovative tools within the department. This year, he will incorporate AI tools that generate a background image plate in the production crews’ monitors while they shoot in front of a greenscreen. Later this semester, they will install a new LED wall, enabling the use of AI tools like Cuebric to generate dynamic digital backgrounds with proper depth layers that the crew and talent can see in real-time.
Wells can also give students access to tools for practice outside of class. “I couldn’t ask students to subscribe to ChatGPT Plus for $20 a month,” he says. “So, I was excited about the recent announcement that I can make a Custom GPT available to them if they have a free account. This lets me create a chat bot for the course that can offer technical support when they are working outside of class.”
Courses Using AI
MST 271 Introduction to Media Production
MST 483 Advanced Media Production: Virtual Production
Having explored with AI on his own time, Wells is interested in seeing the ways that students test its capabilities and limits. He’s heard enthusiasm as well as concern.
“A lot of my conversations with students have been, ‘Is this going to affect my ability to be employed?’” he says. “I think we’re a long way off from creating characters, not just backgrounds or props. But AI is already adept at handling many entry-level tasks. So, understanding that is what is happening can help students look for ways to skill up, to future proof their ability to find employment.”
Many of his students are excited about the potential. They’ve made images with Midjourney and discussed making videos with Sora. “Some of the fun is learning the language you need to speak to get the output that you want,” says Wells.
Potential
“When we’re dealing with technology, I’ve usually created very long handouts, with Step 1, Step 2, Step 3, etc. Sometimes, when a student runs into a problem with equipment, they’re not sure at which stage it might have fallen apart. But with a custom chat bot, they can say, for example, ‘The camera tracker is not showing up in Unreal Engine. What should I check?’ The custom GPT can say, based on the handout, ‘Okay, this is the first thing that you should look at.’”
– Wells
AI Put to Work
Pitfall
“Practice makes video production better, but it’s still not perfect. AI-generated video is still in that uncanny valley stage to me, even in professional projects. You can tell if you know what to look for.”
– Wells
Spanish
As an expert in language and its effect on culture, Dr. Ignacio Lopez, professor of Spanish, believes departments like Languages, Literature, and Culture here at UNCG must play a pivotal role in the development of LLMs.
He says students need experience with AI to be ready for a career. “It would be like graduating as an accountant without knowing how to use Microsoft Excel, or a graphic designer who has never used Adobe Creative Cloud apps,” says Lopez.
His plans for AI will help his students build a holistic understanding of history and culture.
Courses Using AI
SPA 317 Foundations of Hispanic Cultures
SPA 351 Introduction to Hispanic Literature
Lopez has long used a “contact hour” assignment to immerse the students in the language through a film, book, or conversation with a native speaker. In his Foundations of Hispanic Cultures, he’s adding a “virtual contact hour.” The AI, he says, can be trained to play the part of an individual – complete with a backstory assigned to it by the student – and hold a conversation in a Hispanic language.
“What I like about this mediated experience is its individuality,” says Lopez. “Each student will direct the conversation based on their personal interests and upon returning to the classroom, they can report and reflect on their experiences and engage in critical thinking exercises.”
Lopez says universities should train their faculty in how to use AI so that they pass along best practices to their students. “I use ChatGPT to review my lesson plans, identify potential biases, and suggest activities and explanations to accommodate all learning styles of my students, as reported by OARS or observed in class,” says Lopez. “Of course, it does not mean you must do everything the AI suggests, but knowing it is helpful.”
Potential
“I prompted ChatGPT to impersonate a Sephardic Jew from Salonika who had lived through the Nazi occupation and Holocaust. I would ask my questions in Spanish, and the bot would answer my questions in Ladino (Judeo-Spanish). This allowed me to direct the conversation according to my interests and explore topics such as culture and history specific to Sephardic Jews. Additionally, I could see firsthand how the Ladino language retains the original Spanish while also evolving to incorporate other languages.”
– Lopez
AI Put To Work
Pitfall
“Concerns revolve around plagiarism and cheating, and widespread fears of students’ critical thinking and writing skills diminishing due to overreliance on AI. This raises important questions about the future of education, the role of instructors, and the job market for Humanities majors. If we ignore the disruptive nature of AI in education, AI will only become an impressive and ever more undetectable tool for cheating.”
– Lopez
Story by Janet Imrick, University Communications Photography by Sean Norona, Lynn Hey, and Dana Broadus, University Communications Additional photography courtesy of Adobe Stock
Browse UNCG’s catalogue of Degrees and find what fits your dreams
Get the full Spartan experience by participating in Blue and Gold Fridays and catching a soccer or volleyball game this fall.
Five Ways to Settle into Life at the G
Posted on August 20, 2024
Welcome to the G! Whether you’re new to UNC Greensboro or just returning from summer break, here are a few simple reminders that will get you settled for a great year ahead.
1. Introduce Yourself
The best way to make this campus feel like home is being open to connections you can make all around you. Say hello and share a smile. Introduce yourself to professors, classmates, hallmates and people you pass as you walk through campus. You never know how a simple connection might open the door for unexpected opportunities.
Taking the extra step with your teachers will come in handy when you need extra help before midterms, and it could even lead to a position on a research team. Broadening your social circle will make campus living more fulfilling and fun. Keep in mind that every new school year is an opportunity to start fresh. If you see someone you think you recognize from last year, reintroduce yourself. Chances are, they are trying to place your face as well!
2. Establish a Routine
The life of a college student can sometimes feel insanely busy but too much free time can be boring. Establishing a balanced routine keeps students at their most productive and healthy.
Outside of class, make time for meals, exercise, workouts at the Kaplan Center, study sessions, work, and downtime for socializing or clubs. Don’t miss the Fall Kickoff (August 20, 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on College Avenue) for a great overview of campus clubs that cover all kinds of interests from specialized hobbies and sports to service and cultural groups. Continue the fun and connections with lots of activities during UNCG’s awesome Rawkin’ Welcome Weeks through September 6.
For new students, getting to know the campus and transportation options like Spartan Chariot is key. The UNCG Mobile app is a great resource for this. Updated interactive maps can help you route your way around construction detours on campus. Plan accordingly, and you’ll never be late for class.
Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2023: Look both ways, itÕs one of the busiest pedestrian crossing on campus, Spring Garden Street and College Ave. (Lynn Hey photo)Interior of Kaplan Wellness Center made in 2016Photo by Jenn Smith.
3. Make Use of Resources
College years provide a supportive transition to adulthood especially when students take advantage of the resources all around them. Tutoring, financial planning, mental health counseling, resume building, and more are free to students at UNCG.
The initiative, Spartans Thrive, helps ensure student success by connecting them to wellness resources. Get an overview of what’s available to you on August 28 from noon to 2:00 p.m. at the interactive Be Well Stay Well event in the EUC Cone Ballroom. Free food and giveaways will be provided.
In addition, stay tuned to UNCG News on Thursdays for more information about campus resources designed for student success. The first story launched last week with advice from resident advisors about how to make the most of college life at the G. Upcoming stories will cover counseling services, Career & Professional Development’s job searching support, and academic help from the Writing Center and Speaking Center.
4. Embrace Greensboro
One of the perks of attending UNCG is living in such a vibrant community. We are perfectly positioned in the center of the state so a quick getaway to the mountains, the beach, and metropolitan areas like Charlotte and Raleigh is totally doable. But even without leaving the city limits, you can enjoy great restaurants and diversions – including many owned by alumni, a downtown that feels like a city and a neighborhood all at once, and sports and concert opportunities at the Greensboro Coliseum.
Every fall Greensboro hosts the North Carolina Folk Festival. Mark your calendar for September 6-8, when downtown Greensboro will be transformed with musical stages, art booths, and food trucks. It’s the perfect time to acquaint yourself with your new hometown.
5. Give Back
UNCG’s one-word motto, “service” began with its first graduating class in 1893. The calling to give back to the community surrounding our campus defines us as Spartans. Jumping into acts of community service is a sure-fire way to feel connected to Greensboro.
The beginning of each semester includes a day of service. MLK weekend has one and Saturday, August 24 is the next Spartan Service Day. UNCG’s Office of Leadership and Civic Engagement (OLCE) organizes these days of service for students to volunteer together at various nonprofit organizations around the county. Transportation is provided and the work is always fun and fulfilling.
OLCE also hosts a Volunteer Service-Learning Fair on September 5, 1:00-4:00 p.m. in the EUC Cone Ballroom. There you can learn about local organizations that need volunteers and ways you can earn service hours for the Spartan Leadership Challenge.
Happy first day of class, Spartans. Settle in and make this year your best one yet!
Story by Becky Deakins, University Communications. Photos by Sean Norona, University Communications.
Get the full Spartan experience by participating in Blue and Gold Fridays and catching a soccer or volleyball game this fall.
UNCG Soccer at the Top of Their Game
Posted on August 19, 2024
The United Soccer Coaches Team Academic Award honors collegiate and high school men’s and women’s soccer teams that displayed excellence in the classroom during the school year by maintaining at least a 3.00 cumulative team GPA on a 4.0 scale. UNCG’s student-athletes have a long history of representing the University by making its rankings.
The 2023-24 women’s soccer team was awarded its 20th United Soccer Coaches Team Academic Award, with a 3.69 GPA for the academic year. They joined Western Carolina University as the only two Southern Conference women’s soccer teams to make the list this year.
The 2023-24 men’s soccer team was awarded its 10th United Soccer Coaches Team Academic Award with a 3.34 GPA for the 2023-24 academic year, marking the fifth straight year that the Spartans have received the honor.
