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.
Chapel Hill resident Lynn Blakey has toured with R.E.M. and recorded six albums, but she always knew she'd return to Greensboro and ...
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.
Chapel Hill resident Lynn Blakey has toured with R.E.M. and recorded six albums, but she always knew she'd return to Greensboro and ...
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.
Chapel Hill resident Lynn Blakey has toured with R.E.M. and recorded six albums, but she always knew she'd return to Greensboro and ...
Faculty Senate’s New Leadership
Posted on August 19, 2024
The Faculty Convocation will be held on August 21, welcoming the high-achieving educators as they prepare to steer new and returning classes of students toward success.
The UNCG Faculty Senate is excited to introduce its new officers for the 2024-25 academic year:
Faculty Senate ChaiR
Charles Bolton, Professor of History, came to UNCG in 2005. He served as Department Head in History for 10 years and as Associate Dean in the College of Arts and Sciences for 5 ½ years. He is a scholar of the U.S. South, and his most recent publication is Home Front Battles: World War II Mobilization and Race in the Deep South (Oxford University Press, 2024). Bolton is also the recipient of major grants from the Mississippi Humanities Council, NASA, and the U.S. Department of Education.
Faculty Senate Parliamentarian
Gary Rosenkrantz is a Professor of Philosophy who joined UNCG in 1976. He served as Head of the Department of Philosophy from 2000-2020. Rosenkrantz also served as Parliamentarian of the Faculty Senate in 2004 and as Chair of the Faculty Senate in 2005. In 2011 he received the Gladys Strawn Bullard Award for distinguished university service. His scholarly research is primarily in the areas of metaphysics and philosophy of religion; published books include Haecceity: An Ontological Essay, Substance Among Other Categories, Substance: Its Nature and Existence, The Divine Attributes, Historical Dictionary of Metaphysics, and A Companion to Metaphysics, 2nd Edition.
Faculty Senate Secretary
Stacey Krim is Assistant Professor and Curator of Manuscripts and Cello Music in the Martha Blakeney Hodges Special Collections & University Archives at UNC Greensboro. She holds curatorship over archival collections devoted to local and regional history, visual and performing arts, creative writing, and women’s history. Her responsibilities include overseeing archival processing of these collections, research support, donor relations, collection development, instruction and community outreach, and marketing. Stacey’s research interests include community collaboration and engagement in preserving the historic record.
Chapel Hill resident Lynn Blakey has toured with R.E.M. and recorded six albums, but she always knew she'd return to Greensboro and ...
UNCG Softball Players Look Back on a Week in Italy
Posted on August 19, 2024
Enjoy a series of blogs from a trio of UNC Greensboro softball student-athletes that traveled to Italy with Beyond Sports Tours in mid-July. Recent graduate Brooklynn Maxwell, rising senior Grace Loftin, and rising junior Rhyann Jones traveled to Italy for nine days. Beyond Sports Tours was established in 2010 and creates mutually beneficial opportunities for U.S. student-athletes, international athletes, and international youth to enjoy a life-changing cross-cultural experience through sport.
Chapel Hill resident Lynn Blakey has toured with R.E.M. and recorded six albums, but she always knew she'd return to Greensboro and ...
Musician’s Mid-Career Change Brings Her Back to UNCG
Posted on August 21, 2024
Chapel Hill resident Lynn Blakey has toured with R.E.M. and recorded six albums, but she always knew she’d return to Greensboro and finish her bachelor’s degree. That plan came to fruition this August, as Blakey enrolls in the online Peace and Conflict Studies program.
Chapel Hill resident Lynn Blakey has toured with R.E.M. and recorded six albums, but she always knew she'd return to Greensboro and ...
UNCG Presents School of Theatre’s Fall 2024 Productions
Posted on August 16, 2024
Tickets and season passes are now on sale for a packed season of entertainment, including a spin on “Mean Girls,” an adaptation of a Stephen King classic, Shakespeare, and an anthology inspired by campus life.
Chapel Hill resident Lynn Blakey has toured with R.E.M. and recorded six albums, but she always knew she'd return to Greensboro and ...
Camp Gives High Schoolers a STEP-Up in Sustainable Research
Posted on August 14, 2024
A little competition fires up high school students, especially when it lets them build something that helps the environment.
With help from 3D printers and graduate students at UNC Greensboro and North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, one such competition capped off a week of problem-based learning, centered around an element found in everything from DNA to matches to fertilizer.
The 17 students took part in ExPlorers, a summer camp run by the Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering (JSNN). ExPlorers takes scientific and engineering concepts that demand long hours of lab work and study for PhD students and faculty and makes them relatable to high school students, helping them see how science connects everything they interact with day-to-day.
“Every time I come to the camp, I get to learn a little more about different aspects of STEM,” says Mackenzie “Mac” Alexander, a Grimsley High School student back for her third year with ExPlorers. “It has biochemical, mechanical, industrial, and civil engineering.”
The camp challenges the participants to get creative with their newfound knowledge, then bring it back home. “The students are now able to say A, B, or C about phosphorus sustainability to someone on the street,” says Raphael Ayivi, a UNCG student working on his PhD in nanoscience “That’s what we are trying to do: help them get that message out and develop their interest in science.”
Everyday Experience Brought Down to Scale
ExPlorers is part of STEPS, or “Science and Technologies for Phosphorus Sustainability.” Funded by the National Science Foundation, this collaboration between ten universities and research institutions aims to decrease the world’s dependability on mined phosphorus.
North Carolina, with Florida, accounts for 75 percent of the United States’ phosphorus output. The world currently has stored enough phosphorus to last 50 years. While phosphorus is critical in many industries, particularly food production, its byproducts often end up in waterways due to runoff and contribute to dangerous algae blooms that devastate ecosystems.
Most mined phosphorus is used in agriculture, so the students also took a field trip to NC A&T’s farm. Poultry Research Specialist Mark Paylor led the tour. He brought first-hand experience of the challenges farmers deal with to raise healthy livestock and grow crops that eventually end up on the students’ dinner tables.
“Taking them to the farm to see where a majority of phosphorus is used and how it is introduced into a lot of those systems is impactful,” says Dr. Zelena Johnson ’24, a camp organizer who earned her PhD in nanoscience from UNCG. “They may wonder, ‘Why should we care? I don’t use phosphorus.’ But they do. The food they eat is grown with phosphorus. The protein they get is from animals that have consumed plants grown by phosphorus.”
“I get upset about how much waste is produced every day,” says Eliza “EC” Resuello from the Middle College at Forsyth Tech. “Hopefully, we can help study how to limit how much goes into the environment, and then see how we can slowly start to recover over the years.”
JSNN – a School that knows all about working with materials too small to see with the naked eye – put together interactive lab stations so that students could relate nanoscience and nanoengineering to their various interests and hobbies back home. Poshika Prabu, a rising tenth grader from Triangle Math and Science Academy, says one of her favorite activities was making poppings that go into boba tea. This taught her an engineering method called polymer cross-linking.
“My parents are always saying, ‘Why do you like boba?’ It’s because you can pop it in your mouth,” says Prabu. “I got to see how the membrane was enclosed and how the liquid was put inside.”
The lab activities were a plus for Elijah Dorsey from Weaver Academy. “I was expecting boring lectures for most of the week and then something fun at the end at the farm. But it’s all been interesting. We can talk freely with other classmates, working together, collaborating, and learning.”
“Sometimes in science, we have a hard time communicating these issues to lay people,” says Johnson. “The easiest people to communicate with are these students. They’re still learning about life and what’s out there. If we catch them early, they’re able to communicate with their peers and their families.”
Science Made Tangible with Sensors
All the experiences that week culminated in an interactive project with real-world implications. The students were assigned to small groups led by a graduate student to develop a sensor for improving phosphorus sustainability. They had to treat it as a potential resource for the future, considering how it impacts people, the environment, and how much it might cost.
“If you’re going into a business in anything, even scientific research, it’s all about the dollar bill,” says Johnson. “We have to pay for the research, the researchers, and the material. They also have to ask, is it sustainable? Will their product last generations? If their idea would negatively impact the environment, then it’s not an idea they want to follow.”
Resuello put her artistic skills to use in her group, designing a freshwater-friendly device that could be filled with sensors and filters. “I wasn’t expecting that I would be doing 3D modeling here,” says Resuello. “I have never done that before. And I’m happy that my model turned out not too bad. That’s one of the skills that I acquired.”
Each group created a 3D-printed prototype, and on the last day, they presented it in a “Shark Tank”-style pitch. Their families were invited to attend their presentations, further giving the students a sense of ownership for what they had learned.
Students present their sensor prototypes to their peers and families on the last day of ExPlorers.
Grads Build a Pathway for Knowledge
The camp’s message was made more effective by the leadership of graduate students from UNCG and NC A&T. This was an intentional choice by JSNN.
Ayivi has worked with ExPlorers since 2022. The camp meshes with his own research developing a molecularly impressive sensor for detecting phosphorus pesticides.
“It brings joy to me because I’m passionate about knowledge transfer,” says Ayivi. “Some young people don’t have people to make science fascinating to them. But if they can encounter it and interact with people, that makes science very friendly, very fun, and very informative.”
The graduate students also demonstrated to the camp participants how scientific discoveries are passed along: from student to student, from student to parents, then from parents to the community.
“Working with the grad students, there’s a connection there,” says Dorsey. “They’re younger. They’re in the field, so they know what’s currently happening. They know how to connect with professors.”
The students left the camp with much more than a 3D-printed prototype. They took home a new appreciation for how they enact change, as well as renewed confidence in exploring future careers in science.
Prabu made an hour-long drive from Apex to attend ExPlorers each day, and she says it was worth it. “I learned at this camp that phosphorus is really important, and I want to convey that to my parents and loved ones,” she says. “I can tell my parents to look at what they’re eating. That food has phosphorus in it. Your DNA has a phosphate backbone.”
“If you’re undecided about what you want to do for college, this camp is a good place to come,” says Alexander. “It doesn’t just focus on one aspect of STEM. It’s not just science. It’s not just chemistry. It’s not just technology. It focuses on everything.”
Story by Janet Imrick, University Communications Photography by Sean Norona, University Communications Video by Sean Norona and David Lee Row, University Communications Video editing by David Lee Row, University Communications
Chapel Hill resident Lynn Blakey has toured with R.E.M. and recorded six albums, but she always knew she'd return to Greensboro and ...
What’s New on the Menu with Spartan Dining
Posted on August 16, 2024
Spartan Dining is excited to announce three new food locations. Students, faculty, staff, and visitors may enjoy more choices when it comes to lunch or a snack when you’re on the go:
Buffalo Wild Wings GO: Your new go-to for wings on-the-go. Featuring all your favorite wings, sandwiches and more
CRAVE: Will feature three menu concepts City MAC, P&C BBQ, and BonMI
Student Choice Kitchen: Your Voice, Your Menu. Student Choice Kitchen Where You Decide What’s Served!
There are two additional events to mark on your calendar in the coming weeks to check out what’s for dinner, including an opportunity to engage with community growers, producers, and cooks.
Tabling opportunity at Spartan Dining Farmers Market
Spartan Dining will host our Fall Farmers Market. This event is a wonderful opportunity for our campus community to come together, celebrate the season, and support local vendors, artisans, and our campus community.
Tuesday, August 27 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Moran Commons
Spartan Dining is extending an invitation to all campus departments to set up a table at the market. This is an excellent chance to showcase your department, connect with students, faculty, and staff, and engage with the campus community in a lively, informal setting. Whether you have resources to share, activities to offer, or simply want to be a part of this festive occasion, we would love to have you join us.
If your department is interested in setting up a table, please email Des St. Cyr at des.cyr@compass-usa.com.
We look forward to your participation in making this event a success and celebrating the bounty of the season with our Spartan community.
EUC Food Court Grand Opening
Additionally, Spartan Dining is holding the grand opening for the EUC Food Court. It comes with balloons, giveaways, music, a 360 booth, free gift cards for BWWGO and more.
September 3 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. EUC Food Court
Mobile ordering on campus is through Transact Mobile. Place an order ahead of time and skip the line when picking up. Flex and Spartan Meals can be used on the app.
Chapel Hill resident Lynn Blakey has toured with R.E.M. and recorded six albums, but she always knew she'd return to Greensboro and ...
Faculty and Staff Award Nominations Open With the New Academic Year
Posted on August 13, 2024
UNCG recognizes stellar faculty and staff throughout the year. Two awards are currently accepting nominations, one for faculty and one for staff.
J.E. Holshouser Award
From Interim Provost Alan Boyette:
The James E. Holshouser Award for Public Service, formerly known as the Public Service Award, was created in 2007 to encourage, identify, recognize, and reward public service by faculty of the University of North Carolina system. Each year, UNCG puts forth a campus nominee to the Board of Governors for consideration. The selection criteria include sustained, distinguished, and superb achievement in university public service and outreach and contributions to improving the quality of life for citizens of North Carolina. The creativity and impact of such achievements should be beyond the normal accomplishments of productive faculty.
The J.E. Holshouser award committee is currently seeking nominations for this distinguished award. In honor of their achievement, the UNCG nominee will be recognized at the Spring 2025 Faculty Awards ceremony. The deadline to submit a nomination is Friday, September 13. To learn more about the award and submit a nomination, please visit the J.E. Holshouser Award Page.
All-Southern Conference Staff Award
The Staff Senate is pleased to announce the call for nominations for the All-Southern Conference Staff Award. This award recognizes a SHRA or EHRA staff member who has had a meaningful and positive impact on the University community. As a complement to the University Staff Excellence Award, the All-Southern Conference Staff Award provides another opportunity to recognize outstanding contributions made by a UNCG staff member.
Award Criteria:
Consistent Record of Service: The nominee should have a history of service to UNCG that yields tangible and documented benefits to the university community.
Leadership and Empowerment: The nominee should demonstrate the ability to bring out the best in others and create conditions for success.
Impact on Student Life and the Local Community: The nominee’s leadership and service should have a tangible and beneficial impact on student life and the local community.
The deadline to submit nominations is August 31, 2024, and self-nominations are welcomed. While awardees need not excel in all criteria, excellence in at least one area and meaningful contributions in all areas are required.
Staff Senate encourages employees to take this opportunity to recognize the outstanding contributions of their colleagues. Their participation helps to honor those who go above and beyond in their dedication to students and the University.
