March 6
March 6, 2023
Degree Name Changes
The Office of Academic Affairs would like to announce the following degree name changes effective Summer 2023. Please note these changes in your records and make the applicable changes where necessary.
CURRENT NAME: Health Services Research (Ph.D.)
NEW NAME: Epidemiology (Ph.D.)
This change was endorsed by the Faculty Council on December 1, 2022, and approved by the UNC System Office on February 9, 2023.
CURRENT NAME: Liberal Studies (M.A.)
NEW NAME: Interdisciplinary Studies (M.A.)
This change was endorsed by the Faculty Council on January 12, 2023, and approved by the UNC System Office on January 30, 2023.
Webinar Series for Charlotte Employees
The Webinar Series for Charlotte Employees is a free interactive series providing Charlotte employees with the tools needed to tackle some of today’s toughest challenges by addressing three key areas: morale/burnout, productivity/effectiveness and poor management. Each webinar is interactive and hands-on with open discussion and activities, and will run 12:00-1:00 p.m. All sessions will be recorded and available to registered participants and bonus content will be emailed after each webinar to help participants continue their professional development journeys.
- Morale/Burnout Track: March 15, April 5, June 14, August 23 (Register)
- Productivity/Efficiency Track: April 19, May 17, July 19, August 16 (Register).
- For Managers: March 22, April 26, May 24, June 21, July 26 (Register)
Save the Date for National Volunteer Week, April 16-22
Students, faculty, staff, and alumni are invited to participate in off-campus volunteer opportunities with community partners for National Volunteer Week, April 16-22. More information.
Paper Chase Program: Student Applications Due March 9
The third annual Paper Chase event will be hosted by the Office of Undergraduate Research from May 17-19. This professional development exercise is an opportunity for undergraduate and graduate students to engage in academic research writing in a collaborative group approach called Paper Chase. Teams of six students will work with a faculty member to develop a publishable manuscript in three working days, guided by a facilitator. As active participants in the writing process, students will receive authorship credit and a stipend for completing the training modules and paper chase writing exercise. This is an excellent short-term opportunity to get involved in academic research. Students who are interested in developing their understanding of academic research and publishing are encouraged to apply by Thursday, March 9. Contact Alicia Dahl or Jessamyn Bowling for more information.
Nexus: Networking Across Disciplines 2023
Nexus: Networking Across Disciplines fosters the emergence of interdisciplinary research teams by providing faculty with structured opportunities to learn about one another’s research and brainstorm areas of mutual interest. Through a series of workshops several months apart, Nexus supports the initial stages of project development as faculty formulate shared research questions, consider analytical strategies, and identify potential funding sources.
Nexus 2023 will target faculty in two research areas of focus and distinction: 1) Socioeconomic Mobility; and 2) Urban Health. Workshops will be held on May 17-18 and August 17, 2023, with working groups expected to brainstorm ideas over the summer. Applications are due by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, March 31 (see this page for information and application). Each faculty member in Nexus will receive a $1,000 stipend for participating fully in the workshops. For more information, please join us on Monday, March 13, from 4:30-6:00 p.m. in the Lambla Gallery of the Storrs Building (RSVP). We will celebrate successes of interdisciplinary working groups that formed through Nexus 2022 and discuss target research areas for Nexus 2023. Nexus is organized by the Office of Interdisciplinary Studies and the Division of Research with support from the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, the Cato College of Education, and the College of Health and Human Services. Questions can be directed to Professor Beth Whitaker, Executive Director of the Office of Interdisciplinary Studies.
Phi Kappa Phi Spring Faculty & Staff Social
The Office of Academic Affairs and the UNC Charlotte Chapter of the National Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi invite you to attend a faculty and staff reception on Thursday, March 16, 4:00–6:00 p.m. in the Halton Reading Room, J. Murrey Atkins Library. This is a great opportunity to get to know one another and welcome new faculty and staff. Complimentary food and beverages will be provided.
Talking Policy in the Queen City
In the 5th Annual Talking Policy in the Queen City, presented by UNC Charlotte’s Public Policy Ph.D. Program, Michael Bitzer, Ph.D., Leonard Chair of Political Science and Professor of Politics and History at Catawba College, will give a brief overview of the forty-year redistricting battles in North Carolina. His discussion will focus on what we learned from the results of the 2022 midterm elections and what might be in store for 2023. The Ph.D. program, which has operated for over 20 years, also presents a research poster presentation session to highlight the work of its doctoral students. Learn More.
- Thursday, March 16, 7:00 PM, The Dubois Center at UNC Charlotte Center City (Register)
Breaking the Social Media Prism: How to Make Our Platforms Less Polarizing
Chris Bail, Ph.D., Professor of Sociology at Duke University, will present “Breaking the Social Media Prism: How to Make Our Platforms Less Polarizing,” based on his book by the same name (Princeton University Press). Bail will discuss how platforms like Facebook and Twitter are among the most important tools we have to understand each other, in an era of increasing social isolation. He argues that social media functions more like a prism to our society than a mirror—distorting identities, empowering status-seeking extremists and rendering moderates all but invisible. Breaking the Social Media Prism challenges common myths about echo chambers, foreign misinformation campaigns and radicalizing algorithms, revealing that the solution to political tribalism lies deep inside ourselves.
Center for Teaching and Learning: Workshops and Showcase
Using Cognitive Empathy in the Classroom
Adversity outside the classroom has always seeped into the classroom via multiple pathways. However, in today’s environment, it is impossible to ignore how life challenges instructors’ ability to educate and students’ ability to learn. In this workshop, Dr. Jeanette Bennett leads a 60 min virtual workshop on what is and how to incorporate use of cognitive empathy to strengthen the learning environment of the classroom, whether traditional, 100% online, or somewhere in between. The workshop includes multi-methods: short lectures, group discussions, and other activities. Please join us for an active session where everyone will (hopefully) learn something new.
- Tuesday, March 7, 10:00 – 11:30 AM (Hybrid – NOTE: This workshop will be held in Fretwell 126 Hybrid Classroom and over Zoom synchronously. See your enrollment confirmation for details on choosing how to attend) (Register)
Enhancing Cultural Awareness
This course is facilitated by the Office of International Programs. The training will present an overview of the common definition and assessment of culture at UNC Charlotte and explore cultural dimensions based on theory and research. Participants will receive resources for sample assignments and a mapping exercise to enhance student cultural awareness.This is an online, asynchronous training session over three days. There is no set meeting time. This workshop counts towards the Essentials of Teaching and Learning Certificate.
- Wednesday-Friday, March 8-10, Asynchronous, Facilitated (Register)
Instructional Video Part 3: Creating In-Video Quizzes Using Kaltura
This is the third course in a three course series on Instructional Video use in Canvas. This workshop covers how to use Kaltura’s in-video quizzing tool (IVQ) to embed quizzes in your videos and create video quiz assignments that self-grade and pass-back to the Canvas gradebook. This workshop will also cover how to utilize video analytics to see if and how much of your videos students are watching.
- Tuesday, March 7, 1:00 – 2:00 PM (Register)
Supporting Student Study Skills in the Age of A.I.
Join this session to learn how to better support students’ study skills in the age of A.I.. We will demonstrate how to prompt A.I. tools (like ChatGPT) to develop self-study guides, practice assessments, and serve as a personal learning assistant for students. By the end of the hour, you will have an action plan for how to communicate these strategies to students in your course(s).
Supporting Student Writing Projects in the Age of A.I.
Join this session to learn how to integrate AI tools effectively in writing projects throughout the semester. We will demonstrate how to chunk and scaffold project tasks for peer review and instructor support, as well as how to prompt A.I. tools (like ChatGPT) to enhance the writing process at each stage. By the end of the hour, you will have a planning tool and strategies for integrating AI into writing projects.
Annual Faculty Showcase
Please join us for this year’s Faculty Professional Development Showcase and learn how fellow faculty made improvements in their teaching as a result of their participation in professional development activities around campus. The purpose of this event is to raise awareness and celebrate faculty best practices at UNC Charlotte. The Showcase is hosted by the Office for Assessment and Accreditation, Center for Teaching and Learning, Atkins Library, and Communication Across the Curriculum. Please complete this online registration form by Friday, March 24 to let us know you’ll be attending.
- Thursday, April 6, 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM, Halton Reading Room (Register by March 24)
A light lunch will be served.
J. Murrey Atkins Library: Upcoming Events
2023 Race and Social Equity Spring Forum
A Call to Action: Cultivating Antiracist Practices in the Helping Professions. The UNC Charlotte Race and Social Equity Academy (RASE) 2023 Spring Forum will focus on advancing inclusive practices, including anti-racism and equity practices for helping professionals. The forum will feature two dynamic speakers, Isis Bey and Joshua McNeill, sharing best practices for inclusive practice from an intersectional lens. The event is free, but registration is required.
- Wednesday, March 29, 12:00 – 1:30 PM, via Zoom
The Julian D. Mason Talks on Book Collecting
The Princess Augusta Sophia Collection of Drama And Other Rare Treasures From Atkins Library. The family of Queen Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz and King George III were avid fans of the theater, sometimes even inviting famous actors to their homes for play-readings. At the center of their enthusiasm for the theater is an extensive collection of English drama collected by Princess Augusta Sophia, George and Charlotte’s second-oldest daughter. Join guest speakers Andrew Keener and Robin Brabham to learn about the royal family’s bibliophilia and this collection’s fascinating journey on its way to a home at UNC Charlotte in 1971. We will also glimpse highlights from the next 50 years of acquisitions and learn the rich histories of many of the rare and distinctive books that have fascinated students and scholars alike for generations. More information.
- Wednesday, April 19, 4:00 PM, Halton Reading Room
Faculty News Council
Please visit the Faculty Governance website for the latest news from the Faculty Council including:
Dissertation Defense
The dissertation defense is one of the ways a new scholar demonstrates readiness to join the academy and is an opportunity to share their research widely. View All Dissertation Defense Announcements.
Latest AA News
For up-to-the-minute news from Academic Affairs (faculty awards, research, recognition, initiatives), visit the Academic Affairs Division News webpage.
To have items included in the digest, complete the NEWS DIGEST REQUEST FORM.
Deadline for submission is 11:00 a.m. every Friday.