Volume 13, Issue 1
Fall 2011
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An Interview with Chancellor Miller
Move-In Day Activities
Is YOUR student living OFF-Campus
Jump In at UNCW
The Amazing ACE!
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Supporting Students Transition to College
Tips to a Healthy Transition
The University Learning Center
Diversity and Inclusion
Hurricane Watches and Warnings
Register Now for Family & Alumni Weekend
An Interview with Chancellor Miller
By: William C. Hawks ’10, ’11M
Bill Hawks, a UNCW graduate now pursuing a master’s degree at the University, recently interviewed
UNCW’s new chancellor, Dr. Gary L. Miller. An excerpt of their conversation follows:
WCH – What in your career, whether purely academic or simply life experience, made you the best
person to be UNCW’s chancellor?
GLM – There are many professional, personal experiences that prepared me for this position, but the
thing I really come back to more often than anything else is the way in which my own undergraduate
experience at William and Mary changed my life. I was exposed, really for the first time in my life, to
the whole range of ideas: political ideas, religious thoughts, cultural nuances, different kinds of people,
intellectuals who were passionate about their particular fields. I realized that here is where I could find
out what I was all about and what I could do, what I could contribute, who I should be friends with,
who I should learn from, and it was quite frankly the most transformational experience in my life. What
is important to me is building environments where students can experience that same kind of
transformation as they go through their higher education experience at UNCW.
WCH – What do you believe makes UNCW a “unique” institution?
GLM – This is an institution that is clearly and unmistakably committed to what I express as this
“magic” among high quality faculty and staff and students. UNCW is a relatively large institution with
a national research profile that is able to fully embrace the importance of the student faculty/staff
interaction, which is a really unique characteristic for a public institution. It’s very, very exciting. In fact,
when you start thinking about peers for UNCW, you have to find universities that are like this, and for
a university that size, there aren’t many.
WCH –What is your vision for UNCW?
GLM – You know a vision is something we have to develop together. One of the things I wrote in my
cover letter with my materials when I accepted the nomination for this position was that I expressed a
vision that UNCW would be a university that is fully engaged as a community partner, organized with
a global focus, recognized for superb student centered undergraduate education and research, and
committed to diversity. I think this turned out to be pretty expressive of the core values of this
institution. We will re-commit to the core values of UNCW, and then together we will develop a vision.
It is important to understand what a vision is. It is not a slogan or a brand; it is a narrative. It’s a
narrative about what the future of the institution looks like, about the core values of that institution,
and a narrative that envisions some steps to get to that future.
WCH – Our last chancellor focused much of her effort on creating “the most powerful student learning
experience” and that took us from serving regional needs as a university to being a university of choice
nationally. Clearly, her priority has been spending time with students. Prior to DePaolo, Chancellor
Leutze was (and still is) very involved in the greater Wilmington community. As the new chancellor,
what will be your focus? What kind of influence should the UNCW chancellor have on southeastern
Brought to you by the Office of Transition Programs
In this issue:
North Carolina?
GLM – Well I think both Chancellor DePaolo and Chancellor Leutze understood that great universities
are great inside their regions and states, not isolated from them. I think what they brought to each of
their chancellorships were their own strengths, and I will do the same. I am very interested in students. I
want to get to know them in their lives, and I want them to have opportunities to see what my wife
Georgia and I do in our lives. But I am also very interested in faculty and staff. I had a very formative
faculty experience. I believe faculty and staff are really the creating force that has made American
higher education what it is. Georgia and I are very committed to the community. The University of
North Carolina Wilmington, the city of Wilmington and the southeastern part of North Carolina are
going into the future together! I will choose to work closely with all of those areas as we move forward. I
couldn’t tell you what I would be like, but it will emerge, and it will probably be something different
than the other two, but I hope will be just as effective because they were both very effective
chancellors.
WCH – How do you stay abreast of student needs and concerns?
GLM – I talk to them. There are a lot of ways, but the way that is the most fun is to interact with them
and just get it from them. There is a huge national discussion about student needs and a large amount
of literature on the subject, so a lot of people make it their career to understand what students need
and what they want and what their feelings about life are. Of course I read all that literature, but,
having read that, the best thing to do is to spend time with students and get to know them and
understand what they think about. That interaction gives me great joy and it is one of the things I am
really looking forward to.
WCH – In your acceptance speech you talked about UNCW having “soul.” In what ways does UNCW
have “soul?”
GLM – I think that some institutions have a spirit, a deep philosophical sense of themselves that you
can sense very quickly. A lot of institutions don’t have it. It was clear to both Georgia and me when we
got here the first night, talking to administrators and faculty, that this is an institution that has a deep
feeling, a deep spirit about itself, that comes out in the way people talk with each other, the way they
treat each other, the way they talk about the institution, the way they talk about Wilmington. That is
really important to me. One of the reasons I love this opportunity is because spirit means energy, it
means creativity, it means commitment, and this institution has it. You can feel it when you are on
campus.
WCH – When you finally step down as chancellor of UNCW someday, what do you hope or expect to
have accomplished here at UNCW? What do you want your legacy to be?
GLM – I hope this university will be an unquestionable leader in American higher education –
undergraduate and graduate education. I hope that we can leverage and understand it as a coastal
institution, for all that metaphor implies. What I really want people to think about when I retire is that
he had some of the best people in the world that came and worked there with him and some of the
best students and together, they created a very special place.
Move-In Day Activities
By: Adrienne Strain, Office of Housing and Residence Life
Saturday, August 20th, 8am-1pm
Move-In
Residence Halls
Saturday, August 20th, 1-4pm
Move-In Day Resource Fair
Warwick Center
We know there will be a few last-minutes issues to address on this very busy day, so we will gather staff
from many of the offices who can help you resolve them. You can find staff from Student Accounts,
Financial Aid, Auxiliary Services and many others in the Warwick Center. A detailed list of participating
offices will be available the morning of Move-In. You will also find the Hawk's Nest open for lunch,
along with the post office and bookstore.
Saturday, August 20th, 6-7pm
Mandatory Residence Hall Floor Meeting
In residence hall
Is YOUR student living OFF-CAMPUS?
By: Amy Hector, Assistant Dean of Students
As we begin the 2011-2012 school year, it is important to remember the various resources and programs
available for our off-campus students. Don’t forget that The Seahawk Perch is located in the Fisher
Student Center. The Seahawk Perch is a resource center for off-campus students. Students who have
any kind of question can come by and see us at the counter. Need a shuttle map, pamphlet on the
University Learning Center or other materials? Pick them up at the Seahawk Perch Resource Center.
If your student needs to talk to a staff member, remind them that Assistant Dean Amy Hector is
located at the Seahawk Perch.
New Students should join us on Saturday, August 20th at 7pm in the Warwick Center for our Ice Cream
Social. They can have a chance to meet other new off campus students and some of our
upperclassmen. The group will then walk over to watch the hypnotist who will kick off our
UNCWelcome Program.
All off-campus students are invited to our Off-Campus Student Services Fair on Wednesday, August
24th from 11am-2pm in the Warwick Center. Many departments will be available to answer questions
and share information about their services.
We believe that the #1 way for your student to be successful at UNCW is to be connected to the
campus. Encourage your student to get involved and utilize the many resources available to them!
Jump In at UNCW
By Jon Kapell, Director of Campus Activities
There are several reasons why your student may have chosen to come to UNCW. Some may have
chosen to come here for our close proximity to the beach and others because UNCW is a close drive to
home. Many of our students tell us they wanted a school that would provide them with opportunities
to get involved outside the classroom to experience events that would contribute to and complement
their in-class learning. This is where the Campus Activities & Involvement Center (CAIC) can help. On
the evening of your student’s first day of orientation, we had a brief chance to explain our office to
them so we wanted to introduce ourselves to you as well at this time.
CAIC is the students’ gateway to entertainment, involvement, and leadership on campus. As part of the
Division of Student Affairs, we are creating experiences for life by providing opportunities for students
to participate actively, grow personally, and explore new ideas and interests through a variety of
entertainment and involvement experiences. Our staff, and the students with whom we work, are
committed to creating a vibrant campus community filled with diverse activities for all students.
The Involvement Center is located on the second floor of the Fisher Student Center. This is a place
where students learn how they can get involved at UNCW. We are open into the later evening and we
house the offices for Student Government Association (SGA), Association for Campus Entertainment
(ACE), Fraternity and Sorority Life, as well as the full-time CAIC staff. Our center also has many
resources for students to help them get engaged and to find their place at UNCW.
It is our hope that every student will, in one way or another, get involved with at least one student
organization during their college experience at UNCW or other involvement experience such as studyabroad, part-time employment, community service among others. One of the best ways for your
student to learn about involvement opportunities and how they can get engaged is to come to the
Involvement Carnival which is being held on Wednesday, August 31st from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. on the
Campus Commons. We will be showcasing nearly 300 different involvement opportunities, both on
campus and from the local Wilmington community.
We hope to see your student either through the Involvement Carnival or involved with a student
organization or other means of engagement. If you, or your student, has any questions, please feel free
to contact us at 910-962-3553, email us at activities@uncw.edu or visit our website at
www.uncw.edu/activities.
The Amazing ACE
By: Megan Mackie, President of Association for Campus Entertainment
The Association for Campus Entertainment, also known as ACE, is UNCW’s programming board, and is
dedicated to bringing a wide variety of entertainment to campus. Our goal is to provide programs that
complement, reflect and respond to the interests and needs of the University community. These
programs shall be designed to be an educational experience for those involved in planning and
presenting the programs, as well as those who participate.
As a part of the UNCWelcome Week, ACE will be hosting a wide variety of events and we are excited
for the events we have planned. On Tuesday, August 23rd, we will host an outdoor movie; Wednesday,
a concert followed by fireworks; and Saturday the 27th all students are invited to a comedy event
followed by a movie in Lumina Theater.
ACE is always searching for new members who are looking to get involved with our programs! This fall
we will be holding our third session of our Programmers in Training Program, called PIT Crew. This is a
five week program where new members to our organization are able to learn about all aspects of
planning an event from contracting artists to marketing the program. Last year we graduated 100
students from this program and are looking forward to many more excited members!
Besides training new members and planning Welcome Week events, ACE is also responsible for events
throughout the school year. From Midnite Madness to Homecoming, weekly movies in Lumina Theater,
Concerts on the Commons, or bringing famous speakers and comedians, ACE is constantly looking for
up-and-coming acts to bring to the students of UNCW.
We are so excited for the upcoming school year and all that it has in store. ACE has been working hard
to make sure that this year’s entertainment is the best yet, and we look forward to having your student
be a part of our events.
You can encourage your student to get involved with ACE by emailing ace@uncw.edu or calling
910.962.3842.
Embracing College Life: Supporting a Students Transition to College
By Jim Dolan, Ph.D. UNCW Counseling Center
The weeks between orientation and move-in are exciting and stressful for both students and parents.
Students spend time saying goodbye to friends and imagining the fun of college life, while parents
contend with tuition bills and moving arrangements. Both have their own ideas about what it’s going
to take to make a successful transition to college. For both it’s natural to experience a period of
adjustment after a student enters college. Here are some tips to help you and your student embrace
college life and have an easier transition.
For Students –
Be open to change. College is a time of growth, change, and the unexpected. Many students come to
college with certain expectations that may or may not be met. The more adaptable students and
parents are with expectations, the more likely each will be able to negotiate the challenges of change.
Stay put. Being away from home can be difficult for some students, but being away from campus
every weekend means you will never adjust to your new community or make new friends.
Get involved. An involved student is a successful student. Take advantage of the many opportunities
for involvement on campus – go to a concert, join a club, attend a residence hall program. Find a level
of involvement that works for you.
For Parents –
Talk about it. Don’t wait until moving day to discuss your thoughts and feelings about your student
leaving for college. You aren’t the only one who may be experiencing mixed feelings. Sharing your
thoughts and feelings now may improve the lines of communication later on.
Coach, don’t fix. Now is the time to go from manager to mentor. Students often confuse newfound
autonomy with lack of responsibility. Guiding and encouraging them to do things for themselves – and
letting them make mistakes – will help them learn from experience so they are better prepared to
meet future challenges.
Engage in your life. Your life is changing too. Give yourself, your partner, and other family members still
at home the time and space needed to adjust.
For some students, adjusting to college can be overwhelming. The staff of the UNCW Counseling Center
is ready to help students with any transition or adjustment concerns. You can visit our website,
www.uncw.edu/counseling, for more information or call 910-962-3746 if you have questions about our
services.
Tips to a Healthy and Successful Transition
By: Emily Gerstner, Health Promotion Peer Educator
Transitioning into college life can be a little bumpy, but UNCW has many resources and services to help
your Seahawk make the best out of their college experience. Whether your Seahawk is close to home
or far away, it’s important to keep them safe, healthy, and happy while attending UNCW. Remind
them of these tips to keep them successful throughout their college experience.
Campus Police: In an emergency, the University Police Department can be reached by dialing 911 or
(910) 962-2222. There are over 100 call boxes with bright blue lights scattered around
campus. Students may use these call boxes to reach the police quickly when in distress.
The Abrons Student Health Center: Colds happen, among countless other illnesses. Your student
may be far away from your loving care, but the Student Health Center is here to nurse your Seahawk
back to health. The SHC offers free walk-in care with no appointment necessary. They are open
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 8am-5pm and Thursday 9am-5pm on the second floor of
DePaolo Hall. Your student can be seen by one of our six medical providers, get immunizations, lab
tests, and prescriptions filled at the fully stocked pharmacy. After hours, sick students may call Vitaline
at 910-332-8021 to speak with a Registered Nurse for advice on what to do.
Health Promotion: We do it for the health of it! The Health Promotion Office, located in Suite 104 in
the Recreation Center, contains a plethora of health information. Your student can make a free
nutrition consultation with Courtney Simmons, the campus dietitian. Free sleep, stress, sexual health,
and general health consultations with Trisha Schleicher, the campus health educator. Have your
student stop by the office to pick up a free piece of fruit after their workout at the Rec Center!
CARE Office (Collaboration for Assault Response and Education): The CARE office is located
on the second floor of DePaolo Hall. They offer an extensive variety of violence prevention programs,
relationship education, trainings, and campaigns that promote awareness. On the CARE website,
www.uncw.edu/care, your Seahawk will find comprehensive lists of on and off campus resources.
Counseling Center: From homesickness to test anxiety, the Counseling Center always has their doors
open. Located on the second floor of DePaolo hall, they specialize in making UNCW students
experience with academics and life in general the best it can be. They offer individual and group
counseling for personal, relationship, and substance abuse concerns.
Get Involved: With the huge variety of clubs, activities, and volunteer work UNCW has to offer, your
student is bound to find their niche. Being involved in the Dub community will help your student meet
friends, pursue interests, and become well-rounded. Remind your student to check out the
Involvement Carnival on August 31 from 10am to 2pm in the Campus Commons.
Help your student make the best of the college experience by supporting them and reminding them of
the on-campus resources and services that UNCW has to offer!
The University Learning Center
By: Will Wilkinson, Associate Director, University Learning Center
The University Learning Center (ULC) provides programs and services that support students as they
develop independent learning strategies, personal responsibility, and intellectual maturity. There are
five programs that comprise the ULC: Learning Services, Math Services, Supplemental Instruction,
Study Skills, and Writing Services.
What We Do - The ULC programs are based on the principle that quality learning takes place when
peers work collaboratively to develop knowledge and build skills. It is helpful to understand that
tutoring is not remediation: the ULC serves all students who want to increase the quality of their
learning.
ULC Tutors - All ULC peer tutors are faculty-recommended, maintain a minimum GPA, and are
trained to be effective peer educators.
Appointments - Many ULC programs require an appointment. See specific program information below
for more details.
ULC Information:
Location: First floor of DePaolo, offices 1003 & 1056
Phone: 962-7857
Email: ulc@uncw.edu
Webpage: http://www.uncw.edu/ulc/index.html
ULC Program Information
Learning Services - Learning Services provides content tutoring for University Studies courses.
Learning Services tutors help students develop a practice that integrates what to study with how to
study, thereby fostering independent learning and developing skills that will transfer to other courses.
http://www.uncw.edu/ulc/learning/index.html
Math Services - In an open lab setting, Math Lab tutors provide tutoring for all Math and Statistics
courses. Math Services also offers one-on-one appointments for select Math courses. Math tutors help
students make the transition to college mathematics, alleviate math anxiety, and become comfortable
with math processes and theories. http://www.uncw.edu/ulc/math/index.html
Supplemental Instruction - Supplemental Instruction (SI) is a series of peer-facilitated group review
sessions designed to help students succeed in historically difficult courses. In SI sessions, the SI Leader (SIL)
helps students as they review lecture notes, discuss textbook reading assignments, and review for tests.
Check the website for supported courses: http://www.uncw.edu/ulc/si/index.html
Study Skills - Study Skills Consultants assist students who seek to strengthen their academic skills. This
support is offered individually and in group settings, and can focus on any relevant issue identified by
the student or through a diagnostic inventory. http://www.uncw.edu/ulc/study/index.html
Writing Services - The Writing Center provides one-on-one and small group writing consultations for
all students for any academic writing purpose. Consultations are non-judgmental and non-evaluative;
instead, tutors help students identify areas to improve and develop specific revision plans. Students will
build writing skills as the tutor guides them through the revision process.
Students can also receive a response to their developing papers anytime and anywhere through our
Online Writing & Learning (OWL) program. In addition, the Writing Lab is a small, drop-in space
staffed by a peer writing tutor. Students can drop in to talk about a developing draft or to ask a few
writing questions. http://www.uncw.edu/ulc/writing/index.html
Diversity and Inclusion
By: Dr. Jose Hernandez
Associate Vice Provost for Diversity & Inclusion
The Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion actively promotes a campus where diverse people and
diverse culture have the opportunity to learn and work together for a successful future. We promote
student academic preparation as well as student development. With five units including the
Upperman African American Cultural Center, Centro Hispano, the Women’s Studies and Resource
Center, the LGBTQIA Resource Office and the Multicultural Affairs Office, we provide opportunities for
academic support, educational and cultural programming, and programs that connect students to rich
cultural heritages and understanding the diversity that exists within our community and globally. We
have signature programs that provide another source of intellectual, artistic and musical venues for
students appreciation and enjoyment. Our services promote respect, civility and help create a
welcoming campus that is inclusive and friendly. We have locations in the Fisher University Union and
the Randall Library, or visit us on the web www.uncw.edu/diversity.
Hurricane Watch and Hurricane Warning
By: Kevin Madsen, Emergency Manager, Environmental Health & Safety
University officials closely monitor tropical depressions, tropical storms and hurricanes throughout
hurricane season. Detailed tracking begins early in the development of a storm. Campus officials are in
constant contact with local, county and state emergency managers throughout the storm.
If a mandatory evacuation is issued for a hurricane:
• Students will be allowed 6-8 hours of safe driving time in daylight hours before the expected arrival of
40 mile per hour winds.
• Students who are not traveling to their permanent residences are expected to notify their parents of
their whereabouts.
• UNCW will coordinate temporary housing for those students unable to travel home.
• Police, other emergency responders and maintenance workers will continue to be on duty around the
clock during storms.
Remember, it could take several days to provide a safe environment on campus after a major
hurricane. Students should not return to UNCW until it is deemed safe.
CAMPUS EVACUATION
A wide-spread emergency, such as a severe hurricane, may require an evacuation of the entire
campus. Understand the different types of campus evacuations:
Voluntary Evacuation
• Students are encouraged, but not required, to leave campus for a safer location.
• Classes are officially canceled and the grading and attendance policies are suspended.
Mandatory Evacuation
• Students are required to evacuate residence halls and leave campus for a safer location. All residence
halls will be locked.
• The campus will close soon after a mandatory evacuation is issued.
• Students are encouraged to go either to their own home or to a friend’s home for the duration of the
evacuation.
CLASSES CANCELLED VS. UNIVERSITY CLOSED
Depending on the severity of the emergency, UNCW may choose to cancel classes while maintaining
daily operations on campus.
Classes Cancelled
• Set period of time when classes will not take place at UNCW.
• Grading and attendance policies are suspended.
University Closed
• All business operations will cease.
• No UNCW students, faculty or staff will be allowed on campus unless designated as emergency
personnel.
• Entrances will be blocked and all campus services will stop until the university is reopened.
• If necessary, UNCW may keep open portions of the university for business operations.
University Reopening
• Students, faculty, staff and community traffic will be allowed back on campus.
• Some or all business operations and processes will resume.
• Classes may or may not resume.
• Residence halls may or may not remain closed.
• If necessary, UNCW may only reopen portions of the university for business operations.
Register Now for Family and Alumni Weekend!
By: Danette Brown, Transition Programs and Kim Gargiulo, University Advancement
UNCW families and alumni are invited to the university for a weekend of games, food, entertainment
and fellowship.
Please join us the weekend of September 23 – September 25 to participate in this unique opportunity
to experience life on campus and take advantage of being part of the SEAHAWK FAMILY! The Family
& Alumni Weekend committee has designed a schedule of events that showcases the university
experience ranging from social gatherings, musical performances, academic discussions, and sports
events. Additional activities include tours of Fort Fisher Aquarium, Kayaking Wrightsville Beach
Estuaries, a Ghost Walk tour of old Wilmington and MUCH MORE! For more details and to register go
to www.uncw.edu/registerfaw.
Transition Programs
Division of Student Affairs
Creating Experiences for Life
601 South College Road
Wilmington, NC 28403-5997
Phone: 910-962-3089
Fax: 910-962-4265
E-mail: transitions@uncw.edu
www.uncw.edu/transitions
The Office of Transition Programs provides a comprehensive array of programs designed to meet the
unique needs of undergraduate students and parents from orientation through graduation. Programs
generate an intentional connection for the students through engaging interactions with other students,
faculty and staff. Ultimately, through this community participation each student is provided the
opportunity to improve critical thinking, problem solving, academic achievement, interpersonal and
intrapersonal growth and civic responsibility.