University of
North Carolina
Wilmington
Seahawk Parents Learning About Student Happenings
Inside this issue:
Volume VIII, Issue 3
UNCW Earns Top
Rankings
1
UNCW Earns Top Rankings
Nursing Program
Partners with
Criminal Justice
Efforts
2
Writing Center to
Help Students with
Final Exam Papers
2
For the ninth consecutive year, the University of
North Carolina Wilmington is one of the top 10
public master's universities in the South in the annual college rankings by U.S. News & World Report.
UNCW ranks seventh in the 2007 edition, as it
has for six out of the past nine years.
Outdoor Adventure
Programs Unveils
New Challenge
Course
3
Greek Life Gears Up
for Spring
Recruitment
4
College of Arts and
Sciences Emphasizes
Applied Learning
Outcomes in the
Classroom
4
UNCW Recognized
for being a Leader in
Community Service
5
International Spring
Break Service Trips
5
Among the 127 public and private universities in
the South that provide a full range of undergraduate and master's level programs, UNCW improved
its overall ranking to 20th this year. UNCW's
ranking resulted from improvement in many of the
following categories:
•
•
•
6
UNCW Prepares
International Business
Students for a Global
Workplace
•
Graduation
Information
6
•
Important Dates
7
Peer assessment;
Retention, including sixyear graduation and
freshman retention
rates, Faculty resources, including proportion of classes with
fewer than 20 students,
proportion with 50 or
more students, faculty salaries, proportion of
faculty with highest degrees in their fields,
student-faculty ratio and proportion of fulltime faculty;
Student selectivity, including student SAT/
ACT scores and proportion of enrolled freshmen in top 25 percent of high school class and
ratio of students admitted to applicants;
Financial resources, average spending per student on instruction, research, student services
and related educational expenditures;
Alumni giving rate.
A complete report of the rankings can be viewed
online at http://www.usnews.com or in U.S.News &
World Report and the newsstand book America's
Best Colleges.
FALL 2006
UNCW also received the 2007 "Best in the Southeast" designation by The Princeton Review. On the
list of 150 "Best Value" colleges, UNCW is designated as one of the best overall bargains - based
on cost and financial aid - among the most academically outstanding
colleges in the nation.
Colleges were selected
based on an 80question survey which
asks students about their school's academics/
administration, campus life, student body and
themselves.
The Princeton Review is a New York City-based
company known for its test prep courses, education services and books. It has conducted the survey since 1992, when it first published its annual
"Best Colleges," the only guide offering college
rankings based on student ratings of their schools
and reports of their experiences at them.
Ranking lists of top 20 colleges in more than 50
categories are in the new 2007 edition of The
Princeton Review book Best 361 Colleges and can be
viewed at http://www.PrincetonReview.com.
UNCW is one of the top five "Best Values" among
public universities in North Carolina, according to
Kiplinger's 2006 rankings. It is ranked 44th nationally for value to in-state students and 47th for outof-state students. Kiplinger's said schools in the
top 100 "are noteworthy for their combination of
top-flight academics and affordable costs."
Page 2
School of Nursing Training Programs Support Criminal Justice Efforts
Violence and its associated trauma are
more than legal issues—they are critical
community health problems. When it
comes to dealing with the aftermath of
criminal assault, nurses are on the front
lines and are often responsible for the
proper collection and preservation of
physical evidence.
“Nurses’ observations provide a basis for
appropriate clinical intervention and
documentation for expert testimony in
the courts,” said Virginia Adams, dean of
the UNCW School of Nursing. “The
need for specialized training and standards of practice in handling evidence has
resulted in the emerging field of forensic
nursing.”
According to Adams, addressing violent
crime and its resulting community health
issues is a multi-disciplinary endeavor
that requires strong cooperation between health care professionals, law enforcement and the judicial system. A
unique partnership between the School
of Nursing and local criminal justice officials has made it possible to address violent crime and sexual assault issues
through continuing education.
Two programs were offered in October
to benefit nurses and the legal community across the state: Sexual Assault
Nurse Examiner (SANE) training and the
“From Trauma to Trial: Beyond CSI”
conference. The SANE program provided
Above: Susan Barker, forensic serologist
expert instructors in the assessment of
Forensic nurses apply nursing science to for the N.C. State Bureau of Investigation, women who have been sexually assaulted.
legal proceedings and create a vital link
leads a session on evidence collection
Nurses learned correct procedures for
between the health care community and procedures during Sexual Assault Nurse collecting forensic evidence and docuExaminer (SANE) training at UNCW in
the criminal justice system. They are
menting physical findings for use in prosetrained in the investigation and treatment October.
cuting assailants. In October, “From
of trauma and/or death of victims of
Trauma to Trial: Beyond CSI” brought together health care,
abuse, violence and accidents. Emergency room nurses, for
social service and legal professionals to discuss the collection,
example, are usually the first to see the victim, to collect
preservation and use of trauma and forensic evidence for triphysical evidence and to document injuries.
als and related legal purposes.
Statistics from the U.S. Department of Justice substantiate the
need for certified forensic nurses. Each year, women are the “Victims of violent crime depend on trained professionals to
victims of more than 4.5 million violent crimes, including ap- collect evidence after a traumatic event, to correctly preserve
that evidence and to present it in a court of law,” said Adams.
proximately 500,000 sexual assaults. Men are even more
likely than women to experience violent crimes, and children “The School of Nursing is committed to providing continuing
education to ensure that qualified professionals are available
and the elderly are highly vulnerable to assault, abuse and
to assist victims and the legal system.”
neglect.
Writing Center to Help Students with Final Exam Papers
Students working on final papers can get help from a tutor in
the Writing Center.
Writing tutors will help students brainstorm, plan revision, or
fine-tune a final draft.
The Writing Center’s hours for exam week are 9-5 everyday
starting Thursday, 12/7 (Reading Day) through Thursday,
12/14 (no Sunday or evening hours during exam week).
Student can setup an appointment by calling 962-7857 or emailing uls@uncw.edu. To utilize online writing assistance
students should visit www.uncw.edu/writing.
Page 3
UNCW Discover Outdoor Program Unveils New Challenge Course
The Discover Outdoor Program recently
hired a second professional staff member
within the Discover
Outdoor Center
(DOC)! This past July,
Steve Goodwin joined
the DOC as the first
Challenge Course Coordinator. Already, he has been a
tremendous asset and has expanded our challenge
course program immensely. The challenge course itself
is only slightly newer then Steve. Completed in April of
2006, it is the largest in the UNC system and incorporates an innovative new design to
challenge all levels of participants.
The Discover Outdoor Center
strives to enhance the lives of
UNCW students, faculty, and staff
and their guests through outdoor
adventures and team building. Operating as a component of the Department of Campus Recreation, the
program offers low cost opportunities to experience and learn about many enjoyable lifelong outdoor activities through the new UNCW Challenge Course, adventure trips, outdoor skills workshops
and clinics, outdoor equipment rentals, the Student Recreation Center Climbing Wall, and outdoor leadership
training.
come siblings, friends, parents, and spouses to participate.
Discover Outdoor Programs also provides a variety of
quality outdoor gear for rent by all UNCW students,
faculty, and staff including tents, sleeping bags and backpacks. For those planning their own adventures, the
DOC Resource Center has a variety of information
available including maps of areas for hiking and camping,
instructional & informational videos, books & catalogues, outdoor education job & internship listings, and
magazines and periodicals.
The UNCW Climbing Wall is located inside the Student
Recreation Center (SRC). The wall
stands approximately 30 feet tall and
52 feet wide. It has approximately
1,926 square feet of surface space
and can accommodate up to 6 climbers at a time. The cost?...Free to the
UNCW community and a $5.00 SRC
guest fee for those visiting with a
UNCW community member.
Very important to the Discover Outdoor Center mission is student leadership development.
The Discover Outdoor Center offers students an exciting on-campus employment opportunity as well as a
chance to develop valuable leadership, organization, and
communication skills.
For more information on the Discover Outdoor Center
The UNCW Challenge Course is comprised of low and and our Spring 2007 schedule, visit http://uncw.edu/
high ropes course initiative problems, games, and group stuaff/camprec/, call us at (910) 962-4052 or e-mail us at
challenges designed to get group members working to- discover@uncw.edu.
gether more effectively. The DOC works with oncampus as well as off campus organizations and offers
opportunities each semester in the form of the High
Challenge Course Open House for people who just
want to check it out!
For those with minimal experience (or no place to store
their equipment), the DOC offers a wide variety of outdoor activities, workshops and clinics such as backpacking, rafting, kayaking, rock climbing, caving, orienteering,
and more. There’s something for everyone, from the
beginner to the experienced adventurer. UNCW community members are allowed to bring a guest. We wel-
Page 4
Greek Life Gears Up for Spring Recruitment
Building on tradition, fraternities and sororities have experienced tremendous growth and improvement in the areas of
community and philanthropic service, academic achievement,
leadership development and character. In recent years, we
have seen members of fraternities and sororities contribute
endless hours of their time to benefit the local community as
well as national campaigns.
and development and social programming. Fraternity and sorority members also participate in leadership retreats and
seminars as well as educational programs involving topics
such as diversity, academic success, effective communication,
and alcohol and drug awareness.
Our Greek community is taking great
Greek organizations at UNCW stress academics as a high
strides this year. We
priority and establish academic incentive programs and finan- are looking into creatcial rewards within their membership for outstanding achieve- ing a Greek Village on
ments. Each chapter must maintain an overall average of at
campus, we are exleast a 2.5 to be in good standing with the university. Our
panding our commufraternities and sororities have a higher GPA than the all stu- nity and our academdent GPA. We have also started a new Greek honor society ics and service procalled Gamma Sigma Alpha.
grams have exceeded years past. All organizations will be
taking new members in the spring. The Panhellenic sororities
just voted to raise their total, each chapter will be able to
At UNCW, we believe in fostering a comprehensive educatake new members this spring. The IFC fraternities will hold
tional environment for our students. The fraternity and sorority community prides itself on self-governance and as such a recruitment period in January; dates will be posted on the
provides many ave- Greek website. Our NPHC and Greek Alliance chapters will
nues for leadership be holding programs and interest sessions for students all
within each organi- throughout the spring semester. I encourage you to talk
zation on campus. about fraternities and sororities with your student.
Members oversee
their own financial On behalf of the Office of the Dean of Students, I appreciate
accounting, facilities your support of the fraternity and sorority community. If you
maintenance, com- have any questions or concerns, I can be reached by email at
masseytm@uncw.edu or by phone at (910) 962-3119. Please
munity and public
relations, member- also check out our website at www.uncw.edu/greek
ship recruitment
The College of Arts & Sciences Emphasizes Applied Learning Experience
The student experience at UNCW will broaden in the College of
Arts and Sciences. To date, six new departments in the College
are newly on board to require their majors to participate in an
applied learning experience. Other departments have had an
applied learning requirement for some time and most departments are preparing to propose the same, giving all arts and sciences majors the opportunity to gain either research experience,
internship experience, field experience, including student teaching for those pursuing teacher licensure, or experience in producing a creative project or participation in a service-learning
project.
learning experiences and hands-on student engagement in the
discipline of their choice as the best way to test a student’s desire and affinity for a subject, while also preparing them for work
in their field.
As we move towards having an active-learning expectation in
place for all majors in the College, undergraduate programming
will be advanced at UNCW in a unique way. Scholarly hands-on
experience with faculty experts is something many students
would not have the opportunity to experience until graduate
school. Providing these impact experiences at the undergraduate
level not only represents best practice in teaching, but will also
“We are defining an applied learning experience as the hands-on, serve to set our students apart in their next steps, following
practical application of the student’s major discipline, experigraduation.
enced under the supervision of a faculty member,” Dean David
Cordle said. “This is a challenge, because applied learning is time As students mature in the acquisition of knowledge, these opporand resource intensive. But we also see this as an opportunity to tunities will develop self-reliance, maturity, independence as well
as real world analytical skills and problem solving in the settings
emphasize a type of teaching and learning that the College has
students have been prepared to enter. It is a win-win for parents,
excelled in for a long time.”
students, faculty and the employers who will receive our
The College has long emphasized research and teaching, practical graduates.
Page 5
UNCW Makes President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll
University of North
Carolina Wilmington is listed on the
first-ever President's
Higher Education
Community Service
Honor Roll. UNCW
was recognized for
providing distinguished community
service to Hurricane Katrina victims along the Gulf Coast.
Donna Chapa Crowe, Director of the UNCW Center for
Leadership Education & Service, led a group of student volunteers to New Orleans from Dec. 26, 2005 through Jan. 1,
2006. They rebuilt and cleaned playgrounds and local parks
that were damaged or destroyed by Hurricane Katrina.
Their trip was part of the "Bring New Orleans Back Tour," a relief effort sponsored
by Hart 4 Humanity, a non-profit organization created by a California resident.
An additional 14 UNCW students, as well
as students from the Baptist Student Union
and Campus Crusade for Christ, traveled to
New Orleans as an alternative spring break
trip March 5-11, 2006.
for helping close neighbors. The President's Award for Hurricane Relief went to Jackson State University, Louisiana
State University and Tulane University. Elon University of
North Carolina; California State University, Monterey Bay;
and Indiana University - Purdue University, Indianapolis received the President's Award for outstanding community
service.
"Higher education is a powerful engine of civic engagement
and is central to achieving the President's vision of active
citizens and connected communities," said Stephen Goldsmith, Chairman of the Corporation for National and Community Service, an independent federal agency tasked with
fostering an ethic of volunteerism and service in America.
"We applaud America's college students and the universities
they attend for stepping up to help people in need."
UNCW students were among the 219,000
from across the nation who traveled to
the Gulf to gut homes, clear debris, repair
roofs and paint buildings during their winter and spring breaks.
The awards were presented at the Campus Compact 20th Anniversary in Chicago.
The Campus Compact is a national coalition of nearly 1,000 college and university
presidents, and supported by all the major national higher
The President's Higher Education Community Service Honor education associations.
Roll was formed in response to President Bush's call to service by building on and supporting the civic engagement mis- On UNCW's recognition Crowe says, "I would like to thank
sion of the nation's colleges and universities. This recognition Chancellor Rosemary DePaolo as she continues to support
program is designed to increase public awareness of the con- our institutional efforts by maintaining our membership in
tributions that college students are making within their local Campus Compact."
communities and across the country through volunteer service.
The full President's Higher Education Community Service
Honor Roll is available at www.nationalservice.gov/
UNCW applauds the six colleges and universities received
honorroll.
top recognition for extraordinary community service - three
for aiding hurricane victims along the Gulf Coast and three
Students Can Spend Their Spring Break Making a Difference Internationally
Spend an alternative break engaged in serving others. Spring For more information students should contact the Center
Break Service Trips will take place March 3 – 10, 2007. This for Leadership Education and Service at
year they will offer both Domestic and International Trips.
(910) 962-3877 or cles@uncw.edu.
A spring break service trip provides student opportunities to
serve during their annual spring break. Students will be
working with Habitat for Humanity, and the Full Belly Project. Spring Break Service Trips usually cost around $300.00
and covers transportation, meals, and housing. A rewarding
experience during a deserving break.
Page 6
UNCW Prepares Business Students for Global Workplace
Today, all business
professionals
work in a global
environment, regardless of the
business they are
in. To better prepare students for
this reality, the
Cameron School
of Business is providing all business
majors with international study
opportunities as
part of their undergraduate program of study.
“In the environment in which
everyone operates
today, it is imperative that any student with a bachelor’s degree
should possess an
awareness of
global business
issues and ideally have personal experience working in a different culture,” said Becky Porterfield, director of international business for the Cameron School.
Effective next year, all international business majors will be
required to do a three-credit-hour study abroad experience
as part of their degree program. While business majors in
other concentrations do not have the same requirement,
they do have the opportunity to study abroad for a summer,
a semester or a year.
Many students choose to take advantage of the summer
study abroad program, Porterfield said. Under that option,
students travel abroad with a Cameron School faculty member to a university in another country. While there the students have the opportunity to participate in up to three academic experiences:
•
A course taught by the Cameron School faculty member
that is part of their business degree requirements
•
A course offered by host institution that focuses on the
cultural, historical or business environment of the country
•
Classes in the host country’s language
As part of the summer 2007 program, participating students
will have the opportunity to travel to and study in Marseille,
France; Bremen, Germany; Valencia, Spain; Manchester, England or Shanghai, China. Participation is limited to 25 students per trip so it is important for interested students to
register early.
Porterfield emphasizes that, while the Cameron School continues to add more universities and locations to its international offerings, it is also maintaining high quality standards
for those programs.
“The business school wants to be very strategic with our
international partners,” she said. “We want solid programs
that meet our academic and quality standards and that we
know will take good care of our students while they are
abroad. We won’t send our students to another university
unless we know the international partner shares our expectations for quality.”
For more information regarding summer study abroad and
other opportunities for international study, contact Dr.
Becky Porterfield at porterfieldr@uncw.edu or
910-962-3514.
UNCW Graduation Information
Summer 2006 & Fall 2006 Graduates
Date: Saturday, December 16, 2006
Location: Trask Coliseum
Time: 9:30 a.m.—Noon
Tickets: 5 per student
*Tickets can be picked up starting Monday, November 20, 2006
For information on departmental receptions and parking,
visit www.uncw.edu/commencement.
Spring 2007 Graduates
Spring commencement is scheduled for Saturday, May 12,
2007. Students that need to apply for graduation must to go
to the Office of the Registrar (James Hall) as soon as
possible to fill out their application.
University of
North Carolina
Wilmington
University of North Carolina
Wilmington
Office of Transition Programs
601 South College Road
Wilmington, NC 28403-5997
Phone: 910-962-3089
Fax: 910-962-7151
E-mail:tacke@uncw.edu
December
6
8-15
13
Last day of classes
Final examinations
Spring Payment Due
(Failure to pay will result in cancellation of classes)
On-campus housing closes at 10 a.m.
Commencement
16
16
D e ad
lines
&
Re m i
nders
!
January
7
10
15
17
On-campus housing opens at 10 a.m.
Class Begins
Martin Luther King Holiday
Payments and financial aid deferments must be received by the cashier’s office
by 4 p.m. (Failure to pay will result in cancellation of classes)
February
27
Last day to withdraw from classes with a “W”
March
The Office of Transition Programs is responsible for providing a comprehensive program that will assist all students and their families in
their transitions to and from
the University. This program
exposes new students to the
educational opportunities
within UNCW, orients them to
the academic and cocurricular life of the institution, and assists them in their
on-going transition to the university beyond orientation.
The Office of Transition Programs also assists parents in
their transition and understanding of the UNCW environment, services and
changes within the university.
The office is also responsible
for a comprehensive senior
transition program designed
to help seniors make meaning
of their college experience,
celebrate their achievements
and prepare them for life after
college. In addition, the Office
of Transition Programs is responsible for the coordination
of Commencement.
3
11
12
April
Spring vacation begins / On-campus housing closes at 10 a.m.
On-campus housing opens at 10 a.m.
Spring vacation ends / Classes resume
5
9
16
30
State Holiday Begins / No Classes
State Holiday Ends / Classes Resume
Graduation Application Due for Summer 2007/Fall 2007
Last Day of Classes
May
2-9
12
Final Exams
Spring Commencement
Parent’s Book Corner
You're On Your Own (but I’m here if you need me):
Mentoring You Child During the College Years
Marjorie Savage offers realistic advice for parents of college students in her
book "You're On Your Own". This one-of-a-kind-guide provides anecdotes
and suggestions from experienced parents and college staffs all over the country including issues such as why students complain about the food but still
manage to gain fifteen pounds their first year, how to teach basic financial responsibility and what to do when a child comes home with a nose ring. Learn
strategies and tips for creating a loving, supportive partnership responsive to
the needs of both parents and students.
Visit our website
at
www.uncw.edu/
transitions