General News

Meika Berlan, one of this year’s Graduate Life Fellows (GLF), believes her involvement in the program allows her to give back to UNC Charlotte.

“I chose to become a GLF so I could contribute to the university in a meaningful way,” said Berlan who is pursuing a Ph.D in Public Policy. She is among this year’s Graduate Life Fellows, a program in its eighth year on campus.  

In the past fiscal year, UNC Charlotte’s energy consumption has decreased by about 5 percent, resulting in a 1 percent reduction in total utility costs. Yet, gross square footage on campus increased by 4 percent during the same time frame.

Tony Schallert, energy manager in facilities management, noted the reductions are a result of the University’s performance contract that replaced inefficient lighting in older buildings and the more proficient energy-saving initiatives employed in new construction.

The North Carolina economy continues to grow but is facing more unpredictability in 2015, UNC Charlotte economist John Connaughton reported Sept. 9 in the Babson Capital Management/UNC Charlotte Economic Forecast.

Roy Fielding, senior lecturer in kinesiology, recently received the Special Citation for Exceptional Volunteer Service from the Board of Governors of the American Red Cross. The award recognizes Fielding’s “sustained performance that has substantially exceeded the volunteer’s original commitment.”

The Office of Education Abroad is hosting its annual Study Abroad Fair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 30, on the plaza between the College of Education and the College of Health and Human Services.

Students will have the opportunity to speak with Office of Education Abroad staff members to learn how to start the study abroad process; they also will have the chance to connect with UNC Charlotte study abroad alumni.

Vivian Lord, interim chair of the UNC Charlotte School of Social Work, recently summited Mount Kilimanjaro. She’s back on campus and shares her story

The Advisory Committee to the Chancellor for Employee Health and Wellness encourages faculty and staff to join in a campus walk from 2 to 3 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 15, as part of the “Every Body Walk Charlotte” initiative. Participants will meet at the Cone University Center Plaza. Individuals who cannot participate at the scheduled time can walk on their own or organize a unit/office/departmental walk for Sept. 15; take pictures and email them to Mackenzie Harkey (mharkey6@uncc.edu).

Moutaz Khouja, professor of business information systems and operations management, is the second of five finalists for the 2015 Bank of America Award for Teaching Excellence to be featured in Inside UNC Charlotte.

YouTube sensation Todrick Hall will speak on creating one’s destiny during “The Todrick Hall Experience” at 8 p.m., Monday, Sept. 14, in the Cone University Center, McKnight Hall. The event, sponsored by the Campus Activities Board (CAB), is free for UNC Charlotte Students with ID.

A recently launched online program available through the UNC Charlotte College of Education will train the next generation of virtual teaching and learning system architects and managers.