Academic Affairs

Ritika Prasad, associate professor in the Department of History, is the fourth speaker of the 2020 Great Decisions Lecture Series. She will talk about “India and Pakistan,” at 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 12, at Charlotte Country Day School.

Richard Tankersley, UNC Charlotte’s vice chancellor for Research and Economic Development, has been named by Gov. Roy Cooper to the North Carolina Board of Science, Technology and Innovation.

Academic Affairs and the Office of Sustainability are collaborating to expand the University’s annual Earth Month celebration to “Earth Semester” in recognition of this year’s 50th Earth Day.Traditionally observed April 22, Earth Day has been celebrated since 1970. In recent years, the University’s Earth Month expanded to increase awareness beyond one day. Last year marked the largest event yet and featured an Earth Day Festival in Belk Plaza. 

Diversity and inclusion efforts continue to expand across campus as members of the Council on University Community Working Group implement the UNC Charlotte Plan for Campus, Diversity, Access and Inclusion and make additional recommendations.Chance Lewis, who leads the cross-campus working group, challenged members to encourage and support the development of local diversity and inclusion plans within their units.

Diversity and inclusion efforts continue to expand across campus as members of the Council on University Community Working Group implement the UNC Charlotte Plan for Campus, Diversity, Access and Inclusion and make additional recommendations.Chance Lewis, who leads the cross-campus working group, challenged members to encourage and support the development of local diversity and inclusion plans within their units.

The robust job market experienced nationally in major job centers, such as Charlotte and Raleigh, has led individuals to pursue online degrees at a higher rate than face-to-face enrollment, as this allows students to more easily attend college while working. Between 2012 and 2016, graduate enrollment in exclusively online programs increased by approximately 28 percent while online undergraduate enrollment increased by 9.5 percent, according to EAB.

Faculty members interested in incorporating greater active learning in their classrooms have the chance to observe their peers from a variety of disciplines as they implement techniques in a live or online classroom setting. The Center for Teaching and Learning’s Teachers Observing Peers (TOP) program is an informal, voluntary observation between faculty, and it is for professional purposes only.

Short-term, faculty-led education abroad programs are the fastest-growing and most popular type of program among U.S. study abroad participants.

Cheryl Brown, chair and associate professor, Department of Political Science and Public Administration, will speak as part of the Great Decisions lecture series at 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 5, at UNC Charlotte Center City.

Margaret Commins, an associate professor in the Political Science and Sociology Department at Queens University, is the second speaker of the 2020 Great Decisions Lecture Series.  Her free public presentation is set for 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 29, at UNC Charlotte Center City.Commins will discuss Michael Shifter and Bruno Binetti’s article from the Foreign Policy Association’s Great Decisions 2020 Briefing Book, “U.S. Relations with the Northern Triangle,” and bring in elements from her research to the presentation.