University Advancement

Beginning at noon, Monday, March 13, Inside UNC Charlotte (and the University’s official Facebook page) will live stream a conversation between Kathy Reichs, producer of the television show “Bones” and a UNC Charlotte anthropology professor, and Cathy Bessant, chief operations and technology officer for Bank of America. The talk is part of an Exponential campaign major gift announcement with Bank of America that is being held at UNC Charlotte Center City.

Congresswoman Alma Adams (NC-12) encouraged students to be committed not only to themselves but also to their communities during her keynote at “Revolutionizing the Dream,” celebrating the life, work and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. on Tuesday, Jan. 17.

State employees will get a combination of across-the-board and merit raises via the budget compromise announced late Monday night. The budget compromise will be sent to Gov. Pat McCrory for his signature this week, after being voted on by the N.C. House and Senate.

The budget includes a 1.5 percent raise and a one-time bonus equal to 0.5 percent of their annual salary for all employees. UNC campuses also will receive funding to award additional one-time bonuses to EHRA employees based upon performance.

The extension of light rail from Center City to UNC Charlotte is scheduled to begin operations in summer 2017, with two stations serving the main campus. To prepare for this transformational event, the University has launched a new informational website.

Lightrail.charlotte.edu is a campus resource for students, faculty and staff on how the Blue Line Extension will connect the University to Center City and other points along the light rail route to its southern terminus.

Judy Lekoski has joined UNC Charlotte as the major gifts officer for the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences. In this role, she is leading the private fundraising for the University’s largest and most diverse college.

“We have many opportunities for telling the stories of our college and for connecting donors with their philanthropic goals,” said Nancy Gutierrez, dean of the college. “We are excited about moving ahead with those opportunities, and we know Judy will be a tremendous leader in those efforts.”

The Council for Advancement and Support of Education has recognized UNC Charlotte with an international Bronze Circle of Excellence Award in the news and research video category for a segment about the University’s archaeological excavation at Mount Zion.

UNC Charlotte was the location for a recently released Bojangles’ online commercial filmed on campus as part of the restaurant chain’s #RandomActsofBo campaign.

Filmed May 11 in the quad between the College of Health and Human Services and the College of Education, the video captures Bojangles’ volunteers surprising unsuspecting students with free chicken and tea during finals week.

Raises for state employees and enrollment growth funding for the UNC system are among the measures included in the N.C. House of Representatives budget, slated for a final vote May 19. The state Senate is working on its budget, which is expected to be released by May 27.

For state workers, the N.C. House budget proposes a 2 percent salary increase with a one-time $500 bonus for all employees. The UNC system would receive $31 million in funding for enrollment growth, of this, UNC Charlotte would get about $8.6 million.

 In recognition of national Small Business Week, Congresswoman Alma Adams (NC-12) toured UNC Charlotte’s Partnership, Outreach and Research to Accelerate Learning (PORTAL) facility on Wednesday, May 4. During her visit, she met with Robert Wilhelm, vice chancellor for research and economic development; Paul Wetenhall, president of Ventureprise; and Henry Rock, executive director of City Startup Labs.

UNC Charlotte is a vibrant, expanding institution, and the University is making plans for another transformational jewel in its crown.

 The Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) LYNX Blue Line Extension (BLE) is an approximately nine-mile addition to the Queen City’s existing light rail service that will connect UNC Charlotte Center City and the main campus. There will be two stations that will provide service to the University.