Inside Charlotte’s Zero-waste Program, Strategic Plan Update, Personnel Changes and more

October 20, 2025
Categories: Niner Insider
Zero waste steward sorts recycling after home football game

Charlotte’s Zero-waste Playbook

Do you know what happens to nearly 3,000 pounds of waste generated from each Charlotte football game? Thanks to zero waste, a program that Charlotte executes better than most campuses in the nation, over 80% is reused and recycled.

what you need to know: faculty and staff

  • Academic Affairs Weekly News Digest: The grade replacement system has been upgraded to improve the system and student-initiated processes. Find out what changed, along with other important updates in this week’s news digest.
  • Strategic Plan Update: Niner Nation has made tremendous progress on its strategic plan, including being named an R1 research university much sooner than anticipated, and already meeting or surpassing four of the 10-year metric goals. A refresh is underway.
  • Personnel Changes: UNC Charlotte has announced interim leadership appointments in athletics and institutional Integrity.
  • Tuition and Fees Meetings: Hear recommendations for changes to tuition and mandatory student fees during the Tuition and Fees Advisory Board open meeting at 5 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 23, at the Harris Alumni Center. A second meeting will be held at 6 p.m., Monday, Nov. 3, in the Popp Martin Student Union, Room 340, and will include an opportunity for public comments.
  • Local Election Season: The polls are open for early voting in Mecklenburg County. Get involved in this election season by researching candidate platforms, discussing the issues, volunteering to support get-out-the-vote efforts or voting in this year’s local elections.
  • New Soccer Coach: Sinead Byrne has been named the sixth head coach of the women’s soccer team, after serving as interim head coach since April 2025.

what you need to know: students

the difference is charlotte

Bioinformatics research photo

UNC Charlotte researchers, leading a multidisciplinary team across four universities, have successfully resolved the entire genome of the largest bacterial virus ever cultivated in a physical lab environment. Read about this feat of advanced bioinformatics. 

Mint Museum Art

Maja Godlewska, professor of art, is the current “Constellation CLT” artist at the Mint Museum in Uptown. Learn more about the exhibition.

upcoming events: students

Countdown to Commencement

The countdown to commencement begins at the Grad Fair from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Oct. 29-30, at Barnes & Noble Charlotte. Grab your cap and gown, learn about resources for graduates and celebrate with free swag, food and door prizes.

professional development: faculty and staff

  • FedEx Office Showcase: Join the free FedEx Office showcase to learn about print services and custom signage for your department. Register for a 30-minute session before 5 p.m., today, Monday, Oct. 20.
  • Managers Workshop: Register for human resources virtual “Managing Employee Time and Leave” workshop from 2 to 4 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 22, for a comprehensive understanding of employee rights under the FLSA in regards to topics such as overtime, meal periods, training time, unauthorized work and time suffered or permitted to work.
  • Concur Training Session: Attend the Concur User Group virtual forum from 10 to 11:30 a.m., Thursday, Oct. 23. Registration is encouraged on the learning and development portal.
  • 49er Mart Users: Attend a virtual forum from 2 to 4 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 23. Registration is encouraged on the learning and development portal, and more information is on the 49er Mart message board.
  • Graduate Mentor Award: Nominations for the 2026 Harshini V. de Silva Graduate Mentor Award are open. This prestigious honor, presented by the Chancellor’s Office and the Graduate School, recognizes a full-time graduate faculty member who exemplifies exceptional mentoring. Nominations are due Friday, Nov. 7.
  • urbanCORE Open House: Interested in collaborating with community partners for teaching and research? Register to attend urbanCORE’s Community Open House from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 13, at the University City Regional Library.
  • Learn About CPOS: Charlotte will launch Course Program of Study beginning with fall 2026 registration. Want to better understand what it means for students? The financial aid team is offering presentations to walk through the regulation and its implications. Email cposadmin@charlotte.edu to schedule a session.

to-do list: faculty and staff

  • Open Enrollment: Don’t forget to make benefits elections for the 2026 plan year during open enrollment before the Friday, Oct. 31, deadline. Benefits-eligible employees should make elections in both platforms and save a copy of your elections.
  • Register for Legal Symposium: Time is running out to register for the 2025 Legal Symposium , presented by the Division of Institutional Integrity, scheduled for 8:30 a.m. to 2:50 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 23, in the Barnhardt Student Activity Center Salons.
  • Register and Volunteer: This year’s Out of the Darkness community walk is from noon to 2 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 1. Register or volunteer to show support for mental health care and learn about campus and community resources.
  • Support SVA Crowdfunding: The Student Veterans Association Charlotte chapter is raising money for a new event that could establish the University as a statewide leader in student veteran engagement.
  • Stay Informed: Review ongoing disruptions, delays and detours on campus.

to-do list: students