Special Edition – Human Resources Updates and Announcements

October 23, 2026
Categories: Niner Insider

At UNC Charlotte, our people are at the heart of everything we do. Human Resources is committed to supporting faculty and staff with the resources, benefits and opportunities they need to grow, thrive and succeed.

In this special HR edition of Niner Insider, you’ll find important updates on open enrollment, employee development opportunities, educational benefits, HR Connect and other initiatives designed to support you throughout your career at Charlotte.

Thank you for all you do to advance the University and support our students. We hope you’ll take a few moments to explore these resources and discover new opportunities available to you.

Deidra Harris-Lumpkins

Associate Vice Chancellor for Human Resources

what you need to know

Employee Success and Development: Supporting your success at Charlotte

The Employee Success and Development team helps foster a supportive, high-performing workplace by connecting employees with the resources, recognition and development opportunities they need to thrive throughout their careers at Charlotte. As part of HR, the team leads key initiatives focused on employee growth, well-being and engagement.

Employee Success and Development oversees staff awards and recognition programs, employee wellness initiatives, learning and organizational development opportunities, new employee orientation and the University’s performance management process. The team also serves as a helpful resource for employees seeking guidance on HR services, workplace support and professional development opportunities.

Employee success and development

HR Connect: Your one-stop HR support resource

Six months after its launch, HR Connect  is serving as UNC Charlotte’s centralized platform for HR questions, requests and support. HR Connect is an online employee portal, not an email address. Rather than emailing, faculty and staff should submit questions and requests through the HR Connect portal.

The system provides a convenient way to submit inquiries, track progress and communicate securely with HR through a single platform. Whether you need policy guidance, benefits information or help with an HR-related request, HR Connect helps you find the right resources more efficiently.

Before submitting a request, visit the Whom Do I Contact webpage to learn which HR units manage specific services and identify the appropriate area for your inquiry.

hr connect

Educational benefits: Invest in your education

UNC Charlotte offers several educational benefits to support your professional growth. Eligible full-time employees can receive up to three tuition waivers per academic year for courses at any UNC System institution. Employees may also be eligible for department-funded employee learning and development financial assistance for approved work-related courses, certificates and degree programs, subject to funding availability. In addition, a scholarship fund is available exclusively for staff members.

educational benefits

Make your benefits elections for 2027

Open enrollment continues through Friday, Nov. 6. Review the detailed information online to learn more about benefit changes and updates for the 2027 plan year, make your elections in both platforms and save a copy of your selections.

open enrollment webpage
open enrollment webinar recordings

Voluntary SHRA-to-EHRA conversion opportunity

Eligible SHRA employees will have an opportunity this fall to convert to EHRA status as part of the next phase of the University’s SHRA-to-EHRA conversion initiative. Informational packets, including eligibility details, FAQs and important deadlines, were distributed to eligible employees and supervisors. Employees may choose to convert to EHRA status or remain in their current SHRA status.

shra-to-ehra conversion

Student employee minimum wage increases for spring 2027

Beginning in spring 2027, the University’s minimum wage for student employees will increase from $11 to $11.50 per hour. The increase applies to all student employment positions. Human Resources will update existing assignments to reflect the new minimum wage, and new spring assignments should be submitted using the updated hourly rate.

End of year HR action deadlines

As we rapidly approach the 2026 holiday season, please be aware of the following hiring proposal submission deadline dates in accordance with condensed payroll periods within the month of December.

Hiring Proposals

  • Hiring proposals with recommendations for external candidates (new hires) must be submitted to HR no later than the close of business Friday, Nov. 20. 
  • Hiring proposals with recommendations for University candidates (promotions, lateral transfers, reassignments) must be submitted to HR no later than the close of business Friday, Nov. 20.
  • New Hires must have a start date in their new role no later than Monday, Dec. 14.

Hiring proposals may be submitted after these dates. However, selected candidates will have start dates of Jan. 1, 2027, or later.

Postings

Positions that need to be posted must be submitted to HR by Monday, Dec. 14. Positions posted during that time frame will not be scheduled to close until January 2027.

professional development

Programs and certificates

Learn more about programs and certificates run by HR’s leadership and organizational development team that are designed to enhance leadership skills and equip employees with the tools and knowledge needed to be successful campus leaders.

Unleash your Niner potential through interactive campus workshops 

Human Resources offers in-person, interactive workshops that provide University employees with the tools needed to tackle some of today’s workplace challenges.

Health and wellness workshops

The HR team partners with ComPsych and the Office of State Human Resources to offer virtual health and wellness workshops for employees.

resources