Safety Reminders, Teaching Awards, ESPN on Campus and Charlotte Esports
Congratulations to the 2025 Teaching Excellence Award Winners
William “Bill” Graves and Susana Cisneros from the College of Humanities & Earth and Social Sciences are the 2025 recipients of the UNC Charlotte Awards for Teaching Excellence. Read about their impact inside the classroom.
Changing the Game: Varsity Esports Arrives at Charlotte
UNC Charlotte Esports is leveling up with a University-backed, varsity program. With a dynamic director and a state-of-the-art gaming facility, the program is setting a new vision for collegiate esports.
what you need to know: faculty and staff
- Academic Affairs Weekly News Digest: Review award deadlines and information for the Provost’s Awards and Bonnie E. Cone Awards, along with other important updates in this week’s news digest.
- Campus Safety Reminders: Familiarize yourself with the protocols, programs and support resources that keep us safe while on campus.
- Football Game Day Information: Please review important parking and transportation information for the Thursday, Sept. 18, home football game against Rice. As a reminder, classes are not cancelled for games during the
week. Faculty and students are responsible for all required hours, and faculty should make alternative arrangements for classes and labs scheduled to take place on the main campus at or after 2:30 p.m. in accordance with the UNC Charlotte Academic Procedure: Schedule Interruption Guidelines. - National Preparedness Month: Your department’s Continuity of Operations Plan is designed to help your area prepare for, respond to and recover from operational disruptions, therefore allowing the University as a whole to continue teaching, researching and serving students to the best of its ability, even when disruptions happen. Review, customize and download your plan.
- New Telework System: The Office of Human Resources will launch a new telework system Wednesday, Oct. 1, designed to streamline processes and enhance overall efficiency across the University. As a reminder, all active telework agreements that expired Aug. 31 were automatically extended through Oct. 31. Additional information about the renewal process, including FAQs, will be communicated directly to employees with active agreements and published in Niner Insider later this month.
- ESPN on Campus: ESPN’s afternoon edition of SportsCenter will broadcast from campus Thursday, Sept. 18 , with anchor Matt Barrie hosting the 2 p.m. hour in CHHS/CoED Plaza ahead of the 49ers’ kickoff against Rice at 7:30 p.m. in Jerry Richardson Stadium. The campus community is encouraged to view the show from the plaza and be featured in the background demonstrating its phenomenal 49er spirit.
what you need to know: students
- Campus Safety Reminders: Familiarize yourself with the protocols, programs and support resources available to help you throughout your Charlotte journey.
- Football Game Day Information: Please review important parking and transportation information for the Thursday, Sept. 18, home football game against Rice. As a reminder, classes are not cancelled for games during the
week. Faculty and students are responsible for all required hours, and faculty should make alternative arrangements for classes and labs scheduled to take place on the main campus at or after 2:30 p.m. in accordance with the UNC Charlotte Academic Procedure: Schedule Interruption Guidelines. - Bell Ringer Applications Open: The commencement bell ringer is an honorable tradition that recognizes students who have demonstrated exemplary 49er spirit. Applications to be a fall 2025 bell ringer are open until 11:45 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 12.
- Orientation Counselor Applications: Apply to be a 2026 Orientation Counselor and help welcome new Niners to UNC Charlotte! The priority deadline is Thursday, Sept. 25.
- H.E.L.P. Certification: Gain the skills to provide support to people impacted by interpersonal violence, substance use, mental health and basic medical emergencies. Enroll in the Health Education Leadership and Prevention certificate.
upcoming events: students
ESPN’s afternoon edition of SportsCenter will broadcast from campus Thursday, Sept. 18, with anchor Matt Barrie hosting the 2 p.m. hour in CHHS/CoED Plaza ahead of the 49ers’ kickoff against Rice at 7:30 p.m. in Jerry Richardson Stadium. The campus community is encouraged to view the show from the plaza and be featured in the background demonstrating its phenomenal 49er spirit.
- Interdisciplinary Studies Open House: The Office of Interdisciplinary Studies is hosting a fall open house from 10:30 a.m. to noon, Wednesday, Sept. 17, and 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 18, in the Fretwell Building, Room 314.
- Garden Day: Join Plants for People in prepping the vegetable garden beds behind the Jamil Niner Student Pantry, from 3 to 4:30 p.m., Friday, Sept. 19.
- CWP Events: September is National Recovery Month. Check out the Center for Wellness Promotion events calendar for remaining opportunities this month to learn more about the Charlotte Recovery Program.
professional development: faculty and staff
- 49er Mart Users: Attend a virtual forum from 2 to 4 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 25. More information is on the 49er Mart message board.
- H.E.L.P. Certification: Gain the skills to provide support to people impacted by interpersonal violence, substance use, mental health and basic medical emergencies. Enroll in the Health Education Leadership and Prevention certificate.
- Green Dot Training: Register to attend a virtual Green Dot training for faculty and staff this semester. This training now counts toward the H.E.L.P. certificate.
- Required Training: IT Security Training will be accessible to all faculty, staff, temporary and student workers beginning Tuesday, Sept. 16. Completion is required by Friday, Oct. 17.
upcoming: faculty and staff
- Banner Scheduled Upgrade: Banner will be offline for a scheduled upgrade from 7 a.m. to noon, Saturday, Sept. 20.
- Novant Health on Campus: Visit the Novant Health Breast Center Mobile Unit from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 9, in the CHHS/CoEd Plaza. An appointment is required; call (704) 384-7226.
to-do list: students
- Submit Your Research: ETHEL Undergraduate Research Journal is seeking submissions of undergraduate research and creative works.
- Get Featured on Flagship: Submit your photos and clips — campus beauty, walking to class or fun with friends — for a chance to be featured on the University’s social media channels.
- Not Baaaad: Check out this video of Niners taking part in goat yoga on campus.
to-do list: faculty and staff
- Try This AI Tip: Use AI to quickly organize feedback from students or staff and simplify complex tasks like budget planning.
- Learn Something New in Canvas: Learn to bulk update assignment due dates and availability settings in Canvas to streamline course setup.
- Stay Informed: Review ongoing disruptions, delays and detours on campus.