2026 Staff Employee of the Year Awards, support nationally competitive club disc golf, P-card training update and more

2026 staff employees of the year announced

The Human Resources Office has announced the recipients of the 2026 Staff Employee of the Year Awards, recognizing outstanding contributions across the University. This year’s honorees include four individual awardees and one team selected from a pool of 32 nominations.

what you need to know: faculty and staff

• Complete self-appraisals: Take a few minutes to reflect on your accomplishments and share your progress. Learn how AI can help you streamline your self-appraisal, then head to NinerTalent to begin.
• Campus lockdown and NinerAlert test: The annual tests of the campus lockdown systems and the quarterly NinerAlert test will occur at 4 p.m., Friday, March 13, and will last approximately 10 minutes. The tests will include main campus and the Dubois Center at UNC Charlotte Center City.
• Niner Nation Gives F/S Kickoff: Celebrate Niner Nation Gives at the Faculty and Staff Kickoff from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Tuesday, March 31, Popp Martin Student Union, third floor! This year, we are “Building Together.” Enjoy a complimentary lunch, win bonus funds for your favorite campus causes and hear from Demond T. Martin ’97.
• Annual P-card training and OTP requirement: P-card training now occurs annually (previously biannually). It will be assigned Monday, March 16, and is due Thursday, April 30. Verify your contact information to enable the new one-time passcode for online P-card use.
• Retirement planning: A TIAA financial consultant will be on campus from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday, March 31, in the College of Health and Human Services, Room 57, to answer questions about investments and retirement needs. Register for a session.

the difference is charlotte

Did you know Charlotte is the second-largest disc golf market in the world? Charlotte disc golf club punched its ticket to yet another Division I National Tournament appearance and is crowdfunding to ensure the program continues to stay at the top of its game.

professional development: faculty and staff

• CORE Series workshop: Faculty members considering publishing community-engaged research are invited to “Publishing in Community-Engaged Research Journals ,” from 10 to 11:15 a.m., Friday, March 20, in Sycamore Hall, Room 306. Led by the Charlotte Urban Institute, this hands-on session will help participants develop a strategic publication plan, identify potential journals and article types, and review relevant submission guidelines. Attendees are encouraged to bring a brief abstract or project proposal.
• Ignite session: Connect with campus partners who can support your community-engaged work at “Campus Resources for Community-Engaged Faculty,” from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m., Wednesday, March 25, via Zoom. Eleven campus leaders will deliver fast-paced presentations on the programs that help faculty and staff build meaningful community partnerships.
• Register now: The fourth annual AI Summit for Smarter Learning — a free, full-day event for Charlotte faculty and academic staff — is Wednesday, May 13, at the Dubois Center at UNC Charlotte Center City.

to-do list: faculty and staff

• Visit alum’s exhibition: Laura Lucas ’23 explores the in-between moments that humanize space in her solo exhibition, “The Walls Have Ears,” on display at Rowe Galleries through Friday, March 20.
• Get tickets to Nouveau Now: The dance and music departments present Nouveau Now, a program of stunning choreography and live music performances, at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, March 28, and 2 p.m., Sunday, March 29, at the restored 1927 Carolina Theatre in uptown Charlotte.