Professor Othelia Lee steps in with timely textbook about AI, new mural at Co-Lab and more

Professor Othelia Lee steps in with timely textbook about AI

Social work professor Othelia Lee had no clue one year ago when she started writing a textbook about artificial intelligence that by the time the book would be published, a national debate would be brewing about the ability of AI to exterminate humanity within the decade.

what you need to know: faculty and staff

• Rankings: UNC Charlotte has earned a place among the nation’s top 100 public universities for the fourth consecutive year in U.S. News & World Report’s 2027 Best Colleges rankings.
• Growing honors: UNC Charlotte has set a goal to grow its honors population from 3.4 percent of all undergraduates today to 10 percent by the 2029-30 academic year.
• Policy information session: Learn about University Policy 602.7, Travel Authorization and Reimbursement for employee business travel and domestic student field trips in a virtual information session from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 30. Registration is required.
• Perceptive Content migration: Perceptive Content is being migrated to Softdocs to make campus workflows simpler, fully digital and more accessible. Phase three, which focuses on employee-related documents and forms, starts at 9 a.m., Monday, Oct. 5, through 11:59 p.m., Friday, Oct. 9.
• Holiday schedules: UNC Charlotte has published the 2027 and 2028 employee holiday schedules, which includes 12 paid holidays for eligible employees.
• New advising platform: The University is preparing to transition to a new student advising platform in January that will bring advising, tutoring and honors programs, along with career center appointments and drop-ins, into one cohesive system while standardizing and modernizing advising processes across the University.

what you need to know: students

• Rankings: UNC Charlotte has earned a place among the nation’s top 100 public universities for the fourth consecutive year in U.S. News & World Report’s 2027 Best Colleges rankings.
• SGA elections: Voting for the fall 2026 Student Government Association ends at 5 p.m., today, Thursday, Sept. 24. Cast your ballot now.
• Python workshop: Attend the “Introduction to Python: Variables, Data Types, Arithmetic and User Input” virtual workshop from 6 to 8 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 29.
• Move your web data: OneIT is retiring hosting.charlotte.edu at the end of the 2026-27 academic year, so plan to move your web data or deactivate your account by May. Beginning Monday, Oct. 12, new user accounts will no longer be created.

the difference is charlotte

UNC Charlotte alumna Sharon Dowell ’02 collaborated with current visual arts students in the College of Arts and Architecture to transform the entrance to the University’s Center City innovation hub.

professional development: faculty and staff

• Grant proposal reminder: The 2026 SoTL Grants Program is accepting proposals aligned with the University’s Strategic Plan, including projects exploring the impact of AI on teaching and learning. Proposals are due Thursday, Oct. 1.
• NCBiotech grant funding presentation: Join the University’s CIPHER Research Center and the North Carolina Biotechnology Center from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., Friday, Oct. 2, for an informational seminar on NCBiotech grant programs.

to-do list: faculty and staff

• Digital yearbook screening: Revisit campus history through video yearbooks from the University Archives from 6 to 7 p.m., Monday, Sept. 28. This screening showcases student life, traditions and memorable moments captured on film over the decades.
• Game day giveback: Shop the green and gold game day Kendra Scott collection at SouthPark, Saturday, Sept. 26, and Birkdale Village, Saturday, Oct. 3, with Game Day giveaways and a 20% giveback benefiting the Reed Parlier Memorial Foundation with code GIVEBACK-REED2026.
• ICYMI: Check out these photos from the International Festival. 
• Stay informed: Review ongoing disruptions, delays and detours on campus.

to-do list: students

• Digital yearbook screening: Revisit campus through video yearbooks from the University Archives from 6 to 7 p.m., Monday, Sept. 28. This screening showcases student life, traditions and memorable moments captured on film over the decades.
• Game day giveback: Shop the green and gold game day Kendra Scott collection at SouthPark, Saturday, Sept. 26, and Birkdale Village, Saturday, Oct. 3, with Game Day giveaways and a 20% giveback benefiting the Reed Parlier Memorial Foundation with code GIVEBACK-REED2026.
• ICYMI: Check out these photos from the International Festival.
• Stay informed: Review ongoing disruptions, delays and detours on campus.

upcoming: faculty and staff

• NDI3 strategy conversation: Participate in a 45-minute virtual conversation to help guide The National Defense and Intelligence Innovation Institute’s future direction and strengthen connections among partners. Sessions will be held at 3 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 7, and noon, Thursday, Oct. 8, with space limited to 10 members per session.
• Fall Plant Sale volunteers needed: Volunteers are needed for the Botanical Gardens fall Plant Sale, Oct. 8–10. Opportunities include moving plants, tagging and pricing, arranging the sale area and assisting during sale days. Volunteers will receive 15% off their entire plant purchase, and parking will be provided.
• Move your web data: OneIT is retiring hosting.charlotte.edu at the end of the 2026-27 academic year, so plan to move your web data or deactivate your account by May. Beginning Monday, Oct. 12, new user accounts will no longer be created.

upcoming events: students

Head to the 49th Acre for the Pepsi Pregame Concert at 2:30 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 26. Enjoy The Band Solstice from 4 to 5:30 p.m., plus games, giveaways and more before the 49ers take on Louisiana at 6:30 p.m.

• Make-and-take workshop: Explore fun ways to make your own mini prints at this drop-in, make-and-take workshop from 2 to 4 p.m., today, Thursday, Sept. 24, in the Area 49 Makerspace in Atkins Library.