General News

Estimating attendance can be difficult, but Staff Council officials are confident this year’s Fall Festival set a record for attendance.

The city of Charlotte will celebrate its third Minority Economic Development Week, starting Monday, Oct. 13, and UNC Charlotte will participate in the event.

The University will share event sponsorship with several locally based government agencies and building contractors that are committed to providing streamlined opportunities for minority-owned businesses in Charlotte’s growing economy.

Chancellor Philip L. Dubois recently spoke to the South Iredell Developer’s Council, where he focused on how UNC Charlotte is a driving force of economic growth and intellectual capital for the region. Alumnus Brad Howard (’02), CEO of the Langtree Group, extended the invitation for the chancellor to deliver the keynote speech at the council meeting.

UNC Charlotte’s Master of Science in Mathematical Finance program recently was ranked No. 25 in the country by Financial Engineer. 

This is the first national ranking for the Mathematical Finance program, which currently enrolls more than 100 students.  The 2015 rankings are calculated based on a series of factors, including average GRE scores, starting salaries and bonuses, undergraduate GPA, acceptance rates and the number of employed graduates.

As part of the seventh annual International Speaker Series, Furman University professor Katherine Kaup will explore contemporary violence in China’s minority regions and other themes from her recent book “Creating the Zhuang: Ethnic Politics in China,” during a talk at 3:30 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 16, in the Atkins Library Halton Reading Room.

The flow of life along the Catawba River changed dramatically about 50 years ago when Duke Energy created Lake Norman with the construction of Cowans Ford Dam in 1963. The lake and its surrounding region saw small farms, large plantations, mills and more replaced by state-of-the-art homes and businesses, nuclear power structures and a recreational lake culture – along with less visible changes such as shifting fish populations and a rise in community activism and environmental protection.

The selection committee for the 2015 Bank of America Award for Teaching Excellence is soliciting nominees. This award is one of the most important and prestigious presented by the University, as it honors outstanding teachers on campus and provides an example of UNC Charlotte’s commitment to teaching excellence.

Joël Gallegos, assistant provost for international programs, was elected to the Board of Directors of NAFSA: Association of International Educators, widely regarded as the leading professional organization in the field of international education. He will serve a three-year term beginning January 2015 in one of three member-at-large positions. 

The Center for Wellness Promotion (CWP) will host its annual OctSober Fest from 4 to 6 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 15, in the Student Health Center Multipurpose Room.

OctSober Fest, in its seventh year, is a carnival-style program that educates students on the risks and realities of alcohol consumption. The event kick offs National Collegiate Alcohol Awareness Week (NCAAW); UNC Charlotte’s Center for Wellness Promotion joins 1,000-plus colleges and universities in alcohol prevention efforts on campuses nationwide.