General News

The Belk Foundation recently awarded Charlotte Teachers (CTI) Institute a grant for the fifth consecutive year, this time for $25,000 to support seminars serving 100-plus teachers in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS). CTI is an innovative, educational partnership among UNC Charlotte, Davidson College and CMS designed to strengthen teaching and learning in CMS by cultivating content knowledge, creativity, leadership skills and collaboration among teachers. 

Debra Smith, associate professor of Africana studies, is among the five finalists for one of UNC Charlotte’s top honors – the Bank of America Award for Teaching Excellence. The recipient of this award will be revealed at a special ceremony on Friday, Sept.

Jessica Barton is taking on a new challenge this year as the first-ever communications officer for the UNC Charlotte Staff Council.
“One of our goals is to reach out to more staff members to increase awareness about Staff Council events and initiatives,” said Barton, who is a business analyst for the Belk College of Business. “I plan to explore how to use other forms of communication beyond email, such as the digital displays in buildings, and we are in the process of reworking the Staff Council website, too.”

A new garden in the works at UNC Charlotte Botanical Gardens will  blend southeastern native flora, sustainable practices and smart home landscape design in a 1/5-acre showplace that will add to the diversity of these public gardens.

Longtime UNC Charlotte friend Carol Grotnes Belk, the wife of UNC Charlotte benefactor Irwin “Ike” Belk, died Aug. 25 at The Cypress.
Born in Park Ridge, Ill., Carol Belk was a founding trustee to Charlotte Latin School and served on the board of Discovery Place. She and Ike Belk were married almost 66 years, and Carol is survived by her husband and their sons and daughters William Irwin Belk (Georgia), Irene Belk Miltimore (Dean), Marilyn Belk Wallis (Edward) and Carl Grotnes Belk (Beth).

Rebecca MacNair-Semands, senior associate director of the Counseling Center, was named a Fellow of the American Psychological Association at the organization’s national convention in Washington, D.C.
The APA bestows Fellow status upon members who have shown evidence of unusual and outstanding contributions or performance in the field of psychology. According to the APA, Fellow status requires a person’s work to have had a national impact on the field of psychology beyond a local, state or regional level.

Tracy Rock, an associate professor in the College of Education, is a finalist for the Bank of America Award for Teaching Excellence, one of the University’s most prestigious honors.

For its innovative and efficient application of National Instruments products, the Lee College of Engineering’s Rocket Team won a chance to travel to Austin, Texas, to present at the 20th annual NIWeek. Out of 3,250 student projects submitted from 25 countries for the Student Design Competition, National Instruments selected the 49er team as one of three finalists.

The Office of Parent and Family Services anticipates a large contingent of Niner Nation members at the annual Family Weekend, scheduled for Friday and Saturday, Sept. 26-27.
Registration for the event has been successful with the three family packages offered sold out; however, Kesha Williams, assistant director for parent and family services, noted tickets are still available for select activities.