Chancellor

An oval-shaped great lawn to provide opportunities for people to be around other people, along with a monumental water element and more “pocket” spaces for activities, amenities and gatherings were the major elements of the conceptual design revealed at the final Belk Plaza Forum, April 11.

“We created a palate that would accommodate just about anything. The functional flexibility of space reflects classic design and introduces contemporary expression,” stated Adam Martin, a LandDesign associate and UNC Charlotte alumnus.

Last week, I informed you that the University was anticipating formal guidance from the General Administration as to how the newly-enacted Public Facilities Privacy and Security Act, also known as House Bill 2, applies to UNC Charlotte. We now have that guidance in the form of a memorandum from UNC President Margaret Spellings, available here on the General Administration website. The text of the Act, which I would encourage you to read, is appended to the memorandum.

The final Belk Plaza forum will be 4 to 6 p.m., Monday, April 11, in the Cone University Center.  At this event, there will be a short presentation by key members of the LandDesign team to reveal the conceptual plan for the plaza’s transformation.

The Dale F. Halton Arena opened Dec. 2, 1996, as a state-of-the-art facility intended to showcase sporting events and major functions. It honors a generous University supporter whose name also graces a reading room in Atkins Library and the tennis complex.

Halton is the granddaughter of Henry Barksdale Fowler, the founder of Pepsi-Cola Bottling Company of Charlotte, which was established in 1905 as the nation’s first Pepsi franchise. At the time, Charlotte had a population of about 15,000.

Faculty and staff members are invited to join colleagues for socializing and networking at a Faculty and Staff Social, which will be from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, April 6, at Hauser Alumni Pavilion.

Sponsored by Chancellor Philip L. Dubois, the social will feature light hors d’oeuvres, wine, beer and soft drinks. Register to attend online.

Wednesday, April 6, is National Walking Day as designated by the American Heart Association. The Advisory Committee to the Chancellor for Employee Health and Wellness is coordinating a group walk to encourage faculty and staff members to live longer, stronger, healthier lives. The American Heart Association recommends at least 150 minutes of physical activity per week for adults and 60 minutes per day for children and adolescents.

Starting at 4:30 p.m., April 6, employees will meet at the entrance of Belk Gym for a 30-minute group walk.

To members of the UNC Charlotte community:

We have received many questions about the meaning of House Bill 2, passed last week by the General Assembly.

UNC President Margaret Spellings, during a visit to campus Monday and Tuesday, touted Charlotte as a great place to invest and get an education.

On Monday, Spellings visited the North Carolina Research Campus in Kannapolis, had lunch with the chancellor’s executive team and toured campus – with stops at EPIC and the Data Visualization Center.

North Carolina voters displayed wide-ranging bipartisan support for higher education on Tuesday by approving $2 billion in bonds for public universities, community colleges, state parks and other projects across the Tar Heel state. Statewide, voters approved the Connect NC bonds with 66 percent voting in favor of the package, according to the latest figures.

Margaret Spellings, the new president of the University of North Carolina system, is concluding a two-day visit to UNC Charlotte and the Charlotte area with events on campus March 15. As she makes visits to the various UNC campuses, Spellings has been active in supporting the Connect NC bond issue on the March 15 statewide ballot.