Carolina MPA Student Digest: |
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Carolina MPA Calendar
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October 22-24: MPA Immersion
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TBD: Registration for January/Spring 2021 Term
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January 4, 2021: January term online courses begin
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January 6, 2021: Spring residential classes begin
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New Student Leadership Council Members Selected |
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Online SLC
Online SLC members were recently selected. Each format has their own Student Leadership Council, which provides feedback to the Program Faculty and Staff, serves as ambassadors of the Program, and initiates programming for all students. If you would like to give feedback to your SLC reps, their emails are included below. The online SLC also has a listserv at mpaatunc_slc@sog.unc.edu.
Students may apply to be on the Online SLC during their second term in the Program. Students are chosen to represent their peers based on excitement about the program, willingness to provide insight to and connect with other students, and interest in working collaboratively with the MPA Program Office staff to enhance the student experience. The Online SLC had a large number of quality applications this term, and we thank everyone who applied.
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On-Campus SLC
On-campus reps for the SLC were also recently selected. Each cohort elects new representatives each year, and Graduate and Professional Student Federation (GPSF) Senators also serve as SLC members. In addition, there is currently an open slot for an Alumni Board representative who will serve on the SLC, which will be announced at a future date. New members are listed below and returning members are listed on the MPA Intranet. While these students are now residing near campus, their hometowns are included so you can get to know a little more about them!
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Some of the residential MPA students recently let off some steam during a socially distant and masked up kickball game on the Intramural Fields near the School of Government. Thanks to Dr. Berner for capturing it for us! |
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The School of Government Diversity Gazette |
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Our friend and colleague, Carl Stenberg, recently was named an Honorary Member of the International City/County Management Association (ICMA). This honor recognizes “individuals outside the local government profession who have contributed to the improvement of local government.” This is a significant honor, and ICMA only honors one or two people each year. Over the years, the people selected as Honorary Members have included academic trailblazers, elected officials, and civic leaders. The first Honorary Member was selected in 1924, and over the years there have only been a total of 77 Honorary Members. The impressive list of honorees includes our own legendary faculty members, Jake Wicker and Don Hayman. It is exciting and appropriate that Carl is joining this distinguished group people who have made major contributions to improving local government. Here is a link to a write-up about Carl in support of the honor on the ICMA website, along with nice video of Carl accepting the award, remotely, of course. Please join me in offering Carl congratulations for receiving this well-deserved honor.
-Dean Mike Smith
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Congratulations to MPA Faculty Member Dr. Whitney Afonso for recently being re-elected to the Executive Committee of the Association of Budgeting and Financial Management (ABFM). This group serves as the governing board for ABFM, which is our national budgeting association. Dr. Afonso was originally elected in 2018, and this article was released at that time. Congratulations, Dr. Afonso! |
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University & Beyond Events |
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- Virtual Opportunities to engage:
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October 7: How Crisis Sparks and Speeds Innovation
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October 7: How Pandemics Show Us Who We Are: Race and Risk in the United States
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October 9: Virtual UNC Housing Fair
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October 9-13: Queer Minicon
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October: 23: YNPN Virtual Halloween Cocktail Class
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October 29: Masters & Doctoral Virtual Career Fair
- Highlighted Resource: October Writing Center Events
- Volunteer & Professional Development Opportunities
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Apps due October 15: Compete in the FlyRDU Triangle Impact Challenge
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Apps due October 9: Apply for the Graduate School's Impact & Horizon Awards
- Apply for the Hillsborough Board of Adjustment
- Apply for the Orange United Transportation Board
- Opportunities to Get Outside
- HealthyHeels Ideas for Getting Outside this Fall
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ANNUAL STATE OF INNOVATION FORUM
How Crisis Sparks and Speeds Innovation
Wednesday, Oct. 7 | 9 a.m. | Zoom Webinar
Please join Chancellor Kevin Guskiewicz and a community of fellow Carolina innovators on Wednesday, Oct. 7 for the Annual State of Innovation Forum hosted by Innovate Carolina. We'll explore how our campus, local region and society at large are confronting a convergence of crisis-level challenges: the COVID-19 pandemic, racial injustice, climate change, and others. How are University problem solvers using the methods and tools of innovation to create positive and necessary disruptions at a rapid pace? And how might we maintain a brisk and nimble pace in the future? During this webinar, we'll look at the state of UNC innovation with University leaders and hear from Carolina innovators about a diversity of projects they are leading in response to the coronavirus and its social and economic impacts.
Share your innovation story: Tell us how your team or department is innovating in new and faster ways. Innovate Carolina will amplify Carolina innovation stories on Twitter during and after the forum
State of UNC Innovation Speakers
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Chancellor Kevin Guskiewicz will discuss the University's focus on innovation and entrepreneurship, including key strategies Carolina is employing to navigate moments of tension and accelerate critical answers now and in the future.
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Vice Chancellor Judith Cone will provide an update on a variety of I&E programs, services and community partnerships that have emerged to spark timely breakthroughs and speed social and economic impact. She'll also introduce the results of the University's newly released innovation impact report.
Innovation Network Project Updates
- Boundary Spanners: Humanistic and Data Analysis Tools to Address COVID-19 in NC Communities
Suzanne Barbour, Dean of the Graduate School and Professor of Biochemistry and Biophysics, School of Medicine
- COVID-19 Research: Understanding Transmission, Detection, Treatment and Prevention
Ronit Freeman, Associate Professor, Department of Applied Physical Sciences
- VR, Video and AI Tech for COVID-19 Teaching and Research
Steven King, Associate Professor, Hussman School of Journalism and Media
- Innovating for Minority Student Internships, Professional Development and Curricular Crossover
Nehemiah Stewart, UNC Student and Founder, Vector Rideshare and Level the Playing Field
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UNC Virtual Housing Fair
Name of Event: Virtual Housing Fair, hosted by Off-Campus Student Life
Date: Friday, October 9, 2020
Time: 11:00 am - 1:00 pm
Register here with your email address to receive the link for the Virtual Housing Fair on October 9th.
At the Virtual Fair you will be able to find out more about apartments available near campus:
-Pricing and availability
-Floor plans and virtual tours
-Live chat with property representatives
-Property RAFFLES AND GIVEAWAYS
-Live chat with representatives from Off-Campus Student Life and Carolina Student Legal Services
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showcases LGBTQIA+ research, art, literature, and lived experiences at North Carolina colleges and universities
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the LGBTQ Center at UNC-Chapel Hill will not be hosting our usual National Coming Out Day events. Instead, we are partnering with Student Life and Leadership, Sexuality Studies, and Honors Carolina Pride to host Carolina’s first-ever Queer MiniCon on October 9th and 13th (before and after the official observance of NCOD, which falls on a Sunday this year).
Queer MiniCon will be an opportunity for undergraduate students, graduate/professional students, faculty, postdocs, and staff from all North Carolina institutions of higher education to share research, lived experiences, and creative work (visual, dance/movement, music, drama/theater, spoken/written poetry) affirming the experiences of LGBTQIA+ communities and individuals.
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Join Young Nonprofit Professionals Network (YNPN) Triangle NC for a fun evening of virtual socializing and making your own cocktails. Mystic Farm Distillery will lead us for a tutorial of how to make Halloween themed drinks, followed by a Zoom costume contest and great prizes. Proceeds to benefit YNPN Triangle. |
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2020 NC Master's & Doctoral Virtual Career Fair is on Thursday, October 29th from 12:00 – 5:00 P.M on Handshake.
Graduate students, postdocs, and graduate alumni in humanities/social sciences and STEM fields are welcomed to attend and sign up for group and one-on-one sessions with hiring employers. This event is not intended for MBA students.
Here are some quick steps to be ready for the fair:
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Register on Handshake
- Update your Handshake profile
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View the participating organizations and select available employer chat times (1:1 and group sessions).
- Then login on the day of the fair and meet with employers! The site will be live for students promptly at 12:00pm EST.
*You are expected to show up to every employer you sign-up to meet, including information sessions. You must cancel your registration/sign-up(s) if you're no longer interested in meeting with an employer in order to give other students the opportunity.
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Highlighted Resource: October Writing Center Events |
How to Get and Give Effective Feedback
Feedback from peers and senior colleagues is an extremely useful resource that can help you improve your writing. This workshop helps you solicit and provide helpful feedback on writing.
Jump Start Your Writing Group
Looking for community and accountability when working on your writing projects from home? In this workshop, we will provide advice and resources to help you organize your own writing group.
Get It Done! Winning Your Battle with Procrastination
Battling procrastination may seem like an insurmountable challenge. Use this chance to get together with fellow procrastinators and learn about tools that have proven helpful. Create your own anti-procrastination toolkit!
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Oct. 15: Team Formation and Project Abstracts Due
Ready to represent UNC and use your ingenuity to help make air travel safer?
A consortium of Research Triangle partners (Duke, NC State, NCCU, UNC, RTI and RDU airport) have joined together to sponsor an innovation challenge to help the air travel industry solve new complex problems caused by the pandemic. This is an opportunity for students, faculty, and employees of the consortium to serve as a driving force to design and develop innovative solutions that redefine the future of safe travel.
Through this challenge, you'll get to design, propose, and pitch your solutions to RDU airport and stakeholders. Mentors will be available to provide feedback and answer your questions throughout the challenge.
Funding: $120,000K in available grant funding
Who Can Participate: Faculty, students and staff teams
Challenge Themes
- Passenger Transit
- Airport Operations and Employee Safety
- Cleaning and Touchpoint Elimination
- Aircraft Safety
Key Dates
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Oct. 8: Design Thinking Webinar
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Oct. 15: Team Formation and Project Abstracts Due
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Nov. 16: Project Submissions Due
- Jan. 14: Pitch Deck Submissions
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Jan. 18-22: Project Pitch Day Learn more and sign up
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The Graduate School is currently accepting applications for the 2021 Impact and Horizon Awards recognizing graduate student research that contributes to the educational, economic, physical, social or cultural well-being of North Carolinians. Eligible nominees include current graduate students and alumni who graduated May 2019 and later. A gallery highlighting the research of the 2020 recipients can be found here.
Nominees whose research has demonstrated direct impact will be considered for the Impact Award; Nominees whose research has high potential for direct impact will be considered for the Horizon Award.
Students should submit their applications online; Programs may nominate up to three students.
Nominations are due October 9, 2020.
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Applicants Needed to Represent Orange County on the Hillsborough Board of Adjustment
ORANGE COUNTY, NC (September 29, 2020) – One major way citizens can have a positive impact on the future of Orange County is to volunteer to serve on the various County advisory boards and commissions.
The Orange County Board of Commissioners appoints representatives to fill three positions on the TOWN OF HILLSBOROUGH BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT. These individuals represent and must reside in the Extraterritorial Jurisdiction (ETJ) of the Town of Hillsborough.
The Town of Hillsborough Board of Adjustment has the following duties:
(a) Hear, review, and decide appeals from and review any order, requirement, decision, or determination made by the Planning Department in the performance of official duties relative to enforcement of the Town’s UDO (Unified Development Ordinance) and Minimum Housing Code.
(b) Hear, review, and decide appeals from decisions of the Town of Hillsborough Historic District Commission.
(c) Hear and decide applications for the approval of Conditional Use Permits as prescribed by the Town’s UDO.
(d) Hear and decide applications for variances from the provisions of the Town’s UDO and Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance.
(e) Pass upon, decide, or determine such other matters as may be required by the Town’s UDO.
It may also serve as an appeals board for other matters assigned to it under the Town Code of Ordinances.
Presently, a vacancy exists for One (1) Alternate Representative residing in the Hillsborough ETJ.
To view the Hillsborough ETJ locations, see the following linked map.
If interested, apply on the Orange County website.
Orange County strives for diversity on volunteer advisory boards. Minorities are encouraged to apply. Applicants must reside in Orange County. Volunteers appointed by the Board of County Commissioners have an opportunity to influence the way of life in Orange County.
If you need to verify if your residence is located in the ETJ of Hillsborough or for additional information call Thom Freeman 919-245-2125.
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Applicants needed for
Orange Unified Transportation Board
ORANGE COUNTY, NC (September 25, 2020) – One major way citizens can have a positive impact on the future of Orange County is to volunteer to serve on the various County advisory boards and commissions.
The Orange County Board of Commissioners is currently recruiting for the Orange Unified Transportation Board (OUTBoard). This board provides information and comments on major transportation issues. The Board also provides recommendations regarding the overall planning and programming of transportation improvements in Orange County, including identifying and prioritizing the county’s roadway and transit needs along with associated costs and specific sources of funding. The Board assists in development and review of the transportation component of the Comprehensive Plan.
There are currently six openings to be filled on the OUTBoard.
- One in the Cedar Grove Township
- One in the Hillsborough Township
- One in the Little River Township
- One in the Eno Township
- Two At-Large
To view a map of township locations see the following link.
If interested, apply on the Orange County website.
Orange County strives for diversity on volunteer advisory boards. Minorities are encouraged to apply. Applicants must reside in Orange County. Volunteers appointed by the Board of County Commissioners have an opportunity to influence the way of life in Orange County.
For additional information call Thom Freeman, 919-245-2125.
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Falling into Nature
The leaves are beginning to change and the temperatures are cooling off, yall know what that means …… fall is here!
During this transition, you might be looking for new ways to connect with friends, nature, and the world around you. Try spending this socially distanced fall equinox reconnecting with the outdoors.
Spending time in nature can help improve your mood, lower stress levels, and encourage higher activity levels. Getting a change of scenery and a breath of fresh air can also increase both physiological and mental health benefits.
Outdoor Opportunities
- Spend a night in nature: Plan a camping trip to a local campground with your roommates. Pack light, it's just a night.
- Build a fire with friends: Stay warm by sharing stories and experiences, fireside with family or close friends.
- Go apple picking: Find a local orchard or farmers market to walk through and pick up some tasty autumn treats.
- Pack for the park: invite a friend to spend the afternoon in the park. Remember to pack a good book or a game to maximize your time outside.
- Take a Hike: Blazing trails can range from beginner to strenuous, before committing to the route find a level that is right for your adventure.
Remember to keep your hand sanitizer and a clean mask handy for all your fall adventures.
Tarheel Trails:
For a full list of Chapel Hill outdoor recreation facilities click here.
Not living near the Carolina community? No worries check out your local area’s park and recreation site for a full list of outdoor activities and opportunities. Message us @unchealthyheels for suggestions close to you.
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Carolina MPA | UNC School of Government | carolinampa.sog.unc.edu | Website | Intranet
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