Issue 48 | Nov. 17, 2022
Practicing Gratitude
Hi, Student Affairs colleagues,
 
We made it successfully through another Halloween season and the cold weather appears here to stay, so I hope your attention has turned to your favorite Thanksgiving recipes and a well-earned break next week. I know it will be a sprint for many of us through Wednesday, as we manage a number of tight budget and year-end deliverables and deadlines. Please also take some time out to reflect on the things, and people, you are grateful for. 

Our wonderful Healthy Heels folks have shared a blog post that offers some insight and tips on practicing gratitude: "Research suggests that taking time to reflect and notice the things we are thankful for means we experience more positive feelings, sleep better, express more kindness, and even have stronger immune systems." I hope you'll check it out and find time next week to relax and reflect — and that you’re spending your holiday doing things you love, with people you love.
 
All of my Student Affairs colleagues will be at the top of the list of things I am thankful for this year. I am so appreciative of our talented and dedicated team that makes students' Carolina experience such a transformative one.
 
I look forward to seeing you this Friday at our All-Staff Meeting/Lunch in the Carolina Union Great Hall at 12 p.m. (Hint: If you’re looking for me, I’ll be hanging out close to the banana pudding!)
 
Cheers,
Amy
DEPARTMENT UPDATES
Dean of Students
2022 Resource Guide for Students Remaining in Chapel Hill
With the Thanksgiving break just a week away, we wanted to share a one-stop resource that can connect students with some great information should they be sticking around the area. The information is linked on both the Student Affairs website and the Dean of Students website. Please pass this along to your students! We will also be reaching out soon to all Student Affairs departments to provide information about your services/hours over winter break.
Student Affairs Development
Pantry Bowl Nov. 20-27
Join us for the Pantry Bowl, where for the second straight year, NC State, Carolina and our supporters are coming together to reduce food insecurity on our campuses. From Nov. 20–27, the Wolfpack and the Tar Heels will compete to see who can receive the most gifts to our respective food pantries. Help us win again this year by contributing to support the Carolina Cupboard and their amazing work! Learn more and contribute at our website.
Student Life and Leadership
UNC Named 2022 ALL IN Most Engaged Campus for College Student Voting

Carolina was named one of the Most Engaged Campuses for College Student Voting in 2022, by the ALL IN organization! This was a huge achievement thanks to the work of many groups across campus, with a special shout out to the SLL team and Natasha Young, who advises the Civic Engagement Working Group in addition to leading student organizations and campus departments on non-partisan voter registration. Read more about this recognition.
New Student & Family Programs
Parents Council Grant Awards

There is still time to apply for a Parents Council Grant Award! Have you or someone in your department come up with an amazing idea? Is there a need that you have, where meeting that need would enhance and improve the Carolina student experience?

Consider applying for a grant award! The Council funds several awards, up to $50,000, each year to bring these new ideas to life in the following academic year. Applications close Dec. 9, 2022 at 11:59 p.m. ET.

For more information: go.unc.edu/pcgawardinfo.
Heels Care Network
Understanding Your Emotions

We had around 175 attendees at Wednesday's Carolina Mental Health Seminar, "Understanding Emotions and How to Talk about Them." If you were not able to attend, a recording of the webinar is now posted online. We will share next semester's line up of seminars soon!
Campus Rec
Jingle Bell Jog: Dec. 2

There is still time to sign up! Join us for the a 2.7 mile fun run or 1.5 mile walk open to UNC-Chapel Hill faculty and staff. All participants will be eligible for prize drawings, and awards will be given to the most spirited team and the team with the most creative costumes. Collections will be taken for Carolina Cupboard and local animal shelters. More info and registration here.
Student Affairs Communications
Fall 2022 Wednesday Wags

A huge thank you to all the departments who participated in this fall's Wednesday Wags! We will be reaching out to schedule our spring pup events very soon!

Check out a selection of pup photos from the semester on our Instagram Reel!
NEWS YOU CAN USE
ULEAD APPLICATIONS: University Leadership Education & Development (ULEAD) application period is now! The ULEAD program develops highly skilled and motivated leaders to meet the challenges of higher education’s changing environment. Participants learn from our world-renowned faculty, outside experts and each other. See the ULEAD web page for eligibility, program calendar, past projects and more. Applications open through Friday, Dec. 2.
CAROLINA CARES, CAROLINA SHARES: The UNC-Chapel Hill’s 2022 Carolina Cares, Carolina Shares (CCCS) Campaign is underway in support of the North Carolina State Employees Combined Campaign (SECC), which raises funds for charities across North Carolina. Historically, Carolina has been the largest contributor in the SECC, with last year’s pledges totaling $446,182 and helping over 800 charitable organizations across North Carolina carry out their mission.
HOLIDAY AND LEAVE REMINDERS: With fall and winter holidays approaching, remember that employees can request to exchange the paid Spring Holiday (Good Friday) or Winter Holidays (Christmas) for another religious holiday within the employee’s religious faith. See the Alternate Holiday section of the Holiday & Holiday Pay Policy for details, including approval requirements and TIM instructions.
CAMPUS DIVERSITY CLIMATE SURVEY: In October we launched a campus-wide diversity climate survey, to help understand our campus’s climate and inform long-term DEI strategy. Did you take the survey yet? All submissions are due by tomorrow, Nov. 18. Be sure to look for an email from Viewfinder® Campus Climate Surveys, and take it today!

MINI GRANT CALL FOR PROPOSALS: The UNC-Chapel Hill Peer Support Core launched a Call for Proposals for mini-grants that advance peer support at Carolina. Applications will be accepted between Nov. 7, 2022, and April 30, 2023, and will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
UPCOMING EVENTS
See PlayMakers Repertory Company’s beautiful, smart and funny adaptation of Jane Austen’s “Emma” Nov. 16-Dec. 4. 

Don’t miss the Carolina Bluegrass Band in concert Nov. 20 at 7:30 p.m., Hill Hall’s Moeser Auditorium. $10 general admission; $5 students, staff and faculty. 

On Nov. 21, join the University, community and family at 4 p.m. in the Pit to dedicate the James Lewis Cates Jr. Memorial. You are invited to lay flowers by the memorial throughout the day. Following the ceremony, the Pit will be lit from dusk to dawn in remembrance of Cates.  
The Employee Forum invites you to bleed Carolina blue at the annual Holiday Carolina Blood Drive 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 7 at Fetzer Hall.
BE WELL
Take a Break
Take some time today to relax and be still. This can help you reset for the day, wind down at night or offer midday recalibration. You might use an app for a five-minute meditation, or just sit quietly with or without soft music. During your quiet time, it can be nice to replay moments of your day that bring up feelings of joy or gratitude.
LET US HEAR FROM YOU!
Want to send a special thank you to a staff member who went above and beyond? Send your Kudos to studentaffairs@unc.edu.
Send your Comings & Goings and staff updates to studentaffairs@unc.edu.
Email your newsletter submissions to studentaffairs@unc.edu by 5 p.m. on Tuesdays to be included in that week's newsletter