Issue 25|October 7, 2021
A Message from the Vice Chancellor
 

Dear Student Affairs Team,
 
It feels like an odd phrase to type in October 2021, but I am so proud to congratulate our graduating Class of 2020 this weekend! On Sunday, Oct. 10, at 1 p.m., we will celebrate our 2020 graduates at a Commencement Ceremony in Kenan Stadium. Thank you to our Accessibility Resources and Service team and to all of our Student Affairs volunteers who are working this weekend to support this special event. (If you haven’t already volunteered, there’s still time to do so! Please reach out directly to ARS as soon as possible.)
 
The belated celebration of our 2020 grads’ success would not be possible without your terrific expertise, long hours, and dedicated work to support them through the transition to remote learning (for undergraduates) in spring 2020. During a time of anxiety and uncertainty for all of us, I recognize the commitment it took for you to make such a quick and dramatic shift to support undergraduates’ learning and development in a primarily online environment, while still engaging with our graduate and professional students (and some undergraduates) in person. 
 
I hope you will take an opportunity this weekend to look back at the last 18 months and celebrate all that we have achieved together in support of our students. I know the University has also had many setbacks and challenges, and we still have a significant amount of work to do on many fronts, but I think it’s important that we are buoyed by our successes whenever possible—and use that as momentum to propel us forward.
 
In that spirit, please be sure to take part in some of our Latinx Heritage Month activities, which continue through mid-October. I watched the keynote address by Julián Castro last week and was moved by his personal story and career path — and discussion of the resilience that his trajectory has required. I love the theme of our LHM celebration and think it is a fitting time for this message about moving forward. 
 
Heels Pa’lante! Have a great weekend!
 
Best,
Amy
Carolina People

Meet Berengére  

Berengére Phillips is an Assistant Director in Fraternity & Sorority Life where she has worked for nearly four years. In her role, she advises the National Pan-Hellenic Council and the Multicultural Greek Council, facilitates and provides leadership development opportunities, spearheads the inaugural speaker series initiative, and works with students to become impactful leaders of their organizations.

Campus Health
Protect Yourself from the Flu
“We know getting vaccinated helps to decrease the rate of transmission of flu. It helps individual patients not get flu, and even if you get the flu, you probably won’t be as sick as you would have been if you had not gotten vaccinated,” said Amy Sauls, director of pharmacy and professional services at Campus Health.

LGBTQ Center
National Coming Out Day
Every year on National Coming Out Day, we celebrate coming out as LGBTQ+. This year, we will mark the 33rd anniversary of National Coming Out Day! Join the LGBTQ Center as we celebrate National Coming Out Day all week from Oct. 11-15!


Carolina Union
Latinx Heritage Month Welcomes Castro
In celebration of Latinx Heritage month, the Carolina Union hosted Julián Castro, former secretary of Housing and Urban Development, who delivered the keynote address. More than 250 attendees watched online and in-person as Castro spoke about a bright future for the Latinx community, in keeping with this year’s Latinx Heritage Month theme, “Heels Pa’lante,” which translates to “Heels moving forward.”
Blacklight Bash
The Union hosted a Blacklight Bash attended by more than 470 students. Giveaways included 16-inch Stuffed Rams, Street Signs, Daily Calendar boards, Coloring White Boards, and more! Students danced the night away with a live DJ, Blacklight Face Painting, and an inflatable Photo Booth with Glow in the Dark accessories.

University Career Services

Spread the Word About Upcoming Fairs
Share our October & November Virtual Fairs with your students by posting it in your newsletter, listserv, website, and social media. Please encourage students to participate in our Prepare for the Fairs series, virtual career education workshops, and schedule 1:1 Career Coaching via Handshake prior to the fairs. Questions? Contact Tessa Minnich at tessaminnich@unc.edu.

September Student Engagement Data
348 virtual appointments and 38 in-person appointments were completed in September by career coaches and career peers.
 
September 2021 Total Appointments (368) by Academic Year
Senior –160
Junior – 72
Sophomore – 66
1st Year – 26
Doctorate – 23
Masters – 20
Alumni – 19
 
September 2021 Workshop Engagement = 597 Total Attendance
Calendar Career Education Programs: 290 total attendance
Workshop Requests: 307 total attendance

Carolina Housing

2022-2023 Housing Selection
The 2022-2023 Housing Selection Priority Housing application will officially open on Oct. 11 through Nov. 8. Rising Sophomores, Juniors and Seniors can now apply to live on campus next academic year. We have numerous amazing contests and giveaways focusing on The Tar Heel Experience On Campus! This includes campus partners like UNC Athletics (Football & Basketball), Arts Everywhere, CDS, The Chancellor’s Office, Chapel Thrill Escapes and more! For more on our Housing Selection process, and to Explore The Halls, visit the Housing Selection page on our web site.

Ever feel like you’re not owning your own achievements? Turns out, you’re not alone. Join Organization and Professional Development’s Jen Baker and Rochelle Stojnic as they talk about imposter syndrome—what it is, whom it affects and what strategies to take to start giving yourself more credit. Exploring topics related to leadership, working effectively and all things professional development, this podcast approaches serious topics with lighthearted fun to make sure you’re Playing Well with Others.


  • UNC HR: Open enrollment for all benefit plans is Oct. 11-29. You can begin the process today by completing a tobacco use attestation.


  • The Well: With municipal elections in North Carolina beginning in October, make sure you’re registered to vote either by mail or in person. Find information and resources about registering to vote and elections on the Carolina Votes website.


New for Employee Appreciation Day this year is UNC HR's Cheers to Peers platform, a simple way to give a shout-out to your Carolina colleagues. Cheers to Peers messages can be submitted from Oct. 1–20 and will be published on the Employee Appreciation Day webpage on Oct. 22. You will be able to view and search all messages—the ones you’ve sent and the ones you’ve received!
Want to send a special thank you to a staff member who went above and beyond? Send your Kudos to studentaffairs@unc.edu.
Ethics and Our Idols: A discussion led by Christi Hurt, Melinda Manning and Erik Zhang

TODAY |12-1:30 p.m. 

Ethical consumerism refers to the choices the public makes in buying products. This conversation will consider the ethics of purchasing products created by artists or athletes who have engaged in interpersonal violence.

Join us for this relevant and thought-provoking discussion and an extensive opportunity for audience Q&A.


University Day
Tuesday, Oct. 12 | 2 p.m.
Memorial Hall

University Day is an occasion to remember the University’s past and celebrate its future. The date, Oct. 12, marks the laying of the cornerstone of Old East, the institution’s first building and the oldest state university building in the nation. 


LGBTQ+ Faculty Staff Social
Tuesday, Oct. 19 | 4:30- 6 p.m.
North Carolina Botanical Garden

Join other LGBTQ+ faculty, staff, and affirming friends or loved ones for an easy two-mile stroll through the Piedmont Nature Trails in the woods behind the North Carolina Botanical Garden. We will meet at the main entrance of the Botanical Garden at 4:30pm and at 4:40 will begin the walk. We will follow the Streamside Trail to the Oak Hickory Trail down to Elephant Rock. After a short visit at Elephant Rock we will meander our way back to the parking lot. Please note that the Botanical Gardens parking lot locks at 5 p.m. so make sure to park in the lot outside of the gates.

Please email your newsletter submissions to studentaffairs@unc.edu by 5 p.m. on Tuesdays to be included in that week's newsletter