Establishing NC Residency for Tuition Purposes (Hybrid )

Tuesday, February 10

9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

In-person (Graduate Student Center) or Zoom (register for link)

Representatives from The Graduate School will facilitate an information session and field questions about the process to establish North Carolina residency for tuition purposes via the Residency Determination Service (RDS). Topics will include requirements, timing, policies, and the determination process. Register for the event. If you are a U.S. citizen, becoming an NC resident for tuition helps The Graduate School preserve critical funding for international and first-year non-resident students.

Carolina Across 100 POV Challenge

As part of UNC’s Engagement Week, Carolina Across 100 invites undergraduate and graduate students to help analyze and visualize health, economic and/or social impacts in our state through the POV Challenge.

The top two entries will receive a $500 award with smaller prizes awarded to honorable mentions. While prizes are offered, it is expected that all submissions will prove invaluable to the partnerships between campus and North Carolina’s 100 counties. Register by February 10. MPA students have won this event in the past!

Spring 2026 Graduate Student Community Tour

Applications are now open for the Graduate School's Spring 2026 Graduate Student Community Tour, taking place on April 2.

This experiential learning opportunity will enable master’s and doctoral students to explore community engagement and public service opportunities with university partners who are located near campus.

The community tour is free for graduate students and there are limited spots available. Breakfast and lunch will be provided on the day of the tour.

Partners for this tour include Innovate Carolina, Town of Chapel Hill, Orange County Department on Aging, Habitat for Humanity, Table and more! Applications are due February 27.

MPA Student Receives City of Greensboro 2026 Everyday Champion Award

Greensboro resident and online MPA student James Hairston, PhD, was one of five to receive the City of Greensboro 2026 Everyday Champion Award. The HRC first presented the honor in 2023 to City residents who have gone “above and beyond” to champion increased human rights and social justice. Winners are nominated through a citywide process and selected by the MLK Breakfast Planning Committee. 

Hairston is an assistant professor in the Department of Leadership Studies and Adult Education at North Carolina A&T State University. In addition to providing classroom instruction, he has researched subjects such as the experiences of Black male students in science, technology, engineering, and math programs at predominantly white institutions, the school-to-prison pipeline, food insecurity among college students, and the role of artificial intelligence in supporting Black male students at historically Black colleges and universities. The Greensboro College graduate serves on the Interactive Resource Center’s Board of Directors, is a youth leader at Mt. Zion Baptist Church, has volunteered at a local Title I School, and is past president of the Black Alumni Collective at his alma mater. He holds a doctor of philosophy from Liberty University and earned a master’s degree in leadership for higher education from Capella University.

Wellness Day Stress-Free Zone Slime Making

lness Day Stress-Free Zone - Feb 9

Feeling squeezed by the semester? Chill out with the LGBTQ Center in a relaxing space for a stress break on the upcoming Wellness Day!

On February 9 from 11am-2pm, we'll have a low-sensory space with slime making, refreshments, and cozy activities to make the most of your wellness day. Check out the details on HeelLife!

World Cafe Dates Announced

Jan 26 | Feb 17 | Mar 26 | Apr 14 | 12:00pm-1:00pm | Graduate Student Center

Join ISSS and Graduate Student Success for our monthly World Cafe event. Each month, this group will engage in thoughtful discussion on different topics and celebrations around the world. We invite you to share your experiences and perspective. Afterward, we’ll enjoy refreshments from a local restaurant.

Sustainability Orientation

February 18, 6-7 pm RSVP

March 26, 6-7 pm RSVP

What does it mean that UNC-Chapel Hill achieved gold rating under the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System (STARS)?

Who manages the many different sustainability projects and programs on campus?

What role do you and your peers’ actions have on campus?

Sustainable Carolina’s new ONLINE offering, Sustainability Orientation: Pathways for Sustainability Leadership, answers these questions and more. This program, in partnership with the UNC Office of Waste Reduction and UNC Transportation and Parking, empowers students to become sustainability leaders on campus.

Those who complete orientation begin their journey to becoming a Sustainable Carolina Ambassador. The steps for becoming an Ambassador will be explained at Orientation, and available in an email following Orientation.

We will have fun, branded items you can take home with you following completion of Orientation. CLE credit is available for students.

9th Annual First-Generation Graduate Student Symposium

February 20 | 1-5 pm | Zoom

Join the Boston University Newbury Center, Duke University First-Generation Graduate Student Network, and The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Carolina Grad Student F1RSTS, along with our Cooperating Sponsor, FirstGen Forward, for our 9th annual symposium for graduate and professional students on February 20 via Zoom.

This national symposium is open to any student who identifies as a current first-generation graduate or professional student and is studying any discipline. Registration is free for all graduate and professional students!

Black History Month Book Club

Black History Month - Feb 26

Join the UNC LGBTQ Center in celebrating Black History Month with a discussion of Daniel Black’s Isaac’s Song, a novel exploring a complicated father-son relationship in the backdrop of 1980s Chicago.

We’ll be meeting on Thursday, February 26 from 5pm-6:30pm to explore the themes of love, familial relationships, and generational trauma present Black’s powerful work over some light refreshments. What are the lessons we’d like to pass on and what would we like to change?

Find out the details and RSVP on HeelLife! Additionally, listen to Isaac's Song on audiobook via UNC Libraries!

Nominations Being Accepted for Distinguished University Service Award

The Graduate School is happy to announce that we are currently accepting nominations for the 2026 Boka W. Hadzija Award for Distinguished University Service by a Graduate or Professional Student. This annual award recognizes a currently enrolled graduate or professional student who exemplifies exceptional:

• Character
• Scholarship
• Leadership
• Service to the University and broader community

Any faculty, staff, or student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill may submit nominations. Students may not self-nominate.

Nominations are due by 5:00PM on Friday, February 13, 2026.

Specific information about this award, the nomination process, and the link to the nomination form can be found on our website: https://gradschool.unc.edu/academics/awards/hadzija/.