By Steve Gilliam, University Relations
Contact: (336) 334-5371
Posted 8-12-08
GREENSBORO, NC – UNCG will start its 117th year Tuesday, Aug. 19, when new freshmen and transfer students arrive for fall semester.
Classes begin Monday, Aug. 25, with the annual Fall Kickoff festival taking place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. along College Avenue. UNCG’s freshman classes have been record-setters in recent years, but official figures aren’t available yet.
UNCG has a new chancellor. Dr. Linda P. Brady started her new job on Aug. 1, and has come to campus from the University of Oregon, where she was provost and senior vice president.
Students can enjoy the new Kaplan Commons area, which is located on the west side of Elliott University Center (EUC) and will be dedicated during FallFest in late September. Major renovations have been completed for Aycock Auditorium, Petty Building, Alumni House and Brown Building, all N.C. Higher Education Bond projects.
Crisis communication has been enhanced across the campus. Features include a new intercom system in most classrooms, text messaging, computer screen pop-up warnings, and public address speakers and sirens added to several of the 100-plus blue-light telephone poles on campus.
New programs include a Campus Bicycle Master Plan designed to promote access to campus by bicycle and to enhance bike use by students, faculty and staff. A new smoking policy is in effect on campus which prohibits smoking within 25 feet of any campus building.
New graduate degrees include PhD programs in medicinal biochemistry and computational mathematics, bringing the total number of doctoral programs at UNCG to 25.
Textbook purchases will be cheaper and easier for students. The University Bookstore, which is managed by Barnes & Noble, has cut its textbook prices by 5 percent. For convenience, UNCG’s registration system also has a new program that allows students to order their books when they register for classes. The books are collected by bookstore staff and all that students have to do is pay for their orders and pick up them up.
Key dates for the new year’s start-up include:
• Tuesday through Thursday, Aug. 19-21 – Specific move-in days are scheduled for residence halls to minimize congestion. For details, check the Housing & Residence Life “Move-In Central” website at http://hrl.uncg.edu/services/movein/.
• Wednesday, Aug. 20 – Chancellor Brady will hold her first opening convocation, with the State of the Campus address at 9:30 a.m., followed by the faculty convocation from 10:30-11:45 a.m., both in Aycock. Lunch for faculty and staff will follow in the Dining Hall.
• Thursday, Aug. 21 – Orientation for all new faculty members, 8 a.m.-3:30 p.m., starting at the Sullivan Science Building; 9 a.m.-noon, new graduate student orientation, EUC Auditorium.
• Friday-Friday, Aug. 22-29 – Orientation activities during Spartan Welcome Week and a week’s worth of activities for new and returning students. More details are at the Orientation Office web site at http://orientation.uncg.edu/programs/welcomeweek/.
• Sunday, Aug. 24 – The Chancellor’s Convocation for new students will be at 4 p.m. in Aycock. Charlie’s Block Party will follow at 5 p.m. at the fountain outside the Dining Hall.
• Monday, Aug. 25 – Classes start at 8 a.m. UNCG is expecting another large freshman class. No official figures are available at this time. From 11 a.m.-3 a.m., the annual Fall Kickoff carnival will be held on College Avenue.
• Wednesday, Aug. 27 – A part-time job fair for students and Triad employers will be held from 12:30-4 p.m. in Cone Ballroom of EUC.
• Thursday, Sept. 18 – UNCG Board of Trustees, first meeting.
