University of North Carolina at Charlotte (UNCC, UNC Charlotte) History and Academics

History

Charlotte, North Carolina desired a public university for many years but was unable to sustain one. Students had to travel over 90 miles to find the nearest state supported university. The city submitted a bid but lost to local farmers who were willing to donate land for the campus now known as North Carolina State University.

The University of North Carolina first opened its doors in September of 1946. The enrollment was 278 students, and the school served returning soldiers from World War II. The GI Bill made it possible for the school to flourish, but in 1949, the university closed its doors. Classes were then held at Central High School after being taken over by a city school district and renamed Charlotte College. The enrollment at the two-year institution increased to 492, and school leaders began searching for a permanent site for the school.

Charlotte College joined the North Carolina Community College System and moved to its current location in 1961. In 1963, it became a 4-year institution and in 1964 the college became known as the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

The university has since grown to 4 campuses: Charlotte Research Institution Campus, University Center (Main Campus), Uptown Charlotte Campus, and South Charlotte Campus (Ballantyne). The Main campus is self-contained and located in a wooded area with many synthetic lakes. The campus is constantly being upgraded, and many new building are being built. The Charlotte Research Institution Campus sits on 100-acres of land next to the main campus. This campus focuses on research and information technology. The Uptown Charlotte Campus focuses on evening and business courses, but in the future, the campus will house graduate level programs. The south Charlotte Campus houses the College of Computing and Informatics and a few graduate level courses.

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Information Summary

Ranks 12th in North Carolina and 433rd overall. See the entire top 2,000 colleges and universities list
Overall Score (about)	87.7
Total Cost On-Campus Attendance	$23,694
Admission Success rate	N/A
ACT / SAT 75%ile scores	26 / 1270
Student Ratio Students-to-Faculty	22 : 1
Retention (full-time / part-time)	82% / 44%
Enrollment Total (all students)	29,710

Academics

The University of North Carolina at Charlotte, a public research university, sits on 1,000 acres of land in the state of North Carolina. One of its distinguishing characteristics is that the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching classifies the university as a doctoral/research university.

The university currently offers bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in over 170 areas of study. The University of North Carolina at Charlotte also offers distance education for interested students. There are 15 certificate and degree programs available through distance education. The programs are available from 25 percent to 100 percent online. The university currently has 10 colleges that make up the degree programs. The colleges include College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, College of Arts + Architecture, College of Education, College of Health and Human Services, William States Lee College of Engineering, College of Computing & Informatics, Belk College of Business, University College, Graduate School, and Honors College.

There are several departments at the university, including Department of Geography & Earth Sciences, Department of Reading & Elementary Education, Department of Sociology, and Department of Languages & Culture Studies. A few of the degrees that the University of North Carolina at Charlotte offers are accounting, illustration, systems engineering and engineering management , technical and professional writing, and Spanish.

Most Popular Fields of Study

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Admissions

The admission process for freshman includes submitting an admission application, official transcript, and standardized scores (SAT or ACT). The deadline to submit an application is early June for the summer session and fall semester.

Each year more than 1,200 international students attend the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. International students must submit a Foreign Credential Evaluation of your degree certificate or academic transcripts. The National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) or World Education Services must perform the evaluation. Students must also submit IELTS or TOEFL scores to ensure English language proficiency. Students educated for two years or more in the United States must also submit ACT and SAT scores. The application deadline is early May for the fall semester and early October for the spring semester.

Graduate students must submit an application, standardized test score, letters of recommendation, and official transcripts to receive admission into graduate school. The deadline to submit an application for priority admission is early May for the fall semester, early October for the spring semester, and early April for the summer sessions.

Financial Aid

Many students depend on financial aid to pay for an education. Students must complete the FAFSA form to determine eligibility. The FAFSA priority deadline is early April for students. Student aid programs consist of loans, grants, and part-time employment. Students that demonstrate financial need receive these forms of aid. The money that students received is disbursed according to the number of enrolled credit hours.

The university offers payment plans for those who need it. Students have 10 months to pay the full financial obligation for the full academic year. Payments begin at the start of the academic year. Another option is a 5-month payment plan in which students can fulfill the financial obligations for the semester. Students should expect a small processing fee, but no interest.

There are also hosts of different scholarship opportunities for students who qualify. Scholarships are offered through the university and specific departments. Specific forms of financial aid are also available for graduate students. These forms of aid include assistantships, health insurance grants, tuition waivers, and tuition grants. Students may also qualify for Veterans Education benefits if specific requirements are met. Students should consult the Veterans Service Office for information on the type of assistance available. Outside scholarships, grants, and other forms of aid are also available to students. Students should view the financial aid page of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte website for more details.

Student Financial Aid Details

Ranks 3271st for the average student loan amount.
Secrets to getting the best scholarships and financial aid in North Carolina.

Students

A large number of student organizations are found on the campus of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. A few of the many types of organizations include sports, Greek organizations, honor societies, religious, political, and interest groups.

Students who are interested in sororities and fraternities will enjoy the diverse Greek life on campus. The campus currently has 14 fraternities and 10 sororities in the campus community. Sororities include Chi Omega, Alpha Kappa Alpha, Seta Phi Beta, Gamma Phi Delta, and Zeta Tau Alpha. Fraternities include Alpha Phi Alpha, Chi Phi, Iota Phi Theta, Lambda Chi Alpha, and Kappa Sigma.

Residential housing is important to University of North Carolina at Charlotte students, who have the choice of traditional housing, apartment style housing, Greek style housing, and suite style housing. Moore Hall, Sanford Hall, Scott Hall, and Holshouser Hall are the options that offer traditional residential hall living options. A few of the options for suite style living are Laurel Hall, Oak Hall, Spruce Hall, Cedar Hall, and C. F. Lunch Hall. Elm Hall, Maple Hall, Witherspoon Hall, and Hunt Hall offer apartment style living, and Greek Village offers Greek style living.

Many students have special interests that they enjoy doing in their free time. The university has a diverse number of interest groups, including A.C.E.S Hip Hop Dance Team, Earth Club, Linux Users Group, Japanese Animation and Mango Society, Horsepower Addicts, and Art of Light Photography Club.

The university has students from over 80 countries across the world. There are divers associations, organizations, and clubs for international students, including Arab Student Organization, Model United Nations, International Club, Indian-American Student Association, Nihon Club, and Caribbean Connection.

Those interested in politics may consider joining Feminist Union, College Republicans, Student Organization for Non-Partisan Political Action (N-PPA), and College Democrats. A few of the religious groups include Hindu Students Council, Mission 28, Voices of Eden Gospel Choir, Greater Faith Christian Fellowship, and Young Life.

Intramural sports and recreational clubs are very important as well. These clubs and groups give students a since of belonging on the campus and allow students to make lasting friendships. Students may travel to compete against students at other schools just as the varsity teams do. A few of the intramural sports and clubs include badminton, club swimming, Snowboarding Club, Fencing Club, Tennis Club, Women’s Volleyball Club, Triathlon Club, rugby, Kendo Club, and Men’s Soccer Club.

Student Enrollment Demographics

Student Graduation Demographics

Athletics

The University of North Carolina at Charlotte participates in the Atlantic 10 Conference and the NCAA Division I. The 14 varsity teams are nicknamed the 49ers. The teams include baseball, men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s cross country, golf, men’s and women’s tennis, volleyball, men’s and women’s track and field, men’s and women’s soccer, and softball. The school will have its first football team in 2013.

The school currently has 6 athletic facilities that include Hayes Stadium, baseball; Halton Arena, men’s and women’s basketball; Rocky River Golf Club, golf; Transamerica Field, men’s and women’s soccer; Phillips Field, softball; and Belk Track, men’s and women’s track and field.

The teams have a total of 20 conference championships in men’s basketball (1969, 1970, 1977, 1988, 1992, 1995. 1999, 2001, and 2004), women’s basketball (1990, 2003, and 2006), golf (2006, 2007, and 2008), and baseball (1993, 1994, 1995, 2007, and 2008). A few of the other notable accomplishments include NCAA Men’s College Cup in 1996, men’s soccer; 2 time defending A-10 Tournament Champions, women’s soccer; and Atlantic 10 Tournament Finalist in 2007, men’s soccer.

Notable athletes who attended the University of North Carolina at Charlotte include Cederic Maxwell, Boston Celtics; DeMarco Johnson, Boston Celtics; John Maine, New York Mets; Jason Stanford, Cleveland Indians; Chris Haney, Kansas City Royals; and John Busch, Minor League Soccer.

Bibliography

Litos, Michael. Cinderella: Inside the Rise of Mid-Major College Basketball. Naperville: Sourcebooks, Inc., 2008. Print.
Powell, William S. North Carolina Through Four Centuries. Chapel Hill: The University of North Carolina Press, 1989. Print.
University of North Carolina at Charlotte. 17 April 2011. Web. 17 April 2011.

University of North Carolina at Charlotte