Index | Faculty Senate | UNCA

11.0 CURRICULAR AND CO-CURRICULAR ENHANCEMENTS

UNC Asheville is committed to providing a rich curricular and co-curricular environment for its students, faculty and staff.  The following sections describe current programs, activities and services on the UNC Asheville campus in this continually growing domain.

11.1 Arts and Performances

Art
Throughout the year the Art Department sponsors workshops and lectures for the university and the community. Workshops are usually concentrated studies in a specific area of interest or media. Art exhibits are located in the Owen galleries on the first and second floors of Owen Hall.

The Art Department has a rotating collection. The works from the collection are available to the university community on a "check-out" system and can be hung in faculty offices where security is not a problem. When new works are added to the collection these become available for general university use.

Music
UNC Asheville music offers many musical opportunities for members of the faculty, their families, and friends. If you are interested in making music, you are welcome to join one of our performance groups: UNC Asheville Community Chorus, UNC Asheville Community Band, or UNC Asheville Community Jazz Band. If you are interested in hearing music, call the Music Department to receive a calendar of upcoming musical events.

If you would like more information on any of these opportunities or if you would like to become a member of the UNC Asheville Friends of Music and obtain free admission to many musical activities, please call the Chair of the UNC Asheville Music Department.

Drama
Theatre UNC Asheville, the production laboratory of the Department of Drama, is located in the Carol Belk Theatre, a 199-seat flexible theatre-in-the-round. An active and varied theatre season includes full-length productions that have reduced-priced tickets for the UNC Asheville community.  A dress rehearsal is held prior to opening night for all productions; faculty may purchase tickets at student prices for other performances. Faculty members may also arrange group ticket rates for classes and departmental organizations. Admission is free to student productions.

All Theatre UNC Asheville productions are open to participation by faculty, as well as students. Auditions are announced in the UNC Asheville Calendar and on posters around campus.

Cultural Events and Special Academic Programs
The Cultural Events and Special Academic Programs brings numerous national and international performers to campus each year including dance troupes, concerts, poets, and theatrical performances. Faculty may purchase tickets at a discounted price through the ticket office in the Highsmith University Center.

11.2 University Honors Program (SD0823F)

The University Honors Program at UNC Asheville, established in the fall of 1985, is designed to recruit motivated students with a demonstrated record of academic success, foster an environment in which the intellectual potential of students can flourish, and retain a core group of students committed to liberal learning by means of enhanced advising, mentoring, experiential learning, and other support services. The program is based on honors course work as well as co-curricular activities that "extend learning beyond the classroom." Course work emphasizes the interdisciplinary nature of liberal learning, the historical and cultural context of knowledge, and the value of understanding the foundations of contemporary ideas. The University Honors Program encourages independent study and collaborative research, particularly through the close interaction among students and faculty in a capstone senior experience. Co-curricular activities might include meetings with visiting scholars, discussions following selected cultural events, field experiences, service learning, study abroad and other travel opportunities.

The University Honors Program Curriculum consists of Honors sections of the liberal arts core curriculum, interdisciplinary special topics seminars, study abroad opportunities, and a senior capstone experience.  Students successfully completing all requirements, including 21 hours of coursework in the Honors Program, graduate with "Distinction as a University Honors Scholar" (see current UNC Asheville catalog for requirements), which is recorded on their transcript. Students who complete 11 hours of Honors coursework are eligible for "Recognition as an Honors Scholar," which will not be recorded on their transcript..

Transfer students and continuing UNC Asheville students may participate in the Honors Program by application, following self-nomination or nomination by the Director or a faculty member. Contact the Director of the University Honors Program (honors@unca.edu) for more information on eligibility and applications.

The University Honors Program is administered by a Director, appointed by the Provost and VCAA from among the faculty, in consultation with the Honors Advisory Committee and an Honors Student Advisory Committee.  Academic policies for the program are referred from the Director and the Advisory Committee to the APC of the Faculty Senate. Faculty teaching Honors courses are selected by the Director and the Advisory Committee, and the Director of the University Honors Program works with Department Chairs, Program Directors, and the Honors Program Advisory Committee to select Honors courses for the upcoming semester based on program needs. More information is available at https://www.unca.edu/academics/honors-program/.

11.3 Undergraduate Research Program

The primary goal of the Undergraduate Research Program (URP) is to provide participating students with a wide variety of research opportunities which support and supplement other educational activities. The program began in 1984 and founded the National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR) and the North Carolina Consortium on Undergraduate Research.

URP allows students to work closely with faculty on a wide variety of research projects; undergraduates share in the difficulties of planning and conducting research, as well as in the excitement of discovery. Students learn that research is not an esoteric, mysterious process, and they learn to organize themselves for a world of imperfect answers to sometimes fuzzy questions. Across all areas of interests, participating students benefit from a different kind of learning experience that changes their perspective on knowledge and education.

URP provides the organizational and programmatic structure for research experiences, usually reserved for graduate-level students, across the arts, humanities, natural sciences or social sciences. The innovative, nationally recognized program includes:

Students who have worked on research projects, whether or not they were funded by the URP are invited to present their results at one of three Undergraduate Research Symposia held on campus each year. The Program also funds travel grants for fifteen to twenty-five students and faculty to attend the Fall Conference of the North Carolina Consortium on Undergraduate Research, held in Durham, North Carolina, and the National Conference on Undergraduate Research, held at various campuses around the country in the spring. More information about the program is available at https://urp.unca.edu/.

11.4 Study Abroad/Study Away

UNC Asheville's Study Abroad/Study Away department offers assistance to students who want to experience academics in other countries as well as other parts of the United States.  Visit its Resource Library where you can discover which programs will be right for you!  For more information, visit https://studyabroad.unca.edu/

11.5 Center for Teaching and Learning

The Center for Teaching and Learning offers a range of services specifically aimed at assisting faculty in teaching enhancement.  For example, the Center 
* promotes better understanding of how our students learn;
* relates our teaching methods to these modes of learning;
* assists instructors who voluntarily seek help;
* provides monetary assistance for invited experts, instructional equipment and supplies, seminars, etc.

As an ongoing priority, the Center emphasizes UNC Asheville's commitment to teaching through a wide and flexible range of individual and group enrichment activities.  The Center provides support, information and assistance to faculty interested in improving their range of classroom skills; plans and sponsors pedagogy workshops and teaching retreats; seeks funding and writes grant proposals to support the improvement of teaching at UNC Asheville; and supports other ongoing teaching enrichment programs. More information about the Center is available at https://ctl.unca.edu/.

11.6  Key Center for Community Citizenship and Service-Learning

The Key Center encourages UNC Asheville students to undertake service projects in the Asheville area, to reflect on what they learn through service, and to draw connections between what they learn in the community and what they learn in the classroom. The Center helps UNC Asheville students and faculty find meaningful projects ranging from a few hours in length to short-term projects lasting a few days or weeks, to long-term internships with local service organizations and schools.  UNC Asheville students have worked at more than 60 area agencies and schools on a wide variety of projects including:
* tutoring basic skills such as reading and math in local schools,
*serving as mentors to at-risk youth,
* working on environmental projects,
* helping women and children who are victims of domestic violence,
* teaching English as a second language,
* helping local food banks and shelters for the homeless, and
* working with children and adults with disabilities.

For more information, visit https://keycenter.unca.edu/

11.7 University Writing Center (UWC)

At the heart of UNC Asheville's writing life, the University Writing Center sustains the liberal arts mission of the University. Staffed by composition professionals and trained consultants, the UWC works with a diverse population of writers in an accessible and comfortable environment. It serves students through one-to-one consultations and collaborates with faculty about writing practice and theory. The University Writing Center is an integral part of UNC Asheville's academic support services, works closely with the library, and maintains contact with an international network of writing centers.  For more information, visit https://writingcenter.unca.edu/

11.8 Joe Parsons Math Lab (aka Math Lab/Mathematics Assistance Center)

        Quick facts about the Math Lab

11.9 Asheville Graduate Center

The Asheville Graduate Center (AGC) coordinates all graduate programs on the UNC Asheville campus. The Center, which began operating in June of 1984, was established by President Friday and by the UNC Board of Governors as a vehicle for delivering needed graduate programs to the Asheville area. It is administered by the UNC Office of the President (formerly General Administration) and provides programs from various universities from within the UNC system. Tuition charges are the same as on the individual campuses. Degrees earned at the Graduate Center are conferred by the universities which provide the programs in Asheville. Most of the course work for programs offered through the Graduate Center is provided on the UNC Asheville campus. Some programs do, however, require a period of study in residence on the campus of the offering institution.

The programs available at the Graduate Center during any academic year are based upon the needs of Western North Carolina, program availability, and funding from the North Carolina General Assembly and the UNC Board of Governors. The graduate programs presently available and the participating universities are listed below.  For more information, visit https://professionaleducation.unca.edu/.

11.10 Center for Jewish Studies

The Center for Jewish Studies develops and coordinates course offerings in Jewish studies, sponsors intellectual and cultural programming, and encourages and supports the activities of Jewish students at UNC Asheville and other colleges and universities in the region.  In all its activities, its mission is educational.  As such, it promotes the academic study, formally and informally, of Jewish civilization.  The Center serves as a Jewish studies resource for teachers, students, and other individuals throughout the region. The director is appointed by the Chancellor in consultation with the Provost and VCAA.  A board of advisors, consisting of members of UNC Asheville faculty and staff as well as of members from the community, meets quarterly to discuss the Center’s activities. More information about Center programs is available at https://cjs.unca.edu/.

11.11  Integrative Liberal Studies Colloquia (integrated into the LACC)

11.12  Highsmith Center Services

The Highsmith Center houses UNC Asheville's student life programs and offers a number of facilities and services for UNC Asheville faculty.

Facilities
1. Meeting Rooms: The Highsmith Center has numerous meeting rooms of various sizes to accommodate small meetings or large gatherings. There is no charge for campus meetings and programs.
2. Bookstore: The University Bookstore is located in the Highsmith Center and offers convenience items and sundries as well as books and school supplies.
3. Food service: The Highsmith Center houses several fast food dining options.
4. Game room: The Game room offers pool, ping pong, fooseball, and video games and is open to the entire campus community.
5. OneCard: The OneCard Student/Faculty/Staff ID card office is located in the Highsmith Center.
6. Offices: The Highsmith Center houses offices for the Office of Student Life, Study Abroad, Multicultural Student Affairs, the assistant vice chancellor for Student Affairs as well as Student Government, Underdog Productions, the African American Student Association, and the International Student Association.

Discounted Tickets
The Office of Student Life offers discounted tickets to campus cultural events, city cultural events, and area attractions.

11.13 Student Health Services

The Weizenblatt Health Center is the home of Student Health Services and is available to all students who pay the health service fee. Services available for faculty and staff include blood pressure and cholesterol screening, flu shots, CPR training and smoking cessation groups. If interested in any of the above services please call 251-6520 or visit https://healthandcounseling.unca.edu/ for further information.

Center staff will be happy to assist you in finding a primary care physician in the Asheville area. The Mountain Area Family Health Center, across Weaver Blvd. from the main UNC Asheville entrance, provides UNC Asheville's students with after hours coverage for emergencies and hospitalizations. The Mountain Area Family Health Center is available for primary care to UNC Asheville's faculty and staff.

11.14 Justice Health and Fitness Center  

The Justice Center houses both UNC Asheville's intercollegiate athletics programs and its recreational facilities.

Recreation Programs
 All programs offered by UNC Asheville Recreation are open to all students, faculty and staff.  UNC Asheville Recreation provides recreational opportunities which consist of structured intramural sports and special events, informal "open" recreation, wellness programming, aquatics, sport clubs and outdoor education all in an environment which values, embraces and enriches individual differences.  More information is available at https://recreation.unca.edu/.

Recreation Policies
1.  Students, faculty and staff members must present their valid UNC Asheville ID card at the check-in desk to gain access to the Justice Health and Fitness Center.
2.  Spouses and dependents will be issued a Recreation Pass after being registered by their "host" UNC Asheville student, faculty or staff member.
3.  Spouses and dependents must present the Recreation Pass for admittance.
4.  Children under 16 must be accompanied by a parent at all times.
5.  No one under 16 is allowed in the weight room.
6.  Retired faculty and staff members may register for a Recreation Pass.
7.  Guest Policy - UNC Asheville students, faculty and staff are allowed to purchase three guest visits each semester and three guest visits for the entire summer.  Hosts must sign-in their guests and accompany them in the Center.

UNC Asheville Basketball Ticket Policy for Faculty
Prior to the start of basketball season, all faculty will be sent a request form to purchase UNC Asheville men's and women's basketball season tickets at a discounted price. These tickets will be valid at any pre-season or regular season game at Justice Center or the Asheville Civic Center.  More information about UNC Asheville's intercollegiate athletics program is available at https://uncabulldogs.com/.

11.15  Asheville Initiative for Mathematics

11.16  Center for Diversity Education

11.17  Craft Studies Initiative

11.18  Family Business Forum

11.19  Great Smokies Writing Program

11.20 FORMS for Section 11.0

No forms for this section.