UNIVERSITY COLLEGE

University College serves all undergraduate students at UNC Charlotte through the General Education Program which it coordinates on behalf of and with the support of all of the academic colleges that make up the campus community. This curriculum reflects this university’s commitment to the principles of a liberal arts education, a broad training that develops analytic, problem solving, and communications skills and also awareness of bodies of knowledge and new perspectives that prepare students for success in their careers and communities in the 21st century.

In addition, University College houses all undergraduate students who are exploring their options before choosing a major, particularly through the University Advising Center. This specific responsibility is, however, just one example of the more general role that University College plays as an advocate seeking to expand the opportunities and improve the quality of students’ experiences during their first two years on campus. Under this general umbrella, two specific programs deserve mention:

• Freshman Seminars. These courses (UCOL 1000 and UCOL 1200) have been offered for more than 10 years, approximately 30 sections each fall. These classes are taught by a diverse group of faculty, professional advisors, and student affairs professionals. Their primary intent is to assist new students in making a successful transition to college by providing information and tools to help students gain awareness of campus resources, by encouraging students to make connections to the university community, and by developing strategies for academic and personal growth. Individual sections may take a particular thematic focus while others are more general in their approach. Some seminar sections are linked to other academic courses. A small program of Transfer Seminars (UCOL 1011) is also available, providing similar support for new transfer students.

• Learning Communities. University College plays an advisory role to the Learning Community program at UNC Charlotte (see the Academic Services section of this Catalog for more details). Learning communities bring new students together with courses and extracurricular activities that are focused around a common theme or topic. Most Learning Communities require a full year commitment; some extend into the second year. University College students can choose between several learning communities. These include the joint University College / College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (UCLAS) LC, Genocide, International Law and Human Rights, Global Village, Gender Excellence, Community Service, Leadership, UTOP, and BEST. For more information, visit the Learning Communities online at www.lc.uncc.edu. 

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