August 2026 News

Welcome back, colleagues! Here we are at the start of another new academic year! I am always energized by the return of our students, and YOU, the faculty, who always return with renewed dedication to our students. Thank you for the care, expertise, and creativity you bring to their campus experiences. I’m excited for the year ahead and grateful to work alongside you as we continue strengthening the undergraduate academic experience at UNCW. There is a lot to catch you up on, so keep reading!

The UNC System Regulation for public syllabi goes into effect THIS MONTH!

• All syllabi must be posted one week prior to the first day of classes (no matter when your class meets). That is AUGUST 12 for Fall 2026.
• Please complete the template exactly as provided. You can access it through Canvas.
• Remember this is a System Office Regulation, so thank you in advance for your compliance!
• Important dates pertaining to the 2026-2027 AY are below.

• We have daily trainings scheduled! Click HERE for more information.

Most forms for new curriculum/revised curriculum are now open! Note that any form requiring a syllabus attachment now requires the syllabus template as defined by the UNC System Office.

Please note the firm deadline of October 1 for all curriculum form submissions.

Questions? Contact Melissa Duffield in the Registrar's Office at duffieldm@uncw.edu.

Please join us in welcoming first year and transfer students to UNCW! The ceremony begins at 11:30, so faculty are invited to bring their regalia to the robing rooms at 11:00. A campus picnic will follow, as is our Seahawk tradition!

The Office of Faculty Affairs will no longer provide regalia rental. Rental costs are becoming prohibitive, and regalia can now be purchased online for less than $100. Some departments also have regalia donated by retiring faculty. We appreciate your understanding of this change in practice.

Please complete your BOY Faculty Workload Plans by Aug 31! Chairs should approve by Sept. 15. Don't forget to add your activities/accomplishments throughout the year!

• Provost Advisory Council meeting: Sept 3 from 11:00-12:00
• Chairs/Directors meeting: Sept 15 from 2:00- 3:30

Director of Faculty Development: Susanna Lopez-Legentil lopezlegentils@uncw.edu

Director of Faculty Administration: Susan Catapano catapanos@uncw.edu

This year the Chancellor's Fall Faculty Meeting will be held at 4:00 pm in the Warwick Center. Immediately following, we will celebrate our colleagues who earned promotions, tenure, and successful post-tenure reviews.

Please join us and tell us you are coming by submitting your RSVP here.

Mentorship Masterminds are great opportunities to take a breather from your busy schedule for career advancement support, networking, and resource sharing. This month, live Mentorship Mastermind sessions will be held on August 14 from 4:00 PM to 4:30 PM ET Zoom Link.

We welcome 66 new faculty members to UNCW! The OFA led two days of orientation where we heard from many colleagues and celebrated with the Chancellor at his home. Thanks to all who came to share your expertise. Welcome, newest Seahawks!!

Director of High Impact Practices: Jeanne Persuit persuitj@uncw.edu

Want to link your course to a high impact practice for students?

Check out EngageUNCW! Email engageuncw@uncw.edu to set up a consultation.

Associate Director of CSURF: Katherine Liu Liuk@uncw.edu

Our Showcases of Student Research and Creativity are scheduled:

• Fall – Friday, November 20, 2026 from 1-3pm in the UNCW Library
• Spring – Saturday, April 24, 2027 from 1-4pm in the UNCW Library

Students can register to present at the Fall Showcase here. Deadline Wed., October 21, 2026, 5pm.

Reminder: Current university policy does not allow minors (high school students) to participate in undergraduate research (either as a volunteer or through DIS/291 credits) at UNCW.

Looking for a small way to make a big impact? Mentor a First-Year student in a Research Experience! Register here by September 28.

With the guidance of Dr. Michael Mills (UNCW Fulbright Program Advisor) or Dr. Katherine Liu (Goldwater Campus Rep), committee members will meet with applicants, provide feedback on application packets, and assist with any nominations or endorsements. Full responsibilities and application here. Compensation will be provided.

CSURF can present to departments, classes, or other units on undergraduate research and/or fellowships. Request presentations here.

Director of QEP/SAIL: Beverley McGuire mcguireb@uncw.edu

In May SAIL collaborated with CTE to bring 20 faculty from 10 different universities in the UNC system to campus to discuss interdisciplinary teaching and learning, which led to the establishment of the North Carolina Interdisciplinary Collaborative!

This fall SAIL will be inviting faculty new to SAIL to apply for SAIL Simplified Grants of $3500 to support their teaching of interdisciplinary courses in Spring 2027, Fall 2027, or Spring 2028. The application will be posted on the SAIL Canvas site in September, so keep an eye out!

Director of Honors College: Eva Mehl mehle@uncw.edu

This fall, the Honors College will host a series of lunchtime panels for faculty and students to explore the ways interdisciplinary research can lead to more impactful collaborations with partners in local and regional communities.

Our first panel will be on Wednesday, September 2nd (11:00 - noon) in King 202 and will feature Drs. Daniel Johnson, Julie-Ann Scott-Pollock, and Charlotte Weiss, who will discuss integrating the arts into health and education.

Lunch and Learn signup

Join us for a week of themed social events, creative activities, recreation, and local excursions designed to kick off the semester in style. Throughout the week, students will have the opportunity to connect with Honors peers, faculty, and staff, and learn about the academic, research, and engagement opportunities available through the Honors College. Daily themes, interactive experiences, and raffle prizes will keep the energy high all week long.

London: This summer, four Honors students participated in the Summer Honors Experience in London, which included an interdisciplinary seminar, "Empire and Influence: England and the United States in Global Perspective," taught by Dr. Eva Mehl and Dr. Aaron King. In addition, each student had a six-week internship related to their major.

Belize: Fifteen students from six majors carried out for two weeks and a half an international field experience in Belize, learning about the culture and volunteering with local community partners. Students worked in the local community hospital, schools, the Hol Chan Marine Reserve, and ACES Wildlife Rescue, applying knowledge from their majors and learning new things to bring back and share.