Provost's Messages

Spring 2022 Update from Academic Affairs and Student Affairs

January 10, 2022

Dear Students:

We hope that the spring semester offers you a strong start to a new year filled with compelling learning experiences, great friendships and other memorable activities. We had hoped that COVID-19's impact on all our lives would be diminishing by now, but challenges with the pandemic remain. With your continued commitment to UNCW’s health and safety protocols, we will successfully navigate these circumstances together.

Compared to the end of the fall semester, UNCW has experienced an increase in the number of positive COVID-19 test results, and our community and state continue to see increased spread of the Omicron variant. For some in our community, that may mean isolation or quarantine; for others, it may include working from home to attend to their own health or their family’s needs. To best support students and faculty under these changing conditions, some courses, labs and sections may temporarily be modified to an alternate format/modality. If your course modality is approved to change, your faculty will communicate that information to you directly.

Being active outside of the classroom is a hallmark of the student experience at UNCW, and there are several ways that we will continue to involve you in the life of the university while placing health and safety at the forefront.

  • We will continue to offer a variety of hybrid and virtual events. To learn more about campus events, please visit WaveLink. By RSVPing to the events, you will receive updates if any changes occur.
  • Any student can complete the Involvement Compass to receive a personalized involvement report, learn more about our 230 student organizations on Wavelink organizations webpage, or plan to attend the Spring Involvement Carnival on Monday, January 31, 2022.
  • For any community-based events such as Midnight Bowling students are encouraged to wear face coverings.
  • There are several opportunities to volunteer in the community including: the Diaper Bank, Brigade Boys & Girls Club and the Good Shepherd Center. Students should sign-up on Wavelink and are encouraged to wear face-coverings.
  • The Campus Recreation Center is open and continues to offer group fitness, intramurals and free play.
  • Each week, students receive the Hawk eNews e-mail on Tuesday with upcoming events and information about getting involved. You can also follow Hawk eNews on Instagram @uncwhen.
  • Campus Life offers virtual resource guides to help student clubs and organizations engage virtually.
  • The Counseling Center (https://uncw.edu/counseling/) will continue to offer individual counseling to students during the spring semester. Students who may be experiencing a mental health crisis or emergency can request a same-day appointment by walking into the Counseling Center between the hours of 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday through Friday. All Counseling Center services are free to enrolled students. Any student with questions about services offered, or who would like to set up an appointment, should contact the center at 910.962.3746 or visit the website for more information.

We are committed to providing the best academic and campus life experiences possible under the circumstances, and we ask that you stay diligent while participating in campus events to follow all safety protocols. Please consider sharing this message and other updates with your parents/families to help keep them informed.

If you aren’t yet vaccinated or you haven’t received your booster, take action to protect yourselves and our community. The university will continue to offer free COVID-19 vaccines and boosters on campus this semester; please monitor your campus inboxes and Best for the Nest for dates, times and locations. If you are vaccinated but haven’t submitted your information to Student Health, please send that information to coronavirus@uncw.edu.

Thank you for the energy and excitement you bring to our campus. We also appreciate the patience and grace you have demonstrated throughout the pandemic.

Yours in Seahawk Spirit,

Dr. Lowell K. Davis
Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs

Dr. James J. Winebrake
Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs