Soaring Seahawk statue with the sun rising over Hoggard Hall

Annual Report

Soar Higher.

Chancellor’s Annual Report
(July 1, 2023–June 30, 2024)

To the UNCW Community

UNCW is brought to life each day by thousands of Seahawks who invest their energy, ideas, creativity and compassion into a collective commitment to teaching, learning, research and service.

Message from the Chancellor

Historic Campaign Concludes

Like No Other: The Campaign for UNCW concluded on June 30, 2024, wrapping up the university’s most successful campaign ever. The Seahawk family celebrated a remarkable achievement: soaring far past the stretch goal and raising more than $136 million to support students, faculty, programs and facilities. A total of 265 new, privately funded scholarships were established during the campaign.

Seahawk Stats

18,000

Student Enrollment

14,000+

Undergraduate Students

3,400+

Graduate Students

Established in 1947 as Wilmington College, the institution opened its doors for veterans returning from World War II. More than 75 years later, UNCW is a top-ranked national university with nearly 18,000 students, more than 2,500 faculty and staff and an ever-growing alumni network of more than 106,000.

27: Average Class Size

17:1

Student/Faculty Ratio

260+

Student Organizations

532

International Students
(89 countries represented)

Undergrad Enrollment 2023-24

First-Year Students

Fall 2,701

Transfer Students

Fall 1,629

Main Campus 1,246
Distance Education 59
Online Accelerated 324

Sources: UNCW Office of Institutional Research and Planning, UNC System Fact Sheets (current as of April 2024)

5,000

New Students

2,500

Graduates

2,900

Earned Degrees

Start to Finish

In August 2023, UNCW welcomed more than 5,000 new students—first-year, transfer and graduate—to the university in Seahawk style, with more than a month of UNCWelcome activities. It also celebrated its 76th anniversary on September 4, 2023.

More than 2,500 graduates of the Class of 2023 were honored in commencement ceremonies December 15-16.

More than 2,900 earned degrees during the spring 2024 commencement ceremonies. UNCW honored graduates in five ceremonies, one for each of the university’s colleges and the first solely for graduate students.

16th

Best Online Bachelor's Program Nationally
(U.S. News & World Report)

19th

Best for Vets 2023 Colleges
(Military Times)

2017-24

Included in
Fiske Guide to Colleges

Strategic Plan

UNCW launched its Strategic Plan: Soar Higher, a 10-year blueprint to guide the university’s future that was endorsed by the Board of Trustees on July 27, 2023. This year, the university leadership team, working in collaboration with Institutional Research and Planning, began implementing the strategic plan.

Master Plan

The university formulated a long-term comprehensive plan to address facilities and space on campus. The UNCW 2024 Campus Master Plan will create a framework to guide decision-making involving the physical campus over the next 10 years. UNCW’s most important asset is its people, and the plan is designed to help us focus fully on the continued success of the Seahawks of today and the ones to come.

Soaring High

UNCW’s accreditation was reaffirmed by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, recognizing UNCW’s continued commitment to high academic standards at all degree levels. This decision highlights our commitment to providing students with a transformative educational experience that prepares them well for success professionally and personally.

People cross the Health & Human Services Quad as seen between building columns

Academic Strides

Academic Colleges

A Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry in the College of Science and Engineering began in fall 2024. The degree, approved by the University of North Carolina Board of Governors in September 2023, helps prepare students to enter a career in biopharmaceutical development and manufacturing and the medical field, as well as provide a foundation for students seeking advanced degrees in health-related programs.

The Cameron School of Business received a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) designation from the federal government for all specializations within its MBA program. A STEM-designated MBA program falls under at least one of the approved categories from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. UNCW is the third school in the UNC System to achieve a STEM designation for its MBA program. UNCW’s psychology program also received a STEM designation, furthering the university’s commitment to STEM-focused curricula.

The university’s online Master of Science in Nursing–Nurse Educator (MSN NE) program received national recognition with Quality Matters Online Program Design Certification. The MSN NE program is the first UNCW program and the first nursing program in the UNC System to receive this prestigious certification. It is one of only three QM-certified programs in the UNC System.

The Watson College of Education introduced a Bachelor of Science in Workforce Learning and Development in fall 2024. WCE also introduced a new specialization in the doctoral program in Educational Leadership with an emphasis on Community College Leadership, designed to prepare future leaders of North Carolina’s 58 community colleges.

UNCW is partnering with the state’s community colleges to make it easier for their students to become Seahawks. Collaboration through the new PathWays program simplifies the transfer process.

Seahawk Selects: New Leaders

Christine Reed Davis

Christine Reed Davis, Ed.D, was named vice chancellor for Student Affairs.

More About Reed Davis

Tracy Linderholm

Tracy Linderholm, Ph.D., was named dean of the Watson College of Education.

More About Linderholm

Patricia D. Suplee

Patricia D. Suplee, Ph.D, RNC-OB, FAAN, was named director of the School of Nursing.

More About Suplee

Soaring Far: Earned Distinctions

Carolina Cyber Network UNCW is among four institutions of higher education selected to join the Carolina Cyber Network, an organization dedicated to closing the critical gap in cybersecurity workforce needs and available workers. More on the network

Purple Heart University UNCW is a Purple Heart University, designated by the Military Order of the Purple Heart as an affirmation of UNCW’s commitment to veterans and their families. More on the designation

Age-Friendly University UNCW was accepted for membership in the Age-Friendly University Global Network, an international community of 100 higher education institutions that foster age-friendly environments. More about the network

Soaring Together: Community Connections

Hai Pan, a research specialist in Ralph Mead's research lab, works with students collecting sampling data at the Center for Marine Science.

During a press conference at the UNCW Center for Marine Science in March, the North Carolina Collaboratory announced a partnership with Thermo Fisher Scientific to support PFAS research.

The Collaboratory purchased instruments for five researchers within the PFAS Testing Network—one being UNCW professor of chemistry and biochemistry Ralph Mead. The Orbitrap Exploris 240 Isotope Solutions system offers the one-of-a-kind ability to measure multi-nuclei stable isotope composition of intact organic and inorganic compounds. Mead and chemistry professor and Department of Earth and Ocean Sciences chair Chad Lane will use the instrument to develop a forensic tool to trace the source and fate of PFAS in the environment.

Chancellor Volety speaks from behind a lectern to an audience

The New Hanover County Endowment awarded UNCW more than $10 million over three years to collaborate with partners Cape Fear Community College, the Wilmington Chamber of Commerce and New Hanover County Schools to strengthen the healthcare workforce pipeline. Additionally, Novant Health committed $2.5 million to nursing scholarships each to UNCW and CFCC over five years to assist with healthcare workforce development.

stands before a slide that says, "Blue Alliance for the Blue Economy"

The UNC Wilmington Blue Economy Index launched as an equity benchmark to track the performance of companies involved in supporting sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, the first of its kind to be associated with the Blue Economy.

Chancellor Volety cuts a ribbon with a group that includes Sammy C. Hawk in front of the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship

The UNCW Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship marked its 10th anniversary with a ribbon cutting. Wilmington Mayor Bill Saffo ’83, Wilmington Chamber President Natalie English, Chancellor Volety, NC IDEA President Thom Ruhe and CIE Director Heather McWhorter were among those who attended the event celebrating the center’s work advancing entrepreneurs and the entrepreneurial ecosystem in southeast North Carolina.

Karl Rove listens to Donna Brazile speak while both sit on stage

The first Chancellor’s Dare to Learn Lecture featured political strategists Donna Brazile and Karl Rove in a candid and informative debate. UNCW is taking part in the “ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge,” a national, nonpartisan effort encouraging college students to register and vote.

The Dub Amber Lager

UNCW and Wrightsville Beach Brewery partnered to license an official craft beer, The Dub Amber Lager. The co-branded beer is available at Wrightsville Beach Brewery and select retail outlets in southeastern North Carolina. It’s also available at Seahawk home athletic events.

We Are the Seahawks

UNCW Athletics had six programs rank among the nation’s best in the annual Academic Progress Rate (APR), released by the NCAA. Among the Public Recognition Awards, which go to teams earning multi-year APRs in the top 10% of all squads in their respective sport, were four programs with perfect scores of 1,000.

19: NCAA Division 1 Athletic Teams

UNCWsports.com

Highlights

Baseball: 8 Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) championship titles
Men’s Basketball: Won more than 20 games in three straight seasons; 2022 CBI champions
Men’s Tennis: 11 NCAA regional appearances; four consecutive CAA titles
Softball: Two CAA titles in three years
Swimming and Diving: CAA men’s and women’s champions 2023 and 2024. Third time in program history both programs won their championship in the same season.
Women’s Golf: Tied for second 2024 CAA Champions (best CAA finish since winning the tournament in 2019). Finished second in the National Golf Invitational.

UNCW's CAA-Championship-winning team poses with banner about their win

UNCW baseball players celebrate at the end of the CAA championship-winning game

UNCW won five CAA titles (10 overall) in each of the past two academic years and is the first CAA school to win both the baseball and softball tournament championships in the same year. Both programs won their 2024 titles at home and were selected for the NCAA Athens Regional.

Aerial view of new Shoreline Sports Complex

UNCW continues to enhance its indoor and outdoor facilities as the grand opening of the new Shoreline Sports Complex in November illustrated. The facility provides enhanced spaces for general use, intramural sports and sports clubs, and it is the site for women’s beach volleyball home matches.

UNCW Library: The Next Chapter

UNCW’s expanded and renovated library is an exciting and long-awaited project for the campus and community. The improvements and enhancements provide cutting-edge learning and library services.

uncw.edu/library

UNCW Library Features Include

Open collaboration, meeting and event spaces
Group study spaces with collaboration technology
Grab-and-go food service and vending machine options
Open computing for students, faculty and staff
Specialty computing (GIS, Bloomberg and data analysis)
iPrint stations
Immersive 30 feet wide video display wall
MakerStudio

Multipurpose podcasting and media studio
Library Technology Desk
Cameras and microphones for check out
Library Research Gallery
“The Lookout” for respite, relaxation and contemplation
“The Living Room” gathering space for collaboration and study
Game room for tabletop and other gaming activities
Sensory-friendly study space

In a Great Place

Wilmington is in one of the “South’s Best Cities on the Rise.” The April 2024 edition of Southern Living states, “the beauty and charm of this historic port on the Atlantic Ocean and Cape Fear River [makes] it a longtime favorite filming location for movies and TV shows, earning it the nickname ‘Hollywood East.’”

Putting students first, supporting world-class faculty and staff, providing powerful learning experiences and making the most of its proximity to the ocean shape the UNCW experience.

North Carolina's Coastal University

Message from Chancellor Volety

Dear UNCW Community,

When describing UNCW’s current success and tremendous potential, I often say that I’m pleased but not satisfied with our place in the world. We have come so far since our founding in 1947 – from 238 students then to about 18,000 in fiscal year 2023-24. We have gone from having a few hundred alumni to more than 106,000 graduates and counting. Our revenues in 2023-24 exceeded $433 million. We brought in more than $33 million in sponsored research funding and closed out the year by completing the largest philanthropic campaign in UNCW history, raising more than $136 million.

When I reflect on 2023-24, I marvel at the difference 12 months make. To start the year, we launched two new academic colleges, formed from our largest former college. We also initiated the first three-year phase of our 10-year Strategic Plan: Soar Higher. We conducted a master planning process that incorporated ideas from students, faculty, staff, alumni and community leaders. Notably, our accreditation was reaffirmed by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges with no additional reporting requirements.

We also opened a new multipurpose sports complex on campus and watched as the UNCW Library’s newest building stretched toward the tops of the pine trees on our gorgeous main campus. We welcomed the Honorable Deb Haaland, U.S. Secretary of the Interior, to our renowned Center for Marine Science to highlight the importance of conservation and stewardship in marine science systems.

I could go on and on, extolling the accomplishments of this place like no other. It is brought to life each day by thousands of Seahawks who invest their energy, ideas, creativity and compassion into a collective commitment to teaching, learning, research and service. Instead, I invite you to review the 2023-24 Annual Report for a snapshot of all UNCW accomplished last year – achievements that signify our capacity for continued growth as a university where we are working hard to soar high, soar far and soar together.

Yours in Seahawk Spirit,

Aswani K. Volety
Chancellor

Explore the 2022-2023 Chancellor's Annual Report