January 2018

Message from Chancellor Jose V. Sartarelli

Dear Seahawk Community,

After beginning January on an unusually wintry note, the 2018 spring semester is underway and we already have much to celebrate. We broke ground on Veterans Hall, which will house UNCW’s growing allied health, chemistry and biochemistry programs, including pharmaceutical sciences, as well as resources for military-affiliated students.

Continuing a trend of excellence, UNCW tied for 7th place nationally in the U.S. News & World Report ranking of 2018 Best Online Bachelor’s Programs and was recognized as a Best College Value by Kiplinger’s. These honors underscore the university’s commitment to serving the diverse needs of our students as outlined in our Strategic Plan.

In addition to participating in the Veterans Hall groundbreaking, the UNCW Board of Trustees welcomed New Hanover County Commissioners Chair Woody White to the board at its January meeting. 

This year’s Martin Luther King Jr. celebration, “Freedom! In All Keys,” brought the music of the civil rights movement to campus.

UNCW’s talented student-athletes continue to put their education first, posting a collective 3.228 grade point average during the fall semester.

We are proud to be one of the 17 individually remarkable and collectively extraordinary institutions of the UNC System, which recently unveiled a new look and identity.

Finally, I would like to thank the many staff members who helped clear snow and ice, open campus dining and maintain buildings and residence halls during the winter storm. The safety and security of the UNCW community are always a top priority, and we appreciate the patience exhibited by students, faculty, staff and parents.

Go Seahawks!

Jose V. Sartarelli

Top photo: The groundbreaking for Veterans Hall included ceremonial turns of the shovel in teal sand. Pictured from left to right are Charlie Hardy, dean of the College of Health and Human Services; Chancellor Sartarelli; UNCW Board of Trustees Chair Wilma Daniels; Aswani Volety, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences; Director of Military Affairs Bill Kawczynski; Provost Marilyn Sheerer; and Justine Reel, CHHS associate dean for research and innovation.

During the groundbreaking ceremony, Chancellor Sartarelli and Mrs. Daniels unveiled the name for Veterans Hall. In addition to health-related programs, the new building will house resources for military-affiliated students. VIEW the photo gallery.

The Upperman African American Cultural Center commemorated the civil rights movement and Martin Luther King Jr. Day with "Freedom! In All Keys," featuring Mike Brown & F.O.C.U.S. (above) and a variety of other performances.

An undisturbed blanket of snow, photographed as the sun was rising, accentuated the beauty of the UNCW campus.