UNI Instructors

Center for Academic Advising Center for Academic Advising

Research shows that academic habits and attitudes gained in the first year at an institution remain stable and a strong start in the classroom can give students an academic boost. By guiding students through the transition to UNCW, UNI Seminar courses offer a foundation of support for students.

Why Teach a First-Year Seminar Course?

Helping students develop self-management and study strategies can often mean the difference between success and failure in their first year at an institution, regardless of academic aptitude or preparation. By emphasizing critical-thinking, information literacy skills, discussion participation, group collaboration and early involvement in the UNCW community, UNI faculty can make a significant positive impact on students’ success. Center for Academic Advising offers UNI 101, or Ffirst-Year Sseminar, a required course for all incoming first-year students, and UNI 201, Ttransfer Sseminar, which is an optional course for transfer students.

How to Become a UNI Instructor

An annual call for UNI instructors goes out campus-wide in December, for teaching the following fall semester. The minimum qualifications to teach UNI are:

A master's degree or higher academic degree from an accredited institution (official transcript[s] required)
Prior experience in college teaching, student services, academic advising or counseling
Interest in supporting new student transition
Approval of supervisor or department chair
Current UNCW employees must be SHRA-exempt or EHRA. The employee cannot be eligible for overtime
Must be able to teach on-campus between the hours of 8:00am-5:00pm
Interested instructors should watch the UNI Information Session Video before applying. The video covers the UNI curriculum and instructor expectations.

Interested instructors should watch the information video and complete the survey before applying.

UNI Instructor Information Session video

UNI Interest Video Review Survey

Instructor Application and Training

Applications are accessed via the Human Resources website in the Temporary postings. Interviews for new instructors will be scheduled in February after your cover letter, resume and application have been reviewed. Returning instructors will not need to re-interview but must submit a new application with updated resume each semester.

New instructors are required to attend New Instructor Training, typically in March and early April. New and Returning instructors must attend UNCW’s First-Year Studies Conference in April and the Annual UNI Kick-Off in August.

Special Sections of Seminar

Special Sections of UNI 101 and UNI 201 are used to meet the needs and interests of different student groups.

Special Topics: Special Topic sections use a common theme throughout the UNI curriculum. Students use Special Topic titles to choose a section that interests them.
Living-Learning Communities (LLCs): LLCs are small communities where students attend courses as a cohort, engage in group activities and events, and may live together. The LLC UNI courses are connected with another course/s for the fall semester.
Early-College High School (ECHS): ECHS graduates are encouraged to take a special section of UNI geared toward students with similar experiences to their own.