Dear Students, Faculty and Staff:
I hope you had a wonderful summer, filled with the adventures and opportunities that you like best. I spent a lot of my time focused on strategic planning for UNCW’s future and legislative advocacy, but I did fit in some great travel experiences with family and friends. As we begin fall classes together, I want to thank you for the energy and excitement you contribute to campus life.
I spent the past few days at Move-In and Convocation, welcoming our newest Seahawks and their families to the UNCW community. Many of them told me they “just knew” UNCW was the right place for them. I couldn’t agree more. Hundreds of current students, faculty, staff and volunteers joined forces to help our new students settle into their residence halls. Check out video highlights produced by the Office of University Relations.
We also hosted a warm and welcoming convocation ceremony in Trask. Student Body President Cody Brandon and students from our academic colleges shared their advice with our newest Seahawks. On Monday evening, thousands of students attended “Rock the Rec” to learn more about club sports and physical health opportunities available on campus. Thanks to sunny weather on Tuesday, the ever-popular “Beach Blast” tradition took place at Wrightsville Beach. We will continue to help students transition into the semester with more than a month of UNCWelcome activities planned by the Division of Student Affairs.
Overall, about 5,000 new students are beginning classes this month. Our total enrollment for the fall is trending up, and our residence halls are full, with about 5,000 students living on campus.
In July, the UNCW Board of Trustees endorsed a comprehensive, 10-year strategic plan that reflects the inclusive process used to prepare it. Over two years, the Strategic Design and Planning Steering Committee received input at multiple stages from the campus and the community through open forums, online surveys and work groups. The process culminated last spring with presentations to and endorsements from Faculty Senate, Staff Senate, student government leadership, various UNCW volunteer boards and community groups.
I am proud of the plan we produced. I won’t go into extensive detail in this message, but I do want to highlight the four pillars. They will inspire our actions in the decade to come. Taken together, the first letter of each pillar spells out “UNCW,” a deliberate choice that reinforces their fundamental role in the life of the university.
Together, we developed a dynamic plan that we will start to operationalize this year. We will use it to guide our actions in the decade to come. We will track our progress, modify our actions and adjust the plan as needed, based on measurable results. I invite you to delve into the four pillars and 18 priorities at uncw.edu/strategicplan.
After the Supreme Court’s recent ruling about affirmative action in university admissions, many of you have asked what UNCW will do to maintain our strategic commitment to create a more diverse and welcoming environment for students, staff, faculty and community members. Our admissions process is holistic and values the potential contributions and experiences of each student. We will continue to use this approach when inviting students from different backgrounds to join the Seahawk community.
As a person of color and an immigrant of modest means, I understand the challenges many students, faculty and staff experience in their journeys to live, learn and grow. A high-quality education helped me navigate many of the same hurdles. As Chancellor, I am committed to offering students an even better education than I received. I support our faculty and staff and their dedication to helping students from different backgrounds, beliefs, income levels and life experiences develop a sense of belonging and achieve success at this great university. There are many resources on campus, including health and wellness services, the identity centers, learning services and the testing center, the career center, and so much more. Visit Seahawk Life to learn more.
UNCW is a complex community, an ecosystem of diverse individuals intricately connected to each other in meaningful ways. To protect the health and success of our ecosystem, I encourage students, faculty and staff to embrace the Seahawk Respect Compact. Its fundamental principles – inclusiveness, civility, mutual respect, acceptance and open-mindedness – are a compass for our interactions with each other, the campus and the greater community.
Do you have information, ideas or concerns you want to share with me? I value collaboration, clear communication and connections. Stop and chat when we pass on campus. Reach out via email at chancellor@uncw.edu or call my office at 910.962.3030. Interact with me online using the UNCW Chancellor social media channels on Facebook, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter). I also encourage you to communicate with student, faculty and staff representatives, including Student Body President Cody Brandon, Faculty Senate President Colleen Reilly (Department of English), and Staff Senate Chair Susan Smith (Student Recreation). I know how much these leaders care about you and UNCW.
For now, enjoy the beginning of a new academic year. UNCW’s momentum is going strong – two new academic colleges, an exciting mix of new and experienced leaders in roles across campus, a thriving philanthropic campaign, great fall sports season and fantastic arts programs. Make plans to invest your time and talents in your life as a part of the UNCW community.
Soar Together, Seahawks!
Aswani K. Volety
Chancellor
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