Upcoming Events

Challenging the Paradigm Conference – February 27-28, 2025

UNCW’s Watson College will host the 2025 UNCW/3C Challenging the Paradigm Conference February 27-28 on the UNCW campus. The theme of the event is “Programming that Leads to Sustainable Jobs and Career Readiness, Understanding Neurodiversity and Differently Abled students, faculty and staff.”

The conference brings together community college faculty and staff, university faculty and staff, and others who are interested in learning, growing, and challenging the paradigm within our community colleges. Each year, the focus is on the partnerships among community colleges, universities, and the community. 

Register for the event today!

For more information please contact Dr. Denise Henning, Director of UNCW/3C at henningd@uncw.edu.

Regional Science Olympiad – March 8

UNCW’s Center for Education in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (CESTEM) proudly sponsors the Wilmington Regional Science Olympiad Tournament at UNCW.

North Carolina Science Olympiad (NCSO) is a nonprofit organization with the mission to attract and retain the pool of K-12 students entering STEM degrees and careers in North Carolina. Every year NCSO hosts tournaments on university, community college, and public school campuses across the state.

These tournaments are rigorous academic interscholastic competitions that consist of a series of different hands-on, interactive, challenging and inquiry-based events that are well balanced between the various disciplines of biology, earth science, environmental science, chemistry, physics, engineering and technology.

For more information please visit the CESTEM NCSO website.

Empowering Educators – March 13

Join WCE’s Future Educators of Color for an evening with inspiring panelists of outstanding career professionals for uplifting stories and tips to thrive as an educator. The event will be held Thursday, March 13 from 5 to 7 p.m. at UNCW’s Watson College of Education. More information coming soon!

Watson Preview Day - March 29

Each semester, the Watson College hosts Preview Days for prospective students interested in a teaching career. Parents are welcome too!

Our next Preview Day will be held on Saturday, March 29. Join us to learn about the programs of study and other opportunities offered by the Watson College. The event will begin with a welcome from the Dean’s Office, followed by a faculty and staff presentation. We will have a student panel discussion (always the most popular) and end the event with open exploration of the building. During this time the Ed Lab and Curriculum Materials Center will be offering interactive breakouts with arts, crafts, technology and more!

Please email Dean Heath with questions at heatht@uncw.edu or to RSVP Click Here!

UNCW STEM Expo – April 5 

In Celebration of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) this year UNCW MarineQuest and the Center for Marine Science are joining forces to host the UNCW STEM Expo that highlights how science is everyday, everywhere, for everyone. The event will be held on Saturday, April 5  from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the UNCW Center for Marine Science. The event is free and open to the community. Learn more about the event on the event page. 

Future Teacher Conference – April 11

The Future Teacher Conference is an opportunity for High Schools, Community Colleges, and Home School groups to bring students to UNCW. This is a day where students who have an interest in education can feel what it is like to be a Watson student. During their time here, we will offer sessions for students based on their educational interests. Our faculty/staff provide sessions for the students who attend as interactive opportunities. Back by popular demand, we will also have a student panel discussion. This event is FREE to any student interested in learning about education as a career.

School administrators interested in bringing a group of students, or students interested in attending should contact Dean Heath at heatht@uncw.edu.

Teach and Lead Conference – June 11

Save the date! On June 11, UNCW’s Watson College of Education will host a Teach and Lead Conference in partnership with New Hanover County Schools. More information coming soon!