Year One
Your first year at UNC Charlotte is an exciting new chapter in your life, full of new experiences and opportunities.
- Prepare to be a 49er! Before your first semester begins, attend NSO to learn about campus resources, involvement opportunities and your academic college. You'll also meet orientation counselors and other students as well as academic advisors and start registering for classes.
- During this 5-day, 4-night program, new UNC Charlotte students backpack multiple miles per day, tent or tarp camp each night, and rock climb. Develop the ability to thrive in adversity, build community, and prepare yourself for a successful college experience.
- This shared, first-year academic experience offers unique opportunities for self-reflection, critical thinking, student interaction and understanding of different perspectives.
- Most new first-year students don’t realize that they can take classes during the summer BEFORE their fall semester begins. It's a great way to get a head start at UNC Charlotte.
- These academic courses are for your first-year and designed to help you discover the skills and dispositions that will make your college career rewarding and successful. You'll receive registration information in your pre-New Student Orientation modules depending on your college selection.
- UTOP is an excellent opportunity for incoming freshman students to begin their college experience early, gain seven credit hours towards their degree, start with a solid GPA foundation, get acclimated to campus early and build a support system of peers and staff across campus.
- Need help choosing the appropriate first-year writing course? This page helps you to determine your placement in UWRT classes.
- Spend time in Atkins Library during your first year. Grab a cup of coffee at Peet’s Cafe, conduct research with our impressive collections, create something new in Area 49, or relax with a new book in a cozy alcove on the second floor.
- Learning Communities provide small, supportive living and learning environments where you'll interact with faculty, staff and peer mentors.
- SAFE (Students Achieving First-Year Excellence) is a peer mentoring, academic readiness and transition support program designed to help students successfully matriculate through their first year at Charlotte. Our programs ease the transition from high school to college and help minimize academic, social, and economic challenges by encouraging student to actively utilize and participate in Charlotte support services, peer to peer support, secondary academic advising and raising awareness of various campus resources.
- As a transfer student, you may face some challenging adjustment issues different from those of a traditional entering freshman. Concerns about transfer credits, different policies and procedures than previous institutions, timeline to graduation, getting involved on campus, and making new social connections are just some of the issues. University College can help students ease the transition to UNC Charlotte by providing resources and making referrals that will save time and prevent confusion.
- The Honors College is the front door to honors at UNC Charlotte and houses the University Honors Program (UHP), the largest honors program on campus, open to all majors. As the academic and support hub for high-achieving undergraduate students, the Honors College offers many benefits and opportunities. The honors experience includes dedicated communities of intellectually-driven students, professional development events, and forward-thinking, hands-on involvement in the City of Charlotte.
- The Prospect for Success is UNC Charlotte’s plan to engage undergraduate students in a potentially life-changing opportunity for personal and professional growth. The Prospect is designed around three interconnected goals — Intentionality, Curiosity, and Awareness — what might be thought of as the DNA of education.
- Students Obtaining Success (SOS) is a peer mentoring program for students experiencing academic difficulty. We realize that unsatisfactory academic performance can have many different contributing factors. The SOS program is designed to help students identify their unique challenges and develop an action plan to improve academic performance and return to good academic standing.
- UNC Charlotte Education Abroad (EA) knows that the study abroad process can be a bit overwhelming at first. This is why EA has created Study Abroad 101, a free, non-credit course hosted in Canvas that outlines program options, financial aid and scholarships, academic credit processes, and more. Once a student has completed Study Abroad 101, they can begin to move forward with the application process by researching programs and meeting with an EA advisor.
- The University Center for Academic Excellence (UCAE) offers a wide variety of workshops on topics that strengthen students' academic success. These highly interactive workshops are led by staff and trained graduate students on-site and across campus.
- 49er Rebound is a program to assist students who are on academic probation at the end of their first semester of enrollment at UNC Charlotte. New freshmen and new transfers from all colleges participate in 49er Rebound. Students will receive specific information from their colleges about program options, expectations, and enrollment.
- UCAE Tutoring Services is UNC Charlotte’s main course-specific academic support program that serves students through appointment and drop-in tutoring. Services are free and available to any enrolled undergraduate student, in any major, in any academic standing.
- In order to prepare for your time as a 49er, students attend New Student Orientation (NSO). This program assists you and your families with the transition to UNC Charlotte by providing an overview of campus resources and involvement opportunities as well as introducing students to their academic college, academic advisor, and assisting with course registration.
- During this 5-day, 4-night program, new UNC Charlotte students backpack multiple miles per day, tent or tarp camp each night, and rock climb. Overcoming the many challenges presented by these activities, you will develop the ability to thrive in adversity, build community, and prepare yourself for a successful college experience.
- Gold Rush is UNC Charlotte's welcome program that kicks off each semester and welcomes new and returning students to the campus community. Almost all Gold Rush events are free for students, and are hosted by UNC Charlotte campus departments and student organizations. Gold Rush aims to instill a sense of Niner Pride, teach campus traditions, and expose students to campus resources and opportunities for involvement.
- Get a head start on your college career by participating in the University Transition Opportunities Program (UTOP)! UTOP is an excellent opportunity for incoming freshman students to begin their college experience early, gain seven credit hours towards their degree, start with a solid GPA foundation, get acclimated to campus early and build a support system of peers and staff across campus.
- UNC Charlotte’s Learning Community Program has transformed the way students live, learn, and succeed in their academic endeavors for over 10 years. Learning Communities help students transition through academic and social challenges by providing small, supportive living and learning environments. You will interact closely with UNC Charlotte faculty, staff and peer mentors through areas of common interest, enroll in two or more of the same courses and in many cases, live together in the same residence hall.
- Emerging Leaders is a UNC Charlotte tradition founded in 1980 that offers a select group of first-year, first-time UNC Charlotte students the opportunity to develop leadership skills, while making friends and having a great time.
- Established in 1998, the Leadership Fellows program promotes, trains, and develops specific skills desired by students interested in leadership roles. Through practical applications, experiential learning and related topics specific to leadership development, students will make positive contributions to University organizations and the surrounding community. They’ll also have a lot of fun along the way!
- UNC Charlotte’s Bonner Leaders Program is a unique four-year campus-community collaboration that uses federal work-study funds to support public service learning. The Corella and Bertram F. Bonner Foundation seeks to improve the lives of individuals and communities by helping meet the basic needs of nutrition and educational opportunity.
- The Honors College is the front door to honors at UNC Charlotte and houses the University Honors Program (UHP), the largest honors program on campus, open to all majors. As the academic and support hub for high-achieving undergraduate students, the Honors College offers many benefits and opportunities. The honors experience includes dedicated communities of intellectually-driven students, professional development events, and forward-thinking, hands-on involvement in the City of Charlotte.
- The Office of Adult Students and Evening Services (OASES) is committed to assisting adult students develop and implement a plan for achieving their academic and career goals. OASES works collaboratively with academic units to provide advising, educational and social programming, honor society recognition, readmission services, scholarship opportunities, and the 49er Finish Program. In addition to internal relationships, OASES works closely with external organizations to promote the mission of OASES.
- UNC Charlotte’s Military & Veteran Services (MVS) is dedicated to the support and success of our military-affiliated student body. From processing GI Bill® benefits to providing the Veteran Student Lounge for study and community, the MVS is the central hub at UNC Charlotte to promote a smooth and seamless transition for those choosing college after or during their service.
- The UNC Charlotte Global Engagement Scholars Program (GESP) offers global awareness, academic and co-curricular opportunities to a wide variety of students from all academic disciplines, especially those who may not otherwise become globally engaged.
- The LJLC is a leadership program held during the Fall and Spring semester for first year students, during which students live and learn amongst each other. The learning community offers the advantage of being a member of a small group of students living and learning in a comfortable environment created specifically to help you discover the leader within. Caring faculty, staff, and peer mentors provide encouragement, support, and advice.
- The Freshmen Class Council communicates with freshman students and the other class councils to offer innovative and creative ideas throughout the year, starting from when students step onto campus. These efforts will allow incoming students to form various bonds and connections that will assist with both retention and graduation rates.
- Niner Engage is the online student organization hub that lets you learn more about UNC Charlotte’s student organizations. UNC Charlotte has over 400 student organizations to choose from, offering something for everyone.
- SAFE (Students Achieving First-Year Excellence) is a peer mentoring, academic readiness and transition support program designed to help students successfully matriculate through their first year at Charlotte. Our programs ease the transition from high school to college and help minimize academic, social, and economic challenges by encouraging students to actively utilize and participate in Charlotte support services, peer-to-peer support, secondary academic advising, and raising awareness of various campus resources.
- Students Obtaining Success (SOS) is a peer mentoring program for students experiencing academic difficulty. We realize that unsatisfactory academic performance can have many different contributing factors. The SOS program is designed to help students identify their unique challenges and develop an action plan to improve academic performance and return to good academic standing.
- Programs in Leadership and Organizational Training (PILOT) provides participants non-academic credit for leadership training. Established in 1997, PILOT is the largest leadership program at UNC Charlotte with over 1000 student participants annually. Each semester, approximately 100 workshops are sponsored by Leadership & Community Engagement in collaboration with many campus departments.
- 49er Rebound is a program to assist students who are on academic probation at the end of their first semester of enrollment at UNC Charlotte. New freshmen and new transfers from all colleges participate in 49er Rebound. Students will receive specific information from their colleges about program options, expectations, and enrollment.
- In order to prepare for your time as a 49er, students attend New Student Orientation (NSO). This program assists you and your families with the transition to UNC Charlotte by providing an overview of campus resources and involvement opportunities as well as introducing students to their academic college, academic advisor, and assisting with course registration.
- There are many different types of financial aid available to students. This page offers instructions on how to apply for financial aid.
- In order to keep receiving financial aid, you must maintain satisfactory academic progress. If you withdraw or reduce the number of classes you enroll in, it may affect your award. This page offers specific instructions that students must follow in order to continue receiving financial aid.
- At UNC Charlotte, we want to help you manage your money and get through college without racking up unnecessary debt. Living for the here and now is over ... Saving for the future is in. Check out this site and learn to budget smarter, keep more cash in your pocket, and become financially stable throughout your college career and beyond.