The Truist Institute for Student Success
IMPACT REPORT 2023
Truist Partnership IMPACT REPORT 2023 3
Partnership Overview
5
Scholarship Support
7
Talent Pipeline
9
Truist Leadership Development
10
Research and Experiential Learning
12
StudentAthlete Support
PURPOSEFUL IMPACT Truist Financial Corporation’s groundbreaking $5.3 million investment allows UNC Charlotte to introduce several programs which promote student success. Truist’s investment advances our mission to shape the future with diversity and inclusive excellence, educating future leaders, elevating the research of our esteemed faculty and enriching our experiential learning programs for students. This impact report provides a comprehensive overview of the outcomes achieved through this significant investment, highlighting Truist’s purposeful impact on UNC Charlotte. The success of our programs, our students, and our campus community is a direct reflection of your investment at UNC Charlotte. We are grateful for our partnership with Truist. UNC Charlotte Truist Partnership 2023 |
2
WE ARE...
3 |
UNC Charlotte Truist Partnership 2023
…at the Center of Innovation UNC Charlotte The Truist/UNC Charlotte partnership creates a platform for collaboration, academic success, career development, innovation and growth. This partnership has been instrumental in providing students with unique opportunities to engage with industry leaders, gain practical experience and build a network of professional contacts. Truist’s support also allows UNC Charlotte to expand its research capabilities and pursue groundbreaking projects that have the potential to make a significant impact on the community. UNC Charlotte’s partnership with Truist helps the University successfully achieve its goal of driving innovation and shaping what’s next.
SUMMARY OF INVESTMENT: •
Truist Scholars Program
•
Truist Student Accelerator Program
•
Program Coordinator
•
Truist Leadership Development Experience
•
Truist Business Innovation and Research Program and Truist Research Symposium
•
Career and Collaboration Hub, Together with Truist
•
Analytics Frontiers Conference, presented by Truist
•
Women in Data Science Conference, sponsored by Truist
•
United in GOLD, sponsored by Truist
•
Official Retail Bank of Charlotte UNC Charlotte Truist Partnership 2023 | 49er Athletics
4
Student
SUPPORT + SUCCESS FOUR-YEAR RENEWABLE SCHOLARSHIPS:
$1,306,667
TOTAL AWARDED T0
Scholarship Support: 1. TRUIST SCHOLARS PROGRAM The Truist Scholars program offers students a four-year renewable $5,000 scholarship, providing the financial support necessary to thrive academically. With a strong commitment to student support and success, we ensure that our scholars have the resources and guidance necessary to overcome any obstacles and achieve their goals.
5 |
UNC Charlotte Truist Partnership 2023
68
RECIPIENTS
SCHOLAR SPOTLIGHT: JOSE LARA-URBINA Hometown: Willow Spring, North Carolina Interests: Coding, fishing, sports, video games Career Aspirations: As a computer science major, I aim to become a successful, innovative and reliable software engineer. I hope to develop my skills further while gaining valuable experience to contribute to work that will have a positive impact. Thank you, sincerely, for your generosity in awarding me this scholarship. Your support and financial assistance have helped me continue my education and pursue a career in computer science. I am beyond grateful it.
TWO-YEAR RENEWABLE SCHOLARSHIPS:
$174,170
AWARDED T0
6
RECIPIENTS
2. TRUIST STUDENT ACCELERATOR PROGRAM The Truist Student Accelerator Program Scholarship empowers students pursuing specific majors to achieve their academic and career aspirations. The program provides renewable two-year scholarships — equivalent to tuition, fees and a book stipend — to exceptional students within designated majors who align with the established eligibility criteria.
2023-2024 Recipients Briana Brown, Accounting (Morrisville, NC) Melody Hernandez, Finance (Concord, NC) Jazmin Lara-Leon, Data Science (Charlotte, NC) Deanna Primachenko, Finance with RMI Concentration (Indian Trail, NC) Jonathan Smith, Computer Science (Greensboro, NC) Ukiah Sperry, Computer Science (Asheville, NC) Fostering connections: Scholars and Truist professionals come together at a Charlotte 49ers baseball game, enjoying a vibrant networking social within the Truist suite at Truist Field.
UNC Charlotte Truist Partnership 2023 |
6
Talent Pipeline CAREER & COLLABORATION HUB TOGETHER WITH TRUIST UNC Charlotte’s University Career Center celebrated the opening of the new Career & Collaboration Hub together with Truist this Fall. The hub is a place where success, engagement and purpose align to support students with résumé development tools, interview preparation, sponsored career events and networking opportunities for employment or internships. Programming encourages lifelong learning and growth for students, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and adaptability. Together, we are offering life-changing experiences for UNC Charlotte students, helping foster a pipeline of globally competitive leaders that will enhance workforce develolpment in our region, state and beyond.
40+
UNIVERSITY-WIDE EVENTS WITH TRUIST TEAMMATES
9,000+
STUDENT ENGAGEMENTS AT THESE EVENTS
Truist professionals, staff, alumni and students join in celebrating the unveiling of the Career and Collaboration Hub.
7 |
UNC Charlotte Truist Partnership 2023
CAREER DEVELOPMENT Throughout our partnership with Truist, a number of impactful events across campus have contributed significantly to the career development and networking opportunities for our students. Last year, the University held events including the Women in Data Science Conference, the Analytics Frontiers Conference, Employer Symposium, Fall Career & Internship Fair, Inclusivity Mixer and various Career Meetups. In addition, Truist led several Career Development Workshops focused on topics such as building personal brand through social media and authentic representation in a professional setting, providing our students with valuable skills and knowledge. In fall 2023, events like the 49er FIT Program’s Business Panel, Financial Services Career Fair, Latine & Hispanic Career Panel & Networking Event and additional workshops and panels continued the UNC Charlotte/Truist partnership. Select students visited Truist Headquarters and engaged with LDP Analysts and Truist executives. These events further enhance the professional development and networking opportunities available to our students, ensuring that they are well-equipped for success in their future careers.
80+
STUDENTS HAVE VISITED TRUIST HQ
Students share about their visit and time with Chief Audit Officer, Denise DeMaio.
INDUSTRY ENGAGEMENT Events with Truist SCHOOL OF DATA SCIENCE Thanks to Truist’s generous investment, UNC Charlotte can support two influential conferences, showcasing our commitment to promoting growth in the data science industry. The Women in Data Science Conference (WiDS) serves as a platform to inspire, educate and engage both current and aspiring data scientists across the Carolinas. This conference offers training, networking and mentoring opportunities, empowering women in the field. Truist also sponsors the Analytics Frontiers Conference at UNC Charlotte, the largest data science conference in our region. These esteemed conferences help establish meaningful connections among members of the data science community and students at UNC Charlotte.
Women in Data Science Conference
Analytics Frontiers Conference
“How to be successful in Financial Services with a STEM degree” Truist Model Risk Organization Panel
“Caring Actions - Using AI and Natural Language Processing to Inspire Better Lives and Communities, Foster Teammate Growth and Boost Product Innovation: Kornelia Bastin from Truist”
• Crystal Robinson ‘91 ‘94, Senior Vice President • Anuradha Sharma, Senior Vice President • Cecilia Wang, Vice President • Sophia Zhu, Vice President “Remarks from a Chief Data Officer” • Tracy Daniels, Executive Vice President & Chief Data Officer
35
MORE THAN TRUIST TEAMMATES HAVE SHARE THEIR TIME AND INDUSTRY EXPERTISE WITH STUDENTS Truist teammates also regularly engage with UNC Charlotte students through professional development activities and programming in the Belk College of Business.
•
Kornelia Bastin, Vice President & Lead Data Scientist in the AI & Analytics Accelerator (A3) The Many Faces of Bias – Ensuring Fair and Equitable AI • Moderator: Tracy Daniels, Executive Vice President & Chief Data Officer
Truist Leadership Institute program offers unique opportunities to UNC Charlotte first-year students. FORTY-NINER INTENSIVE TRANSITION PROGRAM The Forty-Niner Intensive Transition (FIT) program recently welcomed Raichelle “Rai” Glover, Market President at Truist, as the keynote speaker at the Opening Ceremony for incoming FIT students. The Opening Ceremony welcomes first-year, first-time college students — and their parents — to make the most of available resources and and inspires them to set themselves up for success as they begin their journey as Charlotte 49ers. Through the FIT program, these students move into their fall housing assignment two weeks before the fall semester starts. This period, approximately 14 days, includes enrolling in a 3-credit hour UCOL 1000 seminar course, a peer mentor, campus resource orientation by campus partners and exposure to academic support services and campus student engagement opportunities. Participants in the FIT program may choose to join small-group cohorts centered upon academics or personal identity. They take a guided course and participate in activities to help them transition successfully to UNC Charlotte. The program engages Truist employees on panels to interact with these students. In addition to the above benefits, FIT program participants may earn their Emerging Leaders Certificate (ELC) through the Truist Leadership Institute in their second semester as a first-year student. The training is provided by the Truist Leadership Faculty and enables students to obtain this industry-recognized certification prior to graduation.
9 9 |
COHORTS
300+ $80,000+
UNC Charlotte Truist Partnership 2023
FIT STUDENTS FALL 2023
INVESTMENT TO-DATE
Top: Raichelle “Rai” Glover, Truist Market President, reflects on the first-year college experience, inspiring and guiding incoming students and their parents at the FIT Opening Ceremony. Below: Peer Mentors in the Summer Intensive Chemistry Orientation (SICO) cohort of the FIT program greet incoming first-year students and their families during the FIT Opening Ceremony.
Charlotte leads in research and experiential learning. TRUIST BUSINESS INNOVATION AND RESEARCH PROGRAM The Truist Business Research and Innovation Program, funded by Truist, with $100,000 per year for 5 years, successfully supported various research projects covering topics such as: •
Online misinformation characterization and detection from social media based on within-post multi-modal content consistency
•
Information Frictions and the Efficacy of the PPP Loan in Mitigating the Economic Impact of COVID-19 on Small Businesses
•
Gendered Interactions and Inclusive Leadership (GIIL)
•
Enhancing Leader Effectiveness using Artificial Intelligence.
•
A Model For Effective Call Routing to Maximize Customer Satisfaction
TRUIST INVESTMENT:
$100,000
5
Faculty research projects selected in March 2023. Inaugural Truist Research Symposium scheduled for Spring 2024
Truist teammates, UNC Charlotte students and faculty engaged in a speech by Dontá L. Wilson ’97, Chief Consumer and Small Business Banking Officer at Truist, as part of the Truist Immersive Learning Experience.
TRUIST IMMERSIVE LEARNING EXPERIENCE In Spring 2023, UNC Charlotte and Truist hosted a two-day experience educating students about financial technology challenges related to fraud claims and cybersecurity crimes. Throughout the event, teams of students worked alongside Truist mentors and faculty advisers to design and implement solutions for real cybersecurity issues. By drawing from their coursework, practical experience and collaborative efforts, students applied their knowledge effectively addressing challenges associated with data protection, network security and threat mitigation. Through handson learning, students gained a deep understanding of the intricacies involved in protecting sensitive information and preventing cyber threats. This immersive experience closely simulated the fast-paced and everevolving field of financial technology, preparing students for real-world scenarios. Additionally, it showcased the positive collaboration between UNC Charlotte and Truist, presenting students with prospective career opportunities in the industry. Truist will host the event in spring 2024 at the Innovation and Technology Center in Uptown Charlotte.
Video recap of the 2023 Truist Immersive Learning Experience with Business Partners IBM, FLOW.AI and AWS.
UNC Charlotte Truist Partnership 2023 |
10
Truist continues its commitment to growth and development of UNC Charlotte student-athletes. UNITED IN GOLD, SPONSORED BY TRUIST The United in GOLD (Growing Our Leaders in Diversity) program, sponsored by Truist, is dedicated to the holistic development and empowerment of Charlotte 49er student-athletes. This program offers a wide range of resources to student-athletes, including mental health support, financial literacy education, career readiness guidance and mentoring opportunities. Thanks to this sponsorship, student-athletes participate in seminars and activities that promote civic engagement and learning. These activities cover a range of diverse topics such as thoughtprovoking forums, civil rights programming, diversity panels and leadership conferences. Through this exposure, student-athletes gain a broader perspective on important social issues, fostering a greater understanding of diversity and inclusion. Students also actively volunteer at Niner University Elementary, participating in back-to-school events, field days and more throughout the year.
16
EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING ACTIVITIES
15,000
COMMUNITY SERVICE HOURS 11 |
UNC Charlotte Truist Partnership 2023
450+
STUDENT-ATHLETES IMPACTED
$100,000
IN FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO-DATE
Truist supports the personal and professional growth of Charlotte student-athletes. Over the summer 2023, Truist teammates visited UNC Charlotte to deliver a Financial Literacy Workshop specifically for the Charlotte 49er Football players, giving them the knowledge and skills necessary for making effective financial decisions. These workshops were supplemented by semi-annual sessions led by Dr. Brad Yeckley, Director of Niner Finances, which provides topics on financial well-being, literacy and capability tailored to student-athletes. In the summer of 2024, student-athletes will have the exciting opportunity to engage and participate in a case competition at Truist Headquarters in uptown Charlotte. As the Official Retail Bank of Charlotte 49er Athletics, Truist’s game entitlements for football, men’s basketball and women’s basketball cultivate exciting game-day experiences with the University’s alumni and energetic fan base.
United in GOLD allows me the opportunity to improve my leadership skills while being a part of change for my fellow brothers and sisters. – Dazia Lawrence, UNC Charlotte Women’s basketball
Left: Niner University Elementary students had an incredible start to the school year as they received a warm welcome from Charlotte 49er student-athletes. This page: Student-athlete and Truist teammate have a one-on-one discussion.
Truist support provides student-athletes with educational opportunities while traveling for games. BIRMINGHAM CIVIL RIGHTS MUSEUM The Football, Women’s Soccer and Volleyball teams visited the Birmingham Civil Rights Museum while traveling for match-ups with UAB.
MUHAMMED ALI CENTER The Men’s and Women’s Cross Country teams visited the Muhammed Ali Center in Louisville, Kentucky.
GREENWOOD RISING - BLACK WALL STREET The Men’s Soccer team visited a state-of-the art history center honoring the legacy of Black Wall Street in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Education is Elevation and this experience impacted us in so many ways. 13 |
– Head Coach Kevin Langan, Men’s Soccer
UNC Charlotte Truist Partnership 2023
Above: The first Athletes-Backing-Athletes game supporting the Women’s Soccer team had incredible turnout. This page: During AAC Powerful Minds week, student-athletes chalked the sidewalks before the game with the members of our Sports Psychology team.
TRUISTPARTNERSHIP.CHARLOTTE.EDU