2014 Parent Survival Guide

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2014

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Main Level of the Student Union

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Welcome Visitor parking and family services On campus dining Move-in day guide Residence halls On campus services Textbook options Campus tour and history Mail to campus Care package ideas Campus police Niner Nation Gold

Editor-in-chief

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Eden Creamer

Megan Van Emmerik

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Patrick Bogans, Kevin Granados, Jared Green, Sean Grier, Jonathan Golian, Stephany McMillian, Sydney Wright

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Niner nation, Assemble!

EDEN CREAMER EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Welcome to the Niner Nation family! We’re so glad that your child decided to attend UNC Charlotte and we’re thrilled to welcome you to the 49er family. As a parent of a 49er, you’re bound to be experiencing a mix of emotions.

Rest assured knowing that you have raised a competent, powerful and intelligent individual who, perhaps with a bit of guidance from you, will successfully make it through their time at UNC Charlotte.

As the oldest child in my family, my parents had the delightful experience of trying to help me navigate through the beginnings of my college experience without ever having done it before. My freshman year my whole family learned valuable experiences that will benefit my parents when my younger sisters attend college.

Throughout this publication you’ll find plenty of tips and needto-know information to help ease your mind when it comes to your child’s college experience. Here are some of the most important tips I could give you.

COMMUNICATION IS KEY My father went from seeing me and speaking to me everyday to grappling with the fact that I now lived away from home. It took a few months for us to figure out how to make us both happy.

Daily electronic communication and weekly phone calls became the way we kept in contact. This kept him in the loop and helped me feel as if I was holding firm to my independence.

You and your child may want to develop your own way to in contact throughout the year.

Whether that means you have a prearranged time that you will speak to your child each week or if you will come up with a small

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you to remember that this is a child that you raised and you need to be confident that you raised a wonderful young person. Let them make the choices that are right for them.

Be your child’s safety net as they explore who they are and what they want to do with their life. Being supportive now will help both you and your child when they graduate from UNC Charlotte and move into new roles in the adult world.

LIGHTS PARADE

YARD SHOW

Clockwise from top: The 2013 Homecoming Lights Parade, the annual International Festival celebration and National Pan-Hellenic Council’s annual Yard Show.

NT File Photos

IFEST

daily way to keep in contact, you would want to decide ahead of time how to communicate.

In order to maintain conversation with your child you will want to be open and understanding with them. They are in uncharted territory just as much as you are, and it is important to support them in any endeavors they may be bold enough to try.

BE SUPPORTIVE Your child will make new friends, join organizations, study hard and enjoy countless opportunities that previously were not available to them. That being said, it is important to support your child in everything that they do.

Some changes may not make sense to you, and others might upset you, but it is important for

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FEEL COMFORTABLE As important as it is for your child to feel comfortable on campus, you shouldn’t be a stranger, either. Explore areas of campus look. Learn about services the university provides to your child on campus thatcan benefit you just as much as it can them. If you are familiar with the services provided by the Student Health Center or the campus police, you may feel more comfortable in knowing that your child is safe at their home away from home.

Don’t feel shy familiarizing yourself with the UNC Charlotte website, the features on the website or even a map of campus.

Knowing all of these will benefit you in the long run as your child navigates through the next four years.

ENJOY THESE YEARS As stressed as your child’s budding independence might make you, remember to enjoy this time. There is nothing more exciting than watching the wonderful child you raised flourish. Enjoy your child’s time at the university just as much as they will enjoy it. You’ll never get these years back.

FOR WHEN YOUR CAPE IS AT THE CLEANERS VISITOR PARKING ON CAMPUS IS PLENTIFUL TO ALLOW PARENTS, FAMILY AND FRIENDS OF STUDENTS TO VISIT EDEN CREAMER EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Because parking is strictly enforced at the university, there are designated parking areas for those looking to visit the campus during the week.

Parking and Transportation Services (PaTS) at UNC Charlotte has a couple of ways for parents or any other visitors on campus to park in many areas of campus without the looming possibility of receiving a parking ticket.

For longer visits, there are five visitor parking decks at the university: Cone Visitor Deck, Union Visitor Deck, East Deck 1, South Village Deck (level one only) and CRI Deck 1.

Parking at visitor decks are $1 per half hour, with a maximum charge of $10 a day.

Visitors looking to explore or visit the main campus area should park at the Cone or East Deck, depending on which side of the main campus the visitor will frequent most. East Deck is also preferable for those attending productions in Robinson Hall. Cone Deck is preferable for visitors attending athletic events in the Student Activities Center or Irwin Belk Track and Field Center/ Transamerica Field. The Cone Deck is also the designated parking deck for football game visitors, unless visitors purchase a game-day parking permit online for use at the Union or West Deck.

The South Village Deck, which is entering its second year of operation, is the closest deck to the south side of

campus, and services the high rise dormitories, Hunt Hall and the new South Village Dining Hall.

The Union Deck is close to many of the university dormitories, including Witherspoon, Miltimore, Lynch, Wallis, Oak, Maple, Pine and Elm Halls.

Temporary parking permits can also be purchased for visitors at $5 per day at the PaTS Office, which is number 23 on the university map.

Parking in front of the building is allowed while applying for the permit. Visitors will need to have their driver’s license number available, as well as the make, model and tag number of the vehicle being used.

For shorter visits, metered parking is suggested. There are areas with meters for parking scattered throughout the university. Fifty cents is required for 15 minutes of parking on most meters. There are meters with a maximum of 30 minutes, and those are 25 cents for 15 minutes.

Pay-by-space parking is also available on campus, in Lot 4, Lot 30 (with a time limit for how long the spot may be reserved) and Lot 28 (handicapped parking only).

Pay-by-space stations accept nickles, dimes, quarters, $1 coins and major credit cards.

University offers services to families of students EDEN CREAMER EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

The Office of Family and Parent Services is a member of the Division of Student Affairs that works around the calendar to plan events to bring together UNC Charlotte students, university alumni, parents of students and other members of Niner Nation.

This is all in the efforts to build UNC Charlotte spirit and pride.

Family Weekend 2014, one of the largest annual events hosted by the Office of Family and Parent Services, will take place Sept. 24 through 26. Events for the weekend are organized around the Charlotte 49ers football game against Charleston Southern. These events include the Chancellor’s Football Brunch with Chancellor Phillip Dubois; a “Vegas Night” hosted by the Campus Activities Board; the Niner Nation Family/Alumni Tailgate and free attendance to Saturday’s men’s and women’s soccer game for Family Weekend registered attendees.

Registration for Family Weekend 2014 will be available through the Office of Family and Parent Services website the first week of August.

The office also hosts a Fall Family Festival, which is a one-day festival that opens campus to parents and family and allows for plenty of campus fun. The 2013 Fall Family Festival was the first time that this event was hosted. The second annual Fall Family Festival is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 15.

Parents are encouraged to sign up for the Niner Nation Family, a free service to parents of students that allows them to connect with other parents and keep up-todate on campus information.

To sign up for Family Weekend or to learn more, visit the Office of Family and Parent Services website at http://unccdso.orgsync.com/ org/parentandfamilyservices.

Learn more at http://pats. uncc.edu/visitor-parking/ parking-campus-visitors

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on-campus dining options

SOUTH UT H SO VILLAGE LA GE VIL CROSSING OS SIN G CR

MICHELLE LIRINGIS LIFESTYLE EDITOR

SYDNEY WRIGHT INTERN

Whether using a meal plan or not, eating on campus is convenient for students during a busy day of classes and activities.

There are various dining areas all over campus with many different options to cater to all of your cravings. This year, campus welcomes the new South Village Crossing facility, where the new dining hall will replace what was once the Resident Dining Hall (RDH).

STUDENT UNION The Student Union houses Einstein’s Bagels, Wendy’s, Mamma Leone’s, Starbucks, Outtakes, Crown Commons and Bistro 49.

Einstein’s, Wendy’s, Outtakes and Starbucks do not take meal swipes for the dining halls.

Mama Leone’s, the on-campus destination for pizza and pastas, takes meal swipes at dinner on Mondays through Thursdays.

Starbucks provides a caffeine fix seven days a week and has all of the familiar favorites.

Outtakes is similar to a convenience store. They have snacks, candy and drinks. There is also a cooler that has fresh fruit, sushi and salads. During lunch and dinner times, the Outtakes sub station is open, where students can build custom subs. Other Outtakes locations on campus are in the Duke Building, and does not feature subs.

Crown Commons offers typical dining hall style food. Students may pay with meal swipes or any other form of payment. The cost if not using a meal swipe is $6.50 for breakfast, $8.15 for lunch or brunch and $10 for dinner. There are various stations in Crown such as pizza, homestyle, deli, grill, soup and salad bar and a

cereal bar.

Bistro 49 is also located on the second floor of the Student Union. It has more upscale dining and is open for lunch and dinner.

The menu changes every season and always has the freshest ingredients.

STUDENT ACTIVITY CENTER The SAC has a Papa John’s Pizza that accepts declining balance, 49er account and cash or card. Students can get their fix of pizza and bread sticks here.

CONE UNIVERSITY CENTER Main Street Market in Cone features a Subway, Bojangle’s, Use Your Noodle, Sushi with Gusto and Au Bon Pain soups.

The Subway is a full service Subway, featuring your favorite $5 footlongs.

At Bojangle’s, students can have their fill of sweet tea and Bo Berry biscuits.

Use Your Noodle features Japanese style noodle and rice bowls that students may enjoy. It is a nice place to go for something a little different than what is offered at other dining locations. Sushi With Gusto features different sushi options made fresh daily, and also provides the sushi that can be purchased at other locations on campus, including Outtakes and Prospector.

Au Bon Pain offers fresh soups and salads with different options every day. There are other locations in Outtakes and Prospector.

ATKINS LIBRARY AND FRETWELL CAFES The cafes in J. Murrey Atkins Library and the Fretwell Building features Peet’s Coffee and Tea

beverages, as well as snacks, bagels and other cooler items.

It is perfect for late night study sessions in the library or a quick bite between classes.

PROSPECTOR Prospector has two food courts - an upper level and lower level. The lower level features Chick-fil-A and Feisty’s hot dogs.

The upper food court has a Salsaritas, Mama Leone’s, Mondo Subs, Grill Nation and a soup and salad bar. Salsarita’s is Mexican style food, including tacos, nachos or quesadillas. Mondo Subs serves up sandwiches of all different varieties. At Grill Nation, students can custom order their burgers and chicken sandwiches to get exactly what they like.

None of the vendors located in Prospector accept meal swipes.

PORTAL BUILDING New for Fall 2014, the PORTAL Building will feature Orbis Grill. The grill serves fresh lunch fare, salads and sandwiches with a global menu.

They have an Evo grill action station for healthy options that are made to order.

FOOD TRUCKS Campus dining also includes the Herban Legend Food Truck, which has been on campus for two years now. The truck is usually stationed in front of the Student Union or near Prospector and provides students with unique food options for lunch.

Whatever your dining preferences, there is an option conveniently located on campus to suit that need.

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Students, faculty and staff have anxiously watched construction for two years, waiting for the South Village Dining Hall to open. Newly named South Village Crossing, it will be the newest building on the south side of campus and the newest campus eatery.

The new dining hall will consist of two state-of-the-art levels and a patio to allow students to eat, hang out, or study.

On the lower level, there will be “action stations.” Similar to Crown Commons, at the “action stations” food will be prepared and cooked in front of students.

There will be an Asian station with a Teppanyaki grill like in Japanese restaurants. There will also be a Euro station that features healthy cooking and interaction with the chef. There will also be pizza, pastas, a deli, a salad bar and more options for people who are vegetarians, vegans, or have a gluten sensitivity. Prices for the dining hall will be the same as Crown Commons.

The second level will include various things such as a bakery named “The Den” and modeled after a Denny’s, meeting rooms and take out dining. The SoVi Market and Bakery will be similar to Outtakes yet feature freshly baked goods and convenience style snacks. “The Den” by Denny’s will feature dinner and late night dining with the Grand Slam and other Denny’s favorites.

Three sided fireplaces will be featured on the upper level for the winter time along with student lounges for studying and relaxing.

Before South Village Crossing, students on the south side of campus ate at Residence Dining Hall (RDH). RDH served and nourished students for more than four decades. The facility was recently closed with the opening of South Village Dining Hall for repurposing.

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Move-in in a flash PLAN AHEAD AND GET ORGANIZED TO AVOID MOVE-IN DAY STRESS JARED GREEN STAFF WRITER

Move-in day for the fall is fast approaching. In order to be ready for this interesting and occasionally hectic experience there are a few things you need to know to make your child’s movein day run smoothly.

Firstly, make sure to check your child is checking his or her UNC Charlotte email over the summer. The Department of Housing and Residence Life will be sending out emails over the summer with updates on when and how you will need to move-in, as well as what their actual room and roommate assignment is. It is very important that you only attempt to move in your child at the appointed time. Attempting to move-in early or late creates problems for housing staff and also creates more traffic that everyone has to deal with.

Before the move-in day, be sure your child has completed his or her home pass. This is the electronic housing check-in, and it is how they will find out what day and time they will get to move into their dorm. On the home pass will also be the entrance through which you should enter campus on move-in day. It is important to enter through the right entrance to keep traffic backup at a minimum and to make sure you get to the right place.

On your child’s assigned move-

in day, police and parking staff will be available to direct traffic and tell you where to go in case you get lost. Once you arrive at the correct residence hall, your child will go inside and check in.

They will receive their room key and sign some paperwork, which guarantees they will resume responsible for any damage done to the room or the furniture in it, and that they will following housing regulations. Make sure you follow advice from housing and parking staff as to where you need to park your car as it is being unloaded, or while your child is inside completing paperwork.

If you need any advice or have any questions while moving in, talk to the new resident advisors (RA) or other housing staff members at the dorm building.

Moving away from home is definitely an emotional experience.

It is a new beginning for many, and can occasionally not go as planned. “To make this day the best, it is vital that you come with a sense of humor, patience and flexibility,” said Jacklyn Simpson, associate vice chancellor of Student Affairs and director of Housing and Residence Life.

The best piece of advice about move-in day is to come prepared mentally and physically for a great experience.

DO’S AND DON’TS OF MOVE-IN DAY

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Do come with a sense of humor, patience and flexibility.

Do use a checklist to make sure your child has everything they need.

Don’t come on the wrong day or before your scheduled time.

Don’t leave without a hug from your little 49er.

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The fortress of solitude WITH 20 RESIDENCE HALLS ON CAMPUS, THERE IS SOMEWHERE FOR EVERY STUDENT TO CALL HOME. EDEN CREAMER EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

With 20 residence halls on campus, there are plenty of options for students to live. Each residence hall is a little different than the others and represent many different types of housing plans.

UNC Charlotte offers suitestyle, apartment-style and highrise style residence halls for student use. Opening in fall 2014, there is even a new residence hall, Martin Hall.

HIGH-RISE BUILDINGS The stereotypical college housing unit is a high-rise building. At UNC Charlotte, there are four, though two will be closed for the 2014-15 year for renovation.

In the high-rises, each room comes equipped with two beds, two desks, two chairs and two wardrobes. Beds are bunkable to provide for more space in the room.

Students living in the highrises generally stay in double rooms (two students per room), but it is possible to have a single room in the high-rises.

A hall bathroom is shared by the residents of the floor, and buildings also have lounge areas for communal studying, or just for getting to know neighbors.

Laundry facilities, vending machines and public kitchen units are also available in each building.

For the 2014-15 year, Moore and Sanford Halls will house high-rise residents. Holshouser and Scott will be both closed for renovation, and will reopen for fall 2015.

SUITE-STYLE LIVING In suite-style rooms, multiple students (either two, three, or four depending on the building) share a bathroom and living area.

These students do not have a kitchen area, but buildings with suite-style living have communal lounge and kitchen areas for all residents of the buildings. These buildings are also equipped with laundry facilities.

Suite-style units generally come with a couch and TV stand in the living area. Each student bedroom will also have a bed, desk, desk chair and threedrawer chest for each student occupying the room. Bedrooms in Belk, Hunt, Martin and Miltimore have built in closet areas in each bedroom, while all other suitestyle buildings provide students with a wardrobe.

Belk Hall features three bedroom suite-style units. In these units, each student has a single bedroom, and all three residents of the unit share a living and bath area.

C.F. Lynch, Hunt and Wallis Halls are comprised of two and four bedroom suites. Two bedroom suites are double rooms, with two students in each bedroom, while four bedroom suites are single rooms.

Cedar, Hawthorne, Hickory, Oak, Sycamore and Witherspoon Halls have two bedroom suite units. Each bedroom houses two students.

Miltimore Hall has one, two and three bedroom suite units.

Suites in Miltimore are all single occupancy rooms.

APARTMENT-STYLE LIVING In apartment-style rooms, multiple students (either two, three, or four depending on the building) share a bathroom, living area and kitchen space.

These buildings are also equipped with laundry facilities and communal lounge areas.

Apartment-style units generally come with a couch and TV stand in the living area, and a table and chairs in the kitchen area. Each student bedroom will also have a bed, desk, desk chair and three-drawer chest for each student occupying the room.

Bedrooms in Belk, Martin and Miltimore have built in closet areas in each bedroom, while all other apartment-style buildings provide students with a wardrobe.

Belk Hall has one-bedroom apartments with a kitchen and bath, similar to a studio apartment. These units are only occupied by one student. Belk Hall also has four bedroom apartments. In these units, there is a living room, kitchen area and two bathrooms for all four residents of the unit. Units also have a storage closet.

Elm, Maple, Martin, Miltimore, Pine, Wallis and Witherspoon Halls have four bedroom apartment units. These units have a living room, bathroom and kitchen area for all students to share, and have one student in each bedroom.

GREEK VILLAGE Greek Village is made up of 13 houses. Nine houses are specifically dedicated to specific university chapters of fraternities and sororities. Two of the other

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houses are for upperclassmen males, one is for upperclassmen females and the final house is part of the international Global Gateways Program and houses only female students.

Each house has a living room or common room area, a kitchen for the house and has individual bedrooms for either 28 or 14 students, depending on the house.

Each bedroom comes equipped with a full-size bed, a desk, desk chair and a three-drawer chest.

Bedrooms in Greek Village also have built-in closet areas. Most rooms in Greek houses share a bathroom with the individual beside them, but some rooms have individual bathrooms.

HOUSING PROGRAMS Apart from the Global Gateways Program, there are other housing programs available at UNC Charlotte.

Freshman students are invited to participate in freshmanspecific opportunities through The Greenhouse. Students in this program will live in either Moore, Sanford, Lynch or Hawthorn Halls, and will be invited to numerous activities and services that are designed to engage new students.

For many majors or academic departments, there are also Learning Communities in place.

These are residential programs that group together students of similar courses of study, and are available to only freshman on campus. Students are assigned to the appropriate building for their Learning Community upon acceptance to the program.

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CAMPUS DINING All-you-care-to-eat dining • meal swipes for Meal Plan members Declining Balance (DB) portion of Meal Plan, Optional Dining Account (ODA), 49er Account, and cash/debit/credit also accepted at the following venues:

Crown Commons

Located on the second level of the Student Union, Crown Commons is sure to please every taste because almost everything is cooked-to-order.

Choices include: • Pizza - made in a state-of-the-art gas fired oven • Home cooking – comfort foods and rotisserie chicken • Deli – made to order sandwiches on specialty breads • Grill - burgers and other American favorites grilled as you direct • International Fare - Flavors from around the world • Soup and Salad - Build a salad, then let the chef make it sizzle with grilled steak, chicken, or tofu • Daily vegan and vegetarian entrées also, gluten-free; ask the chef for special dishes prepared gluten-free • Waffle station and Cereal bar

SoVi at South Village Crossing

Too many college students practically live on ramen noodles and vending machine snacks.

That’s not brain food!

A meal plan makes sense, even for those who live off campus.

aux.uncc.edu/mealplans 704-687-7337

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Action station cooking where meal preparation is on open display and made-toorder. Featuring: • Asian station with a Teppanyaki grill • Euro station with two Evo grills (round cook tops that offer a healthy cooking method and interaction with the chef) • Italian area serving pasta, pizza and other favorites from gas-fired ovens • Deli with hearth oven for toasted sandwiches and melts • Extensive salad bar where proteins can be made sizzling hot to top your greens • More choices than ever available for vegans, vegetarians and those with certain dietary restrictions (such as gluten sensitivity)

SoVi2Go

Take-out entrées, sandwiches, salads, beverages, and snacks

Retail Dining • Declining Balance (DB) portion of Meal Plan ODA, 49er Account or cash/debit/credit accepted, too.

• Atkins Cafe and Fretwell Cafe • Mondo Subs coffee shops, proudly serving • Orbis Grille at PORTAL Peet’s Coffee and Teas fresh fare with a global flair • Bistro 49 - a leisurely luncheon • Outtakes convenience store: experience with table service, an Featuring a deli counter for madeopen kitchen and nouvelle cuisine to-order sandwiches plus grabmenu and-go items • Bojangles Express • Papa John’s Pizza and when this location is not open, Papa John’s • Chick-fil-A on JW Clay Blvd. accepts DB and The Den by Denny’s • ODA for delivery orders diner fare and later hour option • Salsaritas featuring several of the Grand Slam™ choices that Denny’s made • SoVi Market + Bakery famous • Starbucks Coffee • Einstein Bros. Bagels • Subway • Feisty’s Franks + Fries • Use Your Noodle and Sushi with • Grill Nation Gusto • Wendy’s • Mamma Leone’s

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It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s on-campus services FROM THE HEALTH CENTER TO CAMPUS EMPLOYMENT, THERE ARE PLENTY OF SERVICES ON CAMPUS FOR UNC CHARLOTTE STUDENTS EDEN CREAMER EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

For students at UNC Charlotte, there are plenty of services that help make life a little easier. While the services are free for students, they are largely funded through student fees. For that reason, students are encouraged to take advantage of each and every one of these services.

CAREER CENTER The University Career Center (UCC) has a vast variety of helpful resources for students looking to make the transition from college to employment before and after graduation.

From career advising and counseling, to interviewing tips and tricks, services provided from the

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CAREER CENTER

UCC will be a benefit to any motivated student.

NinerJobNet is one of the most

important services offered at the UCC. It is an online database of job postings for UNC Charlotte stu-

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dents and alumni, as well as jobs posted to the network for more than 800 other schools across the country.

Before or after students have found a job, they can utilize the career center for plenty of other resources. Students can also schedule mock interviews, resume critiques, career planning and more.

UNIVERSITY HEALTH CENTER The University Health Center features 21 medical exam rooms, including two negative pressure rooms that are used to prevent the spread of infectious bacteria. The Health Center provides medical care, disease prevention, well-

ness promotion, and a variety of educational resources and other health services to all registered UNC Charlotte students. They are staffed with experienced medical doctors, pharmacists, physician assistants, family nurse practitioners, a team of nurses and a psychiatrist.

The Health Center offers a wide variety of vaccines for those who request, as well as a variety of disease testing to ensure a healthy campus environment.

Students who are injured in a sport or simply require a surgery can go to physical therapy through our health center after a referral from your doctor, and there is an on-site pharmacy for medication needs.

COUNSELING CENTER The University Counseling Center provides free mental health services for students designed to assist students in coping with personal, relationship and developmental issues or academic concerns. Counseling is available on a one-on-one basis or in a group setting.

Every student at UNC Charlotte is allowed a maximum of 12 free individual sessions per academic year. Individual counseling can focus on coping with crisis, resolving conflicts, managing depression and addressing identity issues, among other concerns that counselors are trained to help students with.

CAMPUS GYMS There are two gyms on campus, though one is closed for the 201415 academic year due to renovations.

The other gym, located in the Student Activity Center (SAC) has more than enough facilities to suit all of a student’s work out needs.

The facility features cardio and strength equipment, an indoor track and recreational areas that feature four courts for various activities, including basketball, badminton and volleyball.

CAMPUS EMPLOYMENT Across campus, there are many opportunities for students to seek part time employment while they get their education. As a student

SAC GYM

on campus, there are a few different types of employment available.

These include Student Temporary Wage positions, Federal Work Studies and Graduate Assistants.

Student Temporary Wage positions are open to any enrolled UNC Charlotte student, and the pay for these positions is funded entirely through departmental funds. Federal Work Studies,

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however, are federally funded and need-based positions.

Graduate Assistantships are opportunities provided to either current graduate students, or those who are planning to become graduate students. There are three categories of Graduate Assistantships: Administrative Assistants, Research Assistants and Teaching Assistants.

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THINK OUTSIDE THE COVER CONSIDER NON-TRADITIONAL TEXTBOOK OPTIONS THIS SEMESTER The University Barnes and Noble location in the Student Union is just one of the many ways students can choose to purchase textbooks. Photo by: Patrick Bogans

KEVIN GRANADOS INTERN

Textbooks are one of the most expensive investments in college but also one of the most necessary.

This guide will help you find several cheap, or even free, solutions to help manage inflating textbook fees.

BUY DIGITAL VERSIONS OF BOOKS Print textbooks are still the most popular choices among college students, but the fact is that digital copies of the same book are only a fraction of the cost. Production of digital books is much cheaper and distribution is easier

since you can simply download them directly to your smartphone, tablet or computer. This also cuts out the middle-man (the retailer) and saves you a bundle of money. There is no disadvantage in owning the digital copy of a book, since you can still highlight paragraphs, take notes on them or even print them out.

BUY PRE-OWNED BOOKS Buying used books is another great way to save. Most students don’t want to hold on to their textbooks after they finish their classes, so finding these and negotiating a price may be very beneficial to both parties. Bookstores like the Barnes and Noble on campus and Gray’s Bookstore both have buyback programs and sell used textbooks to students at a fraction of the cost of new ones. Websites like Half.com and Amazon also sell used books, which combined with their search features, make it really easy to find what you need.

RENT YOUR BOOKS Renting books is another option when trying to save money.

Though it’s not the best plan since it can still be quite expensive and you can’t sell the book after you’re done with it, the option should always be considered. Most retailers will allow you to make notes in the book as long as you don’t damage any of the pages, but you

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can expect to see others’ scribbles and highlights in there as well.

Renting books can frequently be done through the campus Barnes and Noble, Gray’s Bookstore and other retailers.

BUY BOOKS ONLINE AND EARLY Buying online is almost always the more economic decision.

Sources like Amazon and Chegg offer amazing savings when buying books, compared to brickand-mortar stores. Amazon even offers students six months of free Amazon Prime – that means you can get select items with two day shipping, all for free. Buying books early, when no one else is, also allows you to find them at even more competitive prices.

CHECK OUT BOOKS AT THE LIBRARY Sometimes students can find the book needed for a class in the school library. Instructors will often receive free samples of books or extra copies for these purposes.

An instructor that is willing to take the time can place the book in the library, making it available for checkout, which means students can use the book for free when they need it, assuming the book isn’t already checked out by someone. Depending on the size of the class, this option may be a little risky, but it’s another great, and free, way to save money on textbooks.

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A look at Charlotte

FOOTBALL STADIUM

CA M PU S HI ST OR Y LIZ LANIER GUEST WRITER

49ER GOLD MINER

STUDENT UNION

BELK TOWER

ATKINS LIBRARY

BONNIE CONE

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Clockwise from top: Jerry Richardson Football Stadium, Student Union, J. Murrey Atkins Library, university founder Bonnie Cone’s on-campus grave site, Belk Tower and the 49er Gold Miner.

Photos by: Eden Creamer and Chris Crews

2014

In the span of only 68 years, UNC Charlotte has grown from a tiny school for 278 students to a sprawling, urban research institute with over 26,000 undergraduates.

In 1946, the Charlotte Center was opened for veterans of World War II in Central High School. Several of these makeshift colleges opened up around the country to serve the educational needs of returning soldiers on the funds of the G.I. Bill, but the school that would be UNC Charlotte persevered when most were closed, as funding dried up in 1949, and the school was renamed Charlotte College.

The new campus for Charlotte College opened up in 1961, on 1,000 acres of land just 10 miles from Uptown Charlotte after legislators and business leaders of Mecklenburg and nearby counties started efforts to find a new home for the expanding school.

By 1965, Charlotte College became a four-year university and was bestowed with its current name and spot within the University of North Carolina system.

1969 was significant for the university, as programs offering master’s degrees began. In 1992, UNC Charlotte was authorized to offer doctoral programs. Combined, the university now offers over 150 bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees and doctoral programs.

Students began to enjoy a football program fall in 2013, with the first Charlotte 49ers winning their inaugural football game against the Campbell Camels on August 31, 2013.

UNC Charlotte has proven itself as the little college that could, and students today are still a part of the living history of the university.

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SEND PACKAGES FASTER THAN A SPEEDING BULLET MAILING LETTERS AND PACKAGES TO CAMPUS IS EASY AS LONG AS THEY ARE PROPERLY ADDRESSED EDEN CREAMER EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Students living on campus will be able to receive letters and packages to their buildings through the Mail and Package Services provided by Auxiliary Services.

To mail to a student who lives on campus, label the envelope or package with their name, room number, residence hall and UNC Charlotte’s street address.

In addition to receiving mail on campus, students will be able to send it. Mail and Package Services offers express and priority domestic and international mail, certified mail, post cards, bulk mail and package services and more. The

Mail and Package Services Office is a fully operational Postal Contract Station through the United States Postal Service.

Near the Mail and Package Services office in the lower level of the on-campus Prospector building, students are also able to purchase envelopes, boxes and stamps to aid in their mailing and shipping needs.

Students will also have access to the Union Station, located in the Student Union, where they can also ship, process passports, print photos and more. Students can also rent a campus mailbox here, if they wish to have a consistent on-campus address.

When addressing letters and packages to students who live on campus, sure sure to properly label the parcel. Letters and packages not properly addressed may not find their way to the intended recipient.

Dad and et Mom ain Stre 28223 M .C. N 123 , e lott Char

iner the N ll vd.

Norm oore Ha ty Bl M ty Ci 3 i s 1 r 0 e 1 2 Univ . 282 9201 tte, N.C o l r Cha

Be sure to include your name and address so your child can know who is sending them mail.

This also helps the university return the mail to you if they are unable to send it to your child.

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Address letters and packages with your child’s given name, not a nickname.

Mail with a nickname on the label may still arrive to the desired student, but the chances of the package arriving to someone other than your child goes down if it is addressed to the student’s given name or the name that the university has on file for your child.

After your child’s name, you must properly address the label. Put the room number and residence hall that your child lives in as the first line of the address. The next two lines are the university-wide address.

A PRODUCT OF STUDENT NINER MEDIA

SEND A GIFT TO YOUR SUPERHERO FOUR CARE PACKAGE IDEAS TO SEND YOUR CHILD THIS YEAR KEVIN GRANADOS INTERN

There are plenty of occasions to send a care package to someone you love, and all of them allow you to put all the love, thought and care you can put into a box for your beloved college student. It’s also very important to know who you’re sending this care package to, as you want to make sure it’s useful as well as meaningful. Here are some ideas to get those gears turning.

ENTERTAINMENT Students need time to unwind and relax. All work and no play will drive anyone insane.

Send them memorabilia from home like pictures, videos or scrap books.

Hand-written letters are also a nice, personal touch. Depending on the student’s preferences, video games, movies, books, magazines, board/ card games or DIY projects might also be great options.

Gift cards to local places to eat, stores to shop or attractions to visit are also great ideas. This lets students explore their new home while controlling the amount of money they’re spending outside of their academic expenses.

FOOD Any college student will tell you that food is always welcome. Sending food in a care package might seem cliché, but for starving college students. It might mean the difference between Ramen Noodles or a five-star meal.

Sending food in the mail is a bit tricky, but it’s not too challenging as long as you stick to dry and preservable foods. Things like beef jerky, canned meals, boxed snacks and food or drink mixes like iced tea, lemonade, fruit juices and baked good mixes are all perfect to mail to your loved one.

Sending home-made snacks is also a great idea.

There are hundreds of easy home recipes you can try, and they are sure to give your child a taste of home when they are far away.

NECESSITIES

Ph oto by :M CT

CLOTHING/SHOES

Ca mp us

Very few college students have the luxury of being able to buy their own clothes all the time. It’s common for students to run out of options to wear mid-week. Add to that our seemingly-random weather and suddenly having a backup coat or hoodie seems like a good idea. Communicating with the student to see what they need is the first step in determining what clothing or shoes you should consider adding into a care package.

College students have a lot of expenses and the last thing they need to worry about is buying toilet paper or toothpaste. You can help ease their financial struggles by providing them with things they need: various hygiene products including toothpastes, toothbrushes, creams, deodorant, perfume/cologne, razors, lotions, shampoo and soap are wonderful additions to a care package full of necessities.

Cleaning products are also useful things to get, especially when sharing bathrooms with roommates. Multi-surface cleaners, detergent, softener, bleach, wipes and air fresheners are also all good ideas.

Medicine is another huge necessity that is often forgotten.

College students get sick too! Send them some basics like aspirin, cough suppressant, allergy medications, vitamins and first-aid kits. These will help them save a lot of money in case of small emergencies.

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Newly renovated clubhouse

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Resort style pool with cabanas

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A PRODUCT OF STUDENT NINER MEDIA

Upgraded interiors with granite countertops

CAMEO

Campus police vanquish foes UNC CHARLOTTE’S POLICE AND PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENT WORKS AROUND THE CLOCK TO KEEP CAMPUS SAFE SARA CARSON NEWS EDITOR

Composed of 50 full-time sworn officers, three auxiliary part-time sworn officers, 11 full-time nonsworn officers and five part-time non-sworn officers, the UNC Charlotte Police and Public Safety (PPS) deparment is more than equipped to provide safety and security to all 28,000 students, faculty and staff.

Police Chief Jeffrey Baker, having served with the CharlotteMecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) for 28 years, has developed a close alliance and regular communication between CMPD and the 49er police

department. The two agencies assist one another on both oncampus events as well as off campus events, nearly tripling the number of officers available to assist Niner Nation.

The UNC Charlotte police department is split into two divisions: patrol operations and support services.

The patrol operations division is composed of officers who provide 24/7 campuswide security on foot, bikes and patrol cars. Some of their services include preliminary investigations, crime prevention

and response to any campus crimes. In addition to enforcing UNC Charlotte policy, these officers also have the ability to enforce North Carolina state law. Officers in this division are required to undergo continuous training and education throughout each year.

As for the support services division, it takes many different roles, including Clery and compliance mandates, follow-up investigations, special events and private security services, 911 communications center, auxiliary personnel, career development,

fleet management, lost and found and other business support services.

In addition to these two units, the department has a myriad of special units. Some of these units are bike patrol, R.A.D. (Rape Aggression Defense), a tactical or S.W.A.T. unit and University Rangers who serve to secure academic buildings in the evenings.

To find out more information about the UNC Charlotte police department and the variety of services they offer, visit http:// police.uncc.edu/

Your mail should STAY personal, too!

No need to share a mailbox with roommates when you can have a private, consistent campus address, even if you change residence halls or move off-campus.

Bring this AD to either location and receive $10 off your first CAMPUS mailbox lease!

Available for only $46/year or $25/six months.

Campus mailboxes are conveniently located in Prospector Building and the Student Union and are leased through Mail & Package Services and Union Station.

Lower level Prospector Bldg. aux.uncc.edu/mail

Main level Student Union unionstation.uncc.edu

Offer expires 5/14/2015

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the fantastic 49ers Niner Nation Gold gives students the opportunity to be part of the biggest student athletic support program STEPHANY MCMILLIAN INTERN

At soccer games, basketball games and even football games the Niner Nation Gold pride will be loud and proud. “Forty-Niners!

Forty-Niners! Forty-Niners!” The cheering never stops and the adrenaline only rises.

Niner Nation Gold (NNG) is an organization on UNC Charlotte’s campus that encourages students to support and promote all Charlotte athletic events. Joining the organization is a huge commitment and demonstrates the love your child has for fellow 49ers. Around campus the organization has gained a reputation of “diehard” 49er fans that paint their body, wear green wigs and frequently come equipped with green and gold foam fingers.

The organization not only supports 49er

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athletics while in school, but members are also educated on the importance of giving back to the 49er club after graduation. 49er spirit lasts a lifetime.

Membership fees are $20, and come with great perks. As a member of NNG, your child will receive a NNG T-shirt; eight athletics loyalty points and priority points; a car decal and 49er pin; and invites to NNG cookouts, tailgates and other social events.

NNG is the largest student run organization on UNC Charlotte’s campus and continues to strive for excellence in representing 49ers properly.

For more information, visit http://www.sco. uncc.edu/ninernationgold/Niner_Nation_Gold. html.

A PRODUCT OF STUDENT NINER MEDIA

Members of Niner Nation Gold showing their support during a November 2013 basketball game. Photo by: Chris Crews

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A PRODUCT OF STUDENT NINER MEDIA