Strategic Area of Focus 1 | Transform students’ lives
SUPPORT, MOTIVATION, EXCELLENCE
Laying the foundation for lifelong success BY SONJA BARISIC
22 UNC CHARLOTTE magazine
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hether benefitting from scholarships, learning to develop products as an entrepreneur or getting advice from faculty to ease the transition when changing majors, UNC Charlotte students have access to coordinated avenues of support to succeed in school and beyond. “Meeting the myriad needs of the students who make up our varied student body is what makes working here so rewarding,” said Joan F. Lorden, provost and vice chancellor for Academic Affairs. The University strives constantly to engage students in enriching pursuits to enhance their experience, Lorden said. For example, undergraduate research scholars who work closely with faculty in labs or other venues gain STEM experience, while students interested in exploring opportunities in the nonprofit world intern with local organizations. Extracurricular activities and support strategies help students reach their potential and prepare them to contribute to society.
Spring 2021
Nontraditional students, whose needs differ from those of students who enter the University directly from high school, participate in programs and support designed for them. 49erNext, which works with community college students who plan to transfer to UNC Charlotte to pursue a bachelor’s degree, and 49er Finish, which focuses on helping people with some college credit return to finish their degree, are just two. ROSHANAK ASHRAFI
Support for the doctoral track
Roshanak Ashrafi earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering and a master’s in architectural engineering in her home country of Iran. She’s now a fourth-year Ph.D. student in Infrastructures and Environmental Systems at UNC Charlotte. “This is the perfect program for my interdisciplinary background,” said Ashrafi, 34, who transferred from California State Polytechnic
