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New Electric “Pickle Pod” is the Real Dill
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We continue to find new ways to connect with you. • You can find out about performances at www.uncsaevents.com as well as www.uncsa.edu/performances!
UNCSA is taking the concept of a “green” vehicle to a new level, thanks to a gift from Bob King Automotive Group. Robert L. “Rob” King III, CEO King, left; Hough, right of the automobile dealerships, donated the lease for a Mitsubishi i-MiEV electric car to UNCSA’s Advancement Division. “It is my pleasure to support UNCSA in any way I can,” King said. “This vehicle will help the staff to promote the school, to communicate its unique mission, and to tell its compelling story.” King is chair of UNCSA’s Board of Trustees. The school enlisted a local company to “wrap” the vehicle graphically in honor of the school’s mascot, The Fighting Pickle (aka The Fighting Pickles). Mark Hough, UNCSA’s Chief Advancement Officer, said the vehicle is both a promotional tool and a practical one. “We do a lot of traveling around the Triad, building support for the school,” he said. “With the Pickle Car, we can make every mile count, save money on fuel, and reduce our carbon footprint. It’s a win all the way around. … I’ve been a Pickle for a long time,” added Hough, who is a graduate of UNCSA’s School of Drama. “Now, I am proud to drive one.” Locally, the green machine is turning heads. It garnered a feature story in the WinstonSalem Journal and its travels about town have been documented on social media. The car has a combined city/highway rating of 112 miles per gallon equivalent (MPGe), a measure of the average distance traveled per unit of energy consumed. It produces no on-road emissions, and does not require motor oil. Recycled materials are used in the body and interior. After a social media campaign to name the car, “Pickle Pod” was selected by a distinguished panel of judges. Meanwhile, the Fighting Pickle continues to be a national media darling. Last fall, it was pictured in Tailgater magazine as “an interesting college mascot.” And it was on a list of “11 somewhat strange, but mostly awesome college mascots,” which has received nearly 100,000 likes since it was released online this past summer by Buzzfeed.com.
• In addition to Facebook and Twitter, we’ve now ventured onto Flickr (www.flickr.com/photos/uncsa) and YouTube (www.youtube.com/ UNCSAOFFICIAL). • And we have new mobile apps! Directory, Donate, Events, Map, News, Social Media, etc. To download, just go to the iOS App Store or the Google App Store and search for UNCSA. Here’s the link for iOS on iTunes (iPhone, iPad, etc.): http://bit.ly/13NpDtl. Here’s the link for Android on the Google App Store: http://bit.ly/13NoTUY. • In an effort to bring down costs for students and the school, UNCSA has entered into an agreement with MBS Direct to provide a virtual textbook and apparel store. You can order books here: http://bookstore. mbsdirect.net/uncsa.htm. You can order apparel here: http://www.directgear.net/ uncsa/default.aspx?FVCUSNO=37439 The Campus Store in the Hanes Student Commons will continue to operate this school year providing some school supplies, sundries, gifts and snacks. The store will be open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and also open for some special events.
The Chronicle of Higher Education recently listed UNCSA No. 9 nationally among small 4-year schools with the best 3-year and 6-year graduation rates, with a score of 66.5 percent. Based on U.S. Education Department data, the score reflects the percentage of first-time, full-time degree-seeking students who entered in the fall of 2005 and graduated within six years.
Accrediting Agency Warns UNCSA This past summer, UNCSA was placed on warning for 12 months by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) Commission on Colleges (COC). The warning was issued following submission of UNCSA’s Fifth-Year Interim Report, which is required between decennial reviews. “UNCSA takes the warning from the SACSCOC very seriously,” said Provost David Nelson. “The education of our students is and always has been our first priority. We are committed to resolving these issues favorably and look forward to working with SACS.”
“UNCSA welcomes outside assessment because it ensures accountability to the public and strong academic standards,” Nelson added. “We are gratified that our High School Programs are unaffected by these issues and, in fact, received a thoroughly positive assessment during its last review by the SACS Council on Accreditation and School Improvement (SACS CASI).” Of the more than 80 standards that must be met for accreditation, SACS had questions on five issues, from the size of the faculty as it relates to the programs UNCSA offers to logging student complaints.
Nelson emphasized that UNCSA remains accredited, and was not placed on probation. WINTER 2014
UNCSA MAGAZINE
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