The University of North Carolina Wilmington hosted “A Day in the Life of a UNCW Student” event on Friday, March 28 — an exclusive opportunity for members of the Board of Visitors and the Parents Council to learn about, and participate in, campus activities and tours of university applied-learning spaces, student support services, and areas across campus that impact the Seahawk student experience.
“We are transforming lives at UNCW by providing holistic experiences beyond the classroom,” said Chancellor Aswani Volety, Ph.D., noting the university’s emphasis on providing students with unparalleled opportunities to succeed. “A significant amount of learning that happens on campus happens through what we call applied-learning experiences.”
Attendees geared up for the full day of campus activities during a networking breakfast —that featured comments from campus leadership and introductions to UNCW Student Affairs and Academic Affairs programs — before setting off on a series of hands-on experiential campus tours, lunch in the Shore Dining Hall, a robust tour of Campus Recreation, and an end-of-day tailgate social at a UNCW Baseball game, including remarks by UNCW Director of Athletics Michael Oblinger.
“You’re going to see how students live on this campus,” said Vice Chancellor Eddie Stuart ‘05M, preparing participants for a day of action and engagement. “You’re going to see the experience that they get to enjoy every day. You’re going to get to see everything from academics to student life — how we support our students, how we prepare them for the future.”
The “Day in the Life” campus tours featured Student Support Services and stops at three of the university’s applied-learning locations on campus — including the Coastal Engineering Wave Flume, the Simulation Learning Center Lab, and the Betty Holden Stike Education Laboratory — spaces that embrace the university’s mission and strategic plan that integrates teaching and mentoring with research and service.
“We’re transforming lives through places, people, partnerships, and programs that build the university’s applied-learning experiences,” said Provost and Vice Chancellor James Winebrake, Ph.D.
Providing a behind-the-scenes look into Student Support Services, participants learned about the variety of services available to students to support academic and personal needs while they are on campus — including the Disability Resource Center, the University Learning Center, Testing Services, the Abrons Student Health Center, and the Counseling Center.
During tours of the Coastal Engineering Wave Flume, in the College of Engineering (CSE), participants learned about the Coastal Engineering undergraduate program and the opportunity UNCW students have to study the power of ocean waves using an 80 x 5-foot wave flume that holds 9,500 gallons of water. Installed in 2023, next to academic classrooms in the Coastal Engineering Building, the flume is the largest wave flume in the southeast and Mid-Atlantic regions.
Through exploring the Betty Holden Stike Education Laboratory, in the Watson College of Education (WCE), attendees had the opportunity to learn more about, and actively practice, the methods UNCW students are learning in their courses and incorporating into a classroom setting that teaches strategies and skills in reading, writing, and mathematics.
By touring the Simulation Learning Center (SLC), in the College of Health and Human Services (CHHS), Board of Visitors and Parents Council members learned more about the realistic simulation technology across nursing specialties. In the SLC, students train in a challenging and safe environment, while gaining hands-on experience to develop confidence in the clinical setting.
Dr. Winebrake encouraged participants to think about to their most transformative experiences in college and/or high school, emphasizing that “many of the most impactful experiences are those outside the classroom, including important applied-learning opportunities, internships, and professional development programs.”
Additionally, Dr. Winebrake noted the wide array of additional applied-learning opportunities across campus, with highlights including The Seahawk, the UNCW student newspaper; the Office of Research and Innovation, that provides undergraduate students the opportunity to actively participate in research and scholarly activity across campus; the Cameron Executive Network, in the College of Business (CSB); theatre, music ensembles, Pier601 Creative, and archaeological opportunities through the College of Humanities, Socials Sciences, and the Arts (CHSSA); the Psychotherapy Assessment Clinic, and DrugDISCOvery Lab in CSE; and the Shellfish Research Hatchery, Marine Mammal Stranding Program, and MarineQuest opportunities available in the Center for Marine Science (CMS).
Explore the “Day in the Life” photo gallery to see all the action from this special day of campus engagement.
To learn more about how you can support UNCW and impact the Seahawk student experience, visit giving.uncw.edu. Additionally, explore the UNCW Volunteer Boards and events calendar to start making plans to get involved.