Congratulations, December Graduates!

Tips for Preparing for Next Semester

Congratulations! You have made it through another semester in college. If this was your first semester, I hope you are starting to feel at home at UNCC, and if this is another semester down, you are one step closer to graduation! As we begin our Spring 2021 semester, I figured some tips could be helpful to prepare you for life after winter break. 

As a reminder, classes will start up again on January 20, 2021. Some of us may have classes in person while others are fully online once again, but either way, we have some common problems and possible solutions on making friends in classes, moving to remote learning, and personal tips on how I survive my online semesters!

• I’m having a lot of trouble staying motivated 
• Start with small pieces and work your way through. Just start by showing up to class, listening to what the professor is saying, and summarizing the lecture in 5 bullet points. After that, we can take another step forward by writing more detailed notes to go back on and reading the book. I would also recommend setting up a visual calendar such as Google Calendar or College Schedule Maker to visualize the times in the day where you’re free to study.
• I don’t feel like I’m getting the college experience
• Luckily, many of our clubs and organizations have moved fully online to help with student participation. Find your place on campus and a group of close friends by joining a Belk College of Business organization!
• Planning out the Semester Ahead
• I recommend writing out all of your assignments in a planner or on a sheet of paper to help you organize your semester. This can be as simple as creating a chart with the due date, assignment name, and a checkbox to check it off as it is completed. 
• Teaching Yourself
• Many of us feel as though we are having to teach ourselves with this online learning platform. We have some great resources on campus to help you in classes that may be harder to understand. This includes the Math Learning Department, UCAE tutoring, and the Writing Resource Center. You can also set up an appointment with a Peer Advisor to discuss any concerns you may have with your courses.
• Staying Positive
• While things may have been weird this past year, we are all in this together. A little positive self-talk can go a long way to build confidence, succeed in courses, and feel more positive about life in general. I start every day by thinking of a few things I am thankful for and changing my thought process from “I have to do XYZ” to “I get to do XYZ.” Small changes can help a lot in the long run.

One thing to keep in mind is that you are never alone in your journey throughout college. You have faculty, staff, and peers here to help you throughout your journey. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask and start this semester on a great note!

Ace your Exams! Have a wonderful winter break!

We acknowledge that this year has been more than challenging.

We hope you'll finish strong-- Ace your finals and have a wonderful winter break!

If you have outstanding questions or concerns, feel free to contact the Niblock Student Center. We are open traditional hours virtually for the next week.

The University and the Niblock Student Center will be closed starting Thursday, December 24th and will not reopen until Monday, January 4th. All inquiries received during this time will be answered upon our return in the new year.

Classes start January 20th for the spring 2021 semester.

Lunch & Learn Recap

On Thursday, December 10th, the Niblock Student Center hosted our last Lunch & Learn of the Fall 2020 semester! During this event, Chris Elmore joined us to talk about entrepreneurship and how to be your own boss. Elmore graduated from UNC Charlotte in 1993 and has since become one of the founding members of AvidXchange, an accounts payable automation industry leader based in Charlotte. He also works as an adjunct professor at UNC Charlotte and Queens University. 

Throughout this Lunch & Learn, Elmore discussed his experience with entrepreneurship and what innovation means to him. Some topics discussed include proper customer retention, leveraging technology in a manageable way and advice on how to get started on entrepreneurial journeys. 

A huge thank you to Chris Elmore for joining us today! Your insight and time was very much appreciated! 

Please be sure to keep a lookout on the Niblock Student Center calendar for our Spring 2021 events at this link here. 

UCAE

 

Things to remember when scheduling your appointment with the UCAE. First, this process is made to be simple and easy. You simply go to your Connect, click make an appointment and the drop-down menu will aid you to select the UCAE option and the right service for you! Finding a time that works best for your schedule is easy! With the UCAE going virtual, you’re able to find times that can be tailor-made for your busy schedule. As with your current virtual classes, you will enter a Zoom or WebEx meeting on your scheduled meeting date and time. When you enter, your selected tutor will talk with you about your semester so far and then jump into the instruction that they have for you. The best tip is to come prepared for your appointment! Your instructor may have supplementary resources including additional homework problems, class notes, slides, or even previous exams! Have your note-taking supplies readily available as you won’t want to miss any of this valuable information. And it’s that easy! Schedule your appointments as you see fit. The UCAE is an amazing resource to you as you navigate your way through your classes and ultimately, your UNC Charlotte Career!

Important Reminder for Borrowed Laptops

If you borrowed a laptop from the Atkins Library for the fall semester, please remember that laptops need to be returned at the end of the semester. If you need to check out a laptop for the 7-day exam period, that is possible, too! If you have any questions or concerns, please call the library circulation desk at 704-687-0491.  

Earn Academic Credit for your Eligible Internship!

Belk College of Business students can pursue 3 credit hours for their qualifying internship as an upper-level major. Internship for academic credit can have many benefits for you, including:

💼	Internships, especially those related to your upper-level major in a way that would qualify for credit, are a great way to apply what you have learned in your classes and add an industry context that will help you become a career-ready professional.
💻	The internship-for-credit class is an online-only class that is designed to help you maximize and reflect upon your internship. It also provides the opportunity to interact with and learn about other intern experiences. This Pass/ No Credit class includes goal setting, critical evaluation, a resume update, and more.
🕑	Internship for academic credit can be a great time management tool. The majority of the hours you will spend earning academic credit comes in the form of your internship itself. Pursuing credit could be a great way to remain a full-time student while earning credit for the time spent at your internship.
👥	The internship class is designed to encourage you to make connections in your internship as well as within the class. Building your network is always a good idea.
💯	Through the academic credit application process, you’ll be ready to begin your internship and know that its learning objectives are aligned with your major. You can apply for academic credit through the first day of class (January 20), so there is still plenty of time to secure an internship and pursue credit.

CLICK HERE

Learn more about eligibility and the application process!

Notice of Case Competition (And opportunity to win some $!)

The Goodyear Innovation Challenge is a business design and innovation competition sponsored by Goodyear in collaboration with Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. Master's degree students and ambitious undergraduate students with a zeal for intrapreneurship, design, and business innovation from across the United States are invited to unleash their creativity while addressing real-world business challenges. The top five teams will compete for prize money in a virtual hackathon culminating in a competition where they will pitch ideas to Goodyear executives.

Fall 2020 to Summer 2021 Pass/No Credit Options

Before electing Pass/No Credit for this semester, be sure to read the policy and FAQ page. 

PD Meet Up Recap: Advanced Interviewing

On Thursday, December 3rd, the Niblock Student Center held a meet up on advanced interviewing! 

 Meet ups are 30 minute meetings held by the Professional Development team about specific topics. In this advanced interviewing meet up, we discussed common interview scenarios that some applicants deem as challenging and how to answer these questions. For instance, if an applicant does not have a lot of work experience, it is important to emphasize academic credentials. Secondly, be open about how you resolve conflict and past occurrences that have been a successful example of overcoming challenges in a group setting. Lastly, take the time to ask your interviewer thought provoking questions to assess if this company is the right fit for you.

If you missed this professional development event, be sure to check out our next one on Thursday, December 10th. This Lunch & Learn will focus on entrepreneurship! 

 

Study Tips for Finals

"Finals are getting closer, so it’s time to start thinking about how you’re going to study for exams. The first thing I like to do is create my study plan. I break up the material that we’ve covered in class into smaller chunks to study each day leading up to my exam. I find it works best when I study like this starting at least a week before the test date instead of trying to cram the day before. It’s also a good idea to create a study group with some of your classmates to review the material together over Zoom. Some of the things that I study to prepare for a test includes old quizzes, tests, homework assignments, or in-class assignments if I have access to them. This is a good way to see what information was important during the semester and an easy way to review it. I also like to create my own quizzes based on information from the textbook or lecture notes. Quizzing yourself is a great way to see if you are actually retaining the information that you’re studying. Lastly, finals can be stressful for everyone, so it’s important to remember to take breaks while studying and enjoy some activities to help clear your mind. I like to do things like FaceTime with a friend, go for a walk outside, or bake some cookies to get refreshed and focused. The semester is almost over, stay strong Niners!" 

Registration Tips from the Peer Advisors!

"Registration is a very exciting but stressful time for all students. Trying to find what classes you need and getting in the correct times with your preferred professors can be difficult! This could be the first time you are registering or your last time but we all go through this process! So remember you are not alone in your stress and worry! We are all just trying our best to get the classes we need to get closer to our shared goal of graduation. If you have any questions or concerns during this time don’t be afraid to schedule an appointment with a Peer Advisor for more help!"