Registration Tips and Tricks

By: Christian Ray, Peer Advisor

It is hard to believe that we are over 10 weeks into the semester, yet here we are! With all of the joy (or stress) that may come around this time of the year, students have the added responsibility of registering for the next semester. While this responsibility may feel overwhelming, it does not have to be. Moreover, by planning ahead on your registration, you can set yourself up for success.

As a student myself, I am well aware of the obstacles that students encounter when registering for classes. This is why I believe the most important step in registering for classes is to select your classes ahead of time. Registration for Spring 2022 opens on November 1st at 9:00 AM. While the earliest available registration time could be later for a student depending on their number of hours earned or priority status, students should be ready to register as soon as possible. For more information about registration times, click here. Students should have all courses and sections planned out several days before this. If you need to speak to an advisor or a peer advisor, such as myself, do it now. Do not wait until the last minute. See information here for scheduling an appointment or visiting during drop ins.

The second most important tip is to make sure you are registering for the courses you need to be in. If you are a freshman going into your second semester, you should typically be working towards your writing, math, and science courses. In particular, pre-requisite courses, such as MATH-1120 or STAT-1220 should be prioritized. For more information on this, students should consult Degreeworks as well as their advisor.

Finally, students should be plan on contingencies (such as if the desired class is full by the time of registration). The best way to plan for this is to have a handful of backup courses to take in the event that a desired course is unavailable. Another thing I encourage students to consider is waitlisting. If a course is full, students may usually join a waitlist in the event that a seat opens up. In my experience, I have been very lucky with waitlists, though your mileage may vary.

Lastly, as an honorable mention, make sure to look at the meeting times of courses before you register for them. Most courses have a handful of sections offered at different times and this gives students flexibility to decide what days and times they will need to be in the classroom. I encourage students to use this to their advantage.

Schedule Wizard: One Tool for Course Planning

By: Amy Kidder, Senior Peer Advisor

Registration begins November 1st... have you planned what classes you want to take next semester?

There are several ways to plan your schedule. You may have set up an appointment with a Peer Advisor or Academic and Career Coach, attended Freshman Group Advising, or have just looked through classes on Banner and the Course Catalog. There is no wrong way to plan as long as you get the classes you need and have back up options. 

Another way to help plan your schedule for next semester is by using Schedule Wizard. Schedule Wizard can be accessed through your my.charlotte.edu homepage. It is one of the many useful icons located there on the right-hand side.

Schedule Wizard allows students to visualize their schedule by creating options from the courses you have selected and incorporating other scheduled events like work or an internship. It can also be a helpful tool if you already know the main courses you want to take and are looking for some non-business electives or other classes to fill in the gaps. Schedule Wizard can let you search for classes, read a description, and see the various professors and times it is available. 

To use Schedule Wizard:

• Click on the Schedule Wizard icon on your student homepage. 
• Select the term (Spring 2022) that you would like to create a schedule for. 
• Click “Add Course” Here you can use the drop down menus to find the classes you are interested in.
• Click “Add course” again at the bottom corner and “go back to generate schedules”. 
• Now when you click “generate schedules” you should see a list of possible options with the courses you’ve selected. 

You can click through and even compare two schedules at a time. If you find a specific time slot for one course you can lock it into place. Remember to click “generate schedules” each time you make a change to see the updated options. If you find a schedule you love, save it as a favorite. Now you can have all the CRN numbers ready for the courses you want to register for.

Disclaimer: Schedule Wizard is not recommended as a way to register for classes, simply use it as a tool to help you visualize and plan your semester. 

Commercial Real Estate Virtual Internship- Spring 2022

Project Destined (see CNBC feature here) is offering a paid, Commercial Real Estate Virtual Internship Opportunity in Spring 2022. The virtual internship is available to students from all academic majors and ranging from freshman to senior classification.   Project Destined, founded by a former Carlyle Group executive, has partnered with 100+ leading real estate firms and 70+ universities around the country to provide diverse students with internship opportunities to explore ownership through live real estate deals. The 8-week Paid, Virtual Internship Program will launch in 25 U.S. and International markets in February 2022 with an incredible group of partners including Wells Fargo, JLL, Greystar, Hines, Eastdil Secured, Brookfield Properties, PGIM Real Estate, among others.   As part of the program, interns will work 4 to 6 hours per week including real estate training, a bi-weekly Executive Speaker Series, and competing with students from 60+ universities in “Shark Tank” style live deal pitch competitions.   Students will have the opportunity to: · Get partnered with one of the 60+ Sponsoring Companies · Get access to our network of over 450+ corporate mentors in leading firms. · Earn a stipend of $500 and a chance to win an additional $1,000 from weekly competitions  Please sign up here to join an Open House and learn more. Candidates can also apply here.

Connecting with Faculty

By: Christian Ray, Peer Advisor

Are you considering applying for any internships or leadership positions over the next six months? What about scholarships or honors? Even if you answered no to some or all of these, connecting with faculty is still a great thing to do. There are opportunities available which professors and faculty can help guide you towards that you may not even realize exist.

In my experience transitioning from dual-enrollment with a community college to enrollment at a four-year university, connecting with faculty has been a major help. I have been fortunate enough to have teachers write scholarship letters and references for me. These references and letters have played a major role in helping me get to where I am today.

While, admittedly, it can be more challenging to connect with faculty at a bigger school- especially during the pandemic- the opportunities are available if you are willing to put in a little extra effort. There are a variety of ways to connect with faculty, but the most important in my opinion is to be an excellent student. This does not mean making perfect grades, necessarily, but rather, engaging with your professors and learning from them.

Some “best practices” that we recommend to students attending our “Peer Connections for Success” sessions include participating in class, demonstrating respect towards your professors/faculty, asking questions, and attending office hours. Additionally, you might consider practicing some occasional small-talk with your professors either before or after class. Overall, think of connecting with faculty similarly to how you think about networking with recruiters. While you are never guaranteed an opportunity or reference from your professors, your odds will increase substantially if you go the extra mile of getting to know them.

After all, your faculty want to help you succeed as much as possible! However, it can be difficult to recommend or write a reference for a student when you do not know them very well.

Keep in mind, however, that references are certainly not the only reason to get to know your professors or staff within the university. These individuals are often highly experienced and well-connected in a variety of fields. Maybe you are trying to learn more about different career options or working for different companies. Or, perhaps you need wisdom on how to approach a research project. Or, maybe you are just looking for an advisor to help oversee your student organization. These are all areas where having a good relationship with your professors can be beneficial.

If you are still not sure exactly where to begin connecting with faculty, that is okay. The best place to start is simply getting to know your faculty and being ready and willing to learn from them whenever they have something to share. At the end of the day, keep in mind that the faculty members at Charlotte want to see you succeed and they are happy to help you along the way! In many cases, all you have to do is ask!

Belk College of Business Student Organizations

Looking to get involved on campus specifically within the Belk College of Business? Want to meet new people and learn new things? Then you are in the right place!

My name is Bailey Harris and I am a Senior Peer Advisor for the Niblock Student Center. I HIGHLY recommend all business students to get involved on campus and meet new people but especially within the student organizations in the Belk College.

The Belk College of Business supports 16 student organizations. Click on the link here to watch a video about each student group and see the faculty/student contact information. You can also click the link below for group information through Niner Engage, UNC Charlottes student organization database which provides information on the hundreds of student groups you could join!  

Actuarial Science Program: for those interested in actuarial science. The actuarial science profession makes use of a person’s knowledge of math, economics, finance and risk theory in the business world

Alpha Kappa Psi: Co-Ed Professional Business Fraternity where members participate in things like professional speakers, team building events, intramural sports, and leadership training seminars.  http://www.charlotteakpsi.com

American Marketing Association (AMA): Nationally affiliated with AMA, all majors welcome where members have access to workshops, AMA certifications, speakers, and even panel discussions. We spend time with our community and build relationships with our members through community service and social outings. 

Association of Information Systems (AIS): formed for the purpose of promoting the study and utilization of information systems through programs of professional development, social networking, and community development. 

Association of Latino Professionals for America (ALPFA): The Association of Latino Professionals is geared towards all professions, not only for the financial and accounting fields. 

Beta Alpha Psi (BAP): Beta Alpha Psi is an honorary organization for Financial Information students and professionals.  Our weekly meetings involve a variety of professionals presenting on an assortment of topics.

ENACTUS: an international non-profit organization that brings together student, academic and business leaders who are committed to using the power of entrepreneurial action to improve the quality of life and standard of living for people in need 

Future Leaders of Accounting (FLA) - UNC Charlotte Chapter:   an organization for accounting and finance majors of all classifications. Weekly speakers provide opportunities for self-development and association among members and practicing business professionals.

Gamma Iota Sigma (GIS): an international professional development organization with a focus on insurance, risk management and actuarial science open to all majors.  Provides many professional development opportunities and group/individual coaching for career goals.  

Global Business Brigades: spend the year fundraising in order to collect $1,500 dollars to give to the community-owned bank in the area where we decide to take the brigade. On the brigade we provide financial planning workshops in order to increase financial literacy around a culture of savings and borrowing while helping banks to increase membership, improve operations, and identify lower risk borrowers. 

Intersections UNCC:  a branch of IntersectionsCharlotte, which is an organization founded by Bank of America employees that meets to listen to speakers talk about how they integrate their faith into their occupation.  We invite people from all professions and majors to connect with God and the professional community by intersecting Church Street, Wall Street and College Street. 

Management Consulting Club:  provides students with the resources, knowledge, opportunities and experience to better prepare members for a successful career in management consulting. https:www.unccmcc.com

National Association of Black Accountants (NABA): Founded in 1969, NABA has served as a network for professionals for nearly 50 years. Our chapter strives to encourage scholarship, leadership, and financial education while establishing essential connections for our undergraduate members.

Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) - UNC Charlotte Chapter:  nationally affiliated with the Society for Human Resource Management. SHRM is the world’s largest association devoted to human resource management, representing more than 210,000 individual members. SHRM is a premier HR organization that offers guidance, information, and access to an intimate, private network of HR professionals and specialists. 

Real Estate Club: focuses on preparing students to understand the different careers in real estate and the investment strategies to generate wealth. . Our bi-weekly meetings consist of local real estate professionals who help our members better understand the business they work in and how they achieved the success they have had. 

Sports Analytics Club: Learn about sports analytics and apply what we’ve learned into real-world scenarios. We are currently partnered with the UNCC baseball and football team collecting, analyzing, and presenting data. 

By joining an organization(s) you create a world of diverse opportunities for your professional and personal life! Below are some benefits to being involved:

• Networking (Professional & Personal) 
• Deepened Knowledge of Areas of Business 
• Growth in Public Speaking Skills 
• Job & Internship Opportunities

All of these organizations are amazing ways to get to know new people and opportunities. Try something out of your comfort zone! Don’t be scared to get involved and take advantage of the different student organizations available to you here in the Belk College! 

Have you considered Studying Abroad? You Should!

By: Aleksandr Wittemann, Belk College of Business Peer Advisor

Studying abroad is one of the most unique and intriguing opportunities in college. You can travel to a different country, live like a local, and spend a semester studying in a completely new environment. It can be intimidating at times to navigate the process, but this blog post will share some helpful tips and ways you can learn a bit more about studying abroad.

Some background information about me and my experience: I am a study abroad alumni and a study abroad ambassador with the Office of Education Abroad (OEA) at UNC Charlotte. I studied abroad in Spring of 2020 in Madrid, Spain at La Universidad de Carlos III de Madrid (UC3M). I studied abroad through an affiliate provider, International Studies Abroad or ISA. Sadly, my study abroad experience was cut short due to the pandemic, but I was able to spend a little more than 2 months exploring Spain, making lifelong friends and eating lots of good food! 

What are some reasons to Study Abroad?

• See the world in a new way
• Gain valuable resume experience
• Learn about different cultures and meet new people
• Make new friends and connections
• Have fun!

Keep reading for some frequently asked questions!!

How do I find out more information about study abroad? You can click here and complete Study Abroad 101. Study Abroad 101 is a free, non-credit Canvas course where you will complete modules that answer questions about program options, how to finance study abroad, academic credit transfer, housing abroad, and how to succeed studying abroad!

What kind of housing is available abroad? It will largely depend on your program. Most programs offer student housing (dorms), homestays (living with a local family), or you can arrange your own housing. 

How do I get academic credit for studying abroad? For traditional programs, before you go abroad, the OEA will provide you a “course equivalency form” where you will need to get equivalency approval from different departments on campus. You can do this by printing the syllabi from your courses abroad and giving it to the department attached to your course equivalency form. 

When should I study abroad? It is recommended for most students that the study abroad their sophomore or junior year. Students cannot study abroad their last semester at Charlotte, unless it is a faculty led experience.

Where is the bet place to study abroad?  That is up to you! There is no wrong answer to this question. When trying to find a place to study abroad, you should consider the language, culture, academics, and financial implications.

Do I need to speak a foreign language? Not at all! Thankfully, we live in a world where modern technology is everywhere – meaning translation apps! It can be helpful to know a few words and to put some effort into learning the language but that also happens simply by living there!

The BCOB sponsors several faculty led Study Abroad Experiences during Spring Break and the summer. Check out those experiences here.

Only 11% of students throughout the United States take advantage of study abroad. This is a great opportunity to develop some new skills and help your resume stand out to employers. 

I hope that these are some helpful tips for starting your study abroad experience! If you have more questions, you can reach out to the Office of Education Abroad or you can send me an email!

Listen Up Accounting and Finance Majors! There’s a new ACCT course you should know about!

 A new course has been created for the 2021-2022 Academic Year. This course is ACCT 3323 - Intermediate Accounting I and it has BIG implications for Belk College Students.

TLDR: If you plan to major in Accounting or Finance and have not completed ACCT 2122, you should take ACCT 3323 instead of ACCT 2122.

ACCT 3323 is designed to better prepare students in Accounting and Finance majors for their upper level coursework and will now be required for those majors. The course will fulfill similar requirements as ACCT 3311 (which is being phased out), but will also take the place of ACCT 2122 in some Progression GPA calculations. 

Which Accounting course needed is dependent on your intended major as well as your catalog year. Here is the general breakdown:

• Students planning to major in something other than Accounting or Finance should take the following sequence: ACCT 2121 -> ACCT 2122. 

• Students planning to major in Accounting or Finance should take the following sequence: ACCT 2121 -> ACCT 3323.  

• One exception - Students planning to major in Finance who are Pre-Business and have a catalog year of 2020-2021 or prior, may not be required to take ACCT 3323. We recommend speaking with your Academic and Career Coach to see if ACCT 3323 is right for you and your career goals.

FAQS:

• What if I take ACCT 3323 instead of ACCT 2122 and then decide not to major in Accounting or Finance?

• If you earn a C or above in ACCT 3323, you do not need to take ACCT 2122 in order to move forward in your major of choice.  ACCT 3323 will be used for the Progression GPA calculation and, if meeting all declaration requirements, you will be able to declare any Belk College of Business major. 

• What if I take ACCT 2122 and then decide to change my major to Accounting or Finance?

• If you have completed all of the progression by the time you complete ACCT 2122 you will be eligible to declare your upper-division major and then take ACCT 3323. If you take ACCT 2122 and ACCT 3233 before completing progression, both grades will be calculated in your progression GPA.

• If I took ACCT 2122 in a previous semester and want to be an Accounting major, do I now need to take ACCT 3323?

• If you have completed ACCT 3311, you do not need to take ACCT 3323. If you have not completed ACCT 3311, ACCT 3323 is required.

• If I took ACCT 2122 in a previous semester and want to be a Finance major, do I now need to take ACCT 3323?

• ACCT 3323 is recommended for all Finance majors, unless they have completed ACCT 3311. 

• If your concentration is Finance/Accounting, and you have not completed ACCT 3311, you need to take ACCT 3323. 

• If you have selected Finance or Risk, Management and Insurance as your concentration and your catalog year is 2021-22 or later, you need to take ACCT 3323. 

• If you have selected a concentration other than Finance/Accounting and your catalog year is 2020-21 or earlier, you are not required to take ACCT 3323. You should consult your Degree Works audit and speak with your Academic and Career Coach if you have any questions.

• What if DegreeWorks is showing that I need ACCT 3311?

• ACCT 3311 will only be offered in Spring 2022 for students who have already taken the course but not earned a satisfactory grade. So if you need ACCT 3311 on your DegreeWorks audit and you haven’t attempted it yet, you need to register for ACCT 3323. 

• What if DegreeWorks is showing that I need ACCT 3312?

• ACCT 3312 will be offered in Spring 2022. Students who have already taken ACCT 3311 will continue onto ACCT 3312 in Spring 2022 instead of ACCT 3323. 

• Where can I find my current catalog year?

• The easiest place to find your current catalog year is on DegreeWorks. Looking at the first block of requirements on your audit, the Catalog Year, Overall GPA, Credits Required, and Credits Applied are all listed at the top right.
  

• Can I change my catalog year?

• Yes, a student may petition to move forward to another catalog year, but not to earlier years.

Learn About the Peer Guide Role

 Hello Business Niners!

It’s your fellow Peer Guide, Kiy Roberts, again with some insightful information for you! Have you ever wondered what exactly the role of a Peer Guide was? If so, we are here to help you! Within the Peer Guide program, we are trained to support the recruitment and success of all undergraduate Belk College of Business students particularly those that are underrepresented. 

We assist the Niblock Student Center by providing both professional and personal development assistance to students by helping them navigate different programs, events and workshops. Some of which include but are not limited to Peer Talks. Peer Talks are Peer Guide led events on specific topics that may be beneficial to the Belk College of Business student body. 

We are here to provide a student’s perspective to the professional development experience by talking about our personal stories, connecting students with different resources as well as pursuing feedback from students like yourself so that we can share it with the professional development to make your experience at Charlotte even more refreshing!

You may connect with us and keep in contact with us by attending a Professional Development event located here on the BCOB calendar: https://belkcollege.charlotte.edu/calendar if you were unable to submit an application to sign up for our mentorship program.

If you have a specific question for us you may submit them using this link:https://uncc.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3fmlitsSwv09XSt #ASKAPEERGUIDE and be sure to look out for your responses in our next update!

Until next time!

Graduate Programs Virtual Preview Days

 

Interested in learning more about the Belk College's top-ranked business graduate programs? 

Join an upcoming virtual Preview Day to get an inside look at the programs. 

Undergraduate students with outstanding academic performance may apply for “Early Entry“ to a graduate program and begin graduate coursework while completing undergraduate degree requirements.

Register Today!

Academic Resources For Your Success!

Struggling with your academic success? Then make sure you read this blog post! 

My name is Bailey Harris, I am a Senior Peer Advisor in the Belk College of Business and have struggled academically throughout my college journey. I am now in a better place in terms of my classes but it has taken work, dedication, and acceptance that I needed help. One of the hardest things to do is to accept the fact that you may need help academically here at UNC Charlotte. College is hard but I can promise you that you aren’t the only one struggling with understanding your coursework right now. But lucky for you, the University has plenty of academic resources to aid you in your struggles and help you towards your academic success. Below you will find the resources the University has to offer: 

#1 University Center of Academic Excellence -

What is the UCAE? 

• The University Center of Academic Excellence is an office that offers academic support and resources to all UNC-Charlotte students. Their mission is to increase learning effectiveness, enhance student success, and promote academic excellence. All of the services that the UCAE offers students are built into our tuition so therefore you are already paying for the services so use them to your advantage. 

What services does the UCAE offer?

• Tutoring: The UCAE offers Peer Tutoring services, Drop-In Tutoring Appointments, as well as Group Tutoring. They offer these services for 126 different classes and many of the classes that are Business Progression Courses are offered by the UCAE. I highly recommend this resource! 

• Peer Assisted Learning (PAL): The Peer Assisted Learning program’s mission offers group study sessions that are facilitated by peer leaders who have been trained to guide students apply course concepts through fun and collaborative activities that provide more practice in UNCC’s most challenging courses

• Personal Academic Consultations (PAC): Personal Academic Consultations (PACs) are one-on-one sessions designed to help students develop specific strategies to address their academic concerns. During these sessions time management, test taking, study tips procrastination, stress, and note taking tips are common topics that are addressed.

• Workshops: UCAE Workshops are highly interactive, 45 minute workshops aimed to help students strengthen their academic performance. These workshops are run by trained Staff and Graduate Students currently they are offered virtually, in-person, and across campus. The UCAE offers 17 different types of workshops that range from Finding Your Motivation to Time Management and more. These workshops are interactive for students to ensure that everyone can get the most out of the workshop and to promote discussions about common struggles we all face as students.  

I have personally attended Peer Tutoring for Calculus, Financial Accounting, and Microeconomics, PAL sessions for Financial Accounting, and have attended multiple UCAE workshops on a variety of topics. By attending these workshops and tutoring sessions I began to understand not only the concepts and content of my courses but also the best study and time management strategies for me. 

#2 Math Learning Center 

The Math Learning Center is a place for all of your mathematical needs. The Math Learning Center offers drop-in and by appointment tutoring for MATH and STAT classes to any enrolled student regardless of major or academic standing and there are no additional costs for attending a session. The Math Learning Center offers tutoring for MATH and STAT classes that range from lower level 900s to the higher level courses in the 3000s. That means whether you are in MATH 1120 or even STAT 1220 you are able to utilize the Math Learning Center to help you with any course concepts that are challenging to you. 

#3 Writing Resource Center 

The WRC is here to help you at any stage of the writing process for any subject (whether academic or personal). Our tutors can help you understand an assignment sheet, brainstorm, or even begin drafting an outline. If you’ve started writing but haven’t completed your first draft, we can give you feedback on direction and incorporating additional content. If you’ve already finished writing, we can give you some tips for revising or proofreading. Our goal is to help teach you to identify and understand the strengths and weaknesses of your writing, help you find answers, and help you learn how to research, write, revise, and proofread on your own. We want you to become a better writer by learning how to improve the quality of your writing overall, not just to improve the quality of one specific paper.

All UNC Charlotte students are encouraged to use the WRC for writing assistance, regardless of class level distinction or experience.

There are plenty of resources available to help to contribute to your academic success. All you have to do is schedule your appointment! If you are struggling with your academics it's important to understand that you are not alone and many of your peers are too! Don’t be scared to use these resources!! 

Women in Business Fall Retreat

Join Women in Business for their 1-Day Fall Retreat, which will take place Tuesday, October 12 from 9am- 4pm at the Dubois Center (Center City campus building). Applications close tomorrow, October 5, so apply now! 

This retreat is a free program for undergraduate business students seeking to build leadership and communication skills.  Retreat activities will include a networking exercise, small-group discussions, a panel of professionals, and learning sessions with Women in Business staff.