Wednesday, October 30, 2002

WILMINGTON – The University of North Carolina at Wilmington invites area residents to become a college student for a day through its first-ever College Day program, from 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 23. Orientation begins at 9 a.m. in Morton Hall Auditorium.

The UNCW College of Arts and Sciences and the Division for Public Service and Continuing Studies, together with the professional schools of business, education and nursing, are offering 30 one-hour, non-credit ‘classes’ for the lifelong learner. Participants may attend four classes, choosing among lectures, workshops, and demonstrations from award-winning teachers in the natural sciences, fine arts, history, literature, film, creative writing, philosophy, religion, Spanish, criminal justice, business and many other exciting academic disciplines.

Cost is $10 per person, which includes lunch at Wagoner Hall student dining facility. An optional cultural event will be offered that evening for $8 per person. For information and registration, call 910/962-3195 or go to www.uncw.edu/collegeday. Registration deadline is Friday, Nov. 15. Media partners co-sponsoring College Day are the Wilmington Star-News and WHQR Public Radio.

“It is part of the mission UNC Wilmington to provide public access to its educational program,” said Dr. Raymond Burt, associate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and College Day organizer. “We are opening our doors to our Wilmington neighbors and all the people of Southeastern North Carolina, and we invite them to come get to know UNCW.”



“The purpose of College Day is to engage the public intellectually and to begin an on-going relationship through our many activities and programs,” he said, noting that many new people have moved to the area and may not have had an opportunity to visit the campus.

“The faculty participating in the College Day program are all volunteers, and they are passionate about their fields of study. It has been rewarding to me to see the faculty’s enthusiasm for this program and their eagerness to talk to the public about their work,” said Dr. Burt. He hopes to make this an annual event. Attendees will have the opportunity to sign up to learn about future programs in their area of interest.

The 30 classes can be grouped into five categories: the local region; the nation; self-development, culture, and pure research. A sampling of presentations is listed below.



In the category of local region, Dr. Ann Pabst, professor of biology, will speak on "Bottlenose dolphins: Wilmington's local marine mammal." Dr. W. Frank Ainsley, professor of earth sciences, will discuss “Pender County’s European History.”

In the nation, Dr. Larry Clark, dean of the Cameron School of Business, will present “Preston Tucker: An Entrepreneurial Lesson From History,” Dr. Don A. Habibi, professor of philosophy and religion, will discuss,” Security, Civil Liberties, and Rights.”

In self-development, two courses of interest are a “voice class for solo and choral singers” with music professor Nancy King and “Obesity Treatment: What works, what doesn’t, and where to start,” with Dr. Melody Kyzer, registered dietician and assistant professor of health, physical education and recreation.

In culture, Dr. Michael Wentworth, director of the Master of Arts in Liberal Studies program, will discuss, “The Magic Kingdom to Peyton Place: Cultural Images of America in the 1950s,” and Professor Donald Furst, chair of the Department of Art and Theatre, will present, “’Won’t You Come Up and See My Etchings?’ or How to Tell a Lithograph from a Serigraph.”

In the area of research, Dr. Ron Vetter, chair of the UNCW Computer Science Department, will present“Emerging Web Technologies.” Dr. William J. Cooper, professor of chemistry, will speak on “Chem/Bio-Terrorism Primer.”

College Day participants may attend a UNCW University Theatre special presentation of Garson Kanin’s Born Yesterday at 8 p.m., Nov. 23, in Kenan Auditorium. Admission is $8.

For more information, contact Dr. Raymond Burt at 910/962-3660.