August 2018

Message from Chancellor Jose V. Sartarelli

Dear Seahawk Community,

The new academic year is off to a great start at UNCW! More than 2,100 new freshmen arrived on campus Aug. 18, where approximately 1,850 university and community volunteers welcomed them to our nest. In addition, we welcomed more than 1,850 transfer students and more than 900 new graduate students. In fact, our graduate student population reached an all-time high of 2,275 – 290 more than last year, a 15 percent increase. Other fall semester traditions include Convocation, featuring 2018 keynote speaker Professor Alison Taylor (Biology and Marine Biology), and numerous UNCWelcome activities that create connections across our campus and within the community.

To support the “Chancellor’s Challenge,” a new philanthropic initiative, my wife and I were proud to help inspire student/employee giving by contributing $25,000 to fund the Jose V. “Zito” Sartarelli and Katherine A. Sartarelli Distinguished Merit Scholarship.

The UNC System recognized Alexis Landrum ’19, the 2018-19 President of UNCW’s Black Student Union, as one of six students selected to participate in the 2018 Marian Drane Graham Scholars Program. UNCW recently signed a new academic partnership with Central Carolina Community College, expanding the reach of our programs to students in the center of the state. More than 20 researchers from across North Carolina, including UNCW (Chemistry and Biochemistry), will oversee a $5,013,000 project funded by the state to conduct baseline water quality testing.

We have many great activities scheduled on campus this year, including the 27th season of UNCW Presents and UNCW Athletics events. Our fall sports are off to an exciting start! The women’s soccer team recently defeated in-state rival UNCG. The men’s soccer team kicked off the season with three straight wins, including a 4-0 victory in this week's home opener against Jacksonville.

 Go Seahawks! 

Jose V. Sartarelli
Chancellor

Top photo: Members of the Class of 2022 gathered at the Clock Tower for the traditional class photo before trekking to Trask Coliseum for Convocation.

VIEW the slideshow: Move-In 2018 marked the beginning of UNCWelcome activities and events, including Convocation, open houses, the Involvement Carnival, concerts and fireworks.

Marine Corps 2nd Lt. Jeremy Markus Jones '18  (second from right) was commissioned during a ceremony on the UNCW campus. Among those attending were Bill Kawczynski (left), UNCW director of military affairs; Chancellor Sartarelli; and Pat Leonard (right), vice chancellor for student affairs.

Chancellor Sartarelli and Provost Marilyn Sheerer (front row, left) welcomed new faculty to UNCW with a reception at the Wise Alumni House.

Chancellor Sartarelli met with ESL students from Fudan University, UNCW’s partner in Shanghai, China. This was the second year UNCW’s ESL Program hosted Fudan students for three weeks of English language immersion, university guest lectures and cultural exchange. 

Chancellor and Mrs. Sartarelli welcomed students participating in Seahawk RISE (Reaching and Inspiring Student Excellence), a program to support students from rural areas, during a reception at Kenan House.

Chancellor Sartarelli met with visiting business students from UNCW's institutional partner in the Caribbean, the University of the West Indies in Barbados. Joining the students was UWI faculty member Prosper Bangwayo-Skeete (center, next to Chancellor Sartarelli).

UNCW women's basketball Head Coach Karen Barefoot (left) was among the Seahawk team leaders on hand for the "Coaches Caravan" aboard the Battleship North Carolina. The event was presented by the Seahawk Club.