University of North Carolina at Charlotte facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Former names	Charlotte Center of the University of North Carolina (1946–1949) Charlotte College (1949–1965)
Type	Public research university
Established	September 23, 1946; 78 years ago (September 23, 1946)
Parent institution	University of North Carolina
Accreditation	SACS
Academic affiliations	CUMU ORAU USU
Endowment	$314 million (2022)
Chancellor	Sharon Gaber
Provost	Jennifer Troyer (interim)
Academic staff	1,456
Students	29,551 (Fall 2022)
Undergraduates	23,461 (Fall 2022)
Postgraduates	6,090 (Fall 2022)
Location	University City, Charlotte , North Carolina , United States 35°18′23″N 80°44′00″W / 35.30639°N 80.73333°W / 35.30639; -80.73333
Campus	Large city, 1,000 acres (4.0 km2)
Newspaper	Niner Times
Colors	Green, white and gold
Nickname	49ers
Sporting affiliations	NCAA Division I FBS – AAC
Mascot	Norm the Niner

Aerial view of UNC Charlotte's main campus in 2010

The University of North Carolina at Charlotte (often called UNC Charlotte or just Charlotte) is a public university in Charlotte, North Carolina. It's known for its many research projects. UNC Charlotte offers a wide range of study programs, from bachelor's degrees to advanced doctoral degrees. It is recognized as a university with high research activity.

The university grew very quickly in the late 2000s and early 2010s. It was the fastest-growing school in the UNC System during that time.

UNC Charlotte has three campuses: the Charlotte Research Institute Campus, the Center City Campus, and the main campus. The main campus is in University City. It covers 1,000 acres of land with about 85 buildings. This campus is about 8 miles (13 km) from Uptown Charlotte.

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University History: How It Started

Before UNC Charlotte was founded, the city of Charlotte had wanted a public university for a long time. In 1946, the state of North Carolina opened 12 "extension centers" across the state. These centers helped handle the large number of students after World War II.

On September 23, 1946, the Charlotte Center of the University of North Carolina opened. It started with 278 students. The local school system managed the center. Classes were held at night at Central High School in Uptown Charlotte. At first, it only offered first-year courses. By 1947, it added second-year courses because students wanted them.

In 1947, a math teacher named Bonnie Ethel Cone became the director. She was very important to the school's future.

By 1948, only four extension centers were still open. The state decided to close the remaining centers in 1949. But thanks to local efforts led by Bonnie Cone, the state created the Charlotte Community College System. This system included two schools that opened in 1949: Charlotte College for white students and Carver College for Black students.

In 1950, Charlotte College became a "standard junior college." This meant students could transfer their credits to four-year colleges.

Bonnie Cone continued to lead the college. In 1954, the school became racially desegregated. By 1957, enrollment grew to 492 students. Leaders started looking for a permanent campus location. They chose 250 acres of land northeast of the city. The college became state-supported in 1958. It moved to its current location in 1961. It added a third year of study in 1963 and a fourth year in 1964.

On March 3, 1965, Charlotte College became the fourth campus of the University of North Carolina. It was renamed the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. On May 29, 1966, 81 students became the first graduating class from the UNC system school. In 1969, the school opened its first dorm. It also started offering master's degree programs. The first master's degree was awarded in May 1970. By 1973, enrollment reached over 6,000 students.

In 1992, UNC Charlotte was allowed to offer programs leading to doctoral degrees.

University Leaders Over Time

Bonnie Ethel Cone: The Founder

Bonnie Cone's resting place on the UNC Charlotte campus.

Bonnie Ethel Cone (1907–2003) was often called Miss Bonnie by students. She became the director of the Charlotte Center in 1947. From 1949 to 1965, she was the president of Charlotte College. When Charlotte College joined the UNC system in 1965, Cone served as acting chancellor until 1966.

Past Chancellors

Dean W. Colvard (1913–2007) was the first chancellor of the university in 1966. He helped turn the school from a small college into a four-year university. He oversaw the school getting its accreditation. He also helped create the University Research Park, built the first dorms, and started the first graduate programs. Student enrollment grew from about 1,700 to over 8,000 during his time.

E.K. Fretwell (1923–2012) became the second chancellor in 1979. Under his leadership, campus enrollment jumped from 8,000 to over 12,000 students. He helped create the Graduate School and added more advanced degrees. He also helped connect the library's catalog to the internet in 1983.

James H. Woodward followed Fretwell in 1989. During his time, enrollment grew to over 19,000 students. He continued to expand the Graduate School and added new doctoral programs. He also led the largest fundraising effort and building boom in the school's history.

Philip L. Dubois was the fifth leader and fourth chancellor, starting in 2005. He had previously worked at UNC Charlotte as a professor. His goal was to help the university become one of the top research universities in the state.

2019 Campus Incident

On April 30, 2019, a tragic shooting happened in a building on campus. Two people lost their lives, and four others were hurt. The person responsible was arrested soon after.

University Campuses

Main Campus in University City

The main campus is almost 1,000 acres (4 km²) of land with gentle hills. It is about 10 miles (16 km) from Uptown Charlotte. No major roads cut through the campus, making it feel like its own community. The campus has several man-made lakes and lots of trees. There are also two gardens that attract many visitors each year.

The older buildings on campus were built in the 1960s and 1970s. They were made with concrete and looked very practical. Since 2014, these buildings have been updated. Newer buildings are made of brick and have a classic style. Sidewalks are being changed from concrete to brick. The campus roads are also being improved with more trees and landscaping.

This quad area was finished in 2007. It includes the College of Health and Human Services (left) and the Cato College of Education (right).

Charlotte Research Institute Campus

The Charlotte Research Institute (CRI) was created in 2000. It is a 100-acre campus connected to the main campus. The CRI Campus focuses on advanced research in areas like manufacturing, optics, and software. It brings together professors, students, and outside researchers to work on projects.

This campus also has the university's football stadium. It can hold 15,300 people and can be made larger to fit over 40,000.

Center City Campus

UNC Charlotte's Center City Campus is in Uptown Charlotte. It offers many graduate programs for working professionals.

The third campus is in Uptown Charlotte. This campus is designed for business and evening classes. It helps people who work in the city continue their education. In 2011, the Uptown campus moved into a new, modern building.

This building is near the LYNX Blue Line Extension and First Ward Park. It hosts many graduate programs, like the Master of Business Administration (MBA). The building has an art gallery, an auditorium, and a lecture hall. The 12-story building was designed by a famous architectural firm. It has special glass walls that adjust to sunlight and unique stacked sections.

Student Life and Diversity

In the fall of 2023, about 30,298 students were enrolled at the university. Students come from almost all of North Carolina's counties. They also come from 45 different states and 103 countries around the world.

Academics and Learning

UNC Charlotte is known as a university with high research activity. In 2014, it was ranked as one of the top colleges in the U.S. for helping students improve their social and economic standing. The university is often listed among the top "National Universities" in various rankings.

The Carillon and J. Murrey Atkins Library entrance on UNC Charlotte's main campus (left) and the Belk Tower (middle).

Colleges and Study Programs

The university offers 171 majors. These lead to 79 bachelor's degrees, 66 master's degree programs, and 24 doctoral programs. Some programs can even be completed fully online.

The university is divided into ten colleges:

• College of Humanities & Earth and Social Sciences: Studies subjects like history, languages, and environmental science.
• College of Science: Focuses on math and natural sciences.
• College of Arts + Architecture: Includes fine arts (art, theater, dance, music) and the School of Architecture.
• Cato College of Education: This is the school for future teachers.
• College of Health and Human Services: Covers social work, exercise science, and nursing.
• William States Lee College of Engineering: Offers engineering programs like civil, mechanical, and computer engineering.
• College of Computing and Informatics: Focuses on computer science, programming, and health informatics. It's the largest computing college in North Carolina.
• Belk College of Business: This is the business school. It offers degrees in accounting, economics, finance, and marketing. It was named after the Belk family in 1990.
• University College: This college helps undergraduate students who haven't chosen a major yet.
• Honors College: A special program for high-achieving students.
• Graduate School: Works with other colleges to organize master's and doctoral degrees.

Scholarship Opportunities

In 2009, UNC Charlotte received a huge gift of $9.3 million from The Leon Levine Family Foundation. This money created the Levine Scholars program. This scholarship covers tuition, fees, books, housing, summer experiences, and money for community service projects.

The university also offers eleven other scholarships based on academic merit.

University Library System

UNC Charlotte's J. Murrey Atkins Library is named after the first chairman of the Charlotte College Board of Trustees. It has over 3.3 million books and many online resources. The library has a ten-story tower. This tower shows the library's important place at the center of campus. In 2007, the library received its one-millionth book. The top floor of the library has a special collections section.

Athletics and Sports Teams

The university's sports teams are called the 49ers. This name comes from the fact that UNC Charlotte (then Charlotte College) was saved from closing in 1949. The mascot is "Norm the Niner," who looks like a gold miner. The school colors are green and white. Gold and black are also used in logos and uniforms.

For sports, the school is simply known as Charlotte. This change was made official in 2000. The athletic department has nineteen varsity teams. They compete in the NCAA's Division I. The university is now a full member of the American Athletic Conference. In 2008, the university decided to add a Division I football program.

Men's Basketball Team

The men's basketball team is coached by Aaron Fearne. The team has played in the NCAA Tournament 11 times. They even made it to the Final Four in 1977. Famous NBA players like Cedric Maxwell and Rodney White played for the 49ers.

Women's Basketball Team

Women's basketball has become very popular on campus. In 2003, the team reached the NCAA Tournament for the first time. In the 2021–22 season, the team won a conference championship. This earned them a spot in the NCAA tournament.

Baseball Team

Charlotte Baseball has played in the NCAA Tournament 6 times. Their most recent appearance was in 2021. The 49ers have won four conference tournaments and eight regular season conference championships. Some baseball players from Charlotte have gone on to play in Major League Baseball.

Football Team

Entrance 3 of Jerry Richardson Stadium on the campus of UNC Charlotte

Charlotte's football team started playing in 2013. They play at Jerry Richardson Stadium. The stadium can hold about 15,000 people. It can be expanded to hold up to 40,000. Their first game was a big 52–7 win against Campbell University in 2013.

The football program moved up to Division I FBS in 2015. They are now part of Conference USA. In 2019, the Charlotte 49ers played in their first bowl game, the Bahamas Bowl.

Charlotte has had 5 players chosen in the NFL Draft.

Men's Golf Team

In September 2007, the Charlotte men's golf team was ranked as the top golf team in the nation.

Men's Soccer Team

The men's soccer team reached the College Cup in 1996 and 2011. In 2011, they made it all the way to the championship game. They finished second in the national rankings. Some former 49ers soccer players now play in MLS.

Track and Field Teams

Both the men's and women's track and field teams have competed nationally. Shareese Woods is the most famous athlete from the school's track and field program.

Volleyball Team

The women's volleyball team is a big supporter of the "Dig Pink" program. This program raises awareness for breast cancer.

Student Organizations and Clubs

UNC Charlotte has many student organizations. These clubs focus on different interests. Some are for academics, while others are about international cultures, politics, or religion. There are also clubs for community service and sports. The university also has many Greek life groups, including over 10 sororities and 14 fraternities.

Notable Alumni and Faculty

Everyone who graduates from UNC Charlotte automatically becomes a member of the Alumni Association. This group has over 147,000 former students. Its main goal is to help the university. There are no fees to join. Members are encouraged to stay in touch and share their achievements. The association helps graduates connect with each other. It also shares news from the university through a magazine and newsletter.

See also

In Spanish: Universidad de Carolina del Norte en Charlotte para niños

• Dale F. Halton Arena
• Lee Rose
• Jeff Mullins
• Bobby Lutz