The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences is organized into the following areas:
- College Administration
- Office of Academic Technologies
- Office of External Affairs
- Office of Research
- Office of Student Support Services
2.1 College Administration
College Administration handles academic affairs, business affairs (including budget), and facilities.
2.1.1 Academic Affairs
Curriculum and Degree Planning
The Faculty of the College are responsible for the planning and conduct of its academic programs of instruction subject to the Code of the Board of Governors of the University of North Carolina.
The CLAS Faculty Council represents the interests of the Faculty on matters pertaining to academic programs. The Course and Curriculum Committee of the College acts on behalf of Faculty Council to review and recommend appropriate action on all on all proposals involving College degree requirements, new departments, new degree or certificate programs, and changes in existing programs. Once proposals for curricular change are approved in the College, they are reviewed by the appropriate University Faculty Committees.
Procedures and forms for planning new degree programs as well as making any curricular changes are available online, see: Academic Affairs > Faculty Governance website
Questions about course and curriculum issues should be directed to the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs.
Program Reviews
All CLAS departments undergo program reviews approximately every 7-10 years. These program reviews consist of a departmental self-study report, review of the departmental report by an internal panel, and an external review by a visiting team of off-campus consultants. The review culminates with a departmental plan of action responding to issues raised in the self-study and the recommendation of both the internal panel and visiting team. The process typically takes three semesters to complete.
The objectives of departmental self-studies are to generate qualitative and quantitative information about the department’s current activities and its plans and goals for the future; to make departmental, campus-wide, and external assessments of the soundness and effectiveness of the department’s activities and plans; and to facilitate allocation of additional resources in keeping with departmental, collegial, and institutional priorities and needs. Areas studied include the following: mission and goals, programs and students, faculty, governance and resources and facilities.
Questions about program reviews and the self-study process should be directed to the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs.
Assessment of Student Learning Outcomes
All CLAS programs (majors, stand-alone minors and certificates) at the undergraduate and graduate level have developed student learning outcomes. A standard template is used to develop a program’s assessment plan and report annual assessment data and continuous improvement efforts. Annually, academic departments review assessment plans and revise as needed to reflect changes to student learning outcomes, assessment instruments, assessment methodology and performance outcomes. Throughout the academic year, assessments are administered in accordance with the plan and assessment data are collected and analyzed. Using the standard template, assessment data and the impact of continuous improvement efforts are reported and submitted with the annual report in May. For more information including forms, a diagram of the annual assessment cycle and other resources, see: Academic Affairs Assessment
Questions about assessment should be directed to the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs.
2.1.2 Budget
The College budget consists of state appropriations, student fees, and non-state funds.
One-time Funding Requests
One-time monies are those which are available for spending during a particular year, but are not recurring in subsequent years. Occasionally, the college will either receive one-time monies from Academic Affairs, or have some self-generated one-time monies. When one-time monies are available, the Sr. Associate Dean will send out a call for requests indicating any spending parameters applicable to the funds. As a general rule, one-time monies must be spent within the fiscal year in which they are distributed.
Speaker Funding
The college supports unit guest speaker programming when funds to do so are available. If funds are available, the Sr. Associate Dean will disseminate a call for funding requests. Funding distributed to the units is intended to support honoraria for invited speakers. We do not distribute any additional funds for travel or subsistence, thus honoraria should be calculated accordingly.
Part-time Requests
Units submit requests for non-permanent monies to support instruction by part-time or adjunct faculty. Requests are submitted twice per year—once for monies for fall and once for monies for spring. There are no part-time monies distributed for summer as all summer instruction is funded by the Office of Summer Programs. The Sr. Associate Dean will put out a call for part-time requests to support instruction during the Fall semester in the latter part of the fall term preceding the term for which funding is requested (e.g. requests submitted in Fall 14 to support instruction in Fall 15). Funding to support instruction during the Spring term is typically requested in the latter part of the summer prior to the next Spring term (e.g. requests submitted in summer 14 for funding for Spring 15). The college maintains a minimum funding level of $2,500 for a three hour class for faculty with an MA degree, and $3,000 for a three hour class for faculty with a PhD or other appropriate terminal degree. Adjunct faculty may not teach more than 4 sections per term, and those who do teach 4 sections receive an additional $1,000 supplement.
2.1.3 Facilities
Business Continuity Plan
The College maintains a Business Continuity plan detailing various critical processes, information, and emergency plans. Each unit maintains a Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) that describes what the unit will do during a disruption of normal unit activities. The college has a standard template units use to construct their COOP. Plans must be updated periodically and are maintained in a university data base. Questions about the COOP should be directed to the Sr. Associate Dean.
Building Liaison
Every building should have an assigned building liaison. The building liaison should forward facilities announcements to units within the building , report specific maintenance issues in the building to facilities and the zone manager, and serve as a liaison with the zone manager responsible for the maintenance and operation of the building.
2.2 Office of Academic Technologies
The CLAS Office of Academic Technologies (OAT) provides technical consulting and development services for CLAS faculty and staff. The OAT also manages computer replacement and computer labs for all CLAS employees.
For more information about the OAT, see: Office of Academic Technologies
2.3 Office of External Affairs
The College Office of External Affairs consists of the Charlotte Teachers Institute, the Office of Communications, and the Office of Development.
Charlotte Teachers Institute
The Charlotte Teachers Institute (CTI) is an initiative to strengthen teaching and learning in public schools. Led by classroom teachers in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (Charlotte, N.C.) and professors at UNC Charlotte and Davidson College, CTI is founded on four pillars of strong professional development: content knowledge, creativity, leadership and collaboration.
For more information, see: Charlotte Teachers Institute
Communications Office
The Communications Office of the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences is responsible for strategic communications of the College. This encompasses communications plans, print materials including a College magazine; presentations; video and visual media; news releases; and digital media, including social media, an online magazine and web content. The Office manages strategic College events intended to build support.
The Office collaborates with College partners to assist them as they devise key messages, identify optimal message platforms and channels, and employ best practices. The Office also works directly with department and program leadership to ensure compliance with SACS standards for student recruitment and advertising materials and compliance with branding standards.
This includes guidance on:
- Written and visual content for print and digital materials
- Design of print and digital materials
- Branding
- News media interactions
- Presentations
- Event planning and marketing
- Social media tactics
The Communications Office has developed a Communications Toolkit to assist College partners with their communication needs.
Development
2.4 Office of Research
The Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Education oversees this office and the Office of Graduate Education Services. The Director of the Office of Research supports the research, curriculum development, and service activities of our College by assisting with the development and processing of grant and contract proposals, as well as the management of extramural research funding. For further details, see: Research or contact our staff.
2.5 Office of Graduate Education
The Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Education oversees this office, as well as the Office of Research. The Director of Graduate Programs supports the efforts of the 50+ graduate programs in the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences. This Office serves as a liaison between the College and the Graduate School and assists in a variety of capacities, including enrollment and recruitment. Additionally, the Office of Graduate Education regularly collaborates with and provides support for the Graduate Program Directors and Coordinators (GPDs).
2.6 Office of Student Support Services
The Student Services area of the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences oversees all student services functions for the college, which includes the review of student appeals and requests, as well as academic-related issues that arise among students within CLAS. Responsibilities are divided between the Associate Dean and the Director.
The Associate Dean for Academic and Student Success is the chief administrator for this area of the college. This dean leads initiatives for student success within the college, represents CLAS in university-level committee service, and participates in executive leadership activities with the other associate deans and dean of the college. This dean also reviews grievances between students and faculty, which includes appeals of final course grades.
The Assistant Dean for Student Services oversees daily management of student requests requiring approval at the college level (e.g., Academic Petitions, Transient Study, Grade Changes). This dean is also an information resource for departmental liaisons within the college and other units outside the college, including the Registrar’s Office, Dean of Students, Academic Services, and the other colleges. Both the Associate Dean for Academic and Student Success and the Assistant Dean for Student Services present information for SOAR orientation programming and participate in commencement exercises.
Undergraduate Research Opportunities
Most departments in the College offer undergraduate research courses or directed/independent study courses for our majors. These courses may be found in the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences areas. Students interested in gaining specialized knowledge in their field of interest may do so by working one-on-one with a faculty mentor. These courses are normally restricted to CLAS majors. Several CLAS faculty also have research projects supported by external grant funding. Undergraduate students may participate in various aspects of these projects during the summer months or throughout the academic year. The University also offers the Charlotte Research Scholars Program. Acceptance in this program provides an intense 9-week summer research experience for pay. Many CLAS faculty serve as faculty mentors for this program.
CLASS ACT
CLASS-ACT is a professional, personal, and leadership development opportunity in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. The purpose of the program is to engage students in initiatives and special projects within the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS) and the University. Students will participate in special seminars and workshops related to their disciplines that will promote professional, personal, and leadership development. Only students who are nominated by a faculty member are eligible for consideration. Nominations occur in the early fall semester. They serve for the entire academic year.
For more information, see:
CLASS Act: College of Liberal Arts & Sciences Student Advisory Group
College Advising Center
The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Advising Center was established in 1990. Staffed by six full-time academic advisors, it is the primary provider of academic advising for declared freshmen in UNC Charlotte’s College of Liberal Arts & Sciences. The Advising Center also serves as a resource to any UNC Charlotte student, faculty, or staff member with questions regarding advising and the general education requirements.
For more information, see:
College of Liberal Arts & Sciences > Students > Advising Center
