Academic Services and Facilities

Summer School

Through the Office of Academic Affairs, the University offers a MayMester, two five‑week terms, and two three‑week intrasessions. Special workshops and institutes enrich the regular summer program, and visiting specialists augment the regular faculty when the need arises.

Through many curricular and extracurricular activities, the summer session provides opportunities for teachers and others who are free for summer study. Many courses and workshops are open to individuals not seeking a degree but interested in gaining personal or professional knowledge.

A student entering The University of North Carolina at Pembroke for the first time as a beginning freshman, a transfer student, or a student who is returning to the University after an absence of one semester or more must meet all requirements for admission.

Transient students-students who are regularly enrolled at another institution of higher education and who wish to take courses at UNC Pembroke during the Summer Session for transfer to their home institution-must submit a form available from the Registrar’s Office. This form must show that they are in good standing at their home institution and have their Dean’s or Registrar’s permission to enroll at UNCP. Admission to the Summer Session does not constitute admission to the University.

In‑service teachers who wish to attend the Summer Session for license renewal or other purposes must submit an application. The application form and Summer Session Catalog may be obtained from the Academic Affairs Office.

Office of Online Learning

The Office of Online Learning functions primarily as a support unit for administrators and faculty for the development and design of online courses and degree programs. Online programs currently being offered are the B.S. in Business Administration, B.A. in Criminal Justice, B.A. in Sociology, and the Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies (B.I.S.). Also, the Academically & Intellectually Gifted Add-On licensure program is available in the online format. At the graduate level, the Master of Public Administration (M.P.A.), the Master of Arts in Education in Elementary Education (M.A.Ed.), the Master of Arts in Teaching with Specialization in Special Education (M.A.T.), and the Accelerated Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) are available in online format. Several stand-alone courses in the School of Education, the School of Business, and the College of Arts and Sciences are also delivered fully or partially online to fulfill varying student needs. Specific information about online courses and programs may be obtained at uncp.edu/academics/academic-resources/online-learning.

Quality Assurance in Online Courses: The academic integrity of UNC Pembroke’s online education programs is assured, in part, by insisting that full-time faculty teach a significant number of the courses. Furthermore, the full-time faculty who teach online courses are supplemented by a cadre of well-qualified and properly credentialed adjunct faculty. The Office of Online Learning works with the Teaching and Learning Center, the Division of Information Technology (DoIT), and the Mary LivermoreLibrary to provide the requisite training for faculty who teach online. Additionally, one-on-one support is also provided for instructors who develop courses for online delivery.

Support Services: Working in conjunction with various student support services, the Office of Online Learning assures that online students are seamlessly linked to critical learning resources and services. The Office of Online Learning oversees and secures state authorization compliance for applicants residing outside of the state of North Carolina seeking admission into an online program or individual course. UNC Pembroke has been approved by the state of North Carolina to participate in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA). NC-SARA is a voluntary, regional approach to state oversight of postsecondary distance education. Also, the Office of Online Learning facilitates the proctoring of online course exams for students near the UNC Pembroke campus and assists all online students in locating qualified proctoring services. 

Library Services: The Mary Livermore Library is committed to supporting the teaching, learning, and research needs of students enrolled in off-campus or online courses. The Outreach/Distance Education Librarian provides dedicated reference and instructional services, expedited document delivery, and in-depth research consultation services. Upon request, the Library will mail books to home addresses if students are not enrolled in on-campus courses. Library staff will also scan reference book chapters, print journal articles, government documents, etc., and email these materials directly to students. In order to access electronic resources from off campus and to request materials using BraveCat, the Library’s online catalog, students must have a library account and a PIN (Personal Identification Number). These library accounts are created automatically each semester, but, if assistance is needed, students can contact Circulation staff at 910.521.6516 or circ@uncp.edu. Library collections include approximately 400,000 print volumes, 150,000 e-Books, and 65,000 subscriptions to print and electronic serials. Access is also provided to more than 128 electronic databases.

Lateral Entry (Licensure Only) Teacher Certification Support: UNC Pembroke’s School of Education supports lateral entry (licensure only) teacher education candidates who take courses to complete state licensure requirements. As mandated by the UNC Tomorrow Commission in 2007, “UNC should increase access to its educational programs-including academic courses, degree programs at all levels, and certificate programs-for traditional students, non-traditional students, and lifelong learners” (UNC Tomorrow Recommendation 4.2.1). The Lateral Entry (Licensure Only) Teacher Education Certification program is certainly one of the creative ways in which UNC Pembroke is contributing to workforce development. In other state teacher licensure documents issued by the NC State Board of Education, this lateral entry (licensure only) path for teacher licensure will now be known as a Residency Licensure Program.

Mary Livermore and Other Library Services

The motto of the Livermore Library is “Enhancing Education Through Research.”  Serving the students, faculty, and greater Pembroke Community, the Livermore Library is building the university library of the future. Foundational of library services is the implementation of the new Integrated Library System and joining the Ex Libris world-wide community of university libraries. Using Alma as the backbone, the library also provides Primo, the one-stop meta-search tool for simultaneously searching the library holdings and all of our information database providers.  Leganto is a powerful tool which connects the library system to the classroom and the university’s Learning Management System, Canvas.

The Livermore Library is home for about 350,000 print volumes.  Its Special Collections and archives provide key documents on the history of the university, the region, and the Lumbee Tribe. The library is also home to the collected papers of longtime Congressman Charlie Rose.  The library subscribes to many databases and information access points, providing users with access to full-text journals, papers from scholarly societies, national and regional newspapers, and other sources.  Overall, library users have immediate access to nearly 100 million items.  As part of the UNC System, the resources of the other constituent university libraries are also available through inter-library loan.

A recently remodeled first floor provides users with updated technology, Huddle Spaces for group projects, updated and moveable seating, portable white boards, and the ease for refreshments and meals at the new Café 641.  New dedicated desks for Patron Services and Research Services provide professional librarians and staff to immediately assist with reference and research questions. The librarians, who are also members of the university faculty, teach regular undergraduate and graduate program research courses as well as provide specialized instruction for individual courses.

Both on campus and online students can access all of the resources of the library 24 hours a day and online students can do online “chats” with librarians during regular library hours (see the library web page for current hours).  They can also call Patron Services at (910.521.6516) Research Services at (910.521.6656).  Patrons with questions can also receive an answer within 24 hours by emailing at refdesk@uncp.edu .

There are several specialized collections, including the Education Collection in the School of Education Building.  A full-time educational librarian is available as an extension of the Livermore Library.  The Music Resource Center in Moore Hall is also available and those materials are searchable through the Ex Libris systems.

Division of Information Technology (DoIT)

The Division of Information Technology (DoIT) builds and maintains the computing infrastructure and services that UNCP’s students, faculty, and staff rely on to do their work.

BraveWiFi, ResidentialWiFi and Guest wireless access provide Braves and their guests with access to Internet resources. To register for BraveWiFi, connect to that network, open a browser and complete the registration by entering your username and password. Guest wireless access is available for campus visitors including parents. Go to http://www.uncp.edu/resources/division-information-technology/wifi/guest-wireless-internet-access for instructions for visitors. ResidentialWiFi is available in university housing only. For information about the ResidentialWiFi network, visit http://www.uncp.edu/resources/division-information-technology/students/resnet. 

Assistance with technology related issues is available through the DoIT Help Desk in the D.F. Lowry Building, room 110, 910-521-6260. Support hours vary with holidays and semester breaks.  For up-to-date information, go to www.uncp.edu/doit/helpdesk. Questions and concerns may also be addressed to DoIT via our online self-service portal, HEAT, or via email to doit.helpdesk@UNCP.edu. Use HEAT Self Service to submit a request for assistance.  The Self Service login page is available by clicking the “HEAT Self Service” link in UNCP’s QUICK LINKS menu on the UNCP home page. 

Student Computing Resources

DoIT provides each student access to a number of technology services including BraveWeb, Canvas, the campus network, and network file storage. All students receive a BraveMail email account in Office365. All students, faculty, and staff also have full access to the collaborative tools offered through Office 365, Google Suite for Higher Education, and Webex   Access to all services is enabled through an individual network account created for each student when enrolled.

Computer labs are available throughout the campus. The labs located in academic buildings are available to all students when not otherwise occupied by a class. The computer lab on the second floor of the Mary Livermore Library is available during the Library’s operating hours. The computer lab on the first floor of the James B. Chavis University Center is open to all students, and the schedule is posted in the University Center. 

University Writing Center

The University Writing Center, located in the D.F. Lowry Building, Room 308, assists UNCP students at any stage in the writing process, from conception and organization to revision and publication. The Writing Center staff works with students in face-to-face or online tutoring sessions on any composition-based assignment, helping students focus, select, organize, and develop ideas in early drafts of writing and then helping them review, improve, and strengthen later drafts before submission. Writing Center users have access to networked computers and a printer as well as an extensive collection of writing reference materials.

The University Writing Center staff includes a full-time director along with a group of upper level and graduate students from across the disciplines who have extensive training in the writing process, tutoring, and their Writing Center responsibilities. 

The University Writing Center opened at UNCP in May 1994 as a Title III-funded student support program and was granted permanent institutional support by the Office of Academic Affairs and the Department of English and Theatre in August 1998.

University College

The University College, located in the D.F. Lowry Building, is designed to provide a support system for students through numerous programs and activities including but not limited to academic advising, academic counseling, learning communities, peer mentoring, and tutoring. The University College contributes to UNCP’s commitment to changing lives through education by leading campus initiatives to assist all students in transitioning, progressing, and persisting to graduation.  Professional staff in the University College are committed to working collaboratively with campus stakeholders to provide a student-centered experience that increases retention and graduation rates.

The University College serves as the academic home for first-year students as well as second-year students on academic probation and/or undeclared with their major.  The University Collegeconsists of several units: Academic Advising, Academic Engagement, Academic Outreach, New Student Programs, TRIO, the Writing Center, the Accessibility Resource Center, and the Teaching and Learning Center.  Additionally, the University College houses University Studies.

Office of Global Engagement

In today’s global economy, the need for college graduates equipped with the skills to succeed in an international and multi-cultural capacity, and for faculty prepared to teach them, has never been greater. Citizens need to understand the current world, the challenges that it presents, and the benefits to be gained from informed participation with an international scope. Businesses, likewise, must be prepared to compete within a modern and contemporary marketplace.

The Office of Global Engagement advises the university and other interested parties on international matters, directs and carries out the university’s international education activities, and serves as its main representation abroad. Consistent with its mandate to broaden the global scope of the university community and to serve as a dynamic resource for the local community and beyond, the office serves as a UNCP representative on the world stage. It recruits and supports high-quality international degree-seeking and exchange students from all over the world. Global Engagement offers, creates, and manages Study Abroad opportunities for UNCP students and offers students and parents alike outstanding support from pre-departure onwards. It Also serves as an internationalization support office for UNCP faculty and for in-bound and resident foreign scholars, and it works with industry and community leaders to promote international understanding and skill sets. The Office of Global Engagement also directs the English Language Institute, which is described in more detail in the secition below.

Working with the University Counsel, Global Engagement is responsible for seeking and managing international contracts with a large number of high-profile institutions throughout the world and offers (in concert with various other UNCP offices and academic departments) cooperative degree and non-degree programs with partner institutions abroad. The Office of Global Engagement, in cooperation with the Center for Sponsored Research and Programs, also coordinates international grant and funding activities while working closely with the Office for Advancement.

English Language Institute

The English Language Institute (ELI) offers innovative programs in English as a Second Language (ESL) to UNCP’s growing population of international students. Overseen by the Office of Global Engagement, ELI offers high-quality English instruction to non-native speakers. ELI’s ESL instruction prepares international students to succeed, both academically and culturally, within the UNCP community, whether in the classroom or off-campus in social or professional settings. In addition to the achievement of linguistic competency, the program also aims at making international students more comfortable with, and better-informed of, life in the United States. A significant amount of content and opportunity is leveraged through current and cultural events and by means of local and regional excursions.

TRIO Programs

TRIO Programs at UNCP, located in Jacobs Hall, Suites A and B, are designed to help meet the academic, cultural, and financial needs of participants in order that they may achieve a high success rate while in school.

Student Support Services is funded to serve two hundred undergraduate students at UNCP. The program offers the following services:

• economic and financial literacy counseling
• tutoring on a one‑to‑one or a small group basis in all majors offered at the University
• study skills assistance in developing techniques of note‑taking and test‑taking
• assistance with applying for financial aid and scholarships
• guidance in academic, vocational, and personal/social concerns
• opportunities to participate in cultural activities
• access to reference and resource materials, including study guides for the following tests: Praxis, Praxis II, TEAS, GRE, MAT, GMAT, LSAT, and MCAT..

Accessibility Resource Center

The Accessibility Resource Center (ARC) is designed to assist students covered under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Students with disabilities may receive assistance by contacting ARC, located in the D.F. Lowry Building, Room 107. Regular operating hours are Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Appointments during business hours are requested and can be made by emailing arc@uncp.edu or by calling (910) 521-6695. After-hours appointments may be made on an as-needed basis.

The Accessibility Resource Center will (1) provide guidelines for documenting disabilities; (2) discern eligibility for services; (3) determine reasonable accommodations; and (4) facilitate appropriate accommodations. Contact the Accessibility Resource Center for additional information.

North Carolina Health Careers Access Program at UNCP (NC-HCAP)

The North Carolina Health Careers Access Program (NC‑HCAP) at The University of North Carolina at Pembroke, located in Jacobs Hall, Suite F, is one of three centers of the North Carolina Health Careers Access Program (NC‑HCAP). This interinstitutional program of the University of North Carolina was established in 1971 to address the serious shortage of health professionals in North Carolina, especially among underrepresented minorities and disadvantaged population groups. Interested students should contact the HCAP office at (910) 521‑6673 or (910) 521‑6493 or visit our webpage: www.uncp.edu/hcap.

Mission: To increase the number of underrepresented minorities or economically/educationally disadvantaged persons being trained for and employed in the health professions.

Purpose: The purpose of NC‑HCAP is to provide recruitment, counseling, and enrichment services and activities for all UNCP students who are interested in pursuing medicine, optometry, dentistry, veterinary medicine, osteopathic medicine, pharmacy, podiatry, public health, and allied health fields of study.

The NC‑HCAP at The University of North Carolina at Pembroke serves the Southeast region of North Carolina and offers the following services and activities:

• provides information on over 200 different health careers and on a broad range of health professions programs available in North Carolina and elsewhere;
• provides counseling for individuals seeking careers in the health professions for which training is available in the constituent institutions of The University of North Carolina system and in the North Carolina technical institutes and community colleges;
• provides retention and enrichment services for students enrolled in pre‑profession health programs;
• provides professional study guides and review materials to assist students in preparing for health professions schools admissions tests (i.e., MCAT, DAT, PCAT, etc.);
• provides assistance with AMCAS applications;
• provides assistance with individual student mock interviews;
• coordinates seminars on admission procedures, entrance exams, curriculum requirements, and financial aid for health professions schools and graduate biomedical science programs;
• provides educational field trips to medical centers and health professions schools in North Carolina, and interaction with health professions schools’ faculties, administrators, and students and with practicing health professionals;
• assists minority and disadvantaged students interested in health professions programs in identifying adequate financial aid resources;
• conducts Health Careers Information & Enrichment (HCIE) workshops for high school students and health careers clubs;
• sponsors a Health Careers Club at UNCP for enrolled health science majors and others interested in pursuing careers in the health professions.

NC-HCAP also sponsors a seven-week educational work/learning clinical health experience held each year during May through June. The 40‑hour-a-week salaried positions consist of both clinical experiences in health care agencies and academic enrichment experiences for underrepresented minorities or economically/educationally disadvantaged health science majors interested in health-related careers. For additional program information, please visit our webpage: www.uncp.edu/hcap/chsp

Museum of the Southeast American Indian

The Museum of the Southeast American Indian (formerly know as the Native American Resource Center) is a multi-faceted research institute and museum. The mission of the Museum of the Southeast American Indian is to educate and serve the public about the prehistory, history, culture, art, and contemporary issues of American Indians, with special emphasis on the Robeson County Native American community; to conduct scholarly research; to collect and preserve the material culture of Native America; to encourage American Indian artists and craftspersons; and to cooperate on a wide range of projects with other agencies concerned with American Indians.

Located on the first floor of Old Main, the Museum of the Southeast American Indian offers a rich collection of authentic American Indian artifacts, handicrafts, art, books, and audio and video recordings about Native Americans. An exciting variety of exhibits is on display, including prehistoric tools and weapons, 19th century Lumbee household and farm equipment, and contemporary Indian art. Indian cultures from various parts of the Americas are represented by characteristic artifacts. The Museum’s mission supports the mission of the University specifically by encouraging inclusion and appreciation of diverse cultures and by celebrating the heritage of the institution (founded as a school for American Indians). The Center’s mission also contributes to the University’s mission through service to and appreciation of our multi-ethnic regional society, as well as by promoting active student learning and creative activity.

WNCP-TV

The Department of Mass Communication operates the Robeson County public access channel on Spectrum and produces original programming in the TV studio and related facilities.  These programming operations support the curriculum in the broadcasting major by providing students with a hands-on, practical working environment to gain needed production experience.

WNCP-TV also supports both the university and the surrounding communities by providing programming to regional broadcast and cable outlets and the web.

The shows produced for WNCP-TV cover a wide range of topics including news, sports, public affairs, entertainment, and special programs such as live events around the campus.

WNCP-TV facilities include a three-camera studio, control room, newsroom, Macintosh Lab, and remote production van.

The Teaching &Learning Center

Established in 1996 and located in Mary Livermore Library, the Teaching & Learning Center seeks to promote teaching excellence by generating the ideas, activities, and enthusiasm that foster quality teaching and learning, a mission overseen and executed by the Task Force on Teaching Excellence, an advisory board composed of awardwinning faculty. As a unit within the Office of Academic Affairs, the TLC establishes and maintains collaborative relationships across the university-including but not limited to the Center for Student Success, the Division of Information Technology, the Office of Community & Civic Engagement, the Accessibility Resource Center, the Office of Military & Veteran Services, and the Office of Online Learning-so as to provide faculty with comprehensive, purpose-driven, and seamless support in the classroom. The TLC seeks to foster an environment where teaching is rewarded and recognized, and faculty are encouraged to apply for Grants for Excellence in Teaching & Learning to support their pedagogy and scholarship in teaching and learning.

To learn more, visit https://www.uncp.edu/resources/teaching-and-learning-center. Follow @UNCPTLC on Facebook and Twitter, and contact Director Scott Hicks at (910) 775-4032 or scott.hicks@uncp.edu.

Office of Sponsored Research and Programs

The Office of Sponsored Research and Programs (OSRP) serves as the clearinghouse for externally sponsored grant, contract, and cooperative agreements. The staff provides guidance and support in identifying funding sources, developing grant proposals and research contracts, and ensuring compliance with University and federal regulations. The Office maintains University-wide grant records and reports all proposals and awards through the UNC system electronic research administration database. Common types of funded activities include research grants, programmatic grants, training grants, research career programs, undergraduate research, minority programs in science and math, community outreach programs, and economic development projects and partnerships. The Office sponsors grant writing workshops on various aspects of proposal development and grant management. More information may be found at http://www.uncp.edu/osrp.

Institutional Research

The Office of Institutional Research serves as a centralized data resource to the university community by providing strategic, timely, and accurate information an research services to assist institutional planning and assessment, inform sound decision making, and enhance institutional effectiveness. More information on the office and university data can be found at www.uncp.edu/ir.

Regional Initiatives

The Office of Regional Initiatives is located off campus at the Carolina Commerce and Technology Center (COMTech) on Livermore Drive. Established in 2000, its mission fosters regional collaboration, enhances business development, and empowers communities for quality of life betterment in southeastern North Carolina. The Office of Regional Initiatives addresses the diverse needs of the region through initiatives to increase resources, establish networks, and provide training. It provides outreach services to the citizens, businesses, governments and nonprofit organizations throughout the region. These outreach services are executed in cooperation with organizations to provide management development programs, health care initiatives, customized training, consulting, grants development, planning and technical assistance, conference designing and implementation, and economic and social research.

Professional Development: The office offers non-credit workshops leading to a certificate in areas such as management development and leadership development with concentrated study in group dynamics, communications, quality, change, and strategic planning. These programs are offered to the public but can also be tailored to meet an organization’s specific needs, with instruction arranged on-site and online, and courses may qualify for Continuing Education Units of credit (CEUs).

Short Courses, Institutes, and Conferences: In addition to helping students meet licensure requirements, the University meets special needs of students through this program and continues the tradition of providing education to all segments of the population for personal and professional enrichment. The University awards Continuing Education Units (CEUs) to participants in qualified programs. Continuing Education Units are a part of a nationwide recording system to provide a uniform measure of attainment in non‑credit educational programs. One CEU at UNC Pembroke is defined as “ten contact hours of participation in an organized continuing education experience under responsible, capable direction, and qualified instruction.”

Youth Programs: The Office of Regional Initiatives provides numerous opportunities for youth involvement that include summer programs such as Kids College, Teen College, EntreU, and, based on funding, a Summer Transportation Institute and Summer Science Symposiums.

Small Business and Technology Development Center: Operated as an inter-institutional program of The University of North Carolina, SBTDC provides information and individualized counseling services to citizens who are starting a business or existing businesses interested in expansion.

Community Services: The office supports community agencies and the nonprofit sector through services such as community organizing and leadership development. Healthy Start, a national infant mortality initiative, is administered by the Office of Regional Initiatives under Community Health Alliance, as is Youth Start, which provides comprehensive services for in-school youth aged 14-18.

Thomas Entrepreneurship Hub

The Thomas Entrepreneurship Hub is located at 201 Main Street, downtown Pembroke. The Thomas Entrepreneurship Hub management recognizes the correlation between economic development and entrepreneurship and therefore is committed to entrepreneurship education and to entrepreneurial development. Its ambition is to stimulate entrepreneurial thinking amongst the UNCP student body as well as assist and support entrepreneurs and new ventures in the Southeastern North Carolina region. As a consequence, the mission of the Thomas Entrepreneurship Hub is focused on education, research, planning, and community engagement.

Established in 2006, the Thomas Entrepreneurship Hub was enabled by a generous gift from The Thomas Family Foundation, founded by James and Sally Thomas. Thomas Entrepreneurship Hub consultants reach out and support the community by providing one-on-one consulting and evaluation services for local entrepreneurs along with a business incubator and maker space, while assisting students in developing entrepreneurial competencies and knowledge. The result is to extend entrepreneurship education outside the classroom by allowing students to work with local entrepreneurs on critical business challenges. Experiential learning is a great asset to the entrepreneurship students. At the same time, local businesses benefit from the knowledge and advice provided. The Thomas Entrepreneurship Hub web site (http://www.thethomashub.org) provides details on the academic and entrepreneurial business consulting provided.

College Opportunity Program (COP)

Director: Deana Johnson

The College Opportunity Program (COP) is designed to admit a limited number of students who meet most, but not all, of The University of North Carolina at Pembroke’s regular admission standards. Students are selected on the basis of high school academic record, scholastic standing in the high school graduating class, and SAT or ACT scores. The application for admission should be filed as early as possible.

Students enter the College Opportunity Program based on recommendations from the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, and students enroll in courses designed to develop academic skills which will be necessary for their success at UNC Pembroke. In the Fall and Spring Semesters, the student is allowed to register for 15-17 hours of academic courses. In addition, students meet regularly with the COP advisors for academic counseling as well as participate in special programs throughout the academic year. Students who meet the University’s academic eligibility requirements and have successfully completed the Program (made a “C” or higher in ENG 0104 , UNV 1000  ,ENG 1050 , and ENG 1060 ) then continue at the University as other regularly admitted students