News in Brief for December 12, 2012

Robertson Express Bus update

Beginning Jan. 7, the Robertson Express Bus, which offers direct service from the Morehead Planetarium to Duke Chapel on Duke University’s campus, will be managed by Triangle Transit. Robertson Scholars will continue to ride for free. UNC students and permanent employees who do not have a campus parking permit may be eligible for a free GoPass through the Commuter Alternative Program (CAP) or a free Robertson Express Pass. Those who do not qualify for the passes must pay a fee. For information about fees and free passes, visit bit.ly/RBUCCe.

Adverse weather policy always in effect, year round

The University’s adverse weather policy is always in effect. Unless Chancellor Holden Thorp or his designee closes the University, it is always open. Any time an employee cannot attend work due to a weather-related event, the adverse weather policy applies. This includes having to stay home to care for a child who could not attend school due to adverse weather. Carolina’s adverse weather status is designated by three condition levels (normal weather, severe weather and extremely bad weather). For details about these levels and more information about the adverse weather policy, see go.unc.edu/m9GWa.

Blackboard will shut down Dec. 31

Blackboard will be shut down on Dec. 31. After this date, Blackboard content will be inaccessible. Instructors who wish to preserve their uploaded course files should extract materials prior to the shutdown date. For detailed instructions, see the “Later is Now” link available from go.unc.edu/n4K9Y. Blackboard is being replaced by Sakai, an open source collaboration and earning environment. To learn more, visit sakai.unc.edu. For more information, contact Kim Eke at 919-445-9472 or kim_eke@unc.edu.

Deadlines to watch

• Jan. 8 – Nominations are due for the Robert E. Bryan and Office of the Provost Engaged Scholarship Awards given by the Center for Public Service. The Bryan awards are given to students, student organizations or staff who have demonstrated outstanding engagement and service to the state. The Office of the Provost awards recognize faculty members of University units for exemplary engaged scholarship in service to North Carolina. go.unc.edu/e5W4G
• Jan. 9 – Applications are due for global health grants offered by the UNC Institute for Global Health and Infectious Diseases to faculty for international travel, or to bring international colleagues to campus. These grants serve to establish or maintain research relationships or to undertake small research projects with international collaborators. The institute defines global health very broadly and the opportunity is available to all full-time faculty in all schools and departments. go.unc.edu/Kf94T
• Jan. 11 – Nominations are due for the Order of the Golden Fleece, the University’s oldest and highest honorary society. Members are selected based upon service to the University as reflected in scholarship, motivation, creativity, loyalty and leadership in academic and extracurricular pursuits. Juniors, seniors, graduate students, staff, faculty and alumni who have made significant, lasting contributions to the University are eligible for selection. The nomination form can be found at www.unc.edu/ogf.
• Jan. 11 – Nominations are due for the 2013 University Awards for the Advancement of Women. One faculty member, one staff member and one student (undergraduate/graduate student/postdoctoral scholar) will receive the award. The faculty and staff recipients will each receive $5000 and the student recipient will receive $2500. To submit a nomination, visit go.unc.edu/x8L4A.

 

Holidays at the Inn

The Carolina Inn’s month-long series of holiday events is based on the holiday song, “The Twelve Days of Christmas.” The Carolina Inn encourages folks to do a self-guided tour of the decorations. Other holiday events include special meals, breakfast with Santa, cookie decorating, holiday teas and a display of gingerbread houses. Complete information with dates, times and cost is online at www.carolinainn.com.

Campus offers holiday gift ideas

You don’t have to look very far from campus to please the Tar Heels on your list this holiday season. Visit www.unc.edu/campus-updates/holiday-gift-ideas to find holiday gifts in the Carolina spirit from places like the Ackland Museum Store, UNC Student Stores, UNC Press, UNC Ticket Office and more. Follow the corresponding social media accounts for further updates on discounts and holiday hours.

Image Credit: Reclaimed Time, salvaged wood, 2’ x 2’ x 2”, 2012, courtesy of the artist

Art exhibit at the Allcott Gallery

Artist Terry Berlier’s new work is on display at the John and June Allcott Gallery through Jan. 11. The gallery is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Berlier is assistant professor of art and art history at Stanford University. art.unc.edu

Discount basketball tickets for Dec. 22 game

Cheer on the Tar Heels against McNeese State Dec. 22 at noon. Tickets for faculty and staff are $10 each. go.unc.edu/j5H7Y

Free holiday parking

The Town of Chapel Hill will be offering downtown patrons and visitors free parking on Saturdays in December at municipal lots, the Wallace Parking Deck, and at on-street meters. At 5 p.m. on Saturdays, the Wallace Deck and Rosemary/Columbia Lot will begin charging at their normal rate.

December Commencement

Commencement for December graduates is set for Sunday, Dec. 16 at 2 p.m. in the Dean E. Smith Center. Graduating students should arrive at 1 p.m. and enter the arena through Entry D. Parents and families should use Entry A. Free parking will be available in all lots around the Smith Center. UNC’s Myron S. Cohen, an acclaimed physician and researcher who has spent the past three decades studying the transmission and prevention of HIV/AIDS, will speak at Commencement. go.unc.edu/Rt8b3

Gingerbread houses

Kids ages 4 to 9 can experience the fun of decorating a gingerbread house at Kidzu Children’s Museum on Franklin Street Dec. 22. Cost is $20 per house (children can share). Drop off for this program is welcome. Space is limited and registration is required. To reserve your spot, call Kidzu at 919-933-1455. www.kidzuchildrensmuseum.org

Annual Grinch reading

 

Free holiday concert

The Gathering Church will give a free outdoor holiday concert with music from their new Christmas album Dec. 15 at 6 p.m. in the Memorial Garden at University Baptist Church, 100 S. Columbia St., Chapel Hill.

Natural ornaments at NCBG

The North Carolina Botanical Garden will hold a natural ornaments family workshop for children ages 4 and up who come with a parent Dec. 16 at 3 p.m. Decorate for the holidays naturally with acorns, pinecones, milkweed pods and craft ornaments with nature’s materials. Hot chocolate and materials provided. $8 per child and $6 for NCBG members. ncbg.unc.edu

2013 CGI calendar

The 2013 Center for Global Initiatives calendar will do a second printing, as supplies allow, for those who request copies by Jan. 20. The calendar is drawn from submissions to the Carolina Global Photography Competition, which this year focused on water in accordance with the campus two-year theme “Water in Our World.” Calendars are free, but donations to support the costs of printing and shipping the calendar are appreciated. To request a calendar, visit: go.unc.edu/d6BDq

Horace Williams Airport runway to close temporarily

The runway at Horace Williams Airport will be closed through Jan. 1, 2013, for construction of a utilities ductbank and to make borings for soil samples. During that period, planes will not be allowed to take off or land at the airport. go.unc.edu/z3JNj

Work begins on N.C. 86/South Columbia Street widening project

Work began Nov. 27 on a N.C. Department of Transportation project to widen and enhance a section of N.C. 86/South Columbia Street in Chapel Hill from Purefoy Road to Manning Drive. The project is expected to be complete by July 2014. Message boards will inform motorists of any lane closures or traffic shifts. Motorists in the area will be most significantly impacted from April through September 2013, when traffic will be one-way on South Columbia Street, with traffic going northbound from Fordham Boulevard toward Manning Drive. Outbound traffic will be detoured onto Manning Drive. For more information, visit go.unc.edu/k6FCj.

Need Help? Hire Sweeps

Carolina students started Sweeps in 2010 to provide work opportunities for fellow students. Sweeps has served more than 500 customers and can help with moving, cleaning or yard work, event help, tech support and tutoring, odd jobs and errands and more. Sweepers are matched with each client, and all jobs are $25 per Sweeper, per hour. Visit www.sweeps.jobs.

Upcoming from the Ackland

• Dec. 13 – “Treasures of Japanese Art from Storage: ‘Japonisme’” will be the topic of the final session of the Curators’ Seminar Series at 6 p.m. in the Ackland Art Museum Study room. Ackland curators Peter Nisbet and Timothy Riggs will discuss works of art that show the influence of Japanese art on Western art-making. Limited to 15 participants, $25 per session for Ackland members; $35 for non-members. Advanced registration is required. RSVP to acklandRSVP@unc.edu.
• Dec. 18 – Enjoy an hour of yoga in the galleries at the Ackland Art Museum with registered yoga teacher Joanne Marshall. Beginners are welcome and yoga mats are provided. Wear comfortable clothing that will allow you to stretch. Registration is limited. RSVP to acklandRSVP@unc.edu. Free to Ackland members, $5 non-members.
• Calling all fathers and daughters: The Ackland Art Museum announces an open call for father-and-daughter participants in an interactive, performance-based art work to be included in the upcoming exhibition “More Love: Art, Politics and Sharing since the 1990s.” Greensboro-based artist Lee Walton is currently seeking father-daughter pairs of all ages to perform his piece “Father and Daughter View the Exhibition,” an orchestrated, exhibition-specific piece that blurs the boundaries between real life and performance. For more information, visit go.unc.edu/a4A3L.

Carolina to offer for-credit courses online

Carolina is the only public university among a consortium of leading universities planning to offer online for-credit courses for undergraduate students.

Besides UNC, other consortium members for the Semester Online program include Brandeis, Duke, Emory, Northwestern, Vanderbilt, Wake Forest and Washington universities, as well as the University of Notre Dame and University of Rochester. Semester Online will begin in fall 2013 through Kenan-Flagler Business School, which will develop the University’s first classes for Semester Online. Courses will be available to academically qualified undergraduate students attending consortium schools and other top U.S. schools. For more information, visit go.unc.edu/Ti4s5.

Unheard Voices

Leslie Locklear, center, is dressed in native costume as she sings with Unheard Voices in the Pit as part of November’s American Indian Heritage Month.