Spring 2018 Newsletter

The 2017-18 academic year has been an eventful one. As we close the books on another semester, I wanted to provide my customary update on the status of Niner Nation.

Spring is definitely in the air…along with the lingering aroma of the rare and very beautiful “Rotney the Magnifiscent.” Rotney is one of two Titan Arums in the University’s botanical garden, and it bloomed just last week; Odie, which first bloomed in 2015, also bloomed again this week. Native to Sumatra, Indonesia, the Titan Arum, also known as the “corpse flower,” is the largest flowering plant in the world, standing nearly 10 feet tall. Titan Arums bloom for one day every 3-5 years, so it’s a pretty spectacular (but stinky) event.

On Mother’s Day weekend, we celebrated the Class of 2018 as nearly 4,600 brand new graduates walked across the stage and into a bright future as UNC Charlotte alumni. We also observed our first Doctoral Hooding Ceremony honoring the 76 students who have earned their degrees in one of 17 academic disciplines of Doctor of Education, Doctor of Nursing Practice, and Doctor of Philosophy.

The Commencement Week activities were enhanced by the addition of Light Rail. After so many years of waiting, it was such a thrill to see crowds of smiling folks getting off the train and making their way to Halton Arena. I’ll talk more about the Light Rail launch in the following pages, along with some of the many other highlights from the past semester. As always, if you would like more information on any item covered here, please contact my senior executive assistant, Shari Dunn, or check the Chancellor’s Outbox.

Cordially,

Philip L. Dubois Chancellor