End-of-Semester Message to Faculty and Staff

May 2, 2024
Categories: Chancellor's Messages
Message to Niner Nation from Chancellor Sharon L. Gaber

Dear Faculty and Staff, 

As we near the end of another semester, I would like to express my sincere appreciation to all of you for your efforts to bring us to a successful finish. 

Together, we’ve accomplished some amazing things during this academic year, and we’ve also experienced some trying times. I am extremely appreciative of all of you for your hard work and dedication. We have much to be proud of in the past year, including:

  • Record fall and spring enrollment, including our largest-ever incoming freshman class last fall.
  • Our ascent to the top 100 among public universities in U.S. News & World Report’s 2024 rankings.
  • A successful transition to the American Athletic Conference, winning three conference championships. 
  • A growing array of national accolades bestowed upon our students and our faculty and staff.

Of particular significance is our university’s ascent to top-tier research status. Since the inception of our 10-year strategic plan in 2021, our aim to establish ourselves as a globally renowned research institution has steadily progressed. The Chronicle of Higher Education is projecting UNC Charlotte’s official designation as a Carnegie R1 institution when the new classifications are released in early 2025. This milestone reflects our collective endeavors thus far and our trajectory toward becoming one of this nation’s preeminent public research universities. 

Later this week, we eagerly anticipate honoring our more than 5,100 graduates, with four ceremonies on Friday and Saturday. Our spring graduates span a wide spectrum of ages, ranging from 19 to 72, and hail from 55 countries, 33 U.S. states and 89 North Carolina counties. 

Looking ahead to the upcoming academic year, we expect another great year. Enrollment Management is reporting strong enrollment and retention numbers for fall and what may be another record class of incoming undergraduate students. Also, we are preparing for the public launch of our largest-ever fundraising campaign this fall, which will focus on fostering student success and expanding opportunities; advancing academic and research excellence; and cultivating a vibrant campus community.

I hope you will find time to refresh over the summer. Thank you again for a fantastic academic year. Go Niners! 

Sincerely, 

Sharon L. Gaber