CHANCELLOR GABER’S 2025-26 WELCOME MESSAGE TO FACULTY AND STAFF

Dear Colleagues,

Welcome to the 2025-26 academic year! Campus is once again alive with energy, and it’s awesome to see our students back.

This year, we’re proudly welcoming our largest class of more than 4,900 first-year students representing 95 North Carolina counties, 39 states and 20 countries. We’re also excited to greet more than 3,000 new transfer students, the highest number we’ve seen since 2016.

As I begin my sixth year as Chancellor, I remain inspired by the extraordinary momentum we’ve built together. Charlotte’s trajectory – in rankings, research, student success and impact – is unmatched. We have every reason to be enthusiastic about the future of this University.

Our Carnegie R1 designation earlier this year marked a major milestone, placing UNC Charlotte among the top research institutions in the nation. This new R1 status is already opening doors, deepening partnerships, driving innovation and expanding opportunities for students to work alongside faculty on meaningful research.

As our research enterprise grows, so does our focus on student success. This year, we’re leaning into one of Charlotte’s greatest advantages for our students: unmatched access to internships and other hands-on experiences. Among the newest additions to our offerings is the Gig Training Program, which gives working students short-term, paid projects that build skills, boost resumes and remove barriers to career experience.

We’re also rolling out a new brand platform – The Difference is Charlotte – that will help us tell our story with the clarity and confidence it deserves. Charlotte isn’t just where we are—it’s part of who we are. The state’s largest and most dynamic city fuels our students, faculty and staff with opportunities to learn, work and collaborate, while the region benefits from the talent, research and innovation we contribute in return.

While we celebrate our achievements, we remain mindful of the challenges ahead, both locally and across our nation’s higher education landscape. I am grateful to work alongside a community that meets each moment with purpose, resilience and vision.

Our students, our city and our state are counting on us to deliver on the promise of an exceptional education here in Charlotte. And thanks to your dedication, we will. 

Here’s to a great year ahead. Go Niners! 

Sincerely,

Sharon L. Gaber
Chancellor