39th International Festival live streamed to the world

By Jared Moon

New audiences became aware of UNC Charlotte’s International Festival through a collaborative effort between the Office of International Programs and the Office of University Communications.

A live webcast, portions of which were viewed by roughly 825 people in the United States and more than 150 internationally, highlighted the festival activities, and a segment produced by professionals from the Office of University Communications aired on UNC-TV’s “N.C. Now” prior to the festival. The office also promoted the festival through Inside UNC Charlotte, the University’s home page and the marquee at the front entrance to campus.

In addition, University communications broadcast and public relations staff pre-produced a number of segments involving UNC Charlotte’s international students that were aired during the five-hour live webcast of the International Festival. Faculty members from the Department of Languages and Culture Studies also provided translated verbiage for the webcast that was appropriate for audiences in target countries.

 “The festival serves as a representation of the larger and broader internationalization efforts of our campus,” said Joël Gallegos, assistant provost for International Programs. “It’s really our opportunity to highlight our students coming from around the world and to highlight the various cultures that are represented not only on our campus but in the Charlotte community.”

The coordinated efforts of the University Communications Office enabled greater numbers of people in the Charlotte region and around the state to learn more about UNC Charlotte’s globalization efforts, which was a goal for the collaboration.

University Communications’ Web communications staff utilized social media to distribute festival information to a number of nations; posts received from around the world during the festival were incorporated into the webcast.

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Jared Moon is the communications coordinator in the Office of Public Relations.

Early college high school gets ribbon-cutting

By Jared Moon

UNC Charlotte recently hosted a formal ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Charlotte Engineering Early College (CEEC); the event coincided with on-campus meetings by the N.C. State Board of Education.

University, local and state leaders talked about how the CEEC was an example of innovative, educational concepts that have increased in popularity across North Carolina.

Chancellor Philip L. Dubois, who spoke at the ribbon cutting, noted, “Like most things in Charlotte, great ideas come about as the result of collaboration and teamwork. The idea for a high school with a focus on engineering and energy came to us from Jeff Corbett of Duke Energy. He brought the folks from North Carolina New Schools into the picture, and, soon, we were on our way with an exciting collaborative concept, coupled with commitment, enthusiasm and energy.”

Bill Cobey, chairman of the State Board of Educations, and Heath Morrison, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools superintendent, also gave remarks at the ceremony.

The N.C. State Board of Education held its fall planning retreat Sept. 30 and Oct. 1 at UNC Charlotte, along with monthly meeting Thursday, Oct. 2; the Office of University Communications provide a streaming webcast of the meeting.

The board holds monthly meetings in various settings across the state in order to engage and interact with the communities and projects it supports and oversees, according to officials. After its Thursday meeting, education board members toured CEEC.

CEEC’s first class is comprised of 100 ninth-graders, and as Dubois noted, “We want these students to benefit from the school’s proximity to and engagement with UNC Charlotte. Namely the students in the William States Lee College of Engineering, our teacher education candidates in the College of Education, our Center from STEM Education, as well as faculty, research centers and industry partners.”

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Jared Moon is the communications coordinator in the Office of Public Relations.