Campus Map
Click here to view the Campus Map.
The University of North Carolina Wilmington is located in the southeastern part of the state on a 661-acre tract midway between the Cape Fear River and the Atlantic Ocean. The city of Wilmington is situated on the east bank of the Cape Fear River about 15 miles from Carolina Beach and 10 miles from Wrightsville Beach. The metropolitan statistical area, of which Wilmington is a part, now has a population in excess of 360,000. Several main highways lead into the city, and commercial air service provides easy access to other metropolitan areas north, south, and west.
Ocean breezes and the nearness of the Gulf Stream give Wilmington a delightful year-round climate, and the area’s proximity to the ocean provides unlimited recreational opportunities.
The spacious well-landscaped campus was first occupied by the university in 1961. The number of buildings has increased from three in 1961 to 157 today, dispersed across a coastal pine savannah habitat. The buildings on the campus are of modified Georgian architecture, including academic, administrative, student life, residence, dining, athletic, and support buildings, all of which are completely air-conditioned. There are several athletic fields and intramural fields.
Buildings
For information on university buildings, see the university’s interactive map at http://www.uncw.edu/ba/campus_map/index.htm.
Academic Support Resources
William Madison Randall Library
The William Madison Randall Library serves as a dynamic instructional and research resource of the University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW). Randall Library is named for William Madison Randall, Wilmington College president from 1958 to 1968. Its collections include more than two million items in various formats, including approximately one million books, bound journals, and print government documents; over 65,000 print and electronic journals, over 750,000 microform pieces, and more than 85,000 media items (e.g., DVDs, CDs). In addition, the Library provides approximately 200 online databases and extensive full text resources. Databases, e-journals and over 30,000 electronic books are available to UNCW students, faculty and staff with Internet access anywhere and anytime. An online catalog and circulation system provides easy, efficient access to most of the Library’s collections. The gateway to the Library’s resources is its Web page http://library.uncw.edu.
The Library’s online catalog can be expanded to search the UNC Coastal Library Consortium (UNCW, Fayetteville State University and the University of North Carolina at Pembroke) and requests can be placed for those materials directly from the online catalog. The Library’s interlibrary loan and document delivery service provides access to information resources held by other libraries around the world free of charge to UNCW students, faculty and staff. Requests are submitted online through the ILLiad system. For more information, visit http://library.uncw.edu/web/customerservices/interlibraryloan.html.
The Library provides a reserve reading service to aid students and instructors in accessing required and supplemental materials for courses. Much of this material is in electronic format, available 24/7. Books and videos for short loan reserve reading/viewing are held at the Circulation/Customer Services Desk. The reserve system can be searched by course, department, instructor or document title or author. Information about reserves can be found at http://library.uncw.edu/reserves.
The Library’s specialized collections include the Rare Book Collection; the Southeastern North Carolina Collection, devoted to publications by or about residents of the Lower Cape Fear region of North Carolina, Manuscript Collections (diaries, correspondence and other papers), and UNCW and Wilmington College Archives. Special Collections also provides a unique collection of oral history interviews. In addition, the Library is a selective depository for United States government publications and a full depository for North Carolina documents. The Curriculum Materials Center (C.M.C.), located in the education building, is a specialized facility designed to support the teacher education program of the Watson College of Education, providing textbooks and other teaching support materials for pre-K-12 grades. The C.M.C., in cooperation with the education lab, provides equipment for creating teaching materials.
A knowledgeable and helpful staff of 44 full-time employees including 21 librarians and many student assistants provides comprehensive information access and research assistance. The Library is dedicated to the goal of educating users, especially students, in the identification, use and evaluation of information in all formats. In addition to providing immediate assistance at the Learning Commons Desk and Circulation/Customer Service Desks, the Library provides research assistance by live chat, e-mail, phone, or in-depth assistance by appointment. The Library participates in NCKnows, a 24/7 chat reference service. Information literacy instruction is provided through course-related sessions, credit courses on library and information research skills, and workshops on various topics.
During the academic year, the Library is open 24 hours a day from noon Sunday until 6 p.m. Friday, and from noon until 6 p.m. on Saturday (132 hours/week). Randall Library provides nearly 900 seats in a variety of environments, including individual study carrels and tables, group study rooms and a quiet study room. The most popular study destination for both individual and group work is the Learning Commons http://library.uncw.edu/learningcommons/. A coffee bar provides beverages and food. The Technology Assistance Center (TAC), operated by the UNCW Information Technology Systems Division, is also located in the Library. One hundred fifteen (115) computers are available in the Learning Commons on the first floor, and 12 in two graduate computer labs on the second floor. Seventy-five laptops are also available for checkout by students, or students can use wireless Internet access with their personal laptops. Other equipment the Library provides to students includes video cameras, portable DVD players, MP3 players, flash drives and presentation practice carts. The Library also houses an 80-seat auditorium, the Honors Scholars Program Office, Center for Teaching Excellence, Center for Faculty Leadership, Women’s Studies and Resource Center, a Distance Learning classroom, and many faculty and graduate assistant offices.
Information Technology Systems
Information Technology Systems (ITS) is an innovative organization committed to providing a technologically progressive environment for students, faculty and staff. As part of Academic Affairs, ITS is dedicated to leading, collaborating and supporting with cost effective services that promote the mission of the university. ITS is also committed to promoting and sustaining a powerful learning experience by responding to students’ needs through student feedback, student engagement and collaboration with constituent groups across campus.
ITS provides an array of services to students, some of which include:
- Technology Assistance Center (TAC) in Randall Library – UNCW’s help desk (www.uncw.edu/tac)
- ITS Request System for reporting technology issues and requesting services online (https://itsrequest.uncw.edu)
- AskTAC self-service knowledge base (https://asktac.uncw.edu)
- Binaries Tech Store in Fisher University Union offering discounts on Microsoft products and Apple and Dell computers (www.uncw.edu/binaries)
- Apple and Dell certified technigicans available in Binaries Tech Store (www.uncw.edu/binaries)
- Free antivirus software (www.uncw.edu/virus)
- mySeaport campus portal (https://myseaport.uncw.edu)
- TealWare software in the Teal Cloud (www.uncw.edu/tealware)
- General access computers in Randall Library’s Learning Commons
- Laptop checkout program in Randall Library’s Learning Commons
- Browsing stations in Fisher Student Center, Fisher University Union, CIS and Wagoner Hall
- Wireless access across campus
- Multi-media classrooms (each includes a computer station, media player, projector and projection screen)
- Distance education classrooms
- Residence hall access including wired and wireless Internet, cable TV and phone/E911
- Residential Networking services
For any computing or technology questions or problems, students may use the ITS Request System to report issues online, or they may contact the TAC. The TAC provides support via phone, email and in person in Randall Library. Services provided by the TAC include, but are not limited to, assistance with: PC and Mac support, wireless connectivity, password issues, Blackboard Learn support, software questions and scanning assistance. Further information on the TAC and its hours can be obtained at www.uncw.edu/tac.
ITS offers UNCW email to all students to keep them connected with the university community, their professors and each other. ITS also provides students with their one-stop campus portal—mySeaport. Through mySeaport, students have access to their UNCW email, calendar, class information, online registration, billing information, campus news and additional student resources and services. Furthermore, students may access various educational tools—such as SkillPort computer based training courses and podcasts—through this UNCW portal.
ITS supports online learning via its course management system, Blackboard Learn. Instructors may utilize this tool to deliver fully online courses or as a supplement to traditional face-to-face courses. For more information on ITS and its services go to www.uncw.edu/itsd.
Outreach
UNCW is engaged with Southeastern North Carolina through innovative programs of lifelong and professional learning, applied research, and service that result in measurable improvements in our region’s social and economic condition. We advocate for and support sustained, issue-specific partnerships between faculty, staff, and students and regional business, nonprofit, and government organizations, we support academically-based programs that enrich the lives of the youth and adults living in Southeastern North Carolina. Visit www.uncw.edu/outreach/
Opportunities for student participation exist in the following areas:
Conference and Event Management
Conference Services and Event Services provides comprehensive logistical and administrative services including on-campus facilities, lodging, food and registration for both internal and external organizations hosting conferences at UNCW.
Continuing Studies
Professional and Organizational Development offers working professionals an opportunity to further develop their skills and/or provides an opportunity for career exploration by delivering on-site and online training. Visit www.uncw.edu/professional-ed
Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at UNCW (OLLI) refers to an individual’s ongoing commitment to education and includes non-credit activities for personal enrichment, including short courses related to academic studies, such as history, art and languages, as well as activities such as lunch and dinner speaker series, public forums, special issues presentations and international travel. Other lifelong learning opportunities include the Adult Scholars Leadership Program, which brings accomplished members of the 55+ community together to discuss regional issues. Each semester the divisional publication, Pathways, catalogues current lifelong learning opportunities at UNCW. Visit www.uncw.edu/olli to learn more.
Scholarly Community Engagement
Scholarly Community Engagement facilitates interdisciplinary teams composed of faculty/student researchers and community organizations, conducting meaningful long-term applied research projects addressing local issues. Engaging the community in scholarly research, faculty and students affect the quality of life of individuals and communities in our region. Students participate in community-based research through internships, directed independent study and faculty-led research projects.
Media Production
Media Production, formerly UNCW-TV, highlights the intellectual diversity of the university by creating educational programming derived from the academic departments of UNCW and delivered by UNCW-TV, through a variety of media. Also, Media Production serves the university through its Creative Services television production, such as broadcasting events like UNCW Commencement, a variety of award ceremonies, candidates forums, community based television programming and award winning documentaries.
Youth Programs
Begin your journey to higher education by participating in one of UNCW’s outstanding programs for youth of all ages. We offer summer academic enrichment opportunities, school year standards-based programs, and community outreach events that engage youth in experiential education, service learning and leadership development. Visit www.uncw.edu/youth/
Herbert Bluethenthal Memorial Wildflower Preserve
The Herbert Bluethenthal Memorial Wildflower Preserve is a 10-acre memorial botanical garden located on the UNCW campus. Established in 1972, its purpose is to provide a place where the university community and the public can learn about and enjoy our native plants and their habitats. Many of the plants are labeled, and maps and trail guides are available at the entrance.
EV-Henwood Nature Preserve
Ev-Henwood is UNCW’s coastal forest research and teaching station located in Brunswick County. It is only a short 30-minute drive from the university campus and is available for nature study and appreciation, student and faculty research, and class field trips. Included in its 110 acres are oak/hickory woods, pine forests, and low woods along the bordering Town Creek and its branches. Additional habitats such as ponds and fields are available nearby.
UNCW Long-Term Ecosystem Reserve
This 750 acre parcel of undisturbed bottomland hardwood forest, tidal creeks, and wetland marshes bordered by the Northeast Cape Fear River, Cowpen Road, and NC Highway 421 supports non-destructive teaching and research activities. The property is uniquely situated within the upper tidal region of the Cape Fear estuary. Although most of the property consists of tidal freshwater creeks and adjacent marsh, detectable salinity can occasionally be measured during drought periods. Because of this location, this area/habitat is expected to be among the early regions to be significantly affected by sea level rise over the next several decades, making it ideal for research into the effects of climate change on coastal ecosystems and ecosystem dynamics. |
