Division of Student Affairs

The Bear Experience

Student learning outside the classroom

• Self-Awareness
  Self-awareness is one’s ability to describe themselves to others in terms of their strengths, values, interests, and identities. Becoming self-aware is an ongoing process that includes a commitment to reflection, continued learning, making informed decisions, and acting not only in self-interest, but in a manner that creates awareness of others. Self-awareness includes an ability to engage in challenging discourse and make decisions that foster understanding, growth, problem-solving, and mutual respect.
• Well-Being
  Well-Being is a state of human flourishing and/or thriving that includes physical, mental, and emotional, and financial health, social and spiritual connection, and having a sense of purpose. Equitable well-being is a concept that all must be included in society for everyone to thrive and reach their fullest potential.
• Equity
  Equity means recognizing and identifying social inequities, communicating for the needs of those who are oppressed, and engaging in dialogue that fosters equity. Equity is an understanding and ability to describe bias and positions of privilege, an understanding of individual social identity, recognition of positionality in relation to other social identities, identification of barriers to social equity, and the ability to have tools to address equity at a systemic level. Equity includes the ability to acknowledge privileged and minoritized identities, communicate effectively (articulate and listen) about a variety of topics related to social equity. Equity is not a status that is achieved but rather an ongoing process of life experience and advocacy that must be revisited, redefined, and improved upon.
• Career Readiness
  Career readiness is a process that supports students as they develop a better understanding of themselves, discover careers, and participate in career-specific learning. Career readiness is the development of career relevant competencies to leverage them in an ever-changing world of work. Transferrable competencies include self-development, communication, critical thinking, equity/inclusion/cultural fluency, leadership, work ethic, teamwork, and technology are achieved. Career management skills are interviewing, resume writing, personal statements, cover letters, salary negotiation, and networking. The process of career readiness is ongoing throughout our lives.
• Interpersonal Engagement
  Interpersonal engagement is the ability to develop and sustain positive relationships with others. Relationship skills include mutual respect, cultural humility, engaging in healthy conflict management and resolution, dialogue, listening, and an understanding of our interconnectedness with others around us. This includes the ability to positively engage in communities, understand impact, and create a sense of belonging for others.
• Leadership
  Leadership is the ability to cultivate an individualized philosophy that serves as a framework for effective collaboration with diverse individuals to foster meaningful change. This framework is derived from personal, moral, ethical, and intellectual foundations, and supports engagement in principled dissent. Leaders practice civic responsibility and identify and advocate for areas of change. Leaders possess the ability to assess challenges and opportunities and have the capacity to inspire, guide, and transform others toward the completion of dynamic goals. Being a leader requires continuing innovation, resiliency, and optimism to motivate change.

Our Guiding Principles

The Division of Student Affairs is committed to supporting students and their families in their transition to UNC and in their personal and academic success. As educators, we know students thrive when they know they matter and when they are both challenged and supported as they learn and encounter new experiences.

Because we want our students to thrive, we provide resources, tools, and opportunities to create a student experience focused on learning, by:

• Creating a strong sense of belonging and campus connection
• Promoting diverse, equitable and inclusive environments
• Developing career readiness
• Supporting wellness and healthy options
• Getting involved, giving back, and developing leadership talent

Featured Resources & Support

Here are just a few services you might find helpful or check out our student services.