Resources: Academic and Research

On This Page

Thrive@Carolina Campus Hubs

Chloē J. Russell, M.Ed., Associate Dean and Director

Thrive@Carolina Campus Hubs (Hubs), which includes UNC Advising, is a collaborative and innovative approach to deliver holistic support to undergraduates from admission through graduation. Its mission is to champion students’ individual stories through purposeful interactions so that they achieve their academic, personal, and post-UNC goals. Anchored in the belief that we serve a diverse population in which every student does not need the same support or know the same information, Hubs partner with students as they unlock their potential, activate their plans, secure their opportunities, and cultivate their community. Nestled within the College of Arts & Sciences, Hubs are comprised of approximately 60 full- and part-time personnel and serve students in a variety of campus locations.

Center for Student Success

Dr. Marcus L. Collins, Ed.D., Associate Dean and Director
2203 SASB North; (919) 966-2143

The Center for Student Success (CFSS) has a simple mission, which is connecting with all UNC–Chapel Hill students to promote your academic and personal growth. Its constituent offices and programs (The Learning Center, The Writing Center, Peer Mentoring, Summer Bridge, Carolina Firsts, and Transfer Student Support) support you in developing the skills and strategies needed to excel at UNC and beyond. Our commitment to student learning supports the University’s mission to “teach a diverse community of undergraduate, graduate, and professional students to become the next generation of leaders.” We also support the University’s commitment to diversity and in doing so sponsor programs and activities that promote academic excellence, increase retention, and improve the campus climate for diversity among all undergraduates.

The Learning Center

Dr. Kim Abels, Ph.D., Director
0118 and 2109 SASB North, (919) 962-3782

The Learning Center helps students optimize their learning strategies to meet all their academic goals at Carolina. To make an appointment with an academic coach or check out this year’s event calendar, visit the Learning Center’s website. The Learning Center regularly offers an array of programs and services popular with undergraduate students, including:

  • One-on-one appointments with an academic coach. The Learning Center holds some coaching appointments in 221 Greenlaw Hall, which is located across from the Undergraduate Library. Coaching appointments provide opportunities for students to set personal academic goals and get support and accountability in the process.

  • Peer tutoring for many introductory courses. The Learning Center provides peer tutoring by appointment in Dey Hall on Monday and Tuesday evenings (walk-ins also welcome) or make an appointment for select courses.

  • STEM support, including academic coaching and learning groups for BIOL 101, BIOL 103, BIOL 104, CHEM 101, CHEM 102, CHEM 261, MATH 130, MATH 231, and STOR 155.

  • Workshops on topics such as metacognitive learning strategies, reading speed and comprehension, time management, and more.

  • Handouts and videos offering tips and tools to make students’ academic lives easier.
  • Study groups and boot camps providing opportunities to gather with other students to maximize study time and strategies.
  • Test prep resources for GRE, GMAT, MCAT, and LSAT in partnership with The Princeton Review, at discounts of 20 percent.
  • ADHD/LD support. Individual appointments and coaching groups are available.

The Writing Center

Dr. Kim Abels, Ph.D., Director
0127 SASB North; 221 Greenlaw Hall; (919) 962-7710

The Writing Center helps students become stronger, more flexible writers. To make an appointment with a writing coach or to submit your draft online, visit the Writing Center’s website. The Writing Center is a free service for students, offering:

  • One-on-one appointments with a writing coach. Coaching appointments are 45-minute conversations with undergraduate and graduate students who are specially trained to support students’ development as writers.
  • Online coaching services. Students can submit drafts online, specify their concerns, and request targeted feedback.
  • Feedback on any writing project at any stage of the writing process. Students can work with a coach on everything from application essays to zoology lab reports. They can come in with nothing but ideas, with an outline, or with a draft. Coaches meet students where they are and help them move forward in the process.
  • Handouts and videos on the writing process, citation and sentence-level concerns, writing-specific assignments, and writing in specific disciplines.
  • Write Night events designed to help students make substantial progress on their drafts at key points each semester.
  • English language resources and language specialists who support the academic and social communication of Carolina’s international students.
  • Volunteer opportunities! With our Speaking Group and U.S. English Pronunciation class, Carolina students can build relationships and gain valuable exposure to global cultures.
  • Job opportunities! Undergraduate students can apply to work as writing coaches after taking ENGL 402 in the spring semester.

The Peer Mentoring Programs

Hannah Ford, M.A., Program Coordinator
Dr. Marcus L. Collins, Ed.D., Associate Dean and Director
0118 SASB North; CB#3106
(919) 9662-2143

Peer Mentoring assists in the academic, social, and personal development and adjustment of our newest Tar Heels in their first year at UNC. Incoming students can request peer mentors who are academically successful and socially involved members of the Carolina Community. Peer mentors provide academic counseling, bridge communication between CFSS and first-year students, and assist them with their transition from high school to university life.

Summer Bridge

Brittany Grant, M.S., Program Coordinator
Dr. Marcus L. Collins, Ed.D., Associate Dean and Director
0118 SASB North, CB# 3106
(919) 966-2143

Summer Bridge is a six-week transition program that helps incoming first-year students adjust to Carolina by providing academic enrichment, community building, and co-curricular and experiential learning activities. The program is designed to ease participants’ personal and academic transition from high school to the University. Students enroll in academic courses, designed to strengthen both written and quantitative skills. They also participate in activities designed to supplement their summer experience by engaging in high-impact learning experiences often facilitated by units such as the UNC Learning and Writing Centers, University Career Services, and Student Life and Leadership. Additionally, cultural and recreational activities are significant components of the program, as students are introduced to the University and the array of opportunities and resources available. Any student who has been admitted to UNC–Chapel Hill and is a North Carolina resident is eligible to apply.

Carolina Firsts

Brittany Grant, M.S., Program Coordinator
Dr. Marcus L. Collins, Ed.D., Associate Dean and Director
0118 SASB North, CB# 3106
(919) 966-2143

Nearly 20 percent of all undergraduates at UNC–Chapel Hill are the first in their family to attend college. At Carolina, we proudly call our first-generation college students Carolina Firsts. There are several programs and opportunities designed specifically to help Carolina Firsts engage, experience, and excel along their Carolina journey. 

Transfer Students

Luke Fayard, M.A., Program Coordinator, Transfer Student Support
Dr. Marcus L Colins, Ed.D., Associate Dean and Director
2203 SASB North
(919) 966-5245

Transfer Student Support programs and opportunities are designed specifically for transfer students to acclimate to the Carolina community. The Transfer Student Coordinator serves as one of several contacts for transfer students at UNC and provides support to encourage the success, persistence and graduation of transfer students primarily once they enroll at the university. Program and support services include academic coaching and peer mentor support, along with several opportunities throughout the academic year for community building.

Library System

The campus libraries are your home for world-class collections, study spaces for every preference, and research expertise across a wide range of subject areas.   

Everyone is welcome in all campus libraries, including the House Undergraduate Library, Davis Library, the Wilson Special Collections Library, the Health Sciences Library, and subject-specific branch libraries. Your OneCard is your library card. 

Reserve a study room to collaborate on group projects. Take advantage of New York Times and Washington Post digital subscriptions, best-selling e-books and audiobooks, and popular streaming movies, all brought to you by the Library. Bring your visions to life in the Library’s makerspace with 3D scanning and printing. And visit the Media and Design Center to take your multimedia projects from concept to creation, with production equipment, technology, digital assets, and staff expertise. 

Whatever your academic focus, personal passions, and personality, the Library is here to support your success. Sign up for the Library’s monthly student newsletter to stay connected.

Math Help Center

Miranda Thomas, Ph.D., Director

The Math Help Center, located in 237 Phillips Hall, provides additional instructional support for students enrolled in MATH 110 through MATH 233. The center is staffed by both graduate and undergraduate tutors who work with students in small groups or individually. The center’s main purposes are to provide assistance and to increase the success rate for students in specific math courses.

Pre-Graduate School Advising

The Pre-Graduate Education Advising Program, under University Career Services in Hanes Hall (second floor), is a resource offered to students interested in pursuing graduate studies. The program advises undergraduate students considering a graduate degree in various disciplines (sciences, arts and humanities, social sciences, and professional arenas). These advisors can help clarify the differences between a doctorate and a master’s degree and the opportunities these terminal degrees may offer. The program is primarily responsible for helping students considering graduate school understand what their next steps are in researching and applying to graduate programs, so that they can move forward independently and effectively. Students can schedule a pre-grad coaching appointment by visiting Handshake.

Health Professions Advising

UNC–Chapel Hill has no formal pre-health curriculum or major. Instead, students should choose one of the four-year B.A. or B.S. degree programs and incorporate appropriate prerequisite courses in their planning. Health professional schools encourage students to major in what they are interested in studying; no specific majors are recommended. Students are strongly encouraged to join the health professions listserv to identify programs that are relevant to their career pathway. First year students or those beginning their journey are encouraged to take BIOL 117 (Exploring Health Professions) and BIOL 118 (Pursuing Health Professions), which are pass/fail 1 credit options focused on exposing students to health professions careers as well as the application process.

The HPA office advises about the many pathways to a health professional career and the various career options in healthcare through facilitated professional programs, individualized meetings, and access to health professions information that encourages application of knowledge and experience.  Students can make an appointment with health professions advisors virtually or in person (Health Sciences Library Suite #217B),or join our listserv by visiting the HPA website.

Pre-law Advising

UNC–Chapel Hill has no formal pre-law curriculum or major. Instead, students should follow one of the four-year B.A. or B.S. degree programs. Most law schools do not require, or even recommend, that students major in any particular field; instead, most law schools prefer applicants who have pursued a course of study that gives a foundation for undertaking legal studies, with an emphasis on reading, writing, speaking, and analytical and critical thinking. However, a student wishing to practice patent law will need a degree in one of the sciences.

Pre-law students should emphasize academics. The campus Learning Center offers programs designed to help enhance reading skills. Students are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity. Students also are encouraged to schedule a pre-law appointment using Handshake. They also may wish to visit the Pre-Law Advising website, where they can gain helpful information.

Research Institutes and Centers

The intellectual life of the University and the research activities of undergraduates, graduate students and faculty alike receive valuable encouragement and support from a variety of institutes and centers. These institutes do not operate as instructional agencies within the University; rather, they serve to obtain financial and organizational assistance for the scholars who constitute their membership.

Most research centers and institutes can be found on the UNC Research website.

Scholarly Journals

The University has published scholarly journals since 1884, when the Journal of the Elisha Mitchell Scientific Society first appeared.

The following list contains some of the publications currently produced by the University's graduate and professional programs.

American Diplomacy. A journal for commentary, analysis and research on American foreign policy and its practice.

Endeavors. Features outstanding research and creative work undertaken by faculty and students at the University. Distributed free, the magazine reaches 8,600 on- and off-campus readers in an effort to engage others in Carolina research.

North Carolina Law Review. Published by the School of Law to stimulate research and publication by faculty and students.

Studies in the Romance Languages and Literatures. For more than 80 years, this publication has supported and disseminated scholarship in the romance literatures.

In addition, the University of North Carolina Press publishes several journals. A full list is available on their website.

The University of North Carolina Press

The University of North Carolina Press is the primary publishing arm of the University in the scholarly field. In addition to its publication of the journals of research, it carries on a book publishing program of about 80 new titles a year. Electronic publications also are available. Although these books are the work of scholars from all parts of the world, the presence in the University of a professionally staffed book publishing organization, with facilities for the international distribution of works of scholarship, is a stimulus to research and writing by members of the University community. The Press' program is an important contribution to the development of that aspect of the University's service which has to do with the advancement of learning.