DTH Photo Illustration. Professors are working to provide assistance to students during the current transition.

Students, professors use new methods to form connections through the computer screen

By Emma Lindsey | Sep. 29

“For my Spanish class, my professor reached out to me last week because I forgot to take a quiz for that class,” said junior Jose Rodriguez Gomez. “He reached out to me to see if everything was fine and if I was doing okay and if I was facing hardships and that is why I forgot to take the quiz. After talking to him for a bit, he said that he would extend the quiz online for me.”

A group of students wearing masks study together at the quad, Polk Place, on Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2020

Committee on Community and Diversity works to pursue roadmap for racial equity

By Kelly Kendall | Sep. 23

Chancellor Kevin Guskiewicz speaks at the UNC Advisory Committee met on Thursday, Sept. 17, 2020. The committee discussed potential adjustments to the 2021 spring semester as the University makes plans for the future.

UNC Advisory Committee discusses potential changes to the spring semester

By Bronwyn Campbell | Sep. 21

(From left) Frank Baumgartner, Jennifer Ho and Sharon Holland discuss their collaborative "Intersectionality: Race, Gender, Sexuality and Social Justice" course at the Gray Squirrel coffee shop in Carrboro in 2016. Photo courtesy of Kristen Chavez, UNC College of Arts & Sciences.

Faculty of color consider leaving, cite lack of opportunities and toxic environment

By Sasha Schroeder | Sep. 15

UNC professors step up for students as the semester shifts to online

By Evan Castillo | Aug. 27

Data show disparities in salary between newly-hired faculty and long-standing faculty and male and female faculty members.

Long-term UNC professors make less money than newly hired peers

By Ellie Heffernan | Aug. 20

The Carolina Together Care Kit was provided to students on UNC's campus, containing two masks, a thermometer, hand sanitizer, and a no-contact key for doors and other surfaces.

'Half-step behind': How UNC is distributing community protective equipment

By Rachel Crumpler | Aug. 17

Graduate students and faculty raise concerns about the University's plan for CPE distribution, which for some was delayed for days after the first day of class.

Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost Robert A. Blouin (front) and Chairperson of the Faculty Lloyd Kramer discuss lagging faculty salaries during the Faculty Executive Committee's meeting on Monday Jan. 27, 2020.

Orange County's health recommendations 'more of a personal communication,' Blouin says

By Isabella Sherk | Aug. 11

At the Faculty Executive Council meeting on Monday, council members discussed the recommendation letter from the Orange County Health Department, student population updates and new technology to measure community standard compliance.

Now, a coalition of anonymous students, faculty, staff and community members has called for the immediate removal of John Bogdan, the associate vice chancellor of safety and security at UNC-Charlotte. Photo courtesy of Coalition to Remove John Bogdan

Professors' association revamps efforts to remove UNC-Charlotte head of safety

By Sofia Lesnewski | Aug. 11

Students and faculty at UNC-Charlotte are calling for the removal of Associate Vice Chancellor of Safety and Security John Bogdan due to allegations of human rights violations while he worked as brigade commander at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay.

The Graduate Student Petition and a previous Graduate and Professional Student Federation (GPSF) Meeting in Kerr Hall on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2019.

'Uncharted territory’: Graduate workers express fears about teaching this semester

By Rachel Crumpler | Aug. 9

Graduate workers having to teach this semester have expressed concerns over the possibility of contracting COVID-19 and of the complexity of having to adjust instruction plans.

Signs promoting social distancing and safety at the Die-In Protest on Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2020 as Jennifer Standish, a UNC graduate student in the Department of History, speaks outside of South Building on Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2020. The protest called for UNC to transition to fully remote classes for the Fall 2020 semester after a letter of caution sent to Chancellor Guskiewicz by the Orange County Health Director Quintana Stewart.

UNC employees sue the University system over workplace safety

By Maydha Devarajan | Aug. 9

Gary Shipman, a Wilmington-based lawyer, is representing UNC System faculty and staff in the midst of preparing a class-action lawsuit to delay in-person classes. In a response to Shipman, NCDOL General Counsel Jill F. Cramer and Deputy Commissioner of Labor Kevin Beauregard acknowledged the concerns of faculty and staff members. However, they stated it is the responsibility of the UNC System to develop policies and plans that reduce the risk of exposure of contracting COVID-19 — not the department.

Chancellor Kevin Guskiewicz discusses free expression and constructive dialogue with Faculty Council members on Friday, Feb. 14, 2020.

Students, faculty advocate for a more equitable Roadmap — and a more equitable UNC

By Praveena Somasundaram | Aug. 9

Gretchen Bellamy, the senior director for education, operations and initiatives and Sibby Anderson-Thompkins, interim chief diversity officer, wrote a letter to the Roadmap Implementation Taskforce calling for a seat at the table when making decisions about fall's reopening, advocating for more equitable plans.

Screenshot from the virtually Faculty Committee Meeting on Friday, June 19, 2020 to discuss the Carolina Roadmap.

'This road leads to a disaster': Faculty express reopening concerns in letters

By Maydha Devarajan and Preston Fore | Aug. 4

UNC faculty have expressed concerns about the University's reopening, along with student leaders and campus workers. Through a public letter published in The Charlotte Observer and a letter from Chairperson of the Faculty Mimi Chapman, faculty have expressed their fears of returning to campus and of community spread of COVID-19. “We are willing to do our part,” Chapman wrote. “But at this point, I believe that our University and perhaps the entire UNC System is being asked to turn straw into gold.”

Heel Talk episode 12: Faculty and staff petition UNC against return to campus

By Evely Forte and Meredith Radford | Jun. 29

In this episode, host Evely Forte spoke to DTH reporter and incoming Assistant Copy Editor Sasha Schroeder and incoming Assistant Online Editor Praveena Somasundaram to understand why many UNC faculty members, professors and teaching assistants are petitioning UNC administration about the fall 2020 semester because of the COVID-19 pandemic, what the petitioners are really demanding and how they hope the University will implement potential changes.

Screenshot of the Faculty Executive Meeting on Monday, June 22, 2020, where there was discussion on racial equity in the upcoming school year.

Faculty Executive Committee discusses fall semester, racial injustice at UNC

By Rachel Crumpler | Jun. 23

Two UNC professors presented a roadmap for racial equity that has been in development for over a year at Monday's Faculty Executive meeting. The roadmap calls for sustained actions over the course of three years, including renaming campus buildings in an inclusive process, establishing faculty advisory groups on racial equity and holding an annual UNC Board of Trustees meeting with Black and Indigenous faculty, and faculty of color.

Faculty and leaders address fall roadmap, racial equity in community conversation

By Praveena Somasundaram | Jun. 22

Faculty held a community conversation Friday to discuss a variety of concerns about UNC's fall reentry, including remaining questions about the Carolina Roadmap, racial equity on campus and safety of University staff and athletes.

Graduate workers continue to petition UNC, demand not reopen in-person instruction

By Rachel Crumpler | Jun. 21

In a petition published June 12, graduate workers have expressed concerns about the safety and logistics of returning to campus for in-person instruction this fall. Workers demanded that UNC not reopen in-person this fall, does not layoff or furlough staff and grant them a one-year time-to-degree extension, among other demands. The University has said the Carolina Roadmap was developed with feedback from multiple parties, are working to refine the plan and will make "whatever adjustments are needed in real time.”

Kia Caldwell, professor in the African, African American and Diaspora Studies Department, speaks during the Solidarity and Action Virtual Vigil on Monday, June 15, 2020.

'Our campus has been a battleground': UNC community discusses racial injustice during vigil

By Maydha Devarajan | Jun. 16

Over 50 people gathered virtually Monday for a Solidarity and Action Virtual Vigil hosted by the Undergraduate Senate to discuss topics like mental health and self care, and campaigns to push for change on UNC's campus to address issues of racial and social injustice.

A family picnics on the lawn outside of South Building on Sunday, June 7, 2020.

'This is something that's killing people’: Instructors petition for fall teaching options

By Sasha Schroeder | Jun. 8

Faculty, fellows and teaching assistants are petitioning UNC administration to guarantee that no instructor will be required to teach in person during the fall 2020 semester due to the COVID-19 pandemic, among other concerns. So far, more than 600 University employees have signed the petition.

UNC religion professor Brandon Bayne holds his daughter. Bayne's adjusted syllabus in response to COVID-19 has gotten over 1,000 shares on Facebook. Photo courtesy of Brandon Bayne.

UNC professor's syllabus went viral as classes move online amid coronavirus outbreak

By Emily Holler | Mar. 23

After surveying his students and finding out what they have been dealing with since UNC announced the closing of its campus, one professor updated his syllabus to let students know that they are not alone.