UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA WILMINGTON

From itsestablishment as Wilmington College in 1947 with 238 students to its record-setting enrollment of nearly 12,000 in 2007, the Universityof North Carolina Wilmington has transformed the lives of more than 44,000 students over the past 60 years and has had major impact on the community it serves. The university’s unique blend of teaching, research experiences and service learning opportunities attracts high-quality students and gives alumni a competitive advantage in the marketplace.

Recognized this past year by several publications as a top public undergraduate institution, UNCW continues its pursuit to soar to even greater heights.

“The UNCW of today is a fantastic university,” said Chancellor Rosemary DePaolo. “The momentum that propels us to soar higher derives from our students’ achievements, faculty and staff accomplishments and strong support from alumni, friends, trustees, volunteer board members and other donors.”

In the 2008 edition of America’s Best Colleges published by U.S.News & World Report, UNCW was ranked the sixth best public regional university in the South; this is the 10th consecutive year UNCW was ranked in the top 10. Among the 119 public and private universities in the South that provide a full range of undergraduate and master's level programs, UNCW improved its overall ranking to 14th. For the fourth consecutive year, UNCW received the “Best in the Southeast” and “Best Value” designations by The Princeton Review. It is one of only four North Carolina public universities included in Peterson’s Competitive Colleges 2008: Top Colleges for Top Students.

The 2007 freshman class had the highest average SAT score (1157) in the university’s history, making it the third highest in the UNC system behind UNC Chapel Hill and NC State University. The 53-point increase from fall 2003 to fall 2007 is unprecedented among any of the UNC schools.

The university is made up of the College of Arts and Sciences, the Cameron School of Business, the School of Nursing, the Watson School of Education and the Graduate School. It offers 73 bachelor’s degrees and 25 master’s degrees, as well as a Ph.D. in marine biology and an Ed.D. in educational leadership.

UNC Wilmington has taken a leadership role in the long-term economic, environmental, educational, social and cultural health of Southeastern North Carolina. Overall, the university has an annual $500 million economic impact on the eight-county region. This represents 5.5 percent of total economic activity and supports more than 7,700 jobs.

The UNCW Center for Business and Economics Services, the business research and extension division of the Cameron School of Business, collects and analyzes local, state and national economic data that impact the region and its growth. Using faculty and available resources, CBES also provides professional and executive educational opportunities for organizations and professionals in the community with major emphasis on business training, entrepreneurship and real estate.

In 2007, the Small Business and Technology Development Center at UNCW stimulated the creation or retention of more than 300 jobs, increased client sales by more than $16 million and helped small businesses obtain more than $8.5 million in financing. For every dollar spent on the SBTDC program, $6.88 in tax revenues is generated, providing an excellent return on investment for North Carolinians. Services encompass unique small business issues like financing, marketing, technology development, human resources, operations, business planning, and feasibility assessment and assistance.

The Division for Public Service and Continuing Studies carries out the university's strong commitment to adult learners by offering short, non-credit university courses, seminars, lectures, travel excursions and other educational opportunities through the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute. The Adult Scholars Leadership Program provides students with an up-to-date snapshot of the political, economic, educational, law enforcement, historical and cultural forces that drive Southeastern North Carolina. Participants identify and respond to critical issues, invest their organizational and entrepreneurial talents to solve problems and volunteer in the community.

The UNCW Executive Development Center at the New Hanover County Northeast Regional Library offers corporate and community groups a state-of-the-art facility for professional meetings, retreats and small conferences.

For general university information, call (910) 962-3000. For information on undergraduate admissions call (910) 962-3243; for graduate studies call (910) 962-3135. For information on lifelong learning programs call (910) 962-3195. Contact Randall Library at (910) 962-3760. www.uncw.edu.