At UNC-Chapel Hill, we think the best education includes finding ways to explore your passions. There are hundreds of opportunities to connect with fellow Tar Heels, get involved in activities, develop your talents and leave your heelprint at Carolina.
Tar Heels join student organizations, explore Franklin Street, relax on Polk Place, cheer on the Tar Heels in the Dean Dome and Carmichael Arena, and give back to our community.
Learn more about the Tar Heel experience and how you can get involved in campus life.
For our Tar Heels who are planning on staying in the Chapel Hill area for Thanksgiving, we have compiled a guide to keep students happy and fed this holiday!
Where to Eat
What to Do
PlayMakers is presenting the music-filled comedy “Emma,” based on the novel by Jane Austen. Performances start this week and run through Thanksgiving. Check out dates and more details on Heel Life.
Students can get their blood pumping and enjoy the crisp air:
Tar Heels can enjoy the festive atmosphere and support local artisans at the Carolina Inn Holiday Market on Saturday afternoon from noon to 4 p.m. Other local events are listed at the Chapel Hill Visitors Guide.
For those students who enjoy football as a Thanksgiving tradition, the Tar Heels will take on the Wolfpack on Friday, Nov. 25, at 3:30 p.m. at Kenan Memorial Stadium (or watch on ABC). Go Heels!
Getting Around
Whether you need an airport shuttle, a ride home for Thanksgiving break or just want to go out during the holidays, UNC Transportation and Parking has compiled some resources for UNC students in their Thanksgiving guide.
Health Care and Mental Health During the Holidays
While Campus Health is closed (Wednesday at 5 p.m. through Monday at 8 a.m.), students may visit a local urgent care facility. Students may also call Campus Health at 919-966-2281 and be connected to UNC Nurse Connect to discuss their non-emergent health concerns.
Students can also call 919-966-3658 for 24/7 mental health support from CAPS.
Don’t forget to check out the Heels Care Network for a comprehensive collection of mental health and well-being resources, including peer support, helpful articles, information about support groups, online self-assessment tools, events and more.
Don’t Forget to Give Thanks!
Thanksgiving is the perfect time to pause and reflect on the things in our lives we are grateful for. Check out this Healthy Heels blog post, which offers some insight into how practicing gratitude can support our well-being.
By University Communications, Monday, November 7th, 2022
Carolina is home to nearly 3,200 veterans and military-affiliated students, faculty and staff who bring their unique life experiences to strengthen our campus community.
But those experiences also come with unique challenges. The Carolina Veterans Resource Center is working to meet those needs and serve the veterans on campus.
The center, which opened in 2017, is designed to assist UNC-Chapel Hill’s veterans, service members and military families by serving as a central location for resources focused on their needs, from GI Bill assistance to applying for specialized scholarships. The center also provides study space, a lounge and meeting spaces where veterans can connect and build community.
“This is a group of folks who, for a number of reasons, are very hesitant to ask for help,” said Rob Palermo, the director of the center. “Creating an environment where they feel OK doing that and where they can do it around people who they trust is a big part of what we try to do.”
Continue reading to learn more about Palermo’s goals at the Carolina Veterans Resource Center and how the space is serving our Tar Heel veterans.
Students remaining in Chapel Hill for the holidays are invited to join us for a complimentary, traditional Thanksgiving meal provided by generous donations of The Carolina Club Members. Find the menu below.
Seating is limited, and registration is required no later than Friday, November 18th at 5:00 PM. RSVP for the time block you prefer:
Nov. 24 @ 11:30am - 12:30pm
Nov. 24 @ 1:00pm - 2:00pm
Nov. 24 @ 2:30pm - 3:30pm
Buffet Menu
Mixed Green Salad with tomatoes, carrots & radish (GF/DF/V/VG)
Choice of ranch or balsamic dressing on the side
Sliced Turkey with Broth (GF/DF)
(Gravy on the side)
Vegetable Risotto (GF/DF/V/VG)
Cornbread Stuffing
Sour Cream Mashed Potatoes (GF/V)
Steamed Green Beans (GF/DF/V/VG)
Dessert
Pumpkin Pie (V)
Cookies & Brownies
Fresh Fruit (GF/DF/V/VG)
GF-gluten free / DF-dairy free / V-vegetarian / VG-vegan
-The entire menu is nut free.-
We'll see you at The Carolina Club (150 Stadium Dr.) Thanksgiving Day!
Veterans Day is observed annually on Nov. 11. It's a holiday honoring men and women who have served in the U.S. armed forces, on the anniversary of the end of World War I.
This year, The Carolina Veterans Resource Center (CVRC) has put together a number of events to honor our nation's veterans.
On Nov. 8 at 9 a.m. the CVRC is hosting the annual Military Connected Women's Breakfast & Roundtable, featuring Amy Rodriguez, a physicians assistant with Campus Health. Rodriguez, a West Point graduate and 82nd Airborne vet, will facilitate a conversation with women-identifying veterans and military-affiliated students on wellness topics.
On Nov. 9, the CVRC is hosting the Veterans Week Lecture at 7 p.m. in the Carolina Union Auditorium. Retired Green Beret Michael R. Rodriguez, now President and CEO of the Global War on Terrorism Memorial Foundation, will discuss the legislative process of getting the Global War on Terror Memorial approved and placed on the National Mall in Washington D.C. He will also discuss how his art in the metalworking medium influenced his healing from wounds of war and informs his work with fellow veterans. Learn more and register here.
Other events marking the week include:
For more information check out Heel Life or contact the CVRC at [email protected].
There may be times you feel like your emotions are overwhelming and are negatively impacting you. However, emotions can play a huge role in your life from problem-solving to helping you relate to the people around you. By understanding your feelings and learning the strategies to communicate your emotions, it can help you gain perspective, increase a sense of control, and minimize the impact of stress.
Join the Mental Health Seminar: Understanding Emotions and How to Talk About Them on Nov. 16 from 12:00 to 1:30pm, hosted by Heels Care Network. You can register to attend the event on Zoom.
Facilitated by Rachel Rifkin LCSW, a Clinical Instructor and Psychotherapist in the UNC School of Medicine Department of Psychiatry. She provides clinical services to children, adults, families and groups in a variety of settings with a range of struggles. Rachel believes therapy should be a safe place where people can express and process their thoughts and feelings, integrating components of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Dialectical Behavior Therapy into her work with clients. She meets people with empathy, authenticity, and unconditional acceptance.
If you're struggling to juggle between school, work, social time, and more, you're not alone. Many are familiar with that guilty feeling you may have when you are taking a break and aren't working towards your academics, career, or personal goals. However, It's OK to Pause! Taking some time for yourself is one of the best ways to reevaluate your current lifestyle, enjoy the smaller moments in your day, and reconnect with yourself. By doing so, you can replenish your energy and put your best effort towards everything you do.
Facilitated by Crystal Schiller, Ph.D, Heels Care Network is hosting Carolina Mental Health Seminar: It's Ok to Pause on Oct. 11 from 12:00 - 1:30pm on Zoom to better understand how mindful pauses work, how to prioritize them in your busy schedules, and how to inspire others in the community. You can register to attend this seminar on Zoom.
Dr. Schiller is a Psychologist and Researcher in the UNC School of Medicine. She serves as the Director of the UNC SOM Psychology Internship Program, Associate Director of Behavior Therapy and Reproductive Science at UNC Center for Womens’ Mood Disorders, and Associate Director of Program Development at UNC Integrated Wellbeing Program. She is a therapist and researcher focusing on the neurobiology of depression and behavioral strategies to cultivate wellbeing and fulfillment.
We support Tar Heels’ well-being, inside and outside the classroom. As a part of your Carolina experience, we understand that you may need to balance your academic studies with observations of your religious practices and beliefs.
Again this year, our academic calendar overlaps with a number of religious holidays. The Provost’s office regularly reminds faculty about these holidays, requesting flexibility regarding class attendance and deadlines that coincide with religious observances.
To help you navigate your studies and your observations of your religious practices and beliefs, we offer a religious accommodations request process. As a first step, simply complete the Religious Accommodation Request Form and send it to the Religious Accommodations Advisory Committee (RAAC) at [email protected]. We hope these resources help support your academic success and your overall well-being. If you have questions about the policy or the process for requesting religious accommodations, you may reach out to the RAAC at [email protected] or to the Equal Opportunity and Compliance Office (EOC).
We want all Tar Heels to succeed and thrive while they are at UNC-Chapel Hill, and that starts with ensuring our graduate and undergraduate students have access to mental health resources.
Carolina offers on-campus services and partners with well-being and mental health leaders, such as the JED Foundation, which focuses on the mental health of teens and young adults, to help serve the campus community.
“We want our students to know that all of us are here to support them. If a student needs a helping hand, they can reach out to our Dean of Students team, an RA if they are living on campus, or any member of our faculty and staff. And of course, our counselors at CAPS are available to support 24/7,” said Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Amy Johnson.
The University launched the Heels Care Network last spring to provide a hub for mental health and well-being resources for the entire Carolina community. At care.unc.edu, Tar Heels can find information on 24/7 support, resources about suicide prevention and peer support, well-being programs and events, a live chat to talk with other students to find help and an anonymous care referral form that anyone can use to report concerns they have about a student. The website includes a comprehensive, searchable and filterable database of mental health and well-being resources.
Learn more at unc.edu.
Whether this is your first semester at Carolina or your last, our Carolina community is geared up and ready to support your experience on campus. Vice Chancellor Amy Johnson shares these words of encouragement for every Tar Heel to make your Heel Print at Carolina this year! Go Heels!
