For those Tar Heel students who find themselves sticking around campus this Thanksgiving, Carolina is offering a number of helpful resources. From turkey to trail hiking, we've got ideas to keep students fed and happy.
Where to Eat
Students remaining in Chapel Hill for the holidays are invited to pick up a complimentary, traditional Thanksgiving meal provided by generous donations of The Carolina Club Members. Numbers are limited, and it is first come, first served. Meal registration is required by no later than Nov. 18.
For those students who are interested in heading off campus for a meal on Thanksgiving, the Chapel Hill/Orange County Visitors Bureau compiled this handy list of Restaurants open in Orange County on Thanksgiving.
Carolina Dining Services will post their Thanksgiving Break hours of operation for various dining locations online.
New Student & Family Programs and the WOW Board are hosting Transfer-giving, a meal and community event for Transfer Students, on Nov. 22, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. in the Great Hall. Special food and beverages provided on a first-come, first-serve basis. Visit the Heel Life event for more details.
Carolina Cupboard is an on-campus food pantry that provides food at no cost to students who are facing food insecurity. Although they will be closed Nov. 22-26, they are offering pre-packaged bags for pick up the week of Nov. 15 from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. in Avery Residence Hall. Students can email [email protected] to arrange a pickup day and time.
For students interested in other resources to address food insecurity, the UNC Writing and Learning Center shares a blog post: How I Dealt with Food Insecurity on Campus.
What to Do
Students can get cozy and curl up with a couple of good movies:
Students can get their blood pumping and enjoy the crisp fall weather and colorful foliage:
For those students who enjoy football as a Thanksgiving tradition, the Tar Heels will take on the Wolfpack on Friday, Nov. 26 (7 p.m. TV: ABC or ESPN; Radio: Tar Heel Sports Network). Go Heels!
Getting Around
For our students looking for a ride home or who just need to get out and about, UNC Transportation and Parking shares transit and travel options on their website.
On-Campus Residents
Carolina Housing provided our residential students with resources and information that will help them enjoy campus over Thanksgiving Break.
Looking for Health Care or Mental Health Support?
CAPS 24-7: Call 919-966-2281 (Campus Health line) or 919-966-3658 (direct CAPS number) to speak to a mental health professional.
While Campus Health is closed, students may access UNC Urgent Care located at 6013 Farrington Road. Students may also call Campus Health at 919-966-2281 and be connected to a Health Link nurse to discuss their non-emergent health concerns with them.
Be Grateful!
Thanksgiving is a wonderful reminder to pause and take time to think about what we are thankful for. This Healthy Heels blog post discusses how gratitude can do amazing things for our health.
The Carolina Veterans Resource Center (CVRC) has planned a week of campus events to honor Veterans Day, Nov. 11. From a Football game tailgate to a Veterans Day ceremony with the ROTC, the CVRC has collaborated with partners from across campus to engage our veterans and military affiliated students.
Recent events regarding American military operations in Afghanistan are affecting our military-connected community. The Carolina Veterans Resource Center (CVRC) has been working with military-connected students to provide support on this matter. We write to share information and resources that you may find useful in providing guidance and support.
Our military-connected students may exhibit a number of stress-related behaviors that could signal a need for additional support and resources:
Military-connected students may not feel comfortable or ready to share their experiences in the context of a classroom discussion. If a student appears to need a break from class, please consider offering them flexibility in terms of attendance or participation, as appropriate.
It can be helpful to encourage veterans to understand that feelings of distress are a normal reaction, and they should not try to avoid or repress them. Often, these feelings will naturally run their course. If they continue without easing up, or if a military-connected student appears overwhelmed, please connect them with the Carolina Veterans Resource Center (CVRC), the Dean of Students staff, or Counseling and Psychological Services—or submit a Care Referral directly through the Dean of Students website.
We encourage you to learn more about this student community by reaching out directly to the CVRC and/or participating in an upcoming Green Zone training. The Green Zone program educates participants about the experience of our veterans and military-connected students and how to support them inside and outside the classroom.
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Support Resources for Student Veterans and Military-Connected Students
This episode of Inside Student Affairs features MaDana Bivens, executive director of the Carolina Veterans Resource Center, as she shares information about their programs and services.
We can’t wait to welcome you to campus this fall! Whether you are returning to campus or experiencing UNC-Chapel Hill in person for the first time, I wanted to highlight a few essential updates for new and returning students.
Get vaccinated and report your vaccination status. If you have not gotten your COVID-19 vaccination, you still have time to join the 24,000+ Carolina students who report they are vaccinated. It is important that you get your vaccination as quickly as possible to start building immunity before you come back to campus. If you get your first shot now, you can get your second shot after you arrive on campus at our Carolina Vaccine Clinic. Whether vaccinated or not, reporting your vaccination status in ConnectCarolina is a requirement for every student as we track the spread of the Delta variant and plan for the upcoming fall semester. If you are vaccinated and provide vaccination details, you are exempt from the Carolina Together Testing Program (CTTP) requirements.
Follow our New COVID-19 Community Standards. As announced in our campus-wide message this week, we have updated the COVID-19 Community Standards to require students to wear a face mask while inside University buildings or while attending any registered student organization (RSO) indoor meeting, event, program or activity off campus. Registered student organizations are responsible for ensuring that event participants wear a mask and comply with all Community Standards, both on and off campus. Students are not required to wear a mask while outdoors. So don’t forget to pack masks to bring with you!
Get involved. We encourage both new and returning students to join us for our Weeks of Welcome (WOW), Aug. 12-29, with programs, events and special opportunities to help you get engaged in our Carolina community. Be sure to mark your calendars for FallFest and SmallFest involvement fairs during our WOW celebration. These events are great opportunities for new and returning students to get connected with the community, sign up for student orgs, and meet other students. Remember that FallFest and SmallFest will take place both indoors (with masks required) and outdoors. Due to the large number of students who plan to attend FallFest, SmallFest, and Convocation, we strongly encourage you to wear a mask throughout these events for your safety. Help protect yourself and those around you from catching the virus—and ensure that we get our fall semester off to a great start!
Move in and meet your neighbors. For those of you living on campus, Move-In is a high-energy welcome to your home-away-from-home. Our Resident Advisors (RAs) and other staff are excited to connect with their new residents. Carolina Housing has planned a variety of social events during Move-In (and beyond) to help residents meet one another.
If you are living off campus, be sure to join our Off Campus Student Life’s Good Neighbor Initiative, which helps you to meet your neighbors, learn about town resources and the diverse neighborhoods around campus, and continue our long-standing Tar Heel tradition of mutual respect with our greater Chapel Hill community.
Take care of yourself. After a challenging 18 months, please pay close attention to your mental health and wellness. Changes to your routine and living arrangements may bring about a range of emotions, from excitement to anxiety. If you need any assistance, please connect with our various University support resources, including the Dean of Students team, Counseling and Psychological Services, and Student Wellness. For advice on health and wellness and tips on how to navigate the transition back to campus, check out our Healthy Heels blog.
Soak up and enjoy the remaining days of summer. We are counting down the hours until we see you on campus! Go Heels!
Amy Johnson
Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs
UNC-Chapel Hill students facing financial hardships because of COVID-19 can now apply to receive assistance. The Carolina Student Impact Fund provides emergency support for various expenses, such as housing, food, travel and technology to students who are unable to meet the unexpected financial burdens resulting from the effects of the coronavirus.The Impact Fund is supported by private donors and was established to help students who are affected by natural disasters.
Students who need assistance should email [email protected] or [email protected].
Read more about the Carolina Student Impact Fund.
Alert Carolina Sirens Test – Wednesday, February 7, 2018
January 31, 2018 - 11:49 am
The University will TEST the emergency sirens and Alert Carolina System on Wednesday, February 7, 2018, between noon and 1 p.m. We test the sirens and messaging system regularly throughout the year to make sure the equipment and notification processes work as planned.
The Office of the Dean of Students and Carolina Veterans Resource Center co-sponsored with The Graduate School and Diversity and Student Success for the Women Veteran's Breakfast Social on November 9th. This event was open to all student women veterans (to include active duty, reservists, and National Guard), held to celebrate women veterans during the week of Veterans Day. While enjoying a delicious breakfast catered by The Root Cellar of Chapel Hill, students were provided the opportunity to socialize with one another in the brand new Carolina Veterans Resource Center.
Boot Print to Heel Print
The Office of the Dean of Students and the Veterans Resource Team proudly hosted the 2nd Annual Boot Print to Heel Print (BPTHP) Orientation program which is designed specifically for military-affiliated students (Newly enrolled, readmitted, or deferred enrollment students who are active duty, veteran, reservist or National Guard). The program provides an opportunity for students to learn how to utilize all the great resources that are available to aid in their success at Carolina, to build skills that are needed in the classroom, and to connect with other military-affiliated students on campus.
This year, we added an additional social event for students, faculty, and staff to meet one another and partake in good old fashioned BBQ catered by Ole NC BBQ! See pics from the 2017 BPTHP festivities: 
bpthp_2017_pic_collage.pdf
Meet a new Tar Heel: Wyn Fox- Carolina Student Veteran
Wyn Fox, a Bronze Star recipient and veteran of four deployments, is among the more than 4,300 new students arriving at Carolina this fall. Read more about Wyn's story: http://www.unc.edu/spotlight/meet-a-new-tar-heel-wyn-fox/
As LDOC approaches, take time to reflect back on your achievements this year, no matter how big or small! This event was designed to inspire students, faculty, and staff through some of the most stressful times of each semester by taking a moment to relax and have some fun!
