UNC Charlotte

UNC Charlotte at a Glance

Explore our campus and take some silly photos as a team while completing this fun selfie scavenger hunt! Once you've taken the photos upload them here or to the qr code on the scavenger hunt. When you get all the photos, come to the help table for a prize! I hope you enjoy our beautiful campus and happy hunting!

49ers History

To support returning World War II veterans, North Carolina established 14 evening college centers, including the Charlotte Center, which opened on September 23, 1946, offering classes to 278 students. After three years, the centers were closed, prompting local leaders to advocate for the Charlotte Center to become Charlotte College, which provided the first two years of college courses and garnered community support through a proposed tax. As Charlotte College grew, efforts began to secure a dedicated campus, leading to the acquisition of land and the construction of new facilities, allowing the college to move in 1961. It became a four-year state-supported college in 1965 and was designated as the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, offering master’s programs starting in 1969 and doctoral programs in 1992. Today, UNC Charlotte is a research-intensive institution, the third largest in the University of North Carolina system and the largest in the Charlotte region.

The 49ers Nickname

The nickname "49ers" for UNC Charlotte reflects the significance of the year 1949, when the establishment of Charlotte College was crucial to the university's existence. Bonnie Cone and her supporters successfully advocated for a permanent higher education institution in Charlotte, leading to the college's founding.

In 1965, the N.C. Legislature voted 49-0 to officially convert Charlotte College into UNC Charlotte, with State Senator Irwin “Ike” Belk abstaining to achieve the symbolic vote count of 49. Additionally, the university's location on N.C. Highway 49 adds to the nickname's relevance, dispelling myths about the campus being situated over an abandoned gold mine.

Norm

The official mascot of the Charlotte 49ers, Norm the Niner, was chosen as a tribute to Reed Gold Mine in Concord, recognized as the site of the first documented gold find in the U.S. in 1799. Named through a popular student vote, Norm, who always wears his slouch hat, has represented UNC Charlotte since the early 1990s, succeeding the previous name, 49er Miner. He is often depicted with a pickaxe, symbolizing his pioneering spirit and commitment to excellence.

Bonnie Cone

Bonnie E. Cone, the founder of UNC Charlotte, played a pivotal role in the institution's development from its inception. Beginning as a part-time instructor in 1945 at the Charlotte Center she became the director in 1947. When the center faced closure in 1949, she successfully advocated for its continuation, leading to the establishment of Charlotte College, where she served as president. In 1965, during its transition to a four-year institution, she was appointed Acting Chancellor and later became Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs until her retirement. Bonnie Cone passed away on March 8, 2003, and was interred in Van Landingham Glen on the campus she cherished, dedicating her life to its growth. Her body is laid to rest in the botanical gardens on campus.

Green and White

When UNC Charlotte joined the UNC System, it required new University colors to differentiate itself from Charlotte College. A committee reviewed the colors of existing campuses, finding that white served as a unifying color, while green would be unique to Charlotte, setting it apart from red at N.C. State, gold at Greensboro, and blue at Chapel Hill. In 2017, graduating students donned green commencement robes for the first time.

UNC Charlotte Land Acknowledgement

The University of North Carolina at Charlotte has a land and people acknowledgement plaque outside of the student union. Our currant Chancellor, Sharon L. Gaber, unveiled the plaque in October of 2021 as a "way to honor Indigenous history and to express the gratitude and respect that is due to those who came before us.” The plaque reads:

“With respect to the land and people who preceded us, the University of North Carolina at Charlotte acknowledges that we are on colonized land traditionally belonging to the Catawba, Cheraw, Sugeree, Wateree, and Waxhaw Peoples, all of whom have stewarded this land throughout the generations. Before this land was colonized and named the city of Charlotte, it was used as a place of meeting and trade by a diverse group of Indigenous peoples, including the Catawba, Cherokee, Congaree, and Saponi. We also acknowledge that the greater Charlotte region has directly profited from the enslavement and forced labor of African people and their descendants. We recognize that knowing, acknowledging, and honoring the history of the land and the people is only the first step. We must support and listen to Indigenous and Black voices, while continuing to address the policies and practices that perpetuate oppression.”

Page updated

Report abuse