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Community

Life in graduate school is about engaging with your community, from the academic community within your program, department, and school to social communities on- and off-campus.

Check out the GPSG Resource Guide for more information and opportunities.

UNC Campus | Housing & Residency | Parking & Transportation | Student Communities | Campus Centers | Campus Events & Activities | Community Service | Exploring the Region

UNC CAMPUS

• UNC Maps: Explore the nooks and crannies of campus, from the Old Well and Wilson Library to the more tucked away spots in different parts of campus
  • Parking & Bike Maps: Parking zones, disability parking, motorcycle/scooter parking, park & ride lots, bike maps/racks, visitor parking, event parking
• UNC Visitors Center: Take a campus tour focused on graduate student life
• UNC Police: If you have concerns over personal and/or public safety, reach out for assistance and guidance
• UNC One Card: Pick up your One Card, which serves as your University identification card and gives you access to a wide array of services
• UNC Information Technology Services (ITS): Get all of your tech needs addressed, from issues with your Onyen, VPN, and Office 365, to questions about back-up/storage, software options, audio/web conferencing, and teaching tools.
• UNC Student Life (Heel Life): Search campus-wide events organizations, and news articles related to your areas of personal and professional interest
• UNC Student Stores: Pick up and show off the latest in Carolina gear
• Daily Tar Heel: UNC’s student newspaper focused on campus and regional news
• Carolina Dining Services: Hours, locations, and menus for on-campus dining

HOUSING & RESIDENCY

• Baity Hill Community for Graduate/Professional Students and Families: Live on campus! Combining the distinct advantages and freedom of apartment living with the robust culture of the Carolina campus, Baity Hill offers the best of both worlds.
• Off-Campus Housing & Community Living: Check out local rental listings around Chapel Hill and Carrboro, and find roommates to offset housing costs
  • Information on finding a roommate
• UNC Registrar: Residency: Review important information from the Registrar’s Office on the steps that you need to take if you wish to apply for in-state resident status (which is necessary for in-state resident tuition)
  • Residency Requirements: Review guidance from The Graduate School, which includes information on deadlines and workshops, as well as details on actions to be taken at least 12 months in advance of residency applications, including: NC driver’s license/state ID, NC vehicle registration, NC voter registration, NC state income tax filing, and establishment of financial independence
• You Can Vote
  • Voter Registration: Durham County
  • Voter Registration: Orange County
  • Voter Registration: Wake County

PARKING & TRANSPORTATION

• North Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles: If you’re planning to update your driver’s license, state ID, and/or car registration (especially for residency purposes), make sure to do so as soon you arrive in the area
• UNC Transportation & Parking: Living in Chapel Hill and the Triangle, you don’t necessarily have to get in a car to get where you need to go. The community has plenty of safe, convenient, inexpensive, and sustainable options for getting to and from campus throughout the week and weekend
  • Parking & Bike Maps: Parking zones, disability parking, motorcycle/scooter parking, park & ride lots, bike maps/racks, visitor parking, event parking
  • Student Parking: Student permits for the academic year are assigned through a lottery system that starts in late June and ends in July
• Chapel Hill Parking: Downtown Chapel Hill has metered parking during business hours and free parking on evenings and Sundays
• Chapel Hill Transit: Free buses between Chapel Hill and neighboring areas
  • NextBus: Get the NextBus app for real-time bus arrival times
• Robertson Express Bus: Buses between UNC-Chapel Hill & Duke University
• GoTriangle: Buses between Chapel Hill, Durham, & Raleigh
  • GoPass: Free pass available for employees and students commuting to UNC outside of Chapel Hill
• Late Night Transportation: Several fixed route options exist for late night transportation during the academic year
• Commuter Alternative Program: Rewards faculty, staff, and students who choose to take the bus, join a rideshare, ride a bike, or walk to campus
• Park & Ride Lots: Local park & ride lots require a parking permit, while regional park & ride lots are free to park
• Getting Around Chapel Hill (walking, biking, transit, driving)
• Getting Around Carrboro (walking, biking, transit, driving)

STUDENT COMMUNITIES

• Graduate & Professional Student Government (GPSG): GPSG is the governing and advocating body for graduate and professional students at Carolina. It provides funds for travel grants and departmental events; hosts campus-wide academic, social, and volunteer events; and builds community across programs and departments
• Student Organizations List: With over 600 student groups on campus, there are plenty of ways to connect with classmates and other graduate students through student organizations, events, and student services
• Parenting @ UNC: A collective web space for resources on pregnancy, prenatal care, student leave and academic policies, lactation, childcare, and family-friendly activities
  • Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools

CAMPUS CENTERS

• Graduate Student Success: Graduate Student Success encompasses a variety of initiatives and activities focused on academic success, professional development, and degree completion for graduate students from diverse and underrepresented groups.
• Diversity & Inclusion: The Office of Diversity and Inclusion provides leadership, consultation, and project management of policies, programs, and services that promote diversity as a means of achieving educational excellence and enhancing the quality of life for all members of the Carolina community.
• American Indian Center: The American Indian Center is a campus-wide center that advances the University’s overall mission of research, teaching, and public service by creating an environment in which quality research, scholarship, and engagement related to American Indians is strengthened, nurtured and coordinated.
• Sonja Haynes Center for Black Culture and History: The Stone Center encourages interdisciplinary examination of African diaspora arts, cultures, literatures, and histories. The Center supports events and programs such as cultural programming, community outreach, lectures, discussions, multimedia resources, and fellowship programs.
• International Student & Scholar Services (ISSS): International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) is the administrative, programming, and advising office for international students. ISSS provides visas and documentation help, advising, orientation, ESL programs, tutors, tax seminars, and cultural programs.
• LGBTQ Center: The LGBTQ Center works to foster a safe inclusive environment for Carolina students of all sexualities, gender identities, and gender expressions.
• Carolina Women’s Center: The Carolina Women’s Center promotes gender equity and empowerment. The Center engages in advocacy and policy-making work, sponsors programming, builds campus and community partnerships, and provides resources and services.
• Carolina Latinx Center: The Carolina Latinx Center (CLC) supports UNC-Chapel Hill’s Latinx communities and educates the campus and beyond through engagement, scholarship, cultural awareness, and public service.

CAMPUS EVENTS & ACTIVITIES

• UNC Calendar of Events
• UNC Athletics: All campus sporting events are free! Most games simply require a student ID to attend. Some football and all basketball games require registration through an on-line lottery
  • Carolina Basketball Museum
• Carolina Union Activities Board (CUAB): CUAB enhances life at Carolina through high-quality programming and events for the entire University community. Events include free movies, art, music and entertainment throughout the academic year.
• Carolina Performing Arts
• PlayMakers Repertory Theater
• Ackland Art Museum
• Morehead Planetarium & Science Center
• North Carolina Botanical Garden
  • Battle Park
  • Coker Arboretum

COMMUNITY SERVICE

• APPLES Service-Learning
• Carolina Center for Public Service
• Carolina Campus Community Garden

EXPLORING THE REGION

• Town of Chapel Hill: Explore everything that Chapel Hill and Carrboro have to offer, from arts and culture to theater to shopping and restaurants
• Downtown Chapel Hill: Check out the shopping and dining opportunities on Franklin Street and beyond in downtown Chapel Hill
• Carrboro: Get to know the area of Carrboro, which is a great source of housing, dining, entertainment, and shopping that’s easily accessible by public transit
• Chapel Hill/Orange County Visitors Bureau
  • Chapel Hill Public Library
  • Orange County Public Library
• Exploring the Triangle: Check out event and activities in Chapel Hill/Carrboro, Durham, and Raleigh – a region which consists of over 2 million people
• Things to do in the Triangle
• Triangle Region State Parks
  • Chapel Hill Parks and Recreation
  • Carrboro Parks and Recreation
  • Durham Parks and Recreation
• Durham Convention and Visitors Bureau
  • Durham County Public Library