Special Programs
From scholarships to professional development, the Belk College of Business offers a variety of experiential opportunities for undergraduate students.
Belk College Champions
Belk College Champions are exemplary business students with strong communications skills who represent the Belk College at admissions events on campus throughout the year.
Why become a Belk College Champion?
Responsibilities
- Support the Belk College of Business in hosting programs and post-event communication with a talented and diverse prospective student body that enables the Belk College of Business to achieve its mission
- Facilitate a warm welcome for prospective UNC Charlotte students and their parents
- Communicate with prospective students after admissions events and assist them in envisioning how they fit in the Belk College
- Be a relatable face of the Belk School of Business
- Work up to four admissions events during the semester, where they will meet with their assigned students and be available for questions
- Work during self-directed times to do outreach to admitted students who are assigned to them
- Attend biweekly, 30-minute meetings with the staff supervisor.
Requirements
To apply to the Belk College Champions team, undergraduate students must meet the following requirements:
- Currently enrolled as a full-time student in the Belk College of Business
- 2.5 GPA (minimum) and at least sophomore standing (minimum of one semester at UNC Charlotte)
- Committed to the mission and vision of the Belk College of Business
- Must have an interest and investment in promoting the Belk College
- Be available to attend training, meetings and Admitted Students Day sessions.
Compensation and Benefits
Belk College Champions will receive a $15/hour for a total compensation of $500 per semester. Additionally, Champions will receive:
- Complimentary professional headshots
- Experience in public speaking, group facilitation, and other skill sets that allow you to grow personally and professionally
- A sense of making an impact by helping prospective students find their place at UNC Charlotte.
Contact Information
Have questions? Contact Brianna Davis.
BUSINESS HONORS PROGRAM
The Business Honors Program is a challenging 2-4 year plan of study (depending on year of entry) for motivated students with excellent academic performance. BHP students can participate in stimulating coursework, leadership activities, team-building exercises and community service projects designed to enhance marketability after graduation.
Why join the Business Honors Program?
Networking + Internships
Given UNC Charlotte’s proximity to uptown Charlotte, our students have a tremendous advantage when it comes to networking and internships.
Businesses that have a relationship with BHP include:
- Bank of America
- Wells Fargo
- London Stock Exchange
- Atrium Health
- Ally Bank
- Truist
- EY
- Carroll Financial
- Duke Energy
- Sia Partners
- And more…
Students of BHP can build strong relationships with professionals through our meetings and events, where guest speakers from an array of businesses are invited to speak about their careers and personal experiences. Each meeting ends with an opportunity for students to network with the guest speaker(s).
Classroom Experience
The class experience is a key part of the development of BHP students. Business honors courses are implemented into the curriculum and promote a more holistic approach to learning through smaller and more interactive class settings.
These honors courses are taught by the most qualified business professors in the university and tackle modern topics and offers exclusive benefits such as:
- Smaller class sizes (15-30 students)
- Interactive lessons and activities
- Tailored projects
Community Building
The Business Honors program is a diverse tight-knit community of like-minded individuals who support each other professionally and personally. BHPers have tons of opportunities to get to know and interact with fellow members, and many life-long friends and mentors are made.
Social events are set up throughout the semester for BHPers to mingle with each other and have a good time. Some of these social events include game nights, movie nights, top golf, going out to eat and many more.
Community Service
Giving back to the community is a core value of the Business Honors Program; therefore, our members commit to completing at least two community service projects per semester.
We pride ourselves on being involved in a variety of non-profits within the Charlotte community. Here is a list of a few nonprofits we have worked with in the past:
Professional Development
Professional development is a key component of BHP and one of the most valuable and rewarding aspects of the program. A plethora of opportunities allow students to develop professionally.
Professional meetings are the main way BHPers can develop professionally. Guest speakers from various Charlotte companies share their personal experiences and professional advice. These meetings require professional attire and allow students to directly interact with businessmen and businesswomen in a professional setting.
Mock interviews are another opportunity for BHPers to develop professional habits and experiences. This annual event invites a plethora of companies to perform mock interviews with BHPers. This allows students to practice their interview skills and receive tips and tricks to outperform in an interview setting.
Other Benefits
- Scholarship opportunities – Many scholarships can be awarded to BHPers. In fact, many scholarships are strictly offered to BHPers, allowing for a greater probability of receiving financial aid.
- Priority registration – One of the perks of being an Honors Student at UNC Charlotte is the exclusive priority to register for classes. Being a member of BHP permits you to register for classes days before the main pool of students. This allows BHPers to secure certain classes before the time-sensitive regular registration.
- Honors Lounge – Another perk of being an Honors Student at UNC Charlotte is the exclusive access to the Honors Lounge in Levine Hall, located in South Village. The Honors Lounge offers quiet study rooms and free printing!
Belk Scholars Program
Do you like working with data, numbers, math and technology? Do you want to connect your passion for data with how decisions are made? Do you want to be a leader in business analytics and be recruited to work at top companies in the field? UNC Charlotte’s Belk Scholars Program in business analytics is a fast-track curriculum that enables graduates to pursue lucrative, high-demand careers in business analytics. Part of UNC Charlotte’s School of Data Science, this program allows high-achieving students the opportunity to earn a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in five years.
Why join the Belk Scholars Program?
Bachelor’s to Master’s
Students completing the program earn an undergraduate degree from the Belk College of Business and one of the following master’s degrees:
Requirements
In consultation with the Director of the Belk Scholars Program Director and the student’s Academic and Career Coach, Belk Scholars may choose any business major from the Belk College of Business provided that two requirements are met:
- The student’s program of study must include the following math and programming courses: Calculus I, Calculus II, Matrices & Linear Algebra, Introduction to Probability & Statistics, and Programming for Business Analytics (or another approved programming course), and
- The program of study must satisfy the prerequisites for at least one of the Belk Scholars qualifying Masters’ Degree programs.
Students accepted into the Belk Scholars Program are required to have a membership in the Business Honors Program.
Contact Information
Have specific questions about the Belk Scholars Program? Want to talk to one of our directors or a current student? Reach out to us!
BUSINESS LEARNING COMMUNITY
The Business Learning Community is a one-year program fostering academic success among a diverse group of entering first-year students who seek development opportunities. BLC students live together on campus, enroll in common courses, and participate in business-related extracurricular and career-development opportunities.
Why join the Business Learning Community?
BLC Curriculum
Members of the BLC are actively engaged with academic, social and professional development opportunities. The community provides students with unique ways to expand business knowledge and skills while connecting with Charlotte area businesses, faculty, staff, fellow students and campus resources.
BLC students begin their academic career in a designated section of Introduction to Business and Professional Development (BUSN 1101). BUSN 1101, taken during the fall of the freshman year, consists of professional development topics along with an overview of each business discipline and an introduction to campus resources. The course enhances a student’s understanding of his or her strengths and interests, and aims to create future business leaders who are intentional, curious and aware.
As freshmen, BLC students will take two classes each semester within the learning community environment. Students fill the remainder of their schedule with classes of their choosing from the recommended academic plan of study for freshmen in the Belk College of Business.
Residential Experience
The Business Learning Community is a residential program, and students live on campus in C.F. Lynch Hall. Designed specifically for learning community students, it accommodates both the living quarters for students, as well as quiet study areas and meeting spaces.
Lynch Hall is suite-style living with four students sharing a bath and living space. Most suites will have single bedrooms with a limited number available with double bedrooms. Learn more about Lynch Hall by visiting the Housing and Residence Life website.
Students should complete a Housing and Residence Life application and submit a deposit before applying to the BLC. Students will be assigned to Lynch Hall upon acceptance into the program. Housing and Residence Life coordinates specific roommate assignments, and all roommates must be BLC participants.
Professional Development
One focus of the Business Learning Community is to help students – from their very first moment on campus – develop skills to be polished and ready for life after graduation. We accomplish this together through the following professional development opportunities:
- Exploring students’ strengths through the Clifton Strengths assessment
- Learn leadership practices in partnership with the BB&T Emerging Leaders Certificate
- Create community through team-building activities
- Practice dining etiquette at an annual etiquette dinner, featuring professionals from the Charlotte community
- Explore many functional areas of business by going on site at companies and organizations
- Learn best practices and engage with industry leaders through guest speakers and professional panels.
Contact Information
Have specific questions about the Business Learning Community? Please tell us more about how you’d like to connect with us by filling out this interest form.
FIT for Business
The Forty-Niner Intensive Transition (FIT) Program is a bridge program offered to give first-generation UNC Charlotte students in specific colleges prior to the beginning of the fall semester. Belk College’s FIT for Business is designed to create a sense of belonging, access to campus resources and tools for academic and professional success.
Program Benefits
FIT for Business allows students to move into their fall housing assignment one week early, be enrolled in a 2-credit hour course, be assigned a peer mentor, meet campus partners to learn about campus resources and be introduced to academic support services and student engagement opportunities on campus.
During this fun and engaging experience, FIT for Business participants will:
- Build relationships with fellow incoming #BusinessNiners
- Gain exposure to financial literacy
- Explore campus resources with the help of seasoned #BusinessNiners
- Engage in professional development
- Participate in self-awareness activities
- Meet Truist Financial employees
- And more!
Peer Mentors
FIT for Business Peer Mentors have the responsibility of welcoming students to FIT and their respective cohort, and supporting them as they progress through FIT for Business. This includes engaging activities such as presenting to FIT students, critiquing student assignments, facilitating study sessions, conducting fun events on- and off-campus, assisting with class instruction, recruiting FIT participants, setting up outreach tables, working on specific projects associated with Office of Undergraduate Education and other duties as assigned. Program activities may be performed outside of the regular work hours from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. due to the intensive nature of the program (evenings and weekends).
NIBLOCK SCHOLARS PROGRAM
The Niblock Scholars program was established in 2021 through the generosity of Belk College of Business alumni Robert (’84) and Melanie (’84) Niblock. The program helps incoming freshmen or transfer students grow into leaders who are involved and committed to their professional development.
Why join the Niblock Scholars Program?
Scholarship + Professional Development
The Niblock scholarship awards $5,000 to each student annually to help with the cost of attending UNC Charlotte and is renewable for up to four years, a total of $20,000 for each student. In addition to financial support, the students receive enhanced professional development opportunities, including mentoring and leadership training.
Incoming students who are interested in the program can apply through the NinerScholars Portal.
Meet the Niblock Scholars
Cohort 1
Not pictured: Bryan Ramirez-Padilla ’23 , our very first Niblock Scholar to graduate!
Cohort 2
Tate Johnson ’24
Hometown: Wilkesboro, NC
Major: Accounting
Nazier McIver ’26
Hometown: La Grange, NC
Major: Finance/RMI
Jayson Richardson ’26
Hometown: Concord, NC
Major: Finance
Not pictured: Daphne-Lorraine Chinfloo ’26 , Nick Garcia ’25
Cohort 3
John Adams-McClendon ‘27
Hometown: Mount Holly, NC
Major: Pre-Business
Amorion (AJ) Armstrong ’27
Hometown: Elizabeth City, NC
Major: Pre-Business
Morgan Creason ‘27
Hometown: Mocksville, NC
Major: Pre-Business
Taliyah Green ’27
Hometown: Atlanta, GA
Major: Pre-Business
Becca Sergel ’27
Hometown: Charlotte, NC
Major: Pre-Business
Cohort 4 (Fall 2024)
- Tyler Edwards
- Kyleigh Ewing
- Diamond Jones
- Sandy Zelaya Gomez
- Andrii Polotov
- Jada Wiley
Peer Guides
The Peer Guide program is a leadership opportunity for Belk College students designed to support the recruitment and success of all undergraduate Belk College students, particularly those from underrepresented populations.
Why join the Belk College Peer Guides?
Job Description
Peer Guides assist the professional development team in supporting undergraduate business students within the Niblock Student Center. Peer Guides attend all professional development programming, host Peer Talks to connect with students in small groups, and mentor students individually. Peer Guides add a student perspective to professional development by sharing their experiences, connecting students to career resources, and seeking ongoing student feedback to share with the professional development team.
Mentorship Program
Peer Guides provide individual professional development support to students by discussing career resources and sharing their own experiences with navigating internships, career exploration, networking and getting involved on campus. Participants will discuss and explore professional development topics with an assigned Peer Guide Mentor. The program is a one-semester commitment and is individually designed to support students. Participants are expected to meet with their mentor twice per month throughout the semester.
Eligibility
Any Belk College of Business student who is interested in receiving individual professional development support but priority is granted to students from underrepresented backgrounds (students of color, low socioeconomic status, and first-generation) or students who otherwise may not have a professional support structure. Space is limited and varies by semester.
WOMEN IN BUSINESS
The Women in Business (WIB) Initiative promotes the role of professional women in the College and provides career-developing activities to empower undergraduate students to achieve personal and professional goals and enter confidently into the business marketplace.
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About the Women in Business Initiative
The Women in Business Initiative supports students interested in advancing the progress of professional women entering the workforce by:
- Sharing success stories of women business leaders
- Offering engagement opportunities for undergraduate students and the Charlotte business community
- Showcasing attractive career options and providing avenues for skill building to increase confidence and competence for long-term success.
The Belk College Niblock Student Center oversees the program. The initiative includes advisory groups including student ambassadors, an advisory board of executives and faculty consultants.
Get Involved
- Become an Affiliate – Students that identify as an Affiliate should be able to speak to consistent, substantive participation in Women in Business opportunities. Affiliates support and promote the mission of the Initiative through regular attendance and involvement at events.
- Become an Ambassador – Once a year in the spring semester, sophomore and junior year student affiliates have the opportunity to apply to be a Women in Business Ambassador. WIB seeks ambassadors who promote and support the mission of the Initiative, have additional time to commit to meetings, functions, and event planning and are interested in taking leadership roles within the Initiative. Information regarding the application will be sent to the Women in Business student email list when applications open (typically the middle of spring semester).
- Questions? Email womeninbusiness@charlotte.edu
Student Ambassadors
- Imogen Anderson
- Ellie Boger
- Torrie Preston
- Hannah Wood
- Maria Franco
- Ava Pray
- Alexa Torres
- Elizabeth Akinfenwa
- Kirti Tallapaneni
- Jyotsna Parthasarathy
- Poornima Tushir
- Shorena Liu
- Ashley Roque
- Krupa Jacob
- Karen Czapkowski
- Charlotte Nunley
- Shailja Kothadia
- Leslie Padilla Garcia
Women in Business Associate Members
Women in Business Events
Susan Dodson DeVore Women’s Leadership Development Program
The Belk College’s Women in Business program is a part of the Susan Dodson DeVore Women’s Leadership Development Program, based within the Belk College of Business’ Center for Leadership Science.