Mayor Vi Lyles Meets with Chancellor Dubois
Chancellor Philip L. Dubois welcomed Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles to campus on Feb. 7 to discuss collaborative opportunities around light rail, economic development and growing talent in the Charlotte region.
While this was her first visit as mayor, Lyles has a strong, and long-standing relationship with the University as a result of four years on City Council, a 30-year career in city government and work as a consulting director with the Lee Institute, where she facilitated the football feasibility study for UNC Charlotte.
Legislative Leader Visits UNC Charlotte
Phil Berger, president pro tempore of the North Carolina Senate, visited UNC Charlotte earlier this year. He toured the Charlotte Teacher Early College and engaged with students as they shared their reasons for choosing to participate in the program, tailored to prepare students for a career in teaching and educational leadership.
The senator’s visit included a meeting with Chancellor Philip L. Dubois, UNC Board of Governor member Bob Rucho (’94), UNC Charlotte trustee Fred Klein and Betty Doster, special assistant to the chancellor for constituent relations.
Berger also met with Ellen McIntyre, dean of the Cato College of Education, to talk about teacher preparation programs and innovative solutions in education.
The Charlotte Teacher Early College is an innovative partnership between Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools and UNC Charlotte to attract and train teachers, while also increasing the teacher pipeline to address the recent decline of students choosing careers in education.
Currently, 49 high school students are enrolled in the program that started in August 2017. Charlotte Teacher Early College students will graduate with a high school diploma, a Certificate of Advanced Standing in Education and a minimum of 60 hours of college course credits transferable to any UNC system campus. The Charlotte Teacher Early College is the only program of its kind in North Carolina and among the first in the country.
Photo above: Sen. Phil Berger (third from left) visited students in the Charlotte Teacher Early College and principal, Will Leach (far right).
Reps. Hardister and Saine Cheer on the 49ers 
Rep. Jon Hardister from Guilford County helped cheer on the 49ers men’s basketball team on Feb. 1 with Rep. Jason Saine (’95) and Jackson Saine (pictured from left to right). Hardister serves as co-chair of the Capital Appropriations Committee.