Attending classes isn’t the only way to learn at UNC Asheville. Through special events and the centers located right here on campus, we welcome the community to take part in our unique learning opportunities and resources.
Events
UNC Asheville brings great minds to campus to share their expertise and perspectives. Through open lectures, workshops and special events, the community is invited to engage with these influential speakers and their ideas. Previous notable speakers include Sir Salman Rushdie, Michelle Alexander, Henry Louis Gates Jr., and Charles Frazier, to name a few.
In keeping with COVID-19 health and safety protocols, Fall 2020 and Spring 2021 events are virtual, so you can enjoy them wherever you are.
Centers on Campus
The centers located on campus are designed to nurture our community’s cultural, intellectual, and physical wellbeing:
- The Center for Jewish Studies and the Center for Diversity Education build relationships across differences by offering special programs, events and educational resources to foster conversation and respect among cultures.
- Family-owned businesses learn how to navigate their unique needs to achieve success through the Family Business Forum, while Leadership Asheville connects local public, private and nonprofit leaders to strengthen involvement in collaborative community leadership.
- The community can explore the skies and learn from our astronomy faculty and students at Lookout Observatory, an active partnership between the Asheville Astronomy Club and UNC Asheville. The observatory regularly hosts guided viewings of the moon, star clusters and planets.
- The North Carolina Center for Health and Wellness promotes and coordinates healthy living initiatives that prevent disease and contribute to the well-being of all North Carolinians.
Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI)
The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at UNC Asheville is an award-winning, internationally-acclaimed learning community dedicated to promoting lifelong learning, leadership, community service, and research. Through courses, activities and programs focused on issues like retirement planning, wellness, and civic engagement, OLLI enables its 2,400 members to thrive in life’s second half.
Athletics
Go Bulldogs! Student-athletes perform on the court, the field, in the pool, and in the classroom, as they compete in 16 NCAA Division I Teams while consistently earning above a grade-point average of 3.0 each year and leading in the Big South Conference.
The Leaders for Leaders program pairs a UNC Asheville student-athlete with a community member in a mentoring relationship to prepare them for success in life, help them realize their academic, athletic, personal and social responsibilities, and enable them to make meaningful contributions to their communities.
Real-World Success
UNC Asheville alumni take the liberal arts with them from classroom to career, turning real-world learning into real-life achievement. Our alumni are problem solvers—individuals who have become experts in their fields by asking important questions, who collaborate with their colleagues across disciplines to come up with creative solutions, and who can bring people together to make change happen.