The sabbatical office mailing address is:

USA TODAY mini-sabbatical fellow
School of Journalism and Mass Communication
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Campus Box #3365, Carroll Hall
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3365

The street address (for Fed Ex and similar deliveries that don't accept P.O. Boxes):

UNC-CH/School of JOMC
Carroll Hall, Room 316
Chapel Hill, NC 27514

(919) 843-8137 (office)
(919) 843-8138 (fax)

Congrats! You'll love being a Tar Heel!  

Here are some steps to take to ensure a smooth transition from journalist to scholar.

Before you go | When you arrive | On campus | From the experts

Before you go:

Talk to Adell Crowe if you haven't already. She'll give you an overview.

Check in with to Mollie Jackson and Michael Vreeland in editorial administration. They handle housing and stipend-related issues.

Arrange for the transfer of keys and parking passes and related information with your immediate predecessor in Chapel Hill.

Also, provide details about your car (make, year, color, license plate numberand where issued) to owners of the parking space near campus. The contact is Tom Kline, Investors Title, 121 N. Columbia St., Chapel Hill. The phone number is (919) 968-2200.

For directions to Chapel Hill and apartment, check out Pat O'Driscoll's handy-dandy maps.

When you arrive in Chapel Hill:

The apartment is furnished and has a bedroom, large walk-in closet, galley kitchen, dining area, living area, laundry room and den. It also is equipped with most of the essentials, including:

Computer chair and desk area
2 phone lines (one for computer connection)
Wall and cordless phones
Small patio/deck
Fireplace
Washer/dryer
Dishwasher
Bed linens
Kitchen and bath towels
Ironing board and iron
Vacuum cleaner
Broom, dustpan and wastebaskets
Table settings for four
Various kitchen utensils, including wine opener, wooden spoon, spatula
Modest supply of pots, pans, bowls, etc.
Toaster
Electric can opener
Coffee maker
Foldout couch for guests
Radio alarm clock
VCR
Basic cable
Ample parking
Car wash area, including hose (and free water) and vacuum (50 cents)
Free access to nearby pool

Grocery stores are within walking distance of the apartment. One is Harris Teeter (like a Giant or Safeway); another is Wellspring (similar to our Fresh Field). A membership card to Harris Teeter is attached to the apartment key ring.

For those who get their prescriptions filled at CVS, the nearest CVS is in Rams Plaza, located just north of 15-501 in Chapel Hill.

Banks are plentiful. Among those near the apartment are First Union, Wachovia, Bank of America.

On campus:

By now you should have the parking passes. A campus map should be available to you at the apartment or from the UNC-CH web site. For directions to the reserved parking space and to the sabbatical office, check out another of Pat's fabulous sketches.

To get into the reserved parking lot, place the magnetic card flat against the little slot, with the blue printed stuff facing out and the arrow pointing up. You should hear a series of beeps and the gate will open. The laminated card goes on the dashboard.

Your office is 316 Carroll Hall. Your first stop should be the Dean's Suite. Meet Dean Richard Cole, a Southern gentleman who is very busy but gives a great tour of the J-school (which is both amazing and a maze).

Another important contact is Miriam Sluder, the business manager for the School. She does the paperwork to register you as a Visiting Scholar. That designation gives you access to various privileges, including a UNC One Card, a campus ID that lets you check books out of campus libraries and use of the gym and other recreational facilities.

Other important contacts in the Dean's Suite are Jo Bass, the dean's secretary and knower of all things Tar Heel, and Jackie Williams, who is the J-school secretary and sits at the front desk.

Fred Thomsen, director of information and technology services, can tell you how to set up an e-mail account.

From the experts:

If you have any questions, feel free to ask any of your predecessors. But half the fun will be making your own discoveries, finding short cuts and happening upon places that become favorites. But here, a few UNC-CH alumni, offer some suggestions:

Donna Leinwand, class of '89, recommends "a wonderful northern Italian restaurant called Aurora on Highway 54. ... 411 West is also good Italian. Also, stop by the Carr Mill Mall in Carrboro for an eclectic collection of shops and restaurants. Pyewacket is great for vegetarian. Best pizza is Pepper's. Mama Dip's on Rosemary Street is a must. Don't miss the N.C. Botanical Gardens. Everyone overlooks it. And check out the laser light show at the Moorhead Planetarium. For a very special night, especially when someone else is paying, try the Fearrington House Inn in Pittsboro. At the very least, go for a walk around the grounds."

From Glenn O'Neal, class of '91: Donna "gave you a pretty strong list. Just don't forget the Durham Bulls and the Brightleaf Square mall downtown in Durham; it's only a 30-minute drive or less. Also go to the Cave down on Franklin. It's a weird place that has some decent blues and jazz from time to time. By the way, the burgers at Linda's are great. If you like theater, check out a show at the Paul Green Theater. They do excellent work."