SOLE Center offers new hub for student organization leaders

Student Life and Leadership recently opened a new resource center as an extension of the Student Organization Leadership Experience, a developmental program to support student organization leaders.

Located in Suite 1401 of the Frank Porter Graham Student Union, the SOLE Center is a physical hub for collaboration, creativity and growth, bringing support into a centralized, student-focused space.

“The SOLE Center was created for student organizations to have a special place to promote, uplift and grow their mission and vision,” said LaQuayle Agurs, SLL associate director for involvement and activities. “We hope this will show student organizations that SLL sees the value in their role to serve the campus community.”

Each year, hundreds of student organizations navigate event planning, marketing, recruitment and leadership transitions. The SOLE Center centralizes the tools and guidance they need to do that work well. Student leaders who engage with SOLE programming and use the center gain more than access to materials. They develop transferable skills in communication, budgeting, marketing and team management.

The S.O.L.E. Center is a new base for student organization leaders to collaborate, plan events and build community at Carolina. (Elizabeth Poindexter/UNC Student Affairs)

The center is organized into various functional areas that support student leaders at every stage of their work: creative zone, resource hub, media lab, leadership lounge and wellness space.

The central creative zone provides tools for designing and producing marketing materials, including trifolds, buttons and other promotional items. As student organizations rely on digital storytelling, the media lab offers space to record videos, take photos and create content.

Through the resource hub, organizations can check out equipment like camcorders, speakers and projectors at no cost. By reducing financial and logistical barriers, the hub helps organizations focus more on their mission and less on sourcing equipment.

The leadership lounge conference room provides access to a consistent meeting space. Student leaders can use the room to host executive board meetings, planning sessions and collaborative workshops in a professional setting designed for productivity.

In addition to its functional resources, the SOLE Center also includes a wellness space, complete with coloring books, yoga mats and room to decompress.

“Through shared space and strategic programming, the center strengthens accountability, collaboration and sustainable impact across campus. The SOLE Center exists to ensure that leadership at Carolina is not only active, but excellent,” said Kelly Spainhour, SLL leadership Development Program Coordinator.

Students interested in exploring the SOLE Center can connect with Student Life and Leadership to learn more about available resources, reservation processes and leadership development opportunities.