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The start of a new year

Welcome home, Tar Heels

Tar Heels are back in town, and it's time to start a new academic year.

For more than 7,000 new students, this week marks the beginning of an exciting new journey in Chapel Hill. For others, it's a long-awaited return to the place they've come to call home.

We are excited to get this year started with you.

  • Student cheer in the stands of Kenan Stadium.

    Despite rain and cloudy skies, Tar Heels gathered in Kenan Stadium on Aug. 16 for New Student Convocation, an annual tradition that celebrates the beginning of students' on-campus Carolina experience.

    Students celebrate at New Student Convocation
  • Student running through a group of people holding their arms up.

    Our Carolina community grew a little bigger last week, as thousands of new first-year, transfer and graduate students officially became Tar Heels. Carolina’s newest group of Tar Heels includes 4,650 first-years, 925 transfer students and more than 2,000 graduate students.

    Meet our newest students
  • Students carrying luggage and bags.

    Thousands of undergraduate students began moving into residence halls last week. The move-in started a busy week that will help new Tar Heels get to know the campus, build community, make new friends and prepare for classes.

    Making Carolina home

What to know coming home

  • Campus construction

    What’s new on campus

    If you haven’t been back to campus much during the pandemic, you’ll see a number of changes, including new buildings, dining options and trails.

  • A student sitting on polk place.

    Just outside your door

    Between large canopies for groups, dozens of benches and even a rock garden, Carolina has plenty of outdoor spaces to work, meet or get some fresh air.

  • Getting around town

    With the fall semester fast approaching, here are some tips and updates to help you prepare for travel to and from campus by car, bike, bus or on foot.

Starting the semester right

Whether it's your first semester at Carolina or your last, the start of the academic year is a fresh start.

We want all Tar Heels to succeed and grow, both in academic classes and outside of them. The University boasts hundreds of student groups and various support services to help make that happen for all students.

Suports and resources for students

  • A cartoon ram holding a pencil in its mouth.

    The Writing Center

    The Writing Center works with students, faculty and staff on any writing project at any point in the writing process, helping them to become more skillful, flexible writers.

  • The Learning Center

    The Learning Center

    Open to undergraduate and graduate students, the Learning Center helps Tar Heels improve their academic skills, get better at managing time, and understand their strengths and weakness. The center is offering virtual services this semester.

  • Staff members clean in the library.

    University Libraries

    While the ways students can use the libraries are different this fall, the staff is still available to help students achieve their academic goals. Students can also find books, journals and videos online through the University Libraries’ website.

  • A person holds a sign in the pit.

    Heel Life

    With more than 800 groups, students can find many avenues to explore personal and intellectual interests and embrace their passions for music, the performing arts, journalism, creative writing, student government, politics, international cultures and more.

  • Carolina Together.

    Carolina Together

    CarolinaTogether.unc.edu is the University’s hub for information about Carolina's COVID-19 response. The website will be updated based on new information from UNC-Chapel Hill’s world-class infectious disease and public health experts, state and local health officials, the UNC System and the valuable feedback from our faculty, students, staff and community.

  • A doctor holds a stethoscope.

    Student Wellness

    Student Wellness works to enhance the individual and collective health of our campus through a wide range of programs, services and resources, including Campus Health and Counseling and Psychological Services.

Tips from the experts

  • Jon Abramowitz standing outside near trees.

    How to return to ‘normal’

    Navigating new social etiquettes and reentering social situations after more than a year of the pandemic isn't going to be a simple transition. Carolina clinical psychology professor Jonathan Abramowitz shared advice for easing the transition.

  • Brad Staats talks near a chalkboard while teaching a class.

    How to manage your time effectively

    To help our Tar Heels begin the year on the right foot, operations expert and UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School professor Brad Staats shared his tips for effective time management, starting with re-thinking that to-do list.

  • Sezer

    How to make a good impression

    Ovul Sezer knows how not to be a jerk, according to science. Her research focuses on social behaviors we think will get us ahead but that actually backfire, like humblebragging and name-dropping.

  • A person stands on two arrows. One says

    How to break a bad habit

    The start of the new year is a great time to pick up a new habit that'll help you reach your goals. It's also a chance to leave a bad habit behind. Both are equally hard, but Carolina social psychologist Steven Buzinski explains how you can do it.