One-of-a-Kind Assistance Dog Training Program at UNCW

The paws4peopleTM foundation has formed a unique partnership with UNC Wilmington, offering an assistance dog training program to interested students, the only one of its kind in the nation!  The founder of the paws4people TM foundation, Kyria Henry, has developed a four-semester curriculum in which students from various majors can learn about the training and utilization of service dogs, and is teaching the curriculum as well.  Over the final two semesters of the program students, in addition to their coursework, are even responsible for the 24/7 training and care of a dog going through the program, ultimately placing them with a client.  The paws4peopleTM foundation was created by Ms. Henry to train and place specialized dogs with adolescents under 14 years of age who live with various physical, mental, physiological and psychological disabilities, as well as with military veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder or traumatic brain injuries.

The paws4peopleTM foundation, which is comprised of the paws4peopleTM program and the paws4vetsTM program, will be hosting an assistance dog graduation ceremony this weekend to honor more than 20 new service dogs and their clients, many of whom our UNCW students have worked with throughout the course of the program.  The event will be held at the Carolina Beach Courtyard by Marriott from noon-3 p.m.

The paws4peopleTM foundation currently services nine states in the surrounding region, with service dogs and handlers who have conducted more than 322,000 educational and therapeutic contacts over 19,200 visits, as well as more than 200 dogs in private placement. For more information on this incredible foundation, please visit http://paws4people.org.

UNCW Students in One-of-a-Kind Program Lend Their Paws to Service Dog Graduation

UNCW again named a "Best Value" public college for fourth consecutive year

UNC Wilmington recently received another prestigious accolade by the Princeton Review, naming our institution one of America's "Best Value" public colleges, now for the fourth consecutive year! UNCW has been included among 150 institutions from across the nation in Princeton Review's "Best Value Colleges: 2012 edition," and lauded by the publication's editors for remaining "true to its small school roots" despite its growing population.

"It is a great honor for UNC Wilmington to again be chosen by the Princeton Review as one of its "Best Value" universities," said Chancellor Gary L. Miller. "The UNC system boasts one of the lower in-state tuitions in the nation, and we strive to match that with the highest quality instruction and hands-on opportunities for our students to participate in undergraduate research, high-level scholarship and outreach/community involvement projects. This distinction from the Princeton Review is a tribute to the dedication of UNCW's faculty and staff to the success of our students."

650 colleges and universities were chosen by the company to be reviewed for this tremendous honor. Recipients were selected based not only on institutional data but by student opinion surveys as well.

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From the Battlefield to the Classroom

In this post, we would like to introduce you to Colt Hoyt, 27 year-old Marine Corp veteran and president of the UNCW Student Veteran Organization. According to G.I. Jobs magazine, UNCW is currently ranked among the top 15% of military-friendly schools nationwide. While the transition from military to college student life can be a challenge, UNCW has adopted innovative efforts to ease this transition.

From the Battlefield to the Classroom

• Expanding the definition of transfer student in admissions to better assist active military students who do not meet traditional admission requirements, allowing for consideration of military service

• Waiving the application fee for active duty military applicants and the physical education requirement for active duty and veteran students

• Implementing a written policy for students who are deployed or involuntarily recalled to active duty

• Enabling students experiencing delays in receipt of GI Bill benefits to request a book advance stipend or a hold on their account which keeps their classes from being cancelled or a late fee from being applied

• Establishing numerous military support resources including special class sections and orientation breakout sessions just for military students, the Student Veterans Organization and a veteran-to-veteran peer mentoring program

• Facilitating a Military Task Force and Military Advisory Board