Skip to Content

Save the date!


The Carolina Union’s annual First Day of Reservations (FDR) is Thursday, April 11, 2024.
Reservations open at 9:00 AM!


This much anticipated day is the first opportunity for student organizations, UNC Departments,
and the rest of campus to book Union rooms and spaces for the upcoming academic year.
Everything from club meetings to academic fairs can happen at the Union. We’re looking
forward to supporting the diverse array of events that will take place here, helping to maximize
our mission to create safe, inclusive, and educational experiences that enable students to
maximize their time at Carolina.


Want to know more about FDR? Join a training session!


Monday, 4/1 @ 5pm, CU Room 2518AB
Tuesday, 4/9 @5pm, CU Room 2420
Friday, 4/5 @12pm, CU Room 2420


RSVP at go.unc.edu/FDR-RSVP.

Due to the amazing work of Student Life & Leadership’s Civic Engagement Working Group, led by Natasha Young, with collaboration from the Promote Democracy Coalition, UNC-Chapel Hill has earned national recognition as a “voter friendly” campus by the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge. Additionally, their efforts earned the Highly Established Action Plan Seal of recognition. This distinction recognizes “higher education institutions with strong action plans to increase nonpartisan democratic engagement by promoting civic learning, political engagement, and college student voter participation.”1

The Union would like to extend a sincere thank you and congratulations to Natasha Young, Jordan Davis, Kayla Cooper, Gared Wong, the Civic Engagement Working Group, and Promote Democracy Coalition for all they’ve accomplished in making UNC-Chapel Hill a pillar of nonpartisan democratic engagement and a beacon of civic responsibility within the higher education landscape. Their dedication, leadership, and collaborative efforts have not only earned national recognition but have also fostered a culture of active citizenship and civic participation on campus and beyond.

1 https://allinchallenge.org/highly-established-action-plans/

Photo Credit - Jon Gardiner/UNC-Chapel Hill

The Chancellor's Awards recognizes outstanding UNC students who contribute significantly to our vibrant community. Please consider nominating an outstanding Tar Heel for a Leadership & Service Award. Nominations can be submitted under a specifically named award or through an open nomination. Go to https://go.unc.edu/2024ChancellorsAwards for more information and to submit nominations for the Leadership & Service Awards.

Additionally, the Student Undergraduate Teaching and Staff Awards (SUTASA) Committee is now accepting nominations for the 2024 SUTASA Awards. SUTASA recognizes excellent service to undergraduate students with monetary awards for teaching assistants, faculty, and staff. These awards are funded, nominated, and selected entirely by undergraduate students. You must be an undergraduate student to submit a nomination. The SUTASA nomination form can be located at https://go.unc.edu/2024SUTASA

All nominations are due by 5:00 pm on Friday, March 1st.  

If you have any questions, please email [email protected].

Please note that Student Academic Awards have their own selection processes and are handled through academic departments. For more information about the Student Academic Awards, please visit https://chancellorsawards.unc.edu/awards/. 

…Ready for it? It’s the Carolina Union’s Birthday Bash and we’re Enchanted with the celebration we have planned for you!

All this week, we’re telling The Story of Us with Union Era’s-themed trivia, giveaways, snacks (including cupcakes!), a photo booth, and more! The Union may not be 22 but this is the birthday bash of our Wildest Dreams. Come by and party with us in Style as we showcase the Carolina Union past and present!

All events take place in the West Lounge of the Carolina Union (by Alpine!).

It’s sweater weather season! That's right, fall is upon us, and in celebration of the change of season, we are throwing a fall-themed “Treat yo Self.” On September 28th, from 11am-1pm, students can visit the West Lounge to enjoy fall-flavored popcorn while helping the Union decorate for autumn. And the “Living Room of the Campus” photo booth will be decked out for fall. Be one of the first 50 students to take a photo and you’ll receive an exclusive “Treat Yo Self” pin!

Follow @carolinaunion on Instagram for information and updates.

CAPS will be providing counseling in the Carolina Union today, August 30th, in room 2420 from 9am - 5pm. Stop by the welcome desk, or check our Instagram page, for directions and info on how to reach this room. Once you get to 2420, a CAPS team member will check you in and connect you with an on-site mental health professional. CAPS providers can also be found at Campus Health and Student and Academic Services Building (SASB North) 1118 at these times.

CAPS 24/7 is available by phone (919) 966-3658. Additional mental health resources can be found at care.unc.edu

RU ready for FallFest? Because we are!

Join The Carolina Union on Sunday, August 20th from 6:30-10:00 pm for the 28th annual FallFest! 

This beloved UNC tradition kicks off the new school year as a fun welcome back to campus for new and returning Tar Heels alike. FallFest features fun, food and lots of freebies! Spanning the UNC-CH campus from The Carolina Union to Polk Place, students can participate in fun activities like making their own stuffed ram or street sign, snack on food provided by local restaurants and score freebies like tote bags, water bottles and more. To see photos of last year’s event, check out the photo gallery below.

The Carolina Union along with our valued sponsors look forward to welcoming past, present, and future Tar Heels to FallFest 2023!

For more info go to the FallFest website. Click Here!

The Carolina Union is now accepting applications for the Chair of the Union's Board of Directors for 2023-24! The Chair of the Board of Directors will serve as the representative of the Board and the student face of the Union. Board meetings will discuss the operation of the building and improving the student experience within the building

Any interested students should apply until March 20th at 11:59 pm when the application closes. Apply at: unc.live/3XfDhAI

We are All Spartans Today!

The Student Union holds a special place in my heart.  It was one of the first places I hung out in when I was in college.  It became my living room of the campus where I met up with friends, hung out, ate, went to activities and attended meetings.   Last night students at Michigan State University were doing the same sort of things at their Student Union when an active shooter situation occurred.  This really hit close to home for me, for many of us working in the Carolina Union and with many of my colleagues who work in Student Unions around the country.  

I have been working in Student Unions for close to 30 years.  The Student Union was my place to go to when I was in college and it is because of my great experiences in the Union that I chose to work in Higher Education.  The Student Union is the living room of the campus and a central meeting place for many students at colleges and universities across our nation. The Student Union is a place where students work, learn, grow and develop.  It’s a place where students make memories to last a lifetime.    

Our mission at the Carolina Union is to create safe, inclusive and educational experiences that enable students to maximize their time at Carolina.  We will continue to hold true to our mission and work to provide the best experiences for our students every day.  

Please keep the Michigan State University community in your thoughts.  We are all Spartans today!

Thank you

Alexandra Marchesano, M.S.

Executive Director of the Carolina Union

There is still time! Nominations for the 2023 Chancellor’s Awards have been extended to February 13th, 2023 by 5 pm. (Read More Here...) (more…)

linkedin facebook pinterest youtube rss twitter instagram facebook-blank rss-blank linkedin-blank pinterest youtube twitter instagram