PSC and PAC Political Debate
On Tuesday, March 21, the PSC Department and the Political Awareness Club (PAC) will host a political debate in association with Braver Angels. The first debate topic is Senate Bill (SB) 49, also known as the Parents’ Bill of Rights. We will be working with the Braver Angels next academic year on several more debates focused on key issues in contemporary politics.
Pi Sigma Alpha
Pi Sigma Alpha is THE nationally recognized Political Science Honor Society. The period to submit an application for Pi Sigma Alpha for this spring has ended. However, for those of you returning in the Fall, there will be another application period in the Fall and next Spring! The Pi Sigma Alpha Banquet will be March 31 in the Alumni House. This celebratory event recognizes the current members of Pi Sigma Alpha and the new inductees. Pi Sigma Alpha members, inductees, and their guests are invited to the event, along with our faculty. Our guest speaker will be Judge Barron Thompson. Judge Thompson is a UNCG Political Science alumnus. After teaching for several years, he was a member of the inaugural class of the Elon University School of Law. After graduating, he practiced law, principally in Randolph County. In November 2020, he was elected to be a District Court Judge in Randolph County.
If you have questions, contact Mr. Jeff Colbert, Chapter Advisor (mjcolber@uncg.edu or 308 Curry).
Political Science Alumni-Student Networking Event
One of the casualties of Covid was the requirement to suspend our annual Political Science Alumni-Student Networking Event. Fortunately, this past fall we again held the event on Friday, October 14, 2022, from 6-10 pm.
The evening began with an opening reception, where students, alumni, and faculty checked in and then enjoyed heavy hors-d’oeuvres and conversation which was followed by an opening session downstairs in the auditorium. The alumni were divided into groups and sent to classrooms on the 3 rd floor. Students rotated from room to room and heard from alumni working in law, education, nonprofits, lobbying, campaigns and elections, and the private sector and were able to ask questions about careers in these fields. Finally, there was a dessert reception where students, faculty, and alumni could mingle and converse.
For those of you NOT graduating this spring, place the date, Friday, October 20, on your calendar. It is the tentative date for this coming fall’s event!!
Graduate Recognition Ceremony
Mark your calendars and invite your family and friends. The Political Science Department will recognize graduates on Friday, May 5, at 3:00 in the Music Building Recital Hall with a reception to follow in the Music Building Recital Hall Atrium.
New PSC Concentration
The Civic Leadership & Engagement concentration will provide students with the knowledge and skills to effectively participate in, organize, and lead civic groups and communities as they work to solve public problems. UNCG is committed to making socially responsible and participatory citizenship an essential part of its educational programs. The Civic Leadership & Engagement concentration prepares students for the following:
- Leadership: prepare leaders versed in principles of social behavior, community awareness and global presence, cultural appreciation and understanding, public service, legal studies, and current practices in civics
- Social change: ensure students are equipped to confront current community and civic realities and are intellectually prepared to adjust to a continually changing environment
- Key civic leadership skills: develop key civic leadership skills, such as democratic decision-making, collaboration in diverse contexts, effective communication, community-engaged research, consensus-building, facilitation, social organizing, project management, etc.
- Effective public action: Conceptualize, develop, implement, and evaluate opportunities for effective public action
