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Who We Are

The School of Professional Studies (SPS) helps UNC Charlotte reach more learners—on their terms. We power 60+ online degrees and grad certificates, 30+ professional programs, 100+ youth camps, and 2,200+ events each year. By partnering with colleges, faculty, and staff, we serve learners at every stage of life.

Our Mission
We ensure that all learners, regardless of age, level of experience, or previous education, have opportunities to learn, grow, and achieve their personal and professional goals with a UNC Charlotte education.
Our Vision
Everyone deserves lifetime access to education that enables a lifelong journey of personal and professional growth.

Expertise that's broad AND deep.

Our varied paths are what makes the magic happen.

sps team working with faculty
We Are Experts
Behind every SPS program is a team of brainy doers – designers, techies, enrollment guides, communicators, strategists, project managers, and more – all working together to deliver smart, seamless learning experiences. Though our backgrounds are wildly different, our goal is singular: We help learners thrive, one bold, brilliant "aha!" moment at a time.
sps team with norm the niner
We Are Thought Leaders
Innovation is our baseline. From keynote stages to webinar screens, we're reimagining what higher ed can be. We present and publish nationally and lead locally, mixing fresh ideas with smart tech to create learning that connects. Proud alums of such distinguished training programs as IELOL, BRIDGES, and Leadership Charlotte populate our ranks.
unc charlotte graduate with family
We Make Higher Education Better
Academia wasn't built for everyone, so we're rebuilding it to reach historically underserved learners. Building on UNC Charlotte's strong academic foundation, we experiment with new tools and smarter systems to create stronger programs – devoid of hurdles, designed for scale, and ready for faculty to teach with impact.

Why We Exist

The School of Professional Studies supports two populations:

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Faculty & Staff
We’re your partners. Whether it’s designing a better student experience, building more engaging curricula, or integrating emerging tech like AI, our insights reduce your challenges and boost your impact. Teaming with SPS means gaining someone who anticipates needs, simplifies complexity, and frees you to focus on your expertise and goals.
Icon of a person moving from child, to graduate, to professional, representing growth and chnage.
Learners
Students first. That's our mantra. For working adults finishing degrees online, professionals upskilling, summer term students playing catch up, faculty exploring new techniques, and even kids at camp, we make things easier with smooth enrollment, easy-to-navigate courses, and personalized support that keeps learning on track. The result? Fewer barriers, more wins, and a lifelong connection to UNC Charlotte.

How We're Organized

The School of Professional Studies fulfills its mission supporting learners and colleagues through these nested, specialized teams:

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Strategy Development
The future-focused team translating insight into impact by improving policy, designing product, and activating partnerships.
UNC Charlotte Program Success Team
Program Success
Powering the full learner journey by connecting strategy, storytelling, support, and service.
UNC Charlotte Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL)
Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL)
Learning experts determined to help faculty help students succeed.
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Corporate Training and Executive Education
The group employers trust for bespoke learning solutions designed to meet their organizations’ specific training needs.
Learning and Space Technology
Learning Space Technology
Designers, installers, maintainers, and support providers that make learning environments across UNC Charlotte effective and accessible.
operations personnel: Business Services and the Dubois Center
Operations and Personnel
Personnel prodigies, masters of money, event virtuosi, and building big leaguers under one umbrella. Keeping SPS on track since 2020.

Have questions? Let us help!

Not sure who to reach out to? Our contact page makes it easy to find the person or team who can provide the answers.