UNC System Military Affairs
The University of North Carolina System is proud to support our military and is committed to the mission of educating members of the U.S. Armed Forces, veterans, and their families. The UNC System military affairs team provides coordination and strategy for all UNC System institutions and acts as a single point of contact for external partners.
The UNC System and the Committee on Military and Public Affairs are committed to increasing enrollment, retention, graduation, and post-graduation success for all UNC System military-affiliated students. Together, we are working to grow North Carolina’s economy, support the missions of military base leaders, and ensure that all service members, veterans, and their families living in North Carolina have a high quality of life.
Through Systemwide programs, initiatives, and partnerships, the UNC System is committed to ensuring that we offer military supportive policies; flexible online degree programs; strong external partnerships with national and statewide stakeholders; and academic credit for military training.
Awarding Academic Credit for Military Training
The UNC System has developed a Military Equivalency System (MES) to optimize the transfer of academic credit based on relevant military training and experience. Military course equivalencies in MES are based on American Council on Education (ACE) credit recommendations for military formal training and occupational experience and support a faculty-driven process for decisions regarding award of academic credit.
Reducing Barriers for Military-Affiliated Students
The UNC System Military Affairs Working Group meets monthly to share best practices and reduce barriers for military-affiliated students. The group is comprised of military affairs directors, military student support specialists, registrars, VA Certifying Officials, and other staff serving military-affiliated students at each of the UNC System’s 16 institutions.
Engaging State Leaders in Critical Conversations
The UNC System continuously engages in external outreach with North Carolina Congressional Delegation.
Increasing Military Cultural Awareness
The UNC System hosts a variety of training opportunities for faculty and staff to increase military cultural awareness and military student success.
Green Zone Training
The Military Affairs team is now offering Green Zone Training to members of the UNC System community who want to learn more about the military-affiliated student experience. The program trains faculty and staff to support service members, veterans, and their families as they transition to academic life. Upon completion of the 2-hour training, you will receive an official UNC System Green Zone email signature icon.
Click the button below to register. For more information or to schedule a separate training session specifically for your institution, contact Brad Wrenn, Program Manager for Military and Veterans Education at btwrenn@northcarolina.edu, or 336-908-0251.
Recent News
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UNC Wilmington | September 15, 2022
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Fayetteville State | January 7, 2022
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UNC Greensboro | January 4, 2022
Information for Prospective Military-Affiliated Students
The UNC System offers a variety of resources to support military student success. Each of North Carolina’s 16 public institutions hosts a website that is specifically tailored to serve military-affiliated current and prospective students. Get to know our UNC System institutions or visit our page for military transfer students to learn more about how you can transfer to a UNC System institution from the military.
Information for Partners
The UNC System invests in military-affiliated students.
- Military students have a strong desire to pursue post-secondary education. The U.S. Department of Labor estimates that nearly 50% of all service members transitioning from active duty enroll in an institution of higher learning.
- Military students are high performers in the classroom, offering leadership and diversity of thought and experience to our universities.
- Military students often pursue and complete high-demand programs like STEM, business, and health.
- Many military students have the technical skills needed to fill critical workforce gaps in North Carolina like cyber defense and IT.
- North Carolina has one of the nation’s largest military footprints (nearly 1 million active, veteran and reserve) and a defense sector that contributes over $66 billion dollars annually to the state.
Current Partnerships
The UNC System partnered with the PsychArmor Institute to provide Systemwide military cultural education for UNC System faculty and staff.
The PsychArmor Institute is a national nonprofit that provides military cultural competency training developed and delivered by subject matter experts. This partnership ensures consistency of quality training through a flexible and convenient delivery platform.
Explore available courses for faculty and staff.
The UNC System partnered with Bunker Labs to increase the number of businesses in North Carolina that are owned by veterans and military spouses.
Bunker Labs is a national nonprofit that helps grow military entrepreneurship. This partnership provides UNC System military-affiliated students with access to premier trainings, professional development, and networking opportunities to support their entrepreneurial goals.
The UNC System has partnered with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Hiring Our Heroes program to enhance visibility and recruitment opportunities for UNC System institutions.
This partnership creates post-graduation employment opportunities for military-affiliated students and provides the UNC System direct access to executives of corporations who are looking to hire qualified veterans and military spouses.
The UNC System partnered with the Defense Alliance of North Carolina to support growth of our state’s military economy.
The UNC System has an Educational Partnership Agreement with the US Army Research Laboratory (ARL) to support UNC System STEM education and research.
The UNC System was awarded a five-year contract of $6 million from the U.S. Army to fund a range of research and development projects supporting US Special Operations Forces (SOF).
If you would like to support one of these initiatives, contact Kathie B. Sidner or Bradley Wrenn.
Our Team
Kathie Sidner
Director of Military Partnerships | ksidner@northcarolina.edu
As Director of Military Partnerships, Kathie Sidner connects UNC System capabilities and resources with military needs, Department of Defense entities, federal and state agencies, and industry partners. Ms. Sidner manages a portfolio of collaborative research projects and a UNC System internship program with local military commands. She also supports UNC System economic impact initiatives and serves on the UNC Economic Transformation Council.
Ms. Sidner earned her BS in Chemical Engineering from the University of Virginia and her MS in Chemical Engineering from NC State University. Prior to joining the UNC System, she worked in the U.S. Intelligence Community as a chemical/biological weapons and counterterrorism analyst and supported two U.S. Army university-affiliated research centers in nanotechnology and biotechnology as a contractor at the Army Research Office.
Bradley Wrenn
Program Manager, Military and Veterans Education | btwrenn@northcarolina.edu
As Program Manager for Military and Veterans Education, Bradley Wrenn serves as a liaison between the UNC System Office and the staff who work directly with military-affiliated students at North Carolina’s public institutions.
Mr. Wrenn earned his undergraduate degree in International Business from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and began his professional career as a Business Development Project Manager at the Center for Creative Leadership. Later, he earned a master’s degree and a post-master’s certificate in Higher Education Administration from East Carolina University. Prior to joining the UNC System, Mr. Wrenn served as the Director of Military-Affiliated Services at UNC Greensboro. He also served as an enlisted member of the North Carolina Air National Guard, where he served as a Combat Meteorologist.
Eric Naisbitt
Associate Vice President for Workforce and Military Affairs | ewnaisbitt@northcarolina.edu
As Associate Vice President for Workforce and Military Affairs, Eric Naisbitt provides strategic vision and leadership in developing workforce development initiatives, forging and sustaining external partnerships, and ensuring coordination across the UNC System.
Mr. Naisbitt earned his undergraduate degree in International Affairs and Political Science and master’s degree in Applied American Politics and Policy from Florida State University. Prior to his current role, Mr. Naisbitt worked on the UNC System’s government affairs team. Mr. Naisbitt also previously served as the education policy advisor to the North Carolina Senate President Pro Tempore.