University Managers Association (UMA)
For nearly 40 years, the University Managers Association (UMA) served as a vital resource for managers across UNC-Chapel Hill and the surrounding area. Founded in 1983 as an outgrowth of the University Management Development Program, UMA provided a forum for exchanging ideas, networking, and encouraging professional growth among university managers.
UMA Mission
UMA’s mission was to provide a forum for the exchange of information relevant to management in the university setting and to encourage productive interaction among members. Through this mission, UMA aimed to:
- Expand university support for training and professional development opportunities.
- Find ways to recognize outstanding university employees and managers.
- Serve as a voice for positive change on management issues.
UMA History
After the first University Management Development Program classes in 1983, participants saw a need for continued networking and learning for university managers. A steering committee formed, and the first UMA meeting was held on September 14, 1983.
From those humble beginnings, UMA grew into a vibrant community, offering regular professional development events, networking opportunities, and respected annual awards. Throughout its history, UMA hosted impactful speakers and covered topics like leadership strategies, change management, ethics, employee recognition, and more.
Awards and Recognition
A core part of UMA’s legacy was the annual presentation of two prestigious awards at their meeting:
- Manager of the Year Award: Honoring exceptional career accomplishments or a recent significant achievement by a UNC-Chapel Hill manager.
- Outstanding Encouragement of Learning and Development (OELD) Award: Presented by UNC’s Office of Human Resources to a supervisor or manager who actively facilitates employee professional development.
UMA Merges with Employee Forum
In 2023, due to transitions in UMA’s leadership, the difficult decision was made to merge UMA into the larger Employee Forum at UNC. This merger ensures that UMA’s professional development programming, notable annual awards, and overall mission of supporting managers and leadership will continue under the auspices of the Employee Forum.
While UMA may no longer exist as a separate entity, its impact on the UNC community over nearly four decades will be permanently recognized. The Employee Forum is committed to building upon UMA’s rich legacy as the torch is passed to a new era of leadership development at Carolina.
We invite all former UMA members to get involved with the Employee Forum’s committees focused on leadership, education, career development, recognition and more. Together, we can uphold UMA’s vital work while forging new paths to empower managers and employees across campus.
Historic UMA Website: https://uma.web.unc.edu/