OS History

BACKGROUND:

In 2003, the University of North Carolina at Charlotte had a vision to start an innovative program geared toward solving employee and organizational health and well-being issues by weaving together four traditionally separate disciplines: organizational sociology, management, industrial-organizational psychology and organizational communication.

By 2005, the Organizational Science program was ready to take off and seek their first class of incoming students. In its first year, the OS program received 60 applicants whose GRE scores would rank the program among the top in the country. Today, the OS PhD program has grown to 20 full-time students and 14 full-time faculty from all four disciplines, making OS truly one of a kind due in part to its low student faculty-ratio and diversity in training.

HIGHLIGHTS:

2005

  • The Organizational Science program recruited its first incoming class.
  • In the Spring, the Organizational Science Consulting and Research (OSCR) unit, now the Organizational Science Center, was proposed and approved.

2006

  • Fall – Development of the first pre-doctoral theses.

2008

  • Fall – The 1st bi-annual OScars was held, focused on recognizing the achievements of the Organizational Science graduate students. Publications, presentations, grants, fellowship applications, and journal/conference reviews are just a few of the various accomplishments celebrated at the event.
  • The OS program and its innovative approach were highlighted in an article published in the UNC Charlotte Magazine.

2009

  • Co-Enrollment offered in all three of the related M.A. Programs – I/O Psychology, Communications, and Sociology
  • June – The first Dr. Shawn Long Organizational Science Institute (formerly OSSI) targeting high-potential undergraduate students was held.

2010

  • Fall – The Volunteer Program Assessment an innovative, and completely free volunteer assessment system designed to promote nonprofit organizational effectiveness was finalized
  • June – The 2nd Annual Dr. Shawn Long Organizational Science Institute (formerly OSSI) was held, partnering with high-potential students around the nation.
  • September – The OS Alumni Association was created and an OS Alumni Association officer position was established in our student government.
  • December – The Organizational Science program graduated Heather Gordon and Joe Allen – members of its inaugural cohort.

2013

2014

  • Fall – The first-ever OS Conversations was launched by our students, an intra-program initiative designed to give our student researchers an open, intimate forum to discuss their projects at all stages of development.

2015

  • The Organizational Science program celebrated its ten year anniversary.

2017

  • November – A combined OScars/OS Summit is held, inviting all alumni and current faculty/staff/students to celebrate the success of the program and its people.

2018

2019

2020

  • Courses transitioned to a virtual/online format due to Covid-19.

2022

  • Dr. Scott Tonidandel named new Director of Organizational Science
  • Courses transitioned back to in-person.

2023

  • College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS) changed name to College of Humanities & Earth and Social Sciences (CHESS)