AUTHOR

White, Brian

Graduate School Philanthropic Awards

January 11, 2018 by White, Brian

The Graduate School’s Philanthropic Awards are funded by donors and are intended for outstanding graduate students. These need-based and merit awards recognize excellent students for their academic achievement and provide assistance to those who demonstrate financial need. Students will need to log in to the NinerScholars site at http://scholarships.uncc.edu/ and complete an applicant profile before they can be matched to any awards. For award information and eligibiltiy criteria, please visit https://graduateschool.uncc.edu/funding/graduate-fellowships. For more information, please contact jhgreen@uncc.edu

Deadline to apply – March 15, 2018

Download instructions on nominating your graduate students for these lucrative awards.

Task Force Seeks Funding Ideas

December 20, 2017 by White, Brian

The Graduate Student Funding Task Force recently completed a series of campus forums to solicit information on graduate student support. The Task Force continues to seek input from students, faculty and staff to help shape the future of graduate funding. If you have ideas, issues, challenges, suggestions, and possible solutions for graduate student funding, please forward them by Feb. 1 to FundingTaskforce@uncc.edu.

English Language, I-9 Form Help Available to International Teaching Assistants

December 19, 2017 by White, Brian

International graduate assistants paid from Teaching Assistant funds, regardless of assigned duties, are required to attend an English language assessment session.

Sessions are scheduled in January, as follows:

Fri Jan 5, 1:00-4:00, CHHS 280

Tue Jan 9, 9:00-12:00, CHHS 280

Fri Jan 12, 1:00-4:00, CHHS 280

Assistance also is available for completing the I-9 Form, required for non-residents working in the U.S. That session is Friday, Jan. 5, 10:00-12:00, CHHS 370.

For more information and possible additional sessions, contact ITASupport@unc.edu.

GASP Nominations Open for Fall Semester

December 12, 2017 by White, Brian

The Graduate School is accepting GASP (Graduate Assistant Support Plan) nominations for new students enrolling fall 2018.

Nominations may be completed via the eGA Nomination Form. More information is available on the Graduate School’s Faculty and Staff Student Funding page.

Contact Dr. Julie Goodliffe, Director of Fellowships and Funding for more information. .

Graduate Council Approves Doctoral Fast Track, Time Limit

December 12, 2017 by White, Brian

The Graduate Council this month approved changes to the academic policy that allows some programs to create an accelerated track to PhD for students who enter the program with a master’s degree. The Council action also sets an eight-year time limit for coursework toward a doctoral degree.

The Council’s action was communicated recently in a memo to Graduate Program Directors from Dr. Katherine Hall-Hertel, Associate Dean for Graduate Academic and Students Affairs for the Graduate School. “Some PhD programs do not require a master’s degree for admission,” Hall-Hertel said, noting that programs commonly transfer in up to 30 credit hours for students with a master’s degree. “Beginning the 2018-19 academic year, those programs will have an option to create an accelerated track” for those students.

The accelerated track is optional, and the Graduate School will continue to accept up to 30 hours of transfer credit. However, course credits older than eight years no longer will be accepted.

Proposals for accelerated track should be added to Curriculog by Feb. 1, 2018. For more information, download the Changes to Transfer Credit proposal. For questions, please contact James Birkett.

Graduate Research Symposium Entries Sought

December 07, 2017 by White, Brian

The UNC Charlotte Graduate and Professional Student Government (GPSG) is seeking research abstracts for the 18th Annual Graduate Research Symposium April 6, 2018. Abstracts must be submitted by Feb 2.

Information is available for download from the GPSG.

Workshop on Abstract Writing Planned

December 06, 2017 by White, Brian

In preparation for UNC Charlotte’s 18th Annual Graduate Research Symposium, an abstract writing workshop is planned for the Center for Graduate Life (CGL), Cone 268, Jan. 12, 2018 from 1-2 p.m.

Hosted by Dr. Lisa Russell-Pinson, CGL Faculty Associate for Graduate Writing, the workshop,will address best practices in abstract writing. For more information, visit the CGL.

McLeod, Walker Take Top Master’s Thesis Honors

November 30, 2017 by White, Brian

Master’s Graduates Melissa McLeod, Biology, and Jonathon Walker, Sociology, are the 2017-18 recipients of the Graduate School Outstanding Master’s Thesis Awards.

McLeod was recognized in the Life Sciences category for her thesis, The Role of Translesion Synthesis Polymerases REV1 and Pol eta in DNA Damage Response.

In the Social Science category, Jonathon Walker was honored for the thesis Redefining Belonging: The Boundaries of Religious Identity in Institutions and Everyday Life.

Sponsored by the Graduate School, this annual competition is open to UNC Charlotte master’s students and each year features different disciplines. This year’s competition included social sciences and life sciences disciplines. Awards were based on the clarity of style and presentation, scholarship, research methodology and contributions to the field or discipline.

Each recipient is awarded a $250 prize and an engraved plaque of recognition for achievement.

Faculty Judges Sought for Research Symposium

November 30, 2017 by White, Brian

The 18th Annual Interdisciplinary Graduate Research Symposium is Apr. 6, 2018 and the planning committee is seeking faculty judges.

The event, scheduled for the UNC Charlotte Student Union, includes poster and oral presentations.

Last year, UNC Charlotte graduate students made more than 100 presentations. Each judge will review multiple presentations or posters to review.

For more information, contact event co-chairs Amy Grybush or Katy Haughney, or visit The Center for Graduate Life.

Master's Thesis Makes Top Download List

November 21, 2017 by White, Brian

UNC Charlotte master’s student Corey B. Kelly’s thesis focusing on the public relations implications of NBA players’ protest of the national anthem was one of the most downloaded documents in October, according to ProQuest, a global online source for scholarly information.

Kelly’s thesis, “Internal Activism and Its Implications for Organizational Legitimacy: A Case Study of the NBA’s Reaction to the National Anthem Protests in Sports” was among ProQuest’s top 25 downloads.

Kelly received his master’s in Communication Studies in May 2017. His thesis was prepared under the direction of Daniel Grano.

For more information, please visit ProQuest.

2018 Brings New Summer Fellowship

November 20, 2017 by White, Brian

The Graduate School recently launched a new funding opportunity for doctoral students who pursue their studies over the summer months.

The Graduate School Summer Fellowship (GSSF) Program awards $6,000 ($2,000 per month) paid at the end of May and is available to full-time students with GASP support. Applicants must

Pass their qualifying exam and proposal defense by May 15, 2018
Pre-register for full-time enrollment in the 2018 fall semester.
Hold an eligible graduate assistantship with GASP funding in the 2018 fall semester

The GSSF is designed to replace a TA or other summer job that takes the student away from their research. Recipients are expected to dedicate significant effort to their research project over the summer months and make timely progress to the degree.

To apply, students should submit an abstract about their project, not to exceed 500 words, with a paragraph explaining specific goals for the summer. Also include a timeline for completing the goals and year and semester of anticipated graduation. Please send to Dr. Julie Goodliffe, jmgoodli@uncc.edu, by Mar.1, 2018.

The student’s advisor should send an email to Dr. Goodliffe supporting the application and confirming his/her availability to provide support (direction, advising, supervision, mentoring) over the summer.

Applicants will be informed of the decision on their application no later than Mar. 30, 2018.

For information on these and other financial assistance programs, contact Dr. Julie Goodliffe at jmgoodli@uncc.edu.

Deadlines Loom for Major Grants

November 17, 2017 by White, Brian

Major external fellowships that pay stipends plus full tuition and fees are available, but the deadline to apply is coming soon. A sampling of the opportunities are listed below with deadlines.

UNC Charlotte has a license to use PIVOT, the largest database of grant opportunities in the U.S. that includes local, state, federal, international, and foundation opportunities. For information on these and other financial assistance programs, contact Dr. Julie Goodliffe, at jmgoodli@uncc.edu, .

Department of Defense SMART program for graduate students pursuing a degree in one of 19 STEM disciplines. Pays full tuition and fees, $25-000 – $38,000 stipend (depending on field of study), money for health insurance, summer internships, and job placement after graduation in a DoD facility.

Deadline: Dec. 1.

Symantec Research Labs Graduate Fellowship for PhD students in one of several areas of computer science, unrestricted citizenship. Apply for up to $20,000 for tuition and fees, plus a salaried internship at Symantec.

Deadline: Dec. 1.

Ford Foundation Dissertation Fellowship for students completing their dissertation in a research-based PhD in almost every field. Apply for a one-year stipend of $25,000 for your final year.

Deadline: Dec. 7

National Institutes of Health Predoctoral Fellowships (F31) Apply for three years of support with a ~$24,000 stipend, and money for tuition and fees. This prestigious award will also show your fundability as a biologist, which is crucial for career success.

Deadline: Dec. 8

Google’s Women Techmakers Scholarship for women in computer science or computer engineering. Apply for a $10,000 scholarship and an invitation to the Google Scholar’s Retreat in Mountain View, California. Unrestricted citizenship.

Deadline: Dec.11

Ford Foundation Predoctoral Fellowship for students pursuing a research-based Ph.D. in almost every field. Apply for three years of an annual $24,000 stipend.

Deadline: Dec. 14

American Chemical Society Division of Analytical Chemistry Graduate Fellowship Program for graduate students in the field of analytical chemistry. $21,000 fellowships.

Deadline: Dec. 16

National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship for students pursuing a doctorate in one of 15 STEM disciplines. Apply for up to four years full tuition and fees, a generous stipend, and money for medical insurance from the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR), the Army Research Office (ARO), and the Office of Naval Research (ONR).

Deadline: Dec. 31

Department of Energy Computational Science Graduate Fellowship. Computational science is interdisciplinary by nature, using algorithms, mathematics and computers to analyze and solve scientific and engineering problems. Apply for up to four years of a $36,000 per year stipend plus academic allowance.

Deadline: Jan. 17

Bably, Ernst Take 3MT Honors

November 16, 2017 by White, Brian

UNC Charlotte’s Three-Minute Thesis competition Nov. 10 saw ten brave graduate students squeeze years of work and thousands of words into a three-minute presentation using only one slide for support. The Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) is professional international research communication competition in which Ph.D. and Master’s students are challenged to clearly and engagingly communicate their research to a non-specialist audience in just three minutes with one static slide.

Morium Bably, Public Health Sciences, and Brittany Ernst, Organizational Science, took top spots in the competition. Please visit the Center for Graduate Life for more information.

Vet Assistantships Boost Recruiting

November 16, 2017 by White, Brian

GPD’s, remember you have available to you the competitive graduate assistantships just for military veterans (including serving Guard and Reserve members who have deployed on active duty). Three awards are available each year and provide support for two years. This funding support is over and above traditional GI Bill benefits the veteran student may be entitled to receive.

To be eligible, candidates must have submitted all application materials, the Department must have accepted the candidate, and the Program Director must have nominated the candidate (an e-mail to Dr. Alan Freitag,arfreita@uncc.edu) no later than March 15, 2018.

Please visit the Graduate School Funding site for more information on Assistantships and Employment.

Looking for Alumni Successes

November 16, 2017 by White, Brian

GPD’s and Chairs, please provide the Graduate School with names, contact info and brief descriptions of your successful graduate alumni. We plan to showcase the quality of our graduate programs through the success of our alums. We’ll prepare brief vignettes of those alums – a photo and a paragraph about their graduate experience and career trajectory since earning the advanced degree. Just tell us who they are, and we’ll connect and gather the information. Your program graduates will be featured in web content and in collateral material. Let’s start with just one or two standout alums from each graduate program. The aim is to convey the quality, value and impact of UNC Charlotte graduate education and research. Send the name, contact info and a brief description of your alum’s professional status to our Graduate School communications team, grad-comm@uncc.edu.

Updates on Congestion, Class Schedule

November 14, 2017 by White, Brian

The Chancellor’s Office recently shared updates on work aimed at alleviating campus congestion and improving class-scheduling efficiency.

A task force that has been examining campus congestion made 34 suggestions for improvement ranging from infrastructure changes to alternative forms of transportation. The report is available for download from the Chancellor’s Office.

Senior Associate Provost Jay Raja is leading an effort to offer a full schedule of classes on Fridays. More information on the schedule change is available on the Academic Affairs website.

Minority STEM Recruiting Fair Nov. 17

November 06, 2017 by White, Brian

The North Carolina Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (NC-LSAMP) will host a Graduate Recruitment Fair Nov. 17 from 10:30-11:30 a.m. in Raleigh.

The recruitment fair is part of the NC-LSAMP Annual Undergraduate Research Conference at the NC State McKimmon Conference & Training Center, 1101 Gorman St., Raleigh.

For registration information, please visit 2017 NC-LSAMP Annual Research Conference.

NC-LSAMP seeks to increase the quality and quantity of students who earn science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) baccalaureate degrees and successfully matriculate into STEM graduate programs.

How to Use GRAD Full-time Course

September 21, 2017 by White, Brian

The Graduate Council recently approved the establishment of a new course, GRAD 7800/9800 – Full-time Enrollment for Research. This course is now an option for graduate students completing their thesis or dissertation research. Students who have completed all required credit and passed all milestones except the defense are eligible to enroll.

This 3-credit course can be used to elevate the qualifying student to full-time enrollment. Not all graduate students need full-time status, but some do for financial aid purposes or for visa purposes. Tuition and fees paid for this course more accurately reflect the resources students access during this phase of research.

Students working toward their defense should use this course and not the 1-credit residency course, GRAD 7999/9999. That course (GRAD 7999/9999) should be requested only when a student misses the deadline to defend the thesis/dissertation in one semester and must defend in the first four weeks of the next semester to graduate. That student is using few university resources and simply needs to be registered to graduate. When more thesis or dissertation work is needed, the new GRAD 7800/9800 course is appropriate.

When considering whether to request a permit for GRAD 7999/9999, Graduate Program Directors should work with the student to determine whether he or she can schedule a realistic defense date in the first four weeks of the semester. If not, the student should register for GRAD 7800/9800.

Permits are required for both GRAD 7800/9800 and GRAD 7999/9999. Catalog descriptions are available here: 2017/18 Graduate Catalog, GRAD Courses.

It’s difficult to anticipate all the consequences of instituting a policy change, so please help us by sharing your comments in the box below. We want to be sensitive to unique circumstances, but we also want tuition and fee structures to reflect accurately the investment our university is making in our graduate students.

Half-time Enrollment Definition Changed

September 20, 2017 by White, Brian

UNC Charlotte’s definition of graduate school half-time enrollment changed effective with the beginning of the Fall 2017 semester. To help you prepare for questions you may receive from students on the change, please review the following information.

New Definition of Half-Time Enrollment Hours

As of Fall 2017, to be considered enrolled half-time, graduate students must take at least 4.5 credit hours, which essentially means 5 or more credit hours for UNC Charlotte. This has increased from the previous half-time definition of 3 credit hours.
The U.S. Department of Education offers low-interest loans to eligible students to help cover educational costs. Financial need is not required for graduate students to be considered for a Direct Unsubsidized Loan or Direct PLUS Loan, but they must enroll at least half-time.
Note: The definition of full-time graduate enrollment has not changed. To be considered full-time, graduate students must enroll in at least 9 credit hours.

How this will affect some students:

Federal Financial Aid Eligibility

To receive financial aid from the university, a graduate student must enroll in a master’s, doctoral or certificate program at least half-time.
The Financial Aid office will review applicants’ enrollment prior to awarding financial aid. If they are enrolled in fewer than 5 credit hours, they will not receive federal loans.
In Spring 2017, there are more than 350 graduate students with a federal loan who are enrolled in fewer than 5 credit hours.

Loan Repayment/Deferment

If a student has federal loans in deferment, encourage them to review the terms and conditions of their repayment to consider whether the new half-time enrollment policy will affect them.
Generally, federal loans begin requiring repayment 6 months from the date enrollment drops below half-time, from the date of graduation, or the date a student withdraws from school.

Options Available to Students

They may enroll in at least 5 hours of graduate credit to be eligible for a federal loan (and defer payments on existing federal loans)
They may enroll in the University’s installment Payment Plan
They may apply for an Alternative Loan with private lenders through the Office of Financial Aid

Students with questions may contact the Office of Financial Aid at 704-687-5504 or email their question. Graduate Program Directors may contact Johnna Watson in the Graduate School by email or at 704-687-7231.

Update Enrollment Projections by Nov. 1

September 19, 2017 by White, Brian

Graduate projections for Fall 2018, 2019, and 2020 should be completed in GPDNet by Nov. 1, including the enrollment management plan to achieve those projections.

Base your enrollment and graduate projections and plans on your college’s strategic plan.

To access projections and plans in GPDNet, select PROGRAM DASHBOARD at the top of the page, click on your program, and select from the appropriate tabs to view and enter data, or you may download the spreadsheet Fall 2017 9-8-2017 Official Census Enrollment by Program.

Open Swims will be held in Cato 248 according to the schedule shown below to support planning and respond to questions. If you have questions or need individual assistance, please contact Johnna Watson. To register, please visit the Enrollment Management Planning registration page.

Open Swim Schedule
Graduate School Conference Room, Cato Hall, #248

Wednesday, September 27th, 1-2:30 pm

Friday, October 6th, 1:30 – 3 pm

Thursday, October 12th, 11:30 am-1 pm

Wednesday, October 18th, 10:30 am – noon