GPD Development

NCCGS Virtual Workshop is Jan. 18

The North Carolina Council of Graduate Schools (NCCGS) 2019 Virtual Workshop series launches Jan. 18 at 2 p.m. with Holistic Admissions: Why It Matters and How Programs Are Addressing It Now.

This session will be led by Steven W. Matson, Ph.D., Dean, The Graduate School, UNC-CH and Julie Shurts, Associate Director, Global Client Relations, Educations Testing Service, UNC-CH.

This workshop will examine how the combination of the right applicant skills, attributes and experiences helps achieve program goals and student success. Hear about promising practices for implementing a holistic admissions system, curated from 71 interviews with deans and faculty in graduate schools and programs nationwide.

To connect with your WebEx account:
Access code: 736 124 895

By Phone: Toll: +1-415-655-0003 
Access code: 736 124 895

a. It is recommended that you use a conference phone or your desk telephone for the audio connection rather than your computer’s microphone.
b. When you click “Join Meeting” you can select “Dial In” or “Call Me” from the pull down menu. If you select “Call Me” you will be prompted to enter your phone number. The WebEx application will call your local phone number and participants will see your name when you’re speaking.
c. Don’t connect using your computer audio and your telephone as strong feedback will result.
d. A WebEx smartphone app is also available (Android and iOS)

Information on this and the entire workshop schedule is available to download.

Dean Introduces New Leadership Award

The Thomas L. Reynolds Leadership Award program honoring excellence in graduate program administration will launch in spring 2019.

The award will be presented to a Graduate Program Director or Graduate Program Coordinator selected by a committee of Graduate School staff, Graduate Council, Graduate and Professional Student Government and previous winners.

In launching the award, Dean Reynolds said, “In addition to managing enrollment, Graduate Program Directors and Coordinators track and manage their students while implementing programs and services to promote their success. Doing this well deserves recognition and praise.”

The award will be made annually.  The winner will receive $1000, an engraved plaque, and his or her name will be engraved on a perpetual trophy.

For more information on award criteria, please download the Information Sheet.  To submit a nomination, please use the Reynolds Leadership Award Google Form.

Raleigh Meteorologist Greg Fishel to Address Climate Change

Greg Fishel, weather forecaster for Raleigh television station WRAL, will present “Climate Change: My Journey from Ideology to Science,” Nov. 11 at the Raleigh Convention Center.

The presentation, sponsored by the Sigma Xi Scientific Research Society, examines the scientific, political and religious sides of the climate change debate and explores why a divide exists between scientists and the public.

To register, please visit Sigma Xi.

Sigma Xi also will be sponsoring a Student Research Conference at the event, featuring a poster competition and career development sessions on science communication.

 

 

 

Updated Portal Focuses on Program Director Needs

Categories: GPD Development

Welcome to GPDNet, an effort to cultivate a richer, more collaborative communications environment among Graduate School staff and Graduate Program Directors, who we view as our most important allies in delivering excellence in graduate education at UNC Charlotte.

Over the summer, we consolidated all the news, information and tools GPDs need into one online portal (integrated into the eGEM platform) that is accessible only to approved faculty and staff.

GPDNet is actually an expansion of the existing eGEM system and allows us to provide information for GPDs in a password-protected place (integrated into the eGEM platform) that is accessible only to approved faculty and staff. It is part of an overall initiative to improve the effectiveness of the Graduate School’s communications.

While the site is still under development, when fully deployed you will be able to select the topics of greatest interest and those will automatically arrive in your email box as soon as the site is updated.

A special thanks to GPDs who responded to our survey earlier this summer.  That feedback helped us shape the topics for information updates as well as how we designed the overall portal.  We will be counting on your feedback to continuously improve the information we provide and how we provide it.

Balance Advisor and Mentor Roles

Categories: GPD Development

Understanding the difference between ‘advising’ and ‘mentoring’ – and applying just the right balance of the two – is a key to helping students successfully navigate graduate studies at UNC Charlotte.

Advising is often procedural, focused on policies, courses and in some cases, funding.  Mentoring is more personal and includes emotional support, career advice and role modeling to help students through graduate school and their postdoctoral training.  Graduate students need both.

Using University policy as a base, consider these important elements of student success:

  • Shared Values
    • Academic integrity and responsible research
    • Respect for others and for their differing view points
    • Expectations for professionalism
  • Shared Goals
    • A completion time line
    • Expectation for mastery of the content
    • Understanding career goals
  • Shared Responsibilities
    • Following University policy
    • Meeting deadlines
    • Communicating openly with one another

For more resources, visit the Graduate School’s Mentoring and Advising site and DegreeWorks for a useful advising tool.

 

Faculty Research Connections

Categories: GPD Development

The UNC Charlotte Faculty Connections site contains an aggregation of profile information for faculty from most colleges with details about their areas of academic interests.  Read more…