GPD Only

Admissions Application and eGRAD Unavailable Nov 16-21 for Slate Migration

November 01, 2021 by White, Brian

Graduate Admissions is transitioning to a new recruitment and admissions system (Slate) and mygradschool.uncc.edu AND eGRAD will be brought down on Nov. 16 at 12 am.

Graduate Program Directors are encouraged to make recommendations on all Ready for Review applications prior to Nov. 16 or wait until after the Slate go-live on Nov. 22.

All current eGRAD users will have access to Slate as soon as the system is live; training documentation for decision makers and committee members will be provided online. Virtual and face-to-face Slate training will be available beginning the week of Nov 22. Details will be provided soon.

Prospective students are encouraged to submit their application and supporting materials (via mygradschool.uncc.edu) on or before Nov. 16, otherwise they can submit materials in Slate beginning Nov. 22. Similarly, recommendation providers who have not submitted a reference for a prospective student are encouraged to do so by Nov. 16. Otherwise, they will be sent a link to complete the recommendation in Slate.

Between Nov. 16-21:

Data and supporting documents in AdmissionPros will be migrated to Slate
Prospective students for 2022 will be emailed new system credentials to access the system
Recommendation providers who have not submitted a reference will be provided information to do so in Slate
Graduate Program Directors and admissions committee members will be emailed the link to access Slate.

Registration Open for GRAD Courses

November 01, 2021 by White, Brian

GRAD courses administered by the Center for Graduate Life and Learning (CGLL) are available for registration.

The courses, including Academic Writing and Intrapreneurship for Non-Business Majors, address important subjects important to career success.

For more information please visit the CGLL.

Finalists Named in 3MT Competition

October 26, 2021 by White, Brian

Finalists selected for the 2021 Three-Minute Thesis (3MT) final competition Nov. came from a wide range of programs.

The finals competition, which begins at 4:30 p.m. Nov. 12 in the Rowe Auditorium (130), will include:

Roshanak Ashrafi, Infrastructure & Environmental Systems
David Brown, Bioinformatics
Varsha Godakhini, Nanoscale Science
Shanique Lee, Curriculum and Instruction
Jeanne-Marie Linker, Bioinformatics
Rittika Mallik, Bioinformatics
Keith Murphy, Health Services Research
Amanda Sargent, Organizational Science
Kelsey Sikon, Civil Engineering
Samantha Taylor, Bioinformatics
Farida Yasmin, Biology

The 3-Minute Thesis (3MT), hosted by the Center for Graduate Life and Learning (CGLL), is an international academic competition that challenges graduate students to describe their research in three minutes or less, using only one static slide. 3MT allows our graduate students to practice communicating the importance of their work to policy makers, potential funders, and the media.

For more information, please visit the Center for Graduate Life and Learning.

Reports Out on Student Loan Debt, Enrollment and Degrees

October 26, 2021 by White, Brian

2020-2021 and 2019-2020 Graduate Loan Summary Report

This report, available for download, provides details on federal loan debt by students in graduate programs based on enrollment status by aid year. Have questions about the data? Insights into how the information should be considered and/or compiled for 2021-2021? Join the Graduate School for a Graduate Student Debt Question and Answer Workshop on Wednesday, October 27th, between 11 am and noon. Feel free to drop in (virtually!) anytime.

CGS/GRE 2020 Survey of Graduate Enrollment & Degrees
The downloadable document is the only national survey that annually collects data on first-time and total graduate enrollment across 1) all fields of study and 2) by degree level. The Fall 2020 survey was sent to 763 U.S. institutions and received a 73.1% response rate.

Message on Projections from Johnna Watson

October 26, 2021 by White, Brian

Dear Colleagues,

The Projections Manager, located in GPDNet, is now open for enrollment and graduation projection submissions. The information you provide is used to help guide efforts to effectively manage your graduate program enrollment; it’s also vital from a University perspective to better understand program capacity/delivery, future enrollments/graduations, and resources required to support graduate education.

Based on information provided last year, the Graduate School made a request for resources to help two programs grow enrollments, which Academic Affairs provided beginning fall 2021. Additionally, resources and training were strategically provided to support students and programs and aid work to increase recruitment and retention. Given the University’s strategic plan to enroll 7,613 graduate students by 2031, careful planning to achieve the goal is more important now than ever.

Similarly, affirming UNC Charlotte’s commitment to foster access, diversity, equity and inclusion in graduate education, please pay particular attention to ways your program enrollments might reflect a breadth of gender identities, races and ethnicities, nationalities, faith traditions, and other social categories and backgrounds. A new question has been added to better understand program efforts in this regard.

Four open swims are planned to help program directors establish projections and answer any questions related to program capacity and effective enrollment management. For details on the workshops as well as the projections process, please see the attached document. In advance, thank you for your strong support of graduate education and your participation in this year’s cycle to better understand opportunities and challenges in building and retaining the graduate class next year.

Warm regards,

Johnna Watson

P.S. – More details are available for download.

Update Your "Apply Now" Links

October 25, 2021 by White, Brian

In preparation for the Graduate Admissions migration to Slate (go-live date TBD), please update all “Apply Now” links on your webpages, communications, and materials to the URL below.

https://gradadmissions.charlotte.edu/apply

Nationwide, Graduate Enrollment Projected to Grow less than 1% through 2029

October 18, 2021 by White, Brian

Nationwide, graduate enrollment is projected to grow by less than 1% from 2021-2029.

The Education Advisory Board (EAB) compiled a downloadable white paper to help institutions better understand the future needs of adult learners and develop strategies to recruit, enroll and retain them. Charlotte’s graduate enrollment is projected to grow 20% over the next ten years, so the work to strategically serve this unique audience must begin now.

October A2I Sessions Planned at CGLL

October 12, 2021 by White, Brian

The Center for Graduate Life and Learning kicked off their Fall Accelerate to Industry (A2i) series on October 1 with an informative interactive presentation on professional communication from industry partner JELD-WEN. There are two more sessions scheduled:

Thriving in a Hybrid Workforce: How to Adapt and Grow

Friday, October 15, 2021

Graduate students can register here for zoom link

11:00-12:30

While teleworking has been around for a while, the need for so many people to work remotely during the pandemic has vastly expanded its use. As students graduate and enter the workforce, they will likely face many workplace options including face-to-face, remote, and hybrid environments. Each one has its own challenges, etiquette, and opportunities. All graduate students are invited to join professional development specialist, Kim Harris for an interactive session that will teach them how to figure out which environment will best support their professional success and how to navigate and thrive in each of these settings.

Tresata-Giving and Receiving Feedback in a Professional Setting

Friday, October 22, 2021

11:00-12:30

Graduate students can register here for zoom link

By Application Only

We’ve all heard the expression, “feedback is a gift,” but it’s a gift that can be difficult to give and difficult to receive. When we receive feedback, it’s easy to become defensive and stubborn or insecure. When we need to give feedback, we may feel hesitant to criticize a team member who has worked hard on a deliverable. Yet, figuring out how to use feedback to improve ourselves and our teams is one of the most important keys to professional success. This Accelerate to Industry(A2i) session, run by our industry partner, Tresata will be a 90-minute interactive workshop, in which participants will learn how to have honest discussions about improvement without damaging important relationships.

There will be a presentation and then practice in small-group breakout rooms where participants will receive (you guessed it) feedback from Tresata leaders. We will provide Tresata with a resume book of attendees after the event. Space is limited and an application with a resume upload is required. Applications are due by October 19.

How to Conduct the Job Search for International Students

October 11, 2021 by White, Brian

The job search is tricky for everyone, but even more so for international students. This session offers specific insights and tips on how to approach and navigate the job search. Food will be served!

To register, please visit the Center for Graduate Life and Learning.

CGLL Hosts Teaching Workshops

October 04, 2021 by White, Brian

Each semester the CGLL’s Faculty Associate for Graduate Teaching, Dr. Judith Krauss offers a professional development series in teaching to help students build critical skills. These workshops are helpful for graduate students who plan to recruit for tenure-track academic positions, those who will pursue teaching positions at the university level, and those who wish to be more effective as Teaching Assistants. Dr. Krauss is an invaluable resource for graduate students with questions about teaching and can be contacted at jkrauss@uncc.edu.This Fall, the virtual series will include the two workshops described below.

How to Write a Teaching Philosophy

October 13, 2021 4:00-5:00

Virtually all graduate students who apply for a position that involves teaching will need to prepare a statement of teaching philosophy. Faculty Associate for Graduate Teaching Dr. Judith Krauss, will guide graduate students through the process of creating this important document. Participants will be encouraged to share best practices they’ve encountered as students and explore their personal beliefs about effective classroom practices.

How to Conduct a Teaching Demonstration at an Academic Job Interview

October 26, 2021 12:00-1:00

Graduate students going on the academic job market in the near future will likely be asked to provide a teaching demonstration. Dr. Judith Krauss, Faculty Associate for Graduate Teaching will offer concrete guidelines for conducting an effective teaching demonstration for a variety of audiences, including multi-disciplinary hiring committees and student committees. Q&A will be encouraged.

NCCGS Fall Conference is Virtual and Free

October 01, 2021 by White, Brian

The 2021 North Carolina Conference of Graduate Schools (NCCGS) all virtual annual conference will be held Oct. 28 and 29 from 9 a.m.-Noon with no registration nor fee required.

Sessions include Engaging Graduate Students in Wellness
and Campus Activities, Mindfulness versus the Anxious Brain, Graduate Student Organizations’ Best Practices and more. Faculty, students and staff are encouraged to attend.

The full conference agenda with links to each session is available for download. For more information, please visit the NCCGS conference site.

New University Policy on Authorship

September 28, 2021 by White, Brian

The following is a message from Tom Reynolds, Dean of Graduate School, to University leadership:

Dear Colleagues,

I’m writing to share information with you about a Graduate School initiative to support a culture of research integrity through good authorship practices at UNC Charlotte.

When we surveyed UNC Charlotte faculty and graduate student researchers, we found a number of issues related to authorship in collaborative research. For example, faculty and student respondents reported issues with ghost and gift authorship, and fewer than 50% of respondents reported that authorship was discussed at the beginning of projects. Responses also indicated a desire for additional authorship guidance from the University.

One result of this work is University Policy 318, “Authorship Policy and Resolution Procedures,” approved in May 2021 by the University Faculty Council and the Provost.

The policy’s purpose is not to require a single set of authorship practices. Instead, it highlights significant areas of consensus, advances healthy authorship practices, and sets out institutional policies should disputes arise.

I invite you to watch Provost Joan Lorden’s introduction to the policy below for more information, or read the policy here. More information about authorship can also be found on the Graduate School’s Responsible Research page.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OvbGL9pyoHY

Graduate Program Directors, please forward this email to your graduate students.

Sincerely,

Tom

Thomas L. Reynolds, Ph.D.
Associate Provost for Graduate Programs
Dean of the Graduate School

Hanover Research Materials Available to Support Graduate Student Recruitment and Program Management

September 27, 2021 by White, Brian

The following four documents by Hanover Research are now available in the Graduate School Data section of GPDNet:

Best Practices in Graduate Student Recruitment
Effective Strategies for Recruiting and Engaging Adult Learners
Program Capacity Management Strategies
Top 10 Degrees on the Rise in 2021

Reminder Issued for Doctoral Candidates

September 27, 2021 by White, Brian

All doctoral candidates must submit their dissertation to iThenticate and share the resulting similarity report with their entire committee prior to the final defense. Please remind your candidates that all of the Graduate School’s requirements for defense and submission can be found in the Doctoral Checklist (master’s requirements can be found in the Master’s Thesis Checklist).

Please send questions to Aura Young, aura.young@uncc.edu.

GradSchoolMatch Aims to Improve Prospect Targeting

September 23, 2021 by White, Brian

GradSchoolMatch from ETS is an online platform to help prospective students find the best fit for a graduate school and help recruiters stand out among top prospects.

For a $195 registration fee, GradSchoolMatch allows programs to create a profile to showcase unique strengths, then sends notifications when prospects express interest and provides a site to cultivate personal connections.

For more information and to register, please visit GradSchoolMatch and select For Recruiters.

CGLL to Host JELD-WEN on Professional Communications

September 20, 2021 by White, Brian

Students can learn how to develop and improve effective communication in the workplace from a JELD-WEN subject matter expert Oct. 1. The session, part of the Accelerate to Industry (A2I) series, runs from 11-12:30 via Zoom.

As part of the session, participants can practice skills in breakout rooms with a JELD-WEN representative.

The Center for Graduate Life and Learning will provide JELD-WEN with a resume book of those in attendance.

More information and a link to apply is available from the Center for Graduate Life and Learning.

Nominations Open for Outstanding Master's Thesis

September 16, 2021 by White, Brian

Faculty may nominate students for the Outstanding Master’s Thesis Award through Oct. 8, 2021.

The Outstanding Master’s Thesis Award is a part of the Graduate School’s focus on enhancing research skills.

Nomination information, fields of competition and more is available from the Graduate School.

If you have questions, please contact Julie Green, jhgreen@uncc.edu, Graduate Student Services and Fellowship Specialist.

ETS Webinar: Recruitment Strategies for a Reopening World

September 15, 2021 by White, Brian

As we begin to move past the global pandemic, “returning to normal” doesn’t necessarily mean returning to pre-COVID conditions. In this session, we’ll share the latest graduate enrollment and student flow trends, lessons learned during the last 18 months and tools for finding and connecting with prospective candidates.

Join recruitment expert Ayo Strange Wednesday, Sept. 22, 1 p.m. ET for this informative, complimentary webinar where we’ll explore:

The current state of college enrollment
Trends in international student flows
Changes made due to COVID–19 that are worth keeping
Tools, including the GRE® Search Service and the GradSchoolMatch™ platform, that can help programs find and build relationships with prospective candidates

For more information and to register, please visit the ETS Registration site.

CGLL Offers Support for Dissertation Work

September 13, 2021 by White, Brian

The Center for Graduate Life and Learning (CGLL) offers dissertation support to UNC Charlotte students at all stages of the dissertation process.

Through the CGLL, writers can learn tailored strategies for managing the dissertation process, as well as how to:

Plan, draft, revise, and edit their dissertation writing
Work more effectively with dissertation chairs and committee members
Create strong writing habits and set reasonable writing goals
Manage their time and be more productive
Deal with barriers to writing, such as writer’s block and procrastination

Students may email Dr. Lisa Russell-Pinson, lpinson@uncc.edu, Assistant Teaching Professor of Writing in the Graduate School, to schedule an appointment.

Dissertation Writing Group
Wednesdays 10:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

The Dissertation Writing Group (DWG) meets Wednesdays, 10-12:30 p.m. and provides a supportive, virtual forum to help dissertation writers:

Form or refine productive writing and work habits
Break isolation and build community
Take advantage of structured writing time

The first DWG session begins Wednesday, Sept. 29. The group is facilitated by Dr. Lisa Russell-Pinson, Assistant Teaching Professor of Writing in the Graduate School.

To be eligible to participate in this group, writers must be doctoral students who are actively working on their dissertation and able to commit to attending each 2.5-hour session for eight weeks.

Please visit the DWG registration site to join this group.

Research & Econ. Dev. Announces Change in F&A Distribution

September 13, 2021 by White, Brian

New F&A distribution guidelines announced recently by Research and Economic Development include funds for colleges and centers to help support strategic research initiatives.

Starting with FY2022 (July 1 2021-June 30, 2022) receipts, 4% of the generated F&A will be returned to the investigator’s college. If the project is also affiliated with a center or institute, these funds will be split evenly (50/50) between the college and the center/institute. Over time, the plan is to increase the allocation to faculty/staff and departments.

The original announcement from Dr. Rick Tankersley, Vice Chancellor for Research and Economic Development, is available for download. Also available for download is the full policy statement.