The Office of International Programs invites qualified candidates to submit program applications for the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program prior to the Wednesday, Sept. 15, deadline. Note that U.S. citizenship is required. Click here to search all awards available in the 2022-23 competition or connect with UNC Charlotte’s Fulbright Scholar liaison.
GPD Only
ETS Webinar: Recruitment Strategies for a Reopening World
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, July 28, 2021 at 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.
RED Announces Updated GA Compensation Policy
Research and Economic Development (RED) recently announced changes to the policy governing how tuition and other forms of compensation for graduate assistants (GAs) are charged to sponsored awards (Policy 50.5). Following is the text of that announcement:
To be allowable costs, tuition and other forms of compensation for GAs must meet the following conditions:
- The individual is conducting activities necessary to the award
- Tuition remission and other support are provided in accordance with the established policy of the department/program and consistently provided in a like manner to students in return for similar activities conducted under sponsored awards as well as other activities
- During the academic period, the student is enrolled in an advanced degree program at the university and the activities of the student in relation to the award are related to the degree program
- The tuition or other payments are reasonable compensation for the work performed and are conditioned explicitly upon the performance of necessary work
- The program/department’s practice is to similarly compensate students under sponsored awards as well as other activities.
A recent review of campus practices indicated that compensation packages provided to graduate assistants, including teaching assistants (TAs) and research assistants (RAs) enrolled in the same graduate program often vary, making it unlikely that conditions #2 and #5 are being met. Moreover, the current version of Policy 50.5 requires that sponsored awards cover costs such as fees that are not typically provided to similar GAs supported on institutional or State funds. These forms of compensation are not allowable costs unless they are generally provided to comparable students (e.g., students enrolled in the same graduate program) supported on GAs, regardless of the source of the funds.
The revision of Policy 50.5 aims to establish consistent compensation packages for GAs within individual programs and aligns our university policy with the requirements for Federal awards outlined in the Uniform Guidance.
Although the policy will go into effect on July 15, 2021, we have worked with the college leadership to develop a phased approach (outlined below) that minimizes the impact on existing awards and provides time for programs to establish standard compensation packages for GAs. The FAQs address some of the most common questions we received over the past 18 months as we worked to update the policy.
Implementation of Revision of Policy 50.5
Phase I: Onboarding of Early Adopters (2021-22 Academic Year)
The Associate Deans in the Colleges have identified 21 doctoral programs and 9 master’s programs that currently provide standard compensation packages to graduate assistants and are therefore already aligned with the updated policy. During the 2021-22 academic year, PIs wishing to support students enrolled in these graduate programs may charge up to 100% of the compensation package to an award. PIs wishing to support a student in a program that is not on the “early adopter list” may charge stipend or wages to the award during the 2021-22 academic year, but will not be permitted to charge other forms of compensation, such as tuition, fees, or health insurance. During this period, stipend levels can still be set by the program and may vary by funding source.
Additional details include:
- The compensation charged to the award cannot exceed what is described in the standard package. Compensation less than the standard amount should be accompanied by a comparable decrease in effort.
- Details of the compensation packages and the associated policies governing student eligibility should be communicated to Grants and Contracts Administration (GCA) prior to the submission of a Student Educational Award Form. Any changes to standard compensation packages must be reviewed and approved by Academic Affairs and reported to GCA for publication on the RED website.
- When preparing proposals with start dates after July 15, 2021, PIs wishing to support students enrolled in programs with standard compensation packages must include all components of the package that are permitted by the sponsor, including stipend, tuition, and health insurance.
- PIs with existing awards that include GA support should work with their grants administrators to re-budget costs that are no longer included in the standard compensation package or are no longer allowable.
Phase II: Full Implementation of Policy 50.5 (2022-2023 Academic Year)
Policy 50.5 will be fully implemented at the start of the 2022-2023 academic year. Only students enrolled in programs with approved standard compensation packages will be eligible to be supported on GAs from sponsored awards. PIs may charge up to 100 percent of the standard compensation package to an award and all components of the package that are permitted by the sponsor must be included in any request. Programs without standard compensation packages will no longer be allowed to charge any costs associated with GAs to an award.
Additional details include:
- As outlined above, funds allocated for items, such as fees, that are not included in a standard compensation package may be re-budgeted to cover other allowable costs (with sponsor approval, if required).
- Budgets for new projects with start dates after July 15, 2022 that include GA support should include costs associated with the current or anticipated standard compensation package.
For more information, please contact Rick Tankersley, rtankers@uncc.edu.
Graduate Life Ambassadors Sought
The Center for Graduate Life (CGL) is seeking volunteer Graduate Life Ambassadors (GLA) who assist with event planning, promotion, and suggest new initiatives.
The GLA experience offers:
- A chance to enrich the graduate student experience
- Service opportunities that bolster the resume/cv
- Free food and swag
- A positive, supportive and driven community
To register as a GLA, please visit the Center for Graduate Life.
Dissertation, Thesis Formatting Workshop Planned
The Center for Graduate Life (CGL) will host a workshop on Dissertation and Thesis formatting July 15, 5-6 pm.
The session will include answers to questions on formatting, defense and submission procedures.
To register, please visit the Center for Graduate Life.
Chronicle of Higher Ed Shares Notes on Diversifying the Grad Student Pipeline
The Chronicle of Higher Education recently distributed a summary of key take-aways from a the presentation Diversifying the Graduate-Student Pipeline hosted by the Chronicle and ETS.
The PDF format document is available for download.
Dean's Dissertation Award Goes to Carrier
Tyler Carrier, Ph.D., Biological Sciences, 2020, is the 2021 Graduate Dean’s Distinguished Dissertation Award winner in Biological Sciences/Life Sciences for his work on “Symbiosis Across Diet-Induced Phenotypes of Larval Sea Urchins.”
Read more at the Graduate School.
2021 Recruiting Events Listed
Graduate Admissions staff participate in several recruiting fairs each year and maintain a list of high quality events that provide great opportunities to connect with prospective students.
For more information, download a copy of the spreadsheet of current opportunities and contact MaryanneMaree-Sams@uncc.edu for more information.
Workplace Competencies Certificate Adds Final Touch to the Resume
The Graduate School’s Certificate in Workplace Competencies is an excellent way for students to add a an important credential to their resume, and it is ideal for GASP-funded doctoral students who are finished with coursework.
The certificate focuses on improved written and verbal communication, stronger online presence and creating effective presentations.
For more information and to apply, please visit the Center for Graduate Life.
Recruit Graduate Assistants at Campus Job Fair
UNC Charlotte’s Virtual On-Campus Job Fair will be held Aug. 3 from 11-2 p.m., providing an opportunity to recruit students for on-campus positions and interview candidates before they return to campus.
Departments can recruit for FWS, STW, UPIP and Graduate Assistant positions.
To register, log in to your Hire-A-Niner account, go to Events, select Career Fairs, locate the On-campus Job Fair 2021, and select Register for Event.
For more information, please contact Michelle Wann.
U.S. Provides Update on India Student Visas
The U.S. Embassy and Consulates in India have published an update on efforts to expedite student travel for the fall semester. The following text was taken from their website:
“Student visas remain a top priority for the U.S. Mission to India and we are making every attempt to facilitate student travel in time for the fall semester. As such, on June 14, 2021 we will open limited July and August student visa appointments at posts across India. Students may visit our website, https://ustraveldocs. com/in, to view availability and schedule an appointment.
Prior to your visa interview, please review your I-20 program start date. Students beginning a new program with a program start date on or after August 1 may travel to the United States up to 30 days prior to the program start date and do not need to submit a request for a national interest exception. Continuing students may also resume their programs on or after August 1, and travel 30 days before their program resumption date. We are unable to approve expedited requests for Fall 2021 students with scheduled appointments in July or August. If your appointment date may result in a potentially late start, please reach out to your school to discuss options.”
For more information, please visit the U.S. Embassy and Consulates in India.
Key Considerations to Prepare for Fall Semester
Following are some tips to help prepare for a successful start of the fall semester:
- Catalog Update Petitions
Students must wait to submit 2021-22 Catalog Update petitions until the fall 2021 semester begins. Catalog Update petitions are automatically processed under the term in which they were submitted. This means that if you submit a Catalog Update petition during the Summer 2021 term, the student’s catalog will reflect the current 2020-21 catalog. To update a student’s catalog to the upcoming 2021-22 catalog, the petition will need to be submitted after the first day of fall classes, Aug. 23.
- Advanced Standing Track Requests for Doctoral Programs
Doctoral students who enter with a relevant master’s degree may be admitted to an Advanced Standing track in some doctoral programs. In those programs offering this option, the Graduate Program Director must recommend admission to the Advanced Standing track for the term in which the student begins their graduate study. Please send these requests to Sandra.Krause@uncc.edu.
- Incomplete Grades that will Default to Unsatisfactory
If you have a student that has been assigned an Incomplete grade (I) that will default to Unsatisfactory (U) at the end of the summer semester, the grade must be assigned and submitted no later than August 16, 2021 to avoid suspension or termination. The Graduate School will communicate with individual instructors as well.
User-Friendly Writing Workshop Offered
An online workshop hosted by NC State and planned for June 2 and June 9 from 10-12 noon, will help students learn How to Write in a User-Friendly Way.
Facilitated by Katie Homar, this two part workshop will address the challenges of conveying research in a persuasive way for technical and nontechnical stakeholders.
For more information and to register, please visit the Center for Graduate Life.
Applicants Sought for Economic Mobility Research Grants
The UNC Charlotte Urban Institute has opened applications for a new cohort of Gambrell Faculty Fellows. The Fellowship Program funds short-term research projects (up to 18 months) examining issues related to economic mobility in the Charlotte region.
Now in its third year, the Gambrell Faculty Fellowship Program is a grants program for UNC Charlotte faculty funded by The Gambrell Foundation. This year, the program is particularly interested in racial equity and the impact of the pandemic on economic mobility.
Up to 5 fellowships will be awarded this year. Proposed projects can have a maximum budget of $15,000. The deadline for submissions is 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, June 30, 2021. The grant period will begin August 15, 2021. Information and application form.
Workshop Topic: Formatting and Submitting a Thesis or Dissertation
The Center for Graduate Life (CGL) will sponsor a workshop on Formatting and Submitting Your Thesis or Dissertation May 27, 4-5 p.m.
This session offers answers to questions on formatting, defense and submission procedures. The sessions are offered approximately every two weeks.
See our (And don’t forget to subscribe so you’ll be updated as new videos are added!)
See the CGL events calendar for more sessions or YouTube playlist for recorded sessions. For more information and to register for this session, please visit the CGL.
ISSO Shares Update on People Vaccinated Outside the U.S.
The International Student & Scholar Office shared an update from NAFSA: Association of International Educators regarding requirements for people vaccinated outside the United States.
People who were vaccinated outside the United States with an FDA-authorized COVID-19 vaccine and have received all the recommended doses do not need any additional doses. People who received the first dose of an FDA-authorized COVID-19 vaccine that requires two doses do not need to restart the vaccine series in the United States but should receive the second dose as close to the recommended time as possible.
Some people may have received a COVID-19 vaccine that is not currently authorized in the United States. No data are available on the safety or efficacy of receiving a COVID-19 vaccine currently authorized in the United States after receipt of a non-FDA-authorized COVID-19 vaccine. However, in some circumstances people who received a COVID-19 vaccine not currently authorized in the United States may be offered revaccination with an FDA-authorized vaccine:
- COVID-19 vaccines not authorized by FDA but listed for emergency use by the World Health Organization (WHO)2
- People who have received all recommended doses of a COVID-19 vaccine that has been listed for emergency use by WHO do not need any additional doses with an FDA-authorized COVID-19 vaccine.
- People who have not received all the recommended doses of a COVID-19 vaccine listed for emergency use by WHO may be offered a complete FDA-authorized COVID-19 vaccine series.
- COVID-19 vaccines neither authorized by FDA nor listed for emergency use by WHO
- People who received all or some of the recommended doses of a COVID-19 vaccine that is neither authorized by FDA nor listed for emergency use by WHO may be offered a complete FDA-authorized COVID-19 vaccine series.
The minimum interval between the last dose of a non-FDA authorized vaccine or a WHO-listed vaccine and an FDA-authorized COVID-19 vaccine is 28 days. Only people who have received all recommended doses of an FDA-authorized or WHO-listed COVID-19 vaccine are considered fully vaccinated for the purpose of public health guidance.3
Summer Marketing Campaign Targets Working Professionals
University Communications, in collaboration with the Graduate School, college communicators and the Teaching and Learning connection, has launched a marketing campaign in the Charlotte region to bring awareness to UNC Charlotte’s part-time, evening programs. The campaign targets the working professional highlighting the depth, breadth and support UNC Charlotte offers.
Running May 17 – August 31, 2021, the media includes digital ads, keyword search, social media ads, plus light-rail ads and three billboards near Uptown. In an effort to increase the prospective student funnel, the campaign website https://professional.uncc.edu uses a Search bar where qualified programs will display with the corresponding GPD name and contact. Analytic reports on the campaigns progress will be reported via GPDNet throughout the summer.
If you have any questions about the campaign, please feel free to contact Karla Stanchina, Director of Communications for the Graduate School.
ISSO to Host Town Hall on International Enrollment
The International Student and Scholar Office (ISSO) will be hosting a Town Hall Meeting on Wednesday, May 19th, 2021, from 10-11 AM EST, to discuss the Fall 2021 and Spring 2022 (Academic Year 2021-2022) enrollment guidance that has been released by SEVP (Student and Exchange Visitor Program). At this event, ISSO staff will explain the continuing adaptations, while covering other relevant visa and immigration topics such as summer travel and employment.
The intended audience is currently enrolled international students who plan to continue in the Fall 2021 semester but you are all very welcome to attend so that you can hear the information firsthand. Also, please feel free to forward this announcement to any others in your department who may be interested or who were inadvertently omitted.
Please register by clicking here. A link to the event will be sent to you shortly before the event begins.
More than 200 Attend Student Success and Wellness Meet
More than 220 graduate and professional administrators and faculty from around the country participated in the 2021 Graduate Student Success and Wellness conference (GSSW2021) hosted virtually by UNC Charlotte on May 6-7.
This year’s event brought together registrants from over 50 educational institutions to exchange ideas and learn best practices to promote wellness and success.
Read more at the Graduate School.
GRAD Course Focuses on Core Career Competencies
GRAD 6320/8320, Developing Core Career Competencies, takes place during the full semester and is 2 credits.
Led by Dr. Suzanne Voigt, this course helps graduate students learn the principles of good communication in the workplace, focusing on writing in technical fields such as health, the sciences, and business.
Read more about GRAD courses at the Center for Graduate Life. To register, visit the course schedule at my.uncc.edu.
