The International Student and Scholar Office (ISSO) issued new guidance for international students after ICE/SEVP rescinded policies issued July 6 governing participation in online classes.
The full text of the ISSO statement sent to students via email is available for download.
The UNC System Office will host an online workshop on Designing Effective Online Courses July 20. The workshop is free, but space is limited, and registration is required. Learn more and register.
The material will be aimed at instructors who have minimal proficiency leading online learning environments, but experienced instructors will also find new tips, hot topics, and useful activities.
The two-week session begins on July 20. Participants can finish the work at their own pace, but are encouraged to complete the program by July 31.
Learn More: The syllabus provides additional detail. Visit the Digital Learning Initiative website to register.
Please forward questions to Dr. Jim Ptaszynski, Vice President for Digital Learning.
The Office of Undergraduate Research is recruiting faculty to participate in the OUR Scholars and Federal Work Study (FWS) Research Assistant Program through July 24.
The two programs provide research experience, mentorship and professional development. Faculty are invited to submit a research project to be paired with an undergraduate student for the 2020-2021 Academic Year.
The OUR scholars program will include eight OUR scholars each in the fall and spring semester. There is no cap on the FWS Research projects. Projects will be selected based on faculty members’ mentorship record and breadth of research experience that will be provided to the students.
To get involved, please complete the form for 2020-2021 Call for OUR Academic Year Research Opportunities.
For more information, please contact Erin R. Banks, ebanks10@uncc.edu.
The Council on Graduate Schools (CGS) released a statement expressing concern with the recent guidance from the Student and Exchange Visitor Program regarding international students’ participation in online courses.
Read the full statement from the CGS.
In a memo to UNC Charlotte leaders, the International Student and Scholar Office (ISSO) addressed guidance for F-1 students from the the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) issued by news release July 6.
The ISSO memo is available for download.
The original SEVP news release is available from US Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Distance Education has introduced a new tuition and fee structure for out of North Carolina non-resident students.
The Distance Education Out-of-NC Non-Resident Tuition Rate Fact Sheet is available for download.
More on Distance Education Tuition and Fees can be found at Niner Central.
At the outset of the pandemic, with testing centers closed around the world, Graduate Program Directors were given autonomy to waive testing requirements for summer/fall 2020 applicants. Given the ongoing challenge for people to access physical testing centers, and/or the lack of personal equipment and settings to sit for an online test, coupled with significant financial challenges, many programs are considering waiving the standardized test requirement for 2021 applicants.
To address these challenges and opportunities and brainstorm viable alternatives, join Associate Dean Johnna Watson and Director of Graduate Admissions Kathy Giddings for a Zoom meeting on: Wednesday, July 8, at 11 AM.
Meeting ID: 976 7162 5105
Password: 6vywP3
The required cut-off date for applying any RDS determination has been extended from 30 to 45 days from the start of term for fall 2020 through spring 2021. The change was made to allow for adjustments to Census Day reporting in the wake of COVID-19.
The changes were outlined in a letter from Kimberly van Noort, Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Chief Academic Officer for the UNC System. The letter is available for download.
ETS and the GRE® Program recently released a discussion guide that poses questions faculty and administrators should consider in preparing for, collecting and accepting applications.
The guide is available for download.
Applicants offered admission are required to submit a final official transcript from the college or university where the bachelor’s degree was earned prior to registering for the second semester in the Graduate School at UNC Charlotte.
Final transcripts for spring 2021 admits are due Aug. 15. Fall semester transcript submissions are due in October. Final transcripts can be mailed to the Graduate School or sent electronically directly from the College or University to gradcounselor@uncc.edu.
Offered through the Graduate School, the Certificate in Workplace Competencies helps develop professional skills in written and verbal communication, presentation-building, managing new initiatives, and working on diverse teams.
This program would be of interest to doctoral and Master’s students in all disciplines as well as working professionals with a bachelor’s degree who want to build key workplace skills to promote professional success.
For more information or to apply, visit the Center for Graduate Life.
We actively post updates to our Graduate Admissions social media accounts (Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn) to encourage people to explore different programs or attend a virtual information session.
Please let us know if you have any information about your program (videos, articles about current students,pictures, etc) you would like us to share.
Send any information or questions to Ellie Ivey, efeely@uncc.edu.
For questions, please contact Sandra Krause, Sandra.Krause@uncc.edu.
GRE® Search Service expert Ayo Strange will lead a free 30-minute webinar entitled Discover How to Cost-effectively Target Graduate and Professional School Students Wed., June 10 at 1 p.m.
The webinar focuses on finding graduate-level prospects through GRE® test performance with the GRE® Search Service.
To register, please visit ETS GRE.
The International Student and Scholar Office (ISSO) sent a message to UNC Charlotte students from China aimed at clarifying the presidential proclamation issued May 29.
Following is the text of that message:
Dear Students,
On Friday, May 29, 2020, President Trump issued a presidential proclamation titled: Proclamation on the Suspension of Entry as Non-immigrants of Certain Students and Researchers from the People’s Republic of China.
The Proclamation is mostly applicable to graduate level students and researchers, who are PRC nationals seeking to enter the U.S. as F/J non-immigrants or applying for an F/J U.S. visa stamp and who:
or
While the term ‘military-civil fusion strategy’ has been defined as ‘actions by or at the behest of the PRC to acquire and divert foreign technologies, specifically critical and emerging technologies, to incorporate into and advance the PRC’s military capabilities’, currently there is no list published by U.S. authorities of institutions or entities that meet that criteria.
It is important to know that this proclamation does NOT include:
or
Future Entry to the U.S.
It is also important to note that the proclamation only applies to future entry to the U.S. and future F/J visa applications. While it instructs the Secretary of State to consider whether PRC nationals currently in the U.S. in F/J status should have their visas revoked, the order itself doesn’t revoke any existing visas. Most importantly, visa revocation, in and of itself, should not result in removal, deportation, or expulsion from the U.S. Rather, visa revocation means that the visa can no longer be used to enter the U.S. even if the visa appears valid and the expiration date has not yet passed (which would only impact those who depart the U.S. or are abroad at the time the visa were revoked.)
Evolving Situation
At this time, there is no information yet about how this proclamation will be executed. This is an evolving situation and we will continue to keep you updated. In the meantime, please monitor the email accounts you used to apply for your F or J visa. If you receive notification that your visa has been revoked, please contact the ISSO so that we can advise you accordingly.
The UNC Charlotte Global NinerNation
We realize that the tone of these proclamations may be deeply concerning to you and your loved ones. Please know that the ISSO and its professional associations work tirelessly to interpret these presidential proclamations, executive orders, and other changes in U.S. immigration while advocating for the benefits of international education.
The ISSO wishes to remind you that we support you throughout this difficult time. We appreciate the diversity of skills, cultural exchange and the many other gifts that you bring to the UNC Charlotte community. Please be in touch and let us know how we can help you.
Sincerely,
Tarek Elshayeb, Director
Denise Medeiros, Associate Director
