The International Student and Scholar Office (ISSO) will host a WebEx Town Hall Apr. 27 to respond to questions about COVID-19 and visa and immigration regulations.
The session, scheduled from 3-4:40 p.m., will address travel, enrollment, employment (incl. OPT & CPT), and more. The content is intended for UNC Charlotte students and alumni on OPT & STEM OPT
Follow this link to WebEx to participate.
For more information and updates on COVID-19, please visit the ISSO website.
Have an idea or research finding that the National Science Foundation may be interested in funding? Have an idea in response to COVID-19 and the current situation? Want to receive up to $5000 for your research or business idea? Apply to participate in the Summer 2020 Ventureprise Launch National Science Foundation I-Corps virtual cohort. The program provides UNC Charlotte faculty, staff and students with commercialization training and up to an initial $5000 in NSF funding. The goal of the program is to identify potential commercial uses and prepare for more substantial commercialization funding opportunities. The next stage is a six month $50,000 NSF I-Corps Teams grant. The cohort will begin May 13 (rolling applications, last day to submit is May 8). A complete schedule and application form can be found on the NSF I-Corps webpage. Contact: Principle Investigator Devin Collins (7-8058).
Lara Vetter, professor of English, was selected to receive this year’s Thomas L. Reynolds Leadership Award for her contributions to student success and enrollment management.
Read more about Vetter’s accomplishments in Graduate School news.
Nitika, Ph.D., Biological Sciences, and Caroline Brinegar, MA, Geography, were recently designated UNC Charlotte’s most Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistants (TA).
The pair were recognized remotely as part of the University’s effort to fight the Coronavirus pandemic. Each received the Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant Award, which includes $1,000 and a plaque.
Read more at the Graduate School’s news page.
The Graduate School is seeking nominations through May 29 for the 2020 Dean’s Distinguished Dissertation Award.
The award, which is sponsored by the Council of Graduate Schools (CGS) and ProQuest Dissertations Publishing, includes a certificate, $1,000 cash award, and a chance to participate in the CGS annual meeting.
The award recognizes original work that makes an unusually significant contribution to the discipline.
For more information and access to the nomination form, please visit the Graduate School Award Gateway.
Acceptance of an offer of financial support, such as a graduate scholarship, fellowship, traineeship, or assistantship, for the coming academic year by a prospective or enrolled student completes an agreement that both the student and graduate school expect to honor.
Prospective students are under no obligation to respond to offers of financial support prior to April 15th; earlier deadlines for acceptance of such offers violate the intent of the April 15th resolution.
For additional information, please contact Dr. Julie Goodliffe in the Graduate School or see https://cgsnet.org/april-15-
While we are focused on serving students, faculty and staff during these unusual circumstances, we must also anticipate possible longer term impacts to fall 2020 enrollment. To that end, each graduate program should consider how to appropriately and nimbly respond now to mitigate decreases in enrollment to the extent possible.
Please keep us informed of your plan to respond to the possibility of a substantial reduction in new student enrollment for fall 2020, whether international or domestic or both, by April 1st. You should update your program’s Graduate Enrollment Management Plan in GPDNet, and also communicate with Johnna Watson at jwwatson@uncc.edu.
Some of the issues that will impact new domestic and international enrollment are:
What Graduate Admissions and Funding (and ETS) is Doing to Help Recruit the New Class
1. A Google form is being developed for applicants to request their application for admission be updated/deferred from summer or fall 2020 to a term in 2021 without the applicant incurring an additional cost.
Note: Applications for individuals already offered admission will be (re)referred to Graduate Program Directors for admissions consideration and recommendation. Toward this end, if a program does not currently consider spring and/or summer applicants but wishes to do so for 2021, please contact Kathy Giddings at kathygiddings@uncc.edu to open the term(s) in the application portal as soon as possible.
2. We will temporarily accept official scores from the Duolingo English Test in support of English language proficiency. Prospective students can take the test anytime, anywhere and get results in less than two days, at a cost of $49. A minimum score of 105 is required, and we expect to be able to receive certified test scores within a week.
3. We are offering GPDs maximum flexibility to waive GRE, GMAT, and MAT requirements for summer/fall 2020 applicants, and continue to encourage holistic review of admissions applications to determine applicant “fit” with graduate programs.
4. ETS is offering a solution for students impacted by the coronavirus to take the TOEFL iBT and the GRE General Test at home until test centers can reopen. TOEFL testing will begin on March 26th, and GRE testing on March 27th, in select countries (including the U.S. and China). These test administrations will include live proctors and utilize artificial intelligence technology. Details will be available soon on the ETS website.
5. GradConnect is our program by which enrolled graduate students and staff “connect” with prospective students to help move them along the enrollment funnel, from suspect > prospect > applicant > admitted student > enrolled student, and we continue to connect with as many individuals as possible. (Your help goes a long way towards this effort!)
6. Admissions counselors offer virtual Information Sessions for prospective applicants to learn more about graduate programs, admission requirements, and the application process, in addition to Now That You’re Admitted Sessions for individuals offered admission.
7. Prospective students who have applied or been admitted to the summer or fall 2020 semesters are invited to join our admissions counselors for a live question/answer session. The counselors will address any questions or concerns brought about by the coronavirus COVID-19 crisis.
8. We actively post to the Graduate Admissions social media accounts (Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn) to promote graduate programs and encourage people to attend a virtual Information Session and Apply Now.
9. Graduate Admissions partnered with University Communications to debut a Made in Charlotte ad campaign that launches this week. Paid social and digital ads will be strategically placed in the Charlotte, Triad, and Triangle regions to promote graduate programs.
Challenges and Opportunities for Graduate Programs: What You Can Do to Help Enroll New Students
Important Dates and Deadlines:
April 1
April 10
April 14
April 15
April 22
April 30th
● Admitted Student Session (online)
For the duration of the Coronvirus pandemic, Graduate Admissions will accept scores of 105 or higher on the Duolingo English Test to demonstrate satisfactory English language proficiency. The Duolingo English Test is a modern language proficiency tool that prospective students take online from anywhere, anytime; all that is needed is an internet connection, a webcam, and microphone.
The computer adaptive Duolingo English Test is designed to measure the entire spectrum of English language ability from basic to very proficient, and scores are reported out of 160 in 5-point increments. Again, the minimum score required for graduate applicants to programs at UNC Charlotte is 105. The registration fee is $49 USD, and the test can be completed in under an hour.
The proficiency score is calculated by a computer adaptive engine, while the entire test session is certified by a human proctor to verify the test taker’s identity and detect instances of rule breaking. The results, including video interview and writing sample, are available within 48 hours of the test session; test takers can send an unlimited number of score reports to institutions for no additional cost.
For more information on testing requirements, please visit Graduate Admissions English Language Proficiency.
The Center for Graduate Life (CGL) will host live online workshops Mar. 31 that offer timely information on how to get the most from networking and interviewing online.
For more information and to register, please visit Networking in a Virtual World and Interviewing in a Virtual World.
The CGL also plans a Virtual Writing Workshop and a Virtual Coffee Hour. Visit the CGL for details.
From Academic Affairs: Currently, there are no plans to move registration for upcoming summer and fall semesters. Students are encouraged to check My UNC Charlotte for registration holds and times. Following conversations with their advisor, students can begin building their potential schedules in Schedule Wizard, which allows students to send their schedule to Banner Self Service when their registration time opens.
Dear Graduate Program Directors and Coordinators,
As we work through the adjustments to a remote operation as a way to slow the spread of COVID-19, I want to address the role of graduate assistants and provide the following guidance to ensure we are focused on doing what is right, both for our students and for the University.
The safety and well-being of our students, faculty, and staff must always be central in developing changes to any operational plan – even if temporary. Keep in mind our graduate assistants and teaching assistants, even though they are in paid positions, are primarily students. I encourage everyone to pay particular attention to graduate assistants who are in a high-risk category, either with their health or as care providers to others. Please consider this in your plans to fulfill their assistantships for the duration of the semester.
Existing contracts for graduate assistants should not be shortened or reduced in hours, except under the most extreme circumstances. If a program wishes to shorten or reduce a contract (hours and/or compensation) for any reason, they should first contact Dr. Julie Goodliffe in the Graduate School at jmgoodli@uncc.edu to discuss. As a reminder, graduate assistants are eligible for paid Administrative Leave as long as they remain on their current contract. Thus, it is critical to keep the students’ contract in place to ensure no disruption in pay. The Graduate School monitors any change or cancellation of a graduate assistantship.
We have received guidance locally and from the UNC System Office to be flexible to the greatest extent possible with our graduate assistants. If you have work they can do remotely, it is recommended that it be planned and assigned, even if it is outside of their normal duties. Teaching assistants may continue to assist faculty in a remote capacity, and you are encouraged to work with the Center for Teaching and Learning to learn more. As directed by the Office of Research and Economic Development, research employees, including graduate research assistants and technicians, should follow the guidance provided for all University employees. All research staff should coordinate with their supervisors to discuss tasks that can be completed remotely or safely on campus through social distancing protocols.
Our cooperation as an institution, community, and as individuals will help keep the spread of Coronavirus to a minimum. If we do what we can now, the return to normal campus activities will come that much sooner. Thank you all for your willingness to adapt while supporting the needs of our students.
Stay safe and healthy,
Tom
The coming months may prove difficult in recruiting new graduate students, particularly international students, so Graduate Program Directors are encouraged to review their Graduate Enrollment Management Plans and modify/append efforts as necessary. Here are a few additional efforts our Graduate Admissions team is doing in an effort to enroll new/continuing students:
Please reach out to our graduate admissions counselors, Maryanne Maree-Sams and Ellie Ivey, if you have any questions.
On March 18, 2020, travel.state.gov (U.S. Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs Visa Office) posted the following news alert:
With closures to many testing centers around the world, particularly in China, we encourage holistic review of available application materials for 2020 summer and fall applicants. In light of required English language proficiency and testing center closures abroad, Graduate Admissions is investigating the possibility of using a Remote English Proficiency Assessment tool on an interim basis. Stay tuned on more information.
Of utmost importance is the timely review of application materials for applicants so they may be nominated for graduate assistantships and funding prior to the April 15th National Signing Day. If you need assistance with the review process, please contact Graduate Admissions.
With your help, we can enroll the 2020 fall class. If you don’t already, please consider the following:
In the coming days, the UNC System and our Chancellor will be issuing guidance as to how various units work through the coronavirus pandemic. We do plan to operate under the guidance provided.
Please know that GPDNet will be an active resource for the most up-to-date information regarding Graduate School process and policy. Our goal is to be as flexible as possible with graduate students and faculty when it comes to graduate enrollment management, graduate academic affairs and graduate student affairs. Next week we will launch an FAQ here on GPDNet as a new resource. We will also send out email blasts to our GPD/C audience as warranted by changes and updates. Once again, please bookmark GPDNet, and use the Comments box below if you have questions you’d like answered by Graduate School staff.
The Research and Economic Development department’s 2020 Catalyst Boot Camp will focus on success in applying for grants from state and federal agencies, foundations and nonprofits. The goal of the program is to enhance the research and creative capacity of the University and institutionalize systemic support for the advancement and success of early- and mid-career faculty.
The Catalyst Boot Camp program will feature two tracks that will run concurrently: Catalyst for STEM+ and Catalyst for the Arts and Humanities.
Full details can be found in the Catalyst Program Description. The deadline for applications to the 2020 Catalyst Boot Camp is Friday, March 13, 2020, by 5:00 pm. For questions about the application process, please contact Lesley Brown, Director, Center for Research Excellence at labrown@uncc.edu.
The Center for Graduate Life (CGL) will host human resources consultant Ivanna Garibaldi Campbell for a presentation on “Working Smarter on Diverse Teams” Mar. 19.
The presentation is scheduled 12:30-1:45 p.m. at the CGL, Cone 268. To reserve a seat, visit the Center for Graduate Life.
