Graduate School senior leadership hosted a virtual forum with GPDs Apr. 29 to discuss a number of COVID-19-driven policy adjustments and to respond to questions.
The forum was recorded and is available on WebEx.
GPD Only
Nominations Due for Dean's Dissertation Award
Have you nominated a student for the 2020 Dean’s Dissertation Award? The submission deadline for all supporting materials is May 29.
This year’s categories are Physical Sciences and Engineering, Social Sciences and Mathematics.
The nomination form and more information about the award can be found on the Graduate School Awards Gateway.
Clarification on Academic Probation and Suspension
The following is a clarification of an announcement on academic probation and suspension distributed in a NinerNotice April 27:
For GRADUATE Students only: All graduate students will have the option to select Pass/Unsatisfactory for each of their Spring 2020 courses. (Please note: No Credit (N) is not an option in the graduate grading scale.)
Graduate students are required to have a 3.0 GPA in their program of study in order to graduate. Unlike undergraduates, graduate students are suspended when they earn a grade of U or an unacceptable number of C grades. A student can select to have Pass replace a C grade this semester. Students who earn a U or an unacceptable amount of C grades will be suspended or terminated, as appropriate. This process will not change for spring.
Graduate students are advised to consult with their program director before making a grade change selection, if relevant.
A letter from Graduate School Dean Tom Reynolds is available for download.
ISSO to Host Virtual Town Hall on COVID-19 and Visa Regulations
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.
Ventureprise Launch NSF I-Corps Summer 2020 Virtual Cohort
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).
Webinar: Why Diverse Teams are More Effective
Dr. Manuel Pérez-Quiñones, Professor in College of Computing and Informatics, will host an informal discussion about diversity and how you can learn to build and work effectively on diverse teams. The session is Apr. 24, 10 a.m.
Please visit the Center for Graduate Life to register.
Reynolds Graduate Leadership Award Goes to Vetter
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, Brinegar Are Top Teaching Assistants
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.
Outstanding Dissertation Nominations Sought
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.
Financial Support Agreements Binding on 4/15 National Signing Day
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-
Action Needed to Boost Fall Enrollment
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:
- The U.S. State Department has closed consular visa processing through at least June in most countries, so visa backlogs and delays are inevitable.
- Travel restrictions both to and within the U.S. may persist.
- The Educational Testing Service (ETS) has suspended test administrations in most countries, including the U.S., so it is impossible for many prospective students to submit GRE, GMAT and TOEFL scores.
- IELTS (English language proficiency) testing has been suspended in many countries.
Economic and political challenges due to COVID-19 may preclude individuals from enrolling; this includes military service, employment loss, lack of employer-subsidized tuition, caregiver to sick family, et al. - If the University continues to (only) offer remote learning courses in the near term, some individuals that prefer face to face delivery may delay pursuing a post-baccalaureate education.
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
- If a program opts to defer students offered summer/fall 2020 admission to spring 2021, the faculty may need to alter course schedules to accommodate the change; this may also necessitate an orientation for new spring admits.
- Programs that offer new students TA or RA appointments for fall 2020 need to anticipate how those assignments will be impacted if students cannot begin their enrollment. Reminder: New students must be physically present to sign I-9’s in order to be compensated for graduate assistantship appointments.
- Nominate newly admitted students for graduate assistantships and funding via eGA and eGPS. Consider “over-booking” newly funded students in anticipation that individuals from some countries may not be able to obtain their visas or travel in time for the fall semester start date. Contact Julie Goodliffe at jmgoodli@uncc.edu for assistance.
- To help currently enrolled students continue their education in the fall, nominate them for funding via eGPS.
- If your program has the capacity to enroll additional students in fall 2020, please contact Johnna Watson at jwwatson@uncc.edu as soon as possible.
- Admissions counselors are available to help you offer virtual Information Sessions for prospective and/or admitted students. Reach out to Maryanne Maree-Sams at mmareesa@uncc.edu for more information or to schedule your virtual sessions.
- Graduate Admissions can also help promote your programs via social media. Email Ellie Ivey at efeely@uncc.edu any social media-ready artwork and she will propagate our Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn accounts with your program info.
- Engage your faculty to help connect with prospective and admitted students to encourage them to apply for admission and enroll. Personalizing recruitment is vital to students choosing UNC Charlotte for their graduate education.
- Update your program’s Graduate Enrollment Management Plan in GPDNet in light of any enrollment opportunities or challenges, and utilize recruitment resources in the system to help effectively recruit the new class.
Important Dates and Deadlines:
April 1
- Priority deadline to nominate students for funding
- Graduate School Summer Fellowship (GSSF) application deadline
- Proposal Development Summer Fellowship (PDSF) application deadline
- Application Information Session (online)
April 10
- Admitted Student Session (online)
April 14
- Application Information Session (online)
April 15
- National Signing Day (for students offered funding to confirm fall enrollment)
April 22
- Application Information Session (online)
April 30th
● Admitted Student Session (online)
Duolingo English Test Scores Accepted
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.
Teaching Assistant Awards Go Virtual
The Center for Graduate Life has cancelled its annual Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant Award Ceremony originally planned for April. This year’s winners will be announced via email next week.
The award honors one doctoral and one master’s-level teaching assistant who has demonstrated exceptional teaching skills and commitment with a $1,000 award and a plaque.
CGL Seeking GLF Candidates
The CGL is recruiting applicants interested in serving as Graduate Life Fellows during the 2020-2021 academic year. Candidates must be enrolled full-time to be eligible.
Graduate Life Fellows serve as mentors and help to plan and run CGL programming throughout the academic year. Fellows receive a $5,000 award that can be paid on top of an assistantship. All individual and team interviews will be conducted via Webex sessions.
The application will remain open until April 3.
Workshops Focus on Online Networking, Interviewing
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.
No Change Seen for Start of Summer, Fall Registration
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.
Graduate Assistantship Guidance in Response to COVID-19
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
Graduate Admissions Encourages Additional Recruitment Efforts
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:
- With ETS administrations of the TOEFL and IELTS canceled, we are evaluating a new online test to enable international applicants to submit English proficiency scores;
- Anticipating use of ETS’s new online GRE which is expected to be available by the end of March;
- Offering GPDs maximum flexibility to waive GRE, GMAT, and MAT requirements for summer/fall 2020 and 2021 applicants;
- Extending individual outreach to applicants/admits with personalized help;
- Promoting additional virtual admissions information and admitted student sessions, and we encourage programs to offer these virtual sessions as well (contact us!);
- Increasing digital and social marketing, particularly in North Carolina, with the assistance of University Communications;
- “Over-booking” newly funded students in anticipation that individuals from some countries will not be able to obtain their visas and/or travel;
- Exercising more flexibility with deadlines, as appropriate.
Please reach out to our graduate admissions counselors, Maryanne Maree-Sams and Ellie Ivey, if you have any questions.
State Dept. Suspends Visa Services in Most Countries
On March 18, 2020, travel.state.gov (U.S. Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs Visa Office) posted the following news alert:
- “In response to worldwide challenges related to the outbreak of COVID-19, the Department of State is suspending routine visa services in most countries worldwide. Embassies and consulates in these countries will cancel all routine immigrant and nonimmigrant visa appointments as of March 18, 2020. Check the website of the embassy or consulate for its current operating status. As resources allow, embassies and consulates will continue to provide urgent and emergency visa services.
- These Embassies will resume routine visa services as soon as possible but are unable to provide a specific date at this time. Although all routine immigrant and nonimmigrant visa appointments are cancelled, the MRV fee is valid and may be used for a visa appointment in the country where it was paid within one year of the date of payment.
- This does not affect the visa waiver program.
- Services to U.S. citizens continue to be available. More information is available on the Embassy’s website.
- Applicants with an urgent matter and need to travel immediately should follow the guidance provided at the Embassy’s website to request an emergency appointment.”
Being Timely in Recruitment
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:
- Communicate regularly with your applicants and enrolled students
- Help new and continuing students connect to your program in multiple ways (FacebookLive events, emails, chats, WebEx, phone calls)
- Encourage all students who are ‘eligible to enroll’ to do just that~
- Offer virtual Information Sessions for prospective students as well as applicants offered admission (Graduate Admissions can help!)
- Explore resources to support Graduate Enrollment Management online at: https://egem.charlotte.edu
- Make timely recommendations for admission, funding, and assistantships
- Support continuing students in new, creative ways, as necessary
