The UNC Greensboro Spring Virtual Career & Graduate School Fair will be held Feb. 24 1–4:30 pm. Event details and registration are available on the Handshake career fair page.
For more information, please contact Michael Clinton at UNC Greensboro.
Recruitment
Holistically Recruiting and Admitting Diverse Students
Hear from Dr. Steve Matson, former graduate dean at UNC Chapel Hill and ETS advisor where you’ll learn about the main principles of holistic admissions, as well as the various approaches you can adopt to make your process truly holistic. January 28th at 3:00 pm est.
Zoom Sessions Put GPDs in Touch with Prospects
Beginning spring semester, Graduate Program Directors (GPDs) will have an opportunity to meet with interested prospective students via zoom breakout rooms following a presentation by Graduate Admissions.
The first information session will be Jan. 21, 12:30-1:30 p.m. Interested GPDs should RSVP to participate by Jan. 4.
For more information and to register, please visit the Graduate Admissions Information Session page.
ENCCA Virtual Career Fair Set Feb. 17
The Eastern North Carolina Career Alliance (ENCCA) will host a virtual Career Fair Feb. 17, 10-2.
Students and alumni from eight colleges regional colleges and universities will attend.
For more information and to register, please visit ENCCA’s Career Fair page.
Webinar Will Focus on Effective Prospect Information Sessions
An open house is a proven strategy for building relationships with prospective students. This Nov. 23 session will help you sharpen your skill for promoting and hosting an information session. Included are real stories from real Program Managers and Directors from Education and Social Work graduate programs who are currently hosting sessions.
Register in advance for this meeting at Zoom. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Social Media for Recruiting Nov. 11
Social media is a powerful tool for awareness and recruiting — and it’s free! In this session we will reveal best practices that are proven to get results. We will also share how the Graduate School is using social media to recruit students and build awareness of everything UNC Charlotte has to offer.
Register in advance for this meeting:
https://uncc.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJYof-ihqDsoE9WJMt5FfkWx7ZuThhKBfMpN
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Webinar Addresses Recruiting Best Practices
Graduate Admissions will host a webinar Oct. 14 at 1 p.m. to share best practices for recruiting graduate students. Admissions staff continually monitor nationwide recruiting trends in graduate education and will share effective strategies for recruiting the most diverse and best qualified applicants.
Register in advance for this meeting:
https://uncc.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJMoce-trD8uHNQo5SpVGMAyW7p6b89GVCJU
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
ETS Expands GRE Testing Options
ETS recently announced updates on GRE testing through the TOEFL iBT® Special Home Edition and GRE® General Test at home, and the expansion of in-person testing in China.
TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition and the GRE General Test at home have been extended through October, possibly later. Home testing remains available even in areas where test centers have reopened so that students have a choice.
The Chinese government’s National Education Examinations Authority (NEEA) expanded the number of test dates and test centers through the end of September for the in-person TOEFL iBT test and GRE General Test.
- The TOEFL iBT test will be offered on eight test dates at over 30 test centers, with more centers being added during the month. Prospective candidates can learn more at https://toefl.neea.cn/. Those unable to take the in-person test at this time due to limited availability are encouraged to register for the TOEFL ITP® Plus for China solution. Visit www.ets.org/toefl/itp-
plus for details on the solution, setting score requirements and receiving scores, FAQs, and for the updated list of accepting institutions, now 565 worldwide.
- The GRE General Test will be offered on five test dates at 25 test centers, with more centers being added during the month. Prospective candidates can learn more at https://gre.neea.cn/.
Webinar Focus: Student Prospect Targeting
A free webinar scheduled at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 16 will provide tips on how to cost-effectively target graduate and professional students using the GRE Search Service.
To attend, complete the GRE online registration.
The Graduate School is available to assist with GRE searches. Contact Maryanne Marie-Sams, MaryanneMaree-Sams@uncc.edu.
GPD Recruiting Training Session Planned
A recruiting orientation for new Graduate Program Directors is planned Sept. 29 at 2 p.m.
The Zoom event is entitled Recruitment 101 an Orientation for New Graduate Program Directors. Tips for successful recruitment.
Register to participate at Zoom. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Upcoming Recruitment Opportunities Listed
Representatives from the UNC Charlotte Graduate School participate in several recruitment fairs each year. These fairs present great opportunities to connect with prospective students.
Graduate Admissions maintains a spreadsheet of current opportunities available to UNC Charlotte faculty and staff. Please contact MaryanneMaree-Sams@uncc.edu for more information.
Limited Number of Free Tickets Remain for Fall Career Fair
The Career Center is hosting the Fall Career & Internship Fair: Regional Edition, a virtual event in early October that involves 13 colleges/universities from the surrounding area. The Career Center has provided 30 complimentary registrations for UNC Charlotte’s graduate programs.
For more information and to register, please visit the Career Center.
Please register for only one of the two fair days (if you would really like to attend both days, register for 1 day, but put a note in the comments box on the form that you would like to attend both if there’s space; once we’re a couple weeks out from the event, the Career Center will reach out if there’s space).
On the registration form, choose “check” as your payment method. The Career Center will comp your registration when it’s received. If you have questions about the event, email careerfairs@uncc.edu or call Brooke at 704-687-0789.
Undergrad Research Programs Offer Potential Early Entry Candidates
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.
Help Prospects Learn About Your Program
A virtual information session for prospective students provides an opportunity to engage directly with a Graduate Program Director and currently enrolled students to learn about admission requirements and the application process, opportunities for student engagement, and determine if a graduate program is a good fit.
Graduate Admissions utilizes the AdmissionPros Event Management System to schedule the information sessions, manage RSVPs, and promote the event on our websites and social media accounts. Downstream, we can track participants to determine those who apply, are admitted, and ultimately enroll. A Graduate Admissions staff member will participate in the information session and lead you every step of the way.
Contact Maryanne Maree-Sams (MaryanneMaree-Sams@uncc.edu) or Ellie Ivey (efeely@uncc.edu) to plan a virtual information session for your graduate program, or to chat about any questions you may have related to the process. We suggest that you allow at least four weeks to advertise the offering, so it’s never too early to begin the process.
ETS Guide to Preparing for Admissions
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.
Get Application Fee Waiver Codes in eGRAD
If your department is interested in purchasing fee waiver codes for your prospects, details and a request form is located in eGRAD.
Send Us Your Program Updates
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.
Targeting Prospects Topic of ETS Webinar
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.
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)
