The Graduate School is offering the last opportunity to participate in Mentor Training this semester. Sign-up now for the November 13th workshop! Join other faculty who have adopted best practices in mentoring students and postdocs! Spring dates will be announced in January.
Home
Graduate Student Among Finalists for People's Choice Award
Naz Fathma Tumpa, a nanoscale chemistry Ph.D. student, is one of two UNC Charlotte Klein College of Science students nominated as team finalists in the Collegiate Inventors Competition, and for a People’s Choice Award. Please vote for “Color-Metric Sensing” once per day through 5 p.m., Wednesday, Oct 16.
Fall 2024 Graduate Education Summit Resources
Thank you to all who attended the Graduate Education Summit. We encourage you to review the resources from today’s session by viewing the slide deck and reading the additional written announcements and resources from the Graduate School.
Oct. 21 Deadline For Outstanding Master's Thesis Applications
Applications for the Outstanding Master’s Thesis Award may be submitted through Oct. 21 2024. For more information, please visit the Graduate School’s Outstanding Master’s Thesis Award site or contact Julie Green, jhgreen@charlotte.edu.
Mentor Training Planned for October, November
The Graduate School will offer Mentor Training for graduate faculty and Principal Investigators Oct. 18 and again on Nov. 13. Sessions run 9-4 pm each day.
The curriculum comes from the Center for the Improvement of the Mentored Experience in Research (CIMER) at the University of Wisconsin. It is highly interactive and includes a variety of useful resources and tools.
Principal Investigators (PIs) and graduate faculty who need to fulfill the Responsible and Ethical Conduct of Research (RECR) training requirements should register for one of these dates.
For more information and to register, please visit the Graduate School’s Mentorship Training site.
Photo Session Sign-up: Spotlighting Graduate Niners
Near the end of the Graduate Education Summit, the Graduate School is offering a limited number of photo session spots for graduate education champions, like you!
These professional photos and your spotlight responses will be featured in marketing efforts to celebrate graduate education at UNC Charlotte. A short questionnaire will be sent to you following the Graduate Education Summit.
If you are interested, please sign up for a 15-minute block below and plan to arrive to the Marketing table during the breakout sessions (10:30-11 a.m.) at the end of the Summit.
Recording Available for GPD Orientation
A recording is available of the virtual orientation Graduate Program Directors held Aug. 29.
To view the recording, go to the GPD Academic Orientation and enter passcode V?WpN4M^.
Campos Named Recruitment Assistant Director
Joseph Campos, formerly Associate Director of Admissions for Queens University, has joined the Graduate School as Assistant Director of Recuitment.
Campos has over 20 years of experience in enrollment management, workforce development, and global partnerships. He will lead efforts to expand and strengthen Charlotte’s undergraduate and graduate international recruitment and enrollment strategies.
He holds a B.S. in Hospitality Sales and an MBA in Management from Johnson and Wales University.
Joe can be reached at jcampos5@charlotte.edu or x75501.
Recruitment, Reception Move to Reese 1st Floor
The Graduate School reception desk and Graduate Admissions recruitment team have moved to the first floor of the Reese building, centrally located on the UNC Charlotte campus.
This relocation aims to better serve the graduate student community and prospective students by providing improved accessibility and convenience for all visitors.
Read more from the Graduate School.
Pathway to NSF GRF Program Offers Application Funding and Support
The Graduate School is offering a Pathway to NSF GRF program of support and funding for qualified students interested in applying to the National Science Foundation’s Graduate Research Fellowship program (NSF GRF).
The Pathway program pays a $750 scholarship for up to 50 graduate students who are selected for the Pathway to NSF GRF Award, complete training and apply for the NSF GRF by NSF’s deadline.
For students pursuing a research-based M.S. or PhD in STEM, the NSF GRF is a nationally competitive fellowship that offers:
· $37,000/year stipend for 3 years
· $16,000/year cost of education allowance for 3 years
· Additional opportunities for a total of 5 years
Interested students should apply by Sept. 2. For more information and to apply, please visit the Pathway to NSF GRF Award website.
Sessions Offered on Graduate Student Funding
Graduate Enrollment Management is offering a training session on funding with two date options: Oct. 14 and Oct. 17. Both sessions run from 1-2:30 p.m.
Topics that will be addressed include compensation packages, GASP, graduate assistantships and paying for fees. The sessions will be conducted over Zoom.
Reserve your place by completing the Funding Training RSVP. A Google calendar invitation will be sent to all who RSVP.
Student Health Insurance Options Expanded
Students who want to purchase health insurance for the 2024-25 academic year now have two options to choose from: Premium and Value.
The Value Plan was added this year to provide a lower premium with lower benefits. For comparison, the Value Plan for fall or spring semester is $1,182.28, while the Premium plan costs $1,475.32.
The costs for the Premium plan will be covered for students who qualify for the Graduate Assistant Support Program (GASP). Please note: All international students who want to purchase insurance should enroll in the Premium plan to meet the university’s requirements for coverage. More information is available from Student Health and a comparison of the two plans is available for download.
Orientation Set for New Graduate Program Directors
Graduate Academic Affairs and Student Affairs will host two opportunities for new Graduate Program Directors (GPD) to participate in an orientation session in September. The session will help familiarize new GPDs with Graduate School resources and support available for this new role as well as provide an opportunity to ask questions.
The orientation session options are Sept. 4 and Sept. 10. Please RSVP for one of the sessions using this form.
June 14 Deadline Set for New Conference Travel Scholarship
The Graduate School has introduced new funding to support conference travel where students have been invited to present. Applications for the award must be received by June 14.
The reimbursement applies to future 2024 travel or past conferences in 2023-24 and includes a $1,500 lump sum deposited to the student account. The scholarship is available to all graduate students in good standing for 2023-2024.
For more information and to apply, please visit the Graduate School Conference Travel Scholarship page.
Pre-Orientation Days on Campus
Are your incoming international students ready for a smooth transition into graduate life? Our Pre-Orientation Days on Campus offers a comprehensive guide to navigating life on campus and in the U.S.
Pre-Orientation Days on Campus
When: July 28 – August 1, 2024
Program Fee: $160 for 4 nights, $195 for 5 nights
This pre-orientation is ideal for incoming international students who have already secured housing or are still looking for a place to live. Please note: all participants must move out by August 1. There is no option to stay longer.
Incoming students stay in on-campus housing and participate in programming that includes:
- Housing Orientation: tours of local apartment complexes, review of landlord/tenant rights, review of lease obligations
- Tutorials on basic financial transactions like opening a bank account, buying auto or rental insurance, setting up and paying for utilities and more.
- Community Building–enjoy a first night dinner and other social hours with other incoming graduate students
- Academic Success coaching–learn about the resources you can use to perform well academically
- Advice on making the most of your graduate degree by engaging with career and wellness resources
- Programming on adjusting to American culture
- Wise safety precautions in the U.S.
Encourage your students to seize this opportunity for a strong start! Share this interest form for them to complete by July 15, 2024.
Grad School Seeks Assistant Director of Recruitment
The Graduate School is looking for an Assistant Director of Recruitment to drive global education initiatives to increase enrollment, identify growing global markets and enhance the international graduate student experience.
Join us in shaping the future of international enrollment at Charlotte by sharing this opportunity with your network. Application review will begin June 4.
For questions, please contact Sabrina L. Brown, Director of Graduate Recruitment, slbrown1@charlotte.edu.
IDP Webinar Focus: Student Demand Trends for Nigeria and Ghana
In this May 16 webinar, in-country experts from IDP’s offices in Ghana and Nigeria will discuss best practices for recruiting students from their respective countries, including in-person and virtual tactics, subject demand trends, future opportunities in the region and more.
For more information and to register, please visit IDP Education.
Grad Students Sought for Admissions Ambassador Role
The Graduate Admissions Office is looking for a dynamic group of currently enrolled graduate students to serve as Graduate Admissions Ambassadors for the 2024-2025 academic year to help recruit and enroll the graduate class. Ambassadors are well-positioned to connect with prospective applicants given their unique experiences and perspectives as enrolled graduate students.
More information about the opportunity can be found in the application.
We encourage Program Directors and Affiliates to share this opportunity with students in your program.
For questions, please contact Ellie Ivey (ellie.ivey@charlotte.edu).
Charlotte Again Ranks Among Top Graduate Programs in the U.S.
In the 2024 U.S. News Best Graduate Schools rankings released this week, UNC Charlotte offers dozens of graduate programs considered among the best in the nation. For more information, read the full article.
Graduate Compensation and GASP/MTART: Additional Guidance for Academic Year 2024-2025
This guidance is intended to provide additional information with regard to changes in graduate compensation and support packages for academic year 2024-2025. Please take time to carefully review this guidance including the linked reference materials and policies. Upon review of this guidance, the key contacts listed are available for any additional questions.
Key Contacts:
The Graduate School: Dr. Julie Goodliffe, Assistant Dean for Funding and Research
Division of Research: Peter Szanton, Director of the Office of Research Services (ORS)
Academic Affairs: Holly Durham, Associate Provost for Academic Budget
Reference Communications:
GASP_MTART_12Mar2024 from Provost Jennifer Troyer
StipendIncrease_22Mar2023.pdf from Interim Associate Provost Pinku Mukherjee
Reference Policies and Resources:
GASP Policies | The Graduate School | UNC Charlotte
FAQs for Funding Compensation Policy | The Graduate School | UNC Charlotte
2024-2025 Graduate Student Compensation Packages
University Policy 601.8: Appropriate Use of University Funds
Uniform Guidance for Federal Awards
GASP: Graduate Assistant Support Plan
RA: Research Assistant
MTART: Masters TA Resident Tuition
TA: Teaching Assistant
What is changing for the 2024-2025 academic year?
- The Graduate School and colleges will be operating on a fixed budget for GASP/MTART. As such, colleges will bear responsibility for new institutionally-funded RAs and TAs.
- For all grant-funded doctoral RAs, the proposal budget must include the full non-resident tuition and health insurance costs effective 7/1/24 (where the funding agency allows). Proposals written before 7/1/24 may also include this change as it will benefit the doctoral RA program.
- Scholarship awards to doctoral students to offset the cost of student fees will be discontinued and this amount will be rolled into increased stipends.
- Stipends for all TAs and RAs on assistantships for the academic year will be increased, based on student eligibility and prorated based on a 20-hour per week assistantship, as follows:
- $1,500 to doctoral students on an assistantship
- $250 to master’s students on an assistantship.
- Summer research fellowships will be contingent upon funding availability.
Stipend Increases for Graduate Students
A permanent increase in graduate compensation will be instituted for the 2024-2025 academic year, impacting approximately 1,250 graduate students with an investment of $1.15 million annually. The full amount of the increase has been budgeted centrally (general funds) and will be distributed to colleges and units in the new fiscal year. Preliminary information on additional funding for 2024-2025 has been shared with colleges and units impacted. This is one step in what we intend to be a continued investment in graduate compensation in the coming years, as resources allow.
How will the stipend increases for the 2024-2025 academic year be funded?
- Stipends for graduate assistantships are funded from various sources and this may impact how your college or unit implements the stipend increase for your students. Allocation of centrally budgeted (general) funds may not happen immediately on July 1st, however this should not delay implementation of the stipend increases for graduate students.
- For this round of stipend increases, colleges and units will not be expected to absorb the cost of the increase and general funds will be available to fund the differential, meaning that stipends may be paid on multiple funds.
- Budget planning must include this new compensation level for graduate students and should incorporate projected increases for future years.
- If you have already budgeted additional awards to offset the cost of fees for doctoral students (discontinued for 2024-2025), the amount should be rebudgeted to the student’s stipend, if possible.
- If you have already budgeted for a stipend increase for 2024-2025, the amount of that budgeted increase can be factored into your planning, however the increase must meet the minimum of $1,500 for doctoral and $250 for master’s students on academic year assistantships.
- Note that these funds are dedicated to increasing graduate compensation in the form of stipends and new general funds allocated must be used for that purpose. No fund swaps will be allowed.
Ensuring Compliance with University and Federal Guidelines
- Under Federal Uniform Guidance, only certain student fees can be charged to federal grants. At Charlotte, student fees identified as eligible to be charged to federal grants are: (1) the Health Services Fee and (2) the Education & Technology Fee.
- However, these two fees can only be charged to federal grants if they are actual institutional costs, meaning they are paid consistently for similarly employed students regardless of funding source.
- Because we are currently unable to cover student fees on institutional funds, we cannot charge federal awards for these fees.
Additional Guidance for External Funding from the Division of Research
Tuition
- To comply with Graduate School policy, effective July 1, 2024 all proposals must budget full non-resident tuition for doctoral students, if permitted by the sponsor. For those that do not, along with approved unique circumstances, there will be a mechanism to request university support.
- PIs are encouraged to begin to budget for full non-resident tuition for doctoral students immediately.
- If you budgeted for non-resident tuition and end up hiring an in-state student, you can reallocate the difference to other parts of your award budget. Note: If the sponsor requires that we obtain approval from them for budgetary changes, we will still have to obtain that approval prior to reallocating the funds.
- We encourage programs to consider approaches for recruiting a balanced resident/non-resident portfolio of high-quality students as a strategy.
Fees
- Effective immediately, fees can no longer be included in proposal budgets or paid for students on active awards (reference the “Ensuring Compliance” section above).
Stipends
- Effective immediately, proposal budgets for awards that would begin on or after July 1, 2024 must include the updated stipend levels listed in the Graduate Student Compensation Packages 2024-2025.
- Effective July 1, 2024, all graduate students on all awards will be paid based on the Graduate Student Compensation Packages 2024-2025.
- Pre-existing proposals and awards as of July 1, 2024 will incorporate the new stipend rates into their awards through rebudgeting when possible. This is similar to a situation when a faculty receives a pay increase and rebudgeting is done to pay the appropriate amount of summer salary.
- If rebudgeting is not possible, there will be a process for accessing funds from your college or unit to cover stipend increases up to $1,500 for doctoral and $250 for masters students on assistantships.
- Effective immediately, all graduate student stipends will include a 3% annual escalation in proposal budgets to accommodate for possible future increases.
Rebudgeting
- As a result of these changes, award rebudgeting may be needed, and in some cases that will require formal sponsor review and approval. Please consult with the Office of Research Services (ORS) on the specific rebudgeting requirements for your award(s).
