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Nominations Open for the 2027 Harshini V. de Silva Graduate Mentor Award

September 10, 2026 by Kaitlyn Chicas

The Harshini V. de Silva Graduate Mentor Award committee is soliciting nominations for the 2027 award.

Established in memory of Dr. Harshini de Silva, a dedicated associate professor of biology noted for her commitment to graduate academic and professional development, the Chancellor’s Office and the Graduate School will present this award to a full-time member of the graduate faculty who embodies these qualities of outstanding graduate mentoring.

The deadline for nominations is Friday, Oct. 30, 2026. Read more about the award and nomination process.

New Graduate Program Data Consultation Service Available

August 21, 2026 by Sam Finley

Graduate Program Directors and stakeholders can now schedule a Graduate Program Data Consultation to discuss their program’s specific data needs and explore how institutional data can support decision-making, reporting, and student tracking goals.

Consultations provide an opportunity to review available data resources, identify reporting needs, and discuss strategies for leveraging institutional data to support program planning and assessment.

Book a Consultation

The Office of Disability Services is now the Office of Accessibility and Accommodation.

August 12, 2026 by Kaitlyn Chicas

The Office of Disability has been renamed to the Office of Accessibility and Accommodation. Please share this announcement and the updated contact information with the faculty, instructors and administrative staff in your departments to help ensure a smooth transition for students.

Key Updates and Details:

New Website: accommodation.charlotte.edu.

The Portal: The former DS Portal is now the Accommodation Portal. Functionality for faculty remains unchanged; you will use the same Faculty Portal to access accommodation letters and test requests.

Email Addresses:

Main Office: oaa-office@charlotte.edu

Test Center: oaa-testcenter@charlotte.edu

Web Links & Redirects: Automated email forwarding and web redirects are active, so messages and link clicks using the old information will still reach the Office of Accessibility and Accommodation. However, as departments update syllabi, webpages, and advising materials, please transition to using the new information.

ISSO Initial Assessment of Final Rule Ending "Duration of Status"

August 12, 2026 by Sam Finley

A Message from UNC Charlotte | Charlotte Global | International Student and Scholar Office

Greetings from a very busy ISSO. As many of you already know, we have been anticipating the announcement of the new USCIS rule ending ‘duration of status’ for F and J visa holders, which was finally made on July 17th. After an initial period of analysis, benchmarking, and review, we would like to share with you the following email that was sent today to currently enrolled international students, graduated international students on OPT, and J-1 scholars. We ask that you please read this carefully (especially the highlighted sections) and share within your departments and colleges as appropriate.

We have also created a new Duration of Status website which will be continuously updated as we gain access to more information through the government agencies and our professional organizations. New internal guidance and processes will need to be created and updated accordingly, and additional messaging will go out to our communities as we continue to understand more about how the new rules affect them. Please encourage your students and scholars to be familiar with these sources of information and to read the emails sent by our office.

We recognize that these are significant changes affecting the international community and by extension our greater campus community. Ongoing discussions with various affected units are underway, but at this point, there are still many questions we do not yet have the answers to. In the meantime, please know that we are committed to being as available as possible to our students, scholars, and campus partners throughout the change.

Thank you, as always, for your ongoing support and understanding.

View Duration of Status Webpage

Graduate School announce the recipients of the 2026-27 Fellowships

July 14, 2026 by Kaitlyn Chicas

We are proud to recognize the 2026-27 UNC Charlotte Graduate School Fellowship recipients and celebrate their success.

Established to support exceptionally talented and committed graduate students, the Graduate School offers a variety of fellowships for program-specific research or scholarship, funded by generous donors.

Judges Needed for the 25th Annual Graduate Research Symposium

February 26, 2026 by Armelia Baldwin

Help us celebrate 25 years of excellence! The Graduate & Professional Student Government (GPSG) is seeking Faculty and Post-docs to serve as judges for the 2026 Graduate Research Symposium.

Register Here!

TOEFL iBT Score Scale Update

February 24, 2026 by Armelia Baldwin

Please click the button below for information on the TOEFL iBT Score Scale Update. All graduate program leadership should update their websites accordingly.

Sample Website Messaging

Detailed TOEFL iBT Score Scale Update

NC STEM Policy Fellowship - Applications Open

February 12, 2026 by Armelia Baldwin

Applications for the 2026 NC STEM Policy Post-Graduate Fellowship program are being accepted by North Carolina Sea Grant through Monday, March 09, 2026, at 5 p.m. With a focus on science, technology, engineering, and math policy issues, this fellowship offers postgraduate students from North Carolina higher education institutions the chance to work full-time for one year in executive state offices.

Learn More About NC STEM Policy Fellowship

Spring 2026 Graduate Education Summit Resources

February 09, 2026 by Armelia Baldwin

Thank you to all who attended the Graduate Education Summit. We encourage you to review the resources from the summit sessions by viewing the agenda, which contains presentation slide decks and photos from the event.

View Agenda

The 25th Annual Gradaute Research Symposium

February 03, 2026 by Armelia Baldwin

The Graduate Research Symposium (GRS) is an interdisciplinary, graduate-student-run event that showcases creative research by graduate and professional students from all programs. The theme for this year is “The Power of Possibility: Reimagining Research for a Changing World.”

For further details regarding GRS and volunteer opportunities, please refer to the flyers below.

Recruitment Holiday Card and Message

December 17, 2025 by Armelia Baldwin

As we close out the year, we are grateful for the partnerships that strengthen our shared recruitment efforts and uphold a collective commitment to excellence. Together, we advance access, quality, and outcomes for students through meaningful collaboration. From our team to yours, warm wishes for a restful holiday season and continued success in the year ahead.

Subscribe to the International Student & Scholar Office Newsletter

December 09, 2025 by Armelia Baldwin

The International Student & Scholar Office sends out monthly newsletters to international students and to visiting international scholars and their host departments. The newsletters provide reminders of immigration requirements, updates on ISSO sponsored events, and notices of any new or changing immigration policies that impact our students or scholars.

If you would like to stay informed of this information, you may subscribe to the ISSO monthly newsletters.

2026 Harshini V. de Silva Graduate Mentor Award Nominations Are Now Open!

October 07, 2025 by Armelia Baldwin

The Harshini V. de Silva Graduate Mentor Award committee is soliciting nominations for the 2026 award. This award was established in memory of Dr. Harshini de Silva, an associate professor of biology. She was noted for her deep dedication to the academic and professional development of graduate students.

Each year, the Chancellor’s Office and the Graduate School present this award to a full-time member of the graduate faculty who evinces these qualities of outstanding graduate mentoring. The recipient will be
honored at a ceremony held on the UNC Charlotte campus in the spring with an award of a crystal obelisk, a framed citation, and a cash prize.

All UNC Charlotte regular graduate faculty members are eligible to receive this recognition. Nominees should be distinguished, active scholars in their appropriate fields and should have a proven record of continuing interest in the growth and success of their students. Evidence of an outstanding graduate mentor should include activities that demonstrate an apparent dedication to providing graduate students with the skills and resources that they need to succeed as scholars and a sincere and active interest in the well-being of their students. These efforts should be related to professional appointments and accomplishments of former students as scholars. Although graduate students, past or present, staff, and faculty members of the University may recommend graduate faculty members for this award, nominations should come from chairs of academic departments. If the nominee is a department chair, the nomination should be made by the college dean.

Nomination materials should include at least the following:

A letter of nomination clearly explaining the nominee’s qualifications. What sets this individual apart from the ordinary in their devotion to graduate students and to graduate education? Also, evidence should be presented that the nominee’s commitment to graduate student education goes significantly beyond that of the average, dedicated member of the graduate faculty.
A copy of the nominee’s curriculum vitae, highlighting activities conducted with graduate students.
Up to six letters of support from graduate students, faculty, alumni, and others.
A statement from the nominee discussing their perspective on the role of mentoring in graduate education.

The deadline for nominations is Friday, November 14, 2025. Visit the Graduate School’s website to submit your online nomination form.

Link to nomination form: https://forms.gle/PG233KJBdmtoi3Zj9

Link to webpage: https://sites.google.com/uncc.edu/gs-award-gateway/home/harshini-v-de-silva-graduate-mentor-award

Please contact Christi Skerlak at cskerlak@charlotte.edu with any questions.

Thank you in advance for taking the time to honor deserving candidates.

New Graduate Recruitment Newsletter

October 07, 2025 by Armelia Baldwin

We are excited to share that we’ve published the first edition of our Graduate Recruitment Newsletter! This monthly newsletter is designed to be your go-to resource for everything recruitment-related — updates on enrollment, upcoming events, professional development opportunities, and tools to help your programs thrive.

Access the Newsletter here!

2026 Outstanding Master's Thesis Award Competition (Deadline: October 13, 2025)

October 01, 2025 by Armelia Baldwin

Eligibility
Instructions for Nominations: To be considered, applicants must have completed their master’s degree
requirements and thesis during the period between Fall 2023 through Summer 2025, inclusive. The
Graduate School will verify eligibility.

2026 Award Categories
▪ Life Sciences (1 award): This includes, for example, biology; botany; zoology; ecology; developmental
biology; molecular biology; genetics; genomics; nutrition; biochemistry; biophysics; microbiology;
pathology; pharmacology; physiology; cell biology; neurosciences; immunology; and related fields.

▪ Social Sciences, Business, and Education (1 award): This includes, for example, anthropology,
accountancy, business, communications, criminal justice, demography, economics, education, finance,
gender and sexual studies, geography, government, international relations, law, linguistics, management,
marketing, political science, psychology, public administration, public policy studies, sociology, social
work, urban studies, and research in closely related fields.

▪ Non-traditional Thesis/ Project Award (1 award): This category refers to both theses in any field that do not readily conform to the traditional model, such as those produced in MFA programs both for literature and the performing arts, as well as those that deviate from the typical disciplinary approaches. Furthermore, it also includes capstone/final research-oriented projects in non-thesis degree programs.

Evaluation Process
Each submission will be reviewed and evaluated on the basis of clarity of style and presentation, scholarship, research methodology, and contributions to the field or discipline.

Application Materials
▪ A synopsis of the thesis (500-word maximum) outlining its context within the broader field, as well as how the completed research contributes to the discipline, prepared by the nominee.
▪ An abbreviated resume or CV for the nominee (2 page maximum, prepared by the nominee);
▪ A web link to the thesis or an electronic copy submitted by email;
▪ A letter of support/endorsement from the major professor focused on the criteria by which the committee will evaluate the submitted theses. These consist of: clarity of style and presentation, scholarship, research methodology, and contributions to the field or discipline.
▪ The thesis was approved in partial fulfillment of requirements for the master’s degree and that the student completed the master’s degree within the past two academic years and/or summer sessions (Fall 2023 through Summer 2025).

Award: The winners will receive $500 and an engraved plaque.

Please Note: Materials must be compiled as a single PDF and named as follows: ThesisAward_Category_LastName_FirstName_Institution.pdf and emailed to jhgreen@charlotte.edu.

For more information, please contact jhgreen@charlotte.edu.

The winners will be submitted to the regional CSGS Master’s Thesis Award competition based on their
submission, where they are eligible to win an honorarium of $1,000 and an award plaque. The award
ceremony will take place at our annual meeting in Baton Rouge in 2026.

Student Temp Job Opening in the Graduate Recruitment Office

August 25, 2025 by Armelia Baldwin

The Graduate Recruitment Office recently posted a position in Hire-a-Niner for a Graduate Admissions/Recruitment Student Temp worker to assist in recruitment and admissions efforts for the Graduate School.

Our student temp workers help with various recruitment initiatives, including calls to prospective students, information sessions, office hours, responding to inquiries, etc. This position will start in September, depending on student availability. We would prefer a student who has at least a year left in their program and availability to work 20 hours a week in person.

If there are any current students in your program who may be interested, we would appreciate it if you could share this opportunity with them. The posting will close on September 2nd. Please let us know if you have any questions.

Link to online application

**Current students will need to log in to Hire-A-Niner to access this link.

Fall 2026 International Recruitment Update – Strategic Insights & Collaborative Opportunities

August 12, 2025 by Armelia Baldwin

As we prepare for the Fall 2026 recruitment cycle, I’m pleased to share an overview of our international recruitment efforts and strategic initiatives designed to enhance global engagement, enrollment outcomes, and student success across campus.

This update highlights key activities underway, including targeted marketing campaigns, counselor engagement strategies, and collaborative outreach with campus partners and external organizations. It also provides insight into the evolving global landscape, including visa policy changes and shifting student expectations, which are shaping the future of international enrollment.

Our efforts are aligned with institutional priorities and present meaningful opportunities for cross-unit collaboration. From expanding regional pipelines and leveraging digital engagement tools to refining messaging around career outcomes, we are positioning UNC Charlotte to remain competitive and responsive in a rapidly changing international education environment.

I invite you to review the full update and welcome your feedback, questions, or interest in partnering on any of these initiatives.

A Note from the Graduate and Professional Student Government

August 01, 2025 by Sam Finley

Strengthening Graduate Leadership: Can We Count on Your Commitment?

Dear Graduate Student Organization Faculty Advisors, Program Directors, and Department Chairpersons,

As we prepare to launch the 2025–2026 academic year, the Graduate and Professional Student Government (GPSG) invites you to reaffirm your vital role in shaping a stronger, more connected graduate community.

We respectfully request your response to this message with the name and email address of your Graduate Student Organization (GSO)’s president and designated senator(s) for the 2025–2026 academic year. This information is essential for maintaining consistent communication, facilitating resource access, and ensuring your organization remains in good standing with GPSG. Please send your GSO leadership contact information to S.L. Ivey gpsgpresident@charlotte.edu.

If your department or program does not currently have an active GSO, GPSG is eager to support you in launching one. By establishing a GSO, your students gain access to funding, campus resources, voting rights within the Graduate Senate, and a platform to elevate graduate student advocacy. The Center for Student Involvement also stands ready to assist you with tools for leadership development, event planning, and growing organizational engagement.

Your Voice Matters—Show Up and Be Heard

The 16-member GPSG Leadership Team is committed to you. We respond to all emails, texts, and messages within 24 hours, and we aim to resolve your questions within 72. We don’t just listen—we act. But we need you in the room.

Monthly GPSG Senate meetings are mandatory for all registered GSOs. They’re held on the fourth Tuesday of each month from 4:00–5:00 PM in Popp Martin Student Union Room 200. There are only eight meetings per year. If your senator can’t attend, you must send a proxy. No exceptions. Your organization’s voice should never be missing from the conversation.

GPSG shows up—in admin meetings, with university leadership, and on behalf of every graduate student. We represent all 37 GSOs with integrity. But we can’t do it alone. We need every organization present, engaged in the 8 monthly senate meetings, and committed to building a stronger graduate student community.

To build a more responsive and unified graduate student community, each GSO will be assigned a dedicated member of the GPSG Leadership Team to serve as their liaison. This leader will serve as your direct point of contact, helping to keep communication clear, ideas flowing, and collaboration strong. Through this model, we aim to bridge the gap between student governance and grassroots leadership—ensuring that no GSO feels isolated or left out.

Your assigned liaison will soon reach out to attend one of your meetings and begin that relationship. But to make this possible, we must receive the name and email of your GSO’s president and/or senator as soon as possible.

We are also launching a major push to connect graduate students via the Niner Engage+ app, which now features a real-time Graduate Student Chat Space. This is where GSO leaders share victories, ask questions, post event ideas, swap strategies—and yes, even a few jokes. It’s your digital community hub, and we want your team in it from the start.

2025–2026 GPSG Senate Meeting Dates:
Every 4th Tuesday of the month (except December)
4:00 – 5:00 PM | Room 200, Popp Martin Student Union

August 26, 2025
September 23, 2025
October 28, 2025
November 18, 2025
January 27, 2026
February 24, 2026
March 24, 2026
April 28, 2026

A Zoom option for our monthly senate meetings will be available upon request, but all absences must be communicated in advance to:

Rachael Brown, GPSG Secretary: gpsgsecretary@charlotte.edu

Organizations that fail to attend senate meetings risk losing funding, having their charter revoked, and being banned from re-chartering for one semester. We don’t want that. We want your partnership.

We promise to respond to your needs swiftly, reliably show up when called upon, and build authentic, collaborative relationships with every graduate organization. This is not just a request—it’s a shared pledge.

Together, we can build the most inclusive, impactful, and energized year our graduate students have ever seen.

LET’S GO NINERS!

Racheal Brown
Secretary | Graduate and Professional Student Government gpsgsecretary@charlotte.edu

Potential Impacts of the Reconciliation Bill on Graduate Education

July 16, 2025 by Armelia Baldwin

Termination of the Grad PLUS Loan Program

Eliminates Grad PLUS Loans (starting July 2026 for new borrowers), which currently allows students to borrow up to the full cost of attendance

Annual Unsubsidized Loan Limits

Imposes borrowing caps up to $20,500/annually with a lifetime limit of $100,000
Borrowers enrolled less than full-time will have their loan amounts reduced proportionally based on their enrollment status, following a reduction schedule set by the Secretary of Education
All students will have a lifetime borrowing cap of $257,500 for federal student loans (excluding Parent PLUS loans)

IMPACTS: These shifts may force students to rely on private loans (with interest rates upwards of 16%) or self-financing, especially for higher-cost programs like the DNP in Nurse Anesthesia and the DBA in Business Administration, and may result in less access and opportunity for people to pursue and attain a graduate education.

3. Repayment and Forgiveness Overhaul

Replaces all current income-driven repayment plans with a Standard Plan and a Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP)
The Standard Plan has fixed monthly payments and terms, ranging from 10 to 25 years, depending on the loan amount.
The Repayment Assistance Plan establishes a new income-driven repayment option designed to adjust monthly payments based on a borrower’s income and offers forgiveness of the debt after a set amount of qualifying payments.

IMPACTS: These changes may result in increased lifetime repayment costs.

4. Creates Accountability Measures for Institutions

Graduate programs will lose eligibility for the Direct Loan Program if, for 2 out of 3 years, their former students earn less than the median bachelor’s degree recipient in the same field and state.

IMPACTS: This change may require significant institutional effort to manage program costs based on expected earnings.

Important Web Updates Coming Soon: Graduate School & Graduate Admissions Websites

June 17, 2025 by Sam Finley

We’re excited to announce two significant updates to our graduate websites coming this month:

graduateschool.charlotte.edu Content Migration (June 18): This is a technical content transfer to a new platform. The website’s appearance and navigation will remain exactly the same. We expect minimal disruption.
Redesigned gradadmissions.charlotte.edu Launch (June 23): Get ready for a fresh, modern look and an enhanced user experience on our graduate admissions site! This redesign will make it even easier for prospective graduate students to find the information they need.

Stay tuned for more detailed announcements and dive into the new graduate admissions site on June 23!