As a reminder, the Graduate School posts weekly application and enrollment reports to GPDNet allowing you to analyze and compare activity in your program. This is a helpful tool to guide your program in meeting targeted enrollment goals. You must be signed into your NinerNet account to download the reports. For questions, please contact Johnna Watson about enrollment reports, or Kathy Giddings for application reports.
It’s been a challenging year for the Class of 2020, and University Communications would like to celebrate them in the safest and most meaningful way possible. We want to tell the Class of 2020 graduate story and we hope you’ll help us.
In ‘To the Class of 2020, From the Class of 2020’, we plan to create a thoughtful compilation of what graduating means for our May graduates, including voices of UNC Charlotte faculty and staff. Please consider submitting a personal video that includes words of encouragement for the Class of 2020. Use this webform for guidelines and to share submissions by the April 28 deadline.
We appreciate your participation, which will provide inspiration and much-needed encouragement to the Class of 2020 during this time.
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.
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.
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
Indian nationals are further strongly advised to refrain from travelling to China, Italy, Iran, Republic of Korea, France, Spain, and Germany.
The Center for Teaching and Learning has developed an extensive resources to help faculty remain productive during crisis.
Included are a worksheet to help develop a continuity plan for courses and tips for staying productive while working remotely.
Learn more by visiting the CTL’s website
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.
Concerns over the spread of coronavirus has delayed the annual convention of the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), originally planned for San Antonio in late-March. The event will be rescheduled.
Another recruiting opportunity will be available when the National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers (NOBCChE) holds its annual conference in September. The conference will be held at the Rosen Shingle Creek in Orlando Sept. 21-24.
For updates on both conferences, please visit NSBE and NOBCChE.
The US Department of Labor recently issued new Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) guidance to colleges and universities, effective July 1, 2020, that will affect how the role of graduate assistants is defined for compensation purposes.
The new guidance was shared with UNC Charlotte leadership by Gary Stinnet, Associate Vice Chancellor for Human Resources.
In a memo distributed broadly on campus, Stinnet said the guidance pertains to teachers, coaches and student employees. Specfically, his memo noted, the guidance includes:
Graduate Teaching Assistants (TA): Graduate teaching assistants whose primary duty is teaching are exempt. Because they qualify for the teacher exemption, they are not subject to the salary basis and salary level tests (currently $35,568).
Research Assistants (RA): Generally, an educational relationship exists when a graduate or undergraduate student performs research under a faculty member’s supervision while obtaining a degree. Under these circumstances, the Department does not assert that an employment relationship exists with either the school or any grantor funding the student’s research. This is true even though the student may receive a stipend for performing the research.
Student Residential Assistants: Students enrolled in bona fide educational programs who serve as residential assistants and receive reduced room and board or tuition credits are not generally considered as employees under the FLSA. Therefore, they are not entitled to minimum wages and overtime compensation.
“To ensure current/future compliance with the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the University will distinguish graduate administrative assistants from graduate teaching/research assistants moving forward – designating these jobs as FLSA non exempt roles and paid on an hourly basis,” Stinnet said. “While these roles are of no less significance in educational/experiential value than graduate teaching and research assistants, they are not covered as exempt under current FLSA guidance.”
He noted that University will no longer offer graduate administrative assistantships via the eGA system. These roles will be filled through the ePAF process and time accounting will be managed through Banner Web Time Entry.
The changes are included in a review of graduate assistant definitions under way by the Graduate Funding Committee led by Manuel Perez-Quinones, Professor of Software and Information Systems and Graduate Faculty Fellow.
Please forward FLSA questions to Kieffer M.Gaddis, kgaddis@uncc.edu, 7-0654, and student employment questions to Teresa Shook, tshook4@uncc.edu, 7-0671.
In its recent Spring 2020 Open Forum presentation, the Office of the Registrar outlined changes coming for the summer term in the following images:
For more information, visit the Office of the Registrar.
The Graduate School will conduct an information session March 18th from 12-1 pm for University employees who wish to pursue their graduate education. Graduate School staff will explain the easy application process, and share information about the tuition waiver and free textbook rental programs. The session will be held in Cato 248.
Full-time employees can take three classes per year, tuition free. Additionally, employees can apply easily apply for admission as a post-baccalaureate (non-degree) student, without standardized tests, transcripts, or recommendation requirements.
To reserve your seat, complete the online registration.
The School of Data Science is accepting research proposals through Mar. 15 for summer 2020 funding.
This grant opportunity provides up to $30,000 per award for UNC Charlotte and partnering faculty and researchers. Proposals must be submitted by teams composed primarily of UNC Charlotte researchers.
Proposals must be submitted as one single PDF via email to jhertel@ucc.edu. For more information, visit the School of Data Science.
The Graduate Student Funding Committee has published draft definitions to improve understanding and consistency of implementation of work processes and funding for these important student roles.
The Committee was appointed by the Graduate Council to analyze and implement recommendations from the Graduate Student Funding Task Force in 2018.
Review of and comments on the policy statement are welcomed. Access the policy statement on the committee’s Canvas site.
The Graduate School will host the CGS-sponsored webinar, “Trends in Graduate Education” Feb. 26, 2-3 p.m. in the Graduate School conference room, Cato Bldg, 2nd Floor.
Jaqui Falkenheim and Josh Trapani from the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics at NSF will present the most recent data on graduate students from the Survey of Earned Doctorates and the Science and Engineering Indicators. They will address trends in enrollment and degree awards, student demographics (sex, race/ethnicity, citizenship), financial support patterns, and post-graduation employment, among other topics.
No registration is required to participate in this event.
Nominations for the 2019-20 Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant (TA) Award will be accepted through Feb. 10.
The TA Award recognizes students who are nominated by their faculty supervisors for their work as teaching assistants. Two awards are presented; one at the Doctoral level and one at the Master’s level.
To nominate, email the TA’s name, ID number, email address, degree and program title to Daniel Jones (Daniel.Jones@uncc.edu) by February 10, 2020 and let the student know that you have nominated them. Nominees will complete the application process with a deadline of Feb. 27.
For more information please visit the Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant Award portal.
Time is running out to book your place at the University Career Center’s Spring career fairs that can put you in touch with high potential students from UNC Charlotte and area colleges and universities.
STEM Career Fair
UNC Charlotte’s STEM Career Fair provides organizations with an excellent opportunity for branding and recruiting candidates for full-time jobs, internships, co-ops, and graduate/professional programs. This event focuses on opportunities in science, technology, engineering, and math. Event draws 1000+ students and alumni.
Visit the UNC Career Center’s registration site for more information and to register.
Spring Career and Internship Fair
The Spring Career & Internship Fair provides organizations with an excellent opportunity for branding and recruiting candidates for full-time jobs, internships, co-ops, and graduate/professional programs. This event focuses on non-technical opportunities, such as business, communications, and “all majors” positions.
Visit the UNC Career Center’s registration site for more information and to register.
Application deadline for 2020 awards is Mar. 23. Application instructions can be found at the Graduate School Award Gateway.
The Office of Undergraduate Research, the Graduate School and other community partners will be celebrating the exciting research that is happening at UNC Charlotte through a partnership with Discovery Place Science. We are recruiting both undergraduate and graduate students to present their research at this event. The event will take place at Discovery Place Science on Wednesday, April 1, 2020 from 10 am-1 pm.
For more information on this event or how to sign up, please contact the Office of Undergraduate Research, 704-687-5316, or undergradresearch@uncc.edu. Students can also sign up online at Discovery Place Science Participation Form.
The call for participation for this event will close on February 10, 2020.
