The Winter Edition of the U.S. Commercial Service International Education Connection includes several opportunities to reach potential graduate students in countries worldwide.
A copy of the publication in pdf format is available for download.
Featured
Funding Team Proposes GA Definitions
The Graduate Funding Committee is inviting comment on proposed new standard definitions for Graduate Assistant, Teaching Assistant and Administrative Assistant roles.
The Committee was established to assess and implement recommendations made by the Graduate Student Funding Task Force in 1017-18. Creating standard definitions for these roles was among those recommendations.
The draft definitions are available in this shared Google document. Comments are welcome in the document or below.
The Funding Committee’s work also can be followed on Canvas. All Program Directors should have received an invitation to join the project course. If you did not receive an invitation, contact Julie Goodliffe, jmgoodli@uncc.edu, in the Graduate School.
For more information, contact Dr. Manuel A. Pérez-Quiñones, Faculty Fellow, Graduate School, and Chair of the Graduate Funding Committee, Perez.Quinones@uncc.edu.
CLAS Offers Marketing Tips
A new resource developed by the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS) helps program directors cut through the clutter to reach student prospects.
Developed by CLAS Director of Communications Lynn Roberson, the downloadable presentation focuses on understanding prospective student audiences and shares best practices on how to reach them. The presentation includes a checklist of what to include on a program website.
The presentation is available for download. For more information, contact Lynn at 704-687-0082, lynnroberson@uncc.edu.
Info on Student Holds, Errors Available
Niner Central has a great online resource to help students with registration holds and error messages.
Visit Niner Central for more information.
Student Funding Nominations Must Go Through New eGPS System
Effective Dec. 19, all student funding nominations MUST be completed in eGPS, the Graduate School’s new student funding system. eGPS allows Graduate Program Directors (GPDs) to view, nominate, see decisions, and track the complete funding package for students.
Access to eGPS is provided upon completion of in-person or online Canvas training.
After Dec. 19, funding nominations may no longer be submitted through eGA, the online “electronic graduate assistantship” application platform. eGA will continue to be used for generating student contracts and transmitting contract information to Human Resources and Payroll.
GPDs and administrative staff interested in gaining access to eGPS or in learning more may participate in an informational ‘open-swim’ drop-in session in Denny 101, Dec. 16, 17, and 18 from 2-4 p.m. each day.
UNC Charlotte Hosts Expert Panel on International Recruitment Opportunities
UNC Charlotte recently hosted a panel discussion on the topic Strategies for Internationalization, Recruitment and Retention, featuring recruiting experts from Queens University, UNC Greensboro, the U.S. Commercial Service, Sannam S4 and UNC Charlotte’s Graduate School.
The panel shared best practices, opportunities and considered what the future holds in the international higher education market.
Education service exports ranked 5th among service exports in 2018, according to the U.S. Commercial Service, a division of the Department of Commerce. For the 2017/2018 academic year, U.S. schools hosted over one million students and reported $45.3 billion in education exports, supporting over 455,000 U.S. jobs. [1] These numbers have been slowly trending downward, yet China, India and South Korea remain lucrative pools to cultivate for recruiting purposes. China alone has 28 million university students, many of whom seek a western education to “top-off” their academic career.
The panel said competition worldwide for students at the graduate and undergraduate levels is intensifying. Some drivers behind that trend include:
- Many countries are developing programs such as industry partnerships and guaranteed work placement post-graduation to entice their student population to stay in-country.
- Many U.S. institutions, such as Massachusetts Institute of Technology and University of Chicago, have placed entire programs in a host country like Hong Kong.
- A number of Asian countries (China, Japan and South Korea) that have traditionally been rich sources for student recruits are experiencing low birth rates. There’s just not enough student body to go around.
The panel also discussed what is working and what can be done even with dwindling budgets. Dr. Joël Gallegos, UNC Charlotte’s Assistant Provost for International Programs (OIP), described how the University is trying new ways to tap the market. His OIP division is currently recruiting a staff member to help bridge the geographical gap between the Charlotte campus and the world. Their duties will include greater outreach and UNC Charlotte presence in some of these countries.
Having an international student base broadens the institution’s diversity and enhances its culture. The top fields of study by international graduate students here at UNC Charlotte can be found in Computing & Informatics, Engineering and Liberal Arts and Sciences. There are over 1,300 international graduate students enrolled as of fall 2019.
[1] Data released by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Economic Analysis
Grad Ambassadors Help Belk Connect with Prospects
A new program from Belk College of Business provides an easy way for prospective students to connect and get answer to questions.
Visit Belk College of Business to learn more.
Student Funding Program Gains National Attention
The Graduate School’s Fellowship Application Incentive Program (FAIP), which provides financial incentives for graduate students to apply for fellowships, is the subject of a upcoming national webinar.
For more information, please visit the Graduate School website.
Perez Quinones Honored by the Association for Computing Machinery
Dr. Manuel Perez Quinones, College of Computing and Informatics (CCI) professor and Graduate School Faculty Fellow, was named a Distinguished Member by the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) for his outstanding contributions to computing education.
For more information, please visit the College of Computing and Infomatics.
NinerScholars Portal Now Open
Nominate your graduate students today for these exceptional funding opportunities. Visit the Graduate School’s website for specific criteria on each award. Some fellowships can be directly applied to by the student, so please encourage them to do so.
For questions, please contact Julie Green, Fellowship Specialist for the Graduate School.
Graduate Student Funding Committee now on Canvas
Updates on implementation plans for the Student Funding Task Force recommendations are available on Canvas.
The Student Funding Implementation Committee created a Canvas project course where information and issues under discussion will be published for comment.
All Program Directors should have received an invitation to join the project course. If you did not receive an invitation, contact Julie Goodliffe, jmgoodli@uncc.edu, in the Graduate School.
Internationalization, Recruitment and Retention Discussion Planned
UNC Charlotte, Queens University, Sannam S4 and the U.S. Commercial Service have teamed up to present a round table discussion on Strategies for Internationalization, Recruitment and Retention 1:30-4:30 Nov. 7 in Cone University Center Rm 210.
The session will include U.S. Commercial Service Diplomats from Japan, South Korea and Thailand. A panel discussion will feature Nell Pynes, UNC Greensboro, Johnna Watson UNC Charlotte Graduate School, Angie Edwards, Queens University, Adrian Mutton, Sannam S4 and U.S. Commercial Service representatives.
Please RSVP to: Stephanie.Bethel@trade.gov.
Certificate in Quantitative Analyses Available
The Graduate Certificate in Quantitative Analyses program targets experienced educators,
counselors, and other professionals who seek to deepen their statistical skills for improving educational outcomes.
counselors, and other professionals who seek to deepen their statistical skills for improving educational outcomes.
Who should apply?
-CURRENT GRADUATE STUDENTS earning their master’s or doctorate can use elective
hours to complete the certificate
-CURRENT FACULTY AND STAFF with an interest to refresh or add to their current
quantitative analysis skills
-POTENTIAL Ph.D. STUDENTS who have earned a master’s degree in an education-related field can first earn the doctoral level certificate and apply all 12 credits to the ERME PhD program.
hours to complete the certificate
-CURRENT FACULTY AND STAFF with an interest to refresh or add to their current
quantitative analysis skills
-POTENTIAL Ph.D. STUDENTS who have earned a master’s degree in an education-related field can first earn the doctoral level certificate and apply all 12 credits to the ERME PhD program.
For admissions information, please visit GradAdmissions.uncc.edu.
If you have questions, please contact Xiaoxia Newton, Ph.D, Associate Professor, Graduate Program Director, xnewton@uncc.edu
Webinar Invite - Keys to Grant Prospecting
Are you ready to identify and apply for grants? The Graduate School is hosting a webinar from Hanover Research: Keys to Grant Prospecting. Synopsis of this informative session: “Identifying the most promising funding opportunities is a struggle for many institutions and individuals seeking to secure support for their projects. This webinar will provide a brief introduction into the art of grant prospecting and explore key strategies for finding funders and grant programs worth pursuing. The session will cover:
-Key resources and strategies to leverage in the prospecting process.
-Discerning between good and bad opportunities.
-Confirming fit and developing an approach.”
When: Thursday, October 17th, 11:30 am – 1:30 pm.
Where: Cato Hall (near East Deck, not the Cato College of Education), second floor.
Please RSVP as pizza will be served. Space is limited.
Call for Nominations for the Thomas L. Reynolds Leadership Award
Honoring excellence in graduate program administration, the Thomas L. Reynolds Leadership Award recognizes excellent leadership and outstanding service by a Graduate Program Director or Coordinator.
Graduate Program Directors and Coordinators are leadership positions for the University and play an important and pivotal role in the success of our graduate degrees. Graduate Program Directors and Coordinators must not only manage and shape the direction of their programs to ensure the academic success of their students, but must also serve as advocates for graduate education at all levels. Doing this well, deserves recognition and praise.
The recipient receives a cash award, an engraved plaque, and their name engraved on a perpetual trophy. For additional information and to submit a nomination visit the Reynolds Leadership Award web page.
3MT Preliminary Round Oct. 28
Graduate students competing in this year’s Three Minute Thesis will have their first round competition Oct. 28 beginning at 9 a.m. in the Halton Reading Room, main floor, J. Murrey Atkins Library.
Through the Three-Minute Thesis (3MT) program offered by the Center for Graduate Life (CGL), contestants vie for the most compelling presentation of research to an audience that may not share the same expertise. The program offers cash prizes and winners may go on to present at national and international 3MT events.
Participants receive developmental feedback on their communication skills. Each participant in the preliminary round will receive feedback from competition judges as well as a video recording of his/her own presentation.
For more information, visit the Center for Graduate Life, the Your Grad Life Blog and the 3MT Event Registration site.
2020-21 AAUW Fellowships Available
One of the world’s largest sources of funding for graduate women, AAUW is providing $4.3 million in funding for fellowships and grants to 270 outstanding women and nonprofit organizations in the 2019–20 academic year.
Applications for grants and fellowships for 2020-21 may be submitted now through November and December.
For more information and to apply, visit AAUW’s Educational Funding and Awards website.
New System Helps Make Student Funding Manageable
A new system called eGPS promises to help Graduate Program Directors navigate student funding, providing an automated way to view student funding levels, track funding actions and nominate students for awards.
“Through eGPS, GPDs for the first time are able to view all funding information for a student, or look across their program at the funding levels of all students,” said Julie Goodliffe, Director of Funding and Fellowships. “Improving the management of the funding process is an important step in addressing the challenges that were identified by the Graduate Student Funding Task Force.”
The online resource was developed beginning in 2018 to allow GPDs to make funding offers to applicants and monitor offers and acceptance in real time. The new funding system is expected to improve timeliness of funding offers and make the process more transparent.
The eGPS dashboard highlights information GPDs need at their fingertips like the proportion of students with funding and status of student funding applications. Searches can be conducted by program or by student showing the level of funding students are receiving by source, including financial aid.
The system also shows financial certification form status for international students and identifies funding for which students are eligible. To nominate, the GPD simply clicks on an icon.
Access to eGPS is provided following completion of in-person training or an online training course. For access, contact Julie Goodliffe, jmgoodli@uncc.edu. In-person training sessions begin September 23. Sign up for the next online dates Nov. 7 and Nov. 8.
Florence Martin Takes GPD Leadership Award
Dr. Florence Martin, Education Leadership, is the recipient of the inaugural Thomas L. Reynolds Leadership Award for excellence in graduate program administration. She is a professor in Learning, Design and Technology, Graduate Program Director (GPD) of the Post-Master’s Certificate of University and College Teaching and Program Coordinator of the Ed.D. in Educational Leadership, Learning, Design and Technology.
For more information on Dr. Martin and the Graduate Program Leadership Award, please view Recent News on the Graduate School website.
Single Summer Term Coming in 2020
The University will consolidate the two separate summer terms used today into a single term beginning in Summer 2020.
The term codes xxxx50 (Summer I and Extended Summer) and xxxx70 (Summer II) will be replaced with 202060 for future summer terms. Separate sessions will be added the single summer term to represent the formerly identified summer sessions. The change will permit an expansion into other shorter or longer sessions during the summer.
For more information, please visit the Office of the Registrar.
