Graduate School News

UREC to Host Social for International and Graduate Students

The University Recreation Center (UREC) and SAMSHA, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration are sponsoring a social for graduate and international students Feb. 10 at 3 p.m. 

The event will include a cooking class, Zumba, Yoga and badminton tournament.

For more information and to register, please visit the UREC Social for Graduate and International Students sign-up page.

Julie Goodliffe promoted to Assistant Dean for Graduate Funding and Research

Julie Goodliffe, Director of Funding and Fellowships for the Graduate School, has been promoted to Assistant Dean of the Graduate School for Funding and Research by Johnna Watson, Associate Dean of the Graduate School for Enrollment Management.

Read more from the Graduate School.

CGLL: Friday Morning Writing Session Expands to Bioinformatics 301

The Center for Graduate Life and Learning (CGLL) has expanded its Friday Morning Writing series to the Bioinformatics building, room 301.  Friday Morning Writing provides an opportunity for students to make progress on a large writing project.

For more information and to register, please visit the Center for Graduate Life and Learning.

Charlotte Grad Programs Remain High in National Rankings

UNC Charlotte’s online graduate programs received national recognition in U.S. News & World Report’s 2023 Online Master’s Programs rankings, which were released Tuesday, Jan. 24.

Read more from the Graduate School.

Reynolds Leadership Award Deadline Mar. 1

Graduate program directors and coordinators play an important and pivotal role in the success of graduate programs. In addition to managing enrollment, Graduate Program Directors and Coordinators must track and manage their students, while implementing programs and services to promote their success. Doing this well deserves recognition and praise.

This award recognizes excellence in the overall management of a graduate program. The winner will receive $1000, an engraved plaque, and their name will be engraved on a perpetual trophy on permanent display at a central location on campus.

ELIGIBILITY:

• Evidence of either growth in enrollment and/or improved graduation from the program; • Evidence of best practices as an advisor, mentor, and advocate for students (such as tracking, nominating, funding, etc.); • Effectiveness as a program administrator; • Evidence of efforts to improve the program experience for students; • Effective communication with the Graduate School and within the college.

NOMINATIONS:

• GPDs and GPCs must be nominated, but the nomination can come from anyone (two-page limit). • Once nominated, a GPD or GPC must submit a written statement reflecting his or her philosophy of graduate education and the role of the GPD or GPC (two-page limit). • Include two letters of support – one of which should be from a current or former student (two-page limit). • The Dean of the College must endorse nominations. A simple statement of support is appropriate. • Nominees must have served in the role at least two years in order to be nominated.Selection committee – comprised of members from the Graduate School staff, Graduate Council, GPSG and previous winners.

Winners will be announced by early spring 2023.

Please visit https://sites.google.com/uncc.edu/gs-award-gateway/home/thomas-l-reynolds-leadership-award to submit your nomination.

GPDs Can Waive Standardized Test Requirement

Graduate Program Directors (GPDs) and their proxies have the ability to waive standardized test scores in Slate.  See the Slate User Guide on waiving scores.

The following programs are built in Slate to require a standardized test.  If a GPD wants to make a change to their program’s setup in Slate, they will need to submit a Slate help ticket.  Depending on the change, a curriculog proposal may also be required.

Programs that require a standardized test:

Program NameGREGRE or GMATGRE or MATGRE, GMAT, or MATPAEP or GMATWaiver Criteria?
Accountancy (MACC)YY
Applied Energy and Electromechanical Systems (MS)YY
Business Administration (MBA)YY
Business Administration (MBA) in MexicoYY
Business Administration: Finance (PHD)Y
Civil Engineering (MSCE)YY
Civil Engineering (MSE)YY
Civil Engineering (PHD)YY
Data Science and Business Analytics (MS)YY
Economics (MS)YY
Educational Research, Measurement, and Evaluation (PHD)Y
Engineering Management (MS)YY
Fire Protection and Safety Management (MS)YY
Health Informatics and Analytics (MS)YY
Mathematical Finance (MS)YY
Nursing Practice (DNP) w/concentration in Nurse AnesthesiaY
Optical Science and Engineering (MS)YY
Optical Science and Engineering (PHD)YY
Physics (MS)YY
Public Administration (MPAD)YY
Real Estate Finance and Development (MS)YY
Special Education (PHD)Y
Special Education and Child Development (MED)YY

Application Fee Waiver Added for Military Students

The Graduate School waives the application fee for eligible McNair Scholars, UNC Charlotte permanent employees, and effective immediately, for United States military students.  Refer to the UNC System Office, The Code and UNC Policy Manual, Policy 700.7.1 [R]  for details.

For applicants who do not meet the criteria for a fee waiver, programs may purchase waiver codes they can distribute to their prospective applicants.  Details on the purchase of fee waiver codes are available in Slate Reader

CGLL’s Weekend Write Set Jan. 28

The Center for Graduate Life and Learning (CGLL) will host Weekend Write Jan. 28, 9-Noon for graduate students working on dissertations, preparing to defend a thesis, writing a term paper or just looking for a productive writing environment.  

The online event provides structured writing time, goal-setting and accountability to enhance motivation.

For more information and to register, please visit the CGLL.

Graduate Admissions to Host Virtual Office Hours on Graduate Student Recruitment

Graduate Admissions Counselors are hosting bi-monthly virtual office hours where Graduate Program Directors and Coordinators can drop in to ask questions, give updates, and collaborate with the Graduate Recruitment Team. 

Jump in for a few minutes or stay for a full hour. There is no formal presentation, just an opportunity to connect! To register, visit Graduate Admissions.

Charlotte Recruiting Fairs Planned

The Career Center  will host two fairs this spring in the Student Activity Center (SAC). STEM Fair – Feb. 10, in person, 10am-2pm. info and reg: https://charlotte-csm.symplicity.com/events/stem23Spring Fair – March 9, in person, 10am-2pm. Info and reg: https://charlotte-csm.symplicity.com/events/scif23

For more information about possibly reserving a table for your program, please contact Brooke.Brown@uncc.edu.

For more information please visit the Career Center.  If you have questions for Graduate Admissions about the fair contact MaryanneMaree-Sams@uncc.edu.

Graduate Education Summit Planned Feb. 10

The Graduate School staff and guests will share information about new initiatives and opportunities for graduate programs, as well as general information.

February 10, 2023 – 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM
Halton Reading Room – Atkins Library

Topics will include:

  • Highlights of the Graduate School’s Strategic Plan
  • Updates on the Academic Integrity Process
  • The U.S. Supreme Court Ruling that could end Affirmative Action Policies in Admissions
  • An Overview from the Office of Research
  • Graduate School Updates
  • Q & A

Coffee and tea will be available at 9:00 a.m. We encourage you to wear green or UNC Charlotte gear in true Niner spirit!

Please share this event with people in your area who might find this session helpful or interesting. 

Yale Ciencia Academy (YCA) for Professional Development Open for Applications

The Yale Ciencia Academy (YCA) for Professional Development has issued a call for applications.

YCA is an NIH-funded (R25GM114000) initiative that has recently been modified to equip doctoral students interested in biological, biomedical or behavioral research and who are in the final 1-2 years of their programs with the knowledge, skills, and networks they need to find great postdoctoral positions that will further their academic interests and career goals. The program supports students who identify as being from an underrepresented background in science, as defined by the NIH. The application period closes March 1, 2023, and the program runs from June 2023 to June 2024.

A brochure on the program is available for download.

For more information, contact Jill Huerta (jhuerta2@uncc.edu) in the Center for Graduate Life and Learning.

Women in Data Science Conference Set for March

The Charlotte Women in Data Science (WiDS) Conference is an event hosted and sponsored by UNC Charlotte’s School of Data Science and Lowe’s, prior to our full-day Analytics Frontiers Conference. It will be held at the UNC Charlotte Marriott Hotel and Conference Center. The conference aims to inspire, educate, and engage current and future data scientists in the Carolinas, regardless of gender, and to support women in the field by providing training, networking, and mentoring opportunities.

More information and register at Women in Data Science Charlotte.

CGLL Workshop: Connecting with Alumni

Dr. Suzanne Voigt, Program Manager for Career Readiness Design, University Career Center, leads this session examining the strategic process and etiquette of connecting with alumni.

Workshop held in Atkins 146, 11 a.m., Jan. 25. Visit the Center for Graduate Life and Learning for more information and to register.

Register International Teaching Assistants for English Language Assessment

From Nicole Lanieri, Director of UNC Charlotte’s English Language Training (ELTI) Institute: Please remember to have international teaching assistants (ITAs) sign up for an English language assessment.  ITAs who have previously earned a passing score on the UNCC assessment do not have to be evaluated again. As a reminder, this is required by state law. 

All international teaching  assistants who are paid from Teaching Assistant funds, regardless of assigned duties, are required to attend an English language assessment session. This requirement is specified in the TA contract. Neither length of time in the U.S. nor prior attendance or employment at a U.S. institution exempts ITAs from this requirement. ITAs who do not pass the assessment may be enrolled in ELTI’s ITA Communication Course to support their language development. This course is free to ITAs and is non-credit bearing.

Program directors were sent the following survey to distribute to their students. If you did not receive it, it means you were not on our list. If that is the case, please email Patricia Chukwueke at pchukwue@uncc.edu  so that we can update our lists. You may access the survey link here.

If you have any questions about the general process for ITA testing, please contact Patricia. ITAs with questions about the testing process and other queries should email itasupport@uncc.edu.

Final Transcripts Due Mar.15 from New Spring Students

New students (admitted and enrolled for 2023 spring) have until March 15, 2023 to submit their final, official transcripts.  Information and directions are being emailed to students.

If you have questions, please contact Kathy Giddings, KathyGiddings@uncc.edu.

Q&A Sessions on Slate/Admissions Scheduled for Faculty and Staff

To learn more about Slate or Admissions, join an upcoming session hosted by Slate Captains:  Kathy Giddings, Director of Graduate Admissions and Ash Bowers, IT Analyst.  

Slate user guides are located in GPDNet.

Sessions offered at 3:00 p.m. EST via zoom each of the following dates:

January 30, 2023 (Monday)

February 27, 2023 (Monday)

March 28, 2023 (Tuesday)

April 24, 2023 (Monday)

Let us know if you are interested in a customized training session or would like to meet on a different day/time by submitting a Slate help ticket.

Requesting Letters of Recommendation

 Dr. Melanie Sorrell, Atkins Library Subject Librarian, will lead this enlightening session Jan. 18, 11:15-12:15, in Atkins 146.

The session, sponsored by the Center for Graduate Life and Learning, will focus on common challenges faced in requesting a letter of recommendation, potential solutions and developing a timeline to ensure you have what you need in time.

For more information and to register, please refer students to the Center for Graduate Life and Learning.

Graduate Admissions to Provide "Eligible to Register" List

Graduate Admissions is now providing GPDs with a list of new and continuing students in their program who are eligible to register but have not.  The report will be distributed weekly from start of registration until the close of registration for each term. .

Programs are encouraged to reach out to these students and urge them to register.

If you have questions, please contact Maryanne Maree-Sams, MaryanneMaree-Sams@uncc.edu.

Remind Students to Apply for Summer Fellowship Program

The Graduate School’s Summer Fellowship Program (GSSF) provides doctoral students funding to continue focus on research over the summer months.   

The program is available to new and repeat applicants.  Eligible applicants can receive $8,000 to support progress toward the degree.

The deadline to apply is Mar. 1.

“We are also in need of faculty reviewers, said Julie Goodliffe, Assistant Dean for Graduate Funding and Research. “This is a fun way to serve the University.”

To apply, please access the 2023 GSSF Application.