The North Carolina Council of Graduate Schools will be holding their Annual Meeting virtually October 22-23, 2020 and invites all Graduate Program Directors/Coordinators to attend. The sessions are free and hosted virtually on Zoom. Download the Agenda and register to attend via Western Carolina’s Graduate School.
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Annual Report from the Graduate Ombudsman - Areas of Concern
Dr. Bruce Taylor serves as the Ombudsman for graduate students. This year he met with 57 graduate students about a variety of concerns. We wanted to give you a sense of what Bruce hears from students and which students seek out his services.
Approximately a third of consultations (32%) were with students in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, 20% in the College of Computing and Informatics, 18% in the William States Lee College of Engineering, and 9% in the Cato College of Education. The remaining colleges represented fewer than 7% of consultations each. A fairly equal number of international and domestic students scheduled consultations with the Ombuds in 2019-20.
By far students expressed concerns about their relationships with advisors. Evaluative Relationships represented 44% of consultations with the Ombuds. Typically, these are issues between a student and faculty such as a concern with treatment by an advisor, course instructor or program coordinator where there is a power differential between the student and faculty or staff. These also included concerns brought by students about their work on a grant or in a lab, for example. Services and Administrative issues (22%) are those concerns dealing with the application of policies or timeliness of services. Examples include graduate appeals, withdrawal options, and rules regarding changing programs or committees.
These concerns were echoed by the Counseling and Psychological Services office. Counselors reported hearing from graduate students about unrealistic work demands, faculty delaying students from graduating, and advisors texting students at all hours about work. International students reported the most concerns.
No doubt such issues have at least two sides, but these concerns are prevalent enough to warrant attention. The Graduate School is continuing to offer Mentor Training to graduate faculty and Mentee Training for doctoral students is being developed by the CGL. Please encourage faculty to make time for these trainings. In addition, the Graduate School recommends that programs adopt the use of Individual Development Plans (IDP) for doctoral and master’s students. A sample IDP is available on the Graduate School website.
Funding Team Hosts Webinar
Over 50 faculty and staff members attending the Graduate School’s Funding/Assistantship webinar where they reviewed several systems including GPDNet, eGA, eGPS. Director of Funding, Dr. Julie Goodliffe, walked the audience through these online systems used to facilitate graduate student enrollment management. Also covered were recent federal guidelines pertaining to student employment. An online chat session handled specific issues.
View the recorded webinar. Password: .0EL=Nq*
Important Admission Deadlines
Take note of these important deadlines for graduate admission:
- August 15 – Last day certificate and degree applications can be submitted for 2020 fall. Note: Only for domestic students and internationals residing in the US who already have a visa.
- August 28 – Last day GPDs can recommend to admit applicants to 2020 fall.
- September 1 – Last day post-baccalaureate applicants can be submitted for 2020 fall.
SEA Form Deadline Instituted
As the due date for students’ fall term bills is August 26, and as student e-bills have already begun to be sent, the University is instituting a Priority Deadline of August 19 for SEA (Student Educational Award) forms for the fall 2020 term.
Why the deadline?
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There are adverse effects for students when SEA forms are submitted late. This deadline will allow Financial Aid sufficient time to process awards to students’ accounts prior to the first cancellation for nonpayment (Aug. 26).
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The earlier that SEA forms are processed, the better. Students start worrying about balances owed to the University when the first e-bills are issued (July 15).
What this means
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All SEA forms for Fall 2020 term awards should be submitted by Aug. 19. Please communicate this deadline broadly to all in your departments who are involved with issuing student educational awards, including grant-funded participant stipends.
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If SEA forms are not processed by this date, students will be at risk of class cancellation for non-payment for the fall term.
Additional information can be found through NinerCentral.
Team Lands $580,000 NSF Grant
UNC Charlotte was recently awarded a multi-year National Science Foundation grant totaling more than $580,000 to investigate strategies for ensuring an open, transparent culture of research on campus.
The project, “Fostering a Culture of Openness and Transparency with Institutional Authorship Policies,” is headed by PI Lisa Rasmussen, Graduate Faculty Fellow, with co-PIs Katherine Hall-Hertel, Associate Dean for Graduate Academic and Student Affairs, George Banks, Associate Professor of Management with the Belk College of Business, and Tom Reynolds, Associate Provost and Dean of the Graduate School. Elise Demeter, Senior Assessment Research Analyst in the Office of Assessment and Accreditation, was the Project Evaluator.
For more information, please visit the Graduate School.
Grad Ed Summit Set Sept. 2
The Graduate School will host the annual Grad Ed Summit — this year a virtual meeting — on Sept. 2.
Topics at last year’s Summit included discussions on the role of the Graduate School, resources to manage programs and promote student success, student funding and the new GPD Recognition Award was introduced.
An agenda for this year’s meeting is forthcoming.
Webinar Planned for Funding/Assistantship Questions
The Graduate School Funding and Assistantships team will host a webinar Aug. 3 to provide information and answer questions.
Topic: Meeting with Funding/Assistantships Team
Time: Aug 3, 2020 03:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
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Meeting ID: 837 7390 8588
Passcode: 880061
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Meeting ID: 837 7390 8588
Passcode: 880061
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Aug. 1 Deadline to Confirm Fall Plans
New fall 2020 students soon will receive a request from Graduate Admissions to confirm plans for fall semester.
The message, a sample of which is included below, was originally scheduled for distribution to all students July 20 but now will be sent out a few days later. The message contains a link to a form where students can select the following options regarding their plans for fall semester:
- They are undecided about enrolling
- They still plan to start in the fall
- They would like to defer their application
- They would like to withdraw their application completely.
A sample copy of the message to students is included below for reference. Please contact the Graduate Admissions Office if you have questions. The last day for students to defer their application to a future term is Aug. 1.
Student Email Example:
Dear (Preferred name),
We hope you are safe and well during this uncertain time. You previously indicated your intent to enroll in the (Program) at UNC Charlotte this fall. With the changes happening on campus and around the world, we wanted to reach out and confirm your enrollment plans for the fall 2020 semester.
Please indicate your plans by filling the attached form and include any details that might allow us to better assist you as you start your first semester at UNC Charlotte. Feel free to contact gradcounselor@uncc.edu with any specific questions you may have.
Graduate Admissions
Signature Routing Streamline Under Way
The Graduate School is working with IT Services to provide a secure, digital solution for collecting signatures and routing the forms required when a graduate student has completed a milestone.
Forms will be revised to create a better user experience and streamline the process. In the meantime, please continue using existing forms on the Graduate School Forms website. Updates will be shared as revisions are completed.
Mentor Training Sessions Scheduled
Two online mentoring sessions set for August are already full.
Additional sessions have been scheduled for October 1 & 2 (9:30 – 12:30 each day) and January 13 & 14 (9:30 – 12:30 each day).
GPDs will receive an email invitation to register approximately four weeks prior to the training date.
For more information, contact Katherine Hall-Hertel, KHall-Hertel@uncc.edu.
CGL Introduces Onboarding Portal
The Center for Graduate Life has introduced a New Graduate Student Onboarding Portal to help prepare incoming graduate students for their move to Charlotte and a successful transition to graduate school.
The site includes the basics they’ll need to get started, with information on everything from finding an apartment to parking passes to course selection. Additional information on academic tools and campus offices that support graduate student success will be added to the portal by mid-August.
Upcoming Recruitment Opportunities Listed
Representatives from the UNC Charlotte Graduate School participate in several recruitment fairs each year. These fairs present great opportunities to connect with prospective students.
Graduate Admissions maintains a spreadsheet of current opportunities available to UNC Charlotte faculty and staff. Please contact MaryanneMaree-Sams@uncc.edu for more information.
Limited Number of Free Tickets Remain for Fall Career Fair
The Career Center is hosting the Fall Career & Internship Fair: Regional Edition, a virtual event in early October that involves 13 colleges/universities from the surrounding area. The Career Center has provided 30 complimentary registrations for UNC Charlotte’s graduate programs.
For more information and to register, please visit the Career Center.
Please register for only one of the two fair days (if you would really like to attend both days, register for 1 day, but put a note in the comments box on the form that you would like to attend both if there’s space; once we’re a couple weeks out from the event, the Career Center will reach out if there’s space).
On the registration form, choose “check” as your payment method. The Career Center will comp your registration when it’s received. If you have questions about the event, email careerfairs@uncc.edu or call Brooke at 704-687-0789.
Online Classes Blocked for Embargoed Countries
Admitted students physically located in embargoed countries like Iran may not be allowed to take fall semester classes online, according to John Jacob, Facility Security Officer and Export Control Officer in Research and Economic Development.
“The Office of Foreign Asset Control (OFAC) considers (online courses) a service to that country/individual that requires a export license from OFAC for a student to take an online class from an embargoed country,” Jacobs said.
Additional information on the policies guiding delivery of online coursework will be shared as it becomes available.
Campbell New CGL Executive-in-Residence
Ivanna Garibaldi Campbell has joined the Center for Graduate Life in a volunteer Executive-in-Residence role. A graduate of Baruch College’s BBA program, Ivanna began her career on Wall Street as a financial analyst with Morgan Stanley’s Global High Yield and Emerging Markets trading desk. She relocated to the Carolinas to pursue her MBA/Master of International Business at the University of South Carolina.
Since then, Ivanna has worked for both Wells Fargo and Bank of America in Senior Human Resources executive positions. As an HR consultant, she has provided business executives advice in such areas as strategic human capital management, mergers & acquisitions HR integration, performance management, and strategic employee communications. Among others, her clients have included Lending Tree, London Stock Exchange Group, MetLife, the McClatchy Company/Charlotte Observer and YMCA of Greater Charlotte.
As Executive-in-Residence, Ivanna will work with CGL Executive Director Jill Huerta to strengthen relationships and expand opportunities with the Charlotte business community. She will also facilitate leadership development workshops, bring in guest speakers to deliver professional development content, and advise graduate students on career path planning, branding, and positioning for the job market.
New Non-Resident Grad Students Sent Residency Guidelines
Newly admitted non-resident graduate students recently were sent information from Residency Compliance Manager Brenda Sawyer outlining steps needed to qualify as a resident for tuition purposes.
A sample of the Residency message is available for download.
Questions on residency should be directed to the Residency Determination Service (RDS) at 844-319-3640, rdsinfo@ncresidency.org or to Brenda Sawyer, Brenda.Sawyer@uncc.edu
ISSO Issues Guidance on Federal Customs Policy Change
The International Student and Scholar Office (ISSO) issued new guidance for international students after ICE/SEVP rescinded policies issued July 6 governing participation in online classes.
The full text of the ISSO statement sent to students via email is available for download.
Online Workshop Focuses on Effective Online Courses
The UNC System Office will host an online workshop on Designing Effective Online Courses July 20. The workshop is free, but space is limited, and registration is required. Learn more and register.
The material will be aimed at instructors who have minimal proficiency leading online learning environments, but experienced instructors will also find new tips, hot topics, and useful activities.
The two-week session begins on July 20. Participants can finish the work at their own pace, but are encouraged to complete the program by July 31.
Learn More: The syllabus provides additional detail. Visit the Digital Learning Initiative website to register.
Please forward questions to Dr. Jim Ptaszynski, Vice President for Digital Learning.
Undergrad Research Programs Offer Potential Early Entry Candidates
The Office of Undergraduate Research is recruiting faculty to participate in the OUR Scholars and Federal Work Study (FWS) Research Assistant Program through July 24.
The two programs provide research experience, mentorship and professional development. Faculty are invited to submit a research project to be paired with an undergraduate student for the 2020-2021 Academic Year.
The OUR scholars program will include eight OUR scholars each in the fall and spring semester. There is no cap on the FWS Research projects. Projects will be selected based on faculty members’ mentorship record and breadth of research experience that will be provided to the students.
To get involved, please complete the form for 2020-2021 Call for OUR Academic Year Research Opportunities.
For more information, please contact Erin R. Banks, ebanks10@uncc.edu.
