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COVID-19 Update Sent to Admitted Domestic Students
Preparing for Fall is May 14 Webinar Topic
The Graduate School will host another webinar in the series Office Hours with the Graduate School, Thursday, May 14 at 10 a.m. The session, entitled “Preparing for the Fall; How to Support and Retain Current Graduate Students,” will include time for open discussion.
Graduate Program Directors and other graduate leaders should have received an invitation to participate. If you did not receive an invitation, you may join the webinar at the scheduled time via WebEx.
Duolingo Test Score Requirement Raised
Due to COVID-19, the Duolingo English Test is being accepted in addition to the TOEFL and IELTS tests. The initial minimum score of 105 has been increased to 115 based on the experience of admission offices across the country and on bench-marking data.
Visit Graduate Admissions for more information on meeting English language requirements.
New Graduate Petition System Coming June 1
Students will have access to an improved system for submitting petitions beginning June 1.
The new system offers:
- Improved user interface with a modern look and improved functionality
- The ability to accommodate new petition types including early entry and suspension appeals
- The ability to allow for multiple courses in a single request, also allowing for partial approval
- A link to the student’s DegreeWorks audit directly from the petition system.
Faculty will continue to have access to both systems until all open petitions have been completed in the old system.
Look for more information in the coming weeks regarding training and open swim opportunities.
If you have questions, contact Janet Morse, jmorse9@uncc.edu.
Congratulations May 2020 Graduates
The Graduate School congratulates the graduating class of May 2020. A special message from Graduate School Dean Tom Reynolds is available for download.
May 7 Office Hours Recording Available
The Office Hours with the Graduate School webinar held May 7 was recorded and is available now for review.
Office Hours with the Graduate School – Revised!-20200507 1350-1
Thursday, May 7, 2020
8:34 am | (UTC-04:00) Eastern Time (US & Canada)
Play recording (1 hr 15 mins)
Recording password: (This recording does not require a password.)
Update on Deferring Applications
Ventureprise® Seeks Research Ideas
Ventureprise® is seeking research topics, such as a response to COVID-19, that can earn researchers up to $5,000.
Ventureprise® is UNC Charlotte’s innovation and entrepreneurship center serving the campus and Charlotte region as a center of excellence for evidence based entrepreneurship.
The Summer 2020 Ventureprise Launch National Science Foundation I-Corps virtual cohort is being formed now. The program provides UNC Charlotte faculty, staff and students with commercialization training and up to an initial $5,000 in NSF funding. The goal of the program is to identify potential commercial uses and prepare for more substantial commercialization funding opportunities.
The next stage is a six month $50,000 NSF I-Corps Teams grant. The cohort will begin May 13 (rolling applications, last day to submit is May 10). For more information and to apply, please visit Ventureprise®. For questions, please contact Laura Smailes, lsmailes@uncc.edu.
Join the Graduate School for a Live Update
Graduate School Dean Tom Reynolds and staff will host another Office Hours with the Graduate School virtual forum on May 7 to discuss academics, enrollment and applications issues stemming from COVID-19.
- Announcements – Tom Reynolds
- Virtual Programming and Support for Students with a focus on student concerns – Jill Huerta
- Graduate Academic Petition Enhancements and Rollout Plan – Janet Morse
- Updates on Commencement (if available) – Katherine Hall-Hertel
- Fall 2020 Enrollment Update – Johnna Watson
- Application & Admission Update: Top 3 Questions – Kathy Giddings
- Funding Deferrals: Fall to Spring – Julie Goodliffe
- Q & A
The live session will begin May 7, 2020 at 10:00 am. The link below will be Live at that time. Remember, you must be logged into your NinerNet account to join a UNC Charlotte WebEx meeting.
If you’d like to receive a WebEx Calendar invite so you can add this Meeting to your Calendar, please email Karla Stanchina in the Graduate School and she’ll send you the invitation.
GPD Virtual Forum Addresses COVID-19 Policy Changes
Graduate School senior leadership hosted a virtual forum with GPDs Apr. 29 to discuss a number of COVID-19-driven policy adjustments and to respond to questions.
The forum was recorded and is available on WebEx.
Nominations Due for Dean's Dissertation Award
Clarification on Academic Probation and Suspension
Virtual Forum Planned for GPDs
The Graduate School will host Office Hours with the Graduate School Apr. 29.
The virtual meeting will be hosted by Tom Reynolds and the senior staff of the Graduate School. It is intended to provide a forum for sharing information about Summer registration, options for admitted students and other matters GPDs and faculty are facing.
Agenda for the meeting includes:
- P/U grading option
- End of term processes
- Extensions and flexibility
- Graduation
- Admissions Update/Deferral Form and Processes
- GASP Funding for Spring 2020 (for fall students who defer admission)
- Summer and Fall 2020 Enrollments
- Remote/online option for new fall 2020 admits
The meeting will be available on WebEx from 10-11 a.m.
COVID-19 Update Provided to International Students
Parental Leave Policy Updated
UNC Charlotte recently updated its policy on parental leave to keep pace with changing pressures faced by students, faculty and staff.
Read the full policy statement at Academic Affairs.
Keep an Eye on Your Enrollment

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.
ISSO to Host Virtual Town Hall on COVID-19 and Visa Regulations
The International Student and Scholar Office (ISSO) will host a WebEx Town Hall Apr. 27 to respond to questions about COVID-19 and visa and immigration regulations.
The session, scheduled from 3-4:40 p.m., will address travel, enrollment, employment (incl. OPT & CPT), and more. The content is intended for UNC Charlotte students and alumni on OPT & STEM OPT
Follow this link to WebEx to participate.
For more information and updates on COVID-19, please visit the ISSO website.
Kocherga Named to Argonne National Laboratory Program
Margaret Kocherga, Ph.D., Nanoscale Science, was selected to join Chain Reaction Innovations (CRI), the entrepreneurship program at the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Argonne National Laboratory.
She will begin the two-year program in June. Her work through CRI will focus on the development of a single robust material to create higher-efficiency cost-effective OLEDS (Organic Light Emitting Diodes) used in digital displays.
Kocherga also won First Place in the Innovate Carolina 2020 Student Innovation Competition sponsored by the Product Development and Management Association. Margaret will receive a $750.00 cash prize for this award.
Read more at Ventureprise Launch.
Ventureprise Launch NSF I-Corps Summer 2020 Virtual Cohort
Have an idea or research finding that the National Science Foundation may be interested in funding? Have an idea in response to COVID-19 and the current situation? Want to receive up to $5000 for your research or business idea? Apply to participate in the Summer 2020 Ventureprise Launch National Science Foundation I-Corps virtual cohort. The program provides UNC Charlotte faculty, staff and students with commercialization training and up to an initial $5000 in NSF funding. The goal of the program is to identify potential commercial uses and prepare for more substantial commercialization funding opportunities. The next stage is a six month $50,000 NSF I-Corps Teams grant. The cohort will begin May 13 (rolling applications, last day to submit is May 8). A complete schedule and application form can be found on the NSF I-Corps webpage. Contact: Principle Investigator Devin Collins (7-8058).