With guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) UNC Charlotte encourages all mandatory employees who must be on campus, to wear a face covering. Those who need one may pick them up at the Popp Martin Student Union or the Facilities Operations and Parking Services (FOPS) building. The FOPS lobby is open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
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Boost Your Marketing with an Online Information Session
Data shows that the prospective student audience, while under stay-at-home orders, are consuming recorded online information sessions at a rapid rate. These are easy to create and record through WebEx or Zoom. We’re encouraging all graduate programs to feature yours on your program landing page and to send your link to Graduate Admissions where we can display them on our new Virtual Open House web page and YouTube channel.
Guidance Provided on Student Pass/Unsatisfactory Selection
The Provost’s memo of March 25, 2020, stated that, due to the disruption caused by the coronavirus Covid-19 virus, all students will have the option to modify their grade type at the end of the term. Specifically, for graduate students this means that after grades post, students may select a pass/unsatisfactory grade for any course.
The Graduate School has published guidance to assist graduate faculty in appropriately assigning grades during this period.
There are particular ramifications related to graduate courses. Please consider the following:
- Faculty are to report course grades by using standard letter grades (A, B, C, U or I);
- When possible, faculty may choose to give an incomplete rather than an unsatisfactory grade. This would allow students to complete work, rather than lose money by taking the class again;
- “P” grades are considered passing. P = A, B, C in this case. Therefore, if a student selects a P grade, that grade should allow the student to progress in the program. Students must take action to change a standard letter grade. Of course, they can keep any or all grades assigned;
- Students have until June 1, 2020 to make a grade selection. Because the summer term will begin before June 1, 2020, the Graduate School will not process suspensions or terminations in June 2020. Students who earn a U grade in the Spring 2020 term will be suspended or terminated, effective for the Fall 2020 term;
- It is the Graduate School’s understanding that all students may request a “withdrawal for extenuating circumstances” – WE – for any course. Given these extraordinary circumstances, we are not requiring documentation for this request. Therefore, a student could request a WE for a course graded as a U.
Questions should be directed to Dr. Katherine Hall-Hertel, Associate Dean of the Graduate School.
More information is available from the Graduate School’s Faculty and Staff Resources, Academics page.
Nitika, Brinegar Are Top Teaching Assistants
Nitika, Ph.D., Biological Sciences, and Caroline Brinegar, MA, Geography, were recently designated UNC Charlotte’s most Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistants (TA).
The pair were recognized remotely as part of the University’s effort to fight the Coronavirus pandemic. Each received the Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant Award, which includes $1,000 and a plaque.
Read more at the Graduate School’s news page.
Outstanding Dissertation Nominations Sought
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.
Financial Support Agreements Binding on 4/15 National Signing Day
Acceptance of an offer of financial support, such as a graduate scholarship, fellowship, traineeship, or assistantship, for the coming academic year by a prospective or enrolled student completes an agreement that both the student and graduate school expect to honor.
Prospective students are under no obligation to respond to offers of financial support prior to April 15th; earlier deadlines for acceptance of such offers violate the intent of the April 15th resolution.
For additional information, please contact Dr. Julie Goodliffe in the Graduate School or see https://cgsnet.org/april-15-
R&ED Hosting Virtual Town Hall
Research Town Hall and Open Forum: Research and Economic Development will be hosting a Virtual Town Hall from 11 am – 12 Noon on Tuesday, April 7, 2020.
The session will include a brief update on the status of the university’s research enterprise under the current “stay at home” order and a discussion of several new initiatives we are launching to help faculty respond to recent funding requests targeting the coronavirus. The session will also include an overview of the impact of recent supplemental spending bills, including the CARE Act, on federal support for basic and applied research. R&ED staff will be on hand to answer questions about research operations under COVID-19, including recent guidance from federal agencies on the management of existing awards.
Advanced registration is required: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/upAscOmorj0tufeo6McZsY1zDcMPzwpzvQ
Attendees are encouraged to submit questions in advance using the online form at https://forms.gle/ziMM34LbWqgVJre79
ETS Expands Home Testing
ETS has expanded home testing for the TOEFL and GRE to all locations where computer-delivered are normally available, with the exceptions of Mainland China and Iran.
Updates on testing by region are available on the ETS website.
ETS provides additional information on the following websites:
- Web pages for TOEFL® Institutions and TOEFL Test Takers
- Web pages for GRE® Institutions and GRE Test Takers
Student Loan Payments Suspended
The US Department of Education has announced that student loan payments, and interest on those payments, has been suspended for at least 60 days. For more information, please read the US Dept. of Education’s news release.
Dissertation, Thesis Deadlines Extended
Because of the disruption to schedules caused by the nationwide response to COVID-19, the deadlines for dissertations and theses have been extended.
Dissertation and thesis defense deadlines are now May 1, 2020. Submission deadline for both dissertations and theses is May 14, 2020.
COVID-19 Guidance for Supporting Personnel on Sponsored Awards
Please review this guidance for supporting personnel on sponsored awards from Dr. Richard A. Tankersley, Vice Chancellor for Research and Economic Development Download Memorandum
Action Needed to Boost Fall Enrollment
While we are focused on serving students, faculty and staff during these unusual circumstances, we must also anticipate possible longer term impacts to fall 2020 enrollment. To that end, each graduate program should consider how to appropriately and nimbly respond now to mitigate decreases in enrollment to the extent possible.
Please keep us informed of your plan to respond to the possibility of a substantial reduction in new student enrollment for fall 2020, whether international or domestic or both, by April 1st. You should update your program’s Graduate Enrollment Management Plan in GPDNet, and also communicate with Johnna Watson at jwwatson@uncc.edu.
Some of the issues that will impact new domestic and international enrollment are:
- The U.S. State Department has closed consular visa processing through at least June in most countries, so visa backlogs and delays are inevitable.
- Travel restrictions both to and within the U.S. may persist.
- The Educational Testing Service (ETS) has suspended test administrations in most countries, including the U.S., so it is impossible for many prospective students to submit GRE, GMAT and TOEFL scores.
- IELTS (English language proficiency) testing has been suspended in many countries.
Economic and political challenges due to COVID-19 may preclude individuals from enrolling; this includes military service, employment loss, lack of employer-subsidized tuition, caregiver to sick family, et al. - If the University continues to (only) offer remote learning courses in the near term, some individuals that prefer face to face delivery may delay pursuing a post-baccalaureate education.
What Graduate Admissions and Funding (and ETS) is Doing to Help Recruit the New Class
1. A Google form is being developed for applicants to request their application for admission be updated/deferred from summer or fall 2020 to a term in 2021 without the applicant incurring an additional cost.
Note: Applications for individuals already offered admission will be (re)referred to Graduate Program Directors for admissions consideration and recommendation. Toward this end, if a program does not currently consider spring and/or summer applicants but wishes to do so for 2021, please contact Kathy Giddings at kathygiddings@uncc.edu to open the term(s) in the application portal as soon as possible.
2. We will temporarily accept official scores from the Duolingo English Test in support of English language proficiency. Prospective students can take the test anytime, anywhere and get results in less than two days, at a cost of $49. A minimum score of 105 is required, and we expect to be able to receive certified test scores within a week.
3. We are offering GPDs maximum flexibility to waive GRE, GMAT, and MAT requirements for summer/fall 2020 applicants, and continue to encourage holistic review of admissions applications to determine applicant “fit” with graduate programs.
4. ETS is offering a solution for students impacted by the coronavirus to take the TOEFL iBT and the GRE General Test at home until test centers can reopen. TOEFL testing will begin on March 26th, and GRE testing on March 27th, in select countries (including the U.S. and China). These test administrations will include live proctors and utilize artificial intelligence technology. Details will be available soon on the ETS website.
5. GradConnect is our program by which enrolled graduate students and staff “connect” with prospective students to help move them along the enrollment funnel, from suspect > prospect > applicant > admitted student > enrolled student, and we continue to connect with as many individuals as possible. (Your help goes a long way towards this effort!)
6. Admissions counselors offer virtual Information Sessions for prospective applicants to learn more about graduate programs, admission requirements, and the application process, in addition to Now That You’re Admitted Sessions for individuals offered admission.
7. Prospective students who have applied or been admitted to the summer or fall 2020 semesters are invited to join our admissions counselors for a live question/answer session. The counselors will address any questions or concerns brought about by the coronavirus COVID-19 crisis.
8. We actively post to the Graduate Admissions social media accounts (Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn) to promote graduate programs and encourage people to attend a virtual Information Session and Apply Now.
9. Graduate Admissions partnered with University Communications to debut a Made in Charlotte ad campaign that launches this week. Paid social and digital ads will be strategically placed in the Charlotte, Triad, and Triangle regions to promote graduate programs.
Challenges and Opportunities for Graduate Programs: What You Can Do to Help Enroll New Students
- If a program opts to defer students offered summer/fall 2020 admission to spring 2021, the faculty may need to alter course schedules to accommodate the change; this may also necessitate an orientation for new spring admits.
- Programs that offer new students TA or RA appointments for fall 2020 need to anticipate how those assignments will be impacted if students cannot begin their enrollment. Reminder: New students must be physically present to sign I-9’s in order to be compensated for graduate assistantship appointments.
- Nominate newly admitted students for graduate assistantships and funding via eGA and eGPS. Consider “over-booking” newly funded students in anticipation that individuals from some countries may not be able to obtain their visas or travel in time for the fall semester start date. Contact Julie Goodliffe at jmgoodli@uncc.edu for assistance.
- To help currently enrolled students continue their education in the fall, nominate them for funding via eGPS.
- If your program has the capacity to enroll additional students in fall 2020, please contact Johnna Watson at jwwatson@uncc.edu as soon as possible.
- Admissions counselors are available to help you offer virtual Information Sessions for prospective and/or admitted students. Reach out to Maryanne Maree-Sams at mmareesa@uncc.edu for more information or to schedule your virtual sessions.
- Graduate Admissions can also help promote your programs via social media. Email Ellie Ivey at efeely@uncc.edu any social media-ready artwork and she will propagate our Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn accounts with your program info.
- Engage your faculty to help connect with prospective and admitted students to encourage them to apply for admission and enroll. Personalizing recruitment is vital to students choosing UNC Charlotte for their graduate education.
- Update your program’s Graduate Enrollment Management Plan in GPDNet in light of any enrollment opportunities or challenges, and utilize recruitment resources in the system to help effectively recruit the new class.
Important Dates and Deadlines:
April 1
- Priority deadline to nominate students for funding
- Graduate School Summer Fellowship (GSSF) application deadline
- Proposal Development Summer Fellowship (PDSF) application deadline
- Application Information Session (online)
April 10
- Admitted Student Session (online)
April 14
- Application Information Session (online)
April 15
- National Signing Day (for students offered funding to confirm fall enrollment)
April 22
- Application Information Session (online)
April 30th
● Admitted Student Session (online)
Duolingo English Test Scores Accepted
For the duration of the Coronvirus pandemic, Graduate Admissions will accept scores of 105 or higher on the Duolingo English Test to demonstrate satisfactory English language proficiency. The Duolingo English Test is a modern language proficiency tool that prospective students take online from anywhere, anytime; all that is needed is an internet connection, a webcam, and microphone.
The computer adaptive Duolingo English Test is designed to measure the entire spectrum of English language ability from basic to very proficient, and scores are reported out of 160 in 5-point increments. Again, the minimum score required for graduate applicants to programs at UNC Charlotte is 105. The registration fee is $49 USD, and the test can be completed in under an hour.
The proficiency score is calculated by a computer adaptive engine, while the entire test session is certified by a human proctor to verify the test taker’s identity and detect instances of rule breaking. The results, including video interview and writing sample, are available within 48 hours of the test session; test takers can send an unlimited number of score reports to institutions for no additional cost.
For more information on testing requirements, please visit Graduate Admissions English Language Proficiency.
Teaching Assistant Awards Go Virtual
The Center for Graduate Life has cancelled its annual Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant Award Ceremony originally planned for April. This year’s winners will be announced via email next week.
The award honors one doctoral and one master’s-level teaching assistant who has demonstrated exceptional teaching skills and commitment with a $1,000 award and a plaque.
CGL Seeking GLF Candidates
The CGL is recruiting applicants interested in serving as Graduate Life Fellows during the 2020-2021 academic year. Candidates must be enrolled full-time to be eligible.
Graduate Life Fellows serve as mentors and help to plan and run CGL programming throughout the academic year. Fellows receive a $5,000 award that can be paid on top of an assistantship. All individual and team interviews will be conducted via Webex sessions.
The application will remain open until April 3.
Contingencies for Students Due to COVID-19
Categories: Academic Affairs
Due to the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic, students may face issues when trying to finish the semester due to social distancing guidance and mandated closings (e.g., student teachers, interns, research activity having to be curtailed). Below please find some of the Graduate School’s updates concerning this subject:
Graduation Clearance
While the Graduate School has moved to working remotely, graduation pre-clearance activities continue. 1,439 Graduate students have applied to graduate for spring 2020. Currently, 101 doctoral, 1,017 masters, and 184 certificate students have been pre-cleared to graduate. Overall 93% of the students who applied to graduate have been pre-decisioned by our office. Please remember that we need milestone forms in order to clear students for graduation. Please scan or email the form to Aura Young – doctoral forms or Julie Green – thesis forms.
Placeholder Course
The Graduate School created a non-credit, placeholder course, which may be used by students who were planning to graduate in May but, due to closings, could not complete a course. If they take an incomplete, they may complete the work in the Fall semester, register for GRAD 6777 – no cost- and apply to graduate in December. This course is available by petition to the Graduate School and is only available for the Fall semester.
Dissertation, Thesis Deadlines Extended
Because of the disruption to schedules caused by the nationwide response to COVID-19, the deadlines for dissertations and theses have been extended.
Dissertation and thesis defense deadlines are now May 1. Submission deadline for both dissertations and theses is May 14.
Thesis and Disserations
The Graduate School will be very flexible regarding defenses. Committee chairs and students should agree on the best method for a given defense. ALL committee members must participate in the defense, whether in person or virtually. This flexibility extends to students who need to defend remotely.
It is the chair’s responsibility to ensure that all committee members sign-off on the final defense form. Scanned signatures are allowed and additional time will be extended so that a form can be signed by all members. When this is not possible, we will accept the defense form with the chair’s signature, accompanied by emails from each committee member stating their approval. Read more.
ETS Webinar Set for @Home Testing
ETS will host a series of webinars beginning Mar. 26 to brief clients on its recently-announced at home solutions for the TOEFL iBT® test and GRE® General Test.
Topics include:
- An overview of the TOEFL iBT® test and GRE® General Test at home solutions, how they compare to regular testing options and score reporting
- Information on test-taker eligibility and requirements for equipment and test environment
- Details about security measures, including the use of real-time human monitoring and artificial intelligence technology
- Updates on how ETS is supporting test takers during test center closures
A Q&A session will follow.
For more information and to register, please visit ETS.
Reminder - Deadline Extended for Scholarships and Fellowships
The deadline for Graduate Program Directors to nominate a student for the Wayland H. Cato Jr. First-Year Doctoral Fellowship, the Herschel and Cornelia Everett First-Year Graduate Fellowship (Master’s and Doctoral), and the William F. Kennedy Graduate Fellowship has been extended to March 28th. Nominations should be submitted in the USO portal and faculty should tell students to complete the application, once they are nominated.
The deadline to submit completed applications for all of the Graduate School Fellowships in the Ninerscholars Portal is March 30th.
Workshops Focus on Online Networking, Interviewing
The Center for Graduate Life (CGL) will host live online workshops Mar. 31 that offer timely information on how to get the most from networking and interviewing online.
For more information and to register, please visit Networking in a Virtual World and Interviewing in a Virtual World.
The CGL also plans a Virtual Writing Workshop and a Virtual Coffee Hour. Visit the CGL for details.
ETS Postpones Testing
ETS has published updated status on testing by region and begun online administration of some GRE and TOEFL exams. For more information, please visit ETS.
