The Graduate School has created some handy FAQ’s to help guide GPDs and Faculty through the graduation process and timelines. Using the University’s FAQ system, users can search by topic or browse by popularity. Students also have access to these important questions. Visit the Graduation and Commencement Pages.
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Upcoming Spring 2018 GRAD Courses
GRAD courses offered by the Graduate School are an excellent way for your students to enhance their professional skills outside their academic discipline. For the Spring 2018 semester, we are offering seven unique credit-bearing courses for the graduate student. From academic writing to leadership development, expert faculty deliver interactive content designed to help round-out graduate student skills, regardless of career path.
“Research shows many graduate students lack the soft-skill basics employers want and need when they graduate,” says Tom Reynolds, Associate Provost and Dean of the Graduate School. “Through the Center for Graduate Life, its Faculty Associates, and our partnerships with various campus departments, colleges and the Charlotte community, we are pleased to offer a large selection of courses designed to help meet this need.”
For Spring 2018, we add to the offerings with three new courses:
- Intrapreneurship for Non-Business Majors GRAD 6000 (CRN# 27381)
An intrapreneur is defined by American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language as a person within a corporation or organization who takes direct responsibility for turning an idea into a viable finished product or service through assertive risk-taking and innovation. Through this two-credit course, the graduate student will learn how to create, and develop new ideas, turning them into final products/services. - Academic Writing for Graduate Students GRAD 6000 (CRN# 27382)| GRAD 8000 (CRN# 27383)
Graduate students who seek refinement in their academic writing skills, especially those related to writing about empirical research, will find this this three-credit course beneficial. Through it, students will gain skills needed to effectively produce key parts of an empirical paper: introduction, literature review, methodology, analysis, results, discussion and conclusion. Additionally, students will explore different academic genres relevant to their disciplines, which may include conference proposals, book reviews, and research articles. International students should visit the Courses web page for specific pre-requisites. - Data Analysis and Presentation for Impact GRAD 6040 (CRN# 27164 | GRAD 8040 (CRN# 27173)
In this two-credit course, graduate students learn to gather, organize and present data for understanding and impact in professional settings. This critical skill will help students advance in decision-making, predictive modeling, etc. so they can be successful in their chosen careers.
We encourage you to share this weblink http://gradlife.uncc.edu/what-we-offer/academic-courses with your students, their advisors, faculty and within your department. Registration opens October 30th and students can do so via my.uncc.edu
Half-time Enrollment Definition Changed
UNC Charlotte’s definition of graduate school half-time enrollment changed effective with the beginning of the Fall 2017 semester. To help you prepare for questions you may receive from students on the change, please review the following information.
New Definition of Half-Time Enrollment Hours
- As of Fall 2017, to be considered enrolled half-time, graduate students must take at least 4.5 credit hours, which essentially means 5 or more credit hours for UNC Charlotte. This has increased from the previous half-time definition of 3 credit hours.
- The U.S. Department of Education offers low-interest loans to eligible students to help cover educational costs. Financial need is not required for graduate students to be considered for a Direct Unsubsidized Loan or Direct PLUS Loan, but they must enroll at least half-time.
- Note: The definition of full-time graduate enrollment has not changed. To be considered full-time, graduate students must enroll in at least 9 credit hours.
How this will affect some students:
Federal Financial Aid Eligibility
- To receive financial aid from the university, a graduate student must enroll in a master’s, doctoral or certificate program at least half-time.
- The Financial Aid office will review applicants’ enrollment prior to awarding financial aid. If they are enrolled in fewer than 5 credit hours, they will not receive federal loans.
- In Spring 2017, there are more than 350 graduate students with a federal loan who are enrolled in fewer than 5 credit hours.
Loan Repayment/Deferment
- If a student has federal loans in deferment, encourage them to review the terms and conditions of their repayment to consider whether the new half-time enrollment policy will affect them.
- Generally, federal loans begin requiring repayment 6 months from the date enrollment drops below half-time, from the date of graduation, or the date a student withdraws from school.
Options Available to Students
- They may enroll in at least 5 hours of graduate credit to be eligible for a federal loan (and defer payments on existing federal loans)
- They may enroll in the University’s installment Payment Plan
- They may apply for an Alternative Loan with private lenders through the Office of Financial Aid
Students with questions may contact the Office of Financial Aid at 704-687-5504 or email their question. Graduate Program Directors may contact Johnna Watson in the Graduate School by email or at 704-687-7231.
Update Enrollment Projections by Nov. 1
Graduate projections for Fall 2018, 2019, and 2020 should be completed in GPDNet by Nov. 1, including the enrollment management plan to achieve those projections.
Base your enrollment and graduate projections and plans on your college’s strategic plan.
To access projections and plans in GPDNet, select PROGRAM DASHBOARD at the top of the page, click on your program, and select from the appropriate tabs to view and enter data, or you may download the spreadsheet Fall 2017 9-8-2017 Official Census Enrollment by Program.
Open Swims will be held in Cato 248 according to the schedule shown below to support planning and respond to questions. If you have questions or need individual assistance, please contact Johnna Watson. To register, please visit the Enrollment Management Planning registration page.
Open Swim Schedule
Graduate School Conference Room, Cato Hall, #248
Wednesday, September 27th, 1-2:30 pm
Friday, October 6th, 1:30 – 3 pm
Thursday, October 12th, 11:30 am-1 pm
Wednesday, October 18th, 10:30 am – noon
Raleigh Meteorologist Greg Fishel to Address Climate Change
Greg Fishel, weather forecaster for Raleigh television station WRAL, will present “Climate Change: My Journey from Ideology to Science,” Nov. 11 at the Raleigh Convention Center.
The presentation, sponsored by the Sigma Xi Scientific Research Society, examines the scientific, political and religious sides of the climate change debate and explores why a divide exists between scientists and the public.
To register, please visit Sigma Xi.
Sigma Xi also will be sponsoring a Student Research Conference at the event, featuring a poster competition and career development sessions on science communication.
80+ Attend Grad Ed Summit
More than 80 members of UNC Charlotte’s Graduate Education community participated in the September 8 Grad Ed Summit. Program Directors, Department Chairs and other administrators heard from Graduate School staff and shared ideas and questions in the Halton Reading Room of the Atkins Library.
Following introductory remarks by Graduate School Dean Tom Reynolds and Graduate Council Chair Christine Haynes, Graduate School staff formally introduced GPDNet, the new on-line portal for Graduate Program Directors. Katherine Hall-Hertel then updated attendees on DegreeWorks and CGL activities. Johnna Watson discussed admissions developments, and Alan Freitag explained the Graduate School’s restructured approach to strategic communication in support of graduate education and outreach efforts to the military/veteran population.
Open discussion followed, covering topics from recruiting to student funding processes. The Summit concluded with the announcement that beginning in May 2018, doctoral students will be recognized in a separate hooding ceremony apart from the traditional commencement exercises.
If you attended the event, the Graduate School staff would very much appreciate your assessment to help us make future events even better. Please use the comment section below to share your insights.
Future Faculty Enrollment Open
NC State’s Building Future Faculty (BFF) Program is accepting applications for the 2018 Program through Nov. 12, 2017.
The all-expenses paid workshop in Raleigh Mar. 14-16, 2018, is designed for diverse graduate students and post-doctoral students who are seeking a career as a faculty member. Workshop topics explore what to expect as a faculty member, a discussion of the wealth of resources available to faculty for teaching and expectations of productivity for faculty engaged in research. Participants will spend time with current faculty and department chairs in their discipline discussing effective strategies to prepare for an academic career.
For more information and to apply, please visit the Building Future Faculty website.
Assessment Needed for International TAs
The Office of International Programs recently sent a reminder to international teaching assistants calling attention to the requirement to attend an English language assessment and to complete an I-9 form that is available from U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
For more information, visit the Center for Graduate Life Teaching Assistants.
Assistantships Now on Hire-A-Niner
Hire-A-Ni
ner, the online system that provides students easy access to jobs, internships, and co-ops now is a source for Graduate Assistantship opportunities too.
“A graduate assistant position has been added to the types of jobs listed on Hire-A-Niner,” said Julie Goodliffe, Director of Funding and Fellowships for the Graduate School. “Now, any department looking for a graduate assistant can easily create the position in Hire-A-Niner and view all the applications in one place.”
Goodliffe said the Hire-A-Niner portal permits greater control over when and how an opportunity is posted and on who can apply. The portal also archives job postings so re-posting a job is easy.
Students can search and save their searches and get updates by email. The system features a resume creator, resource library, hire reporting and online career tools.
For more information or to register and post a graduate assistantship opportunity, visit Hire-A-Niner and select the Employer option.
3MT® Competitions Slated for Nov. 3, Nov. 10
After an excellent first event in spring 2017, 3MT® returns to UNC Charlotte this fall. Developed by The University of Queensland, the 3MT® exercise cultivates students’ academic, presentation, and research communication skills.
Preliminary competition for the UNC Charlotte event is Nov. 3, with finals following on Nov. 10. Cash prizes are awarded for the first place, runner up, and People’s Choice presenters. The first place presenter will advance to the Regional Conference of Southern Graduate Schools 3MT® competition in February.
For more information, videos, and rules, visit the 3MT® Competition page at the Center for Graduate Life.
Nominate Your Best Master Student Thesis
Oct. 9 is the deadline for nominating students for the Graduate School’s 2018 Outstanding Master’s Thesis Award. Faculty may nominate a student whose thesis has been accepted in partial fulfillment of master’s degree requirements during the past two academic years and/or summer sessions.
Winners may also be considered for the Conference of Southern Graduate Schools Master’s Thesis competition.
For more information, please visit Graduate Student Competitions at the Center for Graduate Life.
Graduate Council Launches 2017/18 Academic Year
Categories: Dean's Office
The Graduate Council’s first meeting of the 2017/18 academic year was held Aug. 22 in the Cato Building. Council Chair Christine Haynes, Department of History, thanked members for their willingness to serve and reviewed the Council’s roles and responsibilities. Graduate School Dean Tom Reynolds stressed the importance of the Council’s advice and counsel in advancing graduate education. Both the Dean and the Chair discussed the importance of Faculty Governance in the successful function of the university. Chair Haynes also encouraged Council members to bring their college graduate faculty concerns and issues to Council meetings for discussion and to convey to faculty the Council’s activities.
Graduate Recruitment Cited in Best Practices Study
UNC Charlotte’s graduate enrollment management strategy was highlighted as a best practice in a recently released national research report on enrollment trends.
The report, produced by Hanover Research, a firm that provides research and consulting services to corporate, education, and healthcare clients, is entitled “Best Practices in Graduate Student Recruitment.” The report suggests the most effective steps college deans nationwide are taking to ensure continued strong enrollment in the face of increasing tuition rates and student debt.
UNC Charlotte was acknowledged for “harnessing the power of technology and data” through its enrollment management strategy to recruit students who are a good fit with the university.
“Strategic Enrollment Management (SEM) looks at the larger context for an institution (its mission, goals, and view on the emerging needs for skills and abilities in its students),” the report says, “and builds those considerations into the enrollment process, coordinating student recruitment, marketing, tuition and financial aid, academic portfolio offerings, and student support services.”
The report goes on to say, “UNC Charlotte’s Graduate Enrollment Management (GEM) plan is designed as a collaborative process by an academically diverse group of representatives. Decisions are informed by data collection and analysis and aim to produce measurable improvements in recruitment, admissions, retention, funding, and graduation.”
Hanover’s research report can be downloaded here.
UNC Charlotte Ranks High for NSF Grants
UNC Charlotte has ranked fourth in North Carolina for the number of NSF Graduate Research Fellows since 2010, behind Duke, UNC Chapel Hill, and NC State.
You can help continue this success by encouraging your best students to apply for the NSF GRFP, which provides a $34,000 annual stipend for three years, and pays tuition and fees.
Deadlines are October 24th – 28th, depending on field of study.
For more information on student funding, visit the Graduate School’s Student Funding site.
GA Contracts Must Be Approved by Aug. 16
Categories: Student Funding
Students on TA/RA/AA from the first day of school must have their eGA contract approved by August 16 to be paid Aug. 31.
More information is available at the Recruitment and Hiring website. Questions may be directed to Teresa Shook, Student Employment, tshook4@uncc.edu, Tamika Coleman, Temporary Staff Employment, tcolem20@uncc.edu, or Herlicia Blakely, I-9 Compliance, hblakel2@uncc.edu.
Master's Thesis Award Nominations Sought
Categories: Student Funding
The Graduate School is seeking nominations for the Outstanding Master’s Thesis Award through Oct. 9.
Faculty may nominate a student whose thesis has been accepted in partial fulfillment of master’s degree requirements during the past two academic and/or summer sessions.
For more information, fields of competition and criteria, download the Award leaflet here.
GPDs Suggest DegreeWorks Improvements
Categories: Academic Affairs
With DegreeWorks poised for deployment throughout UNC Charlotte this year, key users in the Graduate School who got a head start using the system the past year recently shared their views and suggestions for enhancements.
Graduate Program Directors (GPDs) and staff were interviewed over the summer months to gain their thoughts on how to get more out of the audit and graduation clearance tool. In all, 65 faculty and staff participated in the interviews. The suggested improvements fall into five categories:
- New reports on student progression, milestones and course demand to help in planning and keeping students on track
- Enhancements to the system’s audit capabilities, such as time limits and ensuring C and I grades get noticed
- Streamlining the petition process
- DegreeWorks training
- Improved search capabilities
Ideas for improvement will be prioritized based on greatest potential impact, and action plans will be built for the high priority needs. More information on those plans will be shared soon.
“DegreeWorks has proven to increase transparency for students and advisors, while bringing graduation clearance into the 21st century,” said Katherine Hall-Hertel, Associate Dean for Graduate Student Affairs and the Center for Graduate Life. “We appreciate those who took the time to provide their feedback on the experience to help us continuously improve DegreeWorks as an advising tool.”
More information can be found on the DegreeWorks home page and FAQs. For other questions, please send them to degreeworks@uncc.edu .
GRE® Test Takers Snapshot Available
Categories: Graduate School News
Interest in physical sciences, engineering and life sciences all are up 2-3% among test takers this year compared to last, and interest in business grew by five percent. This and much more useful information is available in the recently released GRE Program’s Snapshot of Individuals Who Took the GRE® General Test.
The latest version includes volume data on the GRE test-taker population for the past three testing years (July 2013 through June 2016).
The comprehensive information in the Snapshot report can be helpful in creating targeted recruitment campaigns….
Dissertation and Thesis Committees Now Available in DegreeWorks
Categories: Graduate School News
Dissertation and thesis committees can now be viewed in DegreeWorks. When a committee is established, a new block of data will appear below the general student information on the audit. Information includes committee chair, graduate faculty representative and committee members.
Another recent change includes moving the program GPA from the degree block to the major block. This change, which does not alter its operation, accommodates the expansion of DegreeWorks to undergraduate students this year.
PLEASE NOTE: To view these changes, you will need to clear your browser…
Half-time Enrollment Definition changing for Fall Semester
Categories: Graduate School News
UNC Charlotte’s definition of graduate school half time enrollment is changing beginning in Fall 2017. To be considered enrolled half time, graduate students must take at least 4.5 credit hours, which essentially means 5 or more credit hours for UNC Charlotte. For more information, please visit the Office of the Provost website.
