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2018 Brings New Summer Fellowship

November 20, 2017 by White, Brian

The Graduate School recently launched a new funding opportunity for doctoral students who pursue their studies over the summer months.

The Graduate School Summer Fellowship (GSSF) Program awards $6,000 ($2,000 per month) paid at the end of May and is available to full-time students with GASP support. Applicants must

Pass their qualifying exam and proposal defense by May 15, 2018
Pre-register for full-time enrollment in the 2018 fall semester.
Hold an eligible graduate assistantship with GASP funding in the 2018 fall semester

The GSSF is designed to replace a TA or other summer job that takes the student away from their research. Recipients are expected to dedicate significant effort to their research project over the summer months and make timely progress to the degree.

To apply, students should submit an abstract about their project, not to exceed 500 words, with a paragraph explaining specific goals for the summer. Also include a timeline for completing the goals and year and semester of anticipated graduation. Please send to Dr. Julie Goodliffe, jmgoodli@uncc.edu, by Mar.1, 2018.

The student’s advisor should send an email to Dr. Goodliffe supporting the application and confirming his/her availability to provide support (direction, advising, supervision, mentoring) over the summer.

Applicants will be informed of the decision on their application no later than Mar. 30, 2018.

For information on these and other financial assistance programs, contact Dr. Julie Goodliffe at jmgoodli@uncc.edu.

Deadlines Loom for Major Grants

November 17, 2017 by White, Brian

Major external fellowships that pay stipends plus full tuition and fees are available, but the deadline to apply is coming soon. A sampling of the opportunities are listed below with deadlines.

UNC Charlotte has a license to use PIVOT, the largest database of grant opportunities in the U.S. that includes local, state, federal, international, and foundation opportunities. For information on these and other financial assistance programs, contact Dr. Julie Goodliffe, at jmgoodli@uncc.edu, .

Department of Defense SMART program for graduate students pursuing a degree in one of 19 STEM disciplines. Pays full tuition and fees, $25-000 – $38,000 stipend (depending on field of study), money for health insurance, summer internships, and job placement after graduation in a DoD facility.

Deadline: Dec. 1.

Symantec Research Labs Graduate Fellowship for PhD students in one of several areas of computer science, unrestricted citizenship. Apply for up to $20,000 for tuition and fees, plus a salaried internship at Symantec.

Deadline: Dec. 1.

Ford Foundation Dissertation Fellowship for students completing their dissertation in a research-based PhD in almost every field. Apply for a one-year stipend of $25,000 for your final year.

Deadline: Dec. 7

National Institutes of Health Predoctoral Fellowships (F31) Apply for three years of support with a ~$24,000 stipend, and money for tuition and fees. This prestigious award will also show your fundability as a biologist, which is crucial for career success.

Deadline: Dec. 8

Google’s Women Techmakers Scholarship for women in computer science or computer engineering. Apply for a $10,000 scholarship and an invitation to the Google Scholar’s Retreat in Mountain View, California. Unrestricted citizenship.

Deadline: Dec.11

Ford Foundation Predoctoral Fellowship for students pursuing a research-based Ph.D. in almost every field. Apply for three years of an annual $24,000 stipend.

Deadline: Dec. 14

American Chemical Society Division of Analytical Chemistry Graduate Fellowship Program for graduate students in the field of analytical chemistry. $21,000 fellowships.

Deadline: Dec. 16

National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship for students pursuing a doctorate in one of 15 STEM disciplines. Apply for up to four years full tuition and fees, a generous stipend, and money for medical insurance from the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR), the Army Research Office (ARO), and the Office of Naval Research (ONR).

Deadline: Dec. 31

Department of Energy Computational Science Graduate Fellowship. Computational science is interdisciplinary by nature, using algorithms, mathematics and computers to analyze and solve scientific and engineering problems. Apply for up to four years of a $36,000 per year stipend plus academic allowance.

Deadline: Jan. 17

Half-time Enrollment Definition Changed

September 20, 2017 by White, Brian

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.

Assessment Needed for International TAs

September 06, 2017 by White, Brian

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

August 29, 2017 by White, Brian

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.

UNC Charlotte Ranks High for NSF Grants

August 08, 2017 by White, Brian

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

July 21, 2017 by White, Brian

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

July 21, 2017 by White, Brian

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.

Federal Budget Proposal

May 25, 2017 by Johnna Watson

The proposed FY 2018 federal budget has significant changes to programs that support graduate education. Read more…