Graduate Monthly Update
November 2009
Dean’s Message:
Now that fall quarter is in full swing, I know many of you are getting ready to tackle another busy admissions season. Our AY 2009-2010 enrollment numbers remained relatively flat compared to last year’s, as targeted by the Office of the President, and we are continuing to find new ways of supporting graduate education in a tough fiscal climate. Motivated by the idea that tough times can breed creativity and innovation, UC Irvine has established several special task forces to address our current budget challenges. One such group is the Task Force on Graduate Student Support/Resources and Development of Professional Master’s Programs, which I am pleased to chair and which will identify resources for graduate support. A report is due to be submitted to the Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost by late November.
Funding was also one of the main subjects of our recently concluded series of Graduate Education Workshops for Academic Units, aimed at relevant issues that affect UCI’s graduate community. Other topics of discussion included updates on our admissions process for the fall 2010 cycle, which are detailed below, and changes to the GRE.
To help strengthen UCI’s success in securing extramural grants, the Graduate Resource Center (GRC) continues to offer a wide range of services to assist students with their fellowship applications. Workshops designed to help students apply for the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship were held in the summer and early fall. Starting this month, the GRC will also offer peer review sessions for students applying for the newly announced DOE Office of Science Graduate Fellowship program. Please encourage your eligible students to apply for this highly prestigious and generous fellowship — created with funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act — and to take advantage of the GRC’s writing support services.
In this Issue:
- Admissions Update
- In Absentia Policy Clarification
- Recruitment and Diversity
- IT Priorities
- Task Force on Graduate Student Support
- Extramural Funding Activities
- Graduate Resource Center
- Student Health Update
- News and Events
- Next Issue: December 1, 2009
- View the previous edition of the Graduate Monthly Update - October 2009
Admissions Update
- Precise GPA calculations are no longer necessary when determining an international student’s eligibility for admission to a graduate program at UC Irvine. Departments should determine whether the student meets the 3.0 GPA eligibility threshold, but do not need to include a precise GPA calculation over and above 3.0. However, if the student does not meet the 3.0 admissibility standard and a program wants to admit the student as an exception to policy, a precise GPA calculation should be included with the request for an exception.
- Departments no longer need to specify that a student is provisionally admitted in the admission letter sent to students. The Graduate Division will inform students if they are provisionally admitted in the e-mail sent by the office once an admission is processed; the e-mail also will specify the reason(s) for the provision (i.e., official transcript showing degree conferral, test scores, etc.).
- The Letter of Recommendation (LOR) system component of the online application is undergoing improvements for ease of use. Expected to be completed in December.
- The DAVAD system is being enhanced to allow programs to indicate in the system if a student is denied admission. Expected to be completed in December.
- Test scores are now received electronically; paper copies of test scores have been eliminated.
Fee Policy for Graduate Student In Absentia Registration - Clarification for Students Doing Research Within California
- Since approval of the Fee Policy for Graduate Student In Absentia Registration (IAR), a question has emerged about the intent of the policy concerning research leaves. As a means to reinforce existing policy on continuous enrollment, IAR requires campuses "...to eliminate the provision for research leaves currently granted to some doctoral students." The question is, does the policy's reference to research leaves apply only to students pursuing academic activities outside of California, or does it also apply to students conducting research away from campus but in California?
- IAR's scope is limited to students who are eligible to register in absentia, i.e., students who are outside California; and thus, the elimination of research leaves referred to in the policy applies only to these students.
- For all other students, campus policies remain unchanged by IAR. This means that campuses can allow research leaves to students who must leave campus to carry out research in a different California location if appropriate. Keeping in mind the university's policy on continuous enrollment, deans are expected to continue to act judiciously when granting research leaves to students who remain in California.
- Any questions regarding the In Absentia Registration policy should be directed to Ruth Quinnan in the Graduate Division at rquinnan@uci.edu, or 949-824-5879.
- In Absentia Fee Policy
- FAQs
Recruitment and Diversity
- Prospective student contact information collected by the Graduate Division will be sent to school and department graduate affairs contacts beginning Monday, Nov. 2. Schools and departments are encouraged to get in touch with students who have demonstrated interest in your programs during our recruitment travels.
- Three UCI graduate students – Elizabeth Montalvo (Chemistry), Jose Romero-Mariona (Information and Computer Science) and Carlos Solorzano (Pharmacology) – recently delivered oral research presentations at the Society for the Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science 2009 National Conference in Dallas. Please join us in congratulating Carlos and Jose for winning Outstanding Graduate Oral Presentation Awards. To learn more about UCI's participation in SACNAS, check out the article, "UCI students recognized at national conference."
- SAVE THE DATE: The next SACNAS National Conference will be held in Anaheim, from Sept. 30 to Oct. 3, 2010.
IT Priorities
- Following an initial discussion on September 16, the Associate Deans along with graduate program chairs and directors, graduate advisors and graduate affairs staff, were invited to provide ideas and priorities regarding information systems and process streamlining related to the Graduate Division. Many faculty and staff responded, and a summary of their feedback is posted here. This information is being used to help guide ongoing development, services and operations within the Graduate Division. Additional ideas and feedback on these items is encouraged and should be sent to the Graduate Division’s IT Director, Eric Taggart.
Task Force on Graduate Student Support
- Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost Michael Gottfredson has established several task forces to help with our current budget situation. The Task Force on Graduate Student Support/Resources and Development of Professional Master's Programs, chaired by Dean Frances Leslie, will focus on how to maximize the campus' graduate student support funds, as well as potential areas for new professional master's degree programs or the expansion of existing programs. A list of members and issues of focus for the three subcommittees is available here.
Extramural Funding Activities
- New DOE Fellowship: The U.S. Department of Energy has established the DOE Office of Science Graduate Fellowship (DOE SCGF) program to support outstanding students pursuing research in the areas of physics, biology, chemistry, math, engineering, computational sciences and environmental sciences. The Office of Science will support at least 80 graduate fellowships; each award is worth $50,500 per year for three years. All eligible UCI students are encouraged to apply. Program and application details, including eligibility requirements, are available at www.scied.science.doe.gov/SCGF.html. The application deadline is Nov. 30.
- DOE Fellowship Peer Review at the GRC: In order to assist eligible UCI graduate students with their applications, the Graduate Resource Center will host four DOE Fellowship Peer Review Sessions in November. These review sessions are designed to help applicants with the two required essays. The sessions will be held at the GRC, located in Room C114 on Level 1 of the Student Center. (Click here for a map and walking directions from Ring Road.) Applicants are invited to attend one or more of the following sessions with their drafts of Personal Statement and/or Proposed Plan of Research essays for review by an advanced graduate student:
- Nov. 4, Wednesday, 1 – 2:30 p.m.
- Nov. 5, Thursday, 2 – 3:30 p.m.
- Nov. 9, Monday, 10 – 11:30 a.m.
- Nov. 12, Thursday, 2 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Graduate Resource Center
- Writing Assistance: The GRC’s Graduate Writing Tutors will present four workshops in November designed to assist students with academic papers and reports. They also will host four DOE Fellowship Peer Review Sessions and are available for individual consultations. The schedule of workshops, review sessions and tutorial services is available at www.grad.uci.edu/workshops.
- Mental Mondays: Health, Wellness and Work/Life Balance will be the focus of GRC programs and services every Monday throughout the month of November. Counseling Center staff will be available from 1 to 2 p.m. each Monday, plus yoga classes and other activities will be offered at the GRC.
- Postdoc Events: In collaboration with the UCI Postdoctoral Association, the GRC will offer a series of activities, workshops and professional development opportunities through November. The announcement can be accessed here. In addition, February has been designated Postdoctoral Scholar Appreciation Month, and planning is underway to support and recognize the many contributions postdoctoral scholars make to the campus.
- Graduate Division Calendar of Events: Keep informed of all GRC events and activities by visiting www.grad.uci.edu/news/calendar.htm.
Student Health Update
- Medical students now have a dependent care option, and the GSHIP transition (subscribers now receive primary care through the Student Health Center) appears to be running smoothly.
- At their November meeting, the Regents will consider making mandatory health insurance a non-academic condition for enrollment of graduate students.
- Discussion of a systemwide GSHIP is ongoing.
News and Events
- Schools and departments are encouraged to send news tips and story ideas — or existing stories from your website or publications — to Rizza Barnes for possible inclusion on the Graduate Division website. Please refer to our home page for the latest headlines, or access them here:
