The Graduate School Newsletter

Spring 2026

Dear UConn Graduate Students,

I hope spring break was rejuvenating for you. As you prepare to finish out this semester, The Graduate School has several exciting things planned for you. Graduate Student Appreciation Week will be April 6-10 and will offer a variety of activities and free events, such as a virtual GenAI and Graduate Education Panel Discussion, Multicultural Food and Music Festival, Trivia Night, and more. A highlight of this week will be the Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) and Graduate Student Showcase on April 8. We hope you’ll join us for some (or all!) of these wonderful events designed to recognize the impact of graduate students in our community.

As always, The Graduate School is here to support you. The Graduate School’s Graduate Student and Postdoctoral Affairs (GSPA) Team is a great starting place for any graduate student concern, especially if you are not sure where to begin.

Best wishes for a successful conclusion to the semester,

Leslie M. Shor
Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Vice Provost for Graduate Education and Dean of The Graduate School

GRADCHAT

GRADCHAT is a casual, low-stakes conversation with students about the UConn Graduate Student experience, hosted by Kim Curry, Director of Graduate Student and Postdoctoral Support. Conversations are held virtually via Webex. Graduate students across all regional campuses are encouraged to attend and connect! Spring semester’s GRADCHAT is already in progress, and the next session “Visible and Invisible Disabilities: Resources for Graduate Students” is slated for Friday, March 27, 2026, from 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM. RSVP for the upcoming or any future sessions. For the full spring schedule and more information about the sessions, please visit our GRADCHAT webpage.

Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) and Graduate Student Showcase

The Graduate School will be hosting the Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) and Graduate Student Showcase on April 8, 2026, from 8 AM-1 PM in the Konover Auditorium within the Dodd Center for Human Rights. This competition will feature 3-minute talks from graduate students in degree-granting programs. The talks must be accessible to a general audience. The winners of this competition will receive awards and may be eligible for the international 3MT® competition. Please join us on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, from 8am-1pm to hear more about the exciting research taking place across the University! Register to attend the competition.

Graduate Student Appreciation Week 2026 (UConnGSAW26)

The 2026 Graduate Student Appreciation Week at UConn, taking place from Monday, April 6 through Friday, April 10. This annual celebration recognizes the outstanding contributions and achievements of graduate students across all UConn campuses.

With just two weeks to go, The Graduate School, in partnership with the regional campuses and Storrs campus affiliates, has planned a range of free events including, virtual GenAI and Graduate Education Panel Discussion, Multicultural Food and Music Festival, Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) and Graduate Student Showcase, Trivia Night, and more. RSVP for all or any of the events here.

As we count down to the week, you are invited to listen to the UConnGSAW26’s Graduate Student Wellness Playlist on Spotify to get into the spirit!

Timely Topics

Timely Topics is a series of learning opportunities for students to engage with subject matter experts on topics relevant to graduate education. Our last session for the spring term will focus on transitioning from a graduate student role to a postdoctoral scholar position. We hope you’ll join us on Wednesday, April 22 to learn more! Visit the Timely Topics page for a full session description and to register.

Industry Insights

Are you interested in a career in the biotech/pharmaceutical industry? Register now for the next session of Industry Insights. This virtual series features professionals from the biotech/pharma space who share their thoughts on the skills necessary to succeed in this industry. They will also provide suggestions for how graduate students and postdocs might build the skills needed to land these jobs. The next event takes place on Monday, April 27 from 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM. Once registered, you will receive a link to attend the program. Listen to the January and February recordings.

Summer and Fall Registration is Open

Registration for graduate students for summer and fall courses has begun! We recommend registering early to ensure continuity of services, prevent smaller classes from appearing as under-enrolled, and to allow ample time for any required approvals (e.g., independent study courses). Please review these important enrollment reminders. As a reminder, graduate students must take action to enroll (or request an Academic Leave of Absence) every semester of their program.

Graduation Reminders

Are you graduating and planning to attend Commencement? Don’t forget to RSVP to Commencement! If you wish to participate in Commencement, you must both have applied to graduate through Student Admin and submitted your RSVP to the ceremony. More information is available on the Commencement website.

Additional resources to help you prepare to graduate:

News from the Office of Student Financial Aid Services (OSFAS)

Important changes are coming to federal student loans, effective July 1, 2026. With the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, the Graduate PLUS Loan program is being phased out, and student borrowing limits will change, including reduced loan amounts tied to the number of credits taken. For more information, please visit the Office of Student Financial Aid Services’ One Big Beautiful Bill Act webpage.

Fulbright Awards - Conduct Research or Teach English Abroad

The Fulbright U.S. Student Program offers unparalleled global opportunities to passionate and accomplished graduate students and young professionals from all backgrounds. Students can apply for various grants, including Research Awards and English Teaching Assistantships. The 2027-2028 application cycle will open on March 31, 2026. The campus deadline is August 31, 2026, and the final deadline is October 6, 2026.

If you are interested in the program or curious about your potential eligibility, please email Michael Cunningham or make an appointment with him via Nexus.

Grad Announcements

Keep an eye on the Grad Announcements emails for important information and upcoming events throughout the semester. These digest-like emails land in your inbox daily with the subject line, “Announcements for UConn Graduate Students”. Announcements must be submitted at least 48 hours in advance. The Graduate School also has an Events Calendar.

Remote Work for GAs

GA’s are expected to arrive on campus at UConn prior to the start date of their appointment and remain through the duration of their appointment, including during the summer term. GAs may be able to work remotely within Connecticut, provided they have written faculty supervisor approval and the faculty supervisor finds that the responsibilities of the position can be completed from the remote location. In very limited instances, an exception to work as a GA while outside of Connecticut may be approved by the Dean of The Graduate School, however, such exceptions are typically limited to instances where the duties of the position require the GA to be out-of-state. If circumstances require a GA to leave Connecticut during their appointment, they must make arrangements with their GA supervisor to use time off or request a GA Leave through Human Resources.

Conference Participation Award

The Graduate School is committed to helping graduate students achieve their academic, professional, and personal goals during their time at the University of Connecticut. In support of this goal, The Graduate School offers a Conference Participation Award (previously known as the “Doctoral Student Travel Award”), to support students’ ability to present their research either in-person or virtually at national or international meetings and conferences.

The Conference Participation Award, in the amount of $750, will be awarded for the semester following the application submission and paid through the student’s fee bill. Students are responsible for knowing all travel advisories, restrictions, and relevant University policies and should plan accordingly. Students should stay up-to-date with information shared by the U.S. Department of State,  State of Connecticut, and the University’s Travel Services office.

The next cycle for the Conference Participation Award will be open from June 1 – June 30, 2026, to be awarded to eligible students (view eligibility criteria) through their Fall 2026 fee bill.

Career Readiness for Grads

Build Your Career Readiness

Explore practical Career Readiness Modules designed specifically for graduate students. Topics include:

New Program: Doctoral Pathways Network: Careers in University Administration and Leadership

Stay tuned for the launch of this new informational interview structured program, designed for you to explore the broad ecosystem of careers within universities and the value of a doctoral degree that extends beyond faculty roles. By participating, you’ll have access to doctoral-trained administrators and leaders at UConn who are eager to share the work of their departments and discuss their career paths. This program will be announced later this spring in the daily graduate student announcement.

Meet with a Career Coach

The Center for Career Readiness and Life Skills offers career coaching appointments 12 months a year. Visit the 12twenty scheduling platform to reserve an appointment.

Welcoming a New Class of Impact Scholars

The Graduate School is excited to welcome the newest Impact Scholar and Distinguished Graduate Fellow (DGF) recipients for Fall 2026! These are the most prestigious awards offered by The Graduate School for incoming graduate students.

These outstanding applicants are nominated by the university’s schools and colleges and championed by a faculty member within their prospective program. The scholarship, leadership, and engagement activities outlined by all of the applicants demonstrated how they could leverage UConn’s people, programs, research centers, and community partners to achieve immeasurable impact during their academic journeys here. A total of 23 Distinguished Graduate Fellows were identified, and 12 of those applicants were selected to become Impact Scholars.

Congratulations to all our Fall 2026 Impact Scholar and DGF recipients!

A Message from the Graduate Student Senate

The Graduate Student Senate (GSS) is one of UConn’s five university-wide governing bodies and the only one dedicated specifically to representing graduate student voices. In that role, GSS advocates for graduate students across the university, brings graduate student concerns into shared governance and university decision-making, and works to strengthen the graduate student experience across campuses and programs.

Beyond advocacy, GSS also works to foster community among graduate students. We hope you will join us for two upcoming events this spring for our Spring Weekend: The Spring Party at Huskies (Downtown Storrs) on April 10 and the Festival of Color on April 11. These events are a chance to connect with fellow graduate students, build community across departments and campuses, and take a break during the semester.

We encourage you to stay engaged with GSS this semester by attending meetings, participating in events, and reaching out to your representatives with ideas or concerns. Graduate students are an essential part of the UConn community, and GSS is committed to ensuring that your voice is heard.

The Writing Center

The Writing Center is a welcoming space where students and tutors collaborate on writing projects. The Writing Center stands by the belief all students are writers. Students may bring any type of writing—academic, civic, personal, and multimedia texts—at any stage in the composing process and receive support.