Kun Chen Named Academic Director of UConn’s M.S. in Data Science Program

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Appointment positions the interdisciplinary program for continued growth and an increasingly AI-driven future

The University of Connecticut is pleased to announce that Kun Chen, Professor of Statistics, has been named Academic Director of UConn’s M.S. in Data Science program.

Chen brings to the position an exceptional record of interdisciplinary scholarship, academic leadership, teaching, and mentorship. A professor in UConn’s Department of Statistics and a research fellow in the Center for Population Health at UConn Health, his research spans statistical learning, machine learning, optimization, health data science, bioinformatics, population health, and healthcare analytics.

An internationally recognized scholar, Chen is a Fellow of the American Statistical Association and an elected member of the International Statistical Institute. In 2024, he received the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Innovative Scholarship Award, which recognizes outstanding interdisciplinary research addressing significant challenges to knowledge, human well-being, and society. His work exemplifies the collaborative, application-focused approach that is central to UConn’s vision for data science.

As Academic Director, Chen will provide intellectual and strategic leadership for the M.S. in Data Science program. He will work across UConn’s schools and colleges to guide the program’s academic direction, strengthen its curriculum, support faculty collaboration, enhance the student experience, deepen relationships with industry and external partners, and identify new opportunities for growth and innovation.

UConn’s M.S. in Data Science is a 30-credit, career-focused graduate program offered in both an intensive, cohort-based on-campus format and a flexible online format. Drawing on faculty expertise from five schools and colleges—the College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources, the School of Business, the College of Engineering, the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, and the Neag School of Education—the interdisciplinary curriculum prepares students across the full data science lifecycle, including statistical analysis, computing, machine learning, data management, visualization, communication, research design, ethics, and responsible data use. The program culminates in a team-based capstone through which students work collaboratively to address consequential, real-world challenges, often in partnership with industry and organizational collaborators.

Chen’s appointment comes at a pivotal moment for the field. As data science and artificial intelligence rapidly converge, organizations increasingly need professionals who combine advanced analytical and AI capabilities with strong statistical foundations, ethical judgment, and deep domain expertise.

Under Chen’s leadership, the program will build on its strengths in statistics, computing, machine learning, and applied problem-solving while expanding opportunities at the intersection of data science and artificial intelligence. This next phase will strengthen connections with UConn’s growing AI research and educational ecosystem, deepen industry engagement, expand the program’s national visibility, and prepare graduates to lead in a professional landscape increasingly shaped by generative AI, advanced machine learning, and intelligent decision systems. At the same time, the program will preserve the qualities that distinguish it: its interdisciplinary structure, academic rigor, commitment to responsible practice, and focus on translating technical knowledge into meaningful real-world impact.

Chen succeeds Jeremy Teitelbaum, who has served as Academic Director since 2023 and is stepping down from the role. As the program’s first dedicated director following its launch, Jeremy has led the M.S. in Data Science program through a formative period of growth and development. His leadership has helped establish the program’s academic identity, strengthen its interdisciplinary partnerships, expand enrollment, and build a strong foundation for continued success. We are sincerely grateful for Jeremy’s vision, dedication, and service, and we thank him for the lasting contributions he has made to UConn’s M.S. in Data Science program.

Please join me in thanking Jeremy, and congratulating Kun.

Upcoming Fall 2026 GA Registration Deadline

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As a reminder, all students employed as Graduate Assistants are required to maintain full-time student status (6 or more credits), as noted in their offer letter and the Graduate Catalog. Employment as a GA is a result of student status, therefore it is recommended that you register by August 1 and it is required that you are registered for a minimum of 6 credits before the start date of your employment (August 23, 2026). Please be aware that if you do not enroll in the minimum 6 credits required to maintain full-time student status, the University cannot employ you as a GA.

To register now, log into Student Admin. You can also find helpful information, resources, and to-do items specific to your role as a GA, including information about GA health insurance and deadlines for enrolling in GA payroll deductions to pay your fee bill, at the Graduate Assistant Onboarding page.

If you have any questions about this requirement or need assistance, please don’t hesitate to reach out to megan.petsa@uconn.edu.

Postdoc Appreciation Week 2026

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The University of Connecticut Postdoc Working Group, in partnership with The Graduate School, UConn Health (Farmington), and the Center for Career Readiness and Life Skills, is excited to announce National Postdoc Appreciation Week (NPAW26) 2026, taking place from Monday, September 21, through Friday, September 25, on the Storrs campus.

This year’s theme, “Celebrating 150 Years of the U.S. Postdoc Position,” recognizes the important role postdoctoral scholars have played in advancing research, innovation, and higher education. It also reflects the purpose of National Postdoc Appreciation Week, which is dedicated to recognizing and supporting postdoctoral researchers across institutions nationwide.

Throughout the week, postdocs from all UConn campuses are invited to participate in a variety of events focused on professional development, networking, and community building. These events provide opportunities for postdocs to connect with colleagues, learn about available resources, and celebrate their contributions to the UConn community.

This year’s NPAW26 will also feature the Second Annual Postdoc Research Day. Postdocs interested in participating in the Postdoc Research Day should read more HERE and register once application opens. Postdocs, Faculty, staff, graduate students, and all other attendees should use the general RSVP form to register for the week's events. Please see below for more information about the scheduled events and activities.

The Week at a Glance

We invite you to stay connected throughout NPAW26 by following The Graduate School on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn for highlights and updates. More events and activities will be added in the coming days. Questions, feedback, or ideas for NPAW26 may be directed to The Graduate School via Melanie V. Sinche (melanie.sinche@uconn.edu) or Michael Inkoom Nyarko (rdu25001work@uconn.edu).

2026 Postdoc Research Day

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The University of Connecticut's Postdoc Working Group, in partnership with The Graduate School, invites you to register and participate in the Second Annual Postdoc Research Day. This one-day event will be held on Wednesday, December 9, 2026, from 8:00a.m. to 2:00p.m., with oral presentations in the Student Union Ballroom and poster presentations in Student Union Room 304. The event is designed to provide postdoctoral scholars with an opportunity to present their research to a general audience while participating in career development training that prepares them for the next steps in their careers. 

Three postdoc winners
Winners of the 2025 Postdoc Research Day (left to right): Shadi Izadidehkordi, Cao Thuy Giang Nguyen, and Hoang Quan Truong.

Postdocs from all UConn campuses, with the exception of UConn Health, are encouraged to register and participate in the 2026 Postdoc Research Day. The competition will feature a maximum of 30 poster presentations. In addition, up to 20 postdocs will be selected to deliver a three-minute presentation about their research to a general audience. All postdocs are welcome to present their research.

Since space is limited, participation will be determined on a first-come, first-served basis upon receipt of a complete application. Selections will also take into consideration equitable representation across UConn's schools, colleges, departments, and institutes. 

To help participants prepare for the competition, all selected presenters will be required to attend a mandatory practice session, either in person at the Whetten Graduate Center, Giolas Conference Room, second floor or virtually via Microsoft Teams. During the practice session, judges will provide constructive feedback to help presenters strengthen their presentations before the competition.

Please note that all oral presentations must be no longer than three minutes. Interested postdocs are encouraged to submit their applications as soon as registration opens, as available presentation spots will be filled on a rolling basis.

Submit Your Application Here

Applicants who submit their applications after all oral presentation slots have been filled may be placed on a waitlist and will be notified if an oral presentation opportunity becomes available. Selected postdocs will have the opportunity to present their research through a three-minute oral presentation. All interested postdocs are also welcome to participate in the poster presentation session.

On the registration form, please indicate whether you would like to be considered for an oral presentation, a poster presentation only, or both. Postdocs participating only in the poster presentation are encouraged to drop off their posters at The Graduate School front desk by December 7, 2026. Alternatively, posters may be dropped off at the registration desk on the day of the event before the poster session begins. 

For postdocs (if you are not presenting), faculty members, staff, graduate students, and members of the UConn community who wish to attend the event to support their colleagues, lab mates, or department's representation, please RSVP for the event using this link.

Leading up to the event, The Graduate School will host two presentation workshops, including Designing Effective Presentations for postdocs. These workshops will also be open to graduate students. Additional information regarding directions, parking, and other event resources will be shared closer to the event date.

If you have questions about the Second Annual Postdoc Research Day, please contact The Graduate School by reaching out to Melanie V. Sinche at melanie.sinche@uconn.edu or Michael Inkoom Nyarko at rdu25001work@uconn.edu.

Connect with The Graduate School at UConn on LinkedIn, Instagram, X (formally Twitter) and Facebook for more event updates.

Three-Minute Thesis (3MT®) and Graduate Student Showcase : Fall 2026

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The Graduate School at UConn invites you to apply for and participate in the second annual Three-Minute Thesis (3MT®) and Graduate Student Showcase. This event celebrates the impact, creativity, and purpose behind graduate students’ work through brief, engaging presentations designed for a general audience. The showcase will take place on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. in the Konover Auditorium in The Dodd Center for Human Rights and is open to degree-seeking graduate students from all UConn campuses. 

Spencer Hayes, presenting on the topic “Social Media's Dichotomous Agency in Human Trafficking” during the Spring 2026 3MT and Graduate Student Showcase.
Spencer Hayes, presenting on the topic “Social Media's Dichotomous Agency in Human Trafficking” during the Spring 2026 3MT® and Graduate Student Showcase.

The goal of the event is to provide eligible graduate students with an opportunity to gain experience communicating the significance of their work to a non-specialist audience in three minutes or less. Prior to the event, participants will have the opportunity to attend two presentation workshops, as outlined in the table below. 

APPLY HERE

Timeline: 

Monday, July 20, 2026  Application opens
Friday, August 7, 2026  Application deadline for graduate students 
Wednesday, August 12, 2026   Designing Engaging Presentations workshop

Register here!
Friday, August 21, 2026 Decisions made, graduate students notified
Friday, September 4, 2026  Creating Effective Presentations workshop
September 7-18, 2026  Preliminary round 
Wednesday, October 7, 2026  Final competition 

Eligibility Criteria: 

  • Category 1: All Master's degrees; Professional and clinical doctoral degrees 
  • Category 2: Arts, Humanities, and Social Science doctoral degrees (PhD candidates only) 
  • Category 3: STEM doctoral degrees (PhD candidates only) 

Please note:

Students must be enrolled in a degree-seeking graduate program during the Fall 2026 semester to participate in the competition. While students from both thesis-based and non-thesis-based programs are eligible to compete and win at the UConn level, only students enrolled in thesis-based programs are eligible to advance to the national and international Three-Minute Thesis (3MT®) competitions. We encourage all eligible graduate students, regardless of program type, to apply and participate in the UConn 3MT® and Graduate Student Showcase competition.  The Graduate School will also host a poster competition during the Spring 2027 semester. While the poster competition is open to all graduate students, those who may not be eligible to participate in the Fall 2026 3MT® and Graduate Student Showcase competition are especially encouraged to apply. Additional details about the Spring 2027 poster competition will be shared as they become available. 

To participate in Categories 2 or 3 above: 

  • The applicant must be a doctoral student enrolled in a program with a dissertation requirement. 
  • The applicant must be an active student when they apply and compete. Applicants who complete their degree during the prior semester cannot compete. 
  • The applicant must have documented successful completion of the General Examination by submitting the Report on the General Exam to the Office of the Registrar Degree Audit Team no later than Sept 30, 2026. 
  • The applicant must have documented successful completion and submission of the dissertation proposal by submitting the Dissertation Proposal Form to the Office of the Registrar Degree Audit Team no later than Sept 30, 2026. 
  • The Dissertation Proposal Form may be submitted to Degree Audit without approval from the Institutional Review Board (IRB)/Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC). The milestone will be posted as "in progress" and will meet the eligibility requirements for this application. IRB/IACUC approval must be submitted to Degree Audit once received to ensure that the milestone is updated to "complete" on the student record.

Prizes:

Ten (10) finalists in each of the categories listed above will be selected to compete on Wednesday, October 7, 2026. These thirty (30) finalists will receive $100 each for competing. At the event, the following prizes will be awarded within each category:

  • First prize: $1,000
  • Runner-up: $750
  • People's Choice: $500

At the end of the event, an overall winner will be selected from among the three categories and will receive an additional $5,000 for a total Grand Prize of $6,100. The institution's representative for the national and international 3MT competitions will also be determined based on the eligibility criteria outlined above (check please note). 

Application Process: 

Once applications go live on Monday, July 20, submit your application for the competition, ensuring that you answer all questions fully and to the best of your ability, using language that a general audience can understand. If selected to participate in the preliminary round, you must present your three-minute talk to a panel of judges between September 7 and September 18. This presentation may be conducted virtually or in person. From those who participate in the preliminary round, ten finalists from each category will be selected to compete in the final competition.  

Judging Criteria: To select applicants to advance on to the preliminary round in September, readers will use the following criteria: 

  • Clarity and accessibility of the description of your work 
  • Problem, question, or challenge addressed 
  • Connection between your degree program and your future goals 
  • Broader impact of your work 

Rules for the 3-minute presentation: 

  • A single static PowerPoint slide is permitted (no slide transitions, animations or 'movement' of any description, the slide is to be presented from the beginning of the oration). 
  • No additional electronic media (e.g. sound and video files) are permitted. 
  • No additional props (e.g. costumes, musical instruments, laboratory equipment) are permitted. 
  • Presentations are limited to 3 minutes maximum and competitors exceeding 3 minutes are disqualified. 
  • Presentations are to be spoken word (e.g. no poems, raps, or songs). 
  • Presentations are to commence from the stage. 
  • Presentations are considered to have commenced when a presenter starts their presentation through movement or speech. 
  • The competition is judged by a panel of professionals with wide ranging academic and non-academic expertise. 
  • The decision of the adjudicating panel is final. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

APPLY HERE

Connect with The Graduate School at UConn on LinkedIn, Instagram, X (formally Twitter) and Facebook for more event updates.

Fall 2026 Conference Participation Award

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We are pleased to announce that The Graduate School’s Conference Participation Award (formerly the Doctoral Student Travel Award) will be accepting applications from June 1 through June 30, 2026.

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 to support students’ ability to present their research at national or international meetings and conferences, including both in-person and virtual events. This conference participation fellowship in the amount of $750 will be awarded for Fall 2026 and paid through the student’s fee bill. If awarded, students will be notified in late July. Please review the eligibility criteria for the fellowship carefully before applying.

Students are responsible for knowing any and 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 and the University’s Travel Services office.

Eligibility Criteria:

  • The applicant must be a doctoral or MFA student.
  • The applicant must be enrolled in the semester for which the fellowship is awarded, e.g., fall semester for applications due by June 30.
  • The applicant must have successfully completed at least 30 credits toward their degree program prior to applying for this fellowship unless their program requires less than 30 credits with a prior master’s degree.
    • If a student has attained a master’s degree from another university and their program only requires 15 doctoral credits with a master’s degree, they qualify for eligibility upon completion of all 15 credits. View the 15 Credit Programs list.
  • The applicant is not eligible if they have previously received a Doctoral Student Travel Award or Conference Participation Award.
  • The funds are intended to be used for participation in a conference at which the student is presenting their research.
  • Students at UConn Health and UConn Law are not eligible for this award.

Please note, fellowships are not guaranteed, as funds are limited and pending budgetary approval. We hope to provide funding to all eligible applicants, but eligible students who are not awarded in this cycle will be encouraged to apply in the next cycle.

The deadline for application is June 30, 2026. Applications received following this date will not be considered. You can access the application form and more information on this webpage.

Academic Job Series – Summer 2026

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Faculty Futures: Plan and Prepare

The Academic Job Series – Summer 2026, Faculty Futures: Plan and Prepare, is a virtual series hosted collaboratively by The Center for Career Readiness and Life Skills, The Graduate School, and The Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning at University of Connecticut. The series features workshops on academic job searches, faculty application materials, teaching and research presentations, interviews, and negotiating offers. Sessions will be presented by Melanie Sinche, Director of Graduate Student and Postdoctoral Success, The Graduate School; Kay Kimball Gruder, M.Ed., Certified Career Services Provider™ (CCSP), Associate Director of Graduate Student and Postdoc Career Programs and Services, UConn Center for Career Readiness and Life Skills; and Rachel Prunier, Ph.D., Director of Teaching and Learning in the Life and Physical Sciences, UConn Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning. The series is also open to participants from University of Rhode Island. The series begins on Wednesday, May 27 and concludes on Wednesday, July 22. See below for event details and registration links.

Melanie

Presenter: Melanie Sinche

Prepare with Purpose: Planning, Timelines, and Readiness Gaps

Wed., May 27, 3:00-4:00PM (EST) 

Are you considering going on the academic job market this year or next? Not sure how the process works or where to start? Attend this session to learn more about the ins and outs of the academic job market. In this workshop, we will discuss the timeline for faculty jobs, where the jobs are listed, points to consider as you review the job openings, and commonly requested application materials. Join us to learn more and put your best foot forward in the search! 

This session is available for viewing here: https://youtu.be/n4ZtRTIC8RE

 

Presenter: Kay Kimball Gruder

The Statements: Research, Teaching, and Diversity  

Wed., Jun. 10, 3:00-4:00PM (EST)  

Join this session to gain an overview of the key components of the various types of statements common to faculty applications. Key components and expectations of each statement will be covered along with strategies for clearly communicating your alignment with a position. Additionally, ethical ways to use GenAI to support brainstorming and editing will also be addressed.  

This session has concluded, please register for the subsequent sessions below.

Presenter: Dr. Rachel Prunier

Designing & Delivering Your Demos  

Mon., Jun. 22, 12:00-1:00PM (EST) 

Congratulations! You have a final stage interview! Now what?? This interview, whether online or in-person, will almost certainly include a teaching demo, a research talk (job talk), or both. Come to this session to learn some ways to make yourself shine in these key components of an academic job interview. We will focus on the structure of these talks and how they should differ between different types of faculty positions and universities.  

This session has concluded, please register for the subsequent sessions below.

 

Presenter: Kay Kimball Gruder

The Search is On: Strategies and Decoding Jobs  

Tue., Jul. 7, 12:00-1:00PM (EST) 

Faculty job postings can seem vague and understanding how to decode them can make your search far more strategic and effective. Join this session to gain strategies to identify what institutions are looking for and to discern potential priorities. 

This session has concluded, please register for the subsequent sessions below.

 

Melanie

Presenter: Melanie Sinche

The Interviews: From First Round to Campus Visit  

Mon., Jul. 13, 2:00-3:00PM (EST) 

In this session, we will discuss strategies for tackling faculty interviews, from an online screening call through the on-campus visit. Be sure to attend to learn more about how to prepare effectively, commonly asked questions, different formats for the interviews, and more! The session will include activities to strengthen your confidence in interviewing for faculty roles. 

To register, email melanie.sinche@uconn.edu.

 

Presenter: Kay Kimball Gruder

Evaluating and Negotiating Offers  

Wed., Jul. 22, 12:00-1:00PM (EST) 

Don't wait until you get an offer! Join this session to learn how to approach job offers with an understanding of negotiating key elements like salary, moving costs, teaching load, etc. We will also dive into communication techniques that will help you express your needs and value. Most employers expect negotiation and with a sense of your priorities you can do it well. 

All sessions have now concluded!

Connect with The Graduate School at UConn on LinkedIn, Instagram, X (formally Twitter) and Facebook for more event updates.

Faculty Affiliate for Inclusive Excellence

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The Graduate School continues to host one Faculty Affiliate for Inclusive Excellence for a two year term. Our affiliate focuses on improving support for students from minoritized communities. The affiliate takes leadership of several of our mentorship programs, including the Network for Enriched Mentoring and the Research Apprentice Program. The affiliate will also have the opportunity to create innovative ideas and initiatives, such as developing resources and establishing programs that future faculty affiliates can sustain with support from The Graduate School staff. The affiliate will work very closely with The Graduate School staff and with relevant faculty and staff throughout the University.

An affiliate devotes an average of 3-4 hours per week to their service for which they will receive a research stipend of $7500. There will also be some funds available to support initiatives that the affiliate develops.

We invite both applications and nominations for the affiliate position. Please contact Mary Bernstein (Mary.Bernstein@uconn.edu) or Karen Bresciano (karen.bresciano@uconn.edu) if you would like more information about becoming an affiliate or if you would like to nominate someone. To apply, email graduatedean@uconn.edu and include a brief statement (no more than 1-2 pages) describing why you are interested in the position, the experience you have that makes you a good candidate for the position, and an initial idea or two about what you would plan to accomplish if you were selected as an affiliate. We will begin considering applications and nominations on May 22, 2026, and the review will continue until the affiliate has been selected.

In past years, our affiliates developed mentorship guides for faculty and graduate students to promote inclusive excellence and launched a Network for Enriched Mentorship (NEM) designed to connect mentees with mentors outside of their coursework and dissertations who have experience navigating obstacles (e.g., systemic bias, personal hardship, alternative career trajectories) or who can be effective and accountable allies.

Interested applicants could develop projects that support an equitable and supportive educational environment and that foster a sense of community, with a particular focus on providing support for graduate students and postdocs from minoritized groups. Ideas for other creative projects are welcome.

Faculty Fellow for Graduate Faculty Engagement and Governance

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The Graduate School (TGS) will host one Faculty Fellow for Graduate Faculty Engagement and Governance for a two-year term. This Fellow will be charged with increasing faculty engagement in current university-wide initiatives related to graduate education, graduate student success, and graduate program excellence. These current initiatives include academic governance reform related to implementation of BLUE (the new UConn budget model), broadening graduate faculty involvement in the routine work of the Graduate Faculty Council (GFC) and the Executive Committee of The Graduate School, and improving graduate faculty engagement in ongoing university-level strategic and enrollment management planning.

The Fellow will serve as a collaborative partner between TGS and the graduate faculty as a whole: helping to strengthen collaboration, gather grassroots faculty feedback and input, identify emerging concerns and opportunities, and assist in the development of communications and related materials connected to Graduate School initiatives and governance activities. The Fellow will work directly with the academic leadership of TGS and academic affairs leaders in the Provost’s Office. The Fellow will help supervise a 15-hour Professional Intern from the Master of Public Policy program. This is an excellent opportunity for faculty interested in exploring the administrative, strategic, and collaborative side of graduate education leadership.

The Fellow will devote an average of 3–4 hours per week during the academic year to this service and will receive a research stipend of $7,500. Modest funds are also available to support travel, training, and/or initiatives developed by the Fellow. In addition, support for a one-course-per-year teaching release OR summer support may be available, if that is of interest to the successful applicant, and subject to successful negotiation with the faculty member’s home school or college. Summer support or a teaching release would be accompanied by a commensurate increase in the expected time commitment.

Please contact Leslie Shor (Leslie.Shor@uconn.edu) if you would like more information about the position or if you would like to nominate someone. Any current member of the UConn Graduate Faculty is eligible. To apply, please email graduatedean@uconn.edu and include a brief statement (1–2 pages) describing why you are interested in the position, your relevant prior experience that makes you a strong candidate, and how you prefer to structure the experience (i.e., just 3-4 hours, or more, and specify summer vs. academic year). We will begin considering applications and nominations on May 22, 2026. Review will continue until the position has been filled. The new Fellow will serve a two-year term beginning no later than August 23, 2026.

Faculty who are able to contribute a different perspective from existing graduate school and provost office leadership are particularly encouraged to apply.

Fall 2026 Registration Information for Graduate Students

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Dear Graduate Students,

As we approach the end of the spring semester and the registration period for next semester begins, please review the information below regarding Fall 2026 enrollment. The information below is relevant to both new, incoming graduate students and those who will be continuing on as students in Fall 2026. If you have not done so already, please be sure to enroll in classes prior to the start of the semester*, which begins August 31.

*Students who are using an employee tuition waiver should follow the timeline associated with their waiver.

Information for New Students
Departments and programs may have more specific guidance for new students on what courses they should be enrolling in. Students should reach out to the program or their academic advisor for guidance on which courses they should enroll in during their first semester. (This information may also be available on the program’s website or in the Graduate Catalog.)

If a student has holds on their account that prevent enrollment, such as the Student Financial Responsibility Statement or an immunization hold, they will not be able to register for classes until those holds have been cleared. We advise students to try to register early so that there is plenty of time to review and clear any holds before classes fill up or enrollment deadlines approach.

The Office of the Registrar provides an overview of useful registration tools available in Student Admin along with registration-related forms. UConn’s Knowledge Base provides step-by-step instructions on how to manage your enrollment through the Student Administration system. If you have difficulty registering, please reach out to onestop@uconn.edu (or registrar@uchc.edu for UConn Health grads) for assistance. Please note, permission numbers for courses are typically managed by the course instructor.

Continuous Enrollment
Continuous enrollment is a requirement of all graduate programs. Continuing students who will not be registering in coursework or research credits must register for a zero-credit continuous registration course to maintain their active student status. Continuous registration courses include GRAD 5997, GRAD 5998, and GRAD 6998, as well as GRAD 5999 (Thesis Preparation) and GRAD 6999 (Dissertation Preparation). Enrollment in a continuous registration course should be completed before the first day of classes. There are financial implications when changing from being enrolled in credits to no credits as of the first day of classes. Changes from credits to a zero-credit placeholder cannot be made after the first day of classes.

Research Credits
Students should consult with their advisor regarding when it is appropriate to enroll in research credits for their course of study. Doctoral students should register for GRAD 6950. Plan A Master’s students should register for GRAD 5950. Each section number corresponds to the number of credits you will earn (e.g., GRAD 6950-001 will earn one credit, GRAD 6950-002 will earn two credits, etc.). All sections will show “Staff” (or similar) as the instructor. Through an automatic process later in the semester, students will be moved to a grade roster associated with their major advisor. Permission numbers are not needed for students to self-enroll in these research courses during the academic year and the permission number field should be left blank when registering. If you attempt to register and receive an error, contact onestop@uconn.edu for assistance. Be sure to include your 7-digit student ID in all correspondence.

Cancelling Enrollment/Leave of Absence
Continuing students who wish to cancel enrollment prior to the start of the semester or any student who attends class and then decides to withdraw from all their courses should notify The Graduate School (TGS) by completing an online Voluntary Separation Notification Form as soon as possible. The add/drop period that extends through the 10th day of classes is only available to students who plan to be enrolled in credited coursework throughout the semester. A student who wishes to go down to zero credits or withdraw from their program completely will need assistance from The Graduate School and will be subject to the University’s Withdrawal Tuition and Fee Adjustment Schedule, which will apply based on the date the student notifies TGS of the intent to withdraw via the online Voluntary Separation Notification process, not when they last attended classes. Visit The Graduate School’s voluntary separations webpage to learn more about options available, including the academic leave of absence process.

Deferral of Admission
If you are an incoming student for the fall semester and wish to request a deferral of your application/admission to a future semester, more information on that process is available on The Graduate School’s admissions FAQ and questions can be directed to gradadmissions@uconn.edu.

Day 10 Automatic Separation
Students who do not register for either credit-bearing classes or a continuous registration course by the 10th day are automatically discontinued from their program. If the student then wishes to be enrolled after Day 10, the student will need to request reinstatement to their program, which is not guaranteed and incurs a $65 fee. Students should also be aware that classes with insufficient enrollment will be cancelled and will then be unavailable even if the student is reinstated. A lapse in active student status may also affect access to University systems, such as student email and OneDrive, and may result in permanent data loss. Timely registration will maintain active student status and prevent this.

Additional Registration Information for GAs
Graduate assistants (GAs) are required to be enrolled as full-time students (6 or more credits), as noted in their offer letter and The Graduate Catalog. Employment as a GA is a result of student status, therefore GAs are expected to be registered for a minimum of six credits before the start date of their employment (August 23, 2026). GAs who have not completed their registration for a minimum of six credits by their start date are not fulfilling one of the contingencies of employment and will be subject to termination from their assistantship. (GAs employed solely at UConn Health should follow UCH registration deadlines.)

Please note, the tuition waiver will not post to a GA’s fee bill until the GA is registered for at least 6 credits. Therefore, if a student is not fully registered in a timely fashion, this can result in a Bursar hold on the student’s account that blocks enrollment and other services, as well as incur late fees.

Students should consult with their advisor regarding when it is appropriate to enroll in research credits for their course of study. Doctoral students should register for GRAD 6950. Plan A Master’s students should register for GRAD 5950. GAs should NOT register for GRAD 6960 (Full-Time Doctoral Research) or GRAD 5960 (Full-Time Master’s Research). GRAD 6960 and 5960 are only 3 credits and will create duplicate fee charges or prevent the tuition waiver from populating if it is the only course the GA is registered for.

GAs employed at Storrs and regional campuses who fall under the Graduate Employee Union (GEU) are encouraged to visit the Graduate Assistant Onboarding webpage. This page provides information, resources, and to-do items specific to being a GA that helps GAs successfully transition into their assistantship.
If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to The Graduate School for assistance. Please include your 7-digit student ID number in all correspondence.

To register now, please log in to the Student Administration System.

Best,

Megan Petsa
Director of Graduate Student Administration

The Graduate School
University of Connecticut
The Whetten Graduate Center, Second Floor
438 Whitney Road Extension, Unit 1152 | Storrs, CT 06269-1152
860.486.0977 | www.grad.uconn.edu | Pronouns: she/hers