Below, please find a list of FAQs regarding our inaugural Graduate Student Research Symposium, taking place on Wednesday, April 23, from 11:00 am – 2:00 pm.

 

Question: I am teaching during the symposium on April 23 (or for some other reason cannot attend for entire time). Can I still participate if I am not able to stay for the entire event?

Answer: Unfortunately, no. You will be visited by multiple judges over the course of 1-2 hours, you will interact with other presenters, and it is good manners to remain through the announcement of the winners. If you cannot participate in the entire event, you should please let the organizers know and we will remove you from the roster.

If you would like the Dean of the Graduate School to speak with your supervisor or instructor of record about the conflict, she is happy to do so.  There must be some other way the duties can be covered for the few hours of this important event.

 

Question: I have a conflict for the entirety of the scheduled time on April 23. Can I present my research remotely, or on another date?

Answer: We are very sorry that some participants have a conflict with April 23. However, due to the nature of the event, it is not possible to participate remotely, or on another day. If you cannot attend in person, please inform jack.corcoran@uconn.edu so that you may be removed from the program.

The key dates of April 7 and April 23 were shared in the initial communications about the event. Although April 7 was modified from an initial round to an optional workshop, the finals were always intended to take place on Wednesday April 23. The second date was selected to coincide with the final Board of Trustees meeting of the academic year, and we regret the conflict that will make some selectees unable to participate.

 

Question: I already have a poster in landscape format and/or I already have a poster with different dimensions. Can I use this existing poster, thus saving the burden on the doc production center, and the cost of an additional print?

Answer: Unfortunately, no. No other dimensions or orientations are acceptable. All symposium posters must be 24 inches wide and 36 inches tall. You will be disqualified if you do not have a poster that matches these dimensions.

There are three main reasons for this lack of flexibility.

• First, it would not be fair to other participants (who may have also had another existing poster but made a new one for this competition) for some people to have extra “space” that a larger or wider poster would allow.
• Second, if posters are wider than 24” we will not be able to fit more than one on each side of the display board, and we plan to pack posters as tightly as possible to minimize the number of boards that we must use. Some posters in “landscape” format would have an entire board, and thus an unfair advantage.
• Finally, the emphasis and audience of this competition is different from any other venue you may have presented in before. You should re-think your work and create a new poster that emphasizes 1. what you personally did as a graduate student; 2. the impact of your research; and 3. Communicates this to a general (not specialist) audience. It is very unlikely that the emphasis, content, or terminology of a pre-existing poster, such as one you presented previously at a professional conference, would be suitable for this event.

 

Question: How do I print my poster?

Answer: If you are in the College of Engineering, follow the ETS instructions available here.

If you are not in the College of Engineering, print your poster through Document Production using the following steps:

Storefront Printing Instructions:

• Click on the storefront link: https://ddpcstorefront.uconn.edu/DSF/SmartStore.aspx?6xni2of2cF2mbo8KZ3Vpj/WcqycHV/jU1OydeV8ssqAIMnBrPdbTOszDWr/mjElG#!/Storefront
• Login or Create a New Account
• Browse “Shop by Category” on the left-hand side of the screen
• Click “Large Format Poster”
• Click “Poster Printing Buy Now” (blue button)
• Click “Add Files” (grey button)
• Select “Upload Files” (must be PDF Documents)
• Under “Job Name” enter your first and last name
• Under “Quantity” enter 1
• Click “Add to Cart” (blue button)
• Click “I Agree”
• Click “Proceed to Checkout”
• Select “Pay at Store”
• Click “Submit Your Order”
• For any Questions, students should reach out directly to the Document Production Center at 860-486-2022. Open from 8AM-4PM Monday through Friday.

 

Any additional questions can be directed to gradschool@uconn.edu.

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 2025 enrollment. The information below is relevant to both new, incoming graduate students and those who will be continuing on as students in Fall 2025. If you have not done so already, please be sure to enroll in classes prior to the start of the semester*, which begins August 25.

*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’s website 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 UCH 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 these sections 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 register for 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 10^th 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 10^th 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, 2025). 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

Please join us in congratulating Department of Linguistics Professor Željko Bošković, this year’s winner of the Edward C. Marth Mentorship Award. Named for Edward Marth, former Executive Director of the AAUP UConn Chapter, the award recognizes outstanding mentoring of graduate students by UConn Graduate Faculty members. Professor Bošković brings almost 30 years of mentorship experience, having chaired or served on the PhD committees of more than 80 graduate students. His reviewers describe him as “an unparalleled advisor” with “boundless enthusiasm” with a stellar record of placing his students in tenure-track academic positions.

In honor of his contributions, Professor Bošković will be giving an address that will be included in The Graduate School doctoral commencement ceremony.

Past Recipients of the Marth Award include Diane Burgess (2023), David Knecht (2022), Crystal Park (2021), Preston Britner (2020), Sandra Chafouleas (2019), Maria-Luz Fernandez (2018), Elizabeth Jockusch (2015-2016), Shareen Hertel (2014-2015), John Mathieu (2013-2014), JC Beall (2012-2013) and Dipak Dey (2011-2012).

Graduate students serve in various roles throughout their time in graduate school. One of these important roles is that of a mentee. As a mentee, graduate students can learn from and connect with various faculty during their degree program. The new webpage, Graduate Student Mentoring: A Mentee’s Guide, outlines best practices for graduate students in their role as mentees at UConn.

University leadership understands the impacts of recent events and is working to evaluate options and coordinate official, accurate communications. As we work through these challenging times together, The Graduate School leadership team wants you to know we are here, and we want to support you.

Please join us in a safe space where we can share concerns, challenges, experiences, and develop ways to support one another.

• 2/10 at 4pm: Whetten Graduate Center, Graduate students
• 2/12 at 4pm: Whetten Graduate Center, Post-docs
• 2/17 at 4pm: Online session for Graduate students
  • 2/17 Meeting link | Meeting ID: 232 435 219 926 | Passcode: m5R6KV23
    Dial in by phone: +1 475-282-1761,,952096760# | Phone conference ID: 952 096 760#
• 2/18 at noon: Whetten Graduate Center, Graduate students
• 2/21 at 4pm: Online session for Post-docs – POSTPONED; NEW DATE TBD 

Refreshments will be served at in-person meetings. More gatherings may be posted throughout the semester.

Please contact martha.marroni@uconn.edu for information.

This information is being sent to all GAs on an F-1 or J-1 visa.  If you are not graduating this spring, this information will not apply to you but it is still important to understand for the future.

Dear International Huskies,

Federal government regulations allow graduate students on F-1 and J-1 visas to hold on-campus employment while they are pursuing their degree. If you will be a Spring 2025 graduate, you will no longer be pursuing your degree after May 11, 2025 and can no longer work on campus beyond that date.

If you hold an Academic Year 2024/2025 or Spring 2025 GA appointment at Storrs or a regional campus (excepting UConn Health), the final date of your appointment is May 22, 2025. If your degree is conferred in May and you hold an F-1 or J-1 visa and your assistantship appointment is covered by a collective bargaining agreement with the Graduate Employee Union (GEU), the time from May 11, 2025, through May 22, 2025, should be treated as time off. Please work with your supervisor to ensure you finish the duties associated with your assistantship before May 11, 2025. You will still receive your full Spring 2025 GA stipend.

In addition, ISSS will be updating your I-20 or DS-2019 program end date to May 11, 2025, if you are graduating in May and hold a GAship this term. This means your grace period to depart the U.S., or your first eligible date to begin post-completion practical training will begin May 12, 2025. Please plan for this accordingly. ISSS will adjust your I-20 or DS-2019 end date automatically based on notification that you have applied for graduation, or at the time you apply for post-completion OPT (F-1 students) or Academic Training (J-1 students), whichever comes first. ISSS will notify you when your adjusted I-20 or DS-2019 is ready to download from your ISSS portal account later in May.

If you will be offered a summer GA appointment and will complete your degree during Summer 2025, please be aware that the summer term will be considered your final semester, and you may be employed for no more than 20 hours per week. The date you submit all final degree requirements to Degree Audit will be your degree completion date and the last date you may be employed under a graduate payroll title. Your form I-20 will be shortened to this date.

Please reach out to ISSS at international@uconn.edu if you have any questions about this change as it relates to your visa status, I-20, grace period, or practical training timeline.

Leslie M. Shor
Vice Provost for Graduate Education and Dean of The Graduate School

Arthur Galinat
Director, International Student and Scholar Services

Dear Huskies,

We want to take a moment to ensure you are aware of some of the many resources available to help you be healthy, connected, and productive. Below is a list of resources you can explore if you are seeking support.  There are many folks on campus who want to support you; we can help most when you contact us early if a challenge is developing.

If you have questions about the services listed below or any other resources needed, please contact staff at The Graduate School.  

• The Graduate School (TGS): Members of The Graduate School’s Graduate Student and Postdoctoral Affairs (GSPA) Team are available for private conversations with you. When concerns arise, The Graduate School works with students, faculty, and staff to determine the best steps to take and the most beneficial resources for the given situation. Contacting the GSPA team is a great starting place for any graduate student concern, especially if you are not sure where to begin.  
  • Graduate students and postdoctoral scholars may make an appointment with Kim Curry, Director of Graduate Student and Postdoctoral Support via
  • When an academic leave is the best option for the graduate student, The Graduate School assists the student by having them complete the Voluntary Separation Notification Initiating the form will not commit a student to taking leave; it will just allow Megan Petsa, Director of Graduate Administration, to gather the information needed to provide them with a detailed overview of the implications of academic leave. 

• Timely Topics: Timely Topics is a series of learning opportunities for students, faculty, and staff to engage with subject matter experts on topics relevant to graduate education. While every session is open to all, The Graduate School offers three tracks (student, faculty, and administrative) to help registrants identify which sessions may be most relevant to their interests.

• Student Health and Wellness (SHaW) is available to provide support to students who may be struggling. Mental Health Services are located on the 4^thfloor of Arjona.
  • Students can walk into SHaW for more immediate support or access BeWell, the 24/7/365 mental health support line which can be accessed here.
  • “Let’s Talk” Mental Health Office Hours is a drop-in service available to students.  Visit here for dates, times, and locations.
  • SHaW also provides a range of routine medical and mental health services to graduate students who pay the Student Health and Wellness Fee.  Should you have questions about available support, do not hesitate to reach out to SHaW at 860-486-4700 or visit the SHaW website.

• Ombuds Office: The UConn Ombud serves as a neutral resource providing confidential and informal assistance to staff, faculty, professional and graduate students and trainees of the UConn and UConn Health community to express concerns, identify options to address workplace conflicts, facilitate productive communication, and surface responsible concerns regarding university policies and practices. Contacting the Ombuds Office is completely voluntary, and students choose the course of action that is best suited for them. 

• Center for Students with Disabilities (CSD):  The CSD engages in an interactive process with each student and reviews requests for accommodation on an individualized, case-by-case basis. Depending on the nature and functional limitations of a student’s documented disability, they may be eligible for reasonable and appropriate accommodations. Sharing information about CSD with students can foster self-advocacy, particularly if mental health challenges are hindering their ability to be productive students. 

• Human Resources and Employee Assistance Program (EAP): For graduate students holding GA-ships, you have access to additional resources and support beyond that which is available to them as students, including: 
  • The Employee Assistance Program (“EAP”), which provides, among other things, free counseling services. 
  • Workplace accommodations and GA Leave from employment that includes medical leave. Tiffanie Roback (tiffanie.roback@uconn.edu) can be contacted directly about workplace accommodations. Megan Stimson (stimson@uconn.edu) and Cindy Drost (cindy.drost@uconn.edu) can be contacted about GA Leave.

• Office of Student Care and Concern (OSCC): The Office of Student Care and Concern provides intervention and support for students in distress and present as a threat to self or others. The office coordinates a response balancing the needs of the student with the University community’s safety and welfare. If you are concerned about a friend or fellow student who is in distress, please submit a Care Team Referral form.  In an emergency where immediate attention is needed, please call 911.

• Academic Achievement Center (AAC): The Academic Achievement Center provides academic coaching, mentorship, workshops/presentations, and supplemental instruction for students seeking to improve or maintain academic success. With resources for regional campuses as well as the Storrs campus, students can find best practices for note taking, maximizing online classes, managing time, and organizing deadlines and other deliverables. 

• Quantitative Learning Center (Q Center): The Q Center keeps a concise list of private tutors in Math, Physics, Chemistry, and Statistics who are available for fee-based service. Graduate students are encouraged to conduct their own research about the qualifications of private tutors not screened or vetted by the Q Center. The list of private tutors is maintained by the Q Center in cooperation with other units at UConn as a service for students.  

• 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. 

Feel free to reach out to any of the offices listed; our faculty and staff are committed to helping you and finding solutions.

Sincerely,

The Graduate Student and Postdoctoral Affairs Team of The Graduate School
Karen Bresciano | Kimberly Curry | Megan Petsa

The following information is also being shared with international GAs by ISSS.

Dear International Huskies,

Federal government regulations allow graduate students on F-1 and J-1 visas to hold on-campus employment while they are pursuing their degree. If you will be a Fall 2024 graduate, you will no longer be pursuing your degree after December 15, 2024 and can no longer work on campus beyond that date.

If you hold a Fall 2024 GA appointment at Storrs or a regional campus (excepting UConn Health), the final date of your appointment is January 7, 2025. If your degree is conferred in December and you hold an F-1 or J-1 visa and your assistantship appointment is covered by a collective bargaining agreement with the Graduate Employee Union (GEU), the time from December 15, 2024 through January 7, 2025 should be treated as time off. Please work with your supervisor to ensure that you finish the duties associated with your assistantship before December 15, 2024. You will still receive your full Fall 2024 GA stipend.

In addition, ISSS will be updating your I-20 or DS-2019 program end date to December 15, 2024 if you are graduating in December and hold a GAship this term. This means your grace period to depart the U.S., or your first eligible date to begin post-completion practical training will begin December 16, 2024. Please plan for this accordingly. ISSS will adjust your I-20 or DS-2019 end date automatically based on notification that you have applied for graduation, or at the time you apply for post-completion OPT (F-1 students) or Academic Training (J-1 students), whichever comes first. ISSS will notify you when your adjusted I-20 or DS-2019 is ready to download from your ISSS portal account.

Please reach out to ISSS at international@uconn.edu if you have any questions about this guidance as it relates to your visa status, I-20, grace period, or practical training timeline.

Leslie M. Shor
Vice Provost for Graduate Education and Dean of The Graduate School

Arthur Galinat
Director, International Student and Scholar Services

Colleagues,

The Graduate School continues to host two Faculty Affiliates for Inclusive Excellence for two year staggered terms. We are looking for one new affiliate to serve a two year term beginning in Fall 2024, who will work alongside our continuing affiliate, Mary Anne Amalaradjou. Our affiliates focus on improving support for students from minoritized communities and on improving faculty mentoring of graduate students and postdoctoral scholars with a particular focus on improving mentoring for those from minoritized groups. Affiliates will 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 affiliates will work very closely with one another in addition to working with The Graduate School staff and with relevant faculty and staff throughout the University, especially the Office of Diversity and Inclusion and the cultural centers.

Affiliates will devote 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 affiliates develop.

We invite both applications and nominations for the affiliate positions. Please contact Kent Holsinger (kent.holsinger@uconn.edu), 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 15th, and the review will continue until affiliates have been selected.

In the past two 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 fosters 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.

Kent Holsinger

— 

Kent E. Holsinger
Board of Trustees Distinguished Professor
Vice Provost for Graduate Education and Dean of The Graduate School