UNCG offers graduate students diverse opportunities for leadership, service, and professionalization across campus, including university-wide workshops and lectures, funding opportunities, and more. While the following list highlights many of these opportunities, additional information is frequently circulated to students via departmental listservs.
For more information on student life and professional development information for graduate students, including workshops, writing support groups, and more see the Graduate School: Student Life and Professional Development webpage.
The Graduate Student Association Research Travel Funding
The GSA Research Travel Grants provide subvention for costs associated with graduate student research requiring extensive travel. Such research might include consulting archives, special collections, museums, or libraries; and archaeological and/or on-site forensic research. The GSA offers two $1,000 grants per funding cycle (Fall, Spring, Summer I, and Summer II). For more information, please visit the GSA: Research Travel Grant webpage.
The Graduate Student Association Professional Development Fund (PDF) Grants
The GSA awards Professional Development Fund (PDF) grants of up to $400 to graduate students in academic departments who meet the affiliation requirements. PDF grants can be used to reimburse expenses associated with attending professional conferences and other professional development activities. For more information, please visit the GSA: Professional Development Fund webpage.
The Graduate Student Association Thesis/Dissertation Funding
The GSA awards Thesis/Dissertation Fund (TDF) grants of up to $400 to graduate students. Graduate students are eligible for one $400 TDF grant per degree. TDF grants can be used to reimburse expenses associated with producing a thesis or dissertation. Examples of acceptable expenses include electronic formatting fees, transcription fees, postage fees and printing fees. For more information, please visit the GSA: Thesis/Dissertation Fund webpage.
The College of Arts and Sciences Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant Awards
The College offers two awards for teaching assistants: one for senior, experienced teaching assistants who have held a TA position for more than four semesters, and one for junior teaching assistants who have held a TA position for up to four semesters. Recipients of these awards must be teaching assistants during the year in which they apply/are nominated for this award. Recipients are selected by the College Curriculum and Teaching Committee and they receive a monetary award.
Graduate School Fellowships and Scholarships
The Graduate School offers centrally administered graduate fellowships and scholarships for the academic year. Many available awards are designed to attract exceptional new students to our graduate programs, like the Greensboro Graduate Scholar Award, and the Alumni/Excellence/Hayes Fellowships. The Inclusiveness, Lyon, and UNC Campus Awards are available to outstanding students who are currently enrolled. All nominations should be addressed to Laura Drew( ladrew@uncg.edu.). The following is a list of awards which may be of interest to English graduate students:
Summer Assistantships
The goal of the Summer Assistantship program is to assist students in making progress toward completing their degree by using part of the summer to conduct research or to engage in other scholarly activities related to the student’s program of study. Priority is given to students in doctoral and MFA programs; however, other students in master’s programs may apply. Doctoral students who are awarded the Summer Assistantship will receive $2,000, and master’s students will receive $1,500.
Outstanding Dissertation Award
The Outstanding Dissertation Award recognizes exceptional work by doctoral students and encourages the highest levels of scholarship, research, and writing. Each academic department offering the doctoral degree may nominate one dissertation for consideration.
Innovative Use of Technology in a Thesis or Dissertation
This award recognizes the innovative use of technology in the development or presentation of the thesis or dissertation that is completed in partial fulfillment of requirements for the master’s or doctoral degree at UNCG. Each academic department may nominate one thesis or dissertation for this award.
Outstanding Thesis/Master’s Production Award
This award recognizes the significant accomplishments of master’s degree students through their thesis or master’s production. Each academic department offering the master’s degree may nominate one thesis or master’s production for consideration.
Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistants Awards
This award acknowledges the contributions of graduate students to teaching and instruction at UNCG. This award is significant to student teachers, as it is an affirmation of their dedication to education by their specific department. The Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistants Awards remind the campus community that inspiring students increases the University’s global reach.
For more information about available fellowships, scholarships, and deadlines, please visit the Graduate School: Awards, Nominations, Scholarships & Fellowships webpage.
Graduate Student Association (GSA)
The Graduate Student Association provides many opportunities for service and leadership within the university. Each fall, two senators are appointed by the EGSA (English Graduate Student Association) to serve as senators to the GSA. In addition, graduate students have the opportunity to serve on the executive board for the GSA as president, VP of Finance, VP of Programs, and VP of Public Relations (more information can be found on the GSA website). Graduate students may also serve as GSA representatives to university-wide committees.
Student Government Association (SGA)
The Student Government Association has a number of service-leadership positions that are available for graduate students, including graduate student representatives to the SGA, graduate student senators, and At-Large representatives. These positions are typically based on campus-wide elections. For more information, please visit the SGA website.
Green Fund Committee (GFC)
The Green Fund Committee administers a student-fee fund that helps finance sustainable and environmental projects on campus. The committee consists of a group of non-voting faculty and staff advisors and a group of 7+ voting students, including graduate students. The student positions are a mixture of appointed positions and at-large applications. Serving on the committee is an excellent opportunity to network with staff and faculty from all over campus. Furthermore, students who serve on the committee will learn more about working with university officials, reading and judging proposals, and working to further the university’s commitment to sustainability. Students can serve on the committee for as many years as they want, enabling members to have a lasting impact on campus. There are also leadership positions available for those who want experience running a committee.
Digital ACT Studio (DACTS)
The Digital ACT (Action, Consultation, and Training) Studio supports students, faculty, and staff in the creation of rhetorically and aesthetically effective digital projects by offering collaborative consultations and feedback during any stage of the project. DACTS specializes in aid and design for digital projects and assignments, including PowerPoint/Prezi presentations, e-portfolios, podcasts, videos, web design, posters, brochures, photography, and animation. Employment positions for graduate students may vary. For more information, please contact DACTS Director, Dr. Lindsay Sabatino, visit the Digital ACT Studio website, or contact digitalACTS@uncg.edu.
Preparing Future Leaders Program (hosted by the Graduate School) (PFL)
The Preparing Future Leaders Program (PFL) is designed to provide valuable, transferable skills and knowledge that will prepare currently enrolled, degree-seeking graduate students to be successful and dynamic leaders in their chosen disciplines and careers. The PFL program consists of two tracks: Preparing Future Faculty (PFF) and Preparing Future Professionals (PFP). PFF is offered for those students who are pursuing a career as a faculty member in academia, while PFP is tailored to those students who are seeking professional careers in business, industry, government, or non-profit positions. Students in either track attend workshops, which satisfy certain requirements, and work with faculty mentors. For more information, please visit the Preparing Future Leaders webpage.
Office of Leadership and Student-Learning’s (OLSL) Leadership Challenge
The Office of Leadership and Student Learning sponsors the Leadership Challenge program, which is open to all graduate students. The Bronze, Silver, and Gold levels of the program offer opportunities for students to learn about leadership, participate in community and campus service, and even work with leadership coaches. For more information, please visit the Office of Leadership and Student-Learning website.
The Research Development Program (RDP)
This is a year long program where students work with a faculty mentor to develop and submit a grant application seeking funding for research or other academic pursuits. Students will receive feedback, participate in reviews of their proposals, and attend workshops and one-on-one consultations with experts. Students must apply and be accepted in order to participate in the program. Please visit the RDP website for more information.
Peer Writing Support Groups
As participants in these groups, graduate students meet to check in with one another about their writing and to spend time working on their individual projects. These groups are designed to help students motivate and support one another as they write. The Graduate School and Jackson Library typically provide spaces and support to students who participate in these groups, which happen every semester and during the summer. Graduate students also have opportunities to receive stipends for leading these groups. Please visit the Graduate School website for more information.
Writers’ Retreat/Thesis & Dissertation Boot Camp
These Graduate School sponsored events typically provide meals and extended opportunities to focus on writing, for participating students. Faculty consultants work with students to discuss relevant issues like time management. For students who commit to being present for the entirety of the event, these retreats/boot camps are free. For more information, please visit the Graduate School’s website.
Assemblages: UNCG’s Annual Women’s and Gender Studies Research Symposium
This annual symposium is a free event that includes workshops, presentations, panels, and creative pieces. The symposium is a space for students, faculty, alumni, community members, and others to come together to exchange knowledge, build relationships, and engage in meaningful conversations around specific topics. Graduate students are invited to submit proposals and attend the event. For more information, please visit the WGS Symposium website.
CACE: Conference on African American and African Diasporic Cultures and Experience
The annual CACE Conference includes panels, collaborative presentations, individual presentations, and poster presentations on various topics related to African American and African Diaspora Studies, along with other events. The Conference is an excellent space for sharing ideas, engaging in discussions, networking, and much more. Graduate students are invited to submit proposals and attend the event. For more information, please visit the CACE website.
Annual Graduate Research and Creativity Expo
The purpose of the annual Expo is to showcase the accomplishments of UNCG’s graduate students to the greater Greensboro community and to provide a venue for students to communicate their research and creative activities to the public. Graduate students explain and present their work primarily alongside posters, with limited sessions of short colloquies. The Expo is organized into competitions in the following broad categories: Natural, Physical, and Mathematical Sciences; Health Sciences; Social Sciences; Humanities; Creative Arts; and Professional Programs. Following the competition, a winner from each category is awarded a $1,000 prize. For more information, please visit the Graduate Research and Creativity Expo webpage.
3MT Competition (3-Minute Thesis [or Dissertation])
The 3-Minute Thesis competition is a great way for graduate students to share their research with others outside of their immediate field. Ten students compete for one of three prizes, with the 1st-place winner receiving $1000 and the chance to share his or her work at a regional competition. The 3MT Competition requires participants to effectively communicate their research in a condensed and accessible way, which is a highly valuable skill. For more information, please visit the 3-Minute Thesis webpage.
