I hope you and your loved ones are well, and finding your way through this time of social distancing. I have missed seeing everyone, but I am grateful that our distance is successfully flattening the curve.
As we wrap up the most unique semester any of us have ever collectively experienced, I’d like to share my gratitude and admiration for the way you and every faculty member shifted gears incredibly quickly to ensure the safety of our campus community and the continuity of our operations and mission.
Congratulations to the 2019-20 Graduate College Award Winners!
The Graduate College is pleased to announce the winners of its 2019-2020 awards, including the: Outstanding Thesis and Dissertation Awards, Outstanding Graduate Student Teaching Award, Outstanding Graduate Faculty Leadership Award, and Outstanding Graduate Faculty Mentorship Award.
Congratulations to the Spring 2020 Graduate College Medallion Recipients!
The Graduate College is pleased to announce the Spring 2020 Graduate College Medallion recipients. Graduate College Medallion recipients are exceptionally involved during their time as graduate students at UNLV. Medallions are given in the semester students graduate.
Many UNLV graduate students are suddenly facing extreme hardships due to COVID-19. In these challenging times we're looking for partners to join us in supporting the Graduate Student Emergency Support Fund, which provides help to our Grad Rebels during times of need. This fund provides emergency financial support for students who need help with basic needs, such as food and housing, as well as resources they need to complete their studies off-campus, such as loaner laptops and software licenses. We have seen an increase in requests from students who need support during this difficult time. For more information, please contact Director of Development Liz Kahane at liz.kahane@unlv.edu or 702-895-3429 or visit our giving page. Thank you!
Help Us Congratulate the Class of 2020
It’s an unusual time to be graduating, and our spring 2020 graduates could use some extra support. Please help us fill the gap left by a postponed Commencement by recording a personalized video message congratulating and cheering on UNLV graduate students who are earning their degree this semester. Recordings are quick and simple through an easy-to-use platform and can be done with a webcam or phone. If you’re interested in participating, please email Director of Development Liz Kahane at liz.kahane@unlv.edu with your name and email address, and she will be in touch with instructions. Thank you for your support of our Grad Rebels during this unprecedented and challenging time.
Graduate College Announces Promotion of Valarie Burke, Kara Wada
The Graduate College is pleased to announce the promotion of Dr. Valarie Burke and Kara Wada. Dr. Burke is now the Assistant Dean of Graduate Student Services, and Wada is now the Assistant Dean of Admissions and Enrollment Management.
These promotions, which took effect earlier this semester, come after a combined 32 years of service at UNLV and 19 years of employment at the Graduate College.
“These promotions are in recognition of both Valarie and Kara’s accomplishments and ongoing and escalating contributions to our commitment to Top Tier graduate education,” said Kate Korgan, Dean of the Graduate College. “Anyone who has worked with either of them will recognize their many talents and skills and understand how important their leadership is to graduate education at UNLV.”
Since the Graduate College replaced paper forms with digital forms through Docusign in February 2019, the environmental savings have been significant. See below for wood, water, carbon dioxide, and waste savings through March 2020.
In response to the current environment, we have worked hand-in-hand with the Graduate Council to make reasonable accommodations and exceptions for our graduating students. We have extended all of our graduation-related deadlines for spring 2020 and expedited the creation of an optional form to facilitate electronic approvals of departmental milestones in response to requests from several graduate coordinators. Ensuring we are able to support students through to graduation has always been one of our highest priorities, and this year, it is of utmost importance. This academic year, our doctoral graduation numbers will be reported and used as part of the evaluation that will determine whether we will maintain our Very High Research Activity (R1) Carnegie ranking.
-Kara Wada, Assistant Dean of Admissions and Enrollment Management
Yoga & Meditation
On April 8, the Graduate College hosted a virtual yoga and meditation session. Facilitated by Dr. Jennifer Pharr (School of Public Health) and Dr. Nancy Lough (College of Education), the 60-minute session attracted Grad Rebels and their families (including some four-legged members).
HELPFUL RESOURCES
CARES Act
UNLV has been awarded $11.8 million in federal CARES (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security) Act funds to assist undergraduate, graduate, and professional students impacted by COVID-19-related difficulties during the Spring 2020 semester.
UNLV is making the S/U grading option available to all students for the Spring 2020 semester. Students may submit a petition to change the grading basis to S/U for any or all Spring 2020 courses, except for those modular courses that ended before March 16, 2020. This form, which will be available on the Grad Rebel Gateway, will be accepted between Wednesday, May 20, 2020 and 5 p.m. on Friday, June 5, 2020.
Emergency Retention Awards for Financial Assistance to Graduate Students
Graduate students experiencing financial hardship due to the COVID-19 outbreak are encouraged to apply for an Emergency Retention Award through the Graduate College. Our emergency fund is intended to provide student support when other financial resources have been exhausted and students have a documented need. Emergency retention awards can be used for anything that helps students stay enrolled and progress in their program. Do students need software or a WiFi hotspot? Do they have unexpected health bills? Do they need short-term funds to help meet basic needs? We're here to help. Please note that COVID-19-related requests will not count against the standard Emergency Retention Award policy of only one request per graduate student over the course of their graduate career. We will review each applicant's circumstances on a case-by-case basis and help in any way possible.
Graduate College Recruitment Workshops and Info Sessions
Please remember that the Graduate College hosts workshops and info sessions to help prospective students with the application process, answer questions, and assess student needs. Our Future Students Calendar has more information.