Office of the Vice Provost for Graduate Education

The Provost’s Professional Internship Program for Public Outreach, Service, and Engagement

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Title: The Provost’s Professional Internship Program for Public Outreach, Service, and Engagement
Policy Owner: The Graduate School
Applies to: Graduate Students
Campus Applicability:
Effective Date: January 9, 2013
For More Information, Contact Office of the Vice Provost for Graduate Education and Dean
Contact Information: 860-486-3617
Official Website: http://grad.uconn.edu/

Graduate students are often supported by a graduate assistantship awarded for performing research or teaching functions at the University. The University covers tuition expenses for those students. In addition, the University may cover tuition expenses of students who are funded by a grant that does not cover the cost of the student’s tuition.

The University recognizes the value of supporting graduate student professional development activities that extend beyond on-campus research and teaching. The Provost may determine that the University will cover tuition expenses for graduate students engaged in other activities directly related to the University’s mission and directly aligned to a student’s academic program of study. The circumstances under which the University will cover tuition expenses and provide a health insurance subsidy for such students are very limited and based on compelling evidence that the activity supports important academic objectives, such as professional internships required as an integral component of a graduate educational program. The Provost will evaluate such activities on a case-by-case basis using the following criteria:

  • The substantive focus of the graduate internship must serve a clear public service, public outreach, or engagement purpose.
  • The graduate internship’s objectives must support the academic mission of the University and align directly with the goals of the University’s Academic Plan.
  • The graduate internship must be established as a required component of the academic program in which the participating students are enrolled.
  • It must be demonstrated that the viability of the internship program is threatened if tuition is not covered.
  • The graduate internship must be credit-bearing, be directed by an instructor of record, and must require students to produce an academic work product.
  • The paid internship experience for the student must include compensation equivalent to or higher than that of a Level I graduate assistant for the academic year.
  • The graduate student interns must be placed in a sponsoring organization that provides at least partial support for the graduate student, including paying the student’s stipend and benefits.
  • The graduate students participating in the internship must serve their internships in public or nonprofit organizations with a clear public service mission.
  • The term of tuition coverage associated with a graduate internship will not exceed four semesters per student.
  • The graduate students participating in the internship must be in good academic standing.

For student tuition to be covered and for a health insurance subsidy to be provided by the University under this program, the Dean of the School or College that houses the internship program must present appropriate justification to the Provost.

The academic programs currently included in this program are available here.

Policy on Competitive Non-Federal Graduate Fellowship Awards

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Title: Policy on Competitive Non-Federal Graduate Fellowship Awards
Policy Owner: Graduate School
Applies to: Graduate Students
Campus Applicability:  All Campuses excluding the School of Law. Includes Masters/PhD. programs at UConn Health
Effective Date: July 17, 2013
For More Information, Contact Graduate School
Contact Information: (860) 486-2182
Official Website: http://grad.uconn.edu/

 

1. The University is committed to enhancing the number of nationally competitive fellowships and awards from prestigious organizations.

2. While these awards may provide students with a full fellowship and payment of some portion of tuition and/or health insurance premiums, there is often a significant shortfall in the award for coverage of the total cost of tuition and health insurance premiums.

The University of Connecticut has developed this policy to fund the difference between the amount awarded (by the granting agency) and the actual cost to the fellow for tuition and health insurance premiums.  This policy applies to fellowships that provide a stipend equal to or more than a full nine-month UConn graduate assistantship at the level appropriate for the student’s status at the time the award begins.

3. The fellow’s home department will notify the Dean of the Graduate School when a student receives a fellowship eligible for University support under this policy.  For a limited number of students who receive the most prestigious non-federal fellowships, the University will supplement the fellowship to cover the actual cost of tuition and health benefits (but not University fees).

4. The PI or the faculty advisor/graduate student must apply for any cost of education (tuition) and the health insurance premium allowance permitted for that award.  Any institutional allowance or educational allowance accompanying these awards must first be used to cover tuition and then health insurance premiums.  Unless there is a specific statement in the fellowship description, the educational allowance will not be used to pay university fees.

If funds are available after payment of tuition, health insurance premiums and university fees (if allowed by the grant), they can be used to cover any educational allowance specifically identified in the sponsor guidelines for research supplies, equipment, books, travel to meetings, etc.

5. The fellow’s share of the health insurance premium (or the fellow and his/her dependents) will not exceed those currently charged to graduate assistants within the same plan, and must be paid by the fellow.

6. Unless otherwise disallowed, out-of-state students supported on a fellowship under this policy must apply for in-state residency status by the end of the first year. After the first year, only the equivalent of the in-state tuition rate will be covered if the student remains an out-of-state student.  The difference will be the student’s responsibility.

7. Please note that it is not the intention of this policy to supplement University Fees.  University Fees may be paid up to the maximum allowable from the grant if budgeted as an allowable cost on the award.  If there is a shortfall in the grant award for fees, the responsibility to pay the balance will reside with the student.

Applying for In-State Residency

Graduate students who wish to apply for in-state residency status should submit the Application for In-State Tuition form to:

UConn Graduate Admissions Office
Residency Officer
The Graduate School
438 Whitney Road Ext. U-1152
Storrs, CT 06269

The application is available at http://grad.uconn.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/1635/2015/04/instatetuition.pdf.

______________________________

Kent E. Holsinger

Vice Provost for Graduate Education

and Dean of the Graduate School

 

Policy Adopted:  9-5-12

Policy Revised: 12-14-12, 7-17-13

UConn Degrees Earned by Faculty

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Title: UConn Degrees Earned by Faculty, Policy on
Policy Owner: Office of the Provost
Applies to: Faculty
Campus Applicability: All Campuses, Schools and Colleges except the Schools of Medicine, Dentistry, and Law
Approval Date: February 27, 2024
Effective Date: February 29, 2024
For More Information, Contact Office of the Provost
Contact Information: 860-486-4037
provost@uconn.edu
Official Website: https://provost.uconn.edu

PURPOSE

University of Connecticut faculty may occasionally seek to earn a degree from the University. This policy aims to ensure that their role as a faculty member does not conflict with their role as a student.

POLICY STATEMENT

University of Connecticut faculty members who hold tenure, or a rank higher than instructor leading to tenure, ordinarily may not earn a graduate degree at this institution. Exceptions to this policy may be made on a case-by-case basis and require approval of the Unit Head and the Dean of the School or College of the department home (encompassing both primary and secondary department for faculty with joint appointments) of the faculty member, as well as the Provost. All parties must be satisfied that the intended program is in the best interests of the University. The faculty member may not seek to earn a degree in their primary (or secondary) department home. Should the faculty member seek a graduate degree in their primary School or College, the Unit Head and Dean must implement a plan to mitigate conflicts of interest should any arise.

ENFORCEMENT

Violations of this policy may result in appropriate disciplinary measures in accordance with University By-Laws, General Rules of Conduct for All University Employees, and applicable collective bargaining agreements.

POLICY HISTORY

Policy created: August 28, 1987

Revisions:

May 29, 2007
February 27, 2024 (Approved by the Senior Policy Council and the President)

Policy on Competitive Federal Graduate Fellowship Awards

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Title: Policy on Competitive Federal Graduate Fellowship Awards
Policy Owner: Vice President for Research/Vice Provost for Graduate Education and Dean
Applies to: Students
Campus Applicability:  All Campues excluding the School of Law. Includes Masters/PhD. programs at UConn Health
Effective Date: July 17, 2013
For More Information, Contact Office of the Vice Provost for Graduate Education and Dean
Contact Information: (860) 486-2182
Official Website: http://grad.uconn.edu/

 

  1. The University is committed to enhancing the number of nationally competitive fellowships and awards from federal sources.
  2. While these awards provide students with a full fellowship or trainee stipend, and payment of some portion of tuition and health insurance premiums, there is often a significant shortfall in the award for coverage of the total cost of tuition and health insurance premiums.
  3. The University has developed this policy to fund the difference between the amount awarded (by the granting agency) and the actual cost to the trainee for tuition and health insurance premiums.  The University will provide such supplementation for tuition and health benefits to students who qualify for any competitive federal fellowships, awards and/or training grants.  Examples include:
    • Dept of Ed Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need (GAANN)
    • Dept of Ed Jacob K. Javits Fellowships
    • Dept of Transportation Eisenhower Graduate Fellowships
    • EPA STAR Grants
    • Fulbright Fellowships
    • NASA Graduate Research Fellowships
    • National Academies Ford Fellowships
    • National Defense Science & Engineering Grad Fellowships (NDSEGF)
    • NIH Fellowships for Students with Disabilities
    • NIH Minority Fellowships
    • NIH National Research Service Award (NRSA)
    • NIH Training Grants
    • NIOSH/CDC Training Grants
    • NSF Graduate Research Fellowships
    • NSF Integrative Grad Education and Research Traineeship (IGERT) Grants
    • USDA National Needs GrantsFor questions about eligibility of non-federally funded national fellowships or grants, please contact the Office of the Vice President for Research (VPR).
  4. The PI must apply for any cost of education (tuition and fees) and the health insurance premium allowance permitted for that award.  Any institutional allowance or educational allowance accompanying these awards (e.g. NRSA) must first be used to cover tuition, then health insurance premiums, and university fees.  Where the institutional allowance or educational allowance is provided directly to the university (e.g. GAANN), these funds will be deposited in the Office of the VPR.  The tuition, health benefits, etc. will be paid from that fund.If funds are available after payment of tuition, health insurance premiums and university fees (if allowed by the grant), they can be used to cover any educational allowance specifically identified in the sponsor guidelines for research supplies, equipment, books, travel to meetings, etc.
  5. The health insurance premium co-pays for individual (or the individual and his/her dependents) will not exceed those charged to graduate assistants on the graduate assistant health plan.
  6. Unless otherwise disallowed, out-of-state students supported on a fellowship, award and/or training grant must apply for in-state residency status by the end of the first year. After the first year, only the equivalent of the in-state tuition rate will be covered if the student remains an out-of-state student.  The difference will be the student’s responsibility.
  7. Please note that it is not the intention of this policy to supplement university fees.  University fees may be paid up to the maximum allowable from the grant if budgeted as an allowable cost on the award.  If there is a shortfall in the grant award for fees, the responsibility to pay the balance will reside with the student.

Applying for In-State Residency

Graduate students who wish to apply for in-state residency status should submit the Application for In-State Tuition form to:

UConn Graduate Admissions Office
Residency Officer
The Graduate School
438 Whitney Road Ext. U-1152
Storrs, CT 06269

The application is available at https://grad.uconn.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/1635/2015/04/instatetuition.pdf.