Annual Overview of Tasks

The purpose of this annual overview document is to outline tasks for new graduate staff advisors on a week by week basis. These tasks cover the areas of graduate academics, financial, admissions and outreach.

Please note that Admission's deadlines are listed because they typically do not change. On the other hand, Academics, Outreach and Financial deadlines tend to vary depending on the academic calendar. Therefore, we encourage staff to frequently check deadlines for these areas each quarter.

 

SUMMER QUARTER

JUNE

TASKS

JUNE

TASKS

3rd week of June

  • {Admissions} Submit annual departmental admissions updates to the Associate Director of Admissions (by end of June): Application deadline(s); GRE requirements; Holistic Review/Alternatives to the GRE; Department/program web page updates (if applicable). See email from Admissions (usually sent in mid-May) for details.

  • {Academics} Be on the lookout for an email from Grad Academics to start completing Spring degree check sheets. Please send any completed check sheets to academics@graddiv.ucsb.edu.

JULY

TASKS

JULY

TASKS

1st week of July

  • {Admissions} Update Faculty Interests and Research Interests in App Review (by mid-August). 
    Update App Review user statuses (active/inactive, delete user, add new user) and/or advise the Department Chair on App Review user role updates for the next application cycle. Prepare/submit the GD System Access Request Form for new faculty approvers or staff users as needed (by mid-August if possible).

  • {Financial} Verify that students with Pre-Fall stipends are registered in the requisite Fall units.

2nd week of July

  • {Academics} Run an Academic Performance and Standing report on GradPoint. Work on “Unresolved” standing statuses.

  • {Financial} Enter commitments for 90% of block grant budget for the upcoming year to ensure students' financial packaging, loan eligibility, and support is packaged in a timely manner.

3rd week of July

4th week of July

AUGUST

TASKS

AUGUST

TASKS

1st week of August

  • {Academics} Check the deadline for the following petitions. These need to be submitted by the listed deadline in order to be effective for the Fall quarter:

    • Reinstatement

    • Intercampus

  • {Financial} Enter Fall UC path employment and facilitate paperwork for student academic employments.

  • {Outreach} Submit all department outreach materials to the Assistant Director of Outreach

2nd week of August

  • {Academics} Double-check Spring degree lists this week and let us know if anyone is missing. You may run a report of your degree list on GradPoint Academics.

  • {Admissions} Plan any applicable orientation/welcome activities for incoming graduate students.

  • {Outreach and Diversity} Start planning your diversity admissions review system and outreach plans.  Contact the Director, Admissions, Outreach and Diversity for any guidance.

  • {EMS} Identify any incoming international students that will require EMS testing.

  • {Financial} Submit any pending commitment approvals for the upcoming year. Find commitments that need approvals by viewing the Funding Reports in GradPoint Financial.

  • {Financial} Submit Fall Employment Exceptions to Grad Financial.

  • {Financial} Review Fund Program list in GradPoint Financial Portal in preparation for the new year. Review budgets and submit the Financial Portal Fund Program Request Form to create new or remove discontinued fund programs.

3rd week of August

  • {Admissions} Make sure any outstanding admissions business from the previous year is concluded.

4th week of August

  • {Outreach} Check with the Graduate Division on their Outreach Schedule.  Determine if your department would like to participate

  • {Outreach} Indicated whether you would like to participate in Graduate Division Virtual Outreach Open House. Contact the Assistant Director of Outreach

SEPTEMBER

TASKS

SEPTEMBER

TASKS

1st week of September

  • {Academics} Check registration status of graduate students for the following quarter. Make sure students who are meant to be registered do so before they are assessed a late registration fee.

  • {Academics} Submit supporting documents for thesis/dissertation to Grad Academics. Deadline to file for a Summer Degree conferral is the last day of Summer instruction. 

  • {Academics} Check the deadline for the following petitions. These need to be submitted by the listed deadline in order to be effective for the Fall quarter:

    • Leave of Absence

    • In Absentia

    • Part-Time Status

    • Doctoral Form II

  • {Admissions} New admissions year opens in App Review and eApp: Look for an announcement from Grad Div Admissions around this time.

  • {Admissions} Prospective students will start to contact the department with questions as soon as the application opens; expect to receive more inquiries as the department’s deadline approaches. 

  • {Admissions} Check GradPoint for Admissions training materials (Staff Manual, Video Training Series, Quick Reference Guide, Country Guide, etc.) and review as needed. Note that most policies and procedures are consistent from one year to the next, so it is okay to use resources from the previous year.

  • {Outreach} Look out for memo from the Graduate Dean regarding outreach funds to support departments with Diversity Outreach (Pre-Application)

  • {Outreach} Graduate Division Outreach begins travel to recruit for all departments. Encourage prospective students to sign up for a virtual workshop or attend an event. Season usually ends the first week of November.

  • {Financial} Verify all students are registered in Fall units. GradPoint Financial will begin processing Fall fee payments the first week of September.

2nd week of September

  • {Academics} Check the listed deadline to file in between quarters. Submit supporting documents for thesis/dissertation to Grad Academics.

  • {Academics} Submit monitoring/probation follow-ups in GradPoint Academics Portal.

  • {Financial} Run Employment Exceptions Needed report and submit any outstanding Fall exception request forms.

  • {Grad Deans} Make sure that your department’s Campus Contacts is updated on Grad Academics for the new academic year. Please contact the Executive Assistant to the Deans if you need to add/remove people.

FALL QUARTER

SEPTEMBER

TASKS

SEPTEMBER

TASKS

2nd week of September

  • {Financial} If a delay in student funding (ie. EFR payment due to late UC Path entry; fellowship payment due to delayed budget funds) is anticipated, submit Graduate Student BARC Paid Status forms to BARC which will assist in setting their BARC account to "Paid" status before the payment deadline.

3rd week of September

  • {Academics} Start completing degree check sheets for Summer degree candidates

  • {Academics} Run a report to see who is in paid and registered status for the Fall quarter. Check in with students who have not yet met this status.

  • {Admissions} Check the admissions status of new and continuing students using the Provisional Students report from the Reports menu in App Review. Students who have not met their provisional admissions requirements may be blocked from registering – encourage them to submit their documents to the Graduate Division as soon as possible.

4th week of September

  • {Academics} Submit all degree check sheets for Summer degree candidates Grad Academics.

  • {Outreach} Look out for a list of prospective applicants from diverse backgrounds and research programs. (i.e. McNair, UC-HBCU, Sally Casanova, Mellon Mays)

OCTOBER

TASKS

OCTOBER

TASKS

2nd week of October

  • {Academics} Check for any NG/NR/ Incomplete grades and remind instructors to submit grades.  You may run an incomplete grades report in GradPoint Academics Portal.

  • {Academics} A final call will be sent out to submit Fall follow-ups. All follow-ups must be submitted prior to the third week census.

  • {Academics} Double-check Summer degree lists this week and let Grad Academics know if anyone is missing. You may run a report of your degree list on GradPoint Academics.

3rd week of October

  • {Admissions} Discuss application review plans with the Faculty Graduate Advisor, Admissions Chair, and/or Department Chair (whichever faculty members are responsible for admissions in the department). Address topics such as:

    • When to move applications between queues;

    • When to review applications;

    • Whether any late materials may be accepted (e.g. letters of recommendation);

    • Any other departmental admissions business practices.

4th week of October

  • {Admissions} Continue to respond to admissions inquiries and review admissions training materials. Applications should start to appear in your Submitted queue around this time. 

  • {Admissions} Look out for an email from the Graduate Division Admissions unit with information on updated training / reference materials (Oct.-Nov., typically). Reach out to Admissions with questions or to request additional training.

NOVEMBER

TASKS

NOVEMBER

TASKS

1st week of November

  • {Academics} Check the deadline for the following petitions. These need to be submitted by the listed deadline in order to be effective for the Winter quarter:

    •  Reinstatement

    •  Intercampus

  • {Academics} Continue to work on completing Academic Progress Plan Actions.

  • {Financial} Prepare submission of 2 faculty reviewer nominations for the fellowship competition season.

2nd week of November

  • {Financial} Submit Winter Associate packets to Grad Financial.

  • {Admissions} The earliest application deadlines for fall admission are in mid-November.

3rd week of November

4th week of November

  • {Financial} Enter Winter UC path employment and facilitate paperwork for student academic employments.

  • {Financial} Submit Winter Employment Exceptions to Grad Financial.

DECEMBER

TASKS

DECEMBER

TASKS

1st week of December

  • {Academics} Check the deadline for the following petitions. These need to be submitted by the listed deadline in order to be effective for the Winter quarter:

    • Leave of Absence

    • In Absentia

    • Part-Time Status

    • Doctoral Form II

  • {Admissions} The application deadlines for the majority of departments are between Dec. 1st and Dec. 20th. Expect many last-many questions from applicants, particularly concerning late application materials.

  • {Financial} Verify all students are registered in Winter units. GradPoint Financial will begin processing Winter fee payments the first week of December.

  • {Financial} Run Employment Exceptions Needed report and submit any outstanding Winter exception request forms.

2nd week of December

  • {Academics} Submit supporting documents for thesis/dissertation to Grad Academics. Deadline to file for a Fall Degree conferral is the last day of the Fall quarter. 

  • {Academics} Start follow up process for students who were in the following standing: monitoring status, academic probation, have not met their milestones or departmental standards. Collect completed academic progress plans from students.

  • {Admissions} Begin checking application requirements (including GPA calculations and institution accreditation) for applicants the department decides to admit (continue to check for each applicant until the department has finished admitting for the year – see the Quick Reference Guide for a checklist). 

  • {Financial} End of Fall quarter commitment clean up. Review the Funding Reports in GradPoint Financial, submit any pending approvals, and zero out or update commitments that will not pay to ensure full access to block grant funds and other program budgets for the remainder of the year.

3rd or 4th week of December

  • {Academics} Start completing degree sheets for Fall degree candidates.

  • {Academics} Check the listed deadline to file in between quarters. Submit supporting documents for thesis/dissertation to Grad Academics.

WINTER QUARTER

JANUARY

TASKS

JANUARY

TASKS

1st week of January

2nd week of January

  • {Academics} Submit all degree check sheets for Fall degree candidates to Grad Academics.

  • {Outreach and Diversity} Begin to start planning your department's open house or recruiting event(s) for admitted students. Contact Outreach and Diversity to assist with planning and to advocate as needed.

3rd week of January

  • {Admissions/Financial} Review Recruitment Fellowships Memo and Recruitment Fellowships Procedures Manual for current information on nominations and eligibility. Discuss plans for submitting and approving nominations by the deadline(s) with faculty approvers.

  • {Academics} Submit monitoring/probation follow-ups in GradPoint Academics Portal.

  • {Financial} Begin submitting Central Recruitment offers (e.g. Chancellor’s, Eugene Cota Robles, Regent’s, Racial Justice) in AppReview.

  • {Outreach and Diversity} Look out for memo regarding “Extra Night Stay for Hotel Cost” for domestic students from diverse backgrounds.

4th week of January

  • {Admissions/Outreach} Consider finalizing plans for any open houses or recruiting events, if the department will be hosting them in the winter or spring. 

  • {Financial} Verify department’s nomination has been submitted for the UC President’s Pre-Professoriate Fellowship Nomination.

FEBRUARY

TASKS

FEBRUARY

TASKS

1st week of February

  • {Academics} Check the deadline for the following petitions. These need to be submitted by the listed deadline in order to be effective for the Spring quarter:

    • Reinstatement

    • Intercampus

  • {Financial} Verify department’s Racial Justice Fellowship offer has been submitted and approved in AppReview.

  • {Financial} Submit Spring Associate packets to Grad Financial.

2nd week of February

  • {Admissions} Work with Faculty Graduate Advisor, Admissions Chair, and/or Department Chair (whichever faculty members are responsible for admissions in the department) to review and begin finalizing most admissions decisions. Review applications to verify GPAs and confirm that those who will be recommended for admission meet all requirements.

3rd week of February

4th week of February

  • {Academics} Continue to work on completing Academic Progress Plan Actions.

  • {Financial} Enter Spring UC path employment and facilitate paperwork for student academic employments.

  • {Financial} Verify department’s Chancellor’s/Eugene Cota Robles Fellowship offer has been submitted and approved in AppReview.

MARCH

TASKS

MARCH

TASKS

1st week of March

  • {Academics} Check the deadline for the following petitions. These need to be submitted by the listed deadline in order to be effective for the Spring quarter. 

    • Leave of Absence

    • In Absentia

    • Part-Time Status

    • Doctoral Form II

  • {Financial} Verify all students are registered in Spring units. GradPoint Financial will begin processing Spring fee payments the first week of March.

2nd week of March

  • {Academics} Submit supporting documents for thesis/dissertation to Grad Academics. Deadline to file for a Winter Degree conferral is the last day of the Winter quarter. 

  • {Academics} Start follow up process for students who were in the following standing: monitoring status, academic probation, have not met their milestones or departmental standards. Collect completed academic progress plans from students.

  • {Financial} End of Winter quarter commitment clean up. Review the Funding Reports in GradPoint Financial, submit any pending approvals, and zero out or update commitments that will not pay to ensure full access to block grant funds and other program budgets for the remainder of the year.

  • {Financial} Submit all nominations for the Continuing Fellowship Competition.

  • {Financial} Run Employment Exceptions Needed report and submit any outstanding March exception request forms.

4th week of March

  • {Admissions} Finalize (or encourage faculty approvers to finalize) admissions decisions for applicants who will be offered financial support packages. Communicate with applicants who may be “waitlisted” by the department or anxious to receive a decision. 

SPRING QUARTER

APRIL

TASKS

APRIL

TASKS

1st week of April

  • {Academics} Run a report to see who is in paid and registered status for the Spring quarter. Check in with students who have not yet met this status.

  • {Academics} Check for any NG/NR/ Incomplete grades and remind instructors to submit grades.  You may run an incomplete grades report in GradPoint Academics Portal.

  • {Academics} Submit all Winter degree check sheets to Grad Academics.

  • {Outreach} Outreach begins to outreach to departments to inquire if faculty and graduate students would like to participate in our diversity pipeline program, Academic Research Consortium.

  • {Outreach} Outreach unit begins to conduct on campus visits for prospective students from diverse backgrounds. This is a great way for departments to recruit great students.

2nd week of April

  • {Admissions/Financial] April 15 is the student response deadline for financial support offers.

  • {Financial} Verify department’s Regent’s Fellowship offer has been submitted and approved in AppReview.

3rd week of April

  • {Academics} Submit monitoring/probation follow-ups in GradPoint Academics Portal.

  • {Academics} Be on the look-out for an email announcement requesting for staff volunteers at the Graduate Commencement.

4th week of April

  • {Admissions} Encourage faculty approvers to finalize all pending admissions decisions.

MAY

TASKS

MAY

TASKS

1st week of May

  • {Admissions} May 1 is the final deadline for submitting admissions decisions to the Graduate Division for those departments with an application deadline before May 1.

2nd week of May

  • {Admissions} Begin planning departmental updates for the next application cycle. Consider/discuss with faculty: application deadline(s), GRE requirements, holistic review practices (or alternatives to the GRE), and department/program web page updates. 

3rd week of May

  • {Academics} Continue to work on completing Academic Progress Plan Actions.

  • {Financial} Enter remaining UC path entries and facilitate paperwork for student academic employments.

4th week of May

  • {Financial} End of the year commitment clean up. Review the Funding Reports in GradPoint Financial, submit any pending approvals, and update or zero out commitments that have been paid by other funds.

  • {Financial} Deadline for Financial Portal Fund Program Request Forms

JUNE

TASKS

JUNE

TASKS

1st week of June

  • {Admissions} June 1 is the final deadline for submitting admissions decisions to the Graduate Division for those departments with a May 1 or later application deadline.

  • {Financial} Enter and approve final commitments for the year so that they can disburse by finals week.

2nd week of June

  • {Academics} Submit supporting documents for thesis/dissertation to Grad Academics. Deadline to file for a Spring Degree conferral is the last day of the Spring quarter. 

  • {Academics} Start follow up process for students who were in the following standing: monitoring status, academic probation, have not met their milestones or departmental standards. Collect completed academic progress plans from students.

  • {Admissions} June 15 is the final SIR deadline for all offers of admission.

  • {Financial} Submit and approve post-Spring and Summer commitments so that they can disburse by 3rd week of June, for timely fiscal close.

  • {Outreach} We begin our diversity pipeline summer programs.  Prospective graduate students in the programs work closely with selected departments, faculty and current graduate students.

3rd week of June

  • {Financial} Verify all Post-Spring commitments have been approved for payment, especially those using Block Grant funds. Enter Final Post-Spring stipends




 

 

Credits to: Andrea Johnson, Admissions Unit, Financial Unit, Academics Unit.