CONNECT FAQ for Students
Who is eligible to apply?
The CONNECT program is open to any graduate student currently enrolled at The University of Texas at Dallas.
Can I fulfill an internship requirement through CONNECT?
The CONNECT program does not take responsibility for specifically sourcing project opportunities that will fulfill internship requirements. If you would like to use a CONNECT project to fulfill an internship requirement, it is your responsibility to get the project approved by your graduate advisor as your internship requirement.
Does CONNECT appear on my official academic transcript?
No, the CONNECT Fellowship does not appear on your official academic transcript.
How does the matching process work?
- Organizations submit their project requests via an online form.
- Students tell us about themselves via a short, online form. The form generally takes between 5-10 minutes to complete.
- Matches are then determined based on project requirements and students’ availability, skill set, experience and interests.
- Contingency notifications are sent out via email to all students who have matched with a project. The purpose of the contingency notification is to verify that each matched student is still interested and able to work on the project they have been matched to. Students have a short window to respond to the contingency match notification — either accepting or denying the match.
- Organization notifications are sent out via email to all matched organizations. Organizations receive information on the student they have been matched to and have the choice to accept or deny their match.
- Official match notifications are then sent out to the students who both accepted their contingency match and were accepted by their match organization. CONNECT then begins coordinating the initial project kickoff meeting at this time.
What does a typical project look like?
To view summaries for past projects, visit the project library. To date, most projects have taken 3-4 months (about a semester), have typically been accomplished within 5-10 hours per week and have allowed for the ability to work remotely.
Is this a funded opportunity?
Yes! CONNECT Fellowships are issued to all participating students to recognize program participation. For additional information regarding CONNECT Fellowships, please reach out to Elizabeth Searing at elizabeth.searing@utdallas.edu or Evgenia Gorina at egorina@utdallas.edu.
Please note: Funds disbursed to students are applied to bars and outstanding cash and tuition loans (whether they are currently due or not) because these are considered demand notes. For students with financial aid that includes cash and tuition loans, the funds from the CONNECT Fellowship may be applied toward these loans, rather than received as cash.
Will there be a tax withholding on the fellowship payment?
There is a mandatory 14 percent tax withholding on any scholarship/fellowship payment to a nonresident, including students. If you have questions about how receiving your CONNECT research fellowship could affect your financial aid, please contact the Office of Student Employment at UT Dallas.
Will I be working by myself on a project or with a partner/in a group?
Most CONNECT projects are scoped to be worked on by just one individual. Occasionally, under special circumstances, two students are assigned to the same project to work as a team. You will be notified if this circumstance applies to your project.
Am I eligible to participate in the CONNECT program if I am also working as a teaching assistant/graduate research assistant?
Yes. Participation in the CONNECT program is voluntary and the project-related fellowship does not have any impact on student employment opportunities. Please be aware that the fellowship is considered taxable income and may affect your personal tax reporting situation and financial aid. For additional resources on this matter, please contact the Office of Student Employment at UT Dallas.