1. AETNA STUDENT MEDICAL INSURANCE ENROLLMENT FAIR
This week and next week the Student Medical Insurance Office will have a temporary office in the main lobby of the GLC to assist graduate students with questions and enrollment for the 2011-2012 Aetna student health insurance plans. The stations will be staffed as follows:
- Tue, Aug 23: 8-12
- Wed, Aug 24: 1-5
- Thu, Aug 25: 8-12
2. FREE GROUP EXERCISE CLASSES THIS WEEK
Aug 22-29: All group exercise classes, from abs to Zumba, are free for students to try the first week of school in McComas Hall and students, faculty, and staff in War Memorial Hall. Group X schedule now available here.
3. RENTING? WHAT TO KNOW AND EXPECT
August 23, 5:30pm, GLC Room C
Learn about your rights and responsibilities as a tenant and how to maintain good credit while you are renting. Refreshments will be provided. Sponsored by New River Community Action.
4. HEALTH SERVICES AND INSURANCE INFORMATION SESSION
Wednesday, Aug 24, 5:00pm, GLC Room C
Representatives from Aetna Student Health and Schiffert Health Center will discuss how to enroll in the university-sponsored insurance, what the plan covers, and what services are offered at the health center. Free pizza will be served.
5. LAIGSA BOARD AND MEMBER MEETING
Wednesday, Aug 24, 7:00pm, Room D in the GLC
Join members of the Latin American and Iberian Graduate Student Association (LAIGSA) for its first meeting of the semester, where the board will take office and present a plan of activities for the fall. You can contribute fresh ideas and meet old and new members. Non-Latino students are also welcome! For more information contact Raul Saucedo.
6. CAREER SERVICES TAILGATE PARTY
Friday, Aug 26, 10:00am–3:00pm, Smith Career Center
Kick off the year with Career Services, meet employer sponsors, and enjoy some free food, fun games and prizes. Win an iPad2, flip video camera, Nook, Kindle, or a tailgate party package. Learn more at the Career Center’s website.
7. ASSOCIATION FOR INDIA’S DEVELOPEMENT: FRESHER’S PARTY 2011
Friday, Aug 26, 6:00pm, 232 Squires
The Association for India’s Development, a graduate student organization, invites you to its fresher’s party. This is a forum to share your thoughts on how to develop India and your political views. Free Indian snacks available. For more information contact Tannistha Maiti.
8. GOBBLERFEST 2011
Virginia Tech welcomes all new and returning students with this outdoor festival and late night activities in Squires Student Center. Get to know what the university and the town have to offer. Learn more>>>.
9. BGSO ANNUAL WELCOME BACK COOK OUT
Saturday, Aug 27, 2:00pm, home of Drs. Wayne and Glenda Scales (2112 Birch Leaf Ln, Bburg)
The Black Graduate Student Organization (BGSO) invites you to this annual cook out. Family friendly, faculty/staff welcome, bring friends & loved ones, music, games, socialize, mingle! All are welcome and encouraged to come. Enter the home-made dessert battle! If you are willing to help with set up, please email to BGSO.
10. GRADUATE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT COURSE: GRAD 5984, CRN 98416 & CRN 98447
Enroll in this ALS-team-taught course that contains two modules: (Module 1) Research Ethics and (Module 2) Communication Skills. Students can sign up for either or both modules and receive 1 credit for each. Each module is delivered within a six-week period during the semester. Module 1 Aug 29–Oct 10, and Module 2 Oct 17-Dec 5. Topics covered include IACUC, IRB, Endnote, plagiarism, lab note books, abstracts, peer review, grant proposal review, and more. Contact Isis Mullarky (Module 1) or Glenda Gillaspy (Module 2) for more information.
11. EMERGENCY BIKE KITS AVAILABLE ON CAMPUS
Emergency bike kits are available at three locations on campus: (1) Perry Street parking garage office (2) Squires Student Center information desk (3) War Memorial Gym equipment desk. To use the kits, simply go to one of the three locations during their business hours, present your Hokie Passport, and fill out a sign out sheet. Once you made the necessary repairs to your bike, replace all of the kit contents and return it to the same locations. These kits are brought to you by Virginia Tech’s Alternative Transportation Department. The staff members at the kit locations are not required to have any bike-repair knowledge. Kits contain standard bike pumps and basic tools for common adjustments and minor repairs. For more information contact Debby Freed, 540-231-0248.
12. PARKING PERMIT PAYROLL DEDUCTION NOW AVAILABLE FOR GRAD ASSISTANTS
Graduate assistants (GAs, GTAs and GRAs) are now able to purchase the parking permits using payroll deduction. This new program allows qualified students* to purchase permits with pre-tax dollars and spread the cost over the duration of their assistantship appointment (maximum 17 pay periods). The amount deducted from each payroll will be determined by the time frame of the appointment set in Banner by the hiring department. To purchase this permit, students must go in person to the main Parking Services Office at 455 Tech Center Drive. This option is not available online. *The hiring department must enter the position into Banner prior to being able to enroll in the pre-tax permit deduction program. *This program is only available to graduate assistants whose appointment begins in the fall semester. For more information please contact Parking Services.
13. PAYROLL DEDUCTION OF COMP FEES FOR GRADUATE ASSISTANTS
It is not too late to enroll in payroll deduction of your comp fees if you are on a graduate assistantship! Graduate students on assistantship appointment may pay their comprehensive and capital fees through payroll deduction during the fall and spring semesters. To be eligible for this program, students must commit to paying the full-time comprehensive and capital fees through payroll deduction. Enrollment is managed through Hokie SPA and students must sign up _each_ semester in which they wish to take advantage of this opportunity. Details>>>.
14. VERIFY YOUR IN-STATE CLASSIFICATION STATUS NOW!
Please review your student status in HokieSPA and your e-bill from the Bursar to make sure that you in-state or out-of-state status appears properly. If you believe that you are eligible for in-state classification but are not listed as an in-state student, please review our website about eligibility requirements, and submit an application for in-state residency.
15. WAGE JOB OPPORTUNITY: TUTORS FOR ENGINEERING COURSES – 2nd posting
The office of Student Athlete Academic Support Services seeks tutors for fall 2011 for all engineering courses. Competitive pay, flexible hours, great learning experience. Apply online, or contact Erica Hampton for more information.
16. PKJ IS SEEKING COPY EDITOR – 1st posting
The Public Knowledge Journal (PKJ) invites applications for the position of copy editor. PKJ is a multidisciplinary, graduate-student-run, electronic journal hosted by the Center for Digital Discourse and Culture at Virginia Tech (ISSN 1948-3511). The journal incorporates a variety of communication technologies to sustain a conversation about the topics and questions raised in each issue. For more information about the journal visit the PKJ homepage. If you are interested in applying, please email to the editor.
17. VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR GRADUATE & PROFESSIONAL SCHOOL FAIR
The Graduate Student Assembly is looking for volunteers to make this year’s Graduate and Professional School Fair a success. This yearly fundraiser will be held on Monday, Sep 26, at Squires Commonwealth Ballroom. Volunteers may sign up for a 1-hr or longer shift assisting with set-up, transportation services, general support, check in/registration desk help and more. Free t-shirt and food will be provided for all volunteers! Please complete the registration form to provide your contact information and shift preferences. Questions: Contact Courtney Gleason.
18. 2012 GSA RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM — BECOME A COMMITTEE MEMBER! – 3rd posting
The GSA Research Symposium, to be held Mar 28, 2012, is an opportunity for graduate students to showcase their research. GSA invites you to become a member of the 2012 Graduate Research Symposium Committee. You may serve on one of the following subcommittees: website, sponsorship, judging, publicity, event organization, and keynote speaker. Interested in getting involved? Fill out this short survey. Questions: Contact Alireza Salmanzadeh, Research Symposium Chair.
19. PARTICIPANTS NEEDED FOR BIOMECHANICS STUDY I – 1st posting
Participants are sought for a study investigating the effects of flexion and lifting on the biomechanics and neuromuscular control of the human torso. The study consists of six separate experimental sessions (each lasting approximately 2 hrs) and participants will be compensated $10/hour. To qualify you must be between the ages of 18-29, have a lean body, and regularly exercise at least 2-3 times per week. For more information or to inquire about participation, please contact Brad. Please include your age, gender, and general availability when responding.
20. PARTICIPANTS SOUGHT FOR BIOMECHANICS STUDY II – 1st posting
Participants are needed for a study investigating the effects of job rotation on muscle fatigue and performance. The study consists of 6 separate experimental sessions (each lasting 2-2.5 hrs) and one screening session. Participants will be compensated $10/hour with a $10 bonus after completing all sessions. Requirements: male or female, age 18-25, low body fat, right handed, 20/20 vision (corrected okay), no recent history of musculoskeletal disorders, and exercise 2-3 times/week. If interested, please contact Leanna Horton.
21. DRIVERS SOUGHT FOR RESEARCH STUDY – 1st posting
VTTI is looking for people with a 2006 or newer vehicle to participate in a federally-funded safety research project. Must be 18 or older. Vehicle monitoring equipment will be placed in your car for up to one month to record your normal driving behavior. Participants will receive $300.00 for full participation. All information and data is kept secure and confidential. For more info please contact Christine Link-Owens at 540-231-1532.
22. PARTICIPANTS SOUGHT FOR RESEARCH PROJECT – 2nd posting
VT researchers seek volunteers for a project on the “Benefits of immersion for analysis of micro-CT datasets,” to help gather quantitative and qualitative insights into immersion benefits while exploring a complex scientific dataset like that of microscopic computed tomography data. The study consists of carrying out few tasks (answering few questions) related to two selected micro-CT datasets, which will be volume visualized on a state-of-the-art spatially immersive stereo display system, in the Visionarium at 3050 Torgersen. The experiment lasts for about 1.5 hrs. This study has been IRB approved. The researchers need 17 more participants who are selected on a first come first served basis. Participants must be more than 18 years old with no or minimal background in micro-CT imaging to participate in this experiment. The available time slots for participation are available here: http://people.cs.vt.edu/blaha/schedule.html. Please email to Bireswar Laha, with your preferred time slot from the above page to sign up for your participation.
23. PARTICIPANTS SOUGHT FOR STUDY OF SITTING EFFECTS – 2nd posting
You are invited to participate in a study aimed at testing muscle activities in a seated posture. Participants must be in no current or recent history (1 year) of physical disorders affecting the shoulder, knee, or lower back; exercise on a regular basis (2-3 times/wk); and be between ages 18-64. Participants will be required to perform several computer-based typing tasks in a laboratory setting. Each experiment session will last 2 to 3 hours and participants will be compensated $10/hour. For more information, please email to sjayvt@gmail.com.
24. UPCOMING EVENTS:
SHORT STAT COURSES FOR NON-STAT MAJORS
LISA (Laboratory for Interdisciplinary Statistical Analysis) is providing a series of evening short courses to help graduate students use statistics in their research. The focus of these 2-hr courses is on teaching practical statistical techniques for analyzing or collecting data. Visit LISA for instructions on how to register and to learn more. Short courses will be held from 5-7PM.
Fall 2011 Schedule:
- Tuesday, Sep 6: What LISA Can Do for You and a Tutorial in T-Tests and ANOVA;
- Tuesday, Sep 13 & Thursday, Sep 15: Introduction to JMP; *
- Tuesday, Sep 20: Introduction to Design and Analysis of Experiments;
- Tuesday, Sep 27 & Thursday, Sep 29: Introduction to R; *
- Tuesday, Oct 4: Applying Statistics in Research: Case Studies;
*These courses will be held in 3080 Torgersen, all other courses are held in Fralin Auditorium. For more information, please visit www.lisa.stat.vt.edu.