October 28 – November 3, 2013 – TESTING ONLY —-Graduate School Monthly Memo

1. WEEKLY SERVICES IN THE GLC – updated 10/28

Career Services walk-in advising: Wednesdays 2:00-5:00pm, GLC Lobby
Cook Counseling walk-in services: Thursdays and Fridays 1:00-5:00pm, Green Room
GLC Café: 3:30-5:00 every Thursdays, Reading Room – year round!
Graduate School business hours: M,Tu,Th,F: 8:00am-5:00pm; W: 9:30am-5:00pm
Writing Center walk-in assistance: Thursdays 2-5pm, GLC Room D (additional hours available in the library)

2. FREE ANXIETY AND OCD SUPPORT GROUP AVAILABLE
Tuesday, Oct 29, 7:00pm, 3110 Prices Fork Rd, VT Psyc Services Ctr
Are you feeling overwhelmed by anxiety? Do you struggle with OCD? A free monthly support group meets the last Tuesday of every month. Please join us the group to learn more about anxiety disorders and OCD, hear success stories from those who have worked to overcome their anxiety and OCD, and receive support in an informal setting. Family members are also welcome. If you have questions or would like more information, please contact the Psychological Services Center at 231-6914, visit www.psyc.vt.edu/outreach/psc, or email doctoral student Brenna Maddox at bmaddox7@vt.edu.

3. HALLOWEEN POTLUCK
Wednesday, Oct 30, 5:00pm, GLC Multipurpose Room
The GLC Fellows are sponsoring this Halloween themed potluck. Bring a dish to share with your fellow graduate students and gear up for the spooky holiday! There may also be a demonstration by the Virginia Tech Police Department canine unit outside of the GLC. Fill out the following survey to register for this family-friendly event: https://survey.vt.edu/survey/entry.jsp?id=1379476191090

4. HALLOWEEN CHALLENGE 2013: TRICK OR TREAT!
Thursday, Oct 31, 8:00am-5:00pm, Graduate School offices
Stop by the student service area (120 GLC) wearing a costume and get some candy! Children are also welcome. The first 5 students who visit the Graduate School dean’s office dressed in a Halloween costume demanding to be seen by the dean immediately will receive a stress ball. The rest may be escorted out by campus police… Take your chances!

5. GRADUATION 101 SERIES: COMPLETION GUIDELINES/CHECKLIST
Thursday, Oct 31, 1:00 pm EDT, at your computer
The Graduate School hosts monthly graduation 101 webinars. Webinar participants will need a computer with Internet access, microphone and speakers to fully participate. Meeting Number: 649 351 827 Meeting Password: (This meeting does not require a password.) To join the online meeting, go to https://virginiatech.webex.com/virginiatech/j.php?ED=252644572&UID=0&RT=MiMxMQ%3D%3D. If requested, enter your name and email address. Click "Join".

6. GLC CAFÉ: HALLOWEEN SPECIAL
Thursday, Oct 31, 3:30-5:00pm GLC Reading Room or side patio The GLC Café is offered throughout the year with free coffee, tea, and cookies in the company of your graduate-student and Grad-School colleagues. Come in costume and eat candy eyeballs and worms with your coffee and tea! Best costume by popular vote wins a prize.

7. SHORT STAT COURSES BY LISA THIS FALL: T-TESTS and ANOVA
Thursday, October 31, 5:00-7:00pm, GLC Room G
The Laboratory for Interdisciplinary Statistical Analysis (LISA) is providing a series of evening short courses to help graduate students use statistics in their research. The focus of these two-hour courses is on teaching practical statistical techniques for analyzing or collecting data. See www.lisa.stat.vt.edu/?q=short_courses for instructions on how to register and learn more. Remaining Fall 2013 schedule:

Monday & Tuesday, November 4 & 5: Introduction to JMP;*
Tuesday, November 12: Nonparametric methods featuring the bootstrap;
Thursday, November 21: Regression Methods;

*Two sessions of the same course to accommodate more attendees. Follow LISA on Facebook (www.facebook.com/Statistical.collaboration) or Twitter (www.twitter.com/LISA_VT) to be the first to know about LISA events! More information: www.lisa.stat.vt.edu.

8. BGSO EBONY AFFAIR 2013
Friday, Nov 1, 7:00-9:00pm, Custom Catering
The Ebony Affair is a formal/semi-formal dinner banquet in which those who actively engaged in BGSO’s motto: "Lifting as we climb" are recognized. It’s a great excuse to get dressed up for an evening of dinner and entertainment. Tickets can be purchased at http://www.bgso.org.vt.edu/sponsors.html for $12.

9. STOP HUNGER NOW
Saturday, Nov 2
The Blacksburg Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. will volunteer at the New Life Christian Fellowship Church at 130 Jackson St. Blacksburg VA. Volunteers will help the church package food that will be shipped to countries in need. The times to volunteer are: 10:00am-12:00pm and 12:30-2:00pm. If you are interested in helping, please email ppd@bacdst13.org with the time you can attend. This event is posted on behalf of grad student Brielle Wright, bswright@vt.edu.

10. BUFFALO WILD WINGS FUNDRAISER
Sunday, Nov 3, 4:00pm
Join the BeAutiful Ladies of Blacksburg Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. for their Buffalo Wild Wings fundraiser. Watch the Ravens take on the Browns and enjoy food and fellowship with BAC. This event is posted on behalf of grad student Brielle Wright, bswright@vt.edu.

11. INDIAN STUDENT ASSOCIATION CELEBRATES DIWALI
Sunday, Nov 3, 5:00pm, Burruss Hall The VT Indian Students Association invites you along with your friends and family to their annual celebration of the Festival of Lights, Diwali. The event starts at 5:00pm with a cultural show where President Steger and Dr. Guru Ghosh are honored guests. This will be followed by fireworks on the Drillfield at 7:30pm, after which there will be a grand Indian feast catered by Taaza (Roanoke) in the Commonwealth Ballroom in Squires starting at 8:00pm. Contact Akshay Kumar with questions at akshay2@vt.edu. Facebook: http://goo.gl/6tOxQX; Website: http://goo.gl/HqUMCd.

12. SPRING GRAD COURSES – SIGN UP NOW!
The following grad courses will be available in Spring 2014:

GRAD 5014 – Academic Integrity & Plagiarism
GRAD 5104 – Preparing the Future Professoriate
GRAD 5114 – Pedagogical Practices in Contemporary Contexts
GRAD 5304 – Career Development for the Future Professional
GRAD 5404 – Research International Context – (base course for Graduate Certificate in International Research Abroad,
GRAD 5984 – Special Study – Communicating Science

For more details on these courses visit: http://graduateschool.vt.edu/academics/class_schedules/grad_courses/index.html

13. CALL FOR POSTER CONTEST ENTRIES FOR INTL EDUCATION WEEK – 2nd posting
In celebration of International Education Week (http://eca.state.gov/programs-initiatives/international-education-week), VT’s chapter of the Phi Beta Delta international honor society is sponsoring a poster contest for all students. The theme is ‘How has international education benefitted you?’ and students are encouraged to incorporate their experiences during study abroad, service learning, exchange programs, or international research into their posters. Cash prizes will be awarded. Submit a short (+/- 100 word) abstract describing your poster, along with the following information: Title of poster; Author’s name; Contact information (email and phone); Degree sought/Major and minor; to Betty Watts at bettyw@vt.edu by 5:00 pm Monday, Nov 4. All posters must fit a 3 x 3’ freestanding format. All posters must be brought to Squires Student Center between 8–10 on Friday, Nov 15. Posters will be displayed for public viewing in Squires Nov 18–21. Posters can be picked up from Squires 4–5pm on Thursday, Nov 21. Winners will be announced at Phi Beta Delta’s Fall induction ceremony on Nov 18. Please direct any questions to Betty Watts (bettyw@vt.edu; 231-6452).

14. AEL CALL FOR NOMINATIONS – 2nd posting
Alpha Epsilon Lambda graduate leadership honor society at VT is calling for nominations of graduate students. Faculty, staff and colleagues are encouraged to nominate graduate students who have shown dedication to serving their graduate community. The requirements are: (1) Graduate student has completed 12 credits (2) has at least 3.80 GPA or be in top 35% of the department. AEL board members will request the designated personnel in the Graduate School to check the nominees’s GPA in order to extend an official invitation to the nominee. Nominators should provide the name of the nominee and a short paragraph describing the graduate student services at http://goo.gl/fWgfyO.

15. AEL LEADERSHIP SEMINAR – REQUEST FOR IDEAS – 2nd posting
AEL board members are in the process of planning the AEL leadership seminars for the spring semester, and would like to shape the seminars to address the needs of the graduate students in their field. This short survey allows you to share your ideas, challenges and needs regarding your career and leadership skills: http://goo.gl/MVQLNI. Your input will guide AEL board members in their planning. If you have any questions, please contact Marwa Abdel Latif at marlatif04@gmail.com.

16. CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS FOR OPEN LAB AT VT CENTER FOR THE ARTS – 2nd posting
The Center for the Arts at Virginia Tech invites professional artists or graduate art students living in Virginia to submit proposals for OpenLab, the first in a new series of exhibitions celebrating the innovative work of Virginia artists. The inaugural summer 2014 OpenLab sequence will include two solo exhibitions, each featuring an inventive, three-dimensional sculptural installation in one of the galleries. Room environments, sound, and multimedia installations will all be considered. Apply online at https://tickets.artscenter.vt.edu/Online/openlabsummer.

17. GRADUATE STUDENTS INVITED TO SERVE AS GLOBAL AMBASSADORS – 1st posting
The Global Ambassadors program is an exciting and engaging leadership development program for current VT students seeking to develop their global leadership skills. Global Ambassadors are charged with welcoming new international students to the VT community and continuing meaningful interactions with students and the community throughout the academic year. Cranwell International Center is seeking currently enrolled student (ugrad or grad, domestic or intl) who have been at VT for at least one semester. International students, returning Study Abroad students, and students with a strong interest in learning about the world are encouraged to apply. Apply online by Tue Nov 12 by 5:00pm at: https://gobblerconnect.vt.edu/form/start/32257. Optional interest meetings at Cranwell: Wednesday, Nov 6, 12:00pm. Reference form due by Friday, Nov 22 by 5:00pm. After the application there will be interviews, and required training and retreats for selected students. Learn more at http://www.international.vt.edu/programs_and_activities/global_ambassadors/index.html.

18. MENTORING PROGRAM SEEKS MENTORS FROM ALL FIELDS – 1st posting
The Graduate–Undergraduate Mentorship Program (GUMP) is seeking mentors from all fields. This program allows graduate students to mentor undergraduate students considering graduate school. Undergrads and grads are matched according to their area of study, allowing the undergraduate to get a taste for graduate school and to ask questions of current graduate students. Each graduate mentor will be matched with 2–4 mentees, who will shadow them at times convenient for the graduate mentor during the spring semester. Mentoring can help build leadership skills and provide an experience to discuss with future employers. Mentors must attend one program orientation meeting the second week of the Spring semester, after which they will coordinate mentoring activities independently with their undergraduate mentees. GUMP is sponsored by the Graduate Student Association (GSA). If you have any questions, please contact gump@vt.edu. All interested graduate students should fill out the application at: https://survey.vt.edu/survey/entry.jsp?id=1380140661981 .

19. TANDEM LANGUAGE PROGRAM SEEKS PARTICIPANTS – 2nd posting
Native speakers of German are particularly encouraged to sign up for the “Tandem Program” at Virginia Tech, which matches international students with American language students. There is currently a surplus of domestic learners of German looking for language partners; if your native language is German and you already speak perfect English, then please consider signing up to help an American learn your language! The Tandem Program, which strengthens participants’ language skills while promoting closer bonds between international and domestic students, offers opportunities in all foreign languages taught at Virginia Tech: Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Russian, and Spanish. There is no deadline to sign up, so feel free to fill out the form at any time: http://virginiatechtandem.blogspot.com/.

20. PARTICIPANTS SOUGHT FOR FALL RISK WITH LOW-BACK FATIGUE STUDY – 2nd posting
Participants are needed for a study assessing the effect of localized muscle fatigue on slip and fall risks. The study consists of 2 experimental sessions (each lasting approximately 2-3 hours). Participants will be compensated $10/hour with a $20 bonus after completing all sessions. Requirements: male or female, age 35-64, no recent history of musculoskeletal disorders. If interested, please contact Rahul Soangra at locomotionVT@gmail.com for further details.

21. PARTICIPANTS SOUGHT FOR INFORMATION RE-FINDING STUDY-3rd posting
Do you have a ton of stuff on your computer? Is it spread out across your file system, web browser and mail app? Researchers are interested in how you manage all this information and what you do when you need to find it again later. They are also interested in how your different strategies might align with some of your meetings and events. This might mean you send emails and utilize file-sharing apps or it might mean you use and share information during meetings, classes, etc. There is a 15-minute survey where two (2) participants will be randomly selected to receive a $25 cash prize. Using your survey response, you may qualify to participate in a 2-week diary study. For those who participate in the diary study, two (2) will be randomly selected to receive a $50 cash prize. Please sign up by contacting Blake Sawyer (basawyer@vt.edu). Participants must be 18+ years old.

22. INTERNATIONAL STUDENT VOLUNTEERS NEEDED-3rd posting
What would you like to see in the arts at Virginia Tech? The newly opening Center for the Arts at VT is seeking input from international students and scholars in the Virginia Tech and surrounding communities on potential visiting artists, new arts programs, and so on. Your ideas could have a significant impact on the Center’s future arts activities as the Center seeks to create arts programs that meet the needs and interests of our community. If the opportunity to discuss this topic in an informal 2-hour session with staff from the Center for the Arts interests you, please contact Jon at rjginn@vt.edu.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

SHORT STAT COURSES BY LISA THIS FALL
The Laboratory for Interdisciplinary Statistical Analysis (LISA) is providing a series of evening short courses to help graduate students use statistics in their research. The focus of these two-hour courses is on teaching practical statistical techniques for analyzing or collecting data. See www.lisa.stat.vt.edu/?q=short_courses for instructions on how to register and learn more. Remaining Fall 2013 schedule:

Monday & Tuesday, November 4 & 5: Introduction to JMP;*
Tuesday, November 12: Nonparametric methods featuring the bootstrap;
Thursday, November 21: Regression Methods;

PHI BETA KAPPA VISITING SCHOLAR: INTERSECTIONS OF SCIENCE, PUBLIC HEALTH AND ART
Wednesday, Nov 6 and Thursday, Nov 7,Various times and locations
Timothy Bromage, professor of biomaterials and biomimetics at NYU College of Dentistry, will present three sessions open to the public. Professor Bromage’s research focuses on bone and tooth biology, with an emphasis on its translation to environmental and evolutionary studies. The session details are as follows: “What Cells will do for Global Climate Change” – Wednesday, Nov 6, 7pm, Virginia Bioinformatics Institute Auditorium; “Avoid Infection, and While You’re At It, Have a Demographic Transition” – Thursday Nov 7, 12-1pm, Shanks Hall Room 370-380; “What is Art?” – Thursday, Nov 7, 4:00-6:00pm, Squires Student Center Rooms 341/345. These sessions are co-sponsored by the VT Institute for Creativity, Arts, and Technology, the Everyday Imaging Series, and Departments of STS and Philosophy.

ENTREPRENEURIAL WORKSHOP
Wednesday, Nov 13, 4:30-7:30pm, Room G
Presented by VT KnowledgeWorks, this innovative session is for VT grad students who are interested in learning what it takes to start a business. VT KnowledgeWorks encourages and enables creative entrepreneurship world-wide. If you have any questions, contact Ashley Frances, ashleyf@vt.edu.

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