1. WEEKLY WALK-IN SERVICES IN THE GLC – updated 12/5
Most walk-in services are now on hiatus for the winter break and will be back again after spring semester begins.
- Counseling by Cook: Thursdays and Fridays, 1:00-5:00pm, Green Room
- GLC Café: 3:30-5:00 every Thursday, Reading Room – final cafe of 2014 on Dec 18
- Graduate School business hours: M,Tu,Th,F: 8:00am-5:00pm; W: 9:30am-5:00pm
2. FREE FINALS WEEK FITNESS
Friday, Dec 12 through Wednesday, Dec 17, War Memorial Gym and McComas Hall
All Rec Sports classes are free and open to everyone, no pass required during exams. Try any of the classes, relieve stress, enjoy a work out! Review the free week schedule at: http://recsports.vt.edu/fitness/groupx.
3. VT PAWS
Monday, Dec 15, 6:00-7:00pm, GLC Multipurpose Room
The GLC Fellows invite you to come relieve some finals stress with the VT Helping PAWS therapy animals. Students from the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine will be on hand with their dogs and cats. Come hang out, spend some time with the animals, take a break from studying, and relax! To learn more about VT Helping PAWS, you can visit their website here: http://www.vetmed.vt.edu/vthelpingpaws/.
4. NEW AFFORDABLE CHILDCARE INFO SESSION
Monday, Dec 15, 7:00pm, GLC Room F
Attend this information session to learn more about the Graduate School’s new Parent Cooperative Playgroup initiative, starting in January 2015. This program will operate across the street from campus out of the Lutheran Memorial Lutheran Church, and will provide part-time childcare at an affordable rate to student families.
5. DISSERTATION WRITING SUPPORT GROUP
Tuesdays bi-weekly, Dec 16, 12:00-1:30pm, GLC Room D
Do you need some support with staying on track with your writing? Could you use some advice on managing your relationship with your advisor/committee? Would you share some of your experiences with fellow grad students who are going through the same process? Do you need a safe place to decompress from the stress of your dissertation? Join the second meeting of this newly forming dissertation support group and see how it may support your progress. Bring your own lunch! Contact Monika Gibson at gibsonm@vt.edu for more information. This is the last meeting of the year. Regular bi-weekly meetings will resume on Jan 13, 2015.
6. PARENT SUPPORT GROUP MEETING MONTHLY
Wednesday, Dec 17, 12:00-1:30pm, GLC Room F
The Parent Support Group is a new opportunity for graduate students and their spouses who have or are expecting children, designed to provide a place to connect and build community. The group will be meeting this Wednesday in the GLC. Lunch will be served and spouses and children are welcome! Please RSVP at http://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0e4fabaa28a1ff2-december, and email childcare@vt.edu with any questions.
7. GLC CAFÉ: BOOK SWAP EDITION
Thursday, Dec 18, 3:30-5:00pm, GLC Reading Room or Lobby
Celebrate the end of the semester and the end of the year with the final café of 2014, combined with a book swap. Bring books and take some, or just take books to read during the break. Share your favorite titles with grad students and Grad School colleagues over coffee, tea, hot chocolate, hot cider, and cookies. Bring your own mug if you can. The café will be on a break on Dec 25 and Jan 1, but will return on Jan 8, 2015!
8. GRADUATE COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY
Friday, Dec 19, 3:00pm, Cassell Coliseum
Join in the celebration of our graduating master’s and doctoral students and certificate recipients. For details visit http://graduateschool.vt.edu/academics/commencement_info. This event will be live streamed.
9. CALL FOR APPLICATIONS FOR GRADUATE STUDENT REP TO BOARD OF VISITORS – 1st posting
Applications for Graduate Student Representative to the VT Board of Visitors are accepted until Feb 13, 2015. All currently enrolled graduate students in good standing are encouraged to consider this great leadership and service opportunity to represent graduate students’ voices, needs and interest on the VT Board of Visitors. Learn more at http://www.dsa.vt.edu/BOV/apply.php.
10. CALL FOR NOMINATIONS FOR EXCELLENCE IN GRADUATE ACADEMIC ADVISING – deadline Jan 9
Virginia Tech sponsors three Exemplary Academic Advising awards annually in an effort to recognize the outstanding efforts of faculty and the role they play in retaining students and developing an advising partnership. More information is available at http://www.advising.vt.edu/index.php/advising-awards . At this time the nomination form is the only item being accepted. After the deadline, the nominee’s department head will be notified in order to solicit their support in submitting a complete dossier to be reviewed by the selection committee. For the Alumni Award for Excellence in Graduate Academic Advising, the nominee must be a full-time faculty member and must hold the rank of professor, associate professor, assistant professor or instructor. The Advising Award committee reviews nominations made by students, alumni, faculty, departments, or self-nominations, and selects a recipient. Send any questions regarding the nomination submission process to advising@vt.edu.
11. CALL FOR ABSTRACTS FOR INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH DAY POSTER SESSION – 1st posting
The Interdisciplinary Research Honor Society (IDR) invites you to submit an abstract for the poster session during the Annual Interdisciplinary Research Day, to be held at The Inn at Virginia Tech on Feb, 26, 2015. Abstracts showing an integration of interdisciplinary research are welcome in all categories. If your research integrates work from different disciplines, consider sharing your work. Submission deadline is Jan 30, 2015. Instructions and submission form are at: https://survey.vt.edu/survey/entry.jsp?id=1386293281414. Contact Rachael Kennedy (kennedy3@vt.edu) or Souvick Chatterjee (souvick8@vt.edu) with questions.
12. NOMINATIONS FOR GRADUATE STUDENT AWARDS NOW OPEN – 2nd posting
A number of prestigious awards are granted to graduate students each year, carrying a monetary prize ($200-$1000 each) and award certificate. Discuss the possibility of your nomination by your advisor/department for any of the following awards that will be given out during the Graduate School’s annual awards banquet on March 26, 2015:
- Outstanding Dissertation in (1) math, sciences and engineering, and (1) in social sciences, business and humanities
- Preston Society Master’s Thesis Award
- Graduate Student Teaching Excellence (1) for GTA instructor of record (1) GTA instructor assistant
- Graduate Student Service Excellence
- Graduate Student of the Year (up to three awards given)
- Outstanding master’s and doctoral student in each college and in interdisciplinary programs.
More information about criteria, forms, and process for nomination are at: http://graduateschool.vt.edu/academics/awards/2014_2015.
13. VIDEO AVAILABLE OF “GRADUATION 101: ETD REVIEW” WEBINAR
A video is available online for those who missed the ETD review webinar in November. Access the video at iTunes U, http://itunes.apple.com/itunes-u/graduate-school/id465646313?mt=10 or via YouTube at http://youtu.be/sbm0Bh841tU. For more information on degree completion guidelines and deadlines, see Graduate School website http://graduateschool.vt.edu/academics/degree_completion.
14. VIDEO AVAILABLE OF “PREPARING FOR GRADUATION – FINAL STEPS TO DEGREE”
A video is available for those who missed the December webinar on preparing for graduation webinar. The video may be downloaded at iTunes U http://itunes.apple.com/itunes-u/graduate-school/id465646313?mt=10 or via YouTube http://youtu.be/6LV0BcvxLxM. For more information on degree completion guidelines and deadlines see Graduate School website http://graduateschool.vt.edu/academics/degree_completion.
15. WAGE POSITION IN ACADEMIC COACHING – 3rd posting
Academic coaches working University Studies meet with 10-15 students 3-4 times per semester. Each coach will collaborate with his or her students to create individualized goals and educational plans for the semester, focusing on time management, use of existing campus resources, and problem solving. Coaches will also aid students in exploring majors and introduce them to the Pathways Planner tool. Responsibilities include: 1) Participating in training and/or meetings the week before classes begin (January 8 & 9); 2) Attending group meetings the week before and during week 1 of spring semester; 3) Scheduling individual meetings with students during weeks 3-4, 5-6 and 13-14 and assessing academic progress at each meeting; 4) Utilizing supplied materials and/or developing new materials; 5) Referring students to appropriate campus resources and advisors; 6) documenting meetings and communicating with program coordinator and advisors. Applicants should be graduate students in good academic standing. To apply, send resume and cover letter to Nick Sano-Franchini via email: nicks5@vt.edu by December 10, 2014.
16. PARTICIPANTS SOUGHT FOR RESEARCH PROJECT ON WORK AND FAMILY IN FAMILY BUSINESSES – 1st posting
Researchers in the VT Department of Human Development are conducting a study to investigate work and family in family businesses. They are looking for individuals who are (1) age 18 and older, (2) in a romantically involved, committed relationship for at least 1 year, and (3) both members of the relationship are involved in a family business. Participation would include a one-time survey that asks demographic information and completion of seven daily diaries that take about 30 minutes to complete. Participants are compensated $20.00 each for their time. If you are eligible and interested, contact the Co-Principal Investigator: Andrea Swenson at aswenson@vt.edu. This study is approved by the Virginia Tech Institutional Review Board.
17. SURVEY PARTICIPANTS SOUGHT FOR DIGITAL TO-DO LIST RESEARCH – 2nd posting
Sheriff Jolaoso, master’s student in computer science, is looking for participants for his research on engagement with digital to-do tools such as calendars, to-do list apps, and email. Participation consists of completing a 22-question survey that asks questions about the digital to-do list tools you use and how you use them. Participants must be over 18 and use calendars, emails, and/or to-do list apps to maintain things you need to do in the future. If interested, complete the survey at https://virginiatech.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_cYzQARJJdur6lLf. If you have any questions about this research study, contact Sheriff Jolaoso, email: sheriff1@vt.edu.
Upcoming Events:
GRADUATE SCHOOL WINTER-BREAK CLOSING
The Graduate School will be closed from 12:00pm Dec 24, through Jan 4, 2015. We will reopen with regular business hours at 8:00am on Monday, Jan 5.