September 14-20, 2015

1.  WEEKLY WALK-IN SERVICES IN THE GLC – break schedule; updated 8/24

  • Career Services advising: on hiatus until Sep 23
  • Cook Counseling: Thursday & Friday 1:00-5:00pm, Green Room 
  • Graduate School regular hours: 8:00am-5:00pm
  • LISA Statistical Consulting: Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 10am-12pm, GLC Room A
  • Writing assistance: Thursdays, 5:30-8:30pm, GLC Room A

2. THE HOW OF HAPPINESS – LEARN STRATEGIES
Opt 1: Mondays, Sep 14-Nov 16, 5:30-6:30pm, 198 McComas
Opt 2: Fridays, Sep 18-Nov 20, 11:15am-12:00pm, 198 McComas
Explore with a group how to incorporate happiness strategies in your life, learn new ways of thinking, and work to realize your potential for joy. Build confidence, self-esteem, embrace a healthy body image, and adopt a personal action plan. Register online at recsports.vt.edu. This message is posted on behalf of doctoral student Wei-Ning Chang, weiningc@vt.edu.

3. MILK SENSORY PANELS: CAN YOU IDENTIFY DIFFERENT SAMPLES?
Day 3:  Monday 9/14, 10:00am-5:00pm
Day 4:  Wednesday 9/16, 10:00am-5:00pm
Day 5:  Thursday 9/17, 10:00am-5:00pm
Day 6:  Friday 9/18 10:00am-5:00pm
All at HABB1 Building, Rm 205 (corner of Duck Pond Dr. and Washington, St.) It takes only 15 minutes of your time. Bring a friend! Must be 18 or older with no milk allergy; need 128 panelists for each day. Earn "stamps" toward gift cards ($10 value) at each panel you attend. Email to vtechsensorylab@gmail.com with any questions.

4. HUMMUS SENSORY EVALUATION
Tuesday, Sep 15, 10:00am-4:00pm
To participate, you should be a hummus consumer (eating hummus at least once per month), healthy, and at least 18 years of age. Need at least 100 panelists, so bring friends.  What you get: As panels run throughout the semester, you will earn "stamps" toward gift cards ($10 value) at selected retail locations. Each panel you attend you will receive 2 stamps. Need 10 stamps to earn a gift card! If you bring a friend, you get an extra point. Each time you participate in a sensory panel, you will also receive a snack as a token of appreciation. Additionally, every time you complete a panel, you will be entered into a raffle for a $100 gift card. We are also giving $100 to a club or organization with the most participates. All participants who complete at least 4 hummus panels will receive coupons toward the purchase of hummus. Email to vtechsensorylab@gmail.com with any questions.

5. VT MANRRS GENERAL BODY MEETING
Tuesday, Sep 15, 5:30-6:30pm, Litton-Reaves 1810
VT MANRRS will host its first general body meeting — learn about how you can be a part of exciting career development, networking, and community service activities this semester offered through Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Related Sciences (MANRRS) student chapter at Virginia Tech. This message is posted on behalf of doctoral student Shavonn Reezale Whiten, shavonnw@vt.edu.

6. HBCU CONNECT LUNCHEON
Wednesday, Sep 16, 12:00-1:00pm, GLC Room G
Did you attend an HBCU before pursuing graduate school at VT? Attend this lunch to network with other HBCU grads. Lunch will be provided by the Graduate School. Please sign up at https://virginiatech.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_85OfldFMsnZUDY1 if you are planning to attend. If you have any questions, contact Dannette Gomez Beane at dannette@vt.edu.

7. ANNUAL ACTIVE COMMUTE CELEBRATION
Wednesday, Sep 16, 8:00am –1:00pm,  Squires Student Center Plaza
Hosted by the Office of Alternative Transportation as part of Sustainability Week, this event highlights the benefits and viability of active transportation and reward those who use it regularly. VT Police will help with bicycle registrations and representatives of the Master Plan will be distributing access to their planning app. Blacksburg Transit, VT Office of Energy and Sustainability, the Blacksburg Office of Sustainability, Healthy Hokies, VT Bicycle Ambassadors, Zipcar and VT Environmental Coalition will also have tables with activities, giveaways (including bike bells and stickers), and free food from Panera Bread! Contact grad student Mackenzie Jarvis at mrj14@vt.edu,  (540) 231 2701 with any questions.

8. OVER-30 POTLUCK PICNIC
Wednesday, Sep 16, 6:00pm, GLC side lawn (behind the shrubs on the Bookstore side)
Bring a dish and join other grad students who are (or feel) 30 or over for a casual picnic and networking opportunity. The Graduate School will provide paper goods and drinks. Please sign up at https://survey.vt.edu/survey/entry.jsp?id=1441719550687 if you are planning to attend.

9. THESIS THURSDAYS
Thursdays, 8:30am-3:30pm
Need a quiet space to work on your thesis, dissertation, or course work? Gotta study for exams? Absolutely have to get that article out, like, yesterday? Thesis Thursday is your answer! This weekly gathering is for grad students who want to keep accountable to a regular work time and need a guaranteed quiet place to work. Meet each Thursday just a few blocks off campus at 107 Church Street – 2nd floor of the State Farm office (entrance on Church Street). Free coffee and wi-fi, plus multiple spots to sit and study alone or in groups. Stop in any time during study hours. Limited parking available. For more details, contact grad student Morgan Franke at fmorg14@vt.edu.

10. GLC CAFÉ: CUBICLE-FARM TIRAMISU IS BACK!
Thursday, Sep 17, 3:30-5:00pm, GLC Reading Room
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. Have you ever heard of/tried cubicle-farm tiramisu? If not, here is your opportunity! Live dangerously – give it a try.

11. KIDS NIGHT OUT – FREE WEEKLY DROP-IN CHILD CARE
Thursdays, starting Sep 10, 2015 6:00-8:30pm, Women’s Center
Need a break? Have to study or attend a lecture? Want to catch up on work? If you are a VT student with children, bring your kids aged 2-12 (must be toilet trained); no need to pre-register. Games, toys, books, crafts, homework help, and plenty of fun for participants. Childcare provided by the volunteers of Chi Delta Alpha sorority. KNO will be held every Thursday throughout the semester with the exception of breaks when classes are not in session. The Women’s Center is located at 206 Washington Street, enter up the stairs in the parking lot. For more information, contact Jessie Meltsner at jmelts@vt.edu or 231-7806.

12. ASLA FALL CONFERENCE: FACILITATING CHANGE IN THE DESIGNED ENVIRONMENT
Friday-Saturday, Sep 18-19, School of Architecture + Design
The conference focuses on facilitating change in the designed environment by providing local educational field trips, a campus sketch crawl, and presentations on current campus and municipal planning strategies and therapeutic concepts for park and facility planning. It will also investigate how the preparation of a master plan can facilitate change over an extended period. Friday: student portfolio review, sketch crawl around campus, poster exhibition, reception and lecture titled "And the Pursuit of Happiness:  Community + Craft + Nature" with Peter O’Shea. Free and open for all. Saturday: poster exhibition and educational sessions. Saturday events require registration. Learn more at http://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/event?oeidk=a07eb8t1dguc68ab4cb&llr=7rm8y7bab. Posted on behalf of grad student Armaghan Behzad Behbahani, abehzad@vt.edu.

13. SUBMISSIONS INVITED FOR 10TH ANNIVERSARY GLC ART & PHOTO CONTEST – 1st posting
Celebrate the 10th anniversary of the opening of the GLC  by participating in the next GLC photo and art contest! Theme: (Snapshots) of Graduate Student Life. Get creative and submit whatever depicts you as a grad student. Submissions are limited to three pieces (art and/or photography) per graduate student. Photos may be submitted online at https://secure.graduateschool.vt.edu/imageupload/ to be printed by the Graduate School. Submission deadline: Monday, Oct 19.  Learn more at http://www.graduatelifecenter.vt.edu/contest/.

14. CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS FOR EXHIBITION OF CULTURES – 1st posting
An Exhibition of Cultures at the School of Architecture + Design is organized to display the great diversity of creative works  from various countries and from different parts of the United States. Undergrad and graduate students are asked to bring creative works or objects demonstrating the art and craftsmanship of their respective countries and communities (various media – pottery, calligraphy, fabric, etc.). Register your craft example by Sep 19 at: http://goo.gl/forms/ETnfYpmkz6.  See more at: http://graduateschool.vt.edu/CAUS_Exhibition_of_Cultures. This message is posted on behalf of grad student organizer Shabnam Kavousi, shabnamk@vt.edu.

15. FUNDRAISER FOR VT RESEARCH TEAM WORKING ON FLINT WATER STUDY – 1st posting
The VT research team behind FlintWaterStudy (www.flintwaterstudy.org) is fundraising on GoFundMe to help the economically disadvantaged people of Flint, MI, protect themselves from lead in their water, by buying and giving away NSF certified lead filters. Consider donating for the cause. For more details on the campaign and to donate, visit http://www.gofundme.com/safewater4flint. Posted on behalf of grad student Anurag Mantha, anuragm@vt.edu.

16. APPLICATIONS ACCEPTED FOR TRAVEL SCHOLARSHIP FOR OPENCON2015 – 2nd posting
The Graduate School and University Libraries are co-sponsoring a travel scholarship to attend OpenCon 2015 in Nov 2015 in Brussels, Belgium. Apply by Sep 21 at http://www.opencon2015.org/virginia_tech. Learn more about the scholarship and the conference at https://blogs.lt.vt.edu/openvt/2015/09/02/grad-students-travel-to-brussels-to-learn-about-openness/.

17. CALL FOR APPLICATIONS FOR ACADEMY FOR GTA EXCELLENCE – 2nd posting
The Academy for GTA Excellence (see https://blogs.lt.vt.edu/jwrgrad/academy-for-advanced-teaching-and-transforming-learning-aattl/)  invites applications for members and associates in its Learning Community. The Academy provides opportunities for graduate students to receive advanced education and training in innovative teaching and learning strategies. It also provides a space to recognize excellence in teaching by graduate students. Membership is open to graduate students at all VT campuses. Applications are at https://virginiatech.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_1ZUiW1qhOevG45L; nominations or recommendations at https://virginiatech.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_6SbE2P349wuPv9z; both are due Saturday, Oct 3. For questions about the Academy, contact Vice President and Dean for Graduate Education Karen P. DePauw (kpdepauw@vt.edu) or Nicole J. Johnson (nicj712@vt.edu).

18. JOIN 30-AND-OVER GRAD GROUP – 2nd posting
Welcome to all VT 30-and-over students who sometimes feel out of place in the traditional social circles of school. This group is intended to be social, fun and non-serious. Coffee date? OK. Hiking in the Blue Ridge? Fantastic! Bowling? I’m up for it! Planned events can be accessed through our GoogleGroups site https://groups.google.com/d/forum/VT-over-30. If you are part of a sub group (parents, athletic enthusiast, hikers, etc) let the group know and organize events within this sub-group.

19. PEO INTERNATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION FOR 2015-16 AWARDS – 3rd posting
Applications now accepted for P.E.O. Scholar Awards, which offer $15,000 for outstanding women in doctoral programs. Eligibility:  (1) on track to complete  doctoral degree between Apr 2017-Aug 2018; (2)  have at least one academic year remaining to complete program when award payment is made in Aug 2016; (3) demonstrates outstanding academic excellence with strong research path, publications, awards and service activities, maturity and seriousness of purpose; (4) has clearly defined career objectives, showing promise of making a significant impact on field or society; (5) FT student at an accredited university; (6) US or Canadian citizen. Local application deadline: Sep 20; send concise letter highlighting current work and career and resume to Rebecca Caldwell (rebec.caldwell@gmail.com). More info: www.peointernational.org/about-peo-scholar-awards-psa.

20. ENGLISH CONVERSATION GROUPS THROUGH CRANWELL INTL CENTER –  3rd posting
These informal, volunteer-run groups provide an opportunity to practice English skills in a safe, informal environment.  They are open to Virginia Tech students, researchers, scholars, faculty, visitors and their dependents. Individuals can attend any number of classes per week. Cranwell conversation groups are free of charge and require no registration. See schedule at http://www.international.vt.edu/programs_and_activities/english_conversation_groups/index.html.

21. RESUMANIA – 3rd posting
Get your resume ready for the upcoming career fairs.  Resumania includes Career Services’ regular 10-minute walking-in advising hours of M-F, 12:00–3:00pm and offers extended hours on Tuesdays and Wednesdays (8/31 – 9/18) from 10:00am-4:00pm.  For more information go to http://www.career.vt.edu/Events/Fall2015-Resumania.pdf.

22. GA OPENING FOR 2015-16 – 1st posting
The Office of First Year Experiences has an immediate graduate assistantship opening for the 2015-2016 academic year. The GA works closely with the Director of First Year Academic Initiatives in the array of responsibilities associated with the university-wide first year experience programs, faculty, staff and partners. Required qualifications: earned Master’s degree in education or related discipline; evidence of strong oral and written communication skills; ability to work both independently and in collaboration with FYE collaborators; experience with quantitative and qualitative data analysis. Preferred qualifications: enrollment in an education or related discipline PhD program and experience with assessment of educational programs. If interested, submit a current CV, cover letter describing your interest in First Year Experiences and 3 professional references to Jennifer Culhane, Director of First Year Academic Initiatives, at jculhane@vt.edu.  

23. PARTICIPANTS SOUGHT FOR STUDY OF CHILDREN’S CONNECTIONS WITH THEIR FRIENDS – 1st posting
Can your (pre)teens help with a VT research project, Colisten? The ThirdLab at VT is recruiting children aged 9-15 to participate in a research study about children feeling connected with each other. Participating children will bring a friend (also aged 9-15) and try out an app to listen to music together and talk about their schoolwork and social lives. Participants will be compensated. This is an IRB-approved research study (# 14-709), and results may be published. Contact Michael Stewart at tgm@vt.edu to participate.

24. PARTICIPANTS SOUGHT FOR ASSESSING ERGONOMICS & MANUFACTURING PRODUCTIVITY – 2nd posting
Participants are needed for a VT research study investigating effects of ergonomic designs and interventions on manufacturing quality and productivity. Requirements: must be 18–35 years old; have normal vision, and no self-reported current or recent (past 1 year) musculoskeletal injuries or other health conditions. The experiment involves two sessions (one training, and one data collection) in which you will be asked to perform a simulated drilling task using three different workstation configurations.  Each session will require ~3 hours, and you will be compensated $10/hr for participation. For further information and scheduling contact 206-859-9146 or iesaad@vt.edu.

25. VOLUNTEERS SOUGHT FOR VA SCIENCE FESTIVAL – 3rd posting
Volunteers sought to help with the Virginia Science Festival in Blacksburg on Saturday, Sep 26, 10:00am-3:00pm.  Last year’s event attracted approximately 6,000 people. Organizers are looking for dynamic leaders, STEAM Enthusiast (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math), and hands-on volunteers to help with many aspects of this  event. Consider volunteering a portion of your Saturday and encourage your student organizations or professional organizations to get involved too! Sign up at http://www.cpe.vt.edu/sciencefestival/volunteers-app.html. Posted on behalf of grad student Casey Bailey, baileycs@vt.edu.

26. CHILDREN WITH FREQUENT TANTRUMS/TEMPER OUTBURSTS SOUGHT FOR TREATMENT STUDY – 3rd posting
Children ages 8-12 are currently being enrolled for a free treatment study for frequent tantrums/temper outbursts and chronic irritability. The treatment is designed to teach children to regulate their emotions, and will be conducted in 13 weekly sessions. Families will also receive $70 for completing assessment sessions for the study. If interested in enrolling your child in this study, please contact Amber at MoodReg@gmail.com or call 540-231-9735 for more information.

UPCOMING EVENTS: 

GSA 2015 GRADUATE AND PROFESSIONAL SCHOOL FAIR
Monday, Sep 21, 4:30-7:00pm, Squires Commonwealth Ballroom
The GSA’s annual graduate and professional school fair brings 115 recruiters from various universities, law schools, medical schools, and professional institutes across the country will be available to answer your questions about admissions requirements, applications, financial aid, and your future career options. All undergrad and grad students considering a graduate or professional program are invited to attend. Email Kasey Richardson at kasey@vt.edu with any questions or visit http://tinyurl.com/vt-gpsf  for more information. Attendance free.

GLC COMMUNITY GAME NIGHT
Thursday, Sep 24, 6:30-8:30pm, GLC Lounge
Come unwind from a busy week with some good old-fashioned board games! The Graduate Fellows host a game night full of fun, food, and friendly competition. There will be Pictionary, Giant Jenga, and Battleship, just to name a few. Do you have what it takes to beat the Graduate Fellows? Join to find out! If you have any questions, email Kevin Parker at kmpark07@vt.edu.

HISPANIC-LATINO CONNECT LUNCH
Wednesday, Sep 30, 12:00-1:00pm, GLC Room G
Would you like to connect with other graduate students and faculty/ staff that identify with the Hispanic/Latino community? If yes, don’t miss out on this great opportunity. The Graduate School hosts this luncheon to facilitate dialogue and fellowship. Register at http://graduateschool.vt.edu/connect_lunch if you plan to attend. If you have any questions, contact Dannette Gomez Beane at dannette@vt.edu.

LGBTQ CONNECT LUNCH
Wednesday, Oct 7, 12:00-1:00pm, GLC Room F
Would you like to connect and network with other graduate students and faculty/staff that identify with the LGBTQ community or are community allies? If yes, don’t miss out on this great opportunity. The Graduate School hosts this luncheon to facilitate dialogue and fellowship. Register at http://graduateschool.vt.edu/connect_lunch if you plan to attend. If you have any questions, contact Dannette Gomez Beane at dannette@vt.edu.

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