1. WEEKLY SERVICES IN THE GLC (on a walk-in basis unless otherwise noted)
- Career services advising: Wednesdays, 1:30-5:00pm, GLC Study Room
- Counseling: Wednesdays and Thursdays, 1:00-5:00pm, Green Room (across from Room G)
- GLC Café: Thursdays, 3:30-5:00pm, Reading Room
- Statistical consulting by LISA: Wednesdays, 1:00-3:00pm, GLC Videoconference Room
- Writing support: Wednesdays (6-9pm) and Thursdays (6-9pm), GLC Videoconference Room – more information and registration>>
2. NETWORKING: THE BACKBONE OF YOUR JOB SEARCH
Wednesday, Nov 2, 5:30-6:30pm, GLC Room F
You’ve heard the word and possibly even know what it means– but are you using this essential job search skill appropriately– or at all? Attend this session to demystify networking and learn the basics of how to get started. This workshop is presented by Amy McPherson of Career Services.
3. FREE ZUMBA CLASS
Wednesday, Nov 2, 7:00-8:00pm, GLC Multipurpose Room
The GLC Fellows and GSA invite you to attend a free fitness class with Laura from VT Rec Sports. Zumba is a calorie-burning dance party that features Latin and International music. This fitness routine uses a combination of aerobic and interval training that tones and sculpts the body. Bring your friends to this high-energy dance party! Questions: Contact Megan Stuart, stuartma@vt.edu
4. GLC CAFÉ
Thursdays, 3:30-5:00pm, GLC Reading Room
Enjoy free coffee and tea in the GLC Reading Room on Thursday afternoons and socialize with your fellow grads. This week’s special: nothing. This is just another week, maybe average, maybe worse. Bring your own mug if you can. Please contact us at grads@vt.edu if you have any comments or suggestions about this event.
5. INTERNATIONAL CAREERS SEMINAR
Thursday, Nov 3, 5:00-6:00pm, Smith Career Center
Learn more about prospects, preparation, issues and choices during this one-hour seminar presented by Bill Anderson, professor of international studies and USAID representative to the European Union.
6. COMMUNITY CONVERSATION BETWEEN VT STUDENTS AND TOWN STAFF
Thursday, Nov 3, 7:00-9:00pm, 113 McBryde Hall
You are invited to the community conversation between VT students and town staff. This is a follow-up event to the recently circulated Town of Blacksburg Community Conversations online survey. The results of the survey will be discussed and students will have the opportunity to provide additional thoughts, opinions, and suggestions about the Town of Blacksburg. The event is open to all students, regardless of participation in the online survey. If you have any questions, please contact Alyssa Halle at ahalle@blacksburg.gov.
7. LUNCH WITH DEAN DEPAUW, PROVOST MCNAMEE, AND PRESIDENT STEGER– SIGN UP NOW
Friday, Nov 4, 11:30am-1:00pm, The Inn
Attend the second of 3 graduate luncheons of the fall semester with President Steger, Provost McNamee, Graduate Dean Dr. DePauw and VP of Student Affairs, Dr. Spencer at the Inn at Virginia Tech. Spaces are limited, so if you are interested in attending, please fill out this survey and include any issues (positive or negative) that you believe need to be discussed. Please indicate if you are unable to attend this luncheon and whether you wish to be considered for future lunches (next one on Nov 28). Graduate students selected for attendance will be contacted by Wednesday, Nov 2. Contact Michelle McLeese at mmcleese@vt.edu or bovgradrep@vt.edu with any questions.
8. NEW SPRING COURSE: FROM MEMEX TO YOUTUBE: CONGNITION, LEARNING & THE INTERNET
Register for GRAD 5984 for spring 2012, TR 9:30-10:45am, location TBA.
So far education has used the Internet primarily as a delivery device, not a connectivity platform. If we change that paradigm, however, interesting questions emerge: How is Wikipedia not simply a reference work, but a learning environment and a community of practice? How does Google both model and shape human cognition? How can globally networked interactive computing augment human intellect and thus address the primary mission of education itself? This course explores the intersections of computing, information science, education, Internet studies, the humanities, and the visual and performing arts, as well as the crucial and long-contested relationships among making, doing, and knowing. Course readings will be supplemented by various texts and artifacts, from podcasts to MMORPGs to machinima, and will include hands-on experience with blogging, tweeting, social bookmarking, and other more. For more details see the syllabus (beta).
9. VISIT THE BOV GRAD REP FACEBOOK PAGE!
The Graduate Representative to the Board of Visitors has launched a Facebook page to keep you informed about announcements about lunches with the dean of the Graduate School, the president, and provost; updates on meetings and events; polling questions; and other happenings. Visit the BOV graduate rep facebook page and LIKE it if you like it!
10. PARTICIPANTS NEEDED FOR BIOMECHANICS STUDY – 1st posting
Participants are sought for a study investigating the effects of flexion on the biomechanics and neuromuscular behavior of the human torso. The study consists of five separate experimental sessions (each lasting approximately 1 hour) and participants will be compensated $10/hour. To qualify you must be 18-29 and regularly exercise at least 2-3 times/wk. For more information or to inquire about participation, please contact Neema. Please include your age, gender, and general availability when responding.
11. GRAD STUDENT INPUT NEEDED ABOUT VT POLICY ON CONFLICT OF INTEREST
DRSCAP, a committee of the Commission on Graduate Studies and Policies, would like to meet with several graduate students who are funded by a faculty-owned company to hear their experiences. The committee has been asked to provide input on protections for graduate students as part of the revision of the university’s policy on conflict of interest. Hearing about experiences from a variety of perspectives would be helpful in thinking through proposed policy options. DRSCAP would be especially interested in talking to graduate students who:
- Are funded by a grant or contract where the source of funds was their advisor’s private company;
- Are paid directly by the faculty-owned company;
- Are working for a faculty member on his or her outside consulting.
DRSCAP will meet on Tuesday, Nov 1 and Tuesday, Nov 15, 4:00-5:00pm in 238 GLC, the Graduate School’s conference room. If you are available and willing to participate in the discussion on one of these two dates, please contact Akiko Nakamura, a GSA representative to the committee, and provide your name, department, and preferred date.
12. SURVEY PARTICIPANTS SOUGHT FOR FOOD PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT INTEREST SURVEY – 2nd posting
Graduate students from the Food Science and Technology Department competing in the Danisco Knowledge Award Competition invite you to participate in a survey regarding demographics, consumption- and purchasing habits, and interest in a new type of nutrition bar product. The survey consists of 29 questions and will require approximately 15 minutes to complete. The information you will provide in the questionnaire will be used in the development of a new food product. If you are interested, please complete this survey. E-mail Margo Duckson with any questions.
13. SURVEY PARTICIPANTS SOUGHT: FARMED VS. WILD-CAUGHT FISH PREFERENCES – 3rd posting
Graduate student is seeking fellow grad students to fill out a short survey (less than 5 min) titled "Virginia Tech Graduate Students’ Preference for Farmed Versus Wild-caught Fish". This survey is a class project. The survey will be open through Nov 2.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
HYGIENE DRIVE FOR NRV HOMELESS SHELTERS
Nov 7-15, GLC Lobby
National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness week is Nov 12-20, 2011. The GLC Fellows and GSA are asking for hygiene donations for local New River Valley (NRV) homeless shelters. Some needed items include (must be new and unused): toothbrushes, toothpaste, travel-size shampoo and conditioner, body wash, razors, shaving cream, soap, tissues, deodorant, q-tips, hand sanitizer, brushes, combs, and washcloths. Drop off your items for donation at the front desk of the GLC Lobby between Nov 7-15. Thank you, and please stay tuned for more events in November recognizing these important issues of hunger and homelessness! Questions: Contact Megan Stuart, stuartma@vt.edu
2011 INNOVATION-BASED MANUFACTURING WORKSHOP – REGISTER NOW
Tuesday, Nov 8, 8:00am-4:00pm, GLC Multipurpose Room
The VT Center for Innovation-based Manufacturing invites graduate students to its 2011 workshop to give you an understanding of why innovation-based manufacturing is critical to achieve economic development and how it can be pursued. Participants will better understand the basics of innovation-based manufacturing; comprehend how innovation policy plays a key role in economic development; understand the impact of open innovation in manufacturing solutions; and recognize the main aspects of embedding innovation into an organization’s structure. Learn more >> and register.
AEL PRESENTS: LAST LECTURE WITH NIKKI GIOVANNI
Wednesday, Nov 9, 5:00pm, Auditorium in Holden Hall
The Last Lecture Series provides an opportunity for the audience to interact with motivational speakers and draw inspiration from their professional and personal lives. Free and open to all. This lecture is presented by University Distinguished Professor and poet Nikki Giovanni. Enjoy the last lecture of Dr. Michael Hochella, Jr. presented on Sep 28: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jW4JicgwnoU. Alpha Epsilon Lambda is a national graduate honor society founded upon leadership and scholarly merit.
HOW TO BRING PASSION AND PURPOSE TO YOUR CAREER
Wednesday, Nov 9, 7:00-8:30pm, GLC Auditorium
Author and speaker Dr. Gregg Levoy will help you look for answers to questions such as choosing a career you love vs. one that will make you the most money; finding a major and future career that honors your passion and purpose; how to make your life original rather than a knock-off. More information about this event>>.
OXFAM HUNGER BANQUET – REGISTER NOW
Wednesday, Nov 9, 7:30-9:00pm, Old Dominion Ballroom, Squires
The Graduate Student Assembly and GLC Fellows invite you to the Oxfam Hunger banquet, during which participants will engage with invited guest experts in an interactive meal depicting the global economic stratification. Through the program they will learn about the causes of hunger worldwide and how to make a difference. Catered dinner will be served. Suggested admission is $5 or 4 non-perishable goods to be donated to Interfaith Food Pantry and Oxfam America. Please register here. Questions: contact Swetha Kumar at swethak@vt.edu.
ADVANCE VT GRAD SEMINAR: GETTING STARTED IN A FACULTY CAREER – HOW TO SUCCEED ON THE TENURE TRACK – REGISTER NOW
Thursday, Nov 10, 12:00–1:30pm, Squires 341
Are you interested in pursuing a faculty career and would like to learn more about how to succeed as a new tenure-track faculty member? Panelists will share their personal experiences and strategies for success. AdvanceVT Graduate Student Lunch Seminars are designed to help graduate students prepare for careers in academe. All graduate students and postdocs are welcome, and lunch is provided. Please register by Monday, Nov 7.
GRAD SCHOLARS SOCIETY PRESENTS: VT COAL PLANT TOUR
Thursday, Nov 10, 2:30-4:00pm
Learn more about the VT coal plant from Byron Nichols, associate director of the power plant, and take a tour of the plant guided by staff engineers. Participants will get a chance to see the inside of a working coal furnace. Space is limited, so sign up early by completing this short survey. Your registration will be confirmed by email with further details about the tour and meeting place. For more information contact Wes Cardwell at wcardwel@vt.edu.
COMMUNICATION SKILLS WORKSHOP FOR INTL STUDENTS – PLS REGISTER
Thursday, Nov 10, 6:30-8:00pm, GLC Room F
In this communication skills workshop specifically for international graduate students, two family therapists will discuss, demonstrate, and provide learning activities related to specific communication skills applicable in a range of relationships. Workshop leaders will be Dr. Fred Piercy, professor of marriage and family therapy, and Manjushree Palit, a doctoral student in marriage and family therapy, both within human development. If you are an international graduate student and interested in participating in this workshop, please contact the presenters at mpalit@vt.edu and register so that they know how many people to expect. Feel free to bring a friend, partner or spouse to this workshop. If you have any queries, call 231-1764. Sponsors of this workshop include the Department of Human Development, the Family Therapy Center of Virginia Tech, and the Graduate School.