August 1-7, 2011

1. GSA MOVIE NIGHT AT THE LYRIC: THE TREE OF LIFE
Monday, Aug 1, 6:50pm, Lyric Theatre
Join GSA members and other grad students for a movie at the historic Lyric Theater (downtown on College Ave). Meet in front of the Lyric at 6:50pm to watch "The Tree of Life" starring Brad Pitt and Sean Penn. Tickets are $6.00 per person and Mondays are free popcorn night! Questions? Contact Amanda Shea.

2. GLC CAFÉ PILOT
Thursday, Aug 4, 3:30-5:00pm, Graduate School Lobby
As an experiment, we will turn the Graduate School lobby into a living room of sorts and provide free afternoon coffee and tea. Faculty special guests/hosts will be Drs. Robert Stephens and Heather Gumbert from History, who are also principals in the newly opening Honors Residential College. Join us for some coffee or tea (caffeine-free options will be available), maybe even espresso, and kick back for an hour with your fellow grads. Please let us know if you are planning to join us or if you have any comments or suggestions by completing this short survey.

3. MORE ORIENTATION VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
The Graduate School is still looking for graduate student volunteers (graduate ambassadors) to assist with international graduate student check-in (Aug 8-19), GTA training (Aug 15-16), the Welcome Center and New Graduate Student Orientation in the GLC (Aug 15-19). Roles include: check in and registration assistance, information and guidance to attendees; Welcome Center staffing; orientation crowd control; program set up and more. If you are available and interested in assisting with any of these events, please contact Monika Gibson at gibsonm@vt.edu, and include in your email your full name, department, contact information, and availability/preferred dates for participation. There will be a short training session for those who can help with new international student check in, and another training session during the week of Aug 8-12 for welcome week events. Volunteers will receive a Graduate Ambassador t-shirt and refreshments during the training session(s).  

4. STUDENT HEALTH INSURANCE ENROLLMENT NOW OPEN!
The 2011-2012 VT student health insurance plan provided by Aetna Student Health is now available for enrollment online at http://www.aetnastudenthealth.com. Graduate students (GA’s, GTA’s and GRA’s) eligible for the health insurance subsidy should choose a “subsidy plan” and should show a $0 balance when completing the enrollment process.  If you have additional questions or concerns, please contact the Student Medical Insurance Office at smi@vt.edu or call 540-231-6303. Aetna Student Health will be the new student health insurance carrier for the 2011-2012 academic year. Learn more about the insurance plans and rates at http://www.co.vt.edu/Risk/index.html.

5. GLC WAGE POSITIONS SOON TO BE OPEN FOR FALL 2011 – 3rd posting
Applications are accepted for Fall 2011 GLC wage positions. The position ads are posted on the VT Jobs site  as Student Centers & Activities “VT Graduate Student” Pool for Graduate Information Associate and Graduate Services Associate.  For more information about the GLC Graduate Services or Information Associates positions, please visit the SCA/GLC Employment Page. If interested, please apply online by the deadline.  

6. PARTICIPANTS SOUGHT FOR COMPUTER SCIENCE STUDY – 1st posting
Do you like to drive in nice, clear weather? What about in thick fog, or heavy rain? Don’t you wish you just had a way to see through all that weather? VT researchers are testing a system for doing just this, and you could be one of the lucky people to experience it! Your task, should you choose to accept it, will be to test-drive a simulated "car of the future"! If you’re interested in participating, please contact Dan Tilden. Participants must have a driver’s license.

7. PARTICIPANTS SOUGHT FOR RESEARCH PROJECT – 2nd posting
Participants are needed for a study investigating muscle endurance for muscles of the arm, shoulder, and low back. The study consists of 1 session lasting approximately 2 hours. Participants will be compensated $15/hour. Requirements: age 18-25, no recent history of musculoskeletal or metabolic disorders, and not involved in any regular aerobic or resistance training. If interested, please complete this brief survey.

8. PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE JOURNAL CALLS FOR PAPERS AND ARTICLE REVIEWERS
Public Knowledge Journal seeks articles, book reviews, essays, interviews, and multimedia submissions for Volume 3, Issue 2 on Academic Research. Public Knowledge is a multidisciplinary, graduate-student-run electronic journal hosted by the Center for Digital Discourse and Culture at Virginia Tech. For more information and to view the Call for Papers, visit pkjournal.org. Public Knowledge Journal is also looking for graduate students and/or faculty members to serve as article reviewers. If you are interested, please contact our editor-in-chief, Sarah Surak. This is a great way for graduate students to learn more about the publication process!

9. UPCOMING EVENTS:

GSA ICE CREAM SOCIAL
Tuesday, Aug 9, 3:00-5:00pm, GLC Student Lounge
Get out of your sweltering lab or office and cool off with some free ice cream provided by the Graduate Student Assembly! Ice cream in bowls or cones and all of the toppings will be provided. Questions? Contact Amanda Shea.

MAKE YOURSELF AT HOME IN BLACKSBURG
Thursday, Aug 18, 4:30-6:00pm, GLC Multipurpose Room
New and returning students are welcome to connect with faculty, staff, and community resources that can help you succeed in graduate school and maintain a healthy life balance. Food and door prizes provided. Please sign up here if you plan to attend. Contact Dannette Beane with any questions.