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. FREE FOOD PARTY
Monday, Aug 24, 11:30-1:30, GLC Room D
Celebrate the beginning of the fall semester with some free food in the GLC, courtesy of Kroger. Cheese and meat trays, some vegetables, chips and water! No registration required, just stop by to grab some food (while supplies last).
3. THRIVING IN GRADUATE SCHOOL: A CONVERSATION ON SUCCESS
Monday, Aug 24, 6:30-8:00pm, GLC Multipurpose Room
Discover resources for academic and personal success at this free dinner, panel discussion, and community dialogue co-sponsored by InterVarsity Graduate Christian Fellowship and the Black Graduate Student Organization <http://www.bgso.org.vt.edu/index.php> (BGSO).
4. ENGLISH CONVERSATION GROUPS
Tuesdays, starting Aug 25, 7:30-8:30pm, GLC Room C
This group provides a conversational opportunity for members of the VT international community who would like to improve their English skills. This fall the overall topic is the Hokie Bucket List. Each week the discussion will revolve around a different item and why it is a significant experience for someone associated with VT or living in Blackburg. Sponsored by Cranwell International Center. For more information and a full schedule of our English conversation group offerings, visit http://www.international.vt.edu/programs_and_activities/english_conversation_groups/index.html.
5. FARMER’S MARKET TRIP
Wednesday, Aug 26, 2:30pm, Meet in the GLC Lobby
Current grad student Darren Maczka will walk students to the Blacksburg Farmer’s Market where you can shop for locally grown fresh produce and enjoy beverages, arts and crafts by local vendors. Bring cash to shop.
6. HEALTH SERVICES AND INSURANCE INFORMATION SESSION
Wednesday, Aug 26, 5:30pm, GLC Room F
Learn how to make the best of the offerings of the Schiffert Student Health Center and your Aetna health insurance plan. Representatives from both offices will provide some general information and answer questions you may have.
7. INTERVARSITY GRADUATE CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP – 1ST FALL MTG
Wednesday, Aug 26, 6:00pm, GLC Room B
InterVarsity Graduate Christian Fellowship <http://gcfvt.wordpress.com/> meets weekly for a free dinner and interactive Bible discussion. All are welcome!
8. 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.
9. GLC CAFÉ + ICE CREAM!
Thursday, Aug 27, 3:30-5:00pm, Student Lounge
Stop by this special edition of the weekly GLC café where there will be free ice cream with the exec board officers and Grad School staff. Co-sponsored by the GSA and the Graduate School. 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.
10. GAME NIGHT WITH QGP&A
Thursday, Aug 27, 5:30-8:00pm, GLC Room D
Join Queer Grads, Professionals, and Allies (QGP&A) for their welcome back game night. Enjoy an evening of board games and conversation in a relaxed and affirming environment for all identities including, but not limited to, LGBTQ+. Some form of food will be provided. Contact Darren <dmaczka@vt.edu> with questions.
11. CASCADES HIKE & PICNIC LUNCH
Saturday, Aug 29, 9:00am – Meet outside GLC lobby to carpool
Join this group for a leisurely hike to a local waterfall followed by a picnic lunch! Anyone is welcome, but space is limited, so please sign up at http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0d48a4ab29aafe3-cascades3. Sponsored by InterVarsity Graduate Christian Fellowship.
12. VT LINUX LAPTOP ORCHESTRA RECRUITING NEW MEMBERS – 1st posting
The experimental ensemble is open as a 1-credit hour elective (MUS3314, listed under Prof. Bukvic, CRN 85300) to all VT students. Students engaging in the course will be given an opportunity to participate in a cutting-edge performance ensemble and explore latest technologies without the need of prior musical training. Class can accommodate up to 17 members; only a few spots left. Students interested in designing their own instruments and composing for the laptop orchestra will also have an opportunity to register for an independent study that also counts as a CS technical elective. If you are new to L2Ork and would like to learn more, please visit http://l2ork.icat.vt.edu. First meeting of the semester on Tue, Aug 25, 3:30-5:30pm, DISIS in Newman Library.
13. REGISTER FOR “GRAD” COURSES FOR FALL 2015
The Graduate School offers a wide array of courses to complement your major studies each semester. Open to all, no pre-requisites. Fall opportunities include:
- GRAD 5014, Academic Integrity and Plagiarism – online course
- GRAD 5104, Preparing the Future Professoriate – overview of higher ed & faculty roles
- GRAD 5114, Contemporary Pedagogy
- GRAD 5144, Communicating Science
- GRAD 5124, Library Research Skills – online course; register for section by discipline
- GRAD 5204, Citizen Scholar Seminar – apply your research interests for the good of society
- GRAD 5214, Diversity for a Global Society – prepare to work effectively in contemporary society
- GRAD 5224G, Advanced Global Aspects of Intellectual Property Law – controversial topics related to medicine, knowledge, biological materials
- GRAD 5314, Future Industrial Professional in Science and Engineering – guidance for pursuing careers in business and industry.
For more information visit: http://graduateschool.vt.edu/gs/tge/fp_course.
14. PERFORMANCES SOUGHT FOR GOBBLERFEST – 2nd posting
Gobblerfest, Virginia Tech’s perennial kick-off festival, is looking for student organizations, including international student organizations, to perform at Gobblerfest. Performances are to be 5-7 minutes maximum. Interested organizations are asked to reply to the email previously sent to them. Performances will be scheduled on a first-come first-served basis sometime between 5:00pm-7:00pm on Sep 4, 2015. Once all slots are filled, organizations will be contacted to set up specific time slots. Please direct all questions/concerns to Jaime Williams at jaimew@vt.edu.
15. SIGN UP NOW FOR PAYROLL DEDUCTION OF COMP FEES FOR GRAD ASSISTANTS – final posting
The registration system for paying comprehensive fees through payroll deduction is now open. Graduate students on an assistantship must either pay their comprehensive fees or enroll for payroll deductions before the payment deadline. To enroll in payroll deductions, first register for classes, then login to Hokie SPA, choose University Account Information menu, and click on Graduate Students on Assistantship, enroll in Payroll Deduction. You must enroll in payroll deduction each semester in which you wish to take advantage of this opportunity. Learn more at http://graduateschool.vt.edu/financial/assistantships#Payroll%20Deduction%20of%20Comprehensive%20and%20Capital%20Fees%20for%20Graduate%20Assistants.
16. CONFERENCE REGISTRATION OPEN FOR NEXT GENERATION INFRASTRUCTURE – 3rd posting
Grad students are encouraged to take advantage of early registration for the third annual International Symposium for Next Generation Infrastructure (ISNGI) held in Washington, DC Sep 14-15, 2015. The symposium is hosted by the Global Forum for Urban and Regional Resilience (GFURR) and Virginia Bioinformatics Institute (VBI), two of VT’s premier research institutions. The Symposium provides an excellent opportunity to access and network with the best minds from across the world in the fields of both advanced infrastructure and resilience. Registering for the conference before Aug 14 qualifies participants for preferred registration rates: http://www.isngi.org/.
17. THREE 6-MONTH WAGE POSITION AS NEWS ANALYST – 1st posting
20 hrs/week, $20/hr, work-from-home/online position
The Discovery Analytics Center of VT Department of Computer Science is looking to fill 3 wage positions for news analysts. The duration is six months, Sep 2015 – Feb 2016, with possibility for an extension. News analysts will be responsible for reading news articles and extracting information from them. The news articles will be in Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic and Chinese and will focus specifically on political and national news. Requirements: 1) Proficiency with at least one of these four languages: Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic, and Chinese. 2) Knowledge of and interest in world and regional politics. Apply by Aug 26. For information about application procedure please contact parang@cs.vt.edu.
18. GSA SEEKS 2015-2016 PROGRAM CHAIRS – 1st posting
The GSA is currently accepting applications for this year’s program chairs! Chairs are interviewed and appointed by the Executive Board officers. Responsibilities include implementing the GSA’s programs, attending board and delegate meetings, and volunteering at GSA-sponsored events. Program chairs develop leadership skills and can add unique professional experiences to their CVs. Currently the GSA is seeking two Travel Fund Program chairs, two Research Symposium chairs, and one Events and Special Projects chair. All chairs will work under the supervision of the Executive Board. Position descriptions are available on our website (tinyurl.com/gsa-chairs <http://tinyurl.com/gsa-chairs> ). To apply please email your CV, the name of the position to which you’re applying, and a brief letter of interest in Word format to Kasey Richardson, Administrative Director of the GSA, at kasey@vt.edu. No prior experience with the GSA is required. Applications must be received by Friday, 9/11 at 5pm.
19. VT ENGAGE AMERICORPS NETWORK MEMBERS SOUGHT – 1st posting
Do you enjoy community service, but want to do more? Join the VT Engage AmeriCorps Network! VTEngage is hiring 21 part-time members to start this fall. Members will serve with the American Red Cross and Smart Beginnings New River Valley to build awareness and capacity in the areas of disaster preparedness and early childhood literacy. AmeriCorps members are placed with these nonprofits to serve the New River Valley area for a national service term that can be completed over the course of the academic year or full year (September 2015-September 2016.) Learn more at http://www.engage.vt.edu/americorps/ and apply at https://virginiatech.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_5mQ48wVtrFiYX4h. Contact Lindsey Gleason at engage@vt.edu or 540.231.9798 with questions.
20. PARTICIPANTS SOUGHT FOR PROGRAM FOR MOTHERS ON STRESS MANAGEMENT & HEALTHY EATING – 1st posting
Participation involves attending four weekly meetings lasting 1.5 hours, a focus group, and a phone interview four weeks later. You will be asked to fill out surveys about your eating behavior and experience of stress at the beginning and end of the study, along with saliva samples and body measurements. The weekly sessions will focus on managing stress, slowing down, and healthy food. The focus group and interview will help researchers learn more about your experience in the program. You may be eligible to participate if you are: a mother 18 or older with a child 5 years or younger living in your home; not currently pregnant or breastfeeding; not participating in a weight loss program or diet. Participants will receive $10-85 based on level of participation. Date and time of program will be determined upon convenience for majority of participants. Contact Lauren by calling/texting (540)808.5358 or emailing slowdownvt@gmail.com.
21. PARTICIPANTS SOUGHT FOR SURVEY OF DOCTORAL STUDENTS’ EXPERIENCE WITH LIT REVIEW – 1st posting
A VT research team is conducting a study regarding doctoral students’ experiences in working on a literature review. The survey includes questions about your program experiences while working on the literature review phase of your doctoral program. Participation in this study will inform researchers regarding ways to help make writing a literature review a better experience for students in the future. Participants must have already completed dissertation literature review to participate in the survey, which takes about 20 minutes to complete. Participation is voluntary and anonymous. If you have any questions, contact any member of the research team by emailing to literaturereviewvt@gmail.com. Complete the survey at https://survey.vt.edu/survey/entry.jsp?id=1429626948238 by Sep 23.
22. PARTICIPANTS SOUGHT FOR STUDY EXAMINING HEART RATE IN AUTISM – 1st posting
Participants between the ages of 5-8 are sought for a research study investigating heart rate and restricted repetitive behaviors in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Researchers are recruiting children with an ASD diagnosis as well as typically developing children. Participation requires a 1-hour laboratory visit from the participant and their parent. The child will be asked to watch a video while wearing a heart rate monitor and a parent will be asked to fill out a packet of questionnaires regarding their child’s health history and behavior. Participants will receive a $20.00 gift card as compensation for their 1-hour laboratory visit. If interested (IRB #: 14-1177), contact the Mind-Body Lab by email (VirginiaTechMBL@gmail.com or by phone (1-540-231-3630) for more information.
23. INTERLOPER MAGAZINE SEEKS CONTRIBUTORS – 2nd posting
The Interloper, Virginia Tech’s LGBT magazine, is looking for enthusiastic, hard-working contributors for its 4th issue. The magazine still needs editors, writers, artists, photographers, and designers. If you are interested in getting involved, please email Matty Bennett at theinterlopervt@gmail.com.
24. HEALTH CARE UTILIZATION SURVEY FOR INTL GRAD STUDENTS – 2nd posting
VT international graduate students are invited to participate in a public health practicum project by taking an anonymous online survey that takes about 5-6 minutes to complete. The information you provide will help researchers identify the barriers international graduate students face in accessing health care services, and help develop ways to address the barriers in order to facilitate student’s access to health services and increase the quality of the available services for current and future students. Access the survey at https://virginiatech.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_0uYO5CFMHRWS4Kh. If you have any questions, contact Fatemeh Zarghami at fatemehz@vt.edu or Dr. Kerry Redican at: kredican@vt.edu.
25. MALE AND FEMALE PARTICIPANTS SOUGHT FOR COFFEE RESEARCH STUDY – 3rd (updated) posting
Both male and female participants of 18-24 years of age are now being sought for a study examining the effects of caffeine on the mind and body. Must be: a healthy regular consumer of moderate amounts of coffee, a non-smoker, right-handed, free of neurological disorder or cardiovascular disease. Activities: Two morning sessions (~1 hour & 45 minutes each) and two afternoon sessions (~30 minutes each) involving collection of non-invasive physiological measures, standard laboratory tasks, and completion of questionnaires. Participant compensation is $25 per session, plus a $15 bonus for completion of all phases of the study, plus a $10 bonus for successful completion of memory tasks (up to $125 total). All subject information is kept anonymous and confidential. If you have any questions, would like to learn more or to see if you meet qualifications for the study, email Shara Grant at shara7g@vt.edu.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
A CONVERSATION WITH BLACK FACULTY: NAVIGATING GRADUATE DEPARTMENTS
Tuesday, Sep 1, 11:30am-1:00pm, GLC Room B
Before you get stressed and overwhelmed, join a conversation with faculty members about being successful and strategic in your graduate programs. Light lunch will be served. RSVP at: https://survey.vt.edu/survey/entry.jsp?id=1440101147667. Program sponsored by Multicultural Academic Opportunities Program (MAOP).
PARENT SUPPORT GROUP LUNCHEON – register now!
Wednesday, Sep 9
Graduate students with children are invited to join this year’s first Parent Support Group Luncheon. This month participants will have the privilege of hearing from guest speaker Laurie Fritsch about Student Health Initiatives at Virginia Tech that can benefit your family. Lunch is provided, and spouses are welcome. Please register at www.SignUpGenius.com/go/20F0E4FABAA28A1FF2-september. For more information contact Marin Riegger at mriegger@vt.edu.