October 5-11, 2009

0. LUNCH WITH THE PRESIDENT
Wednesday, Oct 14, 12:00pm, The Inn at Virginia Tech

Join President Steger, Provost McNamee, and Dean DePauw for the first graduate student lunch with university leaders at the Inn at Virginia Tech. This is an excellent opportunity to voice your questions and concerns to the administration at Virginia Tech through an informal discussion over lunch. Please fill out the following survey by Oct 7 to sign up. Space is limited to 20 students, so don’t wait! Please contact Rebecca French, VT Board of Visitors Graduate Student Representative, with any questions.

1. WEEKLY SERVICES IN THE GLC
– Writing support: Mondays (4-6pm) and Wednesdays (4-7pm), Student Lounge
– Walk-in counseling: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, 1:00-5:00pm, Videoconference Room
– Career services walk-in advising: Wednesdays, 1:30-5:00pm, GLC Study Room

2. YOGA FOR RELAXATION
Monday, Oct 5, 5:30-6:30pm, GLC Room F
Attend this program if you are interested in body health, stilling the mind and meditation practice. The program will include 30 min of relaxing and restorative yoga postures to use at the end of your workday or before bed; simple breath-work for health and calmness and an introduction to meditation for centering and stillness. Sponsored by the GLC Fellows. With questions contact Lindsay Moss. 

3. INTERNATIONAL FELLOWSHIP OPPORTUNITY INFO SESSIONS
Tuesday, Oct 6, 2:00pm and 5:30pm, GLC Room C
Funding opportunity for Ph.D. students conducting research in Latin America or the Caribbean! Come to one of two information sessions to learn about the Inter-American Foundation (IAF) Grassroots Development Fellowship that provides Ph.D. candidates funding for up to a year to conduct research on grassroots development issues in Latin America or the Caribbean, including round-trip international transportation, research and living allowances, health insurance, and attendance at a mid-year conference in a country in the region. Visit www.iie.org/iaf for specific benefits, eligibility requirements, and application instructions.

4. AUDITIONS FOR “GRADS GOT TALENT”
Tuesday, Oct 6, 5:00-7:00pm, GLC Multipurpose Room
Do you dance? Sing? Act? Or perform something better? Come and show it off at the auditions for Grads Got Talent. Please fill in the survey by October 2.  Once screened, perform for a cause at the HayMarket theater on October 17 to help raise funds for Relay for Life. Contact: Sruthi Atmakur, GSA Program Chair for Events, at satmakur@vt.edu (or) Lindsay Moss, GSA VP of programs.

5. GROOVE TO BOLLYWOOD MOVES
Tuesday, Oct 6, 7:00-8:00pm, GLC Multipurpose Room
GSA is hosting a Bollywood workshop every month during the fall semester. Burn a few calories in grace, style, and rhythm. Join a FREE dance session to spice up your personal dancing style by learning some classic Bollywood dance moves. Bring water and wear comfortable clothes and shoes. Add your personal twist: Dance barefoot and for the girls: style up by wearing a flowy skirts. Contact Sruthi Atmakur or Ranjana Mehta with questions.

6. DISSERTATION-WRITING WORK GROUP
Wednesdays, 9:00am in Women’s Center Library
Designed for women graduate students and post-docs working on their dissertation or thesis, preparing for prelims or writing an article, to provide support, motivation, goal-setting, accountability, and a place to simply unwind during the research and writing phase. All are welcome! For more information, contact Anna LoMascolo.

7. KIDS’ NIGHT OUT
Thursdays, 6:00-8:30pm in Women’s Center Conference Room
Take advantage of this free weekly drop-in evening child care program for kids (aged 2-12). Need a break? Have to study or attend a lecture?  Want to catch up on work? No need to pre-register. Childcare provided by the women of Chi Delta Alpha sorority. For more information, contact Jessie Meltsner.

8. CHANCELLOR’S GRADUATE STUDENT FELLOWSHIP
Wednesday, October 7:  1:30PM-4:00PM, GLC Room F
The Virginia Community College System (VCCS) Chancellor’s Graduate Student Fellowship program gives graduate students the opportunity to gain collegiate teaching experience while still in graduate school. This initiative creates statewide partnerships and aims to recruit students who represent varied ethnic, racial and social backgrounds who are interested in teaching careers. Come to this program to learn more about how you can become a teaching fellow and visit with representatives from New River and Virginia Western Community Colleges. Sponsored by the Graduate School Office of Recruitment and Diversity Initiatives. Register online.

9. ETD SERIES: COPYRIGHT ISSUES
Wednesday, Oct 7, 7:00-8:30pm in Room F in the GLC
Presented by Gail McMillan of University Libraries to help you with copyright matters as you prepare to write your thesis or dissertation. Learn more at the ETD Wiki on the Graduate School’s website.  

10. TOWN COUNCIL GRAD RECEPTION
Wednesday, Oct 7, 8:30-9:30pm, GLC Student Lounge
Join the candidates running for Town Council for coffee and conversation: This is your opportunity find out what town decisions are going to affect your time here at VT.  Find out more about the candidates at: http://www.citizensfirstforblacksburg.org/node. Sponsored by the GLC Fellows.  Questions or concerns, please contact Lindsay Moss.

11. PEACE CORPS INFORMATION SESSION
Thursday, Oct 8, 6:00-7:00pm, Squires Room 342
Learn more about Peace Corps service at this special information session! Presenters will review the variety of projects and countries that Peace Corps serves in, and the qualifications and process of becoming a volunteer.  There will be a video presentation featuring the experiences and projects of a variety of volunteers in their host countries, followed by a Q&A session. Contact
graduate student and former PC volunteer Alex Frane with questions.

12. GSA HAPPY HOUR
Friday, Oct 9, 5:00-7:00pm in the GLC Student Lounge (across from Auditorium)
The GSA will host its only Happy Hour of the semester! All graduate students and faculty are invited to come and have a good time. $5.00 at the door is good for 2 brews and snacks ($2.00 for those not drinking alcohol). Make sure to bring your ID! Contact Sruthi Atmakur, GSA Program Chair for Events, with questions and concerns.

13. OUTDOOR CLUB WHITEWATER RAFTING-REGISTER BY OCT 7
Sunday, Oct 11, 6:30am to 6:30pm
The Outdoor Club (OCVT) is organizing a whitewater rafting trip on the entire Gauley, upper and lower; 23 miles of river, over 100 rapids, in 1 day. Participate in one of the best whitewater rafting experiences in the country.  Rafters have to be at base camp in WV at 6:30am and will finish rafting at 6:30 pm.  There will be an orientation/safety briefing before rafting. For detailed trip information and costs please check the OCVT website. Must know how to swim. Sign up by October 7.  Contact Nimal Lobo with questions.

14. SHORT COURSES IN STATISTICS
Laboratory for Interdisciplinary Statistical Analysis (LISA) offers a series of short courses to help graduate students use statistics in their research through teaching practical statistical techniques for analyzing or collecting data.  Visit their website
 to register or learn more. Refreshments will be provided at the end of each short course! All courses will be held in Fralin Auditorium from 5:00-7:00pm. Fall 2009 schedule:

  • Tuesday, Oct 13: Designing Experiments
  • Wednesday, Oct 21: Using JMP: Specific Examples in Regression
  • Tuesday, Oct 27: Cluster Analysis
  • Wednesday, Nov 4: Intro to SAS
  • Tuesday, Nov 10: How to Analyze Repeated Measures and Other Random Effects

LISA also provides free statistical collaboration and consulting by appointment. Free daily walk-in consulting service is also available from 12-2pm in 401 Hutcheson Hall. 

13. GRAD STUDENT JOB SEARCH CLUB
Recognizing the challenges and frustrations of job searching, Career Services is offering a unique opportunity for you to join a Job Search Club. Club members share one common link: a need or desire to obtain a job. For the next six weeks, this Club for graduate students will meet weekly to discuss and practice job search skills, techniques and strategies. Space is limited, so please only register if you can commit to the 6-week session and if you plan to graduate in Dec ’09 or May ’10, or if you will seek summer internships. Meetings weekly on Tuesdays, Oct 6–Nov 3, 3:30–5:00pm, 1st Floor Smith Career Center Meeting Room A. Register online.

16. PRESIDENTIAL MANAGEMENT FELLOWS (PMF) SOUGHT
The PMF Program is designed to attract to the Federal service outstanding students from a variety of academic disciplines who have a clear interest in and commitment to excellence in the leadership and management of public policies and programs. The two-year paid fellowship includes 160 hours of formal classroom training, challenging assignments, potential for accelerated promotions, developmental assignments, and networking opportunities. Fellows are hired by Federal Agencies and engage in solving domestic and/or international issues in areas such as public administration, engineering, technology, science, criminal justice, health, and financial management. For the PMF Class of 2010, students who complete a graduate degree doctoral-level degree during the 2009-10 academic year (September 1, 2009 – August 31, 2010) are eligible for consideration. Apply online by  Oct 15, 2009. Send your Nomination Form 1300 to: Karen P. DePauw, VP and Dean for Graduate Education, grads@vt.edu, 540-231-4558. For more information and to apply, visit www.pmf.opm.gov.

17. GRADUATE SCHOOL FEATURED GRADUATE STUDENT
Nominate yourself, a friend, or fellow graduate student to be recognized on the Graduate School website as a Featured Graduate Student! This program is designed to showcase the diversity of perspectives graduate students bring to our community and to present a more personal side of graduate student life.
View the Graduate School‘s current Featured Graduate Student and to nominate a graduate student!

18. GRADUATE RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM: OPEN NOW!
The GRDP, administered by the GSA, provides monetary support for degree-contingent research conducted by graduate students. This funding opportunity is available to graduate students in two cycles:

  • *Cycle I: Jul 1 – Dec 31 (2009) (submit application between Aug 31 and Oct 9)
  • *Cycle II: Jan 1 – Jun 30 (2010) (submit application between Jan 25 and Feb 26)

If you have any question, please send an email to the program chair: Amine Chigani.

19. GSA TRAVEL FUND APPLICATION: OPEN NOW!
The GSA Travel Fund Program (TFP) offers awards to support the cost of presenting your research at conferences. Master’s students can apply for up to $350 and PhD students up to $500.  The application period (Cycle I) for travel between Jul 1 and Dec 31 will be open from Sep 7 to Oct 16. Questions? Please contact Lora Cavuoto, the TFP Chair.

20. UPCOMING EVENTS:

WHY ARE WE DOING THIS?
Wednesday, Oct 14, 11:30am-12:30pm, GLC Room D
You’ve heard it before: your beliefs and attitudes affect your experience of life.  But how does this process work?  Physics, biology and psychology can lend some insights. Take the mystery out of the dynamic and explore how you can consciously co-create your experiences toward greater meaning and fulfillment.  Sponsored by the GLC Fellows.  Questions: Lindsay Moss.