February 15-21, 2010

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

2. SNOWDEAN CHALLENGE 2010
What would the dean of the Graduate School look like if she were a snow(wo)man? Build your image of the dean into a snowman on the GLC lawn. Some props may be available through the Graduate School. Challenge stands until all the snow melts or Monika retires, whichever comes first. Best snowdean entries will be photographed with the real dean (she doesn’t know it yet; we’ll see if she reads the Monday postings…) and the photos displayed on the Grad School website. The creator of the best entry will receive a box of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream in the flavor of his/her own choosing.

3. HONOR SYSTEM PANELIST TRAINING SESSION
Tuesday, Feb 16, 5:30pm in GLC Room C
The Graduate Honor System (GHS), charged with enforcing the Graduate Honor Code and improving and upholding academic integrity at Virginia Tech, is seeking new student and faculty panelists to work with the Honor System in this academic year and beyond. To become a panelist, attend one of the hour-long training sessions. To learn more about the GHS and its role in the University community, please visit the GHS site or send questions to ghs@vt.edu.

4. GRAD FAIR
Wednesday, Feb 17, 11:30am–7:30pm, Holtzman Alumni Center
Get all your graduation needs in one location: cap and gown, graduation announcements, commencement information, diploma frames, class rings and more. 
Free pizza and drinks! Plus iTunes and University Bookstore Gift Card Drawings.

5. FREE FITNESS ASSESSMENT
Wednesday, Feb 17, 4:00-7:00pm, GLC Multipurpose Room
Free to all graduate students who want to learn about their fitness levels and the programs that can help them reach their fitness goals. Seven health-related components will be measured by trained staff members from Rec Sports to establish your fitness level: cardio-respiratory endurance; body composition; muscular strength; muscular endurance; flexibility; resting heart rate; and blood pressure. Stop by the GLC anytime between 4pm and 7pm.

6. ETD SERIES: COPYRIGHT
Thursday, Feb 18, 7:00-8:30pm, GLC Room F
Presenter Gail McMillan of University Libraries will help you with copyright matters as you prepare to write your thesis or dissertation.
 
7. GALILEO SKETCH COMEDY SHOW
Friday, Feb 19, 8:00pm in GLC Auditorium
Come out for a great laugh by the renowned sketch comedy group- Galileo Players. "I laughed so hard I cried. I especially liked the intellectual content of the show. Whoever said science isn’t funny obviously has never seen the Galileo Players," said a 2007 VT grad student. Get your tickets early online , stop by the GSA office or purchase them at the door for just $5.00. Get them early before they sell out! Questions?Contact Lindsay Moss
 
8. SUPPORT/COUNSELING GROUP FOR GRADS
Tuesdays, Feb 8-Apr 19, 5:30-6:30pm, GLC Room D
Do you have a loss of drive or passion for things personally and professionally? Do you have many doubts? Are you finding it hard to make decisions? Are you having a tough time balancing career, family, and friends? If you are 21-29 of age and ask these or similar questions of yourself, this group may be just for you. If you are interested in attending the support/counseling group or have any questions, please contact Jodie Kern-Bowen by email or 540-231-1719 on VT campus.

9. SIGN UP FOR GRADUATE SCHOLARS SOCIETY SPRING 2010
It’s not too late to join one of the GSS discussion groups if you are interested in exploring important issues outside of your discipline. This semester’s topics include Haiti, Islam, Free Speech and Political Correctness, and the Changing Nature of Higher Education in the 21st Century. Sign up online  or email Eric Hodges.

10. GRADUATE STUDENT PHOTO & ART CONTEST 2010 – enter by March 10
Help us decorate the GLC and win an award during Grad Ed Week! The Graduate School seeks submissions of photographs and artwork by graduate students for display in the Graduate Life Center. All selected entries will be displayed in the GLC on a temporary, rotating basis. Enter by March 10. This year’s theme: The NRV through Graduate Students’ Eyes. The new set of photos and artwork will be unveiled during Graduate Education Week, March 22-26. More information>>

11. ETHICS BOWL 2010-sign up now
Test your sense of ethics, communication and critical thinking skills during the 3rd annual Ethics Bowl organized by the Graduate School. Consider, discuss and resolve case-study based ethical dilemmas with fellow students and faculty on Tuesday, March 2, 3:00-4:30pm in the GLC Multipurpose Room. You may sign up as a team of 3-4, or as an individual and be assigned to a team by the organizers. Teams may include current VT students, faculty or staff, but team leaders must be graduate students. Register by Friday, Feb 26, 12:00 noon.

12. GLC RESIDENT FELLOW POSITIONS OPEN FOR 2010-2011
Residence Life and the Graduate School are seeking motivated graduate students to live in the GLC and take on Residence Life and programming duties. An ideal candidate would have previous Residence Life experience. Compensation includes a free room in the GLC, a monthly stipend and a partial tuition waiver. Application materials must be turned in to the Graduate Student Services office (110 GLC – Lauren Keister) by noon on Friday, Feb 26. For more information contact Katie Greenleaf, 231-5691 or Lauren Keister, 231-9561.  Download application here.

13. GRADUATE ASSISTANTSHIP POSITION AVAILABLE 2010-11
Assessment coordinator graduate assistantship position available for the next academic year in the Division of Student Affairs’ Communications & Marketing Department in New Hall West. The position reports to the Associate Director of Administration for Communications and to the Chief of Staff. Duties include developing and implementing assessment strategies that lead to continuous improvement of programs and services that support the division’s mission.  Must have master’s degree; experience working with assessment of student affairs programs; understanding of accreditation criteria and standards; collaborative attitude; data collection, management and analysis skills; ability to write and present clear and concise reports.  The position would likely pay at step 13. Contact Kimberle Badinelli, badinell@vt.edu or 1-5258 to apply or for further information.  Apply by March 1.

14. SUSTAINABILITY SPEAKER SERIES
The GLC Speaker Series is looking for volunteers wishing to present their work in an inter-disciplinary environment pertaining to sustainability. Sustainability, in this context, is broadly defined and submissions are welcome from all disciplines. If you wish to relate issues of sustainability to the earthquake in Haiti, this is a welcoming forum to do so. If interested, please submit a brief statement of your research/talk to Meredith Katz at mekatz@vt.edu. Speaker series will run throughout the Spring 2010 semester.

15. GSA TRAVEL FUND APPLICATIONS ACCEPTED NOW
The GSA Travel Fund Program (TFP) offers awards to support the cost of presenting at a conference.  Master’s students may receive up to $350 and doctoral students up to $500.  The application period for travel between January 1 and June 30 will be open from February 1 to March 5.  Visit the GSA website for instructions on how to apply.  Please contact Lora Cavuoto at lcavuoto@vt.edu with any questions.

16. GRADUATE RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT FUNDS AVAILABLE

Cycle II of the Gradate Research Development Program (GRDP) is now open through Feb 26, 2010. GRDP is a competitive research funding program administered by the GSA to support qualified research and innovative ideas proposed by VT graduate students. Applications go through a rigorous review process by a panel of graduate students and faculty. Visit the GSA website to learn more about this opportunity. All questions should be directed to the program chair, Mr. Amine Chigani, achigani@vt.edu.

17. AEL GRAD HONOR SOCIETY SEEKING NEW MEMBERS – 2nd posting

Application are accepted for the AEL Grad Honor Society: Alpha Epsilon Lambda (AEL) is the academic excellence and leadership honor society of graduate and professional school students. Graduate students may become members based on their academic achievements and leadership experiences. Apply online by Feb 26. The induction ceremony for new members will take place during Graduate Education Week, Mar 22-26.

18. LEADERSHIP HONOR SOCIETY SEEKS MEMBERS
Omicron Delta Kappa is a national leadership honor society that recognizes the highest achieving individuals in different leadership areas at our university.  The Alpha Omicron Circle at VT began in 1933. Every VT president has been a member of Omicron Delta Kappa, along with other highly regarded students, faculty, staff, and alumni. Join this long standing tradition and apply for membership by Feb 17. Applications: http://odk.org/audience/prospective_members/membership_application_form. Send  questions to odkmembership@vt.edu or visit www.odk.org.vt.edu for more information.

19. CALL FOR ABSTRACTS FOR GSA RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM

Abstract submission deadline Feb 26. The 26th Annual GSA Research Symposium will be held on Mar 24 in the Graduate Life Center, and the GLC Plaza. The symposium includes poster and oral presentations and video and performance categories. Students from the National Capital Region will participate through video-Conferencing. $9500 in prizes will be awarded! The keynote speaker is 2007 Nobel Laureate Dr. Andrew Weaver, a lead author of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Please visit www.gsasymposium2010.uusa.vt.edu for more information. If you have questions, please contact the GSA Research Symposium Chair, Ganesh Balasubramanian, at bganesh@vt.edu.

20. GSA STUDENT FEES COMMITTEE NEEDS YOUR FEEDBACK
The GSA Student Fees Committee was established a couple of years ago to address the issues and concerns regarding graduate student fees at VT. The comprehensive fees have increased in recent years while assistantship stipends have not. This committee is committed to helping explore possible solutions to this growing problem but they need your help. Please fill out a brief survey to give feedback about your concerns and needs on this topic. If you have any questions please contact the GSA Fees Committee Chair, Sonal Mazumder at sonalm08@vt.edu.

21. GET INVOLVED WITH CITIZEN SCHOLARS

Does your research benefit the local or global community?  Would you like to
help out Haiti but aren’t sure how? Learn more about how to get involved with the Citizen Scholar Experience project. Email Eric Hodges at hodgeseb@vt.edu any questions or concerns.

22. REGISTER FOR CONFERENCE ON HIGHER EDUCATION PEDAGOGY
Register now for this free conference on Feb 18-19 at The Inn at Virginia Tech. This annual conference is focused on teaching excellence and the scholarship of teaching and learning in higher education, featuring two invited keynote speakers (Lisa Lattuca and Mary Taylor Huber), 42 research- and practice-based sessions, and over 40 posters. Registration is open to faculty, administrators, and graduate students. Conference attendance is free and includes lunch both days as well as a printed copy of the conference proceedings to be distributed following the conference. For more information and registration, visit http://www.cider.vt.edu/conference/.

23. APPLICATIONS SOUGHT FOR GOVERNER’S FELLOWS PROGRAM

Applications are sought for the 2010 Virginia Governor’s Fellows Program. Applicants must be graduating seniors or enrolled as degree candidates in a graduate or professional program. Application and selection procedures are available at: www.governor.virginia.gov/ServingVirginia/Fellows.cfm. Selection is based on merit without regard to race, sex, national origin, religion, age, disability, or political affiliation. Fellows will be required to work full-time in the Virginia state government from Jun 7 through Jul 30, 2010. Virginia Tech provides a stipend to support selected fellows. Online applications and submission by mail of two recommendations and an official transcript must be received in the governor’s office by Friday, Mar 5, 2010. For additional information please call (540) 231-6272.

24. UPCOMING EVENTS:

EATING ISSUES AND BODY IMAGE AWARENESS WEEK
A series of activities and events will mark the eating issues and awareness week of Feb 22-26. For a full listing of programs, visit www.healthcenter.vt.edu/he/eventcalendar/eibiaw.htm. The keynote address will be on Tuesday, Feb 23, 7:00pm in the GLC Auditorium.

LaTeX WORKSHOP II
Tuesday and Wednesday, Feb 23 and 24, 5:30-7:30pm, GLC Room F
This workshop is designed to address intermediate level concerns of LaTeX users. It will cover more extensive preamble options (e.g. creating and renewing commands, page layout, title/author information, internal/external referencing), environments (e.g. equations, tables, figures and floats in general), creating a final LaTeX file from multiple LaTeX files, and a brief introduction to citation management (BibTeX) and presentations (via the beamer package). The presentation will leave some time for a Q&A session. Questions: Jonathan Duggins at dugginsj@vt.edu.

BLACK HISTORY MONTH LUNCH
Wednesday, February 24th, 11:30-1:30, GLC Room F
Join the Graduate School Office of Recruitment and Diversity Initiatives for lunch on Wednesday, February 24, 2010, in celebration of Black History Month.  Meet and greet fellow African American graduate students and faculty as well as the Graduate School deans.  This is also an opportunity to share ideas and discuss issues related to the African American community at Virginia Tech.  If you are interested in attending, please sign up for the lunch at: https://survey.vt.edu/survey/entry.jsp?id=1265741099573.  For more information, please contact Jane Rorrer by e-mail jrorrer@vt.edu or by phone (540) 231-2494.

FROM VINTAGE TO VELOUR: PARTYING THROUGH THE DECADES – NEW DATE!!!
Friday, Feb 26, 7-9pm, GLC Multipurpose Room
The party is back on! Break out your poodle skirts, go-go boots, leg warmers, and skinny jeans for this welcome back party sponsored by the GLC Fellows. Dress up in fashion from your favorite decade, listen to a variety of music from old-school until now, and enjoy snacks and refreshments. Bring a picture of yourself from the past to share! It will be a totally cool and rad event. Be there or be square!

LUNCH WITH THE PRESIDENT
Monday, Mar 1, 12:00-1:30pm, The Inn at Virginia Tech
Chat with President Steger, Provost McNamee, and Dean DePauw! Lunch will be provided. All graduate students are invited to attend. Sign up by Feb 22 at: https://survey.vt.edu/survey/entry.jsp?id=1265902593844 Questions? Contact Rebecca French, Grad Rep to VT BOV at rafbovgradrep@vt.edu.