1. GRADUATE SCHOOL TO OPEN LATE TODAY
On Monday, Aug 8, the Graduate School will open at 1:00pm and close at 5:00pm. Normal business hours (8-5) will resume on Tuesday.
2. 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 at ashea04@vt.edu.
3. GLC CAFÉ MORE PILOT
Thursday, Aug 11, 3:30-5:00pm, GLC Reading Room (back corridor, behind auditorium)
The experiment continues! Different location but still free coffee, tea and snacks. Faculty special guest/host yet to be decided, but someone will be there. Come to find out who the guest is, and have some coffee or tea (caffeine-free options will be available), with your fellow grads and faculty. Please let Monika Gibson know if you if you have any comments or suggestions by emailing to gibsonm@vt.edu.
4. 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 training session for grad ambassadors on Wednesday, Aug 10, 2-3pm in the GLC.
5. 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.
6. PAYROLL DEDUCTION OF COMP FEES FOR GRADUATE ASSISTANTS
It is not too late to enroll in payroll deduction of your comp fees if you are on a graduate assistantship! Graduate students on assistantship appointment may pay their comprehensive and capital fees through payroll deduction during the fall and spring semesters. To be eligible for this program, students must commit to paying the full-time comprehensive and capital fees through payroll deduction. Enrollment is managed through Hokie SPA and students must sign up _each_ semester in which they wish to take advantage of this opportunity. Visit http://www.graduateschool.vt.edu/financial/assistantships/index.html#compfees for details.
6. GRADUATE ASSISTANTSHIP OPENING FOR 2011-12
Multicultural Alumni Programs (MAP) is seeking a full-time graduate assistant (20 hrs/wk) for the 2011-12 academic year. The position supports the director of MAP with public relations and marketing communications projects, drafting press releases and correspondence, designing and distributing marketing materials, preparing and giving presentations, proofing documents, and creating and maintaining social media pages. Also assist with various programming tasks. To apply, email to Laurie Brogdon, lbrogdon@vt.edu, by Aug 10. Include your resume and a brief discussion of the following questions in a Word document: your personal values and beliefs about (1) multiculturalism and diversity (2) learning about viewpoints that are different from yours and what your reaction has been to those viewpoints in the past (3) your experiences interacting with individuals whose backgrounds are different than yours and (4) your personal involvement in diversity activities.
7. 2012 GSA RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM — BECOME A COMMITTEE MEMBER!
The GSA Research Symposium, to be held Mar 28, 2012, is an opportunity for graduate students to showcase their research. GSA invites you to become a member of the 2012 Graduate Research Symposium Committee. You may serve on one of the following subcommittees: website, sponsorship, judging, publicity, event organization, and keynote speaker. Interested in getting involved? Fill out this short survey: https://survey.vt.edu/survey/entry.jsp?id=1311005528958. Questions: Contact Alireza Salmanzadeh, Research Symposium Chair, alireza@vt.edu.
8. PARTICIPANTS SOUGHT FOR COMPUTER SCIENCE STUDY – 2nd 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 at tilden@vt.edu. Participants must have a driver’s license.
9. PARTICIPANTS SOUGHT FOR RESEARCH PROJECT – 3rd 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 a brief survey at https://survey.vt.edu/survey/entry.jsp?id=1310993098921.
10. UPCOMING EVENTS:
GSA WELCOME BACK BBQ!
Wednesday, Aug 17, 4:00-7:00pm, University Club Lawn
Start the semester off right with the Welcome Back BBQ sponsored by the Graduate Student Assembly! Meet new and returning students while enjoying some yard games and music with free BBQ (vegetarian options available) from Log Cabin BBQ. We hope to see you there! Questions: Contact Amanda Shea at ashea04@vt.edu.
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 https://survey.vt.edu/survey/entry.jsp?id=1311877111107 if you plan to attend. Contact Dannette Beane at dannette@vt.edu with any questions.