1. WEEKLY SERVICES IN THE GLC
Weekly services will resume in the spring semester.
2. GLC CAFE 2012
Thursdays, 3:30-5:00pm, starting Jan 12, GLC Reading Room
Enjoy free coffee and tea during at the first cafe of 2012 and socialize with your fellow grads. This week’s special: hot chocolate with marshmallows. Bring your own mug if you can. Please contact us at grads@vt.edu if you have any comments or suggestions about this event.
3. GLC CAFE SPECIAL EDITION
Friday, Jan 13, 2:30-4:00pm, GLC Reading Room
What better way to celebrate Friday the 13th than having coffee with other grads, new and returning, who are in Blacksburg before anyone else gets back? Share all your Friday-the-Thirteenth and other superstitions! Black cats would be welcome if their presence (along with any other cats) weren’t prohibited by university policy.
4. WINTER BREAK CHALLENGE FOR GRADS
As you all know, there are specific collective nouns for groups of mammals, such as gaggle of geese, pride of lions, parliament of owls, or pack of wolves. Your challenge is to come up with a word (make up your own or re-purpose an existing word) to describe a group of graduate students. It’s not too late to submit your entry to grads@vt.edu, and include "Group of Grads" in the subject line. The best entries will be featured in a mid-January edition of the GLC Weekly and the winner will receive something (TBD).
5. CALL FOR NOMINATIONS FOR GRADUATE STUDENT AWARDS
A number of prestigious awards are granted to graduate students each year, carrying a monetary prize ($500-$1000 each) and award certificate. Consider applying or discuss the possibility of your nomination by your advisor/department for any of the following awards that will be given out during our annual awards banquet on March 29, 2012:
– Outstanding Dissertation in (1) math, sciences and engineering, and (2) in social sciences and humanities
– Graduate Student Teaching Excellence
– Graduate Student Service Excellence
– Graduate Man and Woman of the Year
– Outstanding master’s and doctoral student in each college and in interdisciplinary programs
Additional information on the specifics and requirements for each award can be found at
http://www.graduateschool.vt.edu/academics/honors_awards/graduate_awards/index.html Nomination/Application deadline is February 3, 2012.
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.
7. GRAD 5404: RESEARCH IN INT’L CONTEXTS
Research in International Contexts is a new 3-credit seminar course offered in Spring 2012 on Tuesdays, 4:00-6:50pm. The seminar is intended to prepare graduate students for an international research experience and enable students to maximize the professional and personal benefits of that experience. The seminar is required for the new Graduate Certificate in International Research Abroad. More details are at: https://scholar.vt.edu/access/content/group/f629316b-13f0-4aea-be23-1c56aeb31f31/GRAD5404/GRAD5404_Spring2012.pdf. Questions may be sent to Scott Midkiff at midkiff@vt.edu.
8. SPRING SHORT COURSE: COMMUNICATING SCIENCE
This 1-cr participatory course will be taught by prof. Patricia Raun, and was inspired by her work with the Center for Communicating Science Institute at Stony Brook University (http://www.centerforcommunicatingscience.org/) and the belief that "scientists have a responsibility to share the meaning and implications of their work, and that an engaged public encourages sound public decision-making." Participation in the course will lessen the discomfort of spontaneous interaction. Areas of emphasis will include imagination, relaxation, observation, and concentration through improvisation. The students will develop their communicative abilities through careful observation, active class contribution, and committed participation. Please contact Patricia Raun at praun@vt.edu with questions. GRAD 5984, CRN 18756m Tu 6:00-9:00pm, 3/13-4/24/2012.
9. NEW SPRING COURSE: FROM MEMEX TO YOUTUBE: CONGNITION, LEARNING & THE INTERNET
Register for GRAD 5984 for spring 2012, TR 9:30-10:45am, location TBA.
So far education has used the Internet primarily as a delivery device, not a connectivity platform. If we change that paradigm, however, interesting questions emerge: How is Wikipedia not simply a reference work, but a learning environment and a community of practice? How does Google both model and shape human cognition? How can globally networked interactive computing augment human intellect and thus address the primary mission of education itself? This course explores the intersections of computing, information science, education, Internet studies, the humanities, and the visual and performing arts, as well as the crucial and long-contested relationships among making, doing, and knowing. Course readings will be supplemented by various texts and artifacts, from podcasts to MMORPGs to machinima, and will include hands-on experience with blogging, tweeting, social bookmarking, and other more. For more details see the syllabus (beta) at: http://gardnercampbell.wetpaint.com/page/memextoyoutube-s12.
10. GSA TFP PROGRAM CHAIR FOR SPRING 2012 SOUGHT
If you are looking to serve the graduate student community and gain valuable leadership experience, consider applying for a GSA Travel Fund Program (TFP) Chair position! The TFP Chair shall be responsible for the application and evaluation procedure of the TFP. The TFP provides financial assistance to graduate students for presenting at conferences and scientific meetings. Interested candidates must submit a letter of interest and resume/CV by Tuesday, Jan 17, 2012. Submit questions and application material to Swetha Kumar (swethak@vt.edu), GSA VP Programs.
11. BOV GRADUATE REPRESENTATIVE APPLICATION FOR 2012-2013 NOW AVAILABLE – 3rd posting
If you are interested in applying to be the next VT Graduate Student Representative to the BOV (Board of Visitors) please visit http://www.dsa.vt.edu/BOV/apply.php to download the application. All applications will be due no later than 5pm on Friday, Feb 10, 2012 in the VP of Student Affairs Office in 112 Burruss Hall. If you have any questions or wish to learn more about the position, please contact the current graduate BOV representative, Michelle McLeese, at mmcleese@vt.edu or bovgradrep@vt.edu.
12. PARTICIPANTS SOUGHT FOR RESEARCH PROJECT ON SHOULDER ENDURANCE – 3rd posting
Participants are needed for a study investigating endurance for the shoulder. Overweight individuals are especially needed. The study consists of 2 sessions lasting approximately 1.5 hours each. Participants will be compensated $15/hour. Requirements: not involved in any regular aerobic or resistance training, age 18-25 or 50-65, and no recent history of musculoskeletal or metabolic disorders. If interested, please complete a brief survey at https://survey.vt.edu/survey/entry.jsp?id=1310993098921. Contact Lora Cavuoto at lcavuoto@vt.edu with any questions.
13. PARTICIPANTS SOUGHT FOR SLIP AND FALL RISK ASSESSMENT STUDY – 3rd posting
Participants are needed for a study assessing the slip and fall risks.
The study consists of 2 separate experimental sessions (each lasting approximately 3 hours) and one screening session. Participants will be compensated $10/hour with a $10 bonus after completing all sessions. Requirements: male or female, age 21-84, no recent history of musculoskeletal disorders, and exercise 2-3 times per week. If interested, please contact Xuefang Wu at xfwu@vt.edu.
14. SURVEY PARTICIPANTS SOUGHT FOR FOOD PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT – 3rd posting
Graduate and undergraduate students from the Food Science and Technology Department competing in the Institute of Food Technologists’ Product Development Competition invite you to participate in a survey regarding demographics, consumption habits, purchasing habits, and interest in a new type of frozen dessert product. The survey is 28 questions and will require approximately 15 minutes to complete. The information you provide in the questionnaire will be used in the development of a new food product. If you are interested in completing the questionnaire, please click on the following link: https://survey.vt.edu/survey/entry.jsp?id=1323097284260. E-mail Margo Duckson at maduckgo@vt.edu with any questions.
15. UPCOMING EVENTS:
MLK DAY OF SERVICE
Saturday, Jan 21, meet at 7:00am in GLC main lobby
In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the Graduate Student Assembly will be volunteering with Habitat of Humanity in the Roanoke Valley as part of the 27th annual MLK Day of Service. No prior building experience required! Volunteers will meet at 7:00am in the GLC lobby and carpool to the Habitat worksite. The volunteer shift will last from 8:00am-2:00pm. Breakfast and lunch will be provided. Space is limited; Register for your spot at https://survey.vt.edu/survey/entry.jsp?id=1325691600012. Questions? Contact Swetha Kumar, VP Programs at swethak@vt.edu.