1. WEEKLY SERVICES IN THE GLC – UPDATED 11/12/12!
- Career advising (walk in, no appointment needed): Wednesdays 2:00-5:00pm, GLC Lobby
- Cook Counseling (walk in, no appointment needed): Thursdays and Fridays 1:00-5:00pm, Green Room
- GLC Café: 3:30-5:00 every Thursdays, Reading Room
- Statistical consulting by LISA: Weekdays, 1:00-3:00pm, GLC Videoconference Room; find out each consultant’s software expertise here
- Writing Center support for grads: Thursdays 3:00-5:00pm, GLC Videoconference Room (additional hours are available in the Library)
2. “GREENING THE GLC” INFORMATION SESSIONS
Monday Nov 12, 11am-1pm, Graduate School Lobby
Are you interested in learning how to make the Graduate Life Center more “green” and sustainable? Do you want to learn more about sustainability at VT? Do you want to test your sustainability knowledge with some fun trivia questions? The information sessions will include information about sustainability at Virginia Tech and the “Greening the GLC Initiative” student team. Graduate students, GLC residents, GLC staff, and the general campus community are invited to stop by and chat with representatives about sustainability in the GLC and throughout campus. If you have any questions, please contact Alyssa Halle, graduate assistant with the Office of Energy & Sustainability, at ahalle@vt.edu.
3. MAKING RUBRICS MEANINGFUL
Monday, Nov 12, 12:00-1:30pm, GLC Room C
Learn how to design rubrics to make your life easier and how to apply them for use in assessment. Sign up at http://www.cideronline.org/events/events2.cfm Sponsored by the Office of Assessment and Evaluation.
4. SHORT STAT COURSE FOR GRADS: INTRODUCTION TO R, PART 3
Monday, Nov 12, 5:00-7:00pm, 3060 Torgersen Hall;
R is a free computing and graphical software/environment for statistical analysis. Taught by instructors Liang Shan and Han Li, this short course consists of 3 sections: (1) introduces the concept of generalized linear models. R will be used for performing logistic regression and Poisson regression. (2) introduces the concept of categorical data analysis. Topics include: graphical displays of categorical data, measures of association, and contingency tables analyses. (3) will cover writing functions in R. Users can write functions in R to carry out operations and return one or more values. Experience using R or attending Part I and Part II of this series is suggested but not required for Part III. R can be downloaded here. RStudio can be downloaded here. LISA (Laboratory for Interdisciplinary Statistical Analysis) provides a series of evening short courses to help graduate students use statistics in their research and learn practical statistical techniques for analyzing or collecting data. Register and to learn more>>.
5. GLC CAFÉ
Thursday, Nov 15, 30-5:00pm, GLC Reading Room
The GLC Café is offered throughout the semester with free coffee and tea in the company of your graduate-student and Grad-School colleagues. Bring your own mug if you can.
6. KIDS’ NIGHT OUT
Thursdays, 6:00pm, VT Women’s Center 206 Washington Street
A free weekly drop-in evening child care program for kids. Need a break? Have to study or attend a lecture? Want to catch up on work? If you are a VT student with children, bring your kids aged 2-12. No need to pre-register. Childcare provided by the women of Chi Delta Alpha sorority. KNO will be held every Thursday throughout the semester with the exception of home football games and when classes are not in session. For more information, contact Jessie Meltsner at jmelts@vt.edu.
7. GRADUATE SCHOOL DEMYSTIFIED: A CONVENIENT TRUTH PRESENTED BY BGSO
Thursday, Nov 15, 6:30-8:00pm, GLC Room F
BGSO will host an event to inform upper-class undergrads from underrepresented groups in their respective fields about life in grad school. Come share your experience with these aspiring grad students. Contact Vice President Eric Fouh with any questions at efouh@vt.edu. Follow BGSO on Facebook.
8. BLUE RIDGE WORKSHOP @ SOLITUDE
Fridays, Oct-May, 3:00-4:00pm, Solitude of Virginia Tech
Creative and Literary Workshop with VT/RU Alumni, Teacher and Poet T. Byron Kelly. Weekly attendance is optional and participants can attend whenever they want to join as well. Visit the workshop webpage for more information. Email Dr. Anita Puckett with questions or concerns at apuckett@vt.edu, or to T. Byron Kelly at tbyron@vt.edu.
9. DIWALI CELEBRATION 2012
Friday, Nov 16, 5:30-9:30pm, Burruss Hall / Squires
The Indian Student Association is proud to present the Diwali celebrations with a dazzling cultural show composed of dance and musical performances taking place in Burruss Hall, followed by a spectacular fireworks show and completing the evening with mouthwatering dishes from Taaza served in Commonwealth Ballroom in Squires. For more details on the event and dinner tickets, contact vtisa@outlook.com
10. SUPPORT A CLOTHING DRIVE
The Blacksburg Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. is hosting its annual clothing drive from Nov 1-16. On-campus clothing donation boxes are in Femoyer Hall and the Integrated Life Sciences Building (1981 Kraft Drive) in the Corporate Research Center. Off-campus locations include the Blacksburg Community Center and the Radford Library. Clothes will be donated to the Radford Clothing Bank which distributes clothes to families throughout the New River Valley. This message is posted on behalf of grad student Kacie Allen, kaciea1@vt.edu.
11. CALL FOR PAPERS FOR INTL JOURNAL ON INFO TECH & MGT
You are invited to submit a paper on game mechanics and dynamics for gamification, gamification methodology, processes, strategies, and tools, innovation using gamification, human cognition and performance related to gamification, gamified learning and training, legal and ethical issues of gamification. Submit manuscript by Dec 31, 2012; final version due Apr 30, 2013. Learn more>>; submit a paper here. Questions: Contact Kibong Song at gibbs@vt.edu.
12. DIVERSITY SCHOLAR NOMINATIONS ARE OPEN
Diversity scholars are graduate students who specialize in and advocate for the awareness, knowledge, and skills associated with diversity and inclusion in the Graduate School and greater community. A diversity scholar’s goal is to create dialogue, provide advocacy, and implement change for a more diverse and inclusive experience for all graduate students, faculty, staff, and administrators. Nominations are open now. The deadline is Dec 6, 2012. Learn more >>. Contact Dannette Beane at dannette@vt.edu with questions.
13. CALL FOR PRESENTATIONS FOR KIDS’ TECH UNIVERSITY – 1st posting
Kids’ Tech University (KTU; http://kidstechuniversity.vbi.vt.edu), invites
undergrad and grad students to turning their research into a hands-on exhibit.
If you are interested in honing your presentation skills to create a research centric hands-on event hosted on the VT campus, you may apply for a grant award ($50-100) to support your project, to be used towards supplies that KTU leaders will purchase; no money will be exchanged or given directly to award recipients. Dates for hands-on events include: Jan 26, Feb 23, or Mar 23, 2013 (tentatively 1:30-4:00pm). All interested students must fill out the form. You will be asked to meet with Dr. Kristy Collins to discuss your project.
14. PRESIDENTIAL MANAGEMENT FELLOWSHIP (PMF) – correction
Applications for the Class of 2013 application period will open on Monday, Nov 5 and close on Monday, Nov 19, 2012. Applicants can now submit their application and documents directly online and no longer need approval from a university official. The Form 1300 is no longer required unless an applicant opts to fax the application documents rather than submit on line, and the form will be made available if that option is selected. Also new this year, on November 9th the PMF program office will offer Virtual Office Hours on-line through Adobe Connect and will have dedicated PMF Program Office staff to answer questions as submitted. Applicants can connect at http://opm.adobeconnect.com/pmf2013applicantchat/ and select “Enter as a Guest.” Application information is available at the PMF website www.pmf.gov.
15. PARTICIPANTS NEEDED FOR SURVEY ON MOBILE PHONES AND CONTEXT REMINDERS – 2nd posting
A graduate-student team would appreciate any feedback you can provide through this survey for a class project. Their research is related to context awareness and mobile reminders. If you have any questions about the survey, please contact Alan Baines at abaines@vt.edu.
16. PARTICIPANTS SOUGHT FOR RESEARCH PROJECT ON BT EXPERIENCES – 3rd posting
Researchers are conducting a study focused on capturing customers’ experiences riding Blacksburg Transit and using Blacksburg Transit’s website. If you are above 18, take Blacksburg Transit at least three times a week, including trips to places other than campus, and have a smart phone, researchers would like to interview you about your experiences taking the bus. The interview should take 30-45 minutes and your responses and participation will be kept confidential. If you are interested, please contact Yushi Yang.
17. PARTICIPANTS NEEDED FOR STUDY ON ADVISOR/ADVISEE RELATIONSHIPS – 3rd posting
VT researchers are conducting a study on how international and domestic PhD students experience their relationship with their doctoral advisor within an education-related discipline. International and domestic doctoral students who have completed at least one year in an education-related program are invited to participate in this study. Participation is completely confidential. Your identity will be known only to the co-investigators of this study and every effort will be made to mask any identifying information. Participation will have no impact on grades, academic standing or eligibility for any activities, and does not include any compensation. If you are interested, please email Nicole Johnson at nicj712@vt.edu. Participants will be selected at random from the pool of volunteers. Must be 18 or older and in at least second year of doctoral study.
18. PARTICIPANTS NEEDED FOR MUSCLE FATIGUE STUDY – 3rd posting
Participants are needed for a study assessing the effect of localized muscle fatigue on slip and fall risks. The study consists of 4 experimental sessions (each lasting approximately 2-2.5 hours). Participants will be compensated $10/hour with a $40 bonus after completing all sessions. Requirements: male or female, age 35-64, no recent history of musculoskeletal disorders. If interested, please contact Rahul Songra for further details.
19. PARTICIPANTS NEEDED FOR READING PRACTICES STUDY – 3rd posting
Participants are needed for a study investigating reading practices on different media (i.e., paper, computer, iPad). This study will take around 3 hours to complete and participants will be compensated $10/hour (total $30). Requirements: Native English speaker, age 35-80. If interested, please contact Kyunghui Oh at khoh@vt.edu for further details.
20. PARTICIPANTS SOUGHT FOR STUDY ON THE PRACTICES OF WORKING MOTHERS – 3rd posting
Participants who have had, have, or plan to have infants while working at Virginia Tech are needed for a study investigating the practice of nursing on campus. This study seeks all women faculty, staff, or graduate students at the Blacksburg campus, regardless of their choice to bottle- or breast-feed with formula or human milk. Participants will be asked to partake in a 35-45 minute interview at a mutually agreeable time and location. If interested, please contact Jennifer Porter at (410) 570-3391 or jport89@vt.edu for more information.
21. UPCOMING EVENTS:
T-BREAK CHILI LUNCHEON – SIGN UP NOW!
Monday, Nov 19, 11:30-1:00 in the GLC Multipurpose Room
You are not alone! Join others who don’t get to leave for Thanksgiving break and enjoy some wholesome home-cooked food (meat and vegetarian options) and conversation. Brought to you by your friendly and caring GLC- and Grad-School staff. “Potluck” in this case doesn’t mean that you have to bring anything, unless you really want to. Food will be provided. Please register by 2:00pm on Friday, Nov 16, to help us estimate how much we need to cook.
GRADUATE STUDENT BOOK CLUB
Monday, Nov 26, 9:00 PM, GLC Room C
Seth Grahame-Smith’s first book, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, was a surprise hit. Then Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter came along and got its own movie adaptation. Want to get serious on this comic novel? Join the GLC fellows and other graduate students for light refreshments and discuss the book for this monthly book-club series. Sponsored by the GLC Fellows. If you have any questions, please contact Mark Smiley at esmark86@vt.edu.
EFFECTIVE READING WORKSHOP – *NEW DATE*
Thursday, Nov 29, 5:00-8:00pm, GLC Room C
Educational researchers estimate that, at best, we retain only about 10 percent of the information that we read. Want to improve on that estimate in your academic reading? The key to becoming a more effective reader is to learn how academic information in published papers is structured and then to discipline one’s self to hunt for information actively rather than passively wait for the information to appear on the page. This workshop will describe how YOU can read more actively and purposely in order to locate needed information, increase comprehension, and boast retention for later use. Questions? Contact Tara at tara@vt.edu. Please sign up online if you plan to attend.