January 14-21, 2013

1. WEEKLY SERVICES IN THE GLC
Weekly services are on hiatus until the spring semester begins, except for the GLC café, which is always on!

  • GLC Café: 3:30-5:00 every Thursday, Reading Room

2. GLC CAFÉ: MUG RAFFLE 2013 ONCE MORE
Thursday, Jan 17, 3:30-5:00pm, Graduate School Lobby
The GLC Café is offered throughout the year with free coffee, tea and cookies in the company of your graduate-student and Grad-School colleagues. This week’s special: mug raffle back by popular demand. Raffle at 4:30 – stop by between 3:30 and 4:30 to get your name into the pool. Do not have to be present to win. 

3. NEW STUDENT ORIENTATION/CAFÉ
Friday, Jan 18, 3:00-4:30pm, GLC Lobby
Join new graduate students for some conversation, coffee and refreshments in the GLC Lobby and help us make them feel at home in the GLC and at VT!

4. WINTER BREAK 2012 PHOTO CHALLENGE   
You are invited to submit photos of your winter break experience (wherever and whatever that might be) to be displayed in the GLC and on the Grad School Facebook page in January and February. Each student may upload up to three photos here. Submission deadline is Jan 18, 2013.

5. NOMINATIONS FOR GRADUATE STUDENT AWARDS OPEN – deadline Feb 1
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 the Graduate School’s annual awards banquet on March 28, 2013:

  • Outstanding Dissertation in (1) math, sciences and engineering, and (1) in social sciences, business 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

More information about criteria, forms, and process for nomination>>.

6. SPRING GRAD COURSE OFFERING: EFFECTIVE ACADEMIC ASSESSMENT FOR HIGHER ED

CRN 18694 Thursday 6:00-8:50 PM
Taught by Ray Van Dyke, this course provides an overview of assessment principles and practices in contemporary higher education. The course promotes a general understanding of academic assessment, as well as the assessment of ancillary programs that support academic quality. The course prepares the future professoriate to design and implement successful assessment practices that enhance teaching and learning.

7. SPRING COURSE: GRAD5304 PREPARING THE FUTURE CAREER PROFESSIONAL
Tuesdays, 1:00-3:30pm, spring 2013
This class is designed to provide graduate students with knowledge, skills and abilities to prepare for employment in industry, business, government, research development and non-profit worlds. Topics will include communication, collaboration/teamwork, motivation, workplace and community ethics, leadership, building relationships, starting a business, managing change, writing a resume and cover letter, and working in a diverse environment.

8. CALL FOR ABSTRACTS FOR STUDENT CONFERENCE IN FEB 2013 – deadline extended
The VT Institute for Policy and Governance and Department of Religion and Culture is organizing a student conference on "Religious extremism and its impacts on Culture and Civil Society" on Feb 15-16, 2013, including a film festival and student panels. Papers are invited that cover any of the following topics : Intra-religious/church institutional discourse and politics; the roles of media and technology in religion-based movements; how adherents of extreme religious views conceive of the role of the state and of faith within it, including what their perspectives portend for accepted understandings of human rights; how leaders of groups view and use history, culture and contemporary religious discourse in structuring their beliefs and motivating their adherents; how humanitarian and peace building NGOs can/should navigate such movements in the course of their efforts to ameliorate suffering and bridge social differences. Send an abstract of max. 300 words describing the topic, contribution and methods underpinning your proposed paper to Sabith Khan at khanpgg@vt.edu by Jan 25, 2013.

9. WAGE JOB OPENING IN THE GLC
The GLC Student Building Manager works closely with the Auxiliary Student Center Operations Coordinator and Graduate School to provide services to the patrons who use the GLC. This includes providing excellent customer service, reserving rooms, oversight of the information desk, basic cleaning (wiping tables, vacuuming, etc.), administrative support, marketing and clerical duties. The Student Building Manager has primary responsibility, including emergency response, for the building during evening and weekend hours. 10-15 hours per week at $12/hour. Apply online. Click the “Student Centers and Activities ‘VT Graduate Student’ Pool.” Please contact Eric Margiotta (Margiotta@vt.edu) with questions.

10. PARTICIPANTS SOUGHT FOR STUDY ON MOTHERS AND CHILDREN – 1st posting
Are you a mother who sometimes worries or has fears? Do you have a child between 7 and 12 years of age? A new study is investigating how mothers and children interpret situations in their day-to-day lives. The study is being conducted at the Child Study Center at 460 Turner Street, Suite 207, Blacksburg. For more information please contact Kristin Austin at momanxiety@vt.edu or call 540-231-8276. Compensation: $50.

11. STUDY PARTICIPANTS SOUGHT – 3rd posting
Volunteers are needed for a research study on how diet influences muscle metabolism. Participants must be: males between the ages of 18-40; not currently taking any medications; non-smokers; free from major medical issues; willing to eat a high fat diet for 4 weeks. You may benefit by receiving extensive help information and up to 200$ to compensate you for your time. Please contact the following if you meet the above criteria and are interested in participating: Nabil Boutagy or Kris Osterberg at the Human Integrative Physiology Laboratory at Virginia Tech by email at heartlab@vt.edu or call (540) 231-8299.

12. UPCOMING EVENTS:

GLC BOOK CLUB
Open to all graduate students! The next book is “The Shadow of the Wind” by Carlos Ruiz Zafon. Read the book during the winter break, then meet with other grad students on Jan 22 at 8pm in the GLC Fellows office to discuss it and pick the next book as well. Contact Emily or Mark at eceskew@vt.edu or esmark86@vt.edu respectively for any questions.

LUNCH WITH THE DEAN
Jan 24 and Feb 6, 12:00-1:00pm, GLC Room B
Meet Graduate School Dean Dr. Karen DePauw and several graduate student leaders at this free lunch and learn about the latest in graduate education. Share your perspectives in a casual setting. While this program is primarily targeted to new students, returning students who haven’t had a chance to participate in previous lunches with the dean are also welcome to sign up. Registration required:

APA WORKSHOP
Friday, Jan 25, 2:00-3:99pm, GLC Room C
Have any questions about APA 6th Edition Citations? Still confused about how things are supposed to look in-text or in your references? Then this is the session for you. Heather Moorefield-Lang, Education and Applied Social Sciences Librarian, will be talking about APA 6th, what the manual contains, different citation and referencing rules, as well as some updates for items such as e-books, online videos, and more. Plenty of time for discussion and questions will be available.