December 16-20, 2013

1.  WEEKLY SERVICES IN THE GLC

Our weekly services are on hiatus and will return when the spring semester begins on Jan 21. However, the GLC Café is still on (except for Dec 26)!

2. GLC CAFÉ AND BOOKS SWAP – NOTE SPECIAL LOCATION!
Thursday, Dec 19, 3:30-5:00pm, GLC Lobby
Celebrate the end of the semester and the end of the year with the final café of 2013, combined with a book swap. Bring books and take some, or just take books to read during the break. Share your favorite titles with grad students and Grad School colleagues over coffee, tea, hot chocolate, hot cider, and cookies. Bring your own mug if you can. The café will be on a break on Dec 26, but will return on Jan 2!

3. END-OF-SEMESTER SURVIVAL GUIDE
Check out Student Centers and Activities at http://www.studentcenters.vt.edu/ for a listing of events, services and techniques that can help you get through the last and possibly most stressful week of the semester.

4. REGISTRATION IS OPEN FOR PAYROLL DEDUCTION OF COMP FEES FOR GRAD ASSISTANTS – 1st posting
The registration system for paying comprehensive fees through payroll deduction for spring 2014 is now open.  Graduate students on an assistantship must either pay their comprehensive fees or enroll for payroll deductions by the payment deadline set by the Bursar’s Office.  To enroll in payroll deductions, login to Hokie SPA, choose University Account Information menu, and click on Graduate Students on Assistantship, enroll in Payroll Deduction. You must enroll in payroll deduction each semester in which you wish to take advantage of this opportunity. 

5. INVITATION TO SERVE ON LIBRARY ADVISORY BOARD – 1st posting
Do you have opinions about the VT Library? Are there things that you would like to see more of? Things you’d want to change? Apply to join the inaugural Library Student Advisory Board so you can give feedback on current and prospective library programs, services, web pages, and extensive renovations. The library is currently seeking twenty students (u grad and grad) to help envision future directions of the library. Monthly meetings (including dinner) will begin February 2014. More info: http://www.lib.vt.edu/libnews/2013/2013-12-22.html.

6. JOIN NRV SINGLES FACEBOOK GROUP – 2nd posting
Join the New River Valley Singles Group on Facebook – a place where you can post event information and welcome others to join you, or look for events and meet new people. The group is open to all people in the area, not just Hokies, and there is no speed dating or formality behind it, just a way to get to know others. View the group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/nrvsingles/. This invitation is posted on behalf of grad student Chris Frisina, chrisfrisina@gmail.com.

7. VEHICLE REPAIR GROUP –  2nd posting
Got a vehicle to repair? This group works on them about once a month, and eat and drink while they do it. From water pumps to timing belts; from head gaskets to oil changes, there are vehicles, and they need work here and there. Chris has the majority of the tools, diagnostics tools, with some specialty ones, and connections to those that have the real oddball ones.  Start a discussion or get advice! View the Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/vtcarrepair/. This invitation is posted on behalf of grad student Chris Frisina, chrisfrisina@gmail.com.

8. CALL FOR ABSTRACTS FOR INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH DAY POSTER SESSION – 2nd posting
The Interdisciplinary Research Honor Society (IDR) invites you to submit a 400-word abstract to take part in a poster session during the Annual Interdisciplinary Research Day, to be held at The Inn at Virginia Tech on Feb 27, 2014. Abstracts will be selected primarily based on the integration of interdisciplinary research into the author’s work. Submission deadline: Jan 25, 2014. To submit an abstract, fill out the form at https://survey.vt.edu/survey/entry.jsp?id=1386293281414. Instruction for abstracts is available in this link. Abstract notifications will be sent on Feb 8. Contact Shelley Cooke (slcooke@vt.edu) or Souvick Chatterjee (souvick8@vt.edu) with any questions.

9. NOMINATIONS FOR GRADUATE STUDENT AWARDS NOW OPEN – 3rd posting
A number of prestigious awards are granted to graduate students each year, carrying a monetary prize ($200-$1000 each) and award certificate. 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 27, 2014:

  • Outstanding Dissertation in (1) math, sciences and engineering, and (1) in social sciences, business and humanities
  • Preston Society Master’s Thesis Award
  • Graduate Student Teaching Excellence (1) for GTA instructor of record (1) GTA instructor assistant
  • Graduate Student Service Excellence
  • Graduate Student of the Year (up to three awards given)
  • Outstanding master’s and doctoral student in each college and in interdisciplinary programs

More information about criteria, forms, and process for nomination are at: http://graduateschool.vt.edu/awards.

10. GRADUATE RESIDENTIAL FELLOW OPENING IN WEST AJ – 1st posting
Responsibilities: provide a strong presence in the "house" and the larger residential college; know each student living in West AJ; coordinate activities and experiences that facilitate an "ethos" of involvement, engagement, and community; serve as a role model; offer students friendship and mentorship; liaise between the house team, house council, and larger community of leadership in the residential college; serve as advisor for the House Council; conduct the room selection process for the house for returning students. Must invest min. 10hrs/wk in house community, be in good academic standing and have affinity for working with people and the residential experience. Compensation: receive single room at no cost in AJ. Email letter of interest, resume and names and contact of three references by Dec 18 to Joe Wilder, Student Life Coordinator, wilder@vt.edu, 231-0429.

11. CALL FOR SURVEY PARTICIPATION ON ADVANCED IN-VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY USE – 2nd posting
The Center for Sustainable Mobility at VT Transportation Institute initiated a survey to help with their research on future in-vehicle technology development. The survey is live at http://bit.ly/csmsurvey2013; please take a few minutes to complete it. Contact researchers at 540-231-8777 or via email (rkishore@vt.edu) if you have any questions or comments about the survey. Estimated survey burden is 3 to 5 minutes. All survey participants must be at least 18 years old.

12. CALL FOR RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM WEBSITE DESIGNER – 3rd posting
The GSA is looking for a web designer for the research symposium website.  Candidates should be proficient in Drupal and PHP coding and must be a VT student. Submit your resume and cover letter to Mordecai Harvey at mordie02@vt.edu by the end of Dec 9, 2013. 

UPCOMING EVENTS:

GLC CAFÉ 2014
Thursday, Jan 2, 3:30-5:00pm, Grad School lobby
The GLC café will return as soon as the university reopens after the holidays. Your usual coffee, tea, cookies, and maybe some other treats will await those who are around in early January.

FREE GRANT-WRITING WORKSHOP  — sign up now!
Friday, Jan 31, 2014, 1:00-4:00pm
Learn more about this introductory workshop at http://www.engage.vt.edu/event/free-grant-writing-workshop/, sponsored by Remember-Serve-Learn initiative. It is open to students and community partners interested in learning more about the grants process. In addition to grant writing, the process of finding and applying for grads will be covered, and available local grants will be discussed. Don’t wait to register! Space is limited to 30 people. For more info, contact Jessi at JessiLP2@vt.edu or (540) 231-0691. www. engage.vt.edu.