1. WEEKLY WALK-IN SERVICES IN THE GLC – FALL SCHEDULE
- Career services: will start Oct 1, GLC Lobby
- Counseling by Cook: Thursdays and Fridays, 1:00-5:00pm, Green Room
- Financial aid advising: Tuesdays 3:30-5:00, Room A
- GLC Café: 3:30-5:00 every Thursday, Reading Room – year round!
- Graduate School business hours: M,Tu,Th,F: 8:00am-5:00pm; W: 9:30am-5:00pm
- Statistical consulting by LISA: Tu, Th, F, 10:00-12:00, Room A
- Writing Center walk-in assistance: Tuesdays 6:00-8:00, Room A (additional hours in the Library)
2. DISCOVER ISLAM
Tuesday, Sep 2, 12:00-2:00pm, Info Booth A in Squires (across from ABP)
Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world. About 1.6 Billion people believe in Islam. Muslims come from almost every country in the world and speak almost every language. Come and learn more about Islam from your Muslim colleagues. Stop by, ask questions, get your free copy of Quran interpretation in English, watch Islamic art from different countries, get your name in Arabic, and enjoy tasting Arabian dates. This message is posted on behalf of doctoral student Haitham Elmarakeby; for more information contact him at marakeby@vt.edu.
3. HOKIES4HIRE AND ON-CAMPUS INTERVIEWING
Tuesday, Sep 2, 5:30-6:30pm, GLC Room G
Hundreds of employers search VT’s resume database for candidates each year. Learn how to use the system in your job search process and how to prepare for on-campus interviews. Presented by the Career Services Center.
4. COFFEE AND CONVERSATION IN NEWMAN LIBRARY
Wednesday, Sep 3, 8:30-10:30am, 416 Newman (Grad Study Lounge)
Jumpstart your school year with coffee and a continental breakfast at Newman Library. This event will give you the opportunity to meet, chat, and have coffee with experts at the library who can help you with a number of things related to your research and teaching, including conducting literature reviews, managing data and citations, assessing scholarly impact, integrating research and information literacy into the classroom, and navigating the open access and publishing landscape. Register at https://survey.vt.edu/survey/entry.jsp?id=1406575971039 if you are planning to attend.
5. HBCU CONNECT LUNCH
Wednesday, Sep 3, 12:30-1:30pm, GLC Room B
Did you graduate from a Historically Black College or University? Please join other HBCU alumni at the annual Graduate School HBCU Luncheon – food provided. Details and sign up https://survey.vt.edu/survey/entry.jsp?id=1408723465103 are at http://www.graduateschool.vt.edu/connect_lunch. Contact Dannette G. Beane at Dannette@vt.edu with questions.
6. WRITING A WINNING RESUME
Wednesday, Sep 3, 5:30-6:30pm, GLC Room G
Having a well-polished resume is the most critical step toward getting an interview. Start early and be ready for fall career fairs and on-campus interviews. Brought to you by Career Services Center.
7. INTERVARSITY GRADUATE CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP
Wednesdays, Sep 3, 6:30pm, GLC Room G
InterVarsity Graduate Christian Fellowship (http://gcfvt.wordpress.com/) meets weekly for a free dinner and interactive Bible discussion. All are welcome!
8. FUTURE FORWARD MENTORING PROGRAM INFO SESSION
Wednesday, Sep 3, 6:30pm, GLC Room B
Are you looking for a way to get involved? Would you like to engage with a program that will and assist you to help others develop their academic, professional and social skills? If yes, consider contributing to the Future Forward Mentoring Program (https://www.facebook.com/groups/1460016357615461/), where thinking forward drives you toward a brighter future. Program staff invites you to participate in this info session to learn how you can be a mentor while enhancing your own professional development skills. Light Refreshments will be served. For more information contact Whitley Johnson at futureforwardvt@gmail.com, or at wmj22@vt.edu.
9. STUDENT DEBT CHALLENGES – DISCUSSION WITH SENATOR MARK WARNER
Thursday, Sep 4, 1:15-2:30pm, Squires Student Center Brush Mountain Room
US. Sen. Mark Warner will hold a forum about student debt challenges. Students, faculty, staff and administrators are welcome to attend. RSVP at www.markwarnerva.com/student-debt/vt/.
10. GLC CAFÉ
Thursday, Sep 4, 3:30-5:00pm, GLC Reading Room or GLC side patio (Bookstore side behind shrubs)
Take a break and enjoy coffee, tea, maybe fresh lemonade, and definitely cookies in the company of your graduate student and Grad School colleagues.
11. HOW TO MAKE ENDS MEET
Thursday, Sep 4, 5:00pm, GLC Room B
Learn creative ways to live within a meager budget using money-saving strategies specific to the New River Valley.
12. KIDS’ NIGHT OUT – FREE WEEKLY DROP IN CHILD CARE
Thursdays, starting Sep 4, 6:00-8:30pm, Women’s Center
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 (must be toilet trained). No need to pre-register. Childcare provided by the volunteers 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, 231-7806.
13. GOBBLERFEST
Friday, Sep 5, 4:00-8:00pm, Drillfield
Gobblerfest is an annual festival intended to engage students in campus activities and connect with the surrounding community while inspiring curiosity, civility and self-understanding. Meet new students, explore common interests, and become a part of the Virginia Tech community, all in a healthy, alcohol-free setting. Student organizations, businesses, non-profit organizations, and Virginia Tech departments will offer food, games, free giveaways, and volunteer service information at booths around the Virginia Tech Drillfield: http://www.gobblerfest.dsa.vt.edu/.
14. INTERLOPER MAGAZINE GENERAL INTEREST MEETING
Saturday, Sep 6, 1:00pm, 370/380 Shanks Hall
The Interloper, Virginia Tech’s LGBT magazine, will have a general interest meeting this Saturday. All are welcome to attend. The magazine is still looking for a features editor and more artists, photographers and writers. If you have any questions, email grad student and editor-in-chief Matty Bennett at theinterlopervt@gmail.com. You can check out the first issue at: http://www.issuu.com/theinterloper.
15. BGSO COOKOUT
Saturday, Sep 6, 2:00-6:00pm, Nellie’s Cave Park
Grad students are invited to the annual semester kick-off cookout hosted by the Black Graduate Student Organization (BGSO). For more information contact doctoral student Jennifer Turner at jennlt8@vt.edu.
16. MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION NOW OPEN FOR INTERDISCIPLINARY HONOR SOCIETY – 1st posting
Iota Delta Rho, the Interdisciplinary Research Honor Society, will accept applications for membership through Monday, Sep 29, 2014. IDR was founded at Virginia Tech in 2011 by graduate students promoting interdisciplinary cooperation and research at VT and other colleges and universities. There are two levels of membership: full and associate. Both graduate and undergraduate members are welcome. Membership application, requirements for membership, and information about the society can be found at http://www.idrsociety.org/membership/application/. Questions should be directed to VP of Membership, Jie Ren, at jren4@vt.edu.
17. STATISTICAL CONSULTING WALK-IN HOURS AND LOCATIONS FOR FALL 2014
LISA (VT’s Laboratory for Interdisciplinary Statistical Analysis) walk-in consulting will be available every day classes are in session. During walk-in hours, a statistical consultant will be available to answer your quick questions or to help with research projects requiring less than 30 minutes of assistance. For more in-depth questions or longer projects, complete the LISA Collaboration Request Form at www.lisa.stat.vt.edu and a team of statistical collaborators will be assigned to work with you. Note: LISA does not assist with class projects or homework. Available times and locations:
- Mon-Fri 1:00-3:00pm in the Old Security Building, Room 103
- Mon 3:00-5:00pm in Port: Digital Research Commons on the Library side of Torgersen Bridge
- Tue, Thu, Fri 10:00am-12:00pm in GLC Room A
- Wed 10:00am-12:00pm in Hutcheson Hall, Room 403-J
- Fri 10:00am-12:00pm – LISA Remote Consulting (see details below)
- Virginia Tech Carilion Walk-In Consulting in Roanoke, VA – TBD
This semester LISA will offer Remote Consulting for VT researchers who are not located on the Blacksburg campus. On Friday mornings researchers can contact the LISA Skype account (lisacollab) to speak with a statistician. Discussions will still be limited to the 30 minutes of assistance and the consultant will try to let individuals know if they are currently with another remote visitor. For more information visit www.lisa.stat.vt.edu.
18. ENROLLMENT OPEN FOR STUDENT MEDICAL INSURANCE FOR 2014-15
Enroll now in the VT-sponsored student medical insurance plan through Aetna: the open enrollment period is from Jul 25-Sep 15. Learn more at http://www.co.vt.edu/Risk/studenthealthinsr/.
19. SIGN UP NOW FOR PAYROLL DEDUCTION OF COMP FEES FOR GRAD ASSISTANTS
The registration system for paying comprehensive fees through payroll deduction is now open. Graduate students on an assistantship must either pay their comprehensive fees or enroll for payroll deductions before the payment deadline. To enroll in payroll deductions, first register for classes, then 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.
20. NSF GRFP APPLICATION PERIOD NOW OPEN – 3rd posting
NSF is soliciting applications for the Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) until the posted deadlines in late October and early November 2014. Since 1952, GRFP has provided Fellowships to individuals selected early in their graduate careers based on their demonstrated potential for significant achievements in science and engineering. Three years of support is provided by the program for graduate study in science or engineering and leads to a research-based master’s or doctoral degree. The NSF expects to award 2,000 Graduate Research Fellowships under this program solicitation pending availability of funds: GRFP Program Solicitation (NSF 14-590), http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2014/nsf14590/nsf14590.pdf.
21. GRAD RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM CHAIR SOUGHT FOR GSA – 1st posting
The Graduate Student Assembly is seeking a program chair for the Graduate Research Development Program for the 2014-2015 academic year. The GRDP chair oversees the GSA funding program for graduate research. Program chairs receive a small stipend and excellent experience for their CV! More information about the program: http://blogs.lt.vt.edu/graduatestudentassembly/graduate-research-development-program/. If you are interested, e-mail a short letter of interest to Jenn Gooding, GSA executive assistant: jgooding@vt.edu.
22. MENTORS SOUGHT FOR FUTURE FORWARD MENTORING PROGRAM – 2nd posting
Graduate students are sought to mentor undergraduate students who self-identify as a members of underrepresented student populations. Mentor commit 2 hours a month of their time to provide guidance to a student who is forward driven to create a brighter future. Benefits of becoming a mentor include but are not limited to: imparting information that you have learned to others, networking with prominent VT alumni, and learning more about VT and Blacksburg. The purpose of Future Forward is to ensure underrepresented students have an impactful experience intertwined with a strong faculty and student support system during their tenure at VT. There will be an information session about the program on Wednesday, Sep 3, 6:30 pm in Room B in the GLC. If you are interested in participating, fill out this survey https://virginiatech.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_3OtpuN1YtY0ZyIJ, or contact Whitley Johnson at wmj22@vt.edu for more information.
23. PARTICIPANTS SOUGHT FOR ONLINE SURVEY ABOUT ACADEMIC INTEGRITY – 3rd posting
New and current VT graduate students are sought to complete an anonymous 20-minute online survey about academic integrity. Must be at least 18 years old to participate. This study examines the current state of graduate student understanding about academic integrity; results will be used to better understand how graduate students learn about academic integrity, how it affects them, and what measures are in place to preserve academic integrity at Virginia Tech. Results of this survey may be used for publication. Results from this study will be used to enhance graduate education. Access the survey at https://virginiatech.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_2tLTjMH2ilQp6El. For more information, please contact Martina Svyantek at svyantek@vt.edu.
24. PARTICIPANTS SOUGHT FOR “SLOW DOWN” PROGRAM FOR MOTHERS – 3rd posting
Are you a mother with a child in grades K-5 for the 2014-5 school year? Would you like to learn a new way to approach eating with your family? Do you drink three or more sugar-sweetened drinks each day? (i.e. Soda, sweet tea, sports drinks, specialty coffee, fruit punch/juice, etc.) This program will help you learn about slowing down for meals and reconnecting with food. You will learn strategies for enjoying food and sharing that joy with your family. Participation involves completing a few short questionnaires and providing a salivary sample during the introductory meeting and participating in four group educational sessions. Each of the first three group meetings should take 60 minutes and the fourth will be 90 minutes. Light refreshments will be provided. As a thank-you, participants will be compensated $10-$60 on a gift card for participating in and completing the study. Contact Lauren Kennedy, kennedy0@vt.edu or call/text 540-808-5358 for more information.
Upcoming Events:
MARTIAL ARTS EXPO
Saturday, Sep 13, 12:00-4:00pm, Old Dominion Ballroom, Squires
Come meet the many diverse martial arts clubs and see demonstrations at the Martial Arts Expo 2:00-4:00pm. This provides a unique opportunity, whether you are new to the martial arts and looking to learn something new or an experienced martial artist looking to further their training. Arts will include, Kodokan Akido, Kendo, Bushin-kan Karate, Tae Kwon Do, Tang Soo Do, Krav Maga, Mixed Martial Arts, Students for Creative Anachronism, and Bujinkan Taijutsu. These clubs offer low cost, high quality training from qualified instructors. The scope of martial arts at VT includes traditional study, sports, self-defense and combatives, and personal improvement. If you are interested in any of these things, come check it out! This message is posted on behalf of grad student William Monzel, jmonzel@vt.edu, president of the Martial Arts Council at VT.