December 1-7, 2014

1.  WEEKLY WALK-IN SERVICES IN THE GLC – updated 12/1

  • Career services: Wednesdays, 2:30-5:00pm, 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. DISSERTATION WRITING SUPPORT GROUP
Tuesdays bi-weekly, Dec 2, 12:00-1:30pm, GLC Room D
Do you need some support with staying on track with your writing? Could you use some advice on managing your relationship with your advisor/committee? Would you share some of your experiences with fellow grad students who are going through the same process? Do you need a safe place to decompress from the stress of your dissertation? Join the second meeting of this newly forming dissertation support group and see how it may support your progress. Bring your own lunch!  Contact Monika Gibson at gibsonm@vt.edu for more information.

3. DISCOVER ISLAM
Tuesday, Dec 2, 12:00-2:00pm, Info Booth A in Squires (across from ABP)
Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world with about 1.6 billion followers.   Muslims come from almost every country in the world and speak almost every language. Learn more about Islam from your Muslim colleagues: stop by, ask questions, get your free copy of Quran interpretation in English, view Islamic art from different countries, get your name in Arabic, and enjoy tasty Arabian dates. Hosted by the Islamic Student Assembly (ISA); contact grad student Haitham Elmarakeby at marakeby@vt.edu with any questions.

4. PRAY FOR FERGUSON
Wednesday, Dec 3, 5:30-6:30pm, War Memorial Chapel Pylons
Join with other graduate students and community members in a prayerful response to the recent Ferguson grand jury decision. Co-sponsored by InterVarsity Graduate Christian Fellowship and the Black Graduate Student Organization (BGSO).

5. HEALTHY YOU: AN EXCLUSIVE EVENT FOR INTERNATIONAL GRAD STUDENTS
Thursday, Dec 4, 6:00pm-8:00pm, GLC Room C
The GLC Fellows are teaming up with Public Health students to bring all international graduate students an exclusive health training geared towards developing healthy nutritional and exercise habits. Attend this two-hour event filled with helpful tips, fun games, food, and more! Students will learn about what resources Virginia Tech has to offer, and will have the opportunity to speak to fellow international students. Register at https://survey.vt.edu/survey/entry.jsp?id=1415994362341. If you have any questions, email GLD Fellow Laura Koehler at lkkoehle@vt.edu.

6. NOMINATIONS SOUGHT FOR GRAD SCHOOL DIVERSITY SCHOLARS 2014-15 COHORT – 3rd  posting
The Graduate School invites nominations for the 2014-2015 Diversity Scholars cohort. Diversity Scholars are graduate students who specialize in and advocate for the awareness, knowledge and skills associated with diversity and inclusion. More information at http://graduateschool.vt.edu/diversity/scholars_program. Deadline: Dec 10, 2014. For more information contact Dannette Gomez Beane, gomezds@vt.edu.

7. VIDEO AVAILABLE OF “GRADUATION 101: ETD REVIEW” WEBINAR
A video is available online for those who missed the ETD review webinar in November. Access the video at iTunes U, http://itunes.apple.com/itunes-u/graduate-school/id465646313?mt=10 or via YouTube at http://youtu.be/sbm0Bh841tU. For more information on degree completion guidelines and deadlines, see Graduate School website http://graduateschool.vt.edu/academics/degree_completion.  

8. WAGE POSITION IN ACADEMIC COACHING – 1st posting
Academic coaches working University Studies meet with 10-15 students 3-4 times per semester. Each coach will collaborate with his or her students to create individualized goals and educational plans for the semester, focusing on time management, use of existing campus resources, and problem solving. Coaches will also aid students in exploring majors and introduce them to the Pathways Planner tool. Responsibilities include: 1) Participating in training and/or meetings the week before classes begin (January 8 & 9); 2) Attending group meetings the week before and during week 1 of spring semester; 3) Scheduling individual meetings with students during weeks 3-4, 5-6 and 13-14 and assessing academic progress at each meeting; 4) Utilizing supplied materials and/or developing new materials; 5) Referring students to appropriate campus resources and advisors; 6) documenting meetings and communicating with program coordinator and advisors. Applicants should be graduate students in good academic standing. To apply, send resume and cover letter to Nick Sano-Franchini via email: nicks5@vt.edu by December 10, 2014.

9. FT GRADUATE ASSISTANTSHIP OPENING FOR SPRING 2015 AND BEYOND – 2nd posting
Graduate assistantship for inVenTs Living-Learning communities (http://www.science.vt.edu/llc/) beginning Spring 2015; 9 or 12-m, renewable for at least two years; great opportunity for a natural-science-major graduate student looking for experience in STEM education and outreach; students with teaching experience and pedagogy training preferred; must be willing to be trained in large-equipment use  (MediaScape, 3D printer, laser cutter; microscope, milling router, ModelMaker). Responsibilities include staffing studio 10hr/wk during M-Th 4-9p; Sa-Su 1-6p; organize and attend meetings; help run studio events; assist with recruitment of companies, etc. To apply, submit CV, cover letter, and contact information for two professional references to Asst. Provost Jill Sible (siblej@vt.edu). Applications will be reviewed until the position is filled.

10. GRA OPENING IN ADVANCED RESEARCH COMPUTING – 2nd posting
Advanced Research Computing (ARC) has an open graduate research assistant position for web development, beginning Spring 2015, to replace the current website (www.arc.vt.edu) with a Drupal-based CMS. The GRA will assist with transitioning the prototype site into production and integrating with other HPC web services; updating the website;  solving web problems. Must have strong written and oral communication skills; experience in the Linux operating system environment; expertise in web programming languages (e.g. php, html, xml); motivation to work in a fast-paced, results-oriented environment; ability to work independently on assigned projects. Preferred Qualifications: experience with Drupal; interest in High Performance Computing; knowledge of RESTful API design; experience with SQL databases (mysql, postgres); graphic design experience. If interested, send a resume to Brian Marshall, mimarsh2@vt.edu.

11. PARTICIPANTS SOUGHT FOR ONLINE SURVEY ABOUT COMPOSITION SKILLS – corrected posting
VT graduate students are sought to complete an anonymous, 5-minute online survey developed by a grad student in English about the transferability of writing skills learned during undergraduate studies in composition courses. Participants must be at least 18 and have completed at least one(1) composition course as an undergrad. This study examines how well university composition courses prepare students for working in their field of study, both academically and professionally, by providing skills such as: critical thinking, critical communicating, writing, and researching. The results from the survey will be used to assess undergraduate composition courses and how well they prepare students for their intended majors and professional fields. Access the survey at https://survey.vt.edu/survey/entry.jsp?id=1415050141380. For more information, contact Natalie Richoux at nchambe7@vt.edu <mailto:nchambe7@vt.edu> .

12. PARTICIPANTS SOUGHT FOR STUDY ON LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL EXPERIENCES IN STUDY ABROAD – 3rd posting
Participants are sought for a study examining lesbian, gay, and bisexual experiences studying abroad. The data gathered from this study will describe the overall study abroad experience of LGB individuals and investigate how well the study abroad office is meeting students’ needs. This will involve one 1-2 hours interview at a time and location convenient and comfortable for participants. All interviews are confidential and voluntary. Participants must be 18 or older; self-identify as lesbian, gay, or bisexual, though it is it not necessary to be out; and have studied abroad through Virginia Tech in the past five years. All collected data will be for researcher’s thesis and resulting publications. IRB approved (IRB #14-900). Contact Megan Nanney at mnanney@vt.edu for more information.