1. WEEKLY WALK-IN SERVICES IN THE GLC – updated 1/19/16
- Career Services advising: on hiatus until spring; walk-in hours starting on Jan 27
- Cook Counseling: on hiatus this week
- Graduate School regular hours: 8:00am-5:00pm
- Immigration advising hours: MWF 1:00-5:00pm, TTh 9:00am-12:00pm
- LISA Statistical Consulting: TTh 11:00-1:00, F 10:00-12:00, Room A
- Writing assistance: Th 5:30-8:30, Room A
2. VT REC SPORTS FREE WEEK OF FITNESS – JAN 19-25
Take any Group Exercise, Small Group Training, or Instructional Dance class in McComas Hall or War Memorial Hall for free this week through Jan 25. Check out the schedule at: chrome-extension://oemmndcbldboiebfnladdacbdfmadadm/https://www.recsports.vt.edu/sites/drupal.recsports.vt.edu/files/pages/2016-01-11%2011%3A21/FreeWeekSpring16.pdf
3. BREAKFAST WITH THE DEAN
Wednesday, Jan 20, 8:30am-10:00am, GLC Room G
Stop by to chat with Karen DePauw – vice president for graduate education and dean of the Graduate School – and fellow graduate students while enjoying a light breakfast from Our Daily Bread! This event is come-and-go and free to all graduate students. Stay on the look-out for future "with the Dean" events throughout the school year. Hosted by the Graduate Student Assembly.
4. INTERVARSITY GRADUATE CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP – 1st SPRING MTG
Wednesday, Jan 20, 6:00-8:00pm, GLC Room C
InterVarsity Graduate Christian Fellowship <http://gcfvt.wordpress.com/> meets weekly for a free dinner and interactive Bible discussion. The conversation theme this spring is "True Freedom" from the book of Galatians. All are welcome!
5. THESIS THURSDAYS
Thursdays, starting Jan 21, 8:30am-3:30pm
Need a quiet space to work on your thesis, dissertation, or course work? Gotta study for exams? Absolutely have to get that article out, like, yesterday? Thesis Thursday is your answer! This weekly gathering is for grad students who want to keep accountable to a regular work time and need a guaranteed quiet place to work. Meet each Thursday just a few blocks off campus at 107 Church Street – 2nd floor of the State Farm office (entrance on Church Street). Free coffee and wi-fi, plus multiple spots to sit and study alone or in groups. Stop in any time during study hours. Limited parking available. For more details, contact grad student Morgan Franke at fmorg14@vt.edu.
6. PARENT INFO SESSION
Thursday, Jan 21, 10:00-11:00am, GLC Room D
Grad students with children, or who are expecting, or are planning to start a family are invited to this session to learn about current programs and initiatives that may help you. Email childcare@vt.edu for more info.
7. DISSECTING THE MOLECULAR MECHANISMS OF VOCAL LEARNING AND SPOKEN LANGUAGE: A PERSONAL JOURNEY FROM A DIVERSITY PERSPECTIVE"
Thursday, Jan 21, 3:30pm, Biocomplexity Institute (formerly VBI) Conference Room
This special Martin Luther King Week seminar is co-sponsored by multiple campus organizations and hosted by the Biological Sciences Diversity Committee, featuring Erich Jarvis, Department of Neurobiology at Duke University, as the speaker. The presentation will address discoveries that required a diverse set of scientific approaches, was benefitted by working with persons from diverse backgrounds, was influenced by the speaker’s upbringing at the height of the civil rights movement, and was fostered by taking both large collaborative and individualistic approaches.
8. GLC CAFÉ
Thursday, Jan 21, 3:30-5:00pm, GLC Reading Room
Enjoy all kinds of hot beverages and cookies in the company of your grad student and Grad School colleagues. Bring your own mug if you can!
9. STUDENT HEALTH AND WELLNESS FAIR
Friday, Jan 22, 11:00am-3:00pm, McComas Hall
Participate in the Student Health and Wellness Fair in McComas Hall and take advantage of health screenings, workouts, and opportunities to learn things about your health and wellness that you didn’t already know. Explore, plan, and open yourself to opportunities to better yourself in areas of wellness including emotional, environmental, occupational, cultural intellectual, physical, social, and spiritual. See http://www.recsports.vt.edu/content/student-health-and-wellness-fair-0 for details.
10. FREE DINNER & GAME NIGHT
Friday, Jan 22, 6:30-9:00pm, GLC Multipurpose Room
Come join fellow grad students for an evening of free food and fun! We will have a variety of card games, board games, video games and more. All are welcome, and you can come anytime. Sponsored by InterVarsity Graduate Christian Fellowship.
11. NEW YOU IN THE NRV
Saturday, Jan 23, 3:00-6:00pm, Blacksburg Rec Ctr, 725 Patrick Henry Drive
The Blacksburg Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. invites you to their event that provides free (1) health screenings, including blood pressure, blood glucose, and BMI; (2) fitness classes, including boot camp, Zumba and yoga; (3) smoothie demonstration; (4) treatment and consultation from certified and licensed massage therapist, chiropractor and acupuncturist; (5) health related giveaways! For more info contact bacdst@yahoo.com or visit www.bacdst13.org. Posted on behalf of BSE grad student Teneil Sivells.
12. ENGLISH CONVERSATION GROUPS AT CRANWELL
The Cranwell International Center offers multiple classes per week for anyone who wishes to improve their English and learn more about the local culture. They are open to Virginia Tech students, researchers, scholars, faculty, visitors and their dependents. Individuals can attend any number of classes per week. If you have any questions, email international@vt.edu. The conversation groups are free of charge and require no registration. See schedule: http://www.international.vt.edu/programs_and_activities/english_conversation_groups/index.html.
13. GSA RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM ABSTRACT SUBMISSION DEADLINE EXTENDED TO FEB 1 – 2nd posting
The deadline to submit abstracts for the 32nd annual GSA Research Symposium & Expo has been extended to Feb 1. The Graduate Student Assembly looks forward to receiving submissions from graduate and advanced undergraduate students from various disciplines for the theme of “Beyond Boundaries, Across Disciplines.” The symposium will be held Mar 23 in the Graduate Life Center. The top presentations will be awarded cash prizes! Submission guidelines and more information at: https://blogs.lt.vt.edu/graduatestudentassembly/graduate-research-symposium/. If you submitted an abstract prior to the original deadline of Jan 1, you will receive an email update from GSA by the end of this week. Please do NOT resubmit your abstract if you have already submitted. Send questions and/or concerns to gsa.symposium16@gmail.com.
14. VIRGINIA GOVERNOR’S FELLOWS PROGRAM – 2nd posting
For rising seniors, just graduated seniors and graduate students interested in learning more about the administration of state government. Full information at https://governor.virginia.gov/fellows/ A $2000 stipend is available through Career Services for any selected VT students. Contact Amy McPherson at amcphers@vt.edu for more information about the stipend.
15. CHILDCARE AVAILABLE FOR CHILDREN OF GRAD STUDENTS – 3rd posting
Spaces are available in the Little Hokie Hangout (LHH) parent-cooperative child care center for the Spring semester, open 8:30am-6:30pm this spring. LHH offers child care in an affordable and accessible way. Email to childcare@vt.edu to set up a time to come see the program and ask any questions you might have. Half-day tuition at LHH for the entire Spring semester is only $840.00! That’s a one-time charge for all 78 days that your child attends the program.
16. CALL FOR APPLICATIONS FOR GRADUATE STUDENT REP TO BOARD OF VISITORS – still posting
Applications for Graduate Student Representative to the VT Board of Visitors are accepted until Feb 12, 2016. All currently enrolled graduate students in good standing are encouraged to consider this great leadership and service opportunity to represent graduate students’ voices, needs and interest on the VT Board of Visitors. Learn more at http://www.dsa.vt.edu/BOV/apply.php.
17. NOMINATIONS FOR GRADUATE STUDENT AWARDS NOW OPEN – still 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 with your advisor/department for any of the following awards:
- 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/academics/awards/2015_2016.
18. GRAD ASSISTANT NEEDED IMMEDIATELY – 1st posting
VT research project team is seeking a Graduate Assistant this semester (and possible for summer) for data handling and analysis. The project is based on a grant from National Institute of Justice to empirically examine the so-called “school-to-prison pipeline theory”. The GA will work in an analysis team guided by Yasuo Miyazaki, associate professor in School of Education. Qualifications: responsible person with skills and experience in handling large-scale social and behavioral science data, including merging data files, data cleaning, aggregating and disaggregating data between individual student and school levels, and data analysis; working knowledge of linear models and measurement analysis; strong writing skills; SPSS knowledge and skills desirable. To apply, email CV that includes the description of the above qualifications, unofficial transcript with statistics-related courses and grades, and two names of references and their contact information to Yasuo Miyazaki (yasuom@vt.edu). Search will start immediately.
19. VOLUNTEERS SOUGHT FOR STUDY ON SIMULATED AUTOMOBILE ASSEMBLY TASKS – 1st posting
Requirements: Age 18-30; females only; no current or recent history (1 year) of musculoskeletal problems. Participants will be asked to perform a repetitive task simulating automotive trim assembly, involving striking activities with the hand/fist. The experiment will be done in a laboratory setting in the ISE department. Four sessions (one training + three data collection), compensation: $10 per hour for about 3 hours in each of four sessions + $20 bonus after completion. Contact Alireza Sedighi at 540-394-8441 or sedighia@vt.edu if interested.
20. VT HELPING PAWS IS RECRUITING VOLUNTEERS – 1st posting
VT Helping PAWS (Pet Assisted Wellness Service) is a therapy animal program at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine that provides an opportunity for students/faculty/staff and their pets to bring companionship and animal-assisted therapy for the community. The group visits Newman Library, Squires Student Center, and other places around campus on a regular basis. Join the organization and become a therapy team through Pet Partners, a national pet therapy organization. The current focus includes dogs & cats, but there is potential for other species such as rats, rabbits, & guinea pigs to be evaluated through Pet Partners. Volunteers who do not have their own pet are still welcome to help with training classes and at events! If interested, complete this survey: https://survey.vt.edu/survey/entry.jsp?id=1452557426692. There will be a Meet & Greet on Tuesday, Feb 2 at 6:00pm at the CMMID barn on Prices Fork Rd for the pets & their handlers interested in joining this semester’s training class. Contact Sara Boyle at petluv15@vt.edu with questions.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
FITNESS LAUNCH PARTY
Monday, Jan 25, 5:00-7:00pm, McComas Hall Single Gym
Join for back-to-back 20-minute samples of different fitness classes! Come and go as you please – it’s the perfect way to try new workout formats for the first time without committing to hour-long classes. If it doesn’t challenge you, it doesn’t change you. Event is free and open to the VT Community. Schedule and more details coming soon.
LUNCH WITH THE DEAN
Tuesday, Jan 26, 12:00-1:00pm, GLC Room C
Meet Grad School dean Karen P. DePauw and grad student leaders at this free lunch. Learn about the latest in grad education, share your perspective in a casual setting and ask any questions you may have. Registration is required at https://virginiatech.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_0jmOYgud9hDREGN
WRITING A WINNING RESUME
Wednesday, Jan 27, 5:30-6:30pm, GLC Room G
Career Services presents this workshop on how to make your resume competitive. This is the first session among four, and will be followed by interviewing skills (Feb 3), career fair prep (Feb 17), and a LinkedIn lab (Mar 16), all of which could be useful if you are getting ready to (re-)enter the job market.
A CONVERSATION ON RACE: UNITY & DIVERSITY ON CAMPUS
Wednesday, Jan 27, 6:30-8:00pm, GLC Multipurpose Room
What’s your experience of racial, ethnic, and cultural diversity at Virginia Tech? Join students and community members seeking a healthier campus climate through this interactive dinner and dialogue. Sponsored by InterVarsity Graduate Christian Fellowship. Please pre-register at: http://bit.ly/ConvOnRace16 to help the organizers order enough food. For more info contact Shavonn Whiten shavonnw@vt.edu.
GLC MOVIE NIGHT: BEFORE SUNRISE
Wednesday, Jan 27, 7:15-9:15pm, GLC Room F
It’s time for the first GLC movie night of the semester, hosted by the Graduate Fellows! "Before Sunrise" is a classic (check out the trailer at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9v6X-Dytlko). Small trivia: It is the 21st anniversary of the movie’s release. Snacks and sodas will be provided. If you have any questions, email Shiwani Dewal at shiwanid@vt.edu.
WRITING CENTER INFORMATION SESSIONS ON FORMING WRITING SUPPORT GROUPS
Thursday, Jan 28, 12:30-1:00, GLC Room D
Friday, Jan 29, 12:30-1:00, GLC Room D
Do you need some support with writing your thesis, dissertation, journal articles, and more? Would you like some help finding other graduate students to form a writing support group? The Writing Center and the Graduate School are facilitating the forming of writing support groups. Attend one of these information sessions to learn how a writing group may help you stay on task, how to become a member of a writing group, and other techniques that may help you along the way. Can’t make it to the above dates? Two more sessions to on Feb 11 and 12 in the GLC.