1. WEEKLY WALK-IN SERVICES IN THE GLC – last updated 1/17/2017
– Career Advising: W 2:00-5:00pm, Info kiosk in lobby
– Cook Counseling: Th, F 1:00-5:00pm, Green Room
– Graduate School regular hours: 8:00am-5:00pm;
– Immigration advising hours: MWF 1:00-5:00pm, TTh 9:00am-12:00pm;
– Writing assistance: reserve appointment at http://www.lib.vt.edu/spaces/writing/.
2. PARENT SUPPORT LUNCHEON
Wednesday, Jan 18, 12:00-1:30, GLC Room F
Join the next Parent Support Luncheon meeting for a free lunch and an opportunity to discuss things like sleep habits, food preferences, pre-natal and post-partum care, and other topics with an expert, as well as with fellow graduate students! RSVP at http://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0e4fabaa28a1ff2-january1. Partners/spouses and children are always welcome!
3. GLC CAFÉ
Thursday, Jan 19, 3:30-5:00pm, GLC Reading Room
Enjoy free coffee, tea, and cookies in the company of fellow graduate students and Grad School staff; network, socialize, relax!
4. INAUGURATE RESISTANCE
Friday, Jan 20, 10:00am-4:00pm, The Lyric Theater
Join fellow students, faculty, local activists and performers for a day of teaching, learning, organizing, and preparing in the face of dangers to communities and planet posed by the new administration. Panels will cover: climate/environment/energy, communities under threat, foreign policy/trade/globalization, economic inequality/labor/jobs, sexuality/reproductive rights/violence against women, and building a movement. Find more at Facebook @ Inaugurate Resistance. Posted on behalf of grad student Anthony Szczurek, anthos9@vt.edu.
5. WELLFEST 2017
Friday, Jan 20, 1:30-5:00pm, McComas Hall
WellFest, the 2017 Student Health and Wellness Fair offered by RecSports, gives you the opportunity to explore your overall wellbeing. Exhibitors from on and off campus will be available to help you learn ways to thrive. Free massages, giveaways and a chance to win prizes such as an apple watch, amazon echo, chacos, eno hammock, beats headphones, and more! Learn more at http://www.recsports.vt.edu/announcements/wellfest17.html .
6. INAUGURATE RESISTANCE VIGIL
Friday, Jan 20, 5:00pm
Following the program at The Lyric, gather at the corner of N. Main and College St. at 4:30 for a vigil, to be followed at 5:00 PM with a march through downtown Blacksburg and campus. Bring your signs, your voices, and dress warm! Let’s build a community! Posted on behalf of grad student Anthony Szczurek, anthos9@vt.edu.
7. QGPA WELCOME BACK GAME NIGHT
Friday, Jan 20, 5:30-7:300pm, GLC Room B
Join Queer Grads, Professionals and Allies (QGPA) for their first game night of the semester. Feel free to bring your favorite game. Snacks will be provided. Questions? Email qgpaVT@gmail.com.
8. WELLNESS COOKING CLASSES – REGISTER NOW!
Enjoy the hands-on experience of preparing easy, nutritious meals for yourself, improve your cooking skills, learn new techniques, and develop healthy cooking and eating strategies – all in a fun, social environment. All classes are 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm and only $5- this includes a meal and recipe booklet- in Wallace 405. Sign up at https://connect.recsports.vt.edu/ is required and spaces are limited. Cooking themes and dates for Spring 2017 are (1) Date Night Dinners: Feb 1 or 2; (2) Healthier Comfort Foods: Mar 15 or 16; (3) Multicultural Night: Apr 19 or 20. Posted on behalf of RecSports.
9. HAPPINESS GROUPS – 1st posting
Happiness Groups are practical and empowering programs based on the book “The How of Happiness: A New Approach to Getting the Life You Want” by Sonja Lyubomirsky. The concepts in this book are based on years of groundbreaking scientific research about what does and does not make people truly (and sustainably) happy. If you are interested in joining, register at: https://docs.google.com/a/vt.edu/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd93gZ8KfDYJ8Q7B7O40c7VBGvegQAJACxaMSwIgvcW0JQnVw/viewform . Posted on behalf of RecSports.
10. SUBMISSIONS INVITED FOR SOCIOLOGY UGRAD/GRAD RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM – 1st posting
Paper and poster submissions are invited that address issues in sociology and related fields. Direct inquiries to Megan Nanney (mnanney@vt.edu) and Talitha Rose (tkrose@vt.edu). Abstracts are due Friday, Feb 24, 5pm and may be submitted at https://goo.gl/forms/O2BQZMbC16Q9cCRf2 . The symposium will be held on Friday, Mar 17, in McBryde 655 with the theme “Interrogating Inequalities, Transgressing Boundaries” to highlight undergraduate and graduate student research and provide a venue for students to practice their presentation skills.
11. ABSTRACT SUBMISSIONS INVITED FOR GSA RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM – 1st posting
The Graduate Student Assembly (GSA) Research Symposium and Expo on Mar 29 is a unique opportunity for graduate students and advanced undergraduate students to bring together ideas and research findings from different disciplines and showcase their scholarly pursuits and achievements. This year’s theme: Fusion — Diversifying, Connecting and Amalgamating Perspectives Across Disciplines. Submit abstracts and proposals for poster presentations, talk presentations and creative installations (e.g., performances or showcases) at http://tinyurl.com/jfa9xsm from Jan 17 through Feb 1, 11:59 pm EST. Submissions from graduate and advanced undergraduate students (final year of undergraduate study) are welcome. Questions? Email: gsasymp@gmail.com <mailto:gsasymp@gmail.com> .
12. CONTRIBUTIONS SOUGHT FOR INTERLOPER MAGAZINE – 1st posting
The Interloper, VT’s LGBTQ magazine, is looking for enthusiastic, hard-working contributors for its 6th issue. Need editors, writers, artists, photographers, and designers. If interested in getting involved, email Megan Nanney at theinterlopervt@gmail.com <mailto:theinterlopervt@gmail.com> . Also check out information regarding open positions for the magazine on Facebook. There will be a general interest meeting on Sunday, Jan 29 at 4:00pm in the Intercultural Engagement Center in Squires. Bring your friends and learn how you can get involved in the magazine!
13. APPLICATIONS ACCEPTED FOR BOV GRAD REP POSITION – 1st posting
Applications for Graduate Student Representative to the VT Board of Visitors are accepted until Feb 10, 2017. 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 www.dsa.vt.edu/BOV/apply <http://www.dsa.vt.edu/BOV/apply> .
14. NOMINATIONS FOR GRADUATE STUDENT AWARDS NOW OPEN – 1st 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) STEM fields (1) social sciences/business/humanities
- Preston Society Master’s Thesis Awards (3)
- GTA Excellence (1) instructor of record (1) GTA instructor assistant
- Graduate Student Service Excellence
- Graduate Student of the Year (up to three)
- 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/about/awards/student.html .
15. NOMINATE OUTSTANDING FACULTY MENTOR(S) FOR MENTOR AWARD – 1st posting
The Graduate School is introducing this new award to recognize one faculty member from each college for their role in supporting, encouraging, and promoting a positive and inclusive scholarly and teaching environment, and for contributing to professional and personal development of graduate students within or outside their research or degree programs. Learn more about the award and nomination process at http://graduateschool.vt.edu/about/awards/outstanding-mentor-award.html
16. CALL FOR THINK-TANK PARTICIPANTS: POLITICS + DESIGNED PRODUCTS – 1st posting
Ever used a product or piece of technology that felt like it wasn’t designed with you in mind? Have ideas for educational resources or strategies to help science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) students learn that their work has social and political impact? If you are interested in discussing these ideas with others over the course of 2-3 meetings this semester, email grad student Darren (dmaczka@vt.edu <mailto:dmaczka@vt.edu> ). Exact dates to be decided, but expect lunch to be provided.
17. SUBMISSIONS INVITED FOR STUDENT BLOG REFLECTIONS AND EXPLORATIONS – 1st posting
Graduate students are invited to submit writing to the student blog RE: Reflections and Explorations. Past articles have focused on issues linked to democratic policy, society, and governance (see https://blogs.lt.vt.edu/reflectionsandexplorations/). Submissions encouraged from all disciplines with critical reflections and explorations of current events, ideologies, acts of resistance and oppression, and beyond. The RE column appears weekly and everyone who signs up is responsible for writing one article during the spring semester. Your entry will be a topic of your choosing and total approximately 1,000 words. The first article will appear on Jan 26.Complete doodle poll at http://doodle.com/poll/ecf3reyx9ksu82ig to sign up for a week. Slots will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Posted on behalf of grad student Mary Ryan, maryryan@vt.edu <mailto:maryryan@vt.edu> .
18. GERMAN SCHOLARSHIPS & RESEARCH INTERNSHIPS IN SCI & ENGR – 1st posting
The DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) offers scholarships for research internships in science and engineering. More information and application details can be found here: https://www.daad.de/rise/en/rise-professional/. Deadline to apply is Jan 31.
19. APPLICATIONS OPEN FOR ACADEMY FOR GRAD TEACHING EXCELLENCE – 2nd posting
VTGrATE (Academy for Graduate Teaching Assistant Excellence) welcomes applications for Member, Associate, and Fellow in its learning community. VTGrATE provides advanced education and training in innovative teaching and learning strategies and provides a space to recognize excellence in teaching by graduate students. Membership is open to all graduate and professional students. Apply at https://virginiatech.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_cJfV4Y4ZXU6cK6p ; faculty nomination/recommendation form is at https://virginiatech.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_7VBTYNmHD7YRSWF. Everything is due by 11:59pm on Saturday, Jan 28. Contact Nicole J. Johnson at nicj712@vt.edu <mailto:nicj712@vt.edu> with questions.
20. AETNA STUDENT HEALTH INSURANCE OPEN ENROLLMENT – 2nd posting
Spring enrollment is open for new students starting in Spring 2017 and students who didn’t enroll in the fall. Deadline: Jan 31, 2017. Contact the Student Medical Insurance office with questions at smi@vt.edu, 231-6226. Visit their website at http://risk.controller.vt.edu/studentmedicalinsurance.html for more info.
21. SPRING COURSE OPEN: GRAD 5304 – PREPARING CAREER PROFESSIONALS – 2nd posting
Learn about leadership, communication, team building and collaboration, ethics and professional standards, management strategies, and more in industrial settings in this interdisciplinary course offered by the Graduate School every spring. Speakers from different fields, including company CEOs and vice presidents, faculty members and alumni who started successful businesses, and others who have had different experiences, will share their insights and tips with graduate students. Sign up now!
22. SPRING COURSE OPEN 2: GRAD 5404 RESEARCH IN INTERNATIONAL CONTEXTS – 2nd posting
Offered by the Graduate School, this course gives students different perspectives through discussions of opportunities, challenges and contexts for participation in international research. Topics include international aspects of intellectual property and copyright law, trade law, export control, research ethics, research funding, protection of human and animal subjects. Through discussions and presentations by faculty members from disciplines and who have worked on international initiatives in many different countries, students learn of cultural dimensions of collaboration including work requirements, varying systems of higher education and research, and work-life expectations and logistics for research abroad. Sign up now!
23. CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS FOR EXHIBITION OF CULTURES – 2nd posting
Virginia Tech is proud of the rich variety of multi-cultural and international experiences and perspectives students bring and share. To celebrate our multi-cultural environment and learn more about one another, the College of Architecture and Urban Studies is hosting an exhibit of traditional clothing and accessories associated with New Year celebrations around the world. Items will be showcased in a week-long exhibition accentuated by a fashion show held during the opening reception. Register by Jan 30. Exhibition will be held in the Art + Architecture Library Feb 13-17. To share clothing, artifacts, accessories, etc associated with New Year from your culture, or for more information, visit: https://goo.gl/ij2yVE . Submissions will be reviewed and examples will be selected for the exhibit. If your submission is selected, you will receive additional info. Contact Shabnam Kavousi at Shabnamk@vt.edu with questions.
24. CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS FOR COMMUNITY CHANGE ONLINE JOURNAL – 3rd posting
Community Change, an online, peer-reviewed, graduate student journal that seeks to explore multiple approaches to democratic community development and change is accepting applications for its inaugural issue. Issues will feature scholarly refereed articles, book reviews, essays, interviews and other work, including multimedia and artwork. Interdisciplinary work is strongly encouraged. In addition to manuscripts relating to new developments, submissions that re-examine or challenge the questions and assumptions underpinning current theoretical and practical approaches to community development and change are also welcome. Submission deadline: Feb 6, 2017. For more information, visit www.communitychange.ipg.vt.edu <http://www.communitychange.ipg.vt.edu> . Posted on behalf of D’Elia Chandler, delia3@exchange.vt.edu <mailto:delia3@exchange.vt.edu> .
25. STUDENT INSTRUCTORS SOUGHT FOR CULINARY CLASSES – 1st posting
Do you want to teach how to cook food from your country? Student instructors are sought for culinary classes offered through a Diversity Scholars project. The class duration will be about two hours, and supplies and help will be offered. If interested, please contact Soo at soojeong@vt.edu <mailto:soojeong@vt.edu> by Jan 31.
26. VT HELPING PAWS IS RECRUITING VOLUNTEERS – 1st posting
VT Helping PAWS (Pet Assisted Wellness Service) is a therapy-animal program that provides an opportunity for students/faculty/staff and their pets to bring companionship and animal-assisted therapy to the VT and greater community. The group visits Squires Student Center, GLC, local nursing homes, libraries, and other places on a regular basis. Join the organization and become a therapy team through Pet Partners, a national pet therapy organization. Teams with a variety of pets including dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, birds, mini horses, and more are welcome to join through Pet Partners. Volunteers who do not have their own pet are still welcome to help with training classes and at events! There will be an interest meeting at the Blacksburg Library on Monday, Jan 23 at 6 PM. Please RSVP at www.tinyurl.com/vthpaws <http://www.tinyurl.com/vthpaws> . Contact vthelpingpaws@vt.edu with questions. Posted on behalf of Sara Boyle, petluv15@vt.edu.
27. PARTICIPANTS SOUGHT FOR DIETARY STUDY IN HNFE – 1st posting
VT researchers are conducting a study to determine the validity of an updated dietary intake assessment method (questionnaire). You may be eligible to participate if you are 18 or older. The study involves 3 visits (over a one month period) to the VT Campus. Each visit is less than 30 minutes and will include 3 urine samples to measure hydration status and a short demographics survey. Participants will complete several questionnaires on beverage intake frequency, leisure-time physical activity, and health literacy level. The study will also include 2 dietary recalls by phone, each lasting 10-15 min. Compensation: $15 upon successful completion of all visits. Contact Anna in the Dietary Assessment Laboratory at 540-231-4386 or annalg16@vt.edu <mailto:annalg16@vt.edu> for more info.
28. PARTICIPANTS NEEDED FOR STUDY ON TRACKING MOTIONS OF HUMAN HAND – 2nd posting
Participants are sought for a study on tracking a set of human hand motions. Participants will perform a set of tasks involving basic hand motions and surgical motions including motions with a scalpel handle (without blade) and wearing a non-latex medical glove. Must be 18-35 years old, right-handed, no current or recent history (within 3 months) of musculoskeletal problems, not allergic to double sided tape. Experiments will take about 3 hours (2 sessions with ~1.5h for each) and will be conducted in the Occupational Ergonomics and Biomechanics Lab in the ISE department. Participation is voluntary and confidential. Compensation: $10/hr plus an additional $20 for completing the study. If interested, contact Anqi Wang at anqiw93@vt.edu <mailto:anqiw93@vt.edu> or phone at (540) 998-8965.
Upcoming events:
OLYMPIC TAEKWONDO CLUB AT VT OPEN WORKOUT
Monday, Jan 23, 8:00pm-9:00pm, 915 Hethwood Boulevard
Ever wanted to try a martial art? Need a break from working on you research and thesis? Now’s your chance! The Olympic Taekwondo Club is holding an open workout for anyone who is interested in trying taekwondo. No experience is necessary and everyone is welcome. For more information, contact grad student Casey Denham at cldenham@vt.edu <mailto:cldenham@vt.edu> .
LUNCH WITH THE DEAN
Tuesday, Jan 24, 12:00-1:00pm, GLC Room C
Meet Graduate School Dean Dr. Karen DePauw and graduate student leaders at a free lunch. Learn about the latest in graduate education and share your perspectives in a casual setting. Sign-up here: https://virginiatech.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_afRjZ87dsfCCNkp
WRITING A WINNING RESUME
Tuesday, Jan 24, 4:00-5:00pm, GLC Room G
Having a well-polished resume is the most critical step toward getting an interview. Start early to be ready for spring career fairs and on-campus interviews. Email Katie Beach at katieatc@vt.edu if you have questions.