July 27-August 2, 2020

REVIEW THE FAQs REGARDING COVID-19 DIRECTIVES AT https://graduateschool.vt.edu/covid-faqs.html.

Ongoing Services – updated 7/20/20

This Week’s Events:
1.VIRTUAL HEALING SPACES FOR THE BLACK COMMUNITY: UPLIFTING THE COMMUNITY AFTER A TRAGIC LOSS
2. CAREER ROUNDTABLE FOR RECENT GRADS
3. CHINESE STUDENT SUPPORT GROUP
4. NRV SCIENCE ON TAP: CELEBRATES BLACK SCIENTISTS

Administrative Announcements:
5. TEAM SCIENCE CLASS, ALCE 5224 (FALL 2020) – 1st posting
6. GTA WORKSHOP (GRAD 5004) REGISTRATION – 1st posting
7. HARVEST AND TAKE HOME VEGETABLES – 1st posting
8. GRADUATE STUDENTS INVITED TO SUBMIT WRITING – 2nd posting
9. SIGN-UP FOR GRAD 5124 (FALL 2020) – 2nd posting
10. P.E.O. SCHOLAR AWARD FOR 2020-2021 – 3rd posting

Jobs:
11. BUILDING MANAGER POSTION AT THE GRADUATE LIFE CENTER FOR FALL 2020 – 2nd posting
12. GA OPPORTUNITY: VIRGINIA TECH TRIO PROGRAMS – 3rd posting

Volunteers and research participants sought:
13. PARTICIPANTS NEEDED FOR AUGMENTED REALITY SURVEY- 2nd posting
14. PARTICIPANTS NEEDED FOR EVALUATING AUDITORY DISPLAY EXPERIMENT – 2nd posting
15. PARTICIPANTS NEEDED FOR BEVERAGE CONSUMPTION STUDY – 2nd posting
16. PARTICIPANTS NEEDED FOR TECHNOLOGY-MEDIATED RECREATION SURVEY – 3rd posting

Upcoming Events:

17. TLOS COURSES AVAILABLE
18. INTRODUCTORY PROGRAMMING AND DATA SKILLS WORKSHOPS
19. CETL & TLOS FALL COURSE DESIGN CLINIC FOR GTAs AND INSTRUCTORS

0. Ongoing Services – updated 5/11/20
· ALL WEEKLY DROP-IN SERVICES HAVE BEEN SUSPENDED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE 
· CAREER ADVISING: schedule virtual career advising appointment via https://career.vt.edu/job-search/Handshake.html
· COOK COUNSELING: Contact McComas Hall offices at mailto:counseling@vt.edu or 540-231-6557
· IMMIGRATION ADVISING: email mailto:international@vt.edu or call 540.231.6527. (updated)
· WRITING CENTER SERVICES: Schedule an appointment at https://vt.mywconline.com/ 
· GRADUATE OMBUDSPERSON: contact for appointment
at mailto:gradstudentombud@vt.edu, 540-231-9573

1. VIRTUAL HEALING SPACES FOR THE BLACK COMMUNITY: UPLIFTING THE COMMUNITY AFTER A TRAGIC LOSS
Tuesday, July 28, 6pm
This program focuses on unique ways in which the national crisis impacts students, a space to process emotions, an opportunity to learn self-care related skills, and community. Email yasmin18@vt.edu or camen@vt.edu of Cook Counseling Center for the zoom link.

2. CAREER ROUNDTABLE FOR RECENT GRADS
Wednesday, July 29, 12-1pm
Career and Professional Development is hosting a live Q&A webinar to address job search concerns from May and August 2020 graduates of Virginia Tech. We know searching for a job in the midst of a pandemic & recession is no easy task; that is why our panel of career advisors and employer relations experts are teaming up to answer your pressing questions about applying, interviewing, and negotiating your first post-graduate job. Register & submit your questions for the panel here: vt.joinhandshake.com/events/527264/share_preview. Questions about this event may be directed to Alyssa Rametta, Assistant Director for Career and Professional Development: alyssarametta@vt.edu

3. CHINESE STUDENT SUPPORT GROUP
Wednesday, July 29, 1:30-3:30pm
Dr. Claire Shen with Cook Counseling will be starting a weekly support group for Chinese students. This group will be using Mandarin Chinese. If you are a Chinese speaking student or know any Chinese speaking students, please sign-up and encourage others to do so! Sign-up here: https://tinyurl.com/y8685vgm

4. NRV SCIENCE ON TAP: CELEBRATES BLACK SCIENTISTS
Thursday, July 30, 5:30-6:30PM. Zoom
Join five Black scientists from different fields, institutions, and career levels as they share their experiences in science and academic professions. Each panelist will introduce themselves, their research passions, and their workplace concerns, and then we’ll hold an audience Q&A. Our panelists are Amber Wendler, Daniel Smith, Korin Jones, Dr. Emmanuel Frimpong, and Dr. Shaz Zamore. Register via Zoom at https://virginiatech.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJEvfu2urTssEtOVz_KBuIynSq0dMGxgQeEE

5. TEAM SCIENCE CLASS, ALCE 5224 (FALL 2020)- 1st posting
Advance your skills for interdisciplinary teaming!  Sign up in Hokie SPA for ALCE 5224: Team Science, Cooperation, and Interdisciplinary Work (CRN 90609). This is only the second time the course has been offered, and we plan more focus on “extreme teaming.”  The learning opportunity will be enhanced with broad participation. If you have questions, contact Eric Kaufman, ekaufman@vt.edu.

6. GTA WORKSHOP (GRAD 5004) REGISTRATION – 1st posting
A reminder that students who will be teaching assistants this fall and who have not already successfully completed GRAD 5004 in previous semesters should be signed up for the GTA Workshop for fall, 2020. Remember that students cannot sign themselves up for this class; students should contact their department/program graduate coordinators and ask to be registered for the class. Deadline for registration for this fall is August 14. More information about the GTA Workshop, including the link to the signup page (for graduate coordinators only) can be found here: https://graduateschool.vt.edu/academics/courses-and-scheduling/graduate-school-courses/gta-workshop.html

7. HARVEST AND TAKE HOME VEGETABLES – 1st posting
Help harvest vegetables at the Turfgrass Research Center and take home leafy greens, summer squash, cucumbers, and green beans. Harvest time is Thursdays at 6pm. Students should contact John Galbraith to arrange to meet at the garden and/or learn where/when to pick up the food. Contact John at 540.392.1184 or ttcf@vt.edu.

8. GRADUATE STUDENTS INVITED TO SUBMIT WRITING – 2nd posting
The online platform for graduate student essays, RE: Reflections and Explorations, offered through the VT Institute for Policy and Governance (VTIPG), is a great vehicle to share your research ideas and work with a broader audience and to hone your analytical and writing capabilities too. All VT graduate students are eligible to offer essays as long as they address a policy, politics or governance issue or concern. Please read the submission guidelines here: https://docs.google.com/document/u/0/d/1FkKKB8IDxpMLM-EnJvvNTfUqxsvLkVIwo-yCJ2T28ls/edit?usp=sharing&pli=1  Dr. Max Stephenson, Professor of Public and International Affairs and Director of VTIPG, serves as editor and final arbiter of all submissions. Sign up now for a time slot for publication that suits your schedule using this Google Spreadsheet. When you sign up, please also send a brief 100-150 word abstract outlining what topic or concern you believe you will be considering in your submission to Heather Parrish (parrish1@vt.edu). That effort should provide a working title and clearly treat what policy or governance issue you expect to consider and suggest why it is significant. Available dates will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Questions? Please contact Ms. Parrish at the Institute for Policy and Governance.

9. SIGN-UP FOR GRAD 5124 (FALL 2020) – 2nd posting
Take your research to the next level! Sign up in Hokie SPA for GRAD 5124: Research Skills for Graduate Students, a 1-credit, pass/fail, fully-online course offered by University Libraries in fall 2020. Five discipline-specific sections are offered: Agriculture, Veterinary Medicine, & Life Sciences; Engineering & Physical Sciences; Health Sciences; Social & Behavioral Sciences; and Arts & Humanities. Be sure to sign up for the section that relates to your subject area. Questions? Contact Lisa Becksford at lisab5@vt.edu.

10. P.E.O. SCHOLAR AWARD FOR 2020-2021 – 3rd posting
P.E.O. International is a philanthropic education organization that provides financial aid for the education of women. These merit-based scholarships offer $15,000 for outstanding women in doctoral programs. More information about the scholarship and the application process can be found here: https://graduateschool.vt.edu/funding/types-of-funding/funding-opportunities/PEO.html

11. BUILDING MANAGER POSTION AT THE GRADUATE LIFE CENTER FOR FALL 2020 – 2nd 
posting
SECL building managers oversee daily operations of the GLC by monitoring service, safety, and security of this space created for graduate students. Duties include walking rounds, responding to issues, and completing reports, in addition to the facilitation of the co-curricular and administrative programs of the student center services and their events. GLC building managers are directly responsible for event management bookings, opening & closing of the building, and submitting of facility work orders and daily reports. Building managers must possess strong communication and customer service skills, along with the ability to move event equipment (tables and chairs). Currently we are looking for flexible staff members that are willing to work at least two shifts a week and have weekend availability. Building managers are paid $12/hr. To apply, please visit Virginia Tech’s Handshake page https://career.vt.edu/job-search/Handshake.html .  Search for the “SECL – Graduate Life Center Building Manager” position.   If you have any questions, please email Steve Buchner (satlbuch@vt.edu). 

12. GA OPPORTUNITY: VIRGINIA TECH TRIO PROGRAMS – 3rd posting
Virginia Tech TRIO Programs is hiring a Graduate Assistant for the 2020-2021 academic year to assist the Upward Bound programs and Talent Search. These federally-funded educational opportunity programs help middle and high school students, veterans, and out-of-school clients overcome academic, social, and cultural barriers to postsecondary education. This is an academic year position (August to May) for 20 hours per week, and includes tuition remission and stipend (Step 10). Candidates must be able to successfully pass a criminal and driving background check, and will need to possess a valid driver’s license. Application review will begin on July 10th and will continue until the position is filled. Please apply through Handshake (#3732326 TRIO Programs Graduate Assistant).

13. PARTICIPANTS NEEDED FOR AUGMENTED REALITY SURVEY- 2nd posting
The 3D Interaction (3DI) research group at Virginia Tech invites you to participate in an online survey. Our team is investigating promising ways to interact with Augmented Reality displays in the future. In the survey, we would ask you to provide feedback on a video prototype we developed that showcases our visions of using Augmented Reality interfaces in everyday scenarios. The survey should take less than 30 minutes. Here is the link to the survey: https://virginiatech.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9t0ImMk5rCA9Gw5. Participants need to be at least 18 years of age and proficient English speakers. To participants who are students at Virginia Tech, your involvement in the study will not impact your grades or academic performance in any way. If you have any questions about the study, please contact Feiyu Lu at feiyulu@vt.edu. This experiment has been reviewed, as required, by the Virginia Tech Institutional Review Board under protocol #20-519.

14. PARTICIPANTS NEEDED FOR EVALUATING AUDITORY DISPLAY EXPERIMENT – 2nd posting
Volunteers needed for the Mind Music Machine Lab’s study in evaluating in-vehicle auditory. This is a Virginia Tech research study (IRB Number: 19-642). The objective of this study is to evaluate usability and user perception on in-vehicle auditory displays. During the study, you will be asked to rate different auditory dis plays based on subjective measures. Eligibility: Normal or corrected-to-normal vision and hearing; You will be excluded if you are a minor, a prisoner or an adult not capable to consent on their own behalf. The study should take about 1 hour. Participation in this study is voluntary and confidential, you will not be compensated for taking part in this study. If you are interested in participating, please contact Chihab Nadri (cnadri@vt.edu).

15. PARTICIPANTS NEEDED FOR BEVERAGE CONSUMPTION STUDY – 2nd posting
The Dietary Assessment Lab of Professor Valisa E. Hedrick, PhD., RDN., is conducting a study (Research Study: 20-237)to determine the effects of online social support on beverage consumption behaviors. You may be eligible to participate if you are 18 years of age or older, are an employee or paid graduate student of Virginia Tech, and have access to the internet through a mobile phone, computer or tablet. All study procedures will take place online and at your convenience. The study involves self-reported weight & height, as well as a short demographics survey. Participants will be asked to complete several questionnaires on topics such as beverage consumption and social media usage. Participants will be entered into a raffle with a 1 in 10 chance to win a $50 Visa gift card upon successful completion of all virtual study visits over a 12-week period. For more information and to complete eligibility screening, please contact PhD student researcher, Anna Fausnacht at annalg16@vt.edu

16. PARTICIPANTS NEEDED FOR TECHNOLOGY-MEDIATED RECREATION SURVEY – 3rd posting
Volunteers (aged 18 and up) are needed to take part in a Virginia Tech research study titled “Technology-mediated‌ ‌recreation‌ ‌-‌ ‌habits‌ ‌and‌ ‌perspectives‌ ‌before, during,‌ ‌and‌ ‌after‌ ‌COVID-19‌” (IRB Protocol #20-318). If you agree to be in this study you will be asked to complete an online survey.  This survey study aims to learn about strategies, habits, and perspectives, with respect to your current (and desired) approach to maintaining connections with nature and loved ones, through the use of technology, before, during, and after COVID-19. The survey will take between 20 minutes to 25 minutes to complete.  Participants will be entered into a drawing for one of four $25 Amazon gift cards (the approximate odds of being selected are 1 in 100). https://virginiatech.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6VDruf5C5GmEDlj For more information, please email Derek Haqq at dhaqq@vt.edu.

17. TLOS COURSES AVAILABLETechnology Enhanced Learning and Online Strategies (TLOS) has two courses with openings coming up. If you are interested in either of these courses, or would like to browse upcoming courses you can access our catalogue: https://profdev.tlos.vt.edu/ Contact Nikki Edwards at nikkie@vt.edu if you have questions.
August 3 – How can I use iClicker in a hybrid or fully online course?  2:00pm -3:00pm
August 6 – TopHat’s Virtual Classroom Tool 2:00pm – 4:00pm

18. INTRODUCTORY PROGRAMMING AND DATA SKILLS WORKSHOPS 
Get a jump start before classes start on learning the programming, version control and data skills you need for your classes and research with a two-day online Software Carpentry workshop through the University Libraries!  Workshops will take place the weeks of August 3rd and August 17th and involve interactive hands-on instruction by certified trainers with no experience necessary. We will cover foundations of working with the command prompt (Bash/Unix), version control (Git) and programming in either Python or R. Find out more and sign up at https://calendar.lib.vt.edu/calendar/events/. For questions or additional information, email Data Education Coordinator Nathaniel Porter (ndporter@vt.edu).

19. CETL & TLOS FALL COURSE DESIGN CLINIC FOR GTAs AND INSTRUCTORS
The Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL) and Technology Enhanced Learning and Online Strategies (TLOS) are offering course design clinics to help instructors and GTAs plan for an environment requiring flexibility between remote and face to face instruction. The workshops are being offered multiple times this summer. Please enroll at the links below to participate. Contact the VT Graduate Academy for Teaching Excellence (VTGrATE) if you have questions (mailto:vtgrate@vt.edu) or find us online at vtgrate.org.
August 10th: https://profdev.tlos.vt.edu/courses/cetl11-081020
August 17th: https://profdev.tlos.vt.edu/courses/cetl11-081720