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.CETL & TLOS FALL COURSE DESIGN CLINIC FOR GTAs AND INSTRUCTORS
2. BEAT STRESS WITH FREE GUIDED MEDITATION
3. MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR BLACK INDIVIDUALS OPEN ZOOM CONFERENCE
Administrative Announcements:
4. TLOS CLASSES – MANY SPOTS OPEN OVER NEXT FEW WEEKS – 1st posting
5. HOKIE READY APP AND STUDENT CHECKLIST – 1st posting
6. NEW EVENING ONLY (EO) PARKING PERMITS AVAILABLE – 1st posting
7. APPLICATIONS FOR GSA PROGRAM CHAIRS NOW OPEN – 1st posting
8. COMPREHENSIVE FEE PAYMENT PLAN FOR STUDENTS ON ASSISTANTSHIP – 2nd posting
9. MESSAGE FROM UNIVERSITY SCHOLARSHIPS AND FINANCIAL AID – 2nd posting
10. NEW PROCEDURES FOR REQUESTING REDUCED COMPREHENSIVE FEES – 2nd posting
11. TEAM SCIENCE CLASS, ALCE 5224 (FALL 2020) – 3rd posting
12. GTA WORKSHOP (GRAD 5004) REGISTRATION – 3rd posting
Jobs:
13. GA OPPORTUNITY IN LIBRARY & CEE – 1st posting
14. REIMAGINING diVersiTY GRADUATE STUDENT WAGE POSITION – 2nd posting
Volunteers and research participants sought:
15. PARTICIPANTS NEEDED FOR ONLINE DANCE CLASS – 1st posting
Upcoming Events:
16. INTRODUCTORY PROGRAMMING AND DATA SKILLS WORKSHOPS –week of Aug 17
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. 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
2. BEAT STRESS WITH FREE GUIDED MEDITATION
Wednesdays in August, 6pm est, Online
Come release stress and experience some inner peace with a free weekly guided meditation. These meditation sessions, led by trained and experienced facilitators, are an effortless way to relax and take a break from this constant worrying mind of ours. Sponsored by the SKY Happiness Club. Register here to receive a meeting invite: https://forms.gle/shHyxTJY7G9usqfM6
3. MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR BLACK INDIVIDUALS OPEN ZOOM CONFERENCE
Thursday, August 13, 6pm, Zoom
The Psychology Department’s Stress and Coping Lab is working to provide more accessible and effective therapy and assessment services to black individuals at Virginia Tech and in the community at the Psychological Services Center (PSC). In order to provide more tailored and informed care, we want to hear from black individuals in the VT community about ideas they may have in order to make mental health services more accessible and helpful during an open Zoom conference led by Dr. Russell T. Jones and graduate student Brianna George. Please register ahead and join us on August 13th at 6pm at this link: https://virginiatech-hipaa.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJcvf–tpz4sH9Az4SNQpW11z7tvSPfRUbJP and/or fill out our survey at this link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1AssLOfaf5gqhLNw-zPFIN0cQLOBMWj0dFOynW90_ImY/edit?ts=5f28d6a3. Contact Brianna at georgeba@vt.edu for questions.
4. TLOS CLASSES – MANY SPOTS OPEN OVER NEXT FEW WEEKS – 1st posting
Technology-enhanced Learning and Online Strategies has spots open for many Professional Development Network courses over the next two weeks. Classes include “Zoom for Teaching”, “Fall Course Design Clinic,” “How to use iThenticate” and many more. Descriptions of the courses, as well as the link to enroll can be found here: https://profdev.tlos.vt.edu/
5. HOKIE READY APP AND STUDENT CHECKLIST – 1st posting
Students should check out the student checklist on the VT Ready website here https://vt.edu/ready/student-checklist.html This site includes links to the Hokie Ready app and a health survey.
6. NEW EVENING ONLY (EO) PARKING PERMITS AVAILABLE – 1st posting
Virginia Tech Transportation Services is offering a new Evening Only (EO) Permit that will provide faculty, staff, students, volunteers, and community members the opportunity to park on campus during evenings only (5 – 10 p.m.). These permits can now be purchased for $100 annually or $50 per semester in-person at Parking Services (505 Beamer Way). The EO tag is currently not available for sale online. More information can be found here: https://vtnews.vt.edu/notices/parking-permits202021.html
7. APPLICATIONS FOR GSA PROGRAM CHAIRS NOW OPEN – 1st posting
The Graduate Student Assembly is now accepting applications for 2020-2021 program chairs! All chairs will be selected by and work directly under the guidance of the Director of Programs and be part of the GSA Executive Council. Each position will have responsibilities related to implementing the GSA’s programs, attending meetings, and volunteering at GSA-sponsored events. This year, we are hiring multiple chairs to support and update our existing programs, including the Travel Fund Program, the Cap and Gown Program, and the annual Research Symposium and Exposition. Our 2020-21 Program Chair applications are open and online. Direct questions regarding these positions to the Director of Programs, Martina Svyantek via svyantek@vt.edu using the subject line “Program Chair Query”. Completed applications are due on September 9th, at 5:00pm.
8. COMPREHENSIVE FEE PAYMENT PLAN FOR STUDENTS ON ASSISTANTSHIP – 2nd posting
Graduate students on an assistantship contract may choose to pay their comprehensive and commonwealth facilities and equipment fees using the Graduate Comprehensive Fee Payment Plan. Enrollment in the plan is possible after an eligible student has registered for classes and the department has entered the tuition remission award. The plan is available during the fall and spring semesters at no cost, with a new application required each semester. Fall enrollment deadline: 9/29/20.
9. MESSAGE FROM UNIVERSITY SCHOLARSHIPS AND FINANCIAL AID – 2nd posting
If you applied for and were awarded financial aid, please remember to actively accept your Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan in Hokie SPA if you plan to use it. If you plan to use it and do not accept, it will not appear as a payment on your university bill. You may find instructions for viewing your financial aid offer and accepting or declining your loan here. If you are a new borrower, you also need to complete Entrance Counseling and your Master Promissory Note at the Federal Student Aid website. Please take of these items as soon as possible.
10. NEW PROCEDURES FOR REQUESTING REDUCED COMPREHENSIVE FEES – 2nd posting
In recognition of students living and studying away from the Blacksburg campus, comprehensive fees may be reduced for students enrolled in an all virtual schedule or who have only research hours/ independent study not located on campus. Students must certify that they will reside more than 50 miles from the Blacksburg campus for the entire semester. More information can be found on the Bursar website. To be considered, this form must be submitted by the last day to add courses each semester.
11. TEAM SCIENCE CLASS, ALCE 5224 (FALL 2020) – 3rd 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.
12. GTA WORKSHOP (GRAD 5004) REGISTRATION – 3rd 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
13. GA OPPORTUNITY IN LIBRARY & CEE – 1st posting
University Libraries and Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering is seeking a Graduate Assistant to work on a research project related to vibration data streaming and analysis.The goal of the project is to create a real-time monitoring platform for the Goodwin Hall Smart building, which collects vibration data continuously from over 200 sensors. This includes data acquisition & processing, data management, and data visualization. This platform would enable users to interact with the building via a web interface, obtain real time information on building operation, and monitor structural response to various loads (wind, tremors, occupants). You will have broad flexibility in exploring other potential applications in the context of civil engineering (e.g. sustainability, smart cities). For details please see: https://drive.google.com/file/d/15YepdakAA7df5TsPJzix5W5oOgZM-z8l/view?usp=sharing Questions? Contact zhiwuxie@vt.edu and sarlo@vt.edu
14. REIMAGINING diVersiTY GRADUATE STUDENT WAGE POSITION – 2nd posting
Reimagining diVersiTy is a collaborative project comprised of researchers from Virginia Tech and is seeking a graduate student to improve university recruitment, retention, and outreach practices by participating in research projects, assisting with the development of training opportunities, and maintaining ongoing programs/activities. The applicant will work 15-20 hours per week at $20 per hour. Details about the qualifications, job duties, and to apply visit https://app.joinhandshake.com/jobs/3885818. All applications must be submitted through Handshake by 5:00 pm on Friday, August 7, 2020. Only students shortlisted for the position will be contacted for an interview. If you have questions related to the position description, please email us at reimagining-diversity@vt.edu.
15. PARTICIPANTS NEEDED FOR ONLINE DANCE CLASS – 1st posting
Has the quarantine got you down? Have you been isolated and sedentary for the past several months? Then get moving by joining us for a study looking at the effects of online movement classes on mood and social connection. To participate, you will take a survey before and after an online dance class offered through Zoom at New River Moving Arts (https://www.newrivermovingarts.com/). Each survey will take approximately 30 minutes. You will be able to choose from a variety of movement classes (e.g., ballet, jazz, or contemporary dance) lasting 45 minutes. As compensation, you will receive the movement class at no cost. If you are interested, please sign up at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0545aca72da4f58-nrmavt. For more information, email embodiedbrainlab@gmail.com.
16. INTRODUCTORY PROGRAMMING AND DATA SKILLS WORKSHOPS
Week of August 17
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).