December 13-19, 2010

1. GRADUATE SCHOOL WINTER BREAK HOURS
The Graduate School will be open with regular business hours (M-F, 8-5) through Dec 22. The Graduate School’s offices in Blacksburg will be closed from December 23, 2010 through Sunday, January 2, 2011 for the winter break. Normal business hours will resume at 8:00 a.m. on Monday, January 3, 2011. During the winter break the public areas of the Graduate Life Center, including the computer lab, will remain accessible to current graduate students with a valid Hokie Passport.

2. WEEKLY SERVICES IN THE GLC

– Career services walk-in advising: not offered during exams and winter break
– Walk-in counseling support: not offered during exams and winter break
– Writing support: not offered during exams and winter break
These support services will resume in the Spring 2011 semester. Services are still available in Cook Counseling, the Writing Center and in Career Services respectively.

3. BOOK SWAP IN THE GLC   
Thursday, Dec 16, 2:00-4:00pm, GLC Lobby
Don’t know what to read during the winter break? Curious about what other grads read (when not buried in professional journals, text books, and other course materials)? Bring a book and take a book (or more): stop by to browse the selection of books brought by others, and trade a book you have already read to one you might be interested in reading. Stop by even if you don’t have a book to trade! Chat with fellow grads about good books and enjoy some hot cider and other seasonal treats.

4. GRADUATE COMMENCEMENT

Friday, Dec 17, 2:45pm, Cassell Coliseum
Congrats to our graduating doctoral and master’s students! The commencement ceremony will be broadcast live on campus cable channels 3 and 4 starting at 2:30 pm. A DVD of the Fall 2010 Graduate Commencement Ceremony may be pre-ordered from the University Bookstore for a limited time at a cost of $19.99. Click the Graduation button on the bookstore’s homepage for ordering information. Graduation photos (one on stage and one off stage) will be taken of each graduate student participating in the commencement ceremony by Chappell Graduation Images. These will be available to order after the commencement ceremony.

5. TOYS FOR TOTS
Toys for Tots is a national organization, sponsored by the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, that collects new toys and distributes them to needy children for Christmas. The GLC Fellows are excited to sponsor a Toys for Tots box in the GLC Lobby and hope to collect a lot of toys for children in the surrounding area. Drop off a new, unwrapped toy in the box in the GLC Lobby and help the Fellows make Christmas a little brighter for those in need. Toys can be dropped off until December 17. If you have questions, please contact Lauren Surface by email or phone at 231-9561.

6. SUMMER STUDY ABROAD IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: GLOBALIZATION & POVERTY
Join this new summer study abroad program in the Dominican Republic in June 2011. The program includes 3 weeks of examining the impact of global tourism on communities in the Dominican Republic, as well as engaging in service learning projects working with community partners in informal urban settlements. Related topics that will be addressed will be urbanization, public and environmental health, and sustainable tourism.  This program is open to graduate students of all majors and is one of the least costly study abroad programs offered by Virginia Tech.  Please contact doctoral student Brendan Brink-Halloran for details.
 
7. PARTICIPATE IN SURVEY ABOUT MyVT

Help improve MyVT: Please take 10-15 minutes to take a survey about how you use the MyVT portal and other resources at Virginia Tech.  The suggestions and feedback that you provide in this survey will have a direct impact on the future direction of MyVT.  Complete the survey here.

8. INVITATION TO PARTICIPATE IN A SURVEY FOR A NEW TYPE OF BROWNIE – 3rd posting
You are invited to participate in a survey regarding demographics, consumption and purchasing habits, and interest in a new type of brownie product. The survey consists of 32 questions and requires approximately 15 minutes to complete. The information you provide in the survey will be used in the development of a new food product by the VT Food Science and Technology Product Development Team.  If you are interested in participating, please complete the survey. Contact grad student Margo Duckson with any questions.