Events, opportunities and services for graduate students

1. GSA WELCOME BACK BBQ!
Tuesday, Aug 17, 4:00-8:00pm, University Club Lawn
Start the semester off right at the Welcome Back BBQ sponsored by the Graduate Student Assembly (GSA). Come and meet new and returning students while enjoying a selection of yard games and music with accompanying free BBQ (vegetarian options available). We hope to see you there!  Questions: Contact Amanda Cronin Rumore, VP of Programs.  

2. MAKE YOURSELF AT HOME IN BLACKSBURG

Wednesday, Aug 18, 4:00-6:00pm in GLC Auditorium and Multipurpose Room
This new event is designed to help new graduate students connect with returning graduate students, faculty, and staff, and resources that can help them succeed in graduate school and maintain a healthy life balance. Returning graduate students are invited to stop by and share their experiences, advice and best kept secrets with students who have just arrived in Blacksburg.

3. GSA LYRIC MOVIE NIGHT
Wednesday, Aug 18, 7:00pm, The Lyric Theatre
*** NOTE CHANGE OF DATE*** Join other members of the GSA for a movie at the historic Lyric Theatre (downtown on College Ave). Gather in the GLC Lobby at 6:30pm and then walk to the Lyric to see the highly-acclaimed movie, Inception. Ticket cost is $4.00 per person and includes free popcorn! Please express your interest by completing this short survey. Direct any questions to Amanda Cronin Rumore, VP of Programs.  

4. WAGE EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY IN GIS PROJECT
VT’s Geospatial Information Sciences seeks student wage employees for a GIS project focused on the development of a campus-wide 3D building geographic database, which will serve as a foundation for enterprise-wide GIS applications. Work performed in office setting on computer. The candidates must work efficiently to meet project milestones, and should be able to work as part of a team with supervision as needed. Good communication skills, CAD / GIS experience, and attention to detail required. Preferred qualifications include programming experience (VB and/or Python), geoprocessing model design, geodatabase design, 3d modeling, familiarity with KML or GML, and web development. The job will begin in August, and continue into the spring 2011 semester. There are multiple positions, so candidates with varied skill levels are encouraged to apply. If you want to learn more, please email your resume to Peter Sforza, at the Center for Geospatial Information Technology.

5. PARTICIPANTS NEEDED FOR SPATIAL ENVIRONMENTS STUDY
How would you like to spend a little time playing Sherlock Holmes, Hercule Poirot, Jack Ryan, or George Smiley? Researchers are looking for a collection of potential detectives and intelligence analysts to take part in a study of spatial environments for intelligence analysis. No actual detecting experience is required (nor do you have to recognize all of the names above). All that is needed is an inquiring mind and three hours to read and analyze a collection of text documents to find the bad guys (sorry, no car chases, explosions, or exotic gadgets from Q division will be involved). Compensation for your time will be provided, and a prize awarded for the most accurate solution. If you are interested, contact Christopher Andrews to set up a time slot (unfortunately, if you need to use glasses to read I cannot currently accommodate you – contacts are fine however).

6. PAYROLL DEDUCTION OF COMP FEES FOR GRADUATE ASSISTANTS – sign up now!
Graduate students on assistantship appointment may pay their comprehensive, technology and capital fees through payroll deduction during the fall and spring semesters. To be eligible for this program, students must commit to paying the full-time comprehensive, technology and capital fees through payroll deduction. Enrollment is managed through Hokie SPA and students must sign up _each_ semester in which they wish to take advantage of this opportunity. Visit the Grad School website  for details.

7. NEW COURSE OFFERING IN FALL 2010: WELLNESS THROUGH MIND BODY PRACTICES
Students will examine several mind body practices loosely based on Traditional Chinese Medicine, including acupuncture, diet and nutrition, herbs, meditation, qigong, taiji, breath work, and Reiki. In addition, they will examine a general philosophical framework for understanding the function of these practices, discuss their historical place in the development of Asian religions and their  impact on health and well-being, and explore their relationship to conventional western medicine. Guest lecturers will cover many of these topics. The students will be required to adopt two practices and report on the impact of these practices. CRN 98167; 3 cr; TTH 5:00-6:15pm; Litton Reaves 1770; Instructor: Prof. Douglas K Lindner.

8. GRAD 5134: TOPICS IN INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH: SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND CONSTRUCTION
This course explores how to build sustainable living-learning community at the VT Catawba Sustainability Center (VTCSC).  The course will work in a studio environment with teams of students from various backgrounds that might include engineering, architecture, LAR, construction, business, planning, agriculture, environmental sciences, forestry, and others.  The teams will work together to study components of the master plan for the VTCSC and look to provide an ecologically sound design and process to physically manifest the concepts.  Team work, entrepreneurship, risk, followership and leadership will be part of discussion topics.  Instructor: Dr. Yvan Beliveau, 540.818.4602. Wednesdays 5:30-8:15, Bishop-Favrao Hall 210.

9. GRAD 5984: TOPICS ON DIVERSITY & INCLUSION FOR A GLOBAL SOCIETY
Tuesdays, 6:00-8:50pm, GLC
The objective of this course is to provide students with a broader perspective and the research around the topic of diversity and inclusion for a global society.

10. UPCOMING EVENTS:

CAREER SERVICES ANNUAL TAILGATE
Friday, Aug 27, 10:00am-3:00pm, Smith Career Center
Free food, fun games and prizes. Please come and meet the employer sponsors as well as the Career Services staff.  Learn more.