June 29-July 5, 2020

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

Ongoing Services – updated 5/11/20

This Week’s Events:
1. BLACK MATTERS: A TEACH-IN ON LANGUAGE, LITERATURE, RHETORIC, WRITING, AND VERBAL ART
2. JUSTICE IN JUNE: A SPRINGBOARD FOR INTEGRATING JUSTICE IN PEDAGOGY
3. SUMMER INTERFAITH DIALOGUES – DEAN OF STUDENTS OFFICE

Administrative Announcements:
4. WOMEN’S CENTER SEEKS PROGRAMMING INPUT – 1st posting
5. GTA INPUT SOUGHT ON TEACHING AND LEARNING NEEDS – 1st posting
6. GTA WORKSHOP REGISTRATION NOW OPEN – 1st posting
7. SUMMER COURSES ON HOUSING AND DEVELOPMENT- 2nd posting

Jobs:
None at this time.

Volunteers and research participants sought:
8.PARTICIPANTS NEEDED FOR HIBISCUS SURVEY – WATER IGEP PROJECT- 1st posting
9. PARTICIPANTS SOUGHT FOR STUDY ON TECHNOLOGY-MEDIATED RECREATION PRE/DURING/POST-COVID-19 – 3rd posting
10. PARTICIPANTS SOUGHT FOR MIND MUSIC MACHINE LAB PAINTING SONIFCATION PROJECT – 3rd posting

Upcoming Events:
11. CETL& TLOS FALL COURSE DESIGN CLINIC FOR GTAs AND INSTRUCTORS – multiple dates Jul-Aug

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:igss@vt.edu or call 540-231-8486; 9:00-4:00pm starting 5/18/20
· 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. BLACK MATTERS: A TEACH-IN ON LANGUAGE, LITERATURE, RHETORIC, WRITING, AND VERBAL ART
Tue, June 30, 6-7:15pm, Zoom
This teach-in aims to demonstrate the interdisciplinary ways that the discipline of English and its sub-fields contained within the English department here at Virginia Tech (Linguistics, Literature, Rhetoric & Writing; & Creative Writing) interpret and engage with the historic and contemporary issues of “Black matters.” We define “Black matters” as issues regarding identity, language, personhood, citizenship, art, communication, and other dimensions of Black life in and outside the classroom. Our audience is broad and is intended to engage not just a community of academics here at VT, but the greater New River and Roanoke Valleys. Presenters include Nikki Giovanni, S. Moon Cassinelli, Katie Carmichael, Sheila Carter-Tod, Gena Chandler-Smith, Alexa Garvoille, Jennifer Sano-Franchini, and Lamar Wilson. Registration is required: https://virginiatech.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_8c1GEpzUS0GbU_u3LOaLwA

2. JUSTICE IN JUNE: A SPRINGBOARD FOR INTEGRATING JUSTICE IN PEDAGOGY
Mondays 3:00pm; Wednesdays 12:00pm; Fridays 10:00am until July 10
Please join VTGrATE to discuss “Justice in June” which is geared towards learners who are new to anti-racist literature and advocacy. Additional reading materials and resources are suggested during the sessions for ongoing learning and reflection. These sessions are open to anyone who wishes to engage in dialogue on racism, white supremacy, strategies for anti-racist pedagogy, and student engagement. Meeting details are available on our events calendar:  http://vtgrate.org/events/ These events are open to everyone, irrespective of their engagement with VTGrATE. Please contact us at vtgrate@vt.edu if you have questions, or find us online at http://vtgrate.org/.

3. SUMMER INTERFAITH DIALOGUES – DEAN OF STUDENTS OFFICE
Wednesdays bi-weekly, May 27-Jul 8, 5:30-7:00pm, Zoom
Spend your Summer in good company: participate in a dialogue with students from diverse worldviews. The Summer Interfaith Dialogues will happen over Zoom bi-weekly on Wednesdays 5:30 – 7pm, from May 27 to July 8. Everyone is welcome to participate. RSVP at https://dos.vt.edu/dialogue.  More info on the interfaith program at http://www.dos.vt.edu/interfaith.

4. WOMEN’S CENTER SEEKS PROGRAMMING INPUT – 1st posting
In order to meet the needs of our diverse VT community, the Women’s Center has created a short questionnaire to assess the needs of our students, faculty, and staff. We recognize that this upcoming Fall semester will be like no other that we have experienced before, and we want to ensure that our programming and education provides the support that our community needs during this time. Please take a few minutes to complete the survey at the following link. https://forms.gle/eebMHyJZhkeSEK2t5

5. GTA INPUT SOUGHT ON TEACHING AND LEARNING NEEDS – 1st posting
The VT Graduate Academy for Teaching Excellence (VTGrATE) is dedicated to supporting graduate students that are involved in teaching. Given the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, they are seeking your input regarding your teaching and learning needs, and addressing your questions and concerns for the upcoming academic year. Please take a few minutes to answer this survey so that we can connect you with existing teaching resources available from partners around campus. Access the survey at https://virginiatech.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0qXGpRVbVJAdPSd. If no such resources exist, VTGrATE will strive to create new quality content to address these needs. With questions and comments please email vtgrate@vt.edu or contact them through the “Ask a Fellow” on VTGrATE webpage (vtgrate.org/ask-a-fellow/).

6. GTA WORKSHOP REGISTRATION NOW OPEN – 1st posting
All new GTAs are required to take this course and should be registered by their graduate coordinator (students cannot register themselves). If you will be a GTA in the future, or if you have earned an F grade in the course in the past, please contact your graduate coordinator to make sure that they register you for the upcoming GTA workshop. The Phase I fall workshop will take place beginning at 9 am on Tuesday, August 18, and will in part be synchronous. The other portions of the course will be a blend of synchronous and asynchronous, but all of it will be delivered by Zoom, online. All registered students must attend the synchronous workshop and also complete the remaining asynchronous portions of Phase I in order to pass the course.  A list (and where appropriate, a timetable) of the Phase II sessions from which students will select courses of interest to meet other GRAD 5004 requirements will be communicated to all students at a later date. Learn more about the workshop at https://graduateschool.vt.edu/academics/courses-and-scheduling/graduate-school-courses/gta-workshop.html.  

7. SUMMER COURSES ON HOUSING AND DEVELOPMENT- 2nd posting
The Virginia Center for Housing Research is offering Summer courses (July 8-August 14) on housing and development, in areas like Construction, Data & Analysis, Design, Finance, Law, and Policy. The courses are all listed under GRAD 5984: SS: Housing Camp. Visit this link to watch a short video about the unique curriculum, or here for more information. Some key benefits for graduate students: Fully online, with both at-your-own-pace and real-time learning activities; Open to both professionals and graduate students, allowing you to build your network; 250 minute courses, each worth one third of a credit hour. You can choose which topics interest you most and bundle them together; Each course also earns you at least one VT micro-credential and an entry in a digital portfolio. You’ll have a dynamic, digital resume that sets you apart with future employers; Instructors are all VT faculty and industry professionals. Full course descriptions are available here. Please email any questions to Thomas Skuzinski at skuzinsk@vt.edu.

8. PARTICIPANTS NEEDED FOR HIBISCUS SURVEY – WATER IGEP PROJECT- 1st posting
The Water INTERface Interdisciplinary Graduate Education Programs (IGEPs) is recruiting volunteers who are at least 18 years old to participate in an online survey on assessment of consumers’ knowledge/perception of hibiscus products (IRB-19-550). Participants will be asked if they have consumed hibiscus products, under which form they have consumed such products, and their previous taste experience of those products. Participants will be provided with information on the benefits of hibiscus and asked how likely they are to purchase hibiscus drink products. The link to access the survey is https://virginiatech.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8jeKpe5gAQTCPOJ and the time commitment to answer this survey is approximately 15 minutes. For more information please contact Dr. Valisa Hedrick (vhedrick@vt.edu) or Dr. Neill Clinton (cneill@vt.edu) or Oumoule Ndiaye (oumoule7@vt.edu).

9. PARTICIPANTS SOUGHT FOR STUDY ON TECHNOLOGY-MEDIATED RECREATION PRE/DURING/POST-COVID-19 – 3rd posting
Volunteers 18 years or older sought to take part in a VT research study titled “Technology-mediated,,” (IRB Protocol #20-318). Participants will be asked to complete an online survey that will take 20-25 minutes.  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. 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). If you or other persons are interested in more information about this study the survey can be accessed here  https://virginiatech.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6VDruf5C5GmEDlj. For more information, please email grad student Derek Haqq at mailto:dhaqq@vt.edu

10. PARTICIPANTS SOUGHT FOR MIND MUSIC MACHINE LAB PAINTING SONIFCATION PROJECT – 3rd posting
The Mind Music and Machine Lab at Virginia Tech is seeking individuals to participate in a research study to determine the effects of different image and data processing techniques on user perception of visual artworks. During the study, you will be asked to rate music that was generated from each painting along different subjective questions. This study will be conducted through an online survey. The study will last approximately one hour. Participants will not be compensated for taking part in this study. For more information and to participate in this study, please contact Chihab Nadri (mailto:cnadri@vt.edu). This study is being conducted under the supervision of Dr. Myounghoon Jeon (mailto:myounghoonjeon@vt.edu) and approved by the Virginia Tech IRB as IRB#19-098.  

11. 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.
July 13th: https://profdev.tlos.vt.edu/courses/cetl11-071320
August 10th: https://profdev.tlos.vt.edu/courses/cetl11-081020
August 17th: https://profdev.tlos.vt.edu/courses/cetl11-081720