Graduate School Bulletin

GRADUATE SCHOOL BULLETIN

A publication of the GraduateSchool for Graduate Program Directors and Coordinators  

The Graduate School communicates through semi-monthly postings distributed on the Graduate Program Directors and Coordinators listservs. Postings are distributed on the 1st and the 16th of the month and are posted to a blog for public viewing here: https://monthlymemo.graduateschool.vt.edu/  

December 16th, 2024  

IN THIS BULLETIN:   

Meetings, Workshops, & Events 

1. Call for Tier One Graduate Fellows Carnegie Elective Classification for Community Engagement 2026 
2. Research Mentor Training 

Deadlines & Dates to Remember 

3. Powell Fellowship Nomination Period is Open  
4. McNair Graduate Assistantship Nomination Period is Open   
5. Deans Diversity Assistantship Nomination Period is Open  
6. Bouchet Graduate Honor Society Applications Now Open 

Policy Updates 

None at this time.   

Administrative Announcements 

7. Graduate Student and Outstanding Mentor/Advising Awards 
8. Cranwell International Center Supports Smooth Transition Back to Campus 
9. 2025-26 Graduate School Fellowships
10. Preston Recruitment Fellowship

Meetings, Workshops, & Events 

_______________________________________________   

1. Call for Tier One Graduate Fellows Carnegie Elective Classification for Community Engagement 2026   

As part of the first peer review process of the Carnegie Elective Classification for Community Engagement, graduate student fellows will be selected to support peer reviewer teams during the first phase of reviews. Teams of three (3-4) individuals will review 8-10 applications. Graduate student fellows will schedule group review meeting(s), draft minutes for review meetings, review and edit feedback documentation reports, and participate in the discussion of applications. Stipend provided. Deadline for submission: January 3, 2025 Training and Consultations: February 27, March 13, and April 24, 2025 (3:00 pm-5:00 pm EST). More information and application process: https://acenet.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_eL1SZPJtXt1HKL4 

2. Research Mentor Training 

Work with a community of peers to develop and improve your research mentoring skills in this 5-week seminar-style course. Students will develop their personal mentoring philosophy, learn how to articulate that philosophy across a variety of disciplines, and refine strategies for dealing with mentoring challenges. This course meets online in Zoom on Tuesdays from January 28 through February 25 at 11:30pm-1am Gulf / 3:30-5pm Atlantic / 2:30-4pm Eastern / 1:30-3pm Central / 12:30-2pm Mountain / 11:30am-1pm Pacific. Cap: 20. Registration opens on Monday, January 13 at 11am Central Time and closes when capacity is reached (typically within several days). 

Deadlines & Dates to Remember 

_______________________________________________  

3. Powell Fellowship Nomination Period is Open  

Applications are currently being accepted for the Powell Fellowship. For eligibility and nomination information please visit https://graduateschool.vt.edu/funding/funding-sponsored-by-the-graduate-school.html. The deadline is April 1, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. Please contact Dr. Catherine Cotrupi, Assistant Dean for Student Services, Inclusion, and Strategic Partnerships, at Cotrupi@vt.edu if you have any questions.  

4. McNair Graduate Assistantship Nomination Period is Open  

Applications are currently being accepted for the Ronald E. McNair Graduate Assistantship program. For eligibility and nomination information please visit: https://graduateschool.vt.edu/funding/types-of-funding/funding-sponsored-by-the-graduate-school.html. The deadline is March 1, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. Please contact Dr. Catherine Cotrupi, Assistant Dean for Student Services, Inclusion, and Strategic Partnerships, at Cotrupi@vt.edu if you have any questions.  

5. Deans Diversity Assistantship Nomination Period is Open    

For eligibility and nomination information please visit https://graduateschool.vt.edu/funding/types-of-funding/funding-sponsored-by-the-graduate-school.html. The deadline is March 1, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. Please contact Dr. Catherine Cotrupi, Assistant Dean for Student Services, Inclusion, and Strategic Partnerships, at Cotrupi@vt.edu if you have any questions.  

6. Bouchet Graduate Honor Society Applications Now Open   

Please encourage your ABD doctoral candidates and postdocs to apply for membership into the Bouchet Society. The Edward Alexander Bouchet Graduate Honor Society (Bouchet Society) recognizes outstanding scholarly achievement and promotes diversity and excellence in doctoral education and the professoriate. The Bouchet Society seeks to develop a network of preeminent scholars who serve as examples of the five pillars: scholarship, leadership, character, service, and advocacy for students who have been traditionally underrepresented in the academy. The deadline for student applications is 11:59pm on January 15, 2025. You may learn more here: https://graduateschool.vt.edu/student-services/bouchet-society.html

Administrative Announcements 

 _______________________________________________  

7. Graduate Student and Outstanding Mentor/Advising Awards 

Faculty and/or academic departments and programs may submit nominations for outstanding theses and dissertations; excellence in teaching or service; graduate student of the year; and outstanding interdisciplinary student. This year, the Graduate School has added a new award honoring outstanding graduate advising/mentoring by a staff or A/P faculty member. These nominations are due by January 24, 2025. In addition to these nominations, each college defines its own nomination criteria and selection process for identifying one outstanding master’s and doctoral student and outstanding mentor per college — notification of these winners are due by February 14. All winners will be recognized by the Graduate School during Graduate Education Week 2025, March 24-28. Visit https://graduateschool.vt.edu/about/awards.html to learn more about the process and timeline. Contact Lauren Surface at 540-231-9561 or lkeister@vt.edu with questions. 

8. Cranwell International Center Supports Smooth Transition Back to Campus   

As the Spring semester approaches, the Cranwell International Center would like to provide important guidance to support your smooth transition back to campus. As a reminder, it is university policy that all students be present and ready to attend classes by the first day of the semester. This ensures compliance with academic requirements, and helps you successfully prepare for your classes and other VT commitments from the start of the term. Take careful consideration of factors that may cause travel delays. Winter weather during this time of year can bring unexpected challenges, such as flight cancellations and road closures. Additionally, the upcoming presidential inauguration on January 20, 2025, is likely to increase traffic and cause delays in and around Washington, D.C., and other major transit hubs. To avoid disruptions to your studies, we strongly encourage you to plan your return to the U.S. well in advance and ensure you arrive no later than the first day of classes, January 21, 2025. 

9. 2025-26 Graduate School Fellowships

Nominations for Graduate School Fellowships are now being accepted for the 2025-26 academic year. For eligibility, nomination information, and deadlines, please visit each opportunity listed on the Funding Sponsored by the Graduate School page, graduateschool.vt.edu/funding/funding-sponsored-by-the-graduate-school.html

     10. Preston Recruitment Fellowship

Preston Recruitment Fellowships (4 @ $2,000 each): These awards are meant to provide fellowship support to help attract the best possible graduate students, regardless of their area of study at Virginia Tech. Candidates for the prestigious Preston Fellowship should be students who are being recruited by the nation’s elite educational institutions for the purpose of conducting significant research and scholarship study. Please submit a nomination by February 1 of no more than 500 words outlining reasons why you think the candidate is an exceptional recruit for your program, such as UG institution, UG GPA, UG research experience, and potential offers from other universities (if known). We will also consult the student’s application materials as part of the decision-making process. Decisions will be made quickly so the offers can be made as early as possible. Nominations should be summited through the Fellowship Nomination form, https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc8rhQL9qivK7mOjUZ2sUL-Uy8kQD024mgJl2M3-ZlQCSJqUg/viewform

GRADUATE SCHOOL BULLETIN
A publication of the GraduateSchool for Graduate Program Directors and Coordinators  

The Graduate School communicates through semi-monthly postings distributed on the Graduate Program Directors and Coordinators listservs. Postings are distributed on the 1st and the 16th of the month and are posted to a blog for public viewing here: https://monthlymemo.graduateschool.vt.edu/  

December 2nd, 2024  

IN THIS BULLETIN:   

Meetings, Workshops, & Events 

1. Connecting Holistic Admissions, Diversity, and Student Success Webinar  
2. Call for Tier One Graduate Fellows Carnegie Elective Classification for Community Engagement 2026 

Deadlines & Dates to Remember 

3. Powell Fellowship Nomination Period is Open  
4. McNair Graduate Assistantship Nomination Period is Open   
5. Deans Diversity Assistantship Nomination Period is Open  
6. COVES Fellowship Applications  
7. Bouchet Graduate Honor Society Applications Now Open 

Policy Updates 

None at this time.   

Administrative Announcements 

8. Faculty Panelists Sought for Graduate Honor System 
9. Graduate Student and Outstanding Mentor/Advising Awards 

Meetings, Workshops, & Events 

_______________________________________________  

1. Connecting Holistic Admissions, Diversity, and Student Success Webinar  

The GraduateSchool has partnered with ETS to offer a webinar on connecting holistic admissions, diversity, and student success to all graduate program faculty. In this session, we will discuss the next evolution of holistic practices that promote fairness and mitigate bias, as well as strategies to support diversity efforts to support each learner. Please join us on Wednesday, November 20th 3pm–4:30pm for this session!   

2. Call for Tier One Graduate Fellows Carnegie Elective Classification for Community Engagement 2026   

As part of the first peer review process of the Carnegie Elective Classification for Community Engagement, graduate student fellows will be selected to support peer reviewer teams during the first phase of reviews. Teams of three (3-4) individuals will review 8-10 applications. Graduate student fellows will schedule group review meeting(s), draft minutes for review meetings, review and edit feedback documentation reports, and participate in the discussion of applications. Stipend provided. Deadline for submission: January 3, 2025 Training and Consultations: February 27, March 13, and April 24, 2025 (3:00 pm-5:00 pm EST). More information and application process: https://acenet.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_eL1SZPJtXt1HKL4 

Deadlines & Dates to Remember 

_______________________________________________  

3. Powell Fellowship Nomination Period is Open  

Applications are currently being accepted for the Powell Fellowship. For eligibility and nomination information please visit https://graduateschool.vt.edu/funding/funding-sponsored-by-the-graduate-school.html. The deadline is April 1, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. Please contact Dr. Catherine Cotrupi, Assistant Dean for Student Services, Inclusion, and Strategic Partnerships, at Cotrupi@vt.edu if you have any questions.  

4. McNair Graduate Assistantship Nomination Period is Open  

Applications are currently being accepted for the Ronald E. McNair Graduate Assistantship program. For eligibility and nomination information please visit: https://graduateschool.vt.edu/funding/types-of-funding/funding-sponsored-by-the-graduate-school.html. The deadline is March 1, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. Please contact Dr. Catherine Cotrupi, Assistant Dean for Student Services, Inclusion, and Strategic Partnerships, at Cotrupi@vt.edu if you have any questions.  

5. Deans Diversity Assistantship Nomination Period is Open    

For eligibility and nomination information please visit https://graduateschool.vt.edu/funding/types-of-funding/funding-sponsored-by-the-graduate-school.html. The deadline is March 1, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. Please contact Dr. Catherine Cotrupi, Assistant Dean for Student Services, Inclusion, and Strategic Partnerships, at Cotrupi@vt.edu if you have any questions.  

6. COVES Fellowship Applications  

Interested graduate students may apply for the Commonwealth of Virginia Engineering and Science (COVES) summer fellowship until December 12. The COVES Fellowship is a 12-week full-time summer fellowship program operated by the Virginia Academy of Science, Engineering and Medicine and open to STEM graduate students.  The GraduateSchool will submit five finalists for the fellowship program to the Academy, which will then choose one to represent the university in the program. To learn more about the program and to access the application materials, visit the COVES Fellowship webpage on the GraduateSchool website.  

7. Bouchet Graduate Honor Society Applications Now Open   

Please encourage your ABD doctoral candidates and postdocs to apply for membership into the Bouchet Society. The Edward Alexander Bouchet Graduate Honor Society (Bouchet Society) recognizes outstanding scholarly achievement and promotes diversity and excellence in doctoral education and the professoriate. The Bouchet Society seeks to develop a network of preeminent scholars who serve as examples of the five pillars: scholarship, leadership, character, service, and advocacy for students who have been traditionally underrepresented in the academy. The deadline for student applications is 11:59pm on January 15, 2025. You may learn more here: https://graduateschool.vt.edu/student-services/bouchet-society.html

Administrative Announcements 

 _______________________________________________  

8. Faculty Panelists Sought for Graduate Honor System 

The Graduate Honor System relies on trained faculty and graduate students to hear academic integrity violation cases. It takes a one-hour training to become a panelist; after that, faculty can serve on preliminary review and review panels based on their availability. Please consider becoming a panelist to assist the GHS with hearing cases and actively contributing to the ongoing conversation about standards of academic integrity. Please share this invitation with your program faculty. Those interested in becoming a panelist should email to ghs@vt.edu. If you would like to request a training session for your program faculty, please complete this online request form: https://gs.vt.edu/ghspresentation and a training session will be schedule at your convenience. 

9. Graduate Student and Outstanding Mentor/Advising Awards 

Faculty and/or academic departments and programs may submit nominations for outstanding theses and dissertations; excellence in teaching or service; graduate student of the year; and outstanding interdisciplinary student. This year, the Graduate School has added a new award honoring outstanding graduate advising/mentoring by a staff or A/P faculty member. These nominations are due by January 24, 2025. In addition to these nominations, each college defines its own nomination criteria and selection process for identifying one outstanding master’s and doctoral student and outstanding mentor per college — notification of these winners are due by February 14. All winners will be recognized by the Graduate School during Graduate Education Week 2025, March 24-28. Visit https://graduateschool.vt.edu/about/awards.html to learn more about the process and timeline. Contact Lauren Surface at 540-231-9561 or lkeister@vt.edu with questions. 

GRADUATE SCHOOL BULLETIN  
A publication of the Graduate School for Graduate Program Directors and Coordinators  

The Graduate School communicates through semi-monthly postings distributed on the Graduate Program Directors and Coordinators listservs. Postings are distributed on the 1st and the 16th of the month and are posted to a blog for public viewing here: https://monthlymemo.graduateschool.vt.edu/  

November 18th, 2024  

IN THIS BULLETIN:   

Meetings, Workshops, & Events  

1. Connecting Holistic Admissions, Diversity, and Student Success Webinar  

Deadlines & Dates to Remember  

2. Inclusion and Diversity Requirement   

3. Powell Fellowship Nomination Period is Open  

4. McNair Graduate Assistantship Nomination Period is Open   

5. Deans Diversity Assistantship Nomination Period is Open  

6. COVES Fellowship Applications  

Policy Updates  

None at this time.   

Administrative Announcements  

7. Faculty Panelists Sought for Graduate Honor System 

8. Graduate Student and Outstanding Mentor/Advising Awards 

Meetings, Workshops, & Events  

_______________________________________________  

1. Connecting Holistic Admissions, Diversity, and Student Success Webinar  

The Graduate School has partnered with ETS to offer a webinar on connecting holistic admissions, diversity, and student success to all graduate program faculty. In this session, we will discuss the next evolution of holistic practices that promote fairness and mitigate bias, as well as strategies to support diversity efforts to support each learner. Please join us on Wednesday, November 20th 3pm–4:30pm for this session!   

Deadlines & Dates to Remember  

_______________________________________________  

2. Inclusion and Diversity Requirement  

Please remember that all graduate students who began their programs from Spring 2022 to present need to complete the Inclusion and Diversity Requirement before they graduate. There are multiple ways they may do so, please visit this website to learn more: https://graduateschool.vt.edu/academics/programs/inclusion-diversity-req.html  

3. Powell Fellowship Nomination Period is Open  

Applications are currently being accepted for the Powell Fellowship. For eligibility and nomination information please visit https://graduateschool.vt.edu/funding/funding-sponsored-by-the-graduate-school.html. The deadline is April 1, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. Please contact Dr. Catherine Cotrupi, Assistant Dean for Student Services, Inclusion, and Strategic Partnerships, at Cotrupi@vt.edu if you have any questions.  

4. McNair Graduate Assistantship Nomination Period is Open  

Applications are currently being accepted for the Ronald E. McNair Graduate Assistantship program. For eligibility and nomination information please visit: https://graduateschool.vt.edu/funding/types-of-funding/funding-sponsored-by-the-graduate-school.html. The deadline is March 1, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. Please contact Dr. Catherine Cotrupi, Assistant Dean for Student Services, Inclusion, and Strategic Partnerships, at Cotrupi@vt.edu if you have any questions.   

5. Deans Diversity Assistantship Nomination Period is Open    

For eligibility and nomination information please visit https://graduateschool.vt.edu/funding/types-of-funding/funding-sponsored-by-the-graduate-school.html. The deadline is March 1, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. Please contact Dr. Catherine Cotrupi, Assistant Dean for Student Services, Inclusion, and Strategic Partnerships, at Cotrupi@vt.edu if you have any questions.  

6. COVES Fellowship Applications  

Interested graduate students may apply for the Commonwealth of Virginia Engineering and Science (COVES) summer fellowship until December 12. The COVES Fellowship is a 12-week full-time summer fellowship program operated by the Virginia Academy of Science, Engineering and Medicine and open to STEM graduate students.  The Graduate School will submit five finalists for the fellowship program to the Academy, which will then choose one to represent the university in the program. To learn more about the program and to access the application materials, visit the COVES Fellowship webpage on the Graduate School website.  

Administrative Announcements  

 _______________________________________________  

7. Faculty Panelists Sought for Graduate Honor System 

The Graduate Honor System relies on trained faculty and graduate students to hear academic integrity violation cases. It takes a one-hour training to become a panelist; after that, faculty can serve on preliminary review and review panels based on their availability. Please consider becoming a panelist to assist the GHS with hearing cases and actively contributing to the ongoing conversation about standards of academic integrity. Please share this invitation with your program faculty. Those interested in becoming a panelist should email to ghs@vt.edu. If you would like to request a training session for your program faculty, please complete this online request form: https://gs.vt.edu/ghspresentation and a training session will be schedule at your convenience. 

8. Graduate Student and Outstanding Mentor/Advising Awards 

Faculty and/or academic departments and programs may submit nominations for outstanding theses and dissertations; excellence in teaching or service; graduate student of the year; and outstanding interdisciplinary student. This year, the Graduate School has added a new award honoring outstanding graduate advising/mentoring by a staff or A/P faculty member. These nominations are due by January 24, 2025. In addition to these nominations, each college defines its own nomination criteria and selection process for identifying one outstanding master’s and doctoral student and outstanding mentor per college — notification of these winners are due by February 14. All winners will be recognized by the Graduate School during Graduate Education Week 2025, March 24-28. Visit https://graduateschool.vt.edu/about/awards.html to learn more about the process and timeline. Contact Lauren Surface at 540-231-9561 or lkeister@vt.edu with questions. 

GRADUATE SCHOOL BULLETIN 
A publication of the Graduate School for Graduate Program Directors and Coordinators 

The Graduate School communicates through semi-monthly postings distributed on the Graduate Program Directors and Coordinators listservs. Postings are distributed on the 1st and the 16th of the month and are posted to a blog for public viewing here: https://monthlymemo.graduateschool.vt.edu/ 

November 1^st, 2024 

IN THIS BULLETIN:  

Meetings, Workshops, & Events 

1. Connecting Holistic Admissions, Diversity, and Student Success Webinar 

2. Invitation to RISE Lecture Series – Speaker: John Carlin, WSLS 10 News 

Deadlines & Dates to Remember 

3. Inclusion and Diversity Requirement  

4. Powell Fellowship Nomination Period is Open 

5. McNair Graduate Assistantship Nomination Period is Open  

6. Deans Diversity Assistantship Nomination Period is Open 

7. Gilliam Fellows Program 

8. GPSS Travel Fund Program – Applications open for Winter 2025 

9. COVES Fellowship Applications 

Policy Updates 

None at this time.  

Administrative Announcements 

10. Outstanding Master’s Thesis Award call for Nominations 

Meetings, Workshops, & Events 

_______________________________________________ 

1. Connecting Holistic Admissions, Diversity, and Student Success Webinar 

The Graduate School has partnered with ETS to offer a webinar on connecting holistic admissions, diversity, and student success to all graduate program faculty. In this session, we will discuss the next evolution of holistic practices that promote fairness and mitigate bias, as well as strategies to support diversity efforts to support each learner. Please join us on Wednesday, November 20th 3pm–4:30pm for this session!  

2. Invitation to RISE Lecture Series – Speaker: John Carlin, WSLS 10 News 

Public trust is vital to the research enterprise. This lecture will focus on how data is received and processed by news media and the considerations that are taken when the information is then reported to the public. John has been an anchor for over 30 years and spent a decade teaching at Virginia Tech and Radford University. He also serves on the patient advisory committee for the Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research, where he hosts a podcast interviewing sarcoidosis patients and their loved ones. Friday, November 15^th from 11:00am-12:00pm in Steger Hall Auditorium. In person registration and Zoom registration are available.  

Deadlines & Dates to Remember 

_______________________________________________ 

3. Inclusion and Diversity Requirement 

Please remember that all graduate students who began their programs from Spring 2022 to present need to complete the Inclusion and Diversity Requirement before they graduate. There are multiple ways they may do so, please visit this website to learn more: https://graduateschool.vt.edu/academics/programs/inclusion-diversity-req.html 

4. Powell Fellowship Nomination Period is Open 

Applications are currently being accepted for the Powell Fellowship. For eligibility and nomination information please visit https://graduateschool.vt.edu/funding/funding-sponsored-by-the-graduate-school.html. The deadline is April 1, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. Please contact Dr. Catherine Cotrupi, Assistant Dean for Student Services, Inclusion, and Strategic Partnerships, at Cotrupi@vt.edu if you have any questions. 

5. McNair Graduate Assistantship Nomination Period is Open 

Applications are currently being accepted for the Ronald E. McNair Graduate Assistantship program. For eligibility and nomination information please visit: https://graduateschool.vt.edu/funding/types-of-funding/funding-sponsored-by-the-graduate-school.html. The deadline is March 1, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. Please contact Dr. Catherine Cotrupi, Assistant Dean for Student Services, Inclusion, and Strategic Partnerships, at Cotrupi@vt.edu if you have any questions. 

6. Dean’s Diversity Assistantship Nomination Period is Open 

Applications are currently being accepted for the Dean’s Diversity Assistantship program. For eligibility and nomination information please visit https://graduateschool.vt.edu/funding/types-of-funding/funding-sponsored-by-the-graduate-school.html. The deadline is March 1, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. Please contact Dr. Catherine Cotrupi, Assistant Dean for Student Services, Inclusion, and Strategic Partnerships, at Cotrupi@vt.edu if you have any questions. 

7. Gilliam Fellows Program   

The Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) will be accepting applications for the next round of the Gilliam Fellows Program, beginning on October 17, 2024. The Gilliam competition is open to second or third year biomedical and life science PhD students and their thesis advisors who are committed to advancing equity and inclusion in science. The 2025 Program Announcement is available at: hhmi.org/gilliam. If you have questions, please contact us at gilliam@hhmi.org.  

8. GPSS Travel Fund Program – Applications open for Winter 2025   

Graduate students presenting research conducted at Virginia Tech are eligible to apply for the Winter 2025 Travel Fund Program! Grants may cover registration, lodging, meals, abstract fees, and other costs of presenting at an in-person or virtual conference with a start date from Jan 1st to Mar 31st. Applications are due November 4th at 11:59 PM. Please email juliams22@vt.edu with any questions and visit https://gpss.vt.edu/programs/tfp.html for full details and instructions. 

9. COVES Fellowship Applications 

Interested graduate students may apply for the Commonwealth of Virginia Engineering and Science (COVES) summer fellowship until December 12. The COVES Fellowship is a 12-week full-time summer fellowship program operated by the Virginia Academy of Science, Engineering and Medicine and open to STEM graduate students.  The Graduate School will submit five finalists for the fellowship program to the Academy, which will then choose one to represent the university in the program. To learn more about the program and to access the application materials, visit the COVES Fellowship webpage on the Graduate School website. 

Administrative Announcements 

 _______________________________________________ 

10. Outstanding Master’s Thesis Award call for Nominations 

CSGS is accepting nominations for the Outstanding Master’s Thesis Award in each of the following categories: · Fine Arts & Humanities (1 award) · Math, Physical Sciences, and Engineering (1 award) · Non-traditional Thesis / Project Award (1 award) You can find detailed information about each award — including eligibility, nomination materials, the selection process, and prizes — on the CSGS Awards webpage. There, you also will find the nomination webforms with links to upload any required files. Nominations are due on November 15, 2024, please email the package to gsdean@vt.edu. 

GRADUATE SCHOOL BULLETIN
A publication of the Graduate School for Graduate Program Directors and Coordinators

The Graduate School communicates through semi-monthly postings distributed on the Graduate Program Directors and Coordinators listservs. Postings are distributed on the 1st and the 16th of the month and are posted to a blog for public viewing here: https://monthlymemo.graduateschool.vt.edu/ 

October 16th, 2024

IN THIS BULLETIN: 

Meetings, Workshops, & Events

1. Connecting Holistic Admissions, Diversity, and Student Success Webinar 

2. Mentorship Workshop on October 24th, 2024 

Deadlines & Dates to Remember

 3. COVES Fellowship Applications   

Policy Updates

None at this time.  

Administrative Announcements

4. Recruitment: McNair Scholars 

5. Fee Waivers for HBCU Graduates   

6. 2024-25 Graduate Catalog   

7. VT/VCCS Teaching Fellows Pilot Program   

8. Outstanding Master’s Thesis Award call for Nominations   

Meetings, Workshops, & Events

_______________________________________________

1. Connecting Holistic Admissions, Diversity, and Student Success Webinar

The Graduate School has partnered with ETS to offer a webinar on connecting holistic admissions, diversity, and student success to all graduate program faculty. In this session, we will discuss the next evolution of holistic practices that promote fairness and mitigate bias, as well as strategies to support diversity efforts to support each learner. Please join us on Wednesday, November 20th 3pm–4:30pm for this session! Registration link: https://ets.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJAqcumgrzgrGdBPe5P3xQ9k9rmMd1lK4X70

2. Mentorship Workshop on October 24th, 2024

Mentorship training is invaluable to VT faculty members and postdocs, and the Graduate School is committed to enhancing mentorship training opportunities at VT. Towards that end, we are presenting a mentorship workshop on October 24 from 10 am to 12:30 pm in the Multipurpose Room of the Graduate Life Center (GLC); lunch will be provided. We encourage interested early career faculty members and postdocs, especially, to sign up: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=hGiVYK0Q-kCGPU8yweOjetT9we5iFEpHl4mvNhX4JHxUMFhGUDNHUTdHWUg0Q1cwRUFCS09NTTFFSi4u 

Deadlines & Dates to Remember 

_______________________________________________

3. COVES Fellowship Applications

Graduate students can apply for the Commonwealth of Virginia Engineering and Science (COVES) summer fellowship until December 12. This 12-week program (May 17-August 6) trains STEM students in science policy and connects them with Virginia’s state government. Fellows receive training, work in government offices, and are paired with a mentor. The program includes a stipend.  

The Graduate School will nominate five finalists, and one will be selected to represent VT.  

For more information and to apply, visit the COVES Fellowship webpage on the Graduate School website. 

Administrative Announcements

 _______________________________________________ 

4. Recruitment: McNair Scholars

McNair Scholars are now in Slate for recruitment efforts! Departments can use this query to identify the students who were interested in their field. Instructions: You will want to copy the query (black triangle beside “Edit” in the upper right à Copy Query), rename, then save it as your own in your department query folder. Then update the query filters to change Major Interest 1 and Major Interest 2 to your major(s). https://applyto.graduateschool.vt.edu/manage/query/query?id=71afb128-faa9-46e7-996c-82634effdb0f  

5. Fee Waivers for HBCU Graduates

The Virginia Tech Graduate School is now able to offer fee waivers for applicants who have/will earn a degree from an HBCU. For information on Virginia Tech’s fee waiver process, please visit: https://graduateschool.vt.edu/admissions/tuition-and-costs/Application_Fees.html Please pass this information along to your faculty members, students, networks, colleagues, and partners. 

6. 2024-25 Graduate Catalog

The 2024-25 Graduate Catalog has been published in its new form in CourseLeaf, a platform managed by the Registrar’s Office. You can access the catalog at https://catalog.vt.edu/graduate/. Please update any related links you may have in your graduate program manuals, websites and forms. If you find any broken links or other errors, please let us know by completing this form: https://gs.vt.edu/catalogcorrection.  

7. VT/VCCS Teaching Fellows Pilot Program

Virginia Tech is partnering with the Virginia Community College System to offer VT graduate students paid adjunct teaching internships for Spring 2025. Open to domestic or international students with at least 18 graduate credit hours in their discipline, participants will be paired with an experienced mentor. Teaching will be either in-person or online, with three CC locations participating. Students will serve as “Faculty of Record,” a valuable experience for academic careers, though such aspirations aren’t required. Master’s and Doctoral students are welcome. To express interest, complete this survey: https://forms.office.com/r/dwCgWLnVKa. A webinar with more details will be held on October 18. 

8. Outstanding Master’s Thesis Award call for Nominations

CSGS is accepting nominations for the Outstanding Master’s Thesis Award in each of the following categories: · Fine Arts & Humanities (1 award) · Math, Physical Sciences, and Engineering (1 award) · Non-traditional Thesis / Project Award (1 award) You can find detailed information about each award — including eligibility, nomination materials, the selection process, and prizes — on the CSGS Awards webpage. There, you also will find the nomination webforms with links to upload any required files. Nominations are due on November 15, 2024, please email the package to gsdean@vt.edu. 

GRADUATE SCHOOL BULLETIN
A publication of the Graduate School for Graduate Program Directors and Coordinators

The Graduate School communicates through semi-monthly postings distributed on the Graduate Program Directors and Coordinators listservs. Postings are distributed on the 1st and the 16th of the month and are posted to a blog for public viewing here: https://monthlymemo.graduateschool.vt.edu/

October 1st, 2024

IN THIS BULLETIN:

Meetings, Workshops, & Events

GRADUATE AND PROFESSIONAL SCHOOL FAIR – OCTOBER 7

Deadlines & Dates to Remember

None at this time.

Policy Updates

None at this time.

Administrative Announcements

2. Recruitment: McNair Scholars

3. Fee Waivers for HBCU Graduates

4. 2024-25 Graduate Catalog

5. VT/VCCS TEACHING FELLOWS PILOT PROGRAM

6. Outstanding Master’s Thesis Award call for Nominations

7. P.E.O SCHOLAR AWARDS $25,000 – DEADLINE: OCTOBER 15, 2024


Meetings, Workshops, & Events

_______________________________________________

GRADUATE AND PROFESSIONAL SCHOOL FAIR – OCTOBER 7

The Graduate and Professional Student Senate is hosting a Graduate and Professional School Fair on Monday, October 7, 9am-2pm, in Commonwealth Ballroom, Squires. This year nearly 100 programs will be participating, covering areas such as business, STEM, social sciences and humanities, medicine and health professions, law and more. Please share with your master’s students who are interested in pursuing a doctoral degree, as well as with undergraduate advisors/students in your departments. More information about the fair can be found here: https://gpss.vt.edu/events/gpsf.html



Administrative Announcements

_______________________________________________

Recruitment: McNair Scholars

McNair Scholars are now in Slate for recruitment efforts! Departments can use this query to identify the students who were interested in their field. Instructions: You will want to copy the query (black triangle beside “Edit” in the upper right à Copy Query), rename, then save it as your own in your department query folder. Then update the query filters to change Major Interest 1 and Major Interest 2 to your major(s). https://applyto.graduateschool.vt.edu/manage/query/query?id=71afb128-faa9-46e7-996c-82634effdb0f



Fee Waivers for HBCU Graduates

The Virginia Tech Graduate School is now able to offer fee waivers for applicants who have/will earn a degree from an HBCU. For information on Virginia Tech’s fee waiver process, please visit: https://graduateschool.vt.edu/admissions/tuition-and-costs/Application_Fees.html Please pass this information along to your faculty members, students, networks, colleagues, and partners.



2024-25 Graduate Catalog

The 2024-25 Graduate Catalog has been published in its new form in CourseLeaf, a platform managed by the Registrar’s Office. You can access the catalog at https://catalog.vt.edu/graduate/. Please update any related links you may have in your graduate program manuals, websites and forms. If you find any broken links or other errors, please let us know by completing this form: https://gs.vt.edu/catalogcorrection.



VT/VCCS TEACHING FELLOWS PILOT PROGRAM

Virginia Tech is partnering with the Virginia Community College System to offer VT graduate students paid adjunct teaching internships for Spring 2025. Open to domestic or international students with at least 18 graduate credit hours in their discipline, participants will be paired with an experienced mentor. Teaching will be either in-person or online, with three CC locations participating. Students will serve as “Faculty of Record,” a valuable experience for academic careers, though such aspirations aren’t required. Master’s and Doctoral students are welcome. To express interest, complete this survey: https://forms.office.com/r/dwCgWLnVKa. A webinar with more details will be held on October 18.



Outstanding Master’s Thesis Award call for Nominations

CSGS is accepting nominations for the Outstanding Master’s Thesis Award in each of the following categories: · Fine Arts & Humanities (1 award) · Math, Physical Sciences, and Engineering (1 award) · Non-traditional Thesis / Project Award (1 award) You can find detailed information about each award — including eligibility, nomination materials, the selection process, and prizes — on the CSGS Awards webpage. There, you also will find the nomination webforms with links to upload any required files. Nominations are due on November 15, 2024, please email the package to gsdean@vt.edu.



7. P.E.O SCHOLAR AWARDS $25,000 – DEADLINE: OCTOBER 15, 2024

P.E.O. Scholar Awards are competitive, merit-based, one-time awards for women from the U.S. and Canada pursuing a doctoral degree or engaged in postdoctoral research at an accredited institution. Priority is given to those well established in their programs. To be eligible, nominees must be U.S. or Canadian citizens, within two years of graduation by August 1, have at least one full academic year remaining, and demonstrate academic excellence. Awards are $25,000, given once each year for the ensuing academic year. To apply, send your CV and a letter describing your dissertation research and career goals to:

– Elva Miller (Elva.miller@comcast.net)

– (Secondary Contact) Dr. Charlie Klauer (Cklauer@vtti.vt.edu)

GRADUATE SCHOOL BULLETIN
A publication of the Graduate School for Graduate Program Directors and Coordinators

The Graduate School communicates through semi-monthly postings distributed on the Graduate Program Directors and Coordinators listservs. Postings are distributed on the 1st and the 16th of the month and are posted to a blog for public viewing here: https://monthlymemo.graduateschool.vt.edu/ 

September 16th, 2024

IN THIS BULLETIN: 

Meetings, Workshops, & Events

1. GRADUATE AND PROFESSIONAL SCHOOL FAIR – OCTOBER 7 
2. FACULTY PANELISTS SOUGHT FOR GRADUATE HONOR SYSTEM (Tuesday, September 17, 4-5pm, Zoom) 

Deadlines & Dates to Remember

 None at this time. 

Policy Updates

None at this time.  

Administrative Announcements

3. Nominate a Graduate Student for the K. Patricia Cross Future Leaders Award 
4. Recommendations and Resources for Faculty/GTAs in Establishing Class “Norm of Inclusion” 
5. Inclusion and Diversity Requirement 
6. CGPS&P’s Degrees and Academic Progress (DAP) Committee Call for Members 
7. CGPS&P’s Course-based Master’s Committee Call for Members 
8. Graduate Program Directors Resources Teams Page 

_______________________________________________

Meetings, Workshops, & Events

1. GRADUATE AND PROFESSIONAL SCHOOL FAIR – OCTOBER 7 

The Graduate and Professional Student Senate is hosting a Graduate and Professional School Fair on Monday, October 7, 9am-2pm, in Commonwealth Ballroom, Squires. This year nearly 100 programs will be participating, covering areas such as business, STEM, social sciences and humanities, medicine and health professions, law and more. Please share with your master’s students who are interested in pursuing a doctoral degree, as well as with undergraduate advisors/students in your departments. More information about the fair can be found here: https://gpss.vt.edu/events/gpsf.html

2. FACULTY PANELISTS SOUGHT FOR GRADUATE HONOR SYSTEM

The Graduate Honor System relies on trained faculty and graduate students to hear academic integrity violation cases. It takes a one-hour training to become a panelist, and after that faculty and graduate students can serve on preliminary review and review panels. All faculty are invited to become panelists to help hear cases and actively contribute to the ongoing conversation about standards of academic integrity. Please register for Tuesday, September 17, 4-5pm, Zoom here:   https://virginiatech.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUrdeCgqjwjHNWASzkvv7dEcR6EqzYUat_p. 

Administrative Announcements

3. Nominate a Graduate Student for the K. Patricia Cross Future Leaders Award

Nominations are now open for the K. Patricia Cross Future Leaders Award. This award recognizes graduate students planning a career in higher education who demonstrate exemplary promise as future leaders and are committed to academic innovation in equity, community engagement, and teaching and learning. All nomination materials must be submitted electronically no later than 11:59 pm ET on October 1, 2024, via this form: https://aacu.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_09t62IeQ2wM35c2

4.  Recommendations and Resources for Faculty/GTAs in Establishing Class “Norm of Inclusion”

Virginia Tech’s Office of Inclusion and Diversity (OID) has developed a resource document with recommendations for instructional faculty and GTAs to assist them in establishing a ‘norm of inclusion’ in their classes beginning with the course syllabus and the first class meeting. These include: Guidelines for a community of learners; Community guidelines that make a difference; and Communicating welcome, safety, and inclusion. Faculty and graduate teaching assistants (GTAs) may also enroll in one of OID’s inclusive pedagogy courses offered through the Professional Development Network.  For more information on these norms of inclusion resources and recommendations, email InclusiveVT or visit the InclusiveVT website. https://www.inclusive.vt.edu/

5. Inclusion and Diversity Requirement 

Please remember that all graduate students who began their programs from Spring 2022 to present need to complete the Inclusion and Diversity Requirement before they graduate. There are multiple ways they may do so, please visit this website to learn more: https://graduateschool.vt.edu/academics/programs/inclusion-diversity-req.html 

6. CGPS&P’s Degrees and Academic Progress (DAP) Committee Call for Members  CGPS&P’s Degrees and Academic Progress (DAP) committee is looking for members. DAP is a working committee charged with examining matters of policy and practice broadly relevant to graduate and professional education at VT, including the development of draft documents, for the purpose of reporting and making recommendations for the consideration of University governance through the CGPSP. For this academic year, we will be working on the following issues, among others:  

– PhD candidacy policy and tuition discount  

– Policy on retaking courses Admission requirements for international students with master’s but without bachelor’s degrees

If interested, please contact the chair, Jerald Walz, jhwalz74@vt.edu. You do not to be a member of CGPS&P to serve. 

7. CGPS&P’s Course-based Master’s Committee Call for Members 

CGPS&P’s Course-based Master’s committee is looking for members. This ad-hoc committee is charged with streamlining GraduateSchool processes and procedures for course-based master’s programs. They will be tackling issues such as application requirements, admission processes, progress through degree and degree awarding. If interested, please contact the chair, Barbara Hoopes, bhoopes@vt.edu. You do not to be a member of CGPS&P to serve.  

8. Graduate Program Director Resources Teams Page

The Graduate School will start sharing GPD meeting notes, mentoring resources, and annual progress review templates and other materials useful to GPDs and graduate coordinators in the newly created Graduate Program Directors Teams. Access here:  https://gs.vt.edu/gpdresources   

GRADUATE SCHOOL BULLETIN
A publication of the Graduate School for Graduate Program Directors and Coordinators

The Graduate School communicates through semi-monthly postings distributed on the Graduate Program Directors and Coordinators listservs. Postings are distributed on the 1st and the 16th of the month and are posted to a blog for public viewing here: https://monthlymemo.graduateschool.vt.edu/ 

September 1, 2024

IN THIS BULLETIN:

Meetings, Workshops, & Events

1. Virtual Grad School Showcase Registration Open to Sep 12 

Deadlines & Dates to Remember

None at this time. 

Policy Updates

None at this time.  

Administrative Announcements

2. Request for Samples of Annual Progress Report departmental form 
3. SteppingBlocks Graduate Insights Access 
4. Inclusion and Diversity Requirement 
5. Recommendations and Resources for Faculty/GTAs in Establishing Class “Norm of Inclusion” 
6. Nominate a Graduate Student for the K. Patricia Cross Future Leaders Award 
7. Fee Waivers for HBCU Graduates 
8. Professional Development Opportunities from the CIRTL Network 

_______________________________________________

Meetings, Workshops, & Events

1. Virtual Grad School Showcase Registration Open to Sep 12 

Graduate programs are invited to register for the Virtual GraduateSchool Showcase on Oct 18, hosted by Georgia Tech. The virtual format allows participants to connect with prospective students from across the world — last year more than 1,700 registrants attended. If you have any questions or need further assistance with the registration process, please email gtgradshowcase@gatech.edu. Learn more and register at: https://gradshowcase.oue.gatech.edu/recruiter-registration-info-page/.  

2. Request for Samples of Annual Progress Report Departmental Form

The GraduateSchool is collecting a copy of each department’s annual progress review form as we work to establish standards, a timeline, and a convenient submission method for this review process. Please send a blank copy (pdf, word, screenshot) of your department’s annual program review form to Janice Austin (jema@vt.edu) by Friday, September 16, 2024. Thank you for your help with this project! 

3. SteppingBlocks Graduate Insights Access

At the August Graduate Program Directors meeting we were joined by a representative from SteppingBlocks who presented a new product providing alumni information and career insights for graduate students. Many of you have already received an invitation to set up your account, but if the invitation expired or you did not receive one, you may request access by emailing aiesupport@vt.edu. 

4. Inclusion and Diversity Requirement Reminder

All graduate students who began their programs in Spring 2022 or after need to complete the Inclusion and Diversity Requirement before they graduate. There are multiple ways they may do so; please visit this website to learn more: https://graduateschool.vt.edu/academics/programs/inclusion-diversity-req.html.  

5. Recommendations and Resources for Faculty/GTAs in Establishing Class “Norm of Inclusion” 

Virginia Tech’s Office of Inclusion and Diversity (OID) has developed a resource document with recommendations for instructional faculty and GTAs to assist them in establishing a ‘norm of inclusion’ in their classes beginning with the course syllabus and the first-class meeting. These include: Guidelines for a community of learners; Community guidelines that make a difference; and Communicating welcome, safety, and inclusion. Faculty and graduate teaching assistants (GTAs) may also enroll in one of OID’s inclusive pedagogy courses offered through the Professional Development Network. Inclusive pedagogy is a learner-centered instructional approach built on the principles of respect, inclusion, and cultural engagement. For more information on these norm of inclusion resources and recommendations, email InclusiveVT or visit the InclusiveVT website: https://www.inclusive.vt.edu/

6. Nominate a Graduate Student for the K. Patricia Cross Future Leaders Award

Nominations are now open for the K. Patricia Cross Future Leaders Award. This award recognizes graduate students planning a career in higher education who demonstrate exemplary promise as future leaders and are committed to academic innovation in equity, community engagement, and teaching and learning. All nomination materials must be submitted electronically no later than 11:59 pm ET on October 1, 2024, via this form: https://aacu.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_09t62IeQ2wM35c2 

7. Fee Waivers for HBCU Graduates

The Virginia Tech GraduateSchool is now able to offer fee waivers for applicants who have/will earn a degree from an HBCU. For information on Virginia Tech’s fee waiver process, please visit: https://graduateschool.vt.edu/admissions/tuition-and-costs/Application_Fees.html Please pass this information along to your faculty members, students, networks, colleagues, and partners. 

8. Professional Development Opportunities from the CIRTL Network 

The Center for the Integration of Research, Teaching, and Learning (CIRTL) Network offers a variety of professional development opportunities, including online workshops and courses (non-credit bearing), available to graduate students and postdoctoral associates at Virginia Tech. Among these opportunities is the CIRTL Associate Teaching Program, designed to teach effective teaching practices to graduate students and postdoctoral associates. Participants receive a CIRTL at Virginia Tech Associate digital badge along with foundational knowledge about teaching and complete a teaching philosophy activity.  The full CIRTL Network fall programming schedule, including descriptions and registration information, can be found at https://cirtl.net/events/ — please share this information with your students.   

GRADUATE SCHOOL BULLETIN
A publication of the Graduate School for Graduate Program Directors and Coordinators

The Graduate School communicates through semi-monthly postings distributed on the Graduate Program Directors and Coordinators listservs. Postings are distributed on the 1st and the 16th of the month and are posted to a blog for public viewing here: https://monthlymemo.graduateschool.vt.edu/

August 16, 2024

IN THIS BULLETIN:

Meetings, Workshops, & Events

     1. New Graduate Student Orientation and Welcome Events

Deadlines & Dates to Remember

• GTA Workshop:  Tuesday, Aug 20
• New Graduate Student Orientation: Friday, Aug 23

Policy Updates

      None at this time.

Administrative Announcements 

1. 2. Annual Progress Report for Graduate Students3. Request for Samples of Annual Progress Report departmental form4. Performance Management for Graduate Assistants5. Addition to Available Application Fee Waivers6. Nominations are accepted for the K. Patricia Cross Future Leaders Award

 ________________________________________

Meetings, Workshops, & Events

1. New Graduate Student Orientation and Welcome Events
Friday, August 23 at 9:00am in the Graduate Life Center Auditorium

The Graduate School will host this general orientation for all new graduate students. Please encourage your new students to attend! More information about orientation can be found at  https://graduateschool.vt.edu/admissions/orientation.html.   The Graduate School is planning several events and activities for new students that will occur before and after the semester starts. Please help us spread the word! 

2. Annual Progress Report for Graduate Students

Graduate education policy requires that all graduate students have an Annual Review of Progress at least once a year by their Advisory Committees. Students who do not yet have a Plan of Study or an Advisory Committee should be reviewed by the Graduate Program Director or a departmental Graduate Committee (see Graduate Catalog-Satisfactory Progress Toward a Graduate Degree and our Annual Review Good Practices website at https://graduateschool.vt.edu/faculty-and-staff-resources/annual_review_good_practices.html). Please upload your completed annual evaluations in our form submission portal at: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfjrNXTmzLlagnZBctWkEAmYA8b7aRmmRlJmAp1l70G6Bo2SQ/viewform  selecting the “Annual Evaluation/Progress to Degree” form type. Your annual progress review provides important guidance to our graduate students and we appreciate your efforts to this end.

3. Request for Samples of Annual Progress Report departmental form

The Graduate School is collecting a copy of each department’s annual progress review form as we work to establish standards, a timeline, and a convenient submission method for this review process. Please send a blank copy (pdf, word, screenshot) of your department’s annual program review form to Janice Austin (jema@vt.edu) by Friday, September 16, 2024. Thank you for your help with this project!

4. Performance Management for Graduate Assistants

Graduate assistants (GAs, GTAs, and GRAs) perform valuable work in support of teaching, research, and administrative tasks around the university, and it is very important that they receive clear guidelines for and support in carrying out their duties. Assistantship supervisors are expected to define and clearly communicate duties and performance expectations to their graduate assistants and provide regular feedback, including a performance evaluation at least once a year, but preferably each semester. Guidelines for managing assistantship performance are available in the Assistantship Management Guide at https://sites.google.com/vt.edu/gradschoolresources/graduate-student-funding/performance-management (login with VT Google credentials is required for access), including simple templates for documenting expectations and evaluating performance.

5. Addition to Available Application Fee Waivers

The Graduate School is now able to offer fee waivers for applicants who have/will earn a degree from any HBCU from the accredited HBCU List (https://sites.ed.gov/whhbcu/one-hundred-and-five-historically-black-colleges-and-universities/). For information on the Graduate School’s fee waiver process, please visit: https://graduateschool.vt.edu/admissions/tuition-and-costs/Application_Fees.html. Please pass this information along to your faculty members, students, networks, colleagues, and partners.

6. Nominations are accepted for the K. Patricia Cross Future Leaders Award
Nominations are now open for the K. Patricia Cross Future Leaders Award. This award recognizes graduate students planning a career in higher education who demonstrate exemplary promise as future leaders and are committed to academic innovation in equity, community engagement, and teaching and learning. All nomination materials must be submitted electronically no later than 11:59 pm ET on October 1, 2024 via this form: https://aacu.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_09t62IeQ2wM35c2

GRADUATE SCHOOL BULLETIN
A publication of the Graduate School for Graduate Program Directors and Coordinators

The Graduate School communicates through semi-monthly postings distributed on the Graduate Program Directors and Coordinators listservs. Postings are distributed on the 1st and the 16th of the month and are posted to a blog for public viewing here: https://monthlymemo.graduateschool.vt.edu/

August 1, 2024

IN THIS BULLETIN:

Meetings, Workshops, & Events

1. New Graduate Student Orientation and Welcome Events

 Deadlines & Dates to Remember

1. GTA Workshop:  Tuesday, Aug 20
2. New Graduate Student Orientation: Friday, Aug 23

Policy Updates

      None at this time.

Administrative Announcements 

1. Input Sought Regarding Assistantship Stipend Table
2. Reminder about GTA Workshop Registration
3. Annual Progress Report for Graduate Students
4. Request for Samples of Annual Progress Report departmental form
5. Performance Management for Graduate Assistants
6. Addition to Available Application Fee Waivers

 ________________________________________

Meetings, Workshops, & Events

1. New Graduate Student Orientation and Welcome Events
Friday, August 23 at 9:00am in the Graduate Life Center Auditorium

The Graduate School will host this general orientation for all new graduate students. Please encourage your new students to attend! More information about orientation can be found at  https://graduateschool.vt.edu/admissions/orientation.html.   The Graduate School is planning several events and activities for new students that will occur before and after the semester starts. Please help us spread the word! More info here: https://graduateschool.vt.edu/student-services/events.html

 Administrative Announcements 

1. Input Sought Regarding Assistantship Stipend Table
   Since 2004, standard assistantship compensation has included a 50-step stipend table that also defined the minimum and maximum allowable monthly stipend. Within the stipend table and the recently defined minimum of step 14, assistantship providers have maximum flexibility to choose the stipend amount they wish to pay. Based on recent questions by the BOV and data analysis by the Graduate School, we are evaluating the practice of using a 50-step stipend table and invite your input in this process. Please share your insights and recommendations by completing this short survey: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe-6a54zj_Z15s0F1EBBA0PNN3YwbuJRaB7MjMr1kSJKryRFQ/viewform. If you have any questions, contact Monika Gibson, gibsonm@vt.edu. 
2. Reminder about GTA Workshop Registration
   As you know, new GTAs are required to register for GRAD 5004, GTA workshop, for the first available semester. Please remind your GTAs who have not yet completed this requirement to register for the course now. Students register for GRAD 5004 just as they would for any other class. There are two sections; one (86109) is for students on the Blacksburg campus, while the other (86110) is for students outside of Blacksburg. The course begins with the required half-day Phase I session at the Moss Arts Center, 8:00am-12:30pm, Tuesday, Aug 20. Contact Associate Dean Kevin Edgar at kjedgar@vt.edu with any questions.
4. Annual Progress Report for Graduate Students
   Graduate education policy requires that all graduate students have an Annual Review of Progress at least once a year by their Advisory Committees. Students who do not yet have a Plan of Study or an Advisory Committee should be reviewed by the Graduate Program Director or a departmental Graduate Committee (see Graduate Catalog-Satisfactory Progress Toward a Graduate Degree and our Annual Review Good Practices website at https://graduateschool.vt.edu/faculty-and-staff-resources/annual_review_good_practices.html). Please upload your completed annual evaluations in our form submission portal at: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfjrNXTmzLlagnZBctWkEAmYA8b7aRmmRlJmAp1l70G6Bo2SQ/viewform  selecting the “Annual Evaluation/Progress to Degree” form type. Your annual progress review provides important guidance to our graduate students and we appreciate your efforts to this end.
6. Request for Samples of Annual Progress Report departmental form
   The Graduate School is collecting a copy of each department’s annual progress review form as we work to establish standards, a timeline, and a convenient submission method for this review process. Please send a blank copy (pdf, word, screenshot) of your department’s annual program review form to Janice Austin (jema@vt.edu) by Friday, September 16, 2024. Thank you for your help with this project!
8. Performance Management for Graduate Assistants
   Graduate assistants (GAs, GTAs, and GRAs) perform valuable work in support of teaching, research, and administrative tasks around the university, and it is very important that they receive clear guidelines for and support in carrying out their duties. Assistantship supervisors are expected to define and clearly communicate duties and performance expectations to their graduate assistants and provide regular feedback, including a performance evaluation at least once a year, but preferably each semester. Guidelines for managing assistantship performance are available in the Assistantship Management Guide at https://sites.google.com/vt.edu/gradschoolresources/graduate-student-funding/performance-management (login with VT Google credentials is required for access), including simple templates for documenting expectations and evaluating performance.
10. Addition to Available Application Fee Waivers
    The Graduate School is now able to offer fee waivers for applicants who have/will earn a degree from any HBCU from the accredited HBCU List (https://sites.ed.gov/whhbcu/one-hundred-and-five-historically-black-colleges-and-universities/). For information on the Graduate School’s fee waiver process, please visit: https://graduateschool.vt.edu/admissions/tuition-and-costs/Application_Fees.html.