Month: October 2010

The Graduate School invites graduate students, graduate alumni, faculty, staff, and other friends of the Graduate School to the 5-year celebration of the opening of the GLC on Friday, November 5, 2010, 2:00-4:00pm in the GLC Multipurpose Room. The program will include:

• Displays depicting the first five years of the GLC
• Cake and refreshments
• Remarks by Dr. Karen DePauw
• Presentation of awards

Learn more about our celebrations and the history of the GLC at our anniversary website. Although registration is not required for this event, we would appreciate if you would let us know about your intent to attend.

I’m pleased to announce an Call for Proposals for new Interdisciplinary Graduate Education Programs (IGEPs).   

In his review of the mid-term strategic plan, the Provost charged me “to explore how best to accelerate continued movement toward interdisciplinary graduate education” at Virginia Tech.  Based upon the results of numerous focused discussion groups, the recommendations of the VT Interdisciplinary Scholars in Life Sciences, and the results of the Interdisciplinary Summit held July 15, 2010, it appears that Virginia Tech is well situated to move aggressively toward enhancing interdisciplinary graduate education and research.   

As a result, the Graduate School in consultation with faculty has developed an initiative entitled Interdisciplinary Graduate Education Program (IGEP).  The IGEPs will provide innovative graduate education programs at Virginia Tech, strengthen faculty collaborations within VT and with external partners, and significantly increase the opportunities to secure multi-disciplinary and interdisciplinary grants.  Toward that end, we are seeking applications from groups of faculty who wish to submit a proposal for an Interdisciplinary Graduate Education Program (IGEP).  Please see the Call for Proposals, http://grads.vt.edu/interdisciplinary

 Sincerely,

Karen P. DePauw, Ph.D.
Vice President and Dean for Graduate Education

During GEW 2010, the Graduate School began placing QR Codes around the GLC and office spaces.  We now have a tool that will allow you to generate a good number of types of QR Codes.  The types of data we currently offer to be encoded into a QR code are: URL, Email address, Geo Location, MeCard(/vCard), Text, SMS, Wireless Network.  The goal of this little application is to become a one stop shop for creating a QR code.  We are looking to add other items to the application as time goes on.  If you have suggestions for QR content around the GLC or for functionality of this app, please let us know.

I’d like to give kudos and thanks to Erdem Memisyaizci for getting this application together.

Join us for helpful updates on Graduate Advisory Committees, Plan of Study guidelines, DSS and final exam procedures, new course proposals, and the Institutional Plan for Graduate Degrees.

 Presented by Rosemary Blieszner, Associate Dean

 Monday, October 18, 1-2:30, GLC-F in Blacksburg and room TBA in NCR.

Graduate students on assistantship are eligible for the bonus if:

• they were employed (GA, GRA, GTA, faculty, or staff) during the 2009-10 fiscal year, and
• are contracted as a graduate assistant (GA, GRA, GTA) on December 1st, 2010.

The bonus will be 3% of the graduate student’s projected annual pay as of December 1st, 2010, based on an academic year or calendar year basis.  The graduate student’s 2009-10 employment history will determine an academic or calendar year appointment basis.  The bonus will be included in the December 1st, 2010 paycheck.  Applicable taxes and deductions will apply.
     
The fund source of the bonus will correspond to the fund source of the current year stipend. The  E&G support for the bonus will be provided to departments through a one-time budget allocation.  The Office of Budget and Financial Planning will be working with auxiliary enterprises to address the cost within existing resources.  Externally sponsored grants & contracts should also expect the cost; it is hoped that the planned stipend escalation factor will accommodate the one-time cost.

For questions please contact Tim Hodge in the Office of Budget and Financial Planning.