IN THIS BULLETIN:
Meetings/Workshops/Events:
1. HOW TO INCLUSIVE WHILE RECRUITING AND RETAINING DIVERSE GROUPS OF STUDENTS
2. FIRST GENERATION GRADUATE STUDENT CONNECT LUNCH
Administrative Announcements:
3. iTHENTICATE RESOURCES
4. INCLUSION AND DIVERSITY REQUIREMENTS FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS
5. CONNECT CLIENT MANAGEMENT/RECRUITMENT
6. NATIONAL ACADEMIES OF SCIENCE, ENGINEERING, AND MEDICINE REPORT
7. ASSISTANCE WITH ON-LINE GRADUATE EDUCATION PROGRAMS
8. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CERTIFICATE PROPOSAL – INPUT REQUESTED
Deadlines/Dates to Remember:
OCT 16-23: Web course request for Spring 2019
OCT 19: Fall break; no classes, University offices open
OCT 26: PhD/EdD: Last day to defend to participate in Fall commencement
NOV 9: PhD/EdD ETD submission deadline to participate in Fall commencement
Meetings/Workshops/Events:
1. NEW INCLUSION AND DIVERSITY REQUIREMENTS/HOW TO BE INCLUSIVE WHILE RECRUITING AND RETAINING DIVERSE GROUPS OF STUDENTS
Wednesday, Oct 31, 10:30am-Noon, Graduate Life Center, Room F
This workshop, targeted to Graduate Program Directors, is an opportunity to discuss our new inclusion and diversity requirements and their connection to our recruitment and retention initiatives.
2. FIRST GENERATION GRADUATE STUDENT CONNECT LUNCH
Thursday, Nov 8, 12:00-1:00 pm, Graduate Life Center, Multipurpose Room.
Join us at this year’s First Generation Graduate Student Connect Lunch with keynote speaker Jordan Laney, a Presidential Pathways Postdoctoral Teaching Fellow. Student group leaders, faculty mentors, and members of the community are also invited. Event is free. Please register at http://bit.ly/FirstGenerationConnectLunch by November 6. For accommodations related to disabilities, please contact Dr. Justin Grimes at jgrimes18@vt.edu at least 72 hours in advance of the event.
Administrative Announcements:
3. iTHENTICATE RESOURCES
Beginning in April, The Graduate School has been using iThenticate to verify originality of documents prepared by VT graduate students and faculty. Access to iThenticate is granted to graduate students and faculty effective immediately. Although the tool isn’t difficult to use, it is very important that you view the videos about accessing and using the tool, and especially interpreting the similarity report. Videos and a link to the iThenticate website are located here: https://graduateschool.vt.edu/faculty-and-staff-resources/ithenticate.html. Additional resources on iThenticate are being added to this website, so please continue to refer to the website as a guide.
4. INCLUSION AND DIVERSITY REQUIREMENTS FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS
As discussed at the Graduate Program Directors meeting, a copy of the “Resolution to Incorporate an Inclusion and Diversity Education Component into Graduate Education” is available. Email sjkass@vt.edu for a copy.
5. NATIONAL ACADEMIES OF SCIENCE, ENGINEERING, AND MEDICINE REPORT
Dr. Kevin Edgar presented a summary of the report from the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine at the recent Graduate Program Directors’ meeting. You can find this summary at http://sites.nationalacademies.org/pga/bhew/graded/index.htm
6. CONNECT CLIENT MANAGEMENT/RECRUITMENT
Faculty and Staff are encouraged to partner with the Office of Recruitment, Diversity, and Inclusion to maximize the recruitment and retention of graduate students. Please feel free to email shernita@vt.edu to learn about resources available to improve the recruitment and diversity strategies for your program, share college/department resources, or collect Graduate School materials. For more details go to https://graduateschool.vt.edu/content/dam/graduateschool_vt_edu/recruitment/Quick_Guide_Reference_GS_Hobsons_Connect.pdf.
7. ASSISTANCE WITH ON-LINE GRADUATE EDUCATION PROGRAMS
Interested in offering on-line graduate degree programs? The Graduate School has asked Dr. Kieran Lindsey to help us and help you in thinking about possibilities. Contact Dr. Lindsey at klindsey@vt.edu if you would like more information.
8. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CERTIFICATE PROPOSAL – INPUT REQUESTED
The graduate school is in the process of putting together a proposal for a certificate on Professional Development. This certificate, partly in response to the National Academies’ recent report on Graduate Education in the 21st Century, is intended to create further opportunities for our graduate students to enhance their professional skills ahead of careers in industry, government, academia or elsewhere. It will include graduate school courses in the core that help to build skills around working in and leading interdisciplinary teams, oral and written communications, basic statistics, mentoring, and many other professional skills. Because many departments and colleges already have important offerings of this type, including research methods courses, we are reaching out for your input. We will have the opportunity to list optional courses in the certificate, and would be happy to list appropriate courses from your department and/or college in the list of optional courses. If you have suggestions that you would like to be included in that list, please pass along course number, title, and a brief synopsis to Kevin Edgar at kjedgar@vt.edu so that we can include you in the proposal.