April 16, 2019

IN THIS BULLETIN:
Meetings/Workshops/Events:
1. GRADUATE COORDINATORS MEETING
2. DIVERSITY SCHOLARS SHOWCASE

Administrative Announcements:
3. ATTENTION! GRADUATE CATALOG EDITORS
4. CHANGES TO ASSISTANTSHIP COMPENSATION FOR 2109-20
5. NEW REQUIREMENT FOR STUDENTS PURSUING GRAD DEGREES AT VT

Deadlines/Dates to Remember:
MAY 1: Last day to notify the Graduate School of intent to participate in commencement
MAY 9: PhD/EdD all graduation requirements must be met to participate in commencement
MAY 15: Masters/Doctoral last day to defend to be a spring 2019 graduate

Meetings/Workshops/Events:
1. GRADUATE COORDINATORS MEETING
Thursday, May 2, 10:00-11:00am, GLC Room F
Topics include:
* use of IntlHokie portal for I-20 form requests and other authorizations
* admission deadlines for intl students and handling exceptions
* I-20 extension requests and documentation requirements from departments
* GSA travel fund program and departmental role in distribution of funds
* implementation of Slate for recruitment and admissions
Janice Austin, Monika Gibson and IGSS representative(s) will share updates about these topics and answer questions you may have.  Please register at https://virginiatech.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_41OfrfAw5tAu1o1 if you are planning to attend. This meeting will also be available on Zoom. You will receive Zoom information upon registration.

2. DIVERSITY SCHOLARS SHOWCASE
Thursday, May 2, 12:00pm, GLC Multipurpose Room
Ten graduate students will share their projects related to diversity, inclusion, and equity to benefit the graduate community and community at large. Lunch will be provided. Sign-up at https://virginiatech.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3knTbblsMSicMct

Administrative Announcements:
3. ATTENTION! GRADUATE CATALOG EDITORS
The cycle to edit for catalog year 2019-2020 has begun. Those receiving notification from the system are responsible for content. You must review and submit content, even if the content will not be updated. The deadline to submit is Friday, May 31. If you have any questions, please contact Jeremy Sippel at jsippel@vt.edu.

4. CHANGES TO ASSISTANTSHIP COMPENSATION FOR 2019-20
* The 2019-20 Graduate Assistantship Stipend Compensation Table is now available. The new stipend scale is effective August 10, 2019. Departments are expected to pay students at the increased rates starting Fall 2019.
* Beginning in fiscal year 2019-20, tuition remission benefits will be prorated to align with the portion of the semester completed on assistantship. A table detailing this proration can be found at https://graduateschool.vt.edu/funding/funding-information-for-departments/managing-graduate-assistantships.html.
* The graduate assistant health insurance subsidy will remain at 88%.

5. NEW REQUIREMENT FOR STUDENTS PURSUING GRAD DEGREES AT VT
The Commission on Graduate Studies and Policy recently approved a new requirement for students pursuing graduate degrees at Virginia Tech: an inclusion and diversity education component as part of their studies. This requirement aligns with the Graduate School’s goal of providing all students with an affirming, inclusive, and diverse education program that helps prepare them for the challenges they will meet in their post-graduation careers. Four topics must be included in the plans: the University’s Principles of Community; the impact of personal actions and words; avenues of redress and shared responsibility as active bystanders to recognize and disrupt bullying; and a process of individual introspection and reflection leading to awareness of one’s own words and language. Other topics also may be included. Each program, department, or college may develop its own plan for meeting the requirement, and all plans must be approved by the Graduate School after submission by the unit’s Graduate Program Director or its equivalent. For more information about the requirement, including whom to contact for assistance and questions, please visit the Graduate School’s Inclusion and Diversity Requirement webpage at: https://graduateschool.vt.edu/faculty-and-staff-resources/inclusion-diversity-requirement.html.

April 1, 2019

IN THIS BULLETIN:
Meetings/Workshops/Events:
1. HOW TO USE iTHENTICATE – TRAINING SESSIONS

Administrative Announcements:
2. ATTENTION! GRADUATE CATALOG EDITORS
3. ASSISTANTSHIP MANAGEMENT GROUP
4. NEW PROCEDURES FOR NEW INTERNATIONAL STUDENT IMMIGRATION DOCUMENT REQUESTS
5. POWELL FELLOWSHIP
6. NEW REQUIREMENT FOR STUDENTS PURSUING GRAD DEGREES AT VT

Deadlines/Dates to Remember:
APR 11: PhD/EdD ETD submission deadline to participate in spring commencement

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