IN THIS BULLETIN:
Meetings/Workshops/Events:
1. SPRING KICK-OFF WELCOME CONNECT LUNCH
Administrative Announcements:
2. NOMINATIONS OPEN FOR GRADUATE STUDENT AWARDS
3. OUTSTANDING MENTOR AWARD NOMINATIONS
4. REMINDER FOR ADMISSION APPLICATION DECISIONS
5. COVES FELLOWSHIP ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS
Deadlines/Dates to Remember:
Jan 20 – Martin Luther King Day; no classes, university closed
Jan 21 – First day of classes; last day to withdraw without charges
Jan 27 – Last day to add classes for Spring 2020
Meetings/Workshops/Events:
1. SPRING KICK-OFF WELCOME CONNECT LUNCH
Monday, Feb 3, 12:00-1:00pm, Graduate Life Center, Multipurpose Room
Come out and meet representatives from university offices, learn about student resources, and network with other new and returning students, faculty, and staff with lunch provided. Please register at https://virginiatech.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_dd4K3AXN74JFGZL by January 31. For accommodations related to disabilities, contact Justin Grimes at jgrimes18@vt.edu at least 72 hours in advance of the event.
Administrative Announcements:
2. NOMINATIONS OPEN FOR GRADUATE STUDENT AWARDS – DEADLINES APPROACHING!!
This year, as we celebrate our 20th Annual Graduate Education Week at Virginia Tech, we will be highlighting previous winners as well as bringing some winners back for various events and programs. We will update you as these programs are finalized.
You are encouraged to nominate students in your department for the following awards:
– Outstanding Dissertation Award
– William Preston Society Master’s Thesis Award
– Graduate Student Teaching Excellence
– Graduate Student Service Excellence
– Graduate Student of the Year
– Outstanding Interdisciplinary Program Doctoral Student.
To learn about nomination criteria and procedures, visit https://graduateschool.vt.edu/about/awards/student.html. Nominations are due by January 31, 2020.
In addition to these awards, EACH COLLEGE SELECTS ITS OUTSTANDING MASTER’S AND DOCTORAL STUDENT based on selection criteria developed by the colleges. Notification about each college’s winners are due by February 14, 2020. See details at https://graduateschool.vt.edu/about/awards/student/outstanding-graduate-student.html.
All award winners will be recognized at our annual Graduate Education Week awards banquet on March 26, 2020.
3. OUTSTANDING MENTOR AWARD NOMINATIONS
The Graduate School recognizes one faculty member from each college with the Outstanding Mentor award for their role in supporting, encouraging, and promoting a positive and inclusive scholarly and teaching environment, and for contributing to the professional and personal development of graduate students. Winners must be full-time faculty members who have successfully mentored graduate students at the master’s or doctoral level. Each college sets its timeline for departments to submit nominations to the college for review and winner selection. Notification about each college’s winners are due by February 14, 2020. For more details visit: https://graduateschool.vt.edu/about/awards/outstanding-mentor-award.html. All winners will be recognized at our annual Graduate Education Week awards banquet on March 26, 2020.
4. REMINDER FOR ADMISSION APPLICATION DECISIONS
The Office of Export and Secure Research Compliance (OESRC) and the Graduate School developed procedures to identify graduate students with a high risk of export control, sanctions, or security concerns and provide guidance to the departments for compliance with these regulations. An automated screening method identifies international graduate students who intersect with three high risk areas: sanctioned country citizenship, prior or current foreign military affiliation, and affiliation with restricted parties or embargoed organizations. These applicants are reviewed by OESRC and guidance will be provided to the departments, if necessary. In most cases, OESRC will complete the review within 3 business days. In rare circumstances, additional time will be required to adjudicate cases, and departments will be notified within 3 business days if additional processing time is needed.
In order to ensure that the automated screening process occurs for all applicants recommended for admission, it is imperative that departments mark students recommended for admission in HokieSpa as Accept in GSAPP as well. To note the recommendation for admission in GSAPP, go to Actions –> Department Recommend –> Accept & Save.
This will set the application in GSAPP as Accept in your status list which initiates the OESRC review process. You must still submit the Online Admissions Analysis form in HokieSpa as the official decision. Admission recommendations in HokieSpa will not be processed by the Graduate School until the OESRC screening process in GSAPP has been completed. Questions regarding setting the application status to Accept in GSAPP may be addressed to Janice Austin at jema@vt.edu.
5. COVES FELLOWSHIP ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS
The Commonwealth of Virginia Engineering and Science (COVES) Fellowship is a 12-week fellowship program of the Virginia Academy of Science, Engineering and Medicine (VASEM). Graduate student fellows will serve as science advisors in a variety of possible placements, including legislative offices, executive agencies, or prominent companies and nonprofits in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Fellows will gain experience by serving their host office and performing tasks such as researching, drafting, and revising policies in areas related to their expertise. Fellows will also be paired with a VASEM member who will serve as an experienced science policy mentor throughout the fellowship. For more information and the application, please go to the following link: https://graduateschool.vt.edu/funding/types-of-funding/funding-opportunities.html