IN THIS BULLETIN:
Did You Know?
Did you know that the Office of Recruitment, Diversity, and Inclusion has launched a series of monthly virtual discussions focused on recruitment and retention support for graduate students called Jigsaw Connect? Join the next session on Wednesday, September 30th at 11 a.m. See the Recruitment page, https://graduateschool.vt.edu/recruitment.html, for more details.
Did you know that graduate students can get COVID-19 tests at Schiffert Health Center? The center now is offering tests seven days a week. More information is on the VT Ready site.
Did you know that Virginia Tech now has a COVID-19 information hotline that is staffed seven days a week? The number is 540-231-7600.
Meetings, Workshops, & Events
1. Required Training: Coronavirus Awareness Online Course
2. Diversity: Inclusion for the Modern Workplace Student Requirement
3. 2020 Virtual HBCU/MSI Research Summit information Sessions: How to get involved?
4. I Belong Here: Women’s Sense of Belonging in Academia and Society
5. Jigsaw Connect: “Prospective Student Engagement using Slate”
Deadlines & Dates to Remember
October 1: Fall 2020 Deadline for Inclusion in Commencement Listing
Policy Updates
1. TOEFL and GRE Testing Updates
2. Inclusion and Diversity Requirement for Graduate Students: Reminder to Develop Plans
Administrative Announcements
1. Graduate Honor System Recruiting Faculty Panelists
2. Accepting Nominations for Graduate Alumni Achievement Award
3. 2020 Graduate Recruitment Brochure is Online
Meetings, Workshops, & Events
1. Required Training: Coronavirus Awareness Online Course
All faculty, staff, wage employees, and students (including Graduate Students) returning to campus are required to complete Environmental Health and Safety’s Coronavirus Awareness online classprior to their return.
2. Diversity: Inclusion for the Modern Workplace Student Requirement
Diversity and Inclusion in the Modern Workplace module is required for all new graduate and professional students (it replaced DiversityEdu). More info is found at https://students.vt.edu/onlineprograms.html. Students will receive the link directly and should complete the 45-min module by October to avoid a hold on their account. The focus of the course is identifying how to create a more respectful and inclusive workplace. Topics include identity definitions, identity conflicts, being an ally, invisible disabilities, power and inequality, political correctness, language diversity, intersectionality, stereotypes, and more. If you are interested in additional questions or activities to engage students in deeper conversations about diversity, equity, inclusion and social justice, please contact Alicia Cohen at acohen@vt.edu.
3. 2020 Virtual HBCU/MSI Research Summit information Sessions: How to get involved?
We are excited to confirm our HBCU/MSI research summit for October 29 (faculty partnership focused day) and October 30 (student recruitment focused day)! Learn more about the summit at https://graduateschool.vt.edu/about/diversity/hbcu_research_summit.html. The event this year will be virtual. In order to better highlight the event structure, types of participation, and registration mechanisms, we invite you to attend one of the following sessions:
September 22 at 1PM: https://virginiatech.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJ0qf-urqTspHdIxcGRDwklUzrX9T4KVmWWL
September 25 at 9AM: https://virginiatech.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJYocOCgqT0jEt14PveniGKYvNgmW6i4PVay
September 29 at 4PM:https://virginiatech.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJApdO-trTssG9fktENAUWvUuQBL0IzcvLZs
The sessions will be recorded for those unable to attend, but please register to indicate interest. If you have any questions, please email us at ORDI@vt.edu
4. I Belong Here: Women’s Sense of Belonging in Academia and Society
Friday, October 2, 12:00 pm-1:00 pm, Zoom
We would like to invite you to join us at this year’s Women’s Connect event with Dr. Letticia Ramlal-Lamble, the Director of Assessment and Data Analytics for the College of Engineering. All are invited to join us and attend. Please register at https://virginiatech.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_2fOeedaTw00GCG1by October 1 to receive the Zoom link.For accommodations, please contact ordi@vt.edu at least 72 hours in advance of the event.
5. Jigsaw Connect: “Prospective Student Engagement using Slate”
The Graduate School invites you to join: Jigsaw Connect! Jigsaw Connect is a monthly discussion series focused on recruitment and retention support for graduate programs. Join us for our next session on Wednesday, September 30th at 11AM ET featuring Rebecca McGill and Julia Falkenstern, MBA programs Register at https://virginiatech.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJMrd-GvqTIsGNQl-ysBKY318f5aEJX1Sjym .and feel free to invite others in your unit who may find this information useful. For more information, please email shernita@vt.edu.
Deadlines & Dates to Remember
October 1: Fall 2020 Deadline for Inclusion in Commencement Listing
To ensure that your fall 2020 graduating student names are in the listing of graduates that will be read during the fall 2020 online commencement ceremony, please have the students complete their Application for Degree in HokieSpa under Graduate Student Degree menu by October 1, 2020.
Policy Updates
1. TOEFL and GRE Testing Updates
Due to the continued need, availability of the TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition and GRE General Test at Home will be extended through October, with a possible further extension. Students in China will be able to access an expanded number of test dates and testing centers through the end of September. Please see below for the relevant links.
TOEFL: Web page for TOEFL® Institutions and TOEFL Test Takers. Those testing in China can access information on in-person testing here: https://toefl.neea.cn/. Those unable to test in-person are encouraged to register for the TOEFL ITP Plus for China Solution, for which details can be found here: www.ets.org/toefl/itp-plus.
GRE: Web pages for GRE® Institutions and GRE Test Takers. Those testing in China can access information on in-person testing here: https://gre.neea.cn/.
2. Inclusion and Diversity Requirement for Graduate Students: Reminder to Develop Plans
The Commission on Graduate Studies and Policy 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. 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.htmlor email shernita@vt.edu.
Administrative Announcements
1. Graduate Honor System Recruiting Faculty Panelists
The Graduate Honor System is recruiting faculty to serve as panelists who review the evidence and determine the outcome of GHS cases. To be eligible, you need to be a non-A/P faculty member working with graduate students in any capacity (teaching, research, or extension and service). The overall time commitment is 3-4 hours a semester based on the number of cases and panelist availability. If you are interested in serving as a faculty panelist, please contact the GHS Chair – Anurag Mantha (ghs@vt.edu) to set up a brief meeting to discuss the role. Once the meeting is complete, you will be added to the GHS email list and are free to volunteer to serve on any panel based on your availability
2. Accepting Nominations for Graduate Alumni Achievement Award
The Grad School is accepting nomination for the Graduate Alumni Achievement Award. This award recognizesoutstanding national and/or international achievement and exemplary contribution by the winner to his or her profession, discipline, community or society. Nominees must be engaged in efforts that enhance the reputation of Virginia Tech to a national and/or international audience.Only alumni who have obtained a graduate degree from Virginia Tech are eligible. Submission deadline is October 16, 2020. For more information on nomination requirements and to submit a nomination, visit: https://graduateschool.vt.edu/about/awards/alumni.html.
3. 2020 Graduate Recruitment Brochure is Online
The 2020 Graduate Recruitment Brochure is located at https://graduateschool.vt.edu/recruitment/recruiting-materials.html. If you have any questions, please email the Office of Recruitment, Diversity, and Inclusion at ordi@vt.edu.