IN THIS BULLETIN:
Did You Know?
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. MLK Shoe Drive
2. Graduate School Virtual Resource Fair
3. Jigsaw Connect: Supporting First Generation Students
4. Graduate Program Directors Meeting
5. Jigsaw Connect: Library Services and Support for Graduate Students
Deadlines & Dates to Remember
February 5: Spring Break Day
Policy Updates
Administrative Announcements
1. Graduate School Funded Fellowships
2. COVES Fellowship Applications Now Open
3. Dean’s Diversity Assistantship
4. Powell Fellowship
5. McNair Graduate Assistantship
Meetings, Workshops, & Events
1. MLK Shoe Drive
Monday, January 18 – Friday, February 26
In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, The Office of Recruitment, Diversity, and Inclusion, in coordination with Soles4Soulswill host a shoe drive. Men’s, Women’s, and Children’s shoe donations in all sizes are greatly appreciated! Join us for this fun and safe service event from Monday, January 18, 2021, through Friday, February 26, 2021. Additional drop off locations will be added soon. Please visit https://www.inclusive.vt.edu/Programs/mlk-2021.htmlfor additional information regarding MLK events.
2. Graduate School Virtual Resource Fair
Wednesday, February 3rd from 1:00 – 4:00 pm, Online
The Office of Recruitment, Diversity, and Inclusion, is hosting a FREE virtual resource fair to directly connect you to support services! Learn valuable information regarding future programming, family and academic support, mental health services, and more! Students, faculty, and staff are welcome to participate and will need to sign-up in Brazenhttps://app.brazenconnect.com/a/vt-grad-school/e/0Zovv. Questions? Email ordi@vt.edu.
3. JigsawConnect: Supporting First Generation Students
Wednesday, February 10th from 12:00 – 1:00 pm
The Graduate School invites you to join: JigsawConnect! Jigsaw Connect is a monthly discussion series focused on recruitment and retention support for graduate programs. Join us for our next session featuring Dr. Charmaine Troy, Program Director for First-Generation Student Support. Register at http://bit.ly/GSJigsawconnect7 and feel free to invite others who may find this information useful. For more information, email jgrimes18@vt.edu.
4. Graduate Program Directors Meeting
Tuesday, February 16th from 1:30 – 3:00 pm
The next Graduate Program Directors meeting is set for Tuesday, February 16 from 1:30 – 3:00 pm. Please register here to participate: https://gs.vt.edu/gpd
5. Jigsaw Connect: Library Services and Support for Graduate Students
Wednesday, March 24th from 12:00 – 1:00 pm
Our next session will feature Lisa Becksford-Online and Graduate Engagement Librarian, Nathaniel Porter-Social Science Data Consultant, and Data Education Coordinator, and Ginny Pannabecker-Director, Research Collaboration and Engagement. Register at http://bit.ly/VTGSJigsawconnect8.For more information, email jgrimes18@vt.edu.
Deadlines & Dates to Remember
February 5: Spring Break Day
From Dean Karen DePauw – Don’t forget that our first Spring Break day is Friday February 5th. The university will be open but no classes will be held. This day should not be just a typical work day; there should be some kind of “break” from work for graduate students. So please plan accordingly.
Policy Updates
Administrative Announcements
1. Graduate School Funded Fellowships
Nominations for Graduate School Fellowships are currently being accepted for 2021-22. For eligibility, nomination information, and deadlines, please visit each opportunity listed on the Funding Sponsored by the Graduate School page.
2. COVES Fellowship Applications Now Open
Interested graduate students may apply for the Commonwealth of Virginia Engineering and Science (COVES) summer fellowship until March 1. The COVES Fellowship is a 12-week full-time summer fellowship program (May 17-August 6) operated by the Virginia Academy of Science, Engineering and Medicine (the Academy) and open to STEM graduate students. According to the Academy, the aim of the program is to strengthen ties between the scientific community and Virginia’s state government, and to encourage and train more scientists and engineers to be effective advisors for public policy and programs in the Commonwealth.
During the program, fellows will receive training in science policy and science communication, spend time in legislative offices, executive agencies companies or nonprofits in the state, and will be paired with an Academy mentor and involved in briefings, meetings and the Academy’s annual summit in August. The program begins with a week-long boot camp on science policy, governance and policy making in Virginia. Thereafter, fellows spend their time with the entity with which they are matched, and also are paired with a mentor. The program includes a stipend.
The Graduate School will submit three finalists for the fellowship program to the Academy, which will then choose one to represent the university in the program.
The Academy will hold two information sessions in February 2021 about the fellowship program. Both are virtual and registration is required:
Info Session #1: Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2021 at 3 p.m. Register in advance for this meeting with this link.
Info Session #2: Monday, Feb. 8, 2021 at 4 p.m. Register in advance for this meeting with this link.
To learn more about the program and to access the application materials, visit the COVES Fellowship webpage on the Graduate School website. The application deadline is March 1.
3. Dean’s Diversity Assistantship
Applications are currently being accepted for the Dean’s Diversity Assistantship program. For eligibility and nomination information please visit https://graduateschool.vt.edu/funding/types-of-funding/funding-sponsored-by-the-graduate-school/dean-s-diversity-assistantships0.html
Deadline March 5, 2021 at 11:59PM. Please contact Shernita Lee at shernita@vt.edu with questions or concerns.
4. Powell Fellowship
Applications are currently being accepted for the Powell Fellowship. For eligibility and nomination information please visit https://graduateschool.vt.edu/funding/types-of-funding/funding-sponsored-by-the-graduate-school/powell-fellowship.html
Deadline March 26, 2021 at 11:59PM. Please contact Shernita Lee at shernita@vt.edu with questions or concerns.
5. McNair Graduate Assistantship
Applications are currently being accepted for the Ronald E. McNair Graduate Assistantship program.. For eligibility and nomination information please visit https://graduateschool.vt.edu/funding/types-of-funding/funding-sponsored-by-the-graduate-school/mcnair-assistantship.html.
Deadline March 12, 2021 at 11:59PM. Please contact Shernita Lee at shernita@vt.edu with questions or concerns.