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. Diversity Scholars Showcase
Deadlines & Dates to Remember
1. International Admission Application Department Decision Deadline – May 15
Policy Update
1. New Procedures for Departmental Approval of Graduate Co-op
Administrative Announcements
1. Graduate Admissions Processes Survey
2. Inclusion and Diversity Requirement Plans
Meetings, Workshops, & Events
1. Diversity Scholars Showcase
Friday, May 7th at 3:00 pm
The Office of Recruitment, Diversity, and Inclusion (ORDI) will host a Diversity Scholars showcase on Friday, May 7th at 3 pm (EST). The showcase will highlight graduate students who specialize and advocate for the awareness, knowledge, and skills associated with diversity and inclusion in the Graduate School and greater community. Learn more about their projects and ask questions in a live chat! All are welcome to attend and register at https://bit.ly/21DSShowcase. For questions or accommodations, please contact Dr. Justin Grimes at ordi@vt.edu for questions.
Deadlines & Dates to Remember
1. International Admission Application Department Decision Deadline
May 15, 2021
All international student admission applications for fall 2021 admission must have a decision on the application submitted to the Graduate School in Slate no later than May 15, 2021. Any decisions made after this date need to be approved in advance and on a case-by-case basis by immigration advising staff. For departments in Blacksburg, contact the Cranwell International Center staff at international@vt.edu. For departments in the Greater Washington DC Metro Area, please contact intlncr@vt.edu.
Policy Updates
1. New Procedures for Departmental Approval of Graduate Co-op
Graduate students can now apply for co-op online at https://graduateschool.vt.edu/student-life/student-services/GradCoop.html. The online form replaces the previously used Graduate Co-op Request Form. Once students submit their request online, the form will be routed to the academic advisor for review, and the advisor will receive an email prompt to take action. If approved by the advisor, the request will be forwarded to the Graduate School for decision. The process is the same regardless of the student’s campus location. The Cranwell International Center or their NCR counterpart will be notified of the approval if the requestor is an international student in F-1 or J-1 status. Please contact Monika Gibson at gibsonm@vt.edu if you have any questions.
Administrative Announcements
1. Graduate Admissions Processes Survey
Graduate Program Directors are invited to participate in the Graduate Admissions Processes Survey. One pillar of the Graduate School’s Inclusive VT Implementation Plan is to promote holistic evaluation of applicants for admission to graduate study. This is a follow-up to a similar survey conducted in 2015 to identify the full range of criteria and considerations currently in use at Virginia Tech. Please share this with other colleagues who may have admissions oversight, but only one response is needed per program. Your participation is appreciated and goes a long way toward informing best practices and guidance coming from the Graduate School. Please complete the survey by May 7th. The survey can be accessed here: Graduate Admissions Processes Survey. Questions related to the survey may be directed toward Kacy Lawrence at klawr5@vt.edu.
2. Inclusion and Diversity Requirement Plans
As this academic year comes to a close, the Office of Recruitment, Diversity, and Inclusion is preparing to complete summary reports regarding progress of the Inclusion and Diversity requirement plans. If your plan is complete and ready for review, please email it to Shernita@vt.edu by May 28th for feedback and inclusion in the 2020-2021 plan summary. All approved plans to date are located at https://graduateschool.vt.edu/academics/programs/inclusion-diversity-req.html.