IN THIS BULLETIN:
Meetings, Workshops, & Events
Deadlines & Dates to Remember
Policy Updates
1. CGS Resolution
Administrative Announcements
1. Change in Forms Submission Process
2. Plan of Study Process User Experience Study
3. Faculty Mentor of the Month Program Launched
Meetings, Workshops, & Events
Deadlines & Dates to Remember
Policy Updates
1. CGS Resolution
VT participates in the Council of Graduate Schools’ (CGS) “Resolution Regarding Graduate Scholars, Fellows, Trainees and Assistantships” also known as the “April 15 Resolution” (https://cgsnet.org/april-15-resolution). Participation in the resolution obligates us to allow admitted graduate students to consider all offers of financial support through April 15. In turn, the resolution binds students to their decisions made or held in place after April 15. Over 325 U.S. institutions offering graduate degrees have agreed to abide by this resolution. Our participation ensures that both student and program conduct their admissions in an ethical manner and that they receive equal treatment and consideration in the financial support decision-making process.
Here are some important aspects of the Resolution:
- The April 15, 2022, deadline applies only to acceptance of an offer of financial support such as a graduate scholarship, fellowship, traineeship, or assistantship.
- It applies only to offers of financial support for the following academic year.
- Although you can send out your offers well before the deadline, prospective graduate students are under no obligation to respond to offers of financial aid prior to April 15.
- Acceptance of an offer of financial support made after April 15, 2022, is conditional upon presentation by the student of written release from any previously accepted offer.
- All offers of financial support should include a copy of or link to the “April 15 Resolution”: (https://cgsnet.org/april-15-resolution).
In addition to direct information on the resolution, some explanatory language should be included in all financial support letters. Below is an example of wording that you are free to use in your letter: “Please inform us in writing of your decision no later than April 15, 2022. In accordance with the Council of Graduate Schools’ (CGS) resolution, you may consider other offers of financial support until the April 15 deadline, but any decision after April 15 is an obligation that you are expected to honor. Likewise, we will honor this offer until the April 15 deadline, after which point it will be rescinded unless you are informed in writing that the deadline for a decision has been extended. Although you are under no obligation to accept this offer prior to April 15, please let us know as soon as you have made a decision so that we may extend offers to other prospective students if possible.
Administrative Announcements
1. Change in forms submission process—Graduate Admissions and Academic Progress
To improve documentation of documents and form submission to the Graduate School and ensure FERPA compliance for forms sent electronically, all Graduate Admissions and Academic Progress forms and related documents are to be submitted via the FERPA compliant Graduate Admission & Academic Progress Form Submission page: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfRr_RfviUz9JH3Xj6iDz3nP6FhQ76wdNpc4HViJfdjpwa2-Q/viewform or hand delivered to the Graduate School offices in Blacksburg or Falls Church. Effective March 1, 2022, the Graduate School will no longer accept any forms or documents submitted by email to grads@vt.edu, gssoncr@vt.edu, or an individual Graduate School staff member email. For questions regarding this new process, please contact Janice Austin at jema@vt.edu. Please note that forms for Graduate School Dean review and signature should continue to be submitted through their secure submission page https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfkjThbjJ_x4ESc67uCDNiSVEjR6DpwOmJi9QccPa5sdAym9A/viewform.
2. Plan of Study Process User Experience Study
The Graduate School is committed to providing a better experience for the university community. In order to improve your experience with the Plan of Study process, we are conducting a user experience study. When you volunteer to participate in our user experience study, you will help us better understand the needs and expectations of our Graduate Program Staff Coordinators and Graduate Program Faculty Directors. The information you will provide will help inform decisions about improving the Plan of Study experience. Your participation in the study is voluntary, and your responses will be completely confidential. If you decide to be in this study, you will be invited to our online interview sessions. The interview will take about 25 to 30 minutes of your time. We will ask you about your experiences with submitting your Plan of Study. You will receive a $5 Starbucks gift card for your participation after the interview. If you are interested in participating, please let us know which day and time fit you the best for the interview by answering the Doodle poll at https://doodle.com/meeting/participate/id/erk2Rl4a. After you answered the Doodle poll, you will receive a confirmation email that includes the Zoom link for the interview. Rest assured that all your answers will be confidential, and we will make sure your name will not be revealed in any report related to this study. Please feel free to contact us at itee-ux@vt.edu if you have any questions.
3. Faculty Mentor of the Month Program Launched
With the new Faculty Mentor of the Month program, the Graduate School recognizes and highlights the important role faculty members play in supporting, encouraging, and promoting an affirmative, inclusive scholarly and teaching environment for graduate students. We accept nominations from graduate students for faculty advisors, committee members, or other faculty members who have played a significant role in their graduate experience, either in a single noteworthy instance or through continued and consistent support. Nominations will be accepted year-round, and we’ll select one faculty member to feature each month. Learn more at https://graduateschool.vt.edu/about/awards/outstanding-mentor-award/Mentor_of_the_Month.html and feel free to share this information with your students.