Posted on by gibsonm

February 1, 2023

IN THIS BULLETIN:

Meetings, Workshops, & Events

  1. Jigsaw Connect: Graduate School Data Update: Resources and Responses
  2. New GPD Orientation/Networking
  3. How to Use the Graduate Contract System Training

Deadlines & Dates to Remember

  1. Graduate School Funded Fellowship Nominations
  2. Dean’s Diversity Assistantship Nomination Period is Open
  3. McNair Graduate Assistantship Nomination Period is Open
  4. Powell Fellowship Nomination Period is Open

Policy Updates

Administrative Announcements  

  1. COVES Fellowship Applications Now Open
  2. Request for Feedback about iThenticate Use
  3. GPSS Research Symposium Call for Abstracts

Meetings, Workshops, & Events

  1. Jigsaw Connect: Graduate School Data Update: Resources and Responses

February 22nd at 11 a.m. via Zoom

 A series focused on Recruitment and Retention Support for Graduate Programs. The next session is entitled “Graduate School Data Update: Resources and Responses” with Kacy Lawrence, Director of Assessment and Strategic Data Initiatives. Register at https://virginiatech.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAode6srD4iE92T5ULl8BCXG3buggLG3v0i.  If you have questions, please contact Shania Booker at sbooker1@vt.edu.

  1. New GPD Orientation/Networking

Friday, February 10th 3:00-4:30 p.m., Graduate Life Center/Zoom

The Graduate School will host its inaugural new GPD orientation/networking meeting to welcome new Graduate Program Directors into their role, share valuable resources and information, and connect new GPDs with Graduate School colleagues and fellow GPDs to add to their support system. Please indicate your interest in attending by completing this short registration form, https://tinyurl.com/n8s58t89, and add any questions or topics you would like to have covered. Light refreshments will be served.

  1. How to Use the Graduate Contract System Training

Thursday, February 23rd 10:00-11:00 a.m., Graduate Life Center

All Graduate Program Coordinators are invited to a training on how to use the Graduate Contract System. This one-hour session is for anyone new or needing a refresher. Please fill out the google form to let us know your availability: https://forms.gle/S6YKrY5CnUVPfPMN9.

Deadlines & Dates to Remember

  1. Graduate School Funded Fellowship Nominations

Nominations for Graduate School Fellowships are now being accepted for the 2023-2024 academic year. For eligibility, nomination information, and deadlines, please visit each opportunity listed on the Funding Sponsored by the Graduate School page: https://graduateschool.vt.edu/funding/types-of-funding/funding-sponsored-by-the-graduate-school.html. Please note that, as of the spring 2023 graduate admissions cycle, the Cunningham Fellowship has been revamped to be a supplement to departmental funding, meant to enhance the appeal for the very best candidates. This restructuring will broaden the impact to many more students. We will be piloting the new structure this year, and the detailed procedure is the result of valuable feedback from Graduate Program Directors.

  1. Dean’s Diversity Assistantship Nomination Period is Open

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.html. The deadline is March 3, 2023 at 11:59 p.m. Please contact Shernita Lee at shernita@vt.edu if you have any questions.

  1. McNair Graduate Assistantship Nomination Period is Open

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.html.  The deadline is March 17, 2023 at 11:59 p.m. Please contact Shernita Lee at shernita@vt.edu if you have any questions.

  1. Powell Fellowship Nomination Period is Open

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.html. The deadline is March 24th at 11:59 p.m. Please contact Shernita Lee at shernita@vt.edu if you have any questions.

Policy Updates


Administrative Announcements

  1. COVES Fellowship Applications Now Open

The application deadline is March 1.

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 22-August 11) 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 five 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 about the fellowship program. Both are virtual and registration is required:

Info Session #1: February 8, 2023 at 1:00 PM EST: Q&A with former fellows. Register in advance: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJwrdO6trzMiG9Y1vfzqmAB-3ZmwzsaIvz6r.

Info Session #2: February 24, 2023 at 1:00 PM EST: Q&A with former fellows. Register in advance: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJUud-6tpjwvEtIaOmWbSPo38pUuN_7IFe_x.

To learn more about the program and to access the application materials, visit the COVES Fellowship webpage on the Graduate School website.

  1. Request for Feedback about iThenticate Use

The Graduate School is in the process of assessing the usage and effectiveness of the iThenticate software in graduate education as we prepare for the potential renewal of the contract. Please complete this short survey by February 17 to share with us your use of iThenticate and any comments you may have: https://tinyurl.com/z5znnv6z.

  1. GPSS Research Symposium Call for Abstracts

The Graduate and Professional Student Senate is accepting abstracts and proposals for poster or oral presentations and creative installations (e.g., performances or showcases) for their annual research symposium. Submissions from graduate and advanced undergraduate students (final year of undergraduate study) are welcome. This year’s theme is “Looking to Our Roots: Community Engagement, Creative Collaboration, and Conscientious Research.” Please encourage your students to participate! Abstracts are due by February 8, 2023 at 11:59 p.m. EST in the Submissions Portal (tinyurl.com/gpssresearchsymposium). Accepted submissions will be notified by February 28, 2023, at the latest. For support, please email GPSS Research Symposium Co-Chairs, Mae Early-Wilmer and Kaylee Petraccione, at gpssresearchsymposium@vt.edu.