Posted on by caduke2

February 16, 2023

IN THIS BULLETIN:

Meetings, Workshops, & Events

  1. From Admit to Arrival: The Immigration Process for Graduate International Students
  2. How to Use the Graduate Contract System Training
  3. Graduate Coordinators’ Networking and Info Session
  4. Global Zone-Understanding the International Student Experience

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. Request for Feedback about iThenticate Use
  2. COVES Fellowship Applications Now Open
  3. Department Brochures/Flyers Needed for Prospective Students

Meetings, Workshops, & Events

  1. From Admit to Arrival: The Immigration Process for Graduate International Students

February 22, 2023           12:00 pm – 1:00 pm Zoom Register

March 14, 2023                 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm Zoom Register

During this Zoom workshop for VT faculty and staff, representatives from Cranwell International Center will go over the process for newly admitted international students to receive their immigration document from Cranwell International Center (including financial documentation needed), apply for a visa, and items students need to complete upon arrival to the U.S.

  1. How to Use the Graduate Contract System Training

Thursday, February 23, 2023         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.

  1. Graduate Coordinators’ Networking and Info Session

Monday, March 6, 2023                     2:00-3:30 p.m.,  Graduate Life Center

All Graduate Coordinators are invited to this in-person information and networking session to connect with Graduate School Staff and share best practices for supporting graduate students. Light refreshments will be served. A zoom alternative will be scheduled for a later date. Please complete this short registration form to indicate your plan to attend: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfH8xjOwIDzJxT2okMbDYy9J_7QC9bEoAscEDGGQ7Tu81yiBg/viewform.

  1. Global Zone-Understanding the International Student Experience

The Global Zone program promotes a supportive campus environment for international students by fostering cultural awareness and providing perspectives of the international student experience. The participants will engage in intercultural activities, learn about important regulations pertaining to visa status, and practice the ways to be a good ally. The next session is March 9th 2:00-4:30 pm at University Mall 2104. Sign-up here: https://profdev.tlos.vt.edu/browse/inclusivepractices/courses/indv52-030923.

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. 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. 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. Department Brochures/Flyers Needed for Prospective Students

The Graduate School is re-vamping its prospective student tours program and we are in need of department and/or program specific flyers, brochures, etc. to give to students when they arrive for their tour. If you have materials to spare, please send them via campus mail (0325) to Adey Kefenie. If you have items that need to be picked up, please let Adey know by emailing akefenie@vt.edu.