Posted on by gibsonm

March 1, 2023

IN THIS BULLETIN:

Meetings, Workshops, & Events

  1. Graduate Coordinators’ Networking and Info Session
  2. Global Zone-Understanding the International Student Experience
  3. McNair Scholars “Ask a Coordinator” Meet and Greet

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. Call for Judges for the GPSS Research Symposium
  2. COVES Fellowship Applications-Deadline Extended
  3. Department Brochures/Flyers Needed for Prospective Students

Meetings, Workshops, & Events

  1. Graduate Coordinators’ Networking and Info Session

Monday, March 6th 2:00-3:30 in the 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.

  1. McNair Scholars “Ask a Coordinator” Meet and Greet

Interested in advertising your program with in-demand prospects? The Graduate School will be hosting McNair TRiO Scholars from both East Tennessee State University (March 17th) and Virginia Commonwealth University (April 7th). If your program is interested in meeting with our cross-institutional McNair Scholars, please complete the interest form here: https://virginiatech.questionpro.com/McNairMeetVT. Prospective students are eligible for an application fee waiver via the Graduate School and a list of student and faculty participants will be shared. In-person and virtual options are available! Questions? Please contact ordi@vt.edu.

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. Call for Judges for GPSS Research Symposium

The Graduate and Professional Student Senate is holding its 39th Annual Graduate Research Symposium on March 29, 2023 at the Graduate Life Center. The symposium is one of the flagship events for graduate students from all disciplines to showcase their scholarly achievements to colleagues and professors. The competition consists of both oral presentation sessions and poster exhibition sessions and faculty judges for all sessions are needed! Depending on the availability, the judge can choose to participate in one or both sections. If you are interested in being a judge for the Symposium, please indicate your preferences on this Google Form as soon as possible: https://forms.gle/MVU61CmhTjcPR4EL7. For more information about the Research Symposium, please visit https://gpss.vt.edu/programs/gsars.html.  If you have questions please contact the symposium chair, Kaylee Petraccione at kayleedp@vt.edu.

  1. COVES Fellowship Applications-Deadline Extended

The application deadline is now March 10.

Interested graduate students may apply for the Commonwealth of Virginia Engineering and Science (COVES) summer fellowship until March 10. The COVES Fellowship is a 12-week full-time summer fellowship program (May 11-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 are also 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. To learn more about the program and to access the application materials, visit the COVES Fellowship webpage on the Graduate School website: https://graduateschool.vt.edu/funding/types-of-funding/funding-sponsored-by-the-graduate-school/coves-fellowship.html  

  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.