January 16, 2024

IN THIS BULLETIN:

Meetings, Workshops, & Events

1. Brown Bag Mentoring Lunch with the Dean

Deadlines & Dates to Remember

1. Dean’s Diversity Assistantship Nomination Period is Open

2. McNair Graduate Assistantship Nomination Period is Open

3. Powell Fellowship Nomination Period is Open

4. CIRTL Network Spring Programming Schedule


Policy Updates

Administrative Announcements  

1. 2023-24 Graduate Student and Outstanding Mentor Awards-deadlines fast approaching!

2. 2024-25 Graduate School Fellowships

Meetings, Workshops, & Events

1. Brown Bag Mentoring Lunch with the Dean

As part of the Graduate School’s commitment to provide a variety of mentoring supports, Dean Surprenant has put together a roving brown bag lunch series intended to create and cultivate a community of practice with discussions around Mentoring: challenges, opportunities, experiences.  

According to https://www.communityofpractice.ca: “A community of practice (CoP) is a group of people who share a common concern, a set of problems, or an interest in a topic and who come together to fulfill both individual and group goals.”  

Step 1 is to identify those who would be interested in entering into these conversations and so the dean has reserved space in various conference rooms around the university to have a venue to get the conversation started. 

You are welcome to attend one, two, or all of the lunches—whatever suits your schedule and interest. These rich conversations include discussions about challenges, opportunities, experiences, and successes. Students, faculty, and staff are welcome to attend. Bring your lunch and participate or just eat and listen. All are welcome.  

Thursday, January 18th: Roanoke campus 11:45-1:00 Conference Room G101 A and B in Riverside 4

Tuesday, February 6th: Falls Church campus (room TBD) Noon-1:15

Monday, March 18th: Stegar Hall Conference Room 118 Noon-1:15

Tuesday, April 16th: Torgersen 3310 Noon-1:15

A Zoom link has been set up if you prefer to join virtually:

https://virginiatech.zoom.us/j/81155274212

Meeting ID: 811 5527 4212

Deadlines & Dates to Remember

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/funding-sponsored-by-the-graduate-school.html. The deadline is March 1, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. Please contact Dr. Catherine Cotrupi at Cotrupi@vt.edu if you have any questions.

2. 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/funding-sponsored-by-the-graduate-school.html The deadline is March 1, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. Please contact Dr. Catherine Cotrupi at Cotrupi@vt.edu if you have any questions.

3. 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/funding-sponsored-by-the-graduate-school.html. The deadline is April 1, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. Please contact Dr. Catherine Cotrupi at Cotrupi@vt.edu if you have any questions.

4. CIRTL Network Spring Programming Schedule

Virginia Tech is a member of the Center for the Integration of Research, Teaching, and Learning (CIRTL) Network, which offers a variety of programming opportunities available to graduate students and postdoctoral associates at institutions in the CIRTL Network at no cost. This spring, the CIRTL Network schedule includes programming on a range of topics, including evidence-based teaching fundamentals, academic professional development, science communication, and teaching-as-research. Registration is open for most spring CIRTL Network programs. You can find the full CIRTL Network spring programming schedule, including descriptions and registration information, at https://cirtl.net/events/. To learn more about CIRTL, visit the network’s website at https://www.cirtl.net/. If you have questions about CIRTL at Virginia Tech, email cirtl@vt.edu.


Policy Updates

Administrative Announcements

1. 2023-24 Graduate Student and Outstanding Mentor Awards

*Please note that the deadlines are fast approaching. Let’s recognize our outstanding graduate students.

Faculty and/or academic departments and programs may submit nominations for outstanding theses and dissertations; excellence in teaching or service; graduate student of the year; and outstanding interdisciplinary students. These nominations are due by January 26, 2024. In addition to these nominations, each college defines its own nomination criteria and selection process for identifying one outstanding master’s and doctoral student and outstanding mentor per college — notification of these winners are due by February 9. All winners will be recognized by the Graduate School during Graduate Education Week 2024, March 25-29. Visit https://graduateschool.vt.edu/about/awards/student.html to learn more about the process and timeline. Contact Lauren Surface at 540-231-9561 with questions.

2. 2024-25 Graduate School Fellowships

Nominations for Graduate School Fellowships are now being accepted for the 2024-25 academic year. For eligibility, nomination information, and deadlines, please visit each opportunity listed on the Funding Sponsored by the Graduate School page, graduateschool.vt.edu/funding/funding-sponsored-by-the-graduate-school.html.