GRADUATE SCHOOL BULLETIN
A publication of the GraduateSchool for Graduate Program Directors and Coordinators
The Graduate School communicates through semi-monthly postings distributed on the Graduate Program Directors and Coordinators listservs. Postings are distributed on the 1st and the 16th of the month and are posted to a blog for public viewing here: https://monthlymemo.graduateschool.vt.edu/
December 16th, 2024
IN THIS BULLETIN:
Meetings, Workshops, & Events
- Call for Tier One Graduate Fellows Carnegie Elective Classification for Community Engagement 2026
- Research Mentor Training
Deadlines & Dates to Remember
- Powell Fellowship Nomination Period is Open
- McNair Graduate Assistantship Nomination Period is Open
- Deans Diversity Assistantship Nomination Period is Open
- Bouchet Graduate Honor Society Applications Now Open
Policy Updates
None at this time.
Administrative Announcements
- Graduate Student and Outstanding Mentor/Advising Awards
- Cranwell International Center Supports Smooth Transition Back to Campus
- 2025-26 Graduate School Fellowships
- Preston Recruitment Fellowship
Meetings, Workshops, & Events
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- Call for Tier One Graduate Fellows Carnegie Elective Classification for Community Engagement 2026
As part of the first peer review process of the Carnegie Elective Classification for Community Engagement, graduate student fellows will be selected to support peer reviewer teams during the first phase of reviews. Teams of three (3-4) individuals will review 8-10 applications. Graduate student fellows will schedule group review meeting(s), draft minutes for review meetings, review and edit feedback documentation reports, and participate in the discussion of applications. Stipend provided. Deadline for submission: January 3, 2025 Training and Consultations: February 27, March 13, and April 24, 2025 (3:00 pm-5:00 pm EST). More information and application process: https://acenet.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_eL1SZPJtXt1HKL4
- Research Mentor Training
Work with a community of peers to develop and improve your research mentoring skills in this 5-week seminar-style course. Students will develop their personal mentoring philosophy, learn how to articulate that philosophy across a variety of disciplines, and refine strategies for dealing with mentoring challenges. This course meets online in Zoom on Tuesdays from January 28 through February 25 at 11:30pm-1am Gulf / 3:30-5pm Atlantic / 2:30-4pm Eastern / 1:30-3pm Central / 12:30-2pm Mountain / 11:30am-1pm Pacific. Cap: 20. Registration opens on Monday, January 13 at 11am Central Time and closes when capacity is reached (typically within several days).
Deadlines & Dates to Remember
_______________________________________________
- 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, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. Please contact Dr. Catherine Cotrupi, Assistant Dean for Student Services, Inclusion, and Strategic Partnerships, at Cotrupi@vt.edu if you have any questions.
- 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 1, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. Please contact Dr. Catherine Cotrupi, Assistant Dean for Student Services, Inclusion, and Strategic Partnerships, at Cotrupi@vt.edu if you have any questions.
- Deans Diversity Assistantship Nomination Period is Open
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 1, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. Please contact Dr. Catherine Cotrupi, Assistant Dean for Student Services, Inclusion, and Strategic Partnerships, at Cotrupi@vt.edu if you have any questions.
- Bouchet Graduate Honor Society Applications Now Open
Please encourage your ABD doctoral candidates and postdocs to apply for membership into the Bouchet Society. The Edward Alexander Bouchet Graduate Honor Society (Bouchet Society) recognizes outstanding scholarly achievement and promotes diversity and excellence in doctoral education and the professoriate. The Bouchet Society seeks to develop a network of preeminent scholars who serve as examples of the five pillars: scholarship, leadership, character, service, and advocacy for students who have been traditionally underrepresented in the academy. The deadline for student applications is 11:59pm on January 15, 2025. You may learn more here: https://graduateschool.vt.edu/student-services/bouchet-society.html
Administrative Announcements
_______________________________________________
- Graduate Student and Outstanding Mentor/Advising Awards
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 student. This year, the Graduate School has added a new award honoring outstanding graduate advising/mentoring by a staff or A/P faculty member. These nominations are due by January 24, 2025. 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 14. All winners will be recognized by the Graduate School during Graduate Education Week 2025, March 24-28. Visit https://graduateschool.vt.edu/about/awards.html to learn more about the process and timeline. Contact Lauren Surface at 540-231-9561 or lkeister@vt.edu with questions.
- Cranwell International Center Supports Smooth Transition Back to Campus
As the Spring semester approaches, the Cranwell International Center would like to provide important guidance to support your smooth transition back to campus. As a reminder, it is university policy that all students be present and ready to attend classes by the first day of the semester. This ensures compliance with academic requirements, and helps you successfully prepare for your classes and other VT commitments from the start of the term. Take careful consideration of factors that may cause travel delays. Winter weather during this time of year can bring unexpected challenges, such as flight cancellations and road closures. Additionally, the upcoming presidential inauguration on January 20, 2025, is likely to increase traffic and cause delays in and around Washington, D.C., and other major transit hubs. To avoid disruptions to your studies, we strongly encourage you to plan your return to the U.S. well in advance and ensure you arrive no later than the first day of classes, January 21, 2025.
9. 2025-26 Graduate School Fellowships
Nominations for Graduate School Fellowships are now being accepted for the 2025-26 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
10. Preston Recruitment Fellowship
Preston Recruitment Fellowships (4 @ $2,000 each): These awards are meant to provide fellowship support to help attract the best possible graduate students, regardless of their area of study at Virginia Tech. Candidates for the prestigious Preston Fellowship should be students who are being recruited by the nation’s elite educational institutions for the purpose of conducting significant research and scholarship study. Please submit a nomination by February 1 of no more than 500 words outlining reasons why you think the candidate is an exceptional recruit for your program, such as UG institution, UG GPA, UG research experience, and potential offers from other universities (if known). We will also consult the student’s application materials as part of the decision-making process. Decisions will be made quickly so the offers can be made as early as possible. Nominations should be summited through the Fellowship Nomination form, https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc8rhQL9qivK7mOjUZ2sUL-Uy8kQD024mgJl2M3-ZlQCSJqUg/viewform