GRADUATE SCHOOL BULLETIN
A publication of the Graduate School for Graduate Program Directors and Coordinators
Postings are distributed to the Graduate Program Directors and Coordinators listservs on the 1st and 16th of each month and are also available on our public blog: https://monthlymemo.graduateschool.vt.edu/
March 16, 2026
IN THIS BULLETIN:
Meetings, Workshops, & Events
1. Graduate Education Week: March 23-27, 2026
2. NSPIRE Lecture Series
3. GAI For Good: Creating Functional and Productive GAI Graduate Course Policies
4. Fostering Well-being in Mentoring Environments
Deadlines & Dates to Remember
5. 2026-27 Graduate School Fellowships
Policy Updates
None at this time.
Administrative Announcements
6. Get Involved with a New GLC Public Art Project
7. 2026-27 Graduate Catalog Update Process
8. Nominations invited for the 2026 CGS/ProQuest Distinguished Dissertation Awards
Announcements for Distribution to Students
9. Interstride Launch: New Resource for Graduate Students
10. Hokie Hiccups: Graduate School Edition
Meetings, Workshops, & Events
1. Graduate Education Week: March 23-27, 2026
This year’s theme for Graduate Education Week is “Graduate Education for Good,” which highlights how meaningful change grows from dedication, partnership, and community. Events will be held on the Blacksburg, Roanoke and Washington D.C., Metro area campuses, as well as virtually. We encourage you to attend events throughout the week and please share them with your graduate students! More details can be found on the Graduate Education Week website
2. NSPIRE Lecture Series
Tuesday, March 24
Hosted by the Division of Scholarly Integrity and Research Compliance, the Notable Scholars Promoting Innovative Research and Ethics (NSPIRE) lecture series features VT researchers discussing ethics and integrity in scholarship. Please share this learning opportunity with faculty and graduate students:
- 9:30-10:30 a.m. Todd Lowe, Ph.D. – Industry research: Considering ethics and student researchers
- 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. Sophie Bogers, BVSc, MVSc, PhD, DACVS-LA – Horses, hounds and humans: Improving ethics through naturally occurring veterinary disease
- 1:00-2:00 p.m. Cynthia Devers, Ph.D. – Integrity in Management Research; Editor-in-Chief work and PhD student training
Register for March 24th Sessions
3. GAI For Good: Creating Functional and Productive GAI Graduate Course Policies
Thursday, March 26, 2:00-3:00 p.m., Zoom: https://virginiatech.zoom.us/j/82003486014
Please share with your faculty this program designed specifically for their participation: As generative AI (GAI) reshapes academic work, graduate faculty face challenging situations: students need clear boundaries, yet most syllabi are silent or vague about GAI. Graduate scenarios, such as thesis work, prelims, and collaborative research projects, require clear guidance. This hands-on workshop offers an iterative, scenario-based activity to help you draft and refine a GAI policy for your course, starting from scratch and progressing through increasingly complex real-world situations that reveal gaps you might not know about. Presenters will cover research-based findings on academic integrity, GAI, and course syllabi design; VT’s Graduate Honor System (GHS) processes; new GAI guidance from the university’s Responsible AI Framework; and how your course policies intersect with this broader landscape. Access the registration form here
4. Fostering Well-being in Mentoring Environments
Thursday, April 16, 1:00-3:00 p.m., Zoom
Allison Jones, Catherine Cotrupi, and Kamillah Kassam invite graduate students, postdoctoral scholars, staff, and faculty to participate in a mentoring workshop organized by the Equity in Graduate Education Consortium. This workshop is part of a national initiative to strengthen mentoring competencies across the academic community, with an emphasis on equity-focused and evidence-informed mentoring practices. Access the registration form here
Deadlines & Dates to Remember
5. 2026-27 Graduate School Fellowships
Deadline: April 1, 2026
Nominations for Graduate School fellowships are now being accepted for the 2026-27 academic year. For eligibility, nomination information, and deadlines, please visit each opportunity listed on the Funding Sponsored by the Graduate School page.
Administrative Announcements
6. Get Involved with a New GLC Public Art Project
To commemorate the 20th anniversary of the opening of the Graduate Life Center in 2005-06 and to celebrate graduate education at Virginia Tech, the Graduate School is spearheading the creation of a public art installation in the vicinity of the Graduate Life Center. We invite the participation of current and former graduate students and supporters of graduate education in the planning, design, and implementation of this art installation. Faculty-led student teams are encouraged to respond to the RFP to be posted in April. With this installation we wish to recognize the contributions of graduate students to the missions of the university; celebrate the creativity, strength, and endurance of the graduate community; highlight the many and varied talents of graduate students/alumni and increase public art on the Blacksburg campus. For more information about the project and how to get involved, visit our website.
7. 2026-27 Graduate Catalog Update Process
The update process for the 2026-27 edition of the Graduate Catalog is now underway. GPDs and faculty members responsible for certificate programs (or their designees) are asked to review their current catalog listings at https://catalog.vt.edu/graduate/ and complete this survey to either 1) confirm the accuracy of the current content or 2) provide details about necessary updates: https://gs.vt.edu/2026catalog.
All programs are asked to enter new information about:
- Name and email of the graduate coordinator for your program(s)
- Link to the program’s student handbook or explanation of when/where/how students may find it
Submissions are due by May 25; the 2026-27 catalog will be published on June 1. If you have any difficulty completing the survey or have any questions about the process, please contact Bill Huckle at wrhuckle@vt.edu or Monika Gibson at gibsonm@vt.edu.
8. Nominations invited for the 2026 CGS/ProQuest Distinguished Dissertation Awards
The Graduate School invites nominations for the CGS/ProQuest Distinguished Dissertation Awards in the fields of (1) mathematics, physical sciences and engineering and (2) social sciences. Details are available on the CGS website. The effective date of the degree awarded, or the completion of doctoral degree requirements and dissertation, must be between July 1, 2024, and June 30, 2026. Nominations must be received by the Graduate School by June 15, 2026. If you are interested in nominating a dissertation, please contact Monika Gibson at gibsonm@vt.edu. Because Virginia Tech is limited to one nomination per category, the Graduate School will select finalists and assist with compiling the nominations.
Announcements for Distribution to Students
The notice(s) in this section have been shared with graduate students through the Graduate School channels, but we ask that you consider sharing it with individual students or student groups as you see fit.
9. Interstride Launch: New Resource for Graduate Students
Friday, March 20, 3:00-4:30 p.m., Holtzman Alumni Auditorium, The Inn at Virginia Tech
Please share with students this event for their participation: Join staff from the Cranwell International Center, the Graduate School, and the Office of Career and Professional Development for a live learning session about Interstride, a new platform for international job searches and career networking. Optimize your Interstride job search, build your career network, and enjoy light refreshments. Access the registration form here
10. Hokie Hiccups: Graduate School Edition
Thursday, March 26, 9:30-10:30 a.m., GLC Room B
The Graduate School, in collaboration with Hokie Wellness, invites all graduate students, faculty, staff, and administrators to attend the upcoming Hokie Hiccups event, whether to share your own experiences or to listen and learn from others. This event will highlight the challenges and setbacks that are a natural part of academic and professional growth, promoting openness and connection within the graduate community.
Attendees will hear from six graduate students who will each share reflections on moments of failure or difficulty during graduate school or along their path to it. Additional students, faculty, and administrators are warmly encouraged to participate as speakers or attendees.