March 15, 2024

IN THIS BULLETIN:

Meetings, Workshops, & Events

1. Graduate Education Week: March 25-29, 2024

2. Finding Your Superpowers! Gallup Clifton Strengths Workshop for Students

3. Co-Authorship with Graduate Students: A Workshop for Faculty

4. CIRTL Network Events on Preparing for the Academic Hiring Process

5. CIRTL Network Events on Exploring Careers Inside and Outside Academia

Deadlines & Dates to Remember

1. Powell Fellowship Nomination Period is Open
Policy Updates

Administrative Announcements  

1. 2024-25 Graduate School Fellowships

2. Recording of Spring 2024 Graduate Coordinators’ Meeting Available  

3. UPDATED: Applications sought for Associate Dean position in DC Metro Area

4. National Name Exchange Invitation

Meetings, Workshops, & Events

  1. Graduate Education Week: March 25-29, 2024

Graduate Education Week is March 25-29 and this year’s theme is “What’s Your Superpower.” Graduate Education Week highlights the importance of graduate education; increases the university community’s awareness of the contributions of graduate students to teaching, research and service; and enhances the graduate student experience through professional development programs and celebratory events. This year’s offerings include two CliftonStrengths workshops, ETD and iThenticate sessions, awards reception, big cookout and much more. Please help advertise Graduate Education Week to your students and feel free to attend any events that interest you as well! Here is the link: https://graduateschool.vt.edu/student-services/graduate-education-week.html.  

  1. Finding Your Superpowers! Gallup Clifton Strengths Workshop for Students

Tuesday, March 26, 10:30 am-12 pm, GLC Meeting Room B

Friday, March 29, 10:30 am-12 pm GLC Meeting Room B

Please share this unique workshop opportunity with students! Students don’t hear this enough: “You’re amazing!” This workshop will be a fantastic opportunity for students to focus on what’s right with them – things that don’t need to be fixed or what they might consider their superpowers. This fun and engaging workshop will help students learn how to use their Strengths intentionally for success and fulfillment both personally and professionally, identify how their Strengths can and do show up in the decisions they make, in the interactions they have with others, and in other situations big and small.  Register here:

Tuesday March 26, 10:30am-12pm GLC room B:  https://virginiatech.questionpro.com/StrengthsMarch26.

Friday, March 29, 10:30am-12pm GLC Room B:  https://virginiatech.questionpro.com/StrengthsMarch29.

  1. Co-Authorship with Graduate Students: A Workshop for Faculty

Thursday, March 28, 2024 (9:00-11:00 am) 

Virtual via Zoom

Facilitator: Monique Dufour

Sponsored by Faculty Affairs, Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost as part of “Mentoring March” series

Registration required at: https://forms.gle/84sAhpF32fJLTsEv6

We want our graduate students to learn to write and publish. We know that they need strong writing skills in order to complete their degrees and thrive in their careers. And, faculty research programs may rely on students’ successful completion of their papers, theses, and dissertations. At the same time, co-authorship can be time-consuming and often overwhelming. This workshop will cover strategies for managing your time, giving feedback that students will actually use, and teaching co-authorship as an essential professional skill. Register at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSczscv7XnYv8mTkj4UM63xcJ6WL9Ld2h2UQ8ks5Z7k_HTwZfg/viewform.

  1. CIRTL Network Events on Preparing for the Academic Hiring Process

The Center for the Integration of Research, Teaching, and Learning (CIRTL) Network is offering events this spring focused on preparing for the academic hiring process. The next event is “Writing Your Research Statement for the Academic Job Market” and “Writing Your Teaching Statement for the Academic Job Market” in April. You can find the full CIRTL Network event schedule, including descriptions and registration information, at https://cirtl.net/events/. The events are offered online and at no cost. To learn more about the CIRTL Network, visit https://cirtl.net/. If you have questions about CIRTL at Virginia Tech, email cirtl@vt.edu.

  1. CIRTL Network Events on Exploring Careers Inside and Outside Academia

The Center for the Integration of Research, Teaching, and Learning (CIRTL) Network is offering events this spring focused on exploring careers inside and outside academia. Upcoming events include “Exploring Teaching Careers at Research Universities with CIRTL Alumni,” “Exploring Teaching Careers at Teaching Intensive Universities with CIRTL Alumni,” “Exploring Non-faculty Careers in Academia with CIRTL Alumni,” “Careers Outside of Higher Education,” and “Exploring Careers Outside Academia with CIRTL Alumni.” You can find the full CIRTL Network event schedule, including descriptions and registration information, at https://cirtl.net/events/. The events are offered online and at no cost. To learn more about the CIRTL Network, visit https://cirtl.net/. If you have questions about CIRTL at Virginia Tech, email cirtl@vt.edu.

Deadlines & Dates to Remember

  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/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.

 Policy Updates

Administrative Announcements

  1. 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.

  1. Recording of Spring 2024 Graduate Coordinators’ Meeting Available

A recording of our most recent graduate coordinators’ meeting is available for viewing online for those who missed it or would like a refresher: https://video.vt.edu/media/1_qhjq47qo. Topics included: update about spring 2024 commencement; changes to the Student Medical Insurance billing, payment, and waiver processes; Cranwell International Center updates regarding new international student form issuance and arrival process and timeline; Graduate Education Week announcement.

  1. UPDATED: Applications sought for Associate Dean position in DC Metro Area

The Graduate School invites applications from Virginia Tech faculty for the position of Associate Dean of the Graduate School in the Washington DC Metro Area. This is a senior-level position reporting directly to the Dean of the Graduate School, at 75-100% FTE (negotiable) for a three-year initial appointment that is renewable upon the shared desire of both parties. The appointment is to be held concurrently with a Virginia Tech tenured associate professor or professor appointment. The associate dean works closely with the Dean of the Graduate School, other associate deans and directors, as well as with Virginia Tech faculty and administrators to ensure excellence in graduate education, support graduate programs and Graduate School initiatives, provide support for policy and governance, and promote diversity and inclusion. For a full position description see: https://gs.vt.edu/dcad. Note change to application process: Apply by March 29, 2024 through https://careers.pageuppeople.com/968/ci/en-us/job/528944/associate-dean-of-the-graduate-school-in-the-washington-dc-metro-area.

  1. National Name Exchange Invitation

The Graduate School wishes to solicit your assistance in identifying domestic URM students to invite to participate in the National Name Exchange. The NNE program aims to help underrepresented undergraduate and master’s students learn about, apply to, and matriculate into graduate programs. The students considered “underrepresented” by NNE are racial and ethnic minorities, first-generation students, veterans, women in STEM fields, rural students, students with disabilities, and students from low-income backgrounds. Students are nominated to participate by their current institution but they need to take the steps to accept the invitation. The benefit for students is to support them in their process of considering and applying to graduate school. In full transparency, the benefit for Virginia Tech is that once two students from VT have enrolled, VT gains access to the entire list of students and can participate in targeted recruitment. The link for students to use to enroll is: https://cgsnet.org/national-name-exchange-for-students-enrollment-form#/webform/nne-profile.

Please see the invitation letter here: NNE Invitation Letter 2024.pdf