IN THIS BULLETIN:
Meetings/Workshops/Events:
1. SPRING GRADUATE PROGRAM DIRECTORS MEETING
Policy Updates:
2. REMINDER FOR ADMISSION APPLICATION DECISIONS
3. REMINDER: TOEFL MINIMUM REQUIREMENT INCREASED BEGINNING FALL 2018
4. ASSISTANTSHIP ACCEPTANCE DEADLINE FOR NEW STUDENTS
Administrative Announcements:
5. DEAN’S DIVERSITY ASSISTANTSHIPS
6. MCNAIR ASSISTANTSHIPS
7. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS
8. GRADUATE EDUCATION WEEK 2018
Deadlines:
MARCH 1: Last day to submit application for degree form for spring for name to appear in commencement bulletin.
MARCH 22: PhD/EdD last day to defend to participate in commencement
APRIL 15: Assistantship Acceptance deadline (See #4 for details).
Meetings/Workshops/Events:
1. SPRING GRADUATE PROGRAM DIRECTORS MEETING
Thursday, Feb 22, 10:00-11:30am, GLC Room F
Please hold this date and time. The agenda items will include updates and general information, discussion of plagiarism detection software implementation (iThenticate, Feedback Studio), disrupting academic bullying, diversity requirement, graduate program faculty and more.
Policy Updates:
2. REMINDER FOR ADMISSION APPLICATION DECISIONS:
The Office of Export and Secure Research Compliance (OESRC) and the Graduate School developed procedures to identify graduate students with a high risk of export control, sanctions, or security concerns and provide guidance to the departments for compliance with these regulations. An automated screening method identifies international graduate students who intersect with three high risk areas: sanctioned country citizenship, prior or current foreign military affiliation, and affiliation with restricted parties or embargoed organizations. These applicants are reviewed by OESRC and guidance will be provided to the departments, if necessary. In most cases, OESRC will complete the review within 3 business days. In rare circumstances, additional time will be required to adjudicate cases, and departments will be notified within 3 business days if additional processing time is needed.
In order to ensure that the automated screening process occurs for all applicants recommended for admission, it is imperative that departments mark students recommended for admission in HokieSpa as Accept in GSAPP as well. To note the recommendation for admission in GSAPP, go to Actions/ Department Recommend/Accept & Save.
This will set the application in GSAPP as Accept in your status list which initiates the OESRC review process. You must still submit the Online Admissions Analysis form in HokieSpa as the official decision. Admission recommendations in HokieSpa will not be processed by the Graduate School until the OESRC screening process in GSAPP has been completed. Questions regarding setting the application status to Accept in GSAPP may be addressed to Janice Austin at jema@vt.edu.
3. REMINDER: TOEFL MINIMUM REQUIREMENT INCREASED BEGINNING FALL 2018
The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores are required of all international students whose first language is not English, except for those applicants who have graduated from an accredited university where English is the language of instruction. The university-wide minimum requirements for the Fall 2018 and semesters after are:
* 90 for the internet-based test
* 233 for the computer-based test
* 577 for the paper-based test
4. ASSISTANTSHIP ACCEPTANCE DEADLINE FOR NEW STUDENTS
The Council of Graduate Schools established April 15 as the earliest deadline schools may set for the acceptance of an offer of financial support (such as assistantship or fellowship) for the next academic year by a prospective graduate student. You may encourage but not require newly accepted students to respond to an assistantship or fellowship/scholarship offer before April 15. Our International Graduate Student Support office will start issuing immigration documents to new international students in February to allow students sufficient time for the visa application process.
Administrative Announcements:
5. DEAN’S DIVERSITY ASSISTANTSHIPS
To be eligible, students must be Master’s or Doctoral students. Preference is given to students who did not attend Virginia Tech for their undergraduate degree. Students must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents entering their first year of graduate study. A regular departmental assistantship stipend is provided as well as In-state tuition (any applicable out-of-state fees will be waived). Students must pay their own comprehensive fees. A maximum of three nominations per department is allowed. Nominations must be made by a faculty member with a Virginia Tech PID and password and must be submitted by March 9. To access the Nomination form go to: https://virginiatech.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_3vBDWlTpFjhaYDj&Q_JFE=0. For more information on these and other funding opportunities, contact Christian Matheis at matheisc@vt.edu or (540) 231-6529 or go to https://graduateschool.vt.edu/funding/funding-sponsored-by-the-graduate-school.html.
6. MCNAIR ASSISTANTSHIPS
To be eligible, students must be Master’s and Doctoral-level students who were Ronald E. McNair Scholars as undergraduates and U.S. citizens or permanent residents entering their first year of graduate study. This is a one-year assistantship, with departmental matching required for the second year. A regular departmental assistantship stipend and In-state tuition (any applicable out-of-state fees will be waived) are provided. Students must pay their own comprehensive fees. One award per academic year is given. Nominations by a faculty or staff member by March 10 can be done here: https://virginiatech.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_0DIhaMEtQQ2ZLYF&Q_JFE=0. For more information on these and other funding opportunities, contact Christian Matheis at matheisc@vt.edu or (540) 231-6529 or go to https://graduateschool.vt.edu/funding/funding-sponsored-by-the-graduate-school.html.
7. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS
The Graduate School organizes or co-sponsors a series of professional development workshops in the GLC for graduate students. These workshops are advertised to students through our weekly listserv posting and on our website at https://graduateschool.vt.edu/student-life/professional-development/professional-development-series.html. Feel free to refer students to particular workshops you think they might benefit from.
8. GRADUATE EDUCATION WEEK 2018
Mark your calendar for Graduate Education Week 2018, celebrated March 26-30 to highlight the contributions and achievements of graduate students and the importance of graduate education to Virginia Tech. We invite and encourage all departments and graduate programs to host their own GEW events as well. The Graduate Student Assembly Research Symposium and Exposition will be held during this week on March 28. We encourage departments to support this important academic event. Be on the lookout for a sponsorship solicitation letter from the GSA. If your department is interested in setting any form of pre/post-conference activity or would be willing to make a financial contribution, please contact Lehi Dowell at ldowell@vt.edu for more information.