IN THIS BULLETIN:
Meetings/Workshops/Events:
1. SLATE IMPLEMENTATION – TRAINING SESSION on Queries
2. REGISTER TODAY: GRADUATE SCHOOL RECRUITMENT, PROGRAMMING, AND CLIMATE WORKSHOP
3. UNDERREPRESENTED AND MINORITIZED (URM) GRADUATE STUDENT LUNCHEON
4. HOW TO USE iTHENTICATE – TRAINING SESSION
Administrative Announcements:
5. GRADUATE SCHOOL REQUEST INFORMATION URL UPDATED
6. NEW STUDENT ORIENTATION
7. IMMIGRATION CHECK-IN ONLINE FOR NEW INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
8. RAISING AWARENESS OF THE OMBUDSPERSON
9. ASSISTANTSHIP BANNER ENTRY INFORMATION AND DEADLINES
10. NEW REQUIREMENT FOR STUDENTS PURSUING GRAD DEGREES AT VT
Deadlines/Dates to Remember:
AUG 26 – First Day of Classes
AUG 30 – Last day to add classes
Meetings/Workshops/Events:
1. SLATE IMPLEMENTATION – TRAINING SESSION on Queries
The Graduate School is implementing Slate for recruitment communications. Each training is on the Queries function within Slate. All sessions are via Zoom (Meeting ID: 5402318316). Registration is not required.
Monday, August 19 at 1:00pm
Tuesday, August 20 at 11:00am
Wednesday, August 21 at 10:00am
2. REGISTER TODAY: GRADUATE SCHOOL RECRUITMENT, PROGRAMMING, AND CLIMATE WORKSHOP
Thursday, August 22, 9:00am-12:00pm, Newman Library-Multipurpose Room 101
The Graduate School is hosting this interactive workshop to share information from our various offices with you as well as discuss how we can support you and your unit. Registration closes today at https://virginiatech.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_008MW4XdcXeDqzr. If questions, please contact us at ORDI@vt.edu.
3. UNDERREPRESENTED AND MINORITIZED (URM) GRADUATE STUDENT LUNCHEON
Wednesday, Aug 28, at 12:00pm, Graduate Life Center Multipurpose Room
The Office of Recruitment, Diversity, and Inclusion invites you to attend our graduate student luncheon. This event hosts new and returning students, faculty, and staff members. Please register at https://virginiatech.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_39n9xQfTkTgQwm1 and feel free to share with others! If you have any questions, please email us at ORDI@vt.edu.
4. HOW TO USE iTHENTICATE – TRAINING SESSION
Multiple dates and times; registration requested. All sessions via Zoom (Meeting ID: 5402318316)
The Graduate School is offering a training session on how graduate students will use iThenticate to review the originality of documents, ensure accurate attribution to other authors, and eliminate occurrences of potential plagiarism. Registration at https://profdev.tlos.vt.edu/ by searching for “iThenticate” in the search box.
Monday, September 16 at 2:00pm
Wednesday, October 16 at 10:00am
Wednesday, October 16 at 7:00pm
Tuesday, November 19 at 11:00am
Tuesday, December 3 at 7:00pm
Thursday, December 5 at 2:00pm
Administrative Announcements:
5. GRADUATE SCHOOL REQUEST INFORMATION URL UPDATED
The Graduate School has transitioned to Slate for recruitment. There is a new URL for prospective students to request information. If you have linked to our previous request for information link on your department website or in your department communications, please update the URL to https://testapplyto.graduateschool.vt.edu/register/GradSchoolInterestForm. You can also use this URL at recruitment events to have prospective students sign up for more information.
6. NEW STUDENT ORIENTATION
The Graduate School offers an online guide for new students (see https://graduateschool.vt.edu/admissions/getting-started-as-a-student.html), as well as a variety of events and activities to help their transition to graduate school. The list of programs and events is available at: https://graduateschool.vt.edu/student-life/events.html. These events include the popular “Make Yourself at Home” as well as new programs on Navigating Blacksburg and Managing Your Assistantship. Welcome Week from August 19-23 provides a daily information fair in the GLC lobby and ends with new student orientation on Friday, August 23, 9:00-11:30am. Please encourage your students to stop by and gather information about campus and area resources and participate in informational and social events. A mass email was sent to new students in Blacksburg on Aug 1 about the student guide and orientation.
7. IMMIGRATION CHECK-IN ONLINE FOR NEW INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
New international students must check in online with our International Graduate Student Services (IGSS) for immigration purposes after they arrive in the U.S. and secure permanent housing in Blacksburg. Their check-in will be reviewed and approved by an immigration advisor within 3-5 days; after that, students may apply for a social security number if they secured an on-campus job (assistantship or wage). Review the process at https://graduateschool.vt.edu/student-life/immigration-services/new-student-guide/mandatory-check-in.html. Students may register for classes, get their Hokie Passport, and take care of other items on the new student checklist (https://graduateschool.vt.edu/admissions/getting-started-as-a-student/new-student-checklist.html) before they complete the online check-in.
8. RAISING AWARENESS OF THE OMBUDSPERSON
Connecting face-to-face with students and the faculty they work with is one of the best ways for individuals to learn about the resource the Ombuds office can provide. One way to do this is to allow 10 minutes for a short presentation during your orientation programs for first year students. These conversations will cover an intro to the role, the types of support available, and certain initiatives that the office is working on. I also enjoy providing longer sessions built around specific skill-building topics (Working through conflict, expectations conversations, giving and receiving feedback, etc…) during first year seminar courses. Speaking during a faculty meeting would be another way to increase awareness of the role with those that work directly with students on a daily basis. If you would like to schedule a session or discuss other opportunities to connect with your students and faculty, please contact Bryan Hanson at bryanh76@vt.edu.
9. NEW REQUIREMENT FOR STUDENTS PURSUING GRAD DEGREES AT VT
The Commission on Graduate Studies and Policy recently approved a new requirement for students pursuing graduate degrees at Virginia Tech: an inclusion and diversity education component as part of their studies. This requirement aligns with the Graduate School’s goal of providing all students with an affirming, inclusive, and diverse education program that helps prepare them for the challenges they will meet in their post-graduation careers. Four topics must be included in the plans: the University’s Principles of Community; the impact of personal actions and words; avenues of redress and shared responsibility as active bystanders to recognize and disrupt bullying; and a process of individual introspection and reflection leading to awareness of one’s own words and language. Other topics also may be included. Each program, department, or college may develop its own plan for meeting the requirement, and all plans must be approved by the Graduate School after submission by the unit’s Graduate Program Director or its equivalent. For more information about the requirement, including whom to contact for assistance and questions, please visit the Graduate School’s Inclusion and Diversity Requirement webpage at: https://graduateschool.vt.edu/faculty-and-staff-resources/inclusion-diversity-requirement.html.