December 16, 2019

IN THIS BULLETIN:
Meetings/Workshops/Events:
1. SPRING GRAD 5004 AND GTA WORKSHOP

Administrative Announcements:
2. LITTLE HOKIE HANGOUT NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR SPRING 2020
3. TUITION REMISSION REMINDER
4. IN 2020, SUMMER HAS A NEW LOOK!
5. NOMINATIONS OPEN FOR GRADUATE STUDENT AWARDS
6. OUTSTANDING MENTOR AWARD NOMINATIONS

Deadlines/Dates to Remember:
Dec 19 – Last day to take final exam for Fall 2019

Meetings/Workshops/Events:
1. SPRING GRAD 5004 AND GTA WORKSHOP
Thursday, Jan 16, 8:30am-3:30pm, GLC Auditorium
The spring edition of GRAD 5004, training required for all Virginia Tech GTAs, will kick off with the GTA Workshop on January 16. Graduate Coordinators, don’t forget to register your students who need it for spring GRAD 5004. Please remind your students that they cannot register themselves. Lunch, coffee and light refreshments will be provided during breaks in the program. Registrations will be accepted until Jan 10, 2020.

Administrative Announcements:
2. LITTLE HOKIE HANGOUT NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR SPRING 2020
Spaces will be offered based on the order of applications received. Please email childcare@vt.edu with questions. Register here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSefwMI4r-PDGIie2rJoaYF7ABBnGov7PwtbYnhqtyUfuR1Zog/viewform?usp=sf_link

3. TUITION REMISSION REMINDER
The Office of the University Bursar will be loading tuition awards for the spring semester upon request from departments. Send an email to bursar@vt.edu with “Tuition Remission Load” in the subject line, in the body of the email include your department name and awarding org numbers you wish to post. The Bursar’s office will continue to accept requests for tuition award loads until January 10.

4. IN 2020, SUMMER HAS A NEW LOOK!
Summer Sessions at Virginia Tech has slimmed down to ONE term. The university will now offer ONE term during the summer, which will include three options or “parts of term”:  two, 6 week (these mirror the traditional Summer I and Summer II schedule) and one 12 week option.
Now that summer is packaged “All in One” there is more flexibility and options from which to choose. Being “All in One” provides these benefits:
* More flexibility in course offerings and scheduling
* More student enrollment options (6 or 12 week parts)
* More payment options with the Budget Tuition Plan now available to summer students
* No more summer course request!
* Drop/Add registration will open in early 2020—specific date will be announced soon

Watch for more detailed information to come. If you have questions please contact Summer & Winter Sessions at summer@vt.edu. For matters related to course scheduling, contact Megan Coulter at csep1@vt.edu.

5. NOMINATIONS OPEN FOR GRADUATE STUDENT AWARDS
The Graduate School invites nominations for graduate student awards. Faculty and/or academic departments and programs may submit nominations for the following awards:
– Outstanding Dissertation Award
– William Preston Society Master’s Thesis Award
– Graduate Student Teaching Excellence
– Graduate Student Service Excellence
– Graduate Student of the Year
– Outstanding Interdisciplinary Program Doctoral Student.
To learn about nomination criteria and procedures, which have changed this year, visit https://graduateschool.vt.edu/about/awards/student.html. Nominations are due by January 31, 2020.
In addition to these awards, EACH COLLEGE SELECTS ITS OUTSTANDING MASTER’S AND DOCTORAL STUDENT based on selection criteria developed by the colleges. Notification about each college’s winners are due by February 14, 2020. See details at https://graduateschool.vt.edu/about/awards/student/outstanding-graduate-student.html.
All award winners will be recognized at our annual Graduate Education Week awards banquet on March 26, 2020.

6. OUTSTANDING MENTOR AWARD NOMINATIONS
The Graduate School recognizes one faculty member from each college with the Outstanding Mentor award for their role in supporting, encouraging, and promoting a positive and inclusive scholarly and teaching environment, and for contributing to the professional and personal development of graduate students. Winners must be full-time faculty members who have successfully mentored graduate students at the master’s or doctoral level. Each college sets its timeline for departments to submit nominations to the college for review and winner selection. Notification about each college’s winners are due by February 14, 2020. For more details visit: https://graduateschool.vt.edu/about/awards/outstanding-mentor-award.html. All winners will be recognized at our annual Graduate Education Week awards banquet on March 26, 2020.