Author: chameleo

The Graduate School invites nominations for the following student awards: 

•   Outstanding Dissertation– two awards, one in math/science/engineering and one in social sciences/business/humanities, $1000

•   Graduate Student Teaching Excellence- two awards, one for GTA instructor of record and one for GTA who assists instructor of record, $1000

•   Graduate Student Service Excellence– $1000

•   Graduate Student of the Year– up to three awards, $500

•   Outstanding Interdisciplinary Program Student– $500

•   Outstanding Graduate Student– one master’s and one doctoral student per      college, $500

Nominations and notifications of college selections of outstanding master’s and doctoral students are due by February 1, 2016 at 5 pm. 

Email questions to grads@vt.edu or call 231-4558.

The Graduate School will close at 5:00pm on Wednesday, Dec 23 for winter break, and reopen at 8:00am on Monday, Jan 4, 2016 with normal business hours.

Graduate students may access the public areas of the GLC during the break by using their active Hokie Passport to enter the building through the Bookstore-side or the Otey Street entrance.

Materials left in the drop box in front of 120 GLC will be collected and processed on Jan 4, 2016.

Our offices are open this week for walk-in services on Monday and Tuesday 8-5, and on Wednesday 8-12. Enter the GLC through the doors facing Squires Student Center. Graduate students may enter the public areas of building any time using their valid Hokie Passport.

The Graduate School will close at 4:00pm on Friday, October 23, 2015, to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the opening of the Graduate Life Center. The graduate center gathers administrative, academic, social, and residential functions under one roof, in a space that once housed the Donaldson Brown Hotel and Conference Center and Alumni Hall. It’s a collaboration of the Graduate School, Housing and Residence Life, and Student Engagement and Campus Life.

A variety of activities are planned this week to celebrate the center, culminating in a reception on Friday, Oct 23, 3:30-5:00 in the GLC Multipurpose Room. The event is open to the public, though RSVP is requested via email. The community art project and historical photos will be on display. Cake and refreshments will be served.

New students are invited to browse the materials at the information fair all week (Aug 17-21) and participate in the orientation program Friday morning. Registration for orientation is requested.

A variety of information sessions, activities and social events are offered to help new students get started in their graduate career. See full calendar online.

If you have any questions or concerns about getting started at Virginia Tech, please contact us by phone at 540.231.9561 or by email.

The Commission on Graduate Studies & Policies and University Council approved a resolution (2014-15H) which requires graduate students to be continuously enrolled in a minimum of three credit hours in all spring and fall semesters at the University from the time of initial matriculation in the degree program until graduation. Graduate students approved for in absentia status (resolution 2014-15J) or who are enrolled in the Cooperative Education Program satisfy the continuous enrollment requirement. Graduate students who need to break their continuous enrollment can do so by applying for a leave of absence (resolution 2014-15I) or by participating in programs and activities approved by the Graduate School that require absence from the University. Any graduate student failing to remain continuously enrolled without approved leave will be resigned from the University. To re-enroll, a graduate student will need to apply for readmission to their academic unit and admission is not guaranteed.

The continuous enrollment, leave of absence and in absentia status resolutions are effective April 6, 2015. Therefore, beginning fall 2015, graduate students who do not meet the continuous enrollment policy will be resigned from the University. Graduate students must enroll in at least 3 credit hours for fall 2015 by Friday, August 28, 2015. Any graduate student not enrolled or on approved leave will be resigned from the University on Monday, August 31, 2015.

Questions regarding the approved resolutions should be directed to the Graduate School Dean’s Office at (540) 231-5645. Questions regarding applying for leave of absence, resignation from the University and readmission processes should be directed to Graduate Admissions and Academic Progress staff (grads@vt.edu, (540) 231-8636, 120 Graduate Life Center OR gsso@nvc.vt.edu, (703) 538-8439, 409 Falls Church Center).

Getting Started as a Student:
An online guide is available for new students to help them get started. The guide includes information about the steps it takes to become a student (PID set up, health history documentation, registration and payment, Hokie Passport, etc) and links to a variety of campus events and services, financial resources, campus life, and more. Visit the online guide>> .

Orientation Programs:
The Graduate School hosts a new student orientation in the GLC auditorium on Friday, August 21, 9:00-11:00am. Morning refreshments will be served 8:30-9:00 in the lobby. Attendance of this session is not mandatory, but is encouraged, especially for students who do not have an orientation program within their department. We request that students who plan to attend this session register online (registration will open in mid-July).

We also provide a variety of information sessions and activities to help new students get started in their graduate career, including an information fair in the GLC between August 17-21. The fair features more than 50 campus and community organizations and services. 

Detailed information about the orientation and Welcome Week activities>>

If you have any questions or concerns about getting started at Virginia Tech, please contact us by phone at 540.231.9561 or by email.

Based on clarification received from the Budget Office regarding compliance with Virginia’s appropriation act, eligibility for out-of-state waiver based on assistantship status and earnings is defined as follows, effective Fall 2015:

• Fall: Must be on 4.5- or 9- or 12-month GA/GTA/GRA and earn at least $2000 on assistantship stipend between Aug 10-Dec 24
• Winter: Must be on a 9- or 12-month GA/GTA/GRA and earn at least $2000 on assistantship stipend between Aug 10-Dec 24, or $4000 or more between Aug 10-May 9
• Spring: Must be on 4.5- or 9- or 12-month GA/GTA/GRA and earn at least $2000 on assistantship stipend between Dec 25-May 9
• Summer: Must have been on a 9- or 12-month GA/GTA/GRA or spring only assistantship and earned at least $4000 on assistantship stipend between Aug 10-May 9

 

	Academic year
Summer	Fall	Winter	Spring	Summer
No assistantship No OOS waiver	Assistantship stipend ≥$2,000 Eligible for OOS waiver	No assistantship Eligible for OOS waiver if fall stipend ≥$4,000	No assistantship No OOS waiver	No assistantship No OOS waiver
No assistantship No OOS waiver	Assistantship stipend ≥$2,000 Eligible for OOS waiver	(9- or 12-m assistantship) Eligible for OOS waiver	Assistantship stipend ≥$2,000 Eligible for OOS waiver	No assistantship Eligible for OOS waiver
No assistantship No OOS waiver	No assistantship No OOS waiver	Winter assistantship Eligible for OOS waiver	Assistantship stipend ≥$2,000 Eligible for OOS waiver	No assistantship Eligible for OOS waiver if spring stipend ≥$4,000
Assistantship stipend Eligible for OOS waiver	Assistantship stipend ≥$2,000 Eligible for OOS waiver	(9-m assistantship) Eligible for OOS waiver	Assistantship stipend ≥$2,000 Eligible for OOS waiver	No assistantship Eligible for OOS waiver

 

 

The Graduate School invites all graduating graduate students and their friends and families to its spring commencement ceremony. The event will be streamed live on VT’s website. Doctoral candidates and their hooding professors should report to the Spring Road side of Cassell Coliseum to check in between 10:30-11:30am. Master’s, education specialist and certificate candidates should report to Cassell Coliseum between 10:30-11:30am and follow the signage to the check-in location in Gym 213.

 

For questions contact grads@vt.edu

Graduate Commencement Basics

General Commencement Information

Starting Monday, May 18, the Graduate School’s Blacksburg offices in the GLC will operate with summer hours, opening at 9:00am each day and closing at 4:00pm. The summer schedule will be in effect through Friday, Jul 31. Regular business hours (8-5) will resume on Aug 3. When the Graduate School is open but the GLC is closed, visitors may access Graduate School offices through the entrance door facing Squires Student Center.

The Graduate Life Center remains accessible 24/7 to all graduate students with a valid Hokie Passport. A secure drop box is available for form submissions immediately outside GLC 120.