IN THIS BULLETIN:
Meetings/Workshops/Events:
1. HOW TO USE iTHENTICATE – TRAINING SESSIONS
Administrative Announcements:
2. OUTSTANDING MASTERS/DOCTORAL/MENTOR NOTIFICATIONS DUE TODAY, FEB 15
3. ACCEPTING NOMINATIONS FOR GRADUATE ALUMNI ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
4. REMINDER FOR ADMISSION APPLICATION DECISIONS
5. MCNAIR GRADUATE ASSISTANTSHIP
6. DEAN’S DIVERSITY ASSISTANTSHIP
7. POWELL FELLOWSHIP
8. NEW REQUIREMENT FOR STUDENTS PURSUING GRAD DEGREES AT VT
9. GRADUATE EDUCATION WEEK 2019
Deadlines/Dates to Remember:
FEB 15: Notification of college winners for Student & Mentor awards due
MAR 1: Last day to submit application for degree form for spring for name to appear in commencement bulletin
MAR 9-17: Spring break; no classes, university offices open
MAR 25-29: Graduate Education Week
Meetings/Workshops/Events:
1. HOW TO USE iTHENTICATE – TRAINING SESSIONS
Multiple dates, times, and locations; registration requested
The Graduate School is offering training sessions on how graduate students will use iThenticate, a newly available software system, to review the originality of documents, ensure accurate attribution to other authors, and eliminate occurrences of potential plagiarism. Please attend only one session if you are interested; registration at https://profdev.tlos.vt.edu/ by searching for “iThenticate” in the search box.
– Wednesday, February 27, 2:00pm-3:00pm in GLC C
– Wednesday, March 6, 7:00pm-8:00pm via Zoom Room 5402318316
– Thursday, March 28, 10:00am-11:00am in GLC C
– Tuesday, April 9, 7:00pm-8:00pm via Zoom Room 5402318316
– Tuesday, April 16, 3:00pm-4:00pm in GLC C
Administrative Announcements:
2. OUTSTANDING MASTERS/DOCTORAL/MENTOR NOTIFICATIONS DUE TODAY, FEB 15
If you have not yet done so, please go to https://graduateschool.vt.edu/about/awards/outstanding-mentor-award.html and submit your awards. If you have any questions, contact Sue Kass at sjkass@vt.edu.
3. ACCEPTING NOMINATIONS FOR GRADUATE ALUMNI ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
The Grad School is accepting nomination for the Graduate Alumni Achievement Award. This award recognizes outstanding national and/or international achievement and exemplary contribution by the winner to his or her profession, discipline, community or society. Nominees must be engaged in efforts that enhance the reputation of Virginia Tech to a national and/or international audience. Only alumni who have obtained a graduate degree from Virginia Tech are eligible. Deadline is February 28, 2019. For more information on nomination requirements and to submit a nomination, visit: https://graduateschool.vt.edu/about/awards/alumni.html.
4. 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.
5. MCNAIR GRADUATE ASSISTANTSHIP
Applications are currently being accepted for the Ronald E. McNair Graduate Assistantship program.. For eligibility and nomination information please visit https://graduateschool.vt.edu/funding/types-of-funding/funding-sponsored-by-the-graduate-school/mcnair-assistantship.html. Nominations are due by March 11. Please contact Shernita Lee at shernita@vt.edu with questions or concerns.
6. DEAN’S DIVERSITY ASSISTANTSHIP
Applications are currently being accepted for the Dean’s Diversity Assistantship program. For eligibility and nomination information please visit https://graduateschool.vt.edu/funding/types-of-funding/funding-sponsored-by-the-graduate-school/dean-s-diversity-assistantships0.html.Nominations are due by March 8. Please contact Shernita Lee at shernita@vt.edu with questions or concerns.
7. POWELL FELLOWSHIP
Applications are currently being accepted for the Powell Fellowship. For eligibility and nomination information please visit https://graduateschool.vt.edu/funding/types-of-funding/funding-sponsored-by-the-graduate-school/powell-fellowship.html. Nominations due by April 2, 2019. Please contact Shernita Lee at shernita@vt.edu with questions or concerns.
8. 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.
9. GRADUATE EDUCATION WEEK 2019
Mark your calendar for Graduate Education Week 2018, celebrated March 25-29 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. If you would be interested in collaborating with the Graduate School on an event, please contact Lauren Surface at lkeister@vt.edu.