Category: Uncategorized

Graduate students and members of the Virginia Tech community are invited to participate in Graduate Education Week events from March 21 through March 25. Workshops, luncheons, award ceremonies, research symposium, student photo and art display, and a variety of other events mark the 156th annual Graduate Education Week.

For a full description and schedule of events, visit our GEW 2016 website.

Sponsored by the Graduate School and supported by departments across the university, Graduate Education Week (GEW) is celebrated annually during the last full week of March to:

• highlight the importance of graduate education
• increase the university community’s awareness of the contributions of graduate students to teaching, research and service
• and enhance the graduate student experience through personal and professional development programs and social and celebratory events.

I’d like to make the graduate community aware that we will be migrating two services before the end of February. These migrations will require the systems to be unavailable for a short time. We are currently assessing the migration process to estimate the time it will require. Once we have a solid migration time estimate, we will share with you when, and for how long, that maintenance window will be. We understand that it’s preferred to never have a service down for maintenance, or any other reason, and appreciate your patience and understanding.

Services Effected: Graduate Application System (GSAPP): This is the service used by applicants to apply to graduate programs and you use to review and evaluate applicants. After the migration to new hardware, the service will also have a new link. If you have any direct links to this service, please check now to ensure those links are: https://applyto.graduateschool.vt.edu/

Electronic Signature System (ESS): You may know this service by other names such as: Grad Exam, Electronic Submission System, ETD upload, or others. This is the service that currently functions to schedule and administer Prelim and Final exams as well as submission and approval of ETDs. This service is used by academic faculty, students and Graduate School employees. After the migration to new hardware, the service will also have a new link. If you have any direct links to this service, please check now to ensure those links are: https://ess.graduateschool.vt.edu/

Jeremy Sippel
Director, IT
Graduate School, Virginia Tech

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.

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.

Orientation Programs:
The Graduate School hosts a new student orientation in the GLC Multipurpose Room on Friday, January 15, 2:00pm. Attendance of this session is not mandatory, but is encouraged, especially for students who do not have an orientation program within their department.

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 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).