Graduate School Bulletin

Since 1991, Virginia Tech has conducted the Graduate Teaching Assistant Workshop (GRAD 5004) to assist GTAs in developing as a teacher. The workshop is designed to provide recommendations and advice by experienced and dedicated faculty, staff and graduate students in topics related to being a successful university educator.

The GTA Workshop is offered in two parts:

• Phase I: Two half-day workshops, all parts mandatory
• Phase II: Twenty-eight short sessions, of which students must select and attend three.

Course communication, resources, assignments, and grading will occur via a Scholar website.  Workshop sessions will be focused on three themes:

1. Climate & Diversity: Develop appreciation of and strategies to handle different cultures, learning styles, and beliefs that you might experience in the classroom.
2. Ethics: Consider the various ethical issues you may be challenged with in the classroom and learn how to prevent or handle infractions.
3. Teaching Techniques & Skills: Presentation of and experimentation with best- practice strategies that enhance student learning.

Visit the GTA Workshop website for further details.

The following events are available to all new graduate students to help them successfully transition to graduate school and life in Blacksburg:

• Welcome Center and Information Fair August 16-20 in the Graduate Life Center lobby and hallways. Resource tables offer a range of information, coupons and  giveaways from campus and community organizations. Graduate student ambassadors assist new students in finding resources that are most important to them, from academic support to health and wellness services and more.
• GTA Training Workshop August 16-17 (must pre-register to attend): This workshop offers intensive introduction and training for new Graduate Teaching Assistants. Visit the GTA Workshop homepage for details.
• Make yourself at home in Blacksburg, August 18, 4:00-6:00pm in the GLC. This new program is designed to help new graduate students connect with people and resources that can help them succeed in graduate school and maintain a healthy life balance. Participating organizations include the Graduate School, Cranwell International Center, Cook Counseling Center, the Women’s Center, a variety of graduate student organizations and more. No registration needed but feel free to sign up.
  
• New Graduate Student Orientation; August 20 at 9:00am in the GLC Auditorium. This optional  session  is available to all new graduate students who wish to learn more about the Graduate School and what to expect during their graduate studies, meet representatives of the Graduate School, the Graduate Honor System, the Graduate Student Assembly, and hear from the Graduate Ombudsperson and the Grad BOV Rep. 
• Workshops, iInformation sessions and socials are offered during welcome week and the first three weeks of classes to help students  get started.

If you have any questions about these events, please contact Graduate Student Services, 540.231.9561, grads@vt.edu.

The Graduate School and the Graduate Life Center will be closed July 3-5, 2010 in observance of the 4th of July holiday. The Graduate School will reopen on Tuesday, July 6, at 9:00am.

Graduate program coordinators and chairs are encouraged to participate in the GSA Graduate & Professional School Fair to recruit local and regional students. Registration is open until September 14th.

From June 1, 2010 through July 30, 2010, the Blacksburg offices of the Graduate School will be open from 9:00am to 4:00pm, Monday through Friday (except for holidays). Regular business hours (8:00am-5:00pm) will resume on Monday, August 2.

The William Preston Society has changed the date of their annual meeting where the Thesis awards are presented to early Fall.  Thus, the Graduate School has to accelerate our schedule for recruiting nominations for these awards to Spring (used to be early Fall).  Please see this link to the description of these awards and gives the details for nominations

http://www.graduateschool.vt.edu/academics/honors_awards/graduate_awards/index.html. 

 

The categories this round are (see attached for specific definitions):

·         Humanities and Fine Arts

·         Mathematics, Physical Sciences and Engineering

·         Innovation Application of Technology to Scholarship

 

Eligible students will have completed their master’s thesis in Summer  2009, Fall 2009 or Spring 2010. The deadline for submission of nominations is Friday May 21, 2010 at 5 pm.

The Plan of Study is the degree contract that a student develops with their department.  If you are interested in learning more about the elements involved in developing a Plan of Study attend this information session provided by Jacqueline L. Nottingham, Director of Graduate Admissions & Academic Progress.

The session is scheduled for Tuesday, April 20, from 1-2 pm in Room F of the Graduate Life Center.  It is designed as a as tool for those new to the Plan of Study process and should act as a refresher for those previously involved.  We will cover topics such as Gradaute School minimum degree requirements, POS entry in Banner, 4000 level and transfer courses, missing grades, and accelerated programs.  There will be an opportunity for Q & A following the general presentation.

If you have questions about the session, you can contact Jacqueline L. Nottingham at 231-3092, or by email at ntnghm@vt.edu.

Learn what international students go through just to arrive at Virginia Tech, and then what they have to do legally to remain in the U.S. If you are you curious about how and when International Graduate Student Services, a small unit within the Graduate School, processes immigration forms, attend this information session provided by Ruth Athanson and Zelma Harris, immigration advisors for the Graduate School.

The session is scheduled for Tuesday, April 6, from 1-2 pm in Room F of the Graduate Life Center. The information is designed for those who work with international graduate students, and will help departments understand more about how immigration issues impact their work with these students. The presentation will be followed by a Q&A session.

If you have questions about the session, you can contact Ruth Athanson or Zelma Harris at 231-8486, or by email at igss@vt.edu.

Please submit proposals for accelerated undergraduate/graduate degree proposals by April 1, 2010 to secure approval for admissions for Fall 2010.  Students currently enrolled in the existing bachelor’s/master’s programs will be continued until completion but no new admissions will be allowed for Fall 2010.  These existing bachelor’s/master’s programs will be replaced by the accelerated programs effective Fall 2010. 

For those departments/programs wishing to utilize the accelerated undergraduate/graduate degree programs, should submit proposals by April 1, 2010.  Although proposals will be accepted after that time and on an ongoing basis, time is needed to review and approve the proposals and process the applications to the program.  Thus, the effective date to offer the program might be delayed to spring 2011.

Graduate students and all other members of the Virginia Tech community are invited to participate in Graduate Education Week events from March 22 through March 26. Professional development seminars, a student appreciation luncheon, a research symposium, student contests, a photo and art display, and a variety of social events mark the 10th annual Graduate Education Week.

For a full description and schedule of events, visit our GEW 2010 website.

Graduate Education Week highlights the importance of graduate education; increases the university community’s awareness of the contributions of graduate students to teaching, research and service; and enhances the graduate student experience through professional development programs and celebratory events.