Graduate School Bulletin

Graduate students interested in pursuing a faculty career and learning more about working at different types of institutions are invited to join a panel discussion of strategies for success. Panelists are Dr. Olga Pierrakos, Assistant Professor, Engineering, James Madison University; Dr. Morgan Wilson, Associate Professor and Head, Biology, Hollins University; and Dr. Julie Dunsmore, Associate Professor, Psychology, Virginia Tech.

AdvanceVT Graduate Student Lunch Seminars are designed to help graduate students prepare for careers in academe. All graduate students and postdocs are welcome, and lunch is provided. Register here by November 10.

The Graduate School invites Department Graduate Directors and Coordinators to the next Dialog session: Tuesday November 16 at 2-3:30 in GLC room F.  We will discuss the new revised GRE test that will replace the current test on August 1, 2011. In addition, we will discuss the GTA workshop and get any comments or suggestions from you on this class.

Preparing a proposal for a new course? Find detailed guidelines for each section of the proposal plus two examples of recently approved proposals at
http://www.graduateschool.vt.edu/graduate_school/gcc/GCCguide.pdf.

After college approval, proposals are uploaded to Hokie CAPS by the college staff member who assists the college curriculum committee.

Questions? Kerry Redican, Graduate Curriculum Committee Chair, or Rosemary Blieszner, Associate Dean.

The Graduate School invites graduate students, graduate alumni, faculty, staff, and other friends of the Graduate School to the 5-year celebration of the opening of the GLC on Friday, November 5, 2010, 2:00-4:00pm in the GLC Multipurpose Room. The program will include:

• Displays depicting the first five years of the GLC
• Cake and refreshments
• Remarks by Dr. Karen DePauw
• Presentation of awards

Learn more about our celebrations and the history of the GLC at our anniversary website. Although registration is not required for this event, we would appreciate if you would let us know about your intent to attend.

I’m pleased to announce an Call for Proposals for new Interdisciplinary Graduate Education Programs (IGEPs).   

In his review of the mid-term strategic plan, the Provost charged me “to explore how best to accelerate continued movement toward interdisciplinary graduate education” at Virginia Tech.  Based upon the results of numerous focused discussion groups, the recommendations of the VT Interdisciplinary Scholars in Life Sciences, and the results of the Interdisciplinary Summit held July 15, 2010, it appears that Virginia Tech is well situated to move aggressively toward enhancing interdisciplinary graduate education and research.   

As a result, the Graduate School in consultation with faculty has developed an initiative entitled Interdisciplinary Graduate Education Program (IGEP).  The IGEPs will provide innovative graduate education programs at Virginia Tech, strengthen faculty collaborations within VT and with external partners, and significantly increase the opportunities to secure multi-disciplinary and interdisciplinary grants.  Toward that end, we are seeking applications from groups of faculty who wish to submit a proposal for an Interdisciplinary Graduate Education Program (IGEP).  Please see the Call for Proposals, http://grads.vt.edu/interdisciplinary

 Sincerely,

Karen P. DePauw, Ph.D.
Vice President and Dean for Graduate Education

During GEW 2010, the Graduate School began placing QR Codes around the GLC and office spaces.  We now have a tool that will allow you to generate a good number of types of QR Codes.  The types of data we currently offer to be encoded into a QR code are: URL, Email address, Geo Location, MeCard(/vCard), Text, SMS, Wireless Network.  The goal of this little application is to become a one stop shop for creating a QR code.  We are looking to add other items to the application as time goes on.  If you have suggestions for QR content around the GLC or for functionality of this app, please let us know.

I’d like to give kudos and thanks to Erdem Memisyaizci for getting this application together.

Join us for helpful updates on Graduate Advisory Committees, Plan of Study guidelines, DSS and final exam procedures, new course proposals, and the Institutional Plan for Graduate Degrees.

 Presented by Rosemary Blieszner, Associate Dean

 Monday, October 18, 1-2:30, GLC-F in Blacksburg and room TBA in NCR.

Graduate students on assistantship are eligible for the bonus if:

• they were employed (GA, GRA, GTA, faculty, or staff) during the 2009-10 fiscal year, and
• are contracted as a graduate assistant (GA, GRA, GTA) on December 1st, 2010.

The bonus will be 3% of the graduate student’s projected annual pay as of December 1st, 2010, based on an academic year or calendar year basis.  The graduate student’s 2009-10 employment history will determine an academic or calendar year appointment basis.  The bonus will be included in the December 1st, 2010 paycheck.  Applicable taxes and deductions will apply.
     
The fund source of the bonus will correspond to the fund source of the current year stipend. The  E&G support for the bonus will be provided to departments through a one-time budget allocation.  The Office of Budget and Financial Planning will be working with auxiliary enterprises to address the cost within existing resources.  Externally sponsored grants & contracts should also expect the cost; it is hoped that the planned stipend escalation factor will accommodate the one-time cost.

For questions please contact Tim Hodge in the Office of Budget and Financial Planning.

Travel Funds – Cycle I.
The Travel Fund Program (TFP) help assists graduate students with some of the financial burdens associated with traveling to conferences to present their research. Students who are traveling to conference(s) present between July 1, 2010 and December 31, 2010 are eligible to apply to the TFP to be reimbursed up to $350 as a master’s or $500 as a doctoral student. The application period is from September 6 to October 15, 2010 (by 5pm). More information about the program is available on the GSA’s website. Questions should be addressed to Courtney Gleason.

Research Funds – Cycle I.
The Graduate Student Assembly’s Graduate Research Development Program (GRDP) provides a competitive funding opportunity to support qualified research and innovative ideas proposed by VT graduate students. Applications go through a rigorous review process by a panel of graduate students and faculty. Learn more about the program on the GSA’s website.   Questions about the program should be directed to the GRDP chair, Ranjana Mehta.