The Dean's Updates to Graduate Students

Dear Graduate and Professional Students:

Welcome to Fall 2023! I hope your summer was everything you hoped it would be (or at least something like you hoped it would be).

I’m going to try something different this semester with my updates and reflections. I’ll be cutting down to once a month but focusing on discussing substantive issues that are affecting Graduate and Professional students, including what the Graduate School and the university are doing to accelerate graduate student success and improve the quality of graduate education and support of graduate students. Please make sure to read your Monday email for events and opportunities.

This week, I’ll be using this space to discuss ongoing progress towards our efforts in supporting our students on assistantships–particularly regarding progress on the recommendations of the Graduate Assistantship Support Task Force whose report was presented to the Board of Visitors in the spring meeting.

But first, some context. Leading research universities across the U.S. are engaging in a national dialogue about the role and importance of our degrees and how we can best prepare students for an evolving society. Among the most pressing issues facing us is graduate student compensation.

To start to address these issues, Virginia Tech formed a Graduate Assistantship Support Task Force, a group of graduate students, faculty members, and administrators who examined potential solutions to ensure the success of our graduate students, including recommendations for improving compensation provided to students in the form of assistantships (https://gs.vt.edu/1k).

During the last Board of Visitors meeting, the President, the Provost, and the Rector all clearly spoke to and understood  the message that some of our graduate students are struggling financially and otherwise. They committed to addressing some, but not all, of the recommendations from the compensation task force.

Over the summer I met with GPSS executive members to discuss the key recommendations of the task force. Below, I outline our progress so far.

Establish a formal and ongoing commitment to meeting the cost of living for graduate assistants

During the past decade, we have fallen behind our peer universities in the compensation we provide to graduate students. In many cases, the raises we’ve provided over the years have not kept pace with inflation—a situation that increasingly impedes student recruiting and negatively affects current students. If we are to become a preeminent leader in graduate education, we must take a holistic, strategic look at our programs and find ways to appropriately support our students. Through the critical needs request mechanism and in budget meetings, I commit to continuing to advocate for compensation levels that allow us to meet those goals.

Continue to study cost of living

The Graduate School commits to communicating with the financial aid office to keep up with the cost of living estimates and will work with other units (Dean of Students, student insurance, bursar, GPSS, etc.) to make sure that students are aware of the costs and work to mitigate those as much as possible. Food insecurity, housing, and transportation are key issues to be addressed in our community and addressing those crucial needs requires working with other administrative units within the university as well as outside of it.

Provide an immediate adjustment to a minimum step level

Last spring, the BOV approved action of raising the minimum stipend to $2,420 per month for full-time appointments.

Phase in adjustments to raise minimum stipends to meet cost of living

The university has made record investments in graduate student compensation this year by setting a minimum step level–something Virginia Tech has never done in the past. As a result of that, and the state recommended raises averaging 5%, overall stipends for full-time assistantships rose, on average, 9.1% over last year. The total investment made by the state and the university in Graduate Education now stands at approximately $131 million dollars per year in stipends, tuition remissions, and healthcare subsidy (not including external grant funding) with over $800,000 in new investment plus a 5% raise coming in just the past year (further details of this and other considerations can be found in the Provost’s message (https://www.provost.vt.edu/graduate-assistantship.html).

That is not to say that there is not work to be done. Averages do not tell the story of every student and there are still many who are struggling. There are also some cases where the increases expected by the university were not provided to individual students. The Graduate School is examining each case and is in contact with departments to discover their rationale for not meeting expectations.

We will continue to advocate for further increases in the minimum stipend each year.

Comprehensive fee discussion

The Provost was clear in his remarks to the BOV in the spring that waiving comprehensive fees was not feasible for many reasons including state regulations requiring that auxiliary operations be self-sustaining and not wanting to shift the burden to undergraduate students or self-funded graduate students to fund services provided to graduate students on assistantships. However, we are thinking creatively about other solutions to this dilemma including working to offset fees through philanthropic donations.

Expand summer funding opportunities

The Graduate School provided 30 students with full summer support of $7,500—most of that going to those in the final stages of their degrees. Early reports are that, thanks to this support, most of them will be graduating in the next year.  We will continue to work to find more summer funding and to strongly encourage departments and faculty to make 12 month commitments. Again, we need to continue to explore every avenue to make summer funding available to more students.

Increase external funding support for graduate assistants

The Provost’s office committed just under $200,000 this year in one-time funding to help bridge the gap that externally funded students sometimes find in terms of tuition and health insurance subsidies. The Graduate School will continue to request such funding through the critical needs request each year.

We also have a group working on increasing support and resources for graduate students in writing their proposals and will be reaching out to undergraduate research students to encourage them to apply. We hope to encourage a culture of expectation for applying for funding in the department and colleges. We will soon be rolling out an incentive program which will give students who apply and receive “honorable mention” a small honorarium to thank them for their efforts.

Increase support for graduate students beyond stipend increases

There are a number of items we’re working on in this category and I’ll spend some time in another update on those. However, I am excited to announce that we will be going to monthly installment billing for health insurance starting Fall 2024!

In closing, I’d like to reaffirm the Graduate School’s commitment to our shared governance processes and partnership with the Graduate and Professional Student Senate (GPSS) and the two graduate commissions (CGPS&P and CGPS&A). These representative bodies make recommendations and advocate to improve the experiences of all graduate students. I look forward to working with them as the university continuously improves its support of graduate and professional students.

Finally, I would like to thank the GPSS executive team for continuing this work over the summer. These initiatives demonstrate our ongoing efforts to recruit and retain talented scholars and provide them with a graduate experience that enables them to thrive professionally and personally.

As always, please reach out if you need anything; we are here to support you. Your problems, your worries, your fears, and above all you matter.

Aimée M. Surprenant
Dean of the Graduate School
Virginia Tech
Graduate Life Center Rm. 235
Blacksburg, VA 24061
540.231.7581

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Dean's Weekly Update, 06/16/23

Summary:

1.      Additional faculty, student housing options in the D.C. area
2.      Reminder of the Graduate School hours and SHIP/Room 120 hours and NVC hours
3.      InclusiveVT: Campus invited to Juneteenth observation, celebration on June 18
4.      Policy and Governance: Tutorials on university shared governance system available online
5.      TikTok and WeChat apps no longer permitted on university networks, devices beginning July 1
6.      Student list of potential child care providers (babysitters) in need of students. 
7.      Graduate and Professional Student Senate’s Research Development program is accepting applications
8.      Nominate your faculty member for the Graduate School’s Faculty Mentor of the Month honors
9.      Reminder: Future Faculty Diversity Fellows program accepting applications

Dear Graduate and Professional Students,

I hope your summer has started well and you are enjoying some good weather, wherever you are.

I am delighted to report that the Board of Visitors approved the compensation for graduate assistantships (including Graduate Research Assistants, Graduate Teaching Assistants, and Graduate Assistants) for 2023-24. To recognize the significant efforts of Graduate Assistants in an increasingly competitive market, the university has increased the minimum stipend per month to $2,420 (step 12 after the 5% stipend increase). Steps 1-11 should only be used when supplemented by a fellowship or scholarship with a combined total monthly support equaling or exceeding the minimum stipend rate of $2,420. 

It is important to emphasize that the minimum compensation level serves as a starting point, and we strongly encourage programs to go above and beyond this baseline to support their students, recognizing that many do already.

In addition, the university advanced a 5.0 percent base stipend increase for all steps effective August 10, 2023. Stipend rates include a monthly base and an annual supplement of $458 distributed in 18 pay periods between August 10-May 9 to help offset assessed costs including the comprehensive fee. The health insurance subsidy of 88% toward the university-sponsored student insurance plan will continue, consistent with the employer share for university employees. The tuition remission program is also continued unchanged. 

If you are on an assistantship you probably will not see a new contract coming through—our guidance is that departments do not need to create a new contract when pay increases. This is because in order to re-issue a contract in our system, it needs to be terminated first. We suggest that this only be done if: the duration of the contract changes or if the stipend amount is reduced. We discourage terminating contracts for pay increases to avoid causing alarm to students who see that their contract has been terminated and possible gaps of promised employment for International students that could affect their immigration status. 

This is great news but only the first step in working through the recommendations of the Graduate Compensation Task Force. I will be meeting with the GPSS executive team and others in a few weeks to discuss next steps and develop a communication strategy so you all can be kept informed. 

Congratulations to all who helped make this happen; it is a significant step forward!

*NOTE: The items in these updates come from many sources, including the Monday email from the Graduate School, and they are meant to amplify, but not entirely duplicate, information from the Monday email, which is posted each week here: (https://webapps.graduateschool.vt.edu/glcweekly/)

1.      Additional faculty, student housing options in the D.C. area

Agreements with two housing companies in the D.C. area offer housing options for faculty, staff, and domestic/international students. (https://news.vt.edu/notices/provost-coo-dc-area-housing.html) 

2. Reminder of the Graduate School hours and SHIP/Room 120 hours and NVC hours

Graduate School offices in Blacksburg will be open 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. Monday through Friday on university business days until August 4. The Support Hub for Inclusive Practices, known as SHIP/Room 120 in the Graduate Life Center will be open for walk-in services on Mondays and Thursdays, during Graduate School business hours, until July 31. Signs provide information for guests regarding how to contact appropriate Graduate School staff members to meet their needs on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. The NVC hours will stay the same, except the building will be closed on Saturdays, resuming on August 19.

3. InclusiveVT: Campus invited to Juneteenth observation, celebration on June 18

Virginia Tech’s Juneteenth Commemoration will be held at 9:00 a.m. on Sunday, June 18 at Solitude on the Blacksburg campus. (https://news.vt.edu/notices/2023/06/2023-juneteenth-observance-at-solitude.html) The university community is invited to come together to memorialize those who were enslaved on campus at Solitude, the oldest structure on campus, which came into existence around 1840. The event will continue the tradition of honoring enslaved people from the area. Names will be written on biodegradable paper and affixed to the campus Wishing Tree at Solitude.

4. Policy and Governance: Tutorials on university shared governance system available online

To help the community in understanding Virginia Tech’s shared governance structure and how it serves stakeholders across the university, the Office of Policy and Governance has created a series of self-paced online tutorials that outline the history of and guiding principles for effective governance, and the role that faculty, staff and student representative bodies play in the process. To access the tutorials, click here: (https://governance.vt.edu/Governance101). 

5. TikTok, WeChat apps no longer permitted on university networks, devices beginning July 1

Effective July 1, use of TikTok, WeChat, and other products from ByteDance, Ltd. or Tencent Holdings, Ltd. will not be permitted on university-issued devices or on Virginia Tech networks, including eduroam and the Virginia Tech public network. The university is taking this measure to comply with a new Virginia law (https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?231+ful+CHAP0768)   which prohibits access to and use of apps or websites from the above entities on state-issued devices or on state-maintained networks.  For more information and answers to FAQs about these state-mandated app and website restrictions, please read this campus notice (https://news.vt.edu/notices/2023/05/tiktok-app-restrictions.html)  or visit the IT Application Restrictions website (https://it.vt.edu/projects/app-restrictions.html).

6. Student list of potential child care providers (babysitters) in need of students. 

Hokie Wellness maintains what it calls a “Student List” of students who are interested in providing part-time child care; child care during Virginia Tech football games; elder care, tutoring; pet sitting; house sitting; yard work; and more. The list is updated each semester and for the summer and is distributed to members of the Virginia Tech community, Virginia Tech retirees, and vetted organizations in the New River Valley seeking help. Requesters can contact the student(s) whom they feel will best meet their needs. Hokie Wellness asks them to complete an application providing necessary information as well as three references. Students are also asked to read and agree to the Student Security Guidelines that are part of the application. Lastly, all applicants are checked against the Virginia Sexual Offender Registry. Both students and employees are asked to vet each other. If you are interested, complete the application via this link: (https://forms.gle/wNpUoBMvLSYBEYDa6).  Please contact Ana Agud with any questions at aagud@vt.edu. 

7. Graduate and Professional Student Senate’s Research Development program is accepting applications

The Graduate and Professional Student Senate is accepting applications for the senate’s Graduate Research Development Program. The application deadline is August 1 at 11:59 p.m. EST. Master’s degree students are eligible to receive up to $1,000 and doctoral degree students are eligible to receive up to $1,500. Funds may be requested for travel, lab analyses, supplies, and other expenses incurred for degree-contingent research. $10,000 will be distributed. Application materials and full instructions can be found here: (https://forms.gle/NgNDh7g74DWRGfex7) and will be uploaded onto the GPSS website (https://gpss.vt.edu/programs/grdp.html). Please email Aran Garnett-Deakin at acgarnet@vt.edu with any questions.

8. Nominate your faculty member for the Graduate School’s Faculty Mentor of the Month honors 

The Graduate School recognizes and highlights the important role faculty members play in supporting, encouraging, and promoting an affirmative, inclusive, scholarly and teaching environment for graduate students with its Faculty Mentor of the Month program. Nominate your faculty advisors, committee members, or other faculty members who have played a significant role in your graduate experience, either in a single noteworthy instance or through continued and consistent support by completing this nomination form: (https://graduateschool.vt.edu/about/awards/outstanding-mentor-award/Mentor_of_the_Month.html).  Nominations are accepted year-round, and a new winner is selected every month. Winners receive a certificate and a small token of our appreciation. Winning faculty mentors are featured on our website and recognized on social media platforms. Contact Monika Gibson at gibsonm@vt.edu with questions.

9. Reminder: Future Faculty Diversity Fellows program accepting applications

The university Office of Inclusion and Diversity’s Future Faculty Diversity Fellows program (https://www.inclusive.vt.edu/Programs/FDP.html) is accepting applications for its fall 2023 sessions, which will take place October 1-4 at the Inn at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg. The program is designed to help departments identify and recruit talented scholars from historically underrepresented populations, specifically U.S. citizens or permanent residents who are African Americans, Hispanics/Latinx, American Indian/Alaska Natives, and Pacific Islanders. Current Ph.D./MFA candidates or post-docs not affiliated with Virginia Tech, within one year of pursuing a faculty position, and of a caliber to be competitive for a position are strongly encouraged to apply. Since 2019, 54 participating fellows have received offers at Virginia Tech, and more than 70% of them have joined as tenure-track faculty members. More information about the program, the application, and the selection process are available on the program website: (Faculty Diversity Programs | InclusiveVT | Virginia Tech). The application deadline is August 15. For questions or more information, contact Dr. Erica Cooper ffdp@vt.edu.

Dean’s Weekly Update 05/05/23

Summary:

1.      Reminder: Information about Spring 2023 Graduate School Commencements

2.      Summer Cunningham Fellowships program accepting applications through May 15

3.     Dr. Shernita Lee and the HBCU/MSI Research Summit team win a Principles of Community Award for Group Award for initiatives, programs, or event

4.      Office hours for the Blacksburg Graduate School offices May 10, 12, and 17

5.      NSF requirement for plans for safe and inclusive environments for funded off-site work

Dear Graduate and Professional students,

Happy Friday! Yesterday I attended the Graduate School’s Affinity Groups Cultural Achievement Ceremony in Arlington, Va.–the first of what I hope to be many years of recognizing those who contribute to community building at VT in the Northern Virginia area. There were awards recognizing outstanding administrator, faculty, and student mentors and we celebrated those graduates who are finishing their programs. Our Affinity Groups are communities of graduate students who share a common interest, identity, or background. They provide a platform for students to connect with one another, exchange ideas, and support each other through their academic journeys. The groups in Northern Virginia are dedicated to those who identify with the following communities: Veterans, Latinx, Black, First-Generation, Grad Parents, and Women in Tech. I was delighted to meet some of the awardees and their families and look forward to hearing about their continued successes. 

I was also lucky enough to have been invited to address the MAPRS 10th Annual Mid-Atlantic PREP & IMSD Research Symposium in the morning of that same day. The VT-Initiative for Maximizing Student Development (IMSD) is a training program designed to increase the number of minorities with a Ph.D. in biomedical and behavioral sciences and engineering who want to pursue a career in biomedical research. The program emphasizes community, mentoring, and networking as a foundation to becoming a successful undergraduate and graduate student. It was an honor to address the outstanding students and faculty  associated with this network. 

I’m proud of the breadth and depth of Virginia Tech’s commitment to creating a place where  individuals from diverse backgrounds, experiences, and ideas can feel a sense of belonging and thrive–it is so inspiring to see the results of these efforts in action! 

Have a great weekend, everyone! 

Please note that this update will come to you once a month for the rest of May, June and July, and will resume weekly posting when the fall 2023 semester starts.

*NOTE: The items in these updates come from many sources, including the Monday email from the Graduate School, and they are meant to amplify, but not entirely duplicate, information from the Monday email, which is posted each week here: (https://webapps.graduateschool.vt.edu/glcweekly/)

1. Reminder: Information about Spring 2023 Graduate School Commencements

The Graduate School Commencement in Blacksburg will be held on Wednesday, May 10, at 3:30 p.m. in Lane Stadium on the Blacksburg campus. The greater Washington, D.C. area Graduate School Commencement will be held on Sunday, May 14 at 1 p.m. in the Center for the Arts at GMU in Fairfax. Colleges and departments also are holding events during the commencement week as well. All Blacksburg events will be held at Lane Stadium. For information about the May 10 commencement in Blacksburg, please visit: (https://graduateschool.vt.edu/academics/what-you-need-to-graduate/commencement.html). For information and FAQs about Lane Stadium and where the ceremony will be live-streamed, visit the university commencement FAQ page: (https://commencement.vt.edu/faqs.html). For detailed information about the greater Washington, D.C. area Commencement, visit (https://www.nvc.vt.edu/Current-Students/dc-commencement.html). A list of Spring 2023 graduates, in pdf format, will be available on the Graduate School website, via a link on the homepage, on May 10. 

2. Summer Cunningham Fellowships program accepting applications through May 15

Thirty summer fellowships in the amount of $7,500 each are available to current Ph.D. students working on their dissertations during the summer months. This one-time award will be awarded as a lump sum fellowship at the beginning of the summer and cannot be renewed. This award cannot be combined with other Virginia Tech funding sources. Priority will be given to those toward the end of their programs. Financial need will be considered as a secondary factor. Applications will be accepted until May 15 and awards will be announced soon thereafter. Use this form to apply: (https://forms.gle/6vYKM9AHizoAgKeN8). Please note that fellowships are not considered employment, so no taxes are withheld and you will not receive a W2 form at the end of the year. Fellowships will show on your 1098-T from the university and may have to be reported to the IRS on your 1040 form. However, different tax rules apply to international students. For them, the university is required to collect taxes on the fellowship and to report those amounts at year-end to the IRS on form 1042S. For more information see IRS Publication 970: Tax Benefits for Education.

3. Dr. Shernita Lee and the HBCU/MSI Research Summit team win a Principles of Community Award for Group Award for initiatives, programs, or event

The HBCU/MSI Research Summit team, led by Dr. Shernita Lee, has won a 2023 Principles of Community Award for Group Award for initiatives, programs for their outstanding work organizing and implementing the Virginia Tech HBCU/MSI research summit. The summit offers the opportunity for faculty from Virginia Tech to identify partner faculty and students at HBCUs/MSIs to engage in summer research opportunities and grant proposals. Along with Dr. Karen DePauw, Vice President and Dean of the Graduate School emerita, Dr. Shernita Lee has created, organized and hosted the Summit for the past 5 years. (https://graduateschool.vt.edu/diversity/hbcu_research_summit.html)

4. Office hours for the Blacksburg Graduate School offices May 10, 12, and 17

The Blacksburg Graduate School offices, located in the Graduate Life Center, will have minimal staffing the afternoon of May 10 as the Graduate Commencement Ceremony is scheduled for that afternoon at 3:30 p.m. On May 12, the offices will not open until 11 a.m., as the university offices are closed until then for the University Commencement. On May 17, the Graduate School offices will be closed until 2 p.m. so employees can participate in the university’s Employee Appreciation Day activities. 

5. NSF requirement for plans for safe and inclusive environments for funded off-site work 

It is NSF policy (see Chapter XI.A.1.g.) to foster safe and harassment-free environments wherever science is conducted. NSF’s policy recognizes that a community effort is essential to eliminate sexual and other forms of harassment in science and to build inclusive scientific climates where people can learn, grow, and thrive. Accordingly, for each proposal that proposes to conduct research off-campus or off site, the university must complete a certification that the organization has a plan in place for that proposal that describes how inappropriate behavior will be addressed: Virginia Tech’s plan is available at the website (https://osp.vt.edu/resources/nsf-resources/safe-inclusive-working-environment-plan-for-off-campus-on-campus.html).

As always, please reach out if you need anything; we are here to support you. Your problems, your worries, your fears, and above all you matter.

Aimée M. Surprenant
Dean of the Graduate School
Virginia Tech
Graduate Life Center Rm. 235
Blacksburg, VA 24061
540.231.7581

Summary:

1.      Reminder: Virginia Tech’s Spring 2023 Powwow on April 29
2.      Information for students regarding Google services changes at Virginia Tech
3.      Creativity and Innovation Day 2023 May 1 on the Blacksburg campus
4.      Cheesy Nights at Newman Library in Blacksburg begin May 4
5.      Spring 2023 cultural achievement ceremonies April 28-May 12
6.      Information about Spring 2023 Graduate School Commencements
7.      Reminder: Future Faculty Diversity Fellows program accepting applications
8.      Graduate Assistantship Opening for Graduate & Professional Student Senate -Blacksburg

Happy Friday, Graduate and Professional Students!

As the season of celebrations begins, it is a time of joy and excitement for many of us. With the arrival of spring, the longer daylight hours, and the end of the academic year, we have much to look forward to. It brings me great pleasure to share with you that we are expecting a record number of graduates attending the upcoming commencement ceremonies, both in Blacksburg and Northern Virginia.

To all of the graduates, I offer my heartfelt congratulations. You have achieved something that only a select few in this world have attained, and you should be proud of your incredible accomplishments. The dedication, hard work, and perseverance that you have demonstrated in pursuing your academic goals have paid off, and you are now poised to embark on the next phase of your journey with a strong foundation of knowledge and skills.

As you prepare to enter the world within or beyond academia, I encourage you to take some time to reflect on all that you have achieved and the many obstacles you have overcome to reach this momentous occasion. Remember to thank those who have supported and encouraged you along the way, and to take pride in your accomplishments.

Finally, I want to wish you all the very best as you move forward. Whether you are continuing your education, entering the workforce, or pursuing other endeavors, I have no doubt that you will achieve great things and make a positive impact in the world. Congratulations once again, and best of luck in all of your future endeavors!

*NOTE: The items in these updates come from many sources, including the Monday email from the Graduate School, and they are meant to amplify, but not entirely duplicate, information from the Monday email, which is posted each week here: (https://webapps.graduateschool.vt.edu/glcweekly/)

1. Reminder: Virginia Tech’s Spring 2023 Powwow on April 29

The university’s sixth annual powwow will take place on the Blacksburg campus on Saturday, April 29, 12-4 p.m. on the Graduate Life Center lawn. In the case of inclement whether it will be held indoors in the GLC Multipurpose Room. Grand entry begins promptly at 12 noon and the event will conclude at 4pm. The family-friendly event is free and open to the entire campus community as well as the general public. Organizers plan to have several artisans and vendors present as well. Please mark this date on your calendar and come out and enjoy food, music, dancing, and more. This annual event began as a Diversity Scholar project. For more information, see https://vtx.vt.edu/articles/2023/04/powwow-2023.html

2. Information for students regarding Google services changes at Virginia Tech

The Division of Information Technology (IT) has released a detailed announcement (https://it.vt.edu/projects/google-changes/students.html) for students regarding a shift in relationship that the university has with Google. We encourage you to be mindful, but would like to reinforce that no immediate action is required as you're wrapping up the semester. This change will impact the decisions you make as to which tools are best for your needs. After reading through the information, should you have questions, we encourage you to connect with IT folks within your department or college.

3. Creativity and Innovation Day 2023 on May 1 on the Blacksburg campus

The Institute of Creativity, Arts, and Technology (ICAT) (https://icat.vt.edu) to celebrate Creativity and Innovation Day 2023, on Monday, May 1 at the Moss Arts Center on the Blacksburg Campus. Faculty, staff, students and community guests are encouraged to come and experience a full day of inspiring interactions and fun at the intersections of science, engineering, arts, and design. This year’s theme is “Beyond.” ICAT will focus on the kinds of work people do beyond a transdisciplinary education, how disciplines and identity are intertwined, and how that can help and transform. For more information, visit the event webpage: https://icat.vt.edu/events/2023/05-icat-day.html.

4. Cheesy Nights at Newman Library in Blacksburg begin May 4

Cheesy Nights, a much-loved Virginia Tech tradition, begins on Thursday, May 4 at 7:30 p.m. in Newman Library's plaza and will continue on Friday, May 5, Sunday, May 7, and Monday, May 8. Students can grab a free study snack of a grilled cheese sandwich, fruit, bagged chips, desserts, and drinks from smiling volunteers. Bring friends, take a break, and enjoy support from parent, campus, and community volunteers.  Follow @VTLibraries on social media for up-to-date information about Cheesy Nights.

5. Spring 2023 cultural achievement ceremonies April 28-May 12

Each year, Virginia Tech hosts cultural achievement ceremonies for graduating students, including those earning graduate degrees. This year, the university also is holding a cultural achievement ceremony for Washington, D.C. area affinity groups at the Arlington Campus on Glebe Road. The current list includes the following: Aliyah; APIDA (Asian Pacific Islander Desi American), D.C. Affinity Groups, Disability Community; Donning of the Kente; First Together; Gesta Latina; Indigenous; Lavender; Recovery Reception; and Veterans. Ceremony information, including dates and times, locations, and registration links, are available on the Cultural and Community Centers achievement ceremonies webpage:  https://ccc.vt.edu/calendar/ceremonies.html

6. Information about Spring 2023 Graduate School Commencements

The Graduate School Commencement in Blacksburg will be held on Wednesday, May 10, at 3:30 p.m. in Lane Stadium on the Blacksburg campus. The greater Washington, D.C. area Graduate School Commencement will be held on Sunday, May 14 at 1 p.m. in the Center for the Arts at GMU in Fairfax. Colleges and departments also are holding events during the commencement week, as well. All Blacksburg events will be held at Lane Stadium. For information about the May 10 commencement in Blacksburg, please visit: https://graduateschool.vt.edu/academics/what-you-need-to-graduate/commencement.html. For information and FAQs about Lane Stadium and where the ceremony will be live-streamed, visit the university commencement FAQ page: https://commencement.vt.edu/faqs.html. For detailed information about the greater Washington, D.C. area Commencement, visit https://www.nvc.vt.edu/Current-Students/dc-commencement.html.

7. Reminder: Future Faculty Diversity Fellows program accepting applications

The university Office of Inclusion and Diversity’s Future Faculty Diversity Fellows program (https://www.inclusive.vt.edu/Programs/FDP.html) is accepting applications for its fall 2023 sessions, which will take place October 1-4 at the Inn at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg. The program is designed to help departments identify and recruit talented scholars from historically underrepresented populations, specifically U.S. citizens or permanent residents who are African Americans, Hispanics/Latinx, American Indian/Alaska Natives, and Pacific Islanders. Current Ph.D./MFA candidates or post-docs not affiliated with Virginia Tech, within one year of pursuing a faculty position, and of a caliber to be competitive for a position are strongly encouraged to apply. Since 2019, 54 participating fellows have received offers at Virginia Tech, and more than 70% of them have joined as tenure-track faculty members. More information about the program, the application, and the selection process are available on the program website: Faculty Diversity Programs | InclusiveVT | Virginia Tech. The application deadline is August 15. For questions or more information, contact Dr. Erica Cooper ffdp@vt.edu.

8. Graduate Assistantship for Graduate & Professional Student Senate (GPSS) - Blacksburg Campus
The GA will assist the GPSS Executive Board in its administrative duties. Responsibilities include: reviewing applications for GPSS programs such as; Travel Fund Program, Graduate Research Development Program, etc.; ordering food for GPSS meetings; and coordinating logistics for GPSS events such as; Welcome Back BBQ, Little Hokie Hand Me Down, etc.. The position is supervised by the Director of Student Services for the Graduate School. Ability to take initiative and work well independently and also as a team member. Strong interpersonal and communication skills, oral and written. Ability to manage multiple and on-going tasks. Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, G-Suite, and Zoom. Ability to work nights and weekends, as needed (but please set boundaries for your own time). Apply here: https://forms.gle/YP9H2ZYPA23YBBqn8.

As always, please reach out if you need anything; we are here to support you. Your problems, your worries, your fears, and above all you matter.

Aimée M. Surprenant
Dean of the Graduate School
Virginia Tech
Graduate Life Center Rm. 235
Blacksburg, VA 24061
540.231.7581

Dean’s Weekly Update 04/21/23

Summary:

1.      Reminder: The International Street Fair takes place on Sunday, April 23

2.      Center for Oral History Spring Showcase on April 24

3.      Reminder: Diversity Scholars Spotlight showcase and luncheon on April 27

4.      Research Resources Open House on April 27

5.      Spring into Fun event at Northern Virginia Center on April 28

6.      Indigenous Friendship Garden Spring Celebration

7.      Future Faculty Diversity Program now accepting applications

*NOTE: The items in these updates are meant to amplify but not entirely duplicate those in the Monday email from the Graduate School. You will find a more complete listing of information here: (https://webapps.graduateschool.vt.edu/glcweekly/)

Dear Graduate and Professional students,

Happy Friday everyone and Eid Mubarak for those who celebrate. The Virginia Council of Graduate Schools, a group made up of graduate deans and their teams, met at Virginia Tech this week. The VT Grad School faculty and staff talked about their work, we did some table-top problem solving, had a tour of the Graduate Life Center (GLC), and listened to a panel of graduate students talking about their experiences in graduate school at VT, good and bad. It reminded me of all the resources we have available for students (and faculty), but it also showed that there are some resources that are still not as well known as they should be. I’ll try to work through some of those in this and subsequent updates. 

First, there is an enormous amount of data available in publicly-facing dashboards, https://graduateschool.vt.edu/numbers.html, developed and maintained by our data wizard, Kacy Lawrence. I particularly like the graduate student assistantship data, which allows you to see where students in a particular college, department, or major are employed for their assistantships. There are also data on time to completion, acceptance rates, interdisciplinary research, alumni employment information, and more. Each dashboard has filters so you can narrow it down to college, department, degree, results from surveys, etc. Take some time to poke around. 

Second, our panel of students included international students from different countries and backgrounds studying in different disciplines. They talked about their various challenges including finding a community outside of their disciplines and learning that there was a place and a space for them in the GLC. But, most importantly, they argued persuasively that we, the university community—including faculty and administrators—benefit greatly from their experiences, expertise, and knowledge and that we need to make this educational journey a two-way street, where we learn as much from our trainees as they learn from us. They spoke powerfully and genuinely, and their message really resonated with the deans and others in the room.  

All in all, it was a great mini-conference and I learned a lot from my colleagues, including our junior colleagues.

1. Reminder: The International Street Fair takes place on Sunday, April 23

Here’s a reminder that the family-friendly 62nd International Street Fair takes place on Sunday, April 23, noon-6 p.m. on the Alumni Mall at Virginia Tech’s Blacksburg campus. The weather forecast is for a cool but sunny day to explore the booths, displays, music, and games, in addition to food and other items for purchase. The fair begins with a procession of nations, with representatives of each nation carrying their countries’ flags. Be sure to stop by the Graduate School booth at the fair. For more information, visit the Cranwell International Center page: (https://international.vt.edu/events-and-workshops/international_street_fair.html)

2. Center for Oral History Spring Showcase on April 24

The Center for Oral History at Virginia Tech is sponsoring a Spring Showcase on Monday, April 24, 1-3 p.m., in the Newman Library multipurpose room (Newman 101). The event highlights the activities of the new campus center, presents the work of students and oral historians, shares information about the IRB process, and discusses available resources and equipment for oral history projects. The event is open to the public. Refreshments will be served.

3. Reminder: Diversity Scholars Spotlight showcase and luncheon 

The annual Diversity Scholar Spotlight showcase and luncheon will be on Thursday, April 27 from noon-1 p.m. in the Graduate Life Center’s multipurpose room on the Blacksburg campus. The event, hosted by the Office of Diversity, Inclusion, and Strategic Partnerships, highlights the work of graduate students who specialize and advocate for the awareness, knowledge, and skills associated with diversity and inclusion. The scholars will present their projects in a lightning round format. The event is free and lunch is provided. Please register here: (https://virginiatech.questionpro.com/DSpotlight23). 

4. Research Resources Open House on April 27

Fralin Life Sciences Institute will hold its first Research Resources Open House on April 27, from 1-4 p.m. Affiliated personnel of core research facilities, centers, and laboratories will be on hand at various locations in Steger Hall to provide information about extant capabilities regarding the Mass Spectrometry Incubator, Genomic Sequencing Center, GlycoMIP, Center for Biostatistics and Health Data Science, and the Flow Cytometry Resource Laboratory. Register at (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdK1py4tEUCQiqEswU4UFrf1sKnX3FM4dD1hXIiLct3b-XroA/viewform). 

5. Spring into Fun event at Northern Virginia Center on April 28

Graduate students in the Greater Washington, D.C. metro area are invited to "Spring into Fun," an event hosted by the Graduate School and Cook Counseling Center at the Northern Virginia Center in Falls Church on April 28, starting at 4 p.m. Join students, faculty and staff for the opportunity to unwind from the spring semester with popcorn, pizza, and volleyball on the NVC lawn and then watch a movie in Room 114. Volleyball begins at 4 p.m. and the movie begins at 5:15 p.m. Registration is now open: (https://forms.gle/aM41baUi5eya6YQUA).

6. Indigenous Friendship Garden Spring Celebration

The Indigenous Friendship Garden Spring Celebration is on Friday, April 28, from 2-5 p.m. at the Indigenous Community Garden on the Blacksburg campus. The celebration recognizes and honors seeds as ancestral gifts of nutrition and relatedness. Learn about traditional seed saving, culinary arts, crafting possibilities, and our deep connection to seeds as relatives. All are welcome to attend this event. From 2-2:30, hear a presentation about Monacan seed saving. From 2:30-4, a cooking demonstration with guest chefs and seed-crafting activities are scheduled. The event concludes with a seed story sharing circle from 4-5 p.m. The Indigenous Community Garden is at the Turf Grace Research Center, 615 Southgate Drive. Please register if you plan to attend: (https://forms.gle/vZ8xuCC6GWPsT1uG8).

7. Future Faculty Diversity Fellows program now accepting applications

The university Office of Inclusion and Diversity’s Future Faculty Diversity Fellows program (https://www.inclusive.vt.edu/Programs/FDP.html) is accepting applications for its fall 2023 sessions, which will take place October 1-4 at the Inn at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg. The program is designed to help departments identify and recruit talented scholars from historically underrepresented populations, specifically U.S. citizens or permanent residents who are African Americans, Hispanics/Latinx, American Indian/Alaska Natives, and Pacific Islanders. Current Ph.D./MFA candidates or post-docs not affiliated with Virginia Tech, within one year of pursuing a faculty position, and of a caliber to be competitive for a position are strongly encouraged to apply. Since 2019, 54 participating fellows have received offers at Virginia Tech, and more than 70% of them have joined as tenure-track faculty members. More information about the program, the application, and the selection process are available on the program website: (Faculty Diversity Programs | InclusiveVT | Virginia Tech). The application deadline is August 15. For questions or more information, contact Dr. Erica Cooper ffdp@vt.edu.

As always, please reach out if you need anything; we are here to support you. Your problems, your worries, your fears, and above all you matter.

Aimée M. Surprenant
Dean of the Graduate School
Virginia Tech
Graduate Life Center Rm. 235
Blacksburg, VA 24061
540.231.7581

Summary:

1.      Women in Data Science Blacksburg event April 20-21 (in-person and virtual)
2.      Blacksburg International Street Fair on April 23
3.      Diversity Scholars Spotlight showcase and luncheon on April 27
4.      Lunch and Learn discussion on April 27 about raising a child with a disability (virtual)
5.      Equity in science discussion on April 27 with author Julie Posselt (virtual)
6.      Virginia Tech’s Spring 2023 Powwow on April 29
7.      Commencements are on the horizon: May 10 and 14

*NOTE: The items in these updates are meant to amplify but not entirely duplicate those in the Monday email from the Graduate School. You will find a more complete listing of information here (https://webapps.graduateschool.vt.edu/glcweekly/).

Dear Graduate and Professional students,

As part of our continuing efforts to communicate clearly about policies and procedures, we have created a few flowcharts depicting standard procedures for common Graduate School processes. You can find them here: (https://graduateschool.vt.edu/academics/graduate-catalog-policies-procedures.html).

This information was always available and still is accessible in the Graduate Catalog (https://secure.graduateschool.vt.edu/graduate_catalog/policies.htm), but this is a visual graphic of how these processes work and who does what.   

I’m particularly pleased about the exam scheduling flowchart which shows not just the student’s steps but the steps taken by the Graduate School and committee members. This demystifies the process and makes it clear why we require the 2-week request period so that the Graduate School can make sure that all the requirements are there before the exam. If something is amiss a student might have to do the exam again and we really don’t want that to happen. Similarly, the Academic Journey Map identifies major milestones and helps new and continuing students map their progress towards their degree.

Of course, every program is different and every student has some unique aspects to their plan so you also need to work with your academic program to make sure you are on track for your particular degree.

I hope you find these flowcharts and the other information on the page useful—we will be adding to them as we create more. Please let us know if there are other procedures you would like to see in flowchart form—there’s a web form linked at the bottom for suggestions.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

1. Women in Data Science Blacksburg event April 20-21 (in-person and virtual)

The Women in Data Science (WiDS)—Blacksburg event is scheduled for April 20-21 in the New Classroom Building on the Blacksburg campus and via a Zoom webinar. The event provides an opportunity to hear about the latest data science-related research in a number of domains, learn how leading-edge companies are using data science for success, and connect with potential mentors and collaborators in the field. People of all gender identities are welcome to attend and learn about the work of female data scientists in the greater Virginia Tech community. The organizing committee includes several graduate students. The agenda includes tutorials on April 20 and a series of presentations, panel discussions, and a poster session on April 21. Visit the event website for more information, including the agenda and speakers: (https://sites.google.com/vt.edu/widsblacksburg2023/home). Register here: (https://sites.google.com/vt.edu/widsblacksburg2023/registration).

2. Blacksburg International Street Fair on April 23

The 62nd International Street Fair takes place on Sunday, April 23, 12-6 p.m. on the Alumni Mall at Virginia Tech’s Blacksburg campus. The event features booths, displays, music, and games, in addition to food and other items for purchase. The fair begins with a procession of nations, with representatives of each nation carrying their countries’ flags. Be sure to stop by the Graduate School booth at the fair. For more information, visit the Cranwell International Center page: (https://international.vt.edu/events-and-workshops/international_street_fair.html).

3. Diversity Scholars Spotlight showcase and luncheon

The annual Diversity Scholar Spotlight showcase and luncheon will be on Thursday, April 27, from noon-1 p.m. in the Graduate Life Center’s multipurpose room, 155 Otey Street, on the Blacksburg campus. Hosted by the Office of Diversity, Inclusion, and Strategic Partnerships, the event highlights graduate students who specialize and advocate for the awareness, knowledge, and skills associated with diversity and inclusion in the Graduate School and greater community. The scholars will present their projects in a lightning round format. The event is free and lunch will be provided. Please register: (https://virginiatech.questionpro.com/DSpotlight23).
Learn more about the program here: (https://graduateschool.vt.edu/diversity/diversity-scholars.htm). 

4. Lunch and Learn discussion on April 27 about raising a child with a disability (virtual)

Virginia Tech’s Early Childhood Education Initiatives is hosting a virtual Lunch and Learn program at noon on April 27 via Zoom. Heidi Hawkins, M.S., Ed.S. licensed and nationally certified school psychologist, will lead a discussion on “What You Need to Know About Raising a Child with a Disability: Navigating Services and Creating a Happy Home.” Hawkins has more than 20 years of experience identifying, working with, and parenting people diagnosed with autism, learning disabilities, emotional disabilities, ADHD, trauma and other conditions. The link will be sent the day before the event to those who register; find the registration form here:  (https://forms.gle//FTiExQnZ9PdoYmNC6).

5. Equity in Science discussion on April 27 with author Julie Posselt (virtual)

Author Julie Posselt and Bouchet Scholar Jasmine Lewis will hold a virtual Equity in Science discussion on April 27 at 6 p.m. via Zoom. Posselt argues that accelerating the movement for inclusion in science requires more effective collaboration across boundaries that typically separate people and scholars--across the social and natural sciences, across the faculty-student-administrator roles, and across race, gender, and other social identities. Ultimately this book is a call for academia to place equal value on expertise and on those who do the work of cultural translation. Register at https://virginiatech.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_IUpxb_O3T0yWgmQabHrQCw. If you have any questions, email Lewis at ljasmine@vt.edu.

6. Virginia Tech’s Spring 2023 Powwow on April 29

The university’s sixth annual Powwow will take place on the Blacksburg campus on Saturday, April 29, 12-4 p.m. on the Graduate Life Center lawn. In the case of inclement weather it will be held indoors in the GLC Multipurpose Room. Grand entry begins promptly at 12 noon and the event will conclude at 4 p.m. The family-friendly event is free and open to the entire campus community as well as the general public. Organizers plan to have several artisans and vendors present as well. Please mark this date on your calendar and come out and enjoy food, music, dancing, and more. This annual event began as a Diversity Scholar project. For more information, see (https://ccc.vt.edu/calendar/powwow.html).

7. Commencements are on the horizon: May 10 and 14

The 2023 spring semester commencement ceremonies are less than a month away. The Blacksburg ceremony will be at 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 10, in Lane Stadium on the Blacksburg campus. The greater Washington, D.C., metro area ceremony will be at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, May 14 at the George Mason University Center for the Arts. Northern Virginia students can find commencement related information on the Northern Virginia Center commencement page. Students who wish to participate in the Blacksburg event can learn more on the university commencement page. For those students planning to graduate this semester, please review the information on the “What You Need to Graduate” page: (https://graduateschool.vt.edu/academics/what-you-need-to-graduate.html). PhD and EDD students who plan to participate in the commencement ceremonies should successfully defend no later than May 3.

As always, please reach out if you need anything; we are here to support you. Your problems, your worries, your fears, and above all you matter.

Aimée M. Surprenant
Dean of the Graduate School
Virginia Tech
Graduate Life Center Rm. 235
Blacksburg, VA 24061
540.231.7581

Dean’s Weekly Update 04/07/23

Summary:

1.      TimelyCare self-care content available to students
2.      Reminder: Doctoral Dissertation Improvement Grants Workshop (virtual)

3.      Addressing Food, Housing, and Well-being at Virginia Tech presentation (virtual)

4.      Seminar on preparing and conducting an effective job search (virtual)

5.      MAOP Graduate Scholars application deadline is April 15

6.      Science on Tap: Nature-based Education and Civic Engagement

Dear Graduate and Professional students,

Last week I shared some of the free tools made available by Dr. Hugh Kearns (https://www.ithinkwell.com.au). His toolboxes include worksheets, calendars, wellness tips, etc., all backed by research and aimed toward helping graduate students succeed and mentors and advisors communicate and build effective relationships. I recommend that you take a look and use what makes sense to you.

One of the major stressors of graduate school (after finances) is worry about the future. Many students (and most people, to be honest) are unsure of the path that they might take in life and that uncertainty can lead to anxiety. We can never assuage those fears completely but here are a few things that might help you plan for the future. First, creating and maintaining an individual development plan (IDP) has been shown to be associated with “positive relationships with one’s advisor, confidence regarding completing training, trainees’ confidence about their post-training career, and a positive experience with institutional career development resources (Vanderford, et al., 2019).” Although not without its detractors, the exercise does seem to be helpful for some people. Tools for developing an IDP can be found at https://myidp.sciencecareers.org (STEM-related NSF funded) or https://www.imaginephd.com (humanities and social sciences related). Both sites also have some career resources that you can take advantage of for free.

Another way that you can think about your options for the future is to see what others who have your same degree have done with that credential. There is a lot of general advice out there on the internet but if you want to know what PhD alums from VT are doing, we have a dashboard that has collected the places of employment for our PhD grads from the last 10 years (https://gs.vt.edu/1j ). You can search by your college and department and it gives information on actual employers and estimated salaries. It is fascinating to see all the various careers open to our graduates. Of course, you may still choose a path that has not yet been traveled but it is nice to see what some options might be.  

Finally, identifying the skills and competencies you have developed during your program in addition to your content expertise, can help you and any future employer to match those with an occupation. Things such as quantitative skills, communication, teamwork, information gathering and summarizing, are just a few that you have honed during your graduate program. Our career advisors can help you identify what those are if you need help in articulating the various and many skills that you have.

Have a great weekend.

Vanderford NL et al. (2018). Use and Effectiveness of the Individual Development Plan Among Postdoctoral Researchers: Findings from a Cross-Sectional Study. F1000 Research, v. 7, article 1132, p. 1-27. https://doi.org/10.12688/f1000research.15610.2

1. TimelyCare self-care content available to students

TimelyCare, the virtual health service available to graduate students that provides 24/7 on-demand access to mental health support, counseling, and health coaching, also offers self-care content free on its website and app. You’ll find that content under the “Explore” tab. Features include Discover, which provides information on a range of topics such as yoga and meditation; Journeys, which offers options for stress reduction; and All, which provides slides, videos and articles that address health and wellness topics in depth. Learn more about TimelyCare here: https://ucc.vt.edu/timelycare.html

2. Reminder: Doctoral Dissertation Improvement Grants Workshop (virtual)

Doctoral Dissertation Improvement Grants provide support to advanced graduate students to conduct research for their doctoral dissertations. This virtual workshop on Wednesday, April 19, at 12:30 p.m. will discuss grants in the social sciences, including current programs from the National Science Foundation Science and Technology Studies, American Sociological Association, and American Political Science Association. The workshop will include an overview of these grants, advice on preparing an application, and guidance from faculty (Barbara Allen, Sarah Ovink, and Lee Vinsel). The workshop is intended for graduate students and faculty advisors in doctoral programs and will take place over Zoom Registration is required: https://virginiatech.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYsduurrTMpH9YE8fbR1vvrqRTcZBlgmt6p. Please contact Tom Ewing (etewing@vt.edu) with any questions.

3. Addressing Food, Housing, and Well-being at Virginia Tech presentation (virtual)

On Wednesday, April 26, 3:30-4:30 p.m. Eastern time, Dr. Ralph Hall, Associate Professor and Director of Undergraduate Studies, School of Public & International Affairs, and Dr. Jessica Agnew, Associate Director, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, will discuss the 2021 survey of students across the university regarding access to food. During this virtual presentation, Hall and Agnew will explore the important socio-demographic impacts of food insecurity and interpret these findings through the lens of written comments provided by undergraduate and graduate students who completed the survey. The presenters also will discuss recommendations for further enhancing student awareness and access to food, housing, and mental health services across the university. Register to attend here: https://tinyurl.com/CFSCTApril2023.

4.  Seminar on preparing and conducting an effective job search (virtual)

The Office of Postdoctoral Affairs is holding a virtual one-hour interactive seminar for postdoctoral fellows and graduate students on effective job searches. The seminar, “Career search strategy: How to identify opportunities and best practices for job searching,” will begin at 3 p.m. on Monday, April 17. Led by Lauren Celano, from Propel Careers, topics include knowing what to ask yourself as you prepare your job search so you focus on roles and organizations aligned with your values, interests, and skills. She will share tips on how to find organizations and entities via online searching, networking and more. She’ll also discuss the “hidden job market.” To learn more about the seminar, which the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs said will provide opportunities to put tips into practice through the summer, visit this page (https://www.research.vt.edu/about/postdoctoral-associates/postdoctoral-events-programs/2023/career-search-strategy--how-to-identify-opportunities-and-best-p.html). A registration link is provided on the webpage. 

5.  MAOP Graduate Scholars application deadline is April 15

The Multicultural Academic Opportunities Program (MAOP) Graduate Scholars program is accepting applications. The program offers financial support for students in exchange for assistance with programming such as mentoring undergraduates and assisting with workshops. MAOP partners with the graduate student's academic department to provide the support, which may be renewed on a yearly basis, subject to availability of funds. The application deadline is April 15. Visit this page (https://www.maop.vt.edu/Graduate_programs.html) to learn more about the program requirements and to access the application.

6.  Science on Tap: Nature-based Education and Civic Engagement

Science on Tap New River Valley will host a family-and child-centered event at 5:30 p.m. on April 26 at the Rising silo Brewery, 2351 Glade in Blacksburg. Gates Palissery, a Translational Biology, Medicine, and Health PhD student and Science Policy Club President; Carol Davis, Blacksburg community outreach facilitator; and Bethany Bookout, of the New River Land Trust will discuss local nature-based youth education and advocacy programs. The free event is sponsored by the university Science Policy and Advocacy Club and families are encouraged to attend. There will be giveaways and prizes.  

As always, please reach out if you need anything; we are here to support you. Your problems, your worries, your fears, and above all you matter.

Aimée M. Surprenant
Dean of the Graduate School
Virginia Tech
Graduate Life Center Rm. 235
Blacksburg, VA 24061
540.231.7581

If you have comments or recommendations for how we can improve the Dean's Weekly Update or suggestions for specific information and topics that should be shared with graduate students, please provide them through this Google Form: (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1nySotSbohDhGQcVDgAPu114_TUzllM8W8SCFwkyvlpY/edit?ts=6272bec2)

We archive these Weekly Updates on the Graduate School Website under the Dean’s Corner, (https://graduateschool.vt.edu/about/deanscorner/weekly-updates.html). For additional information, you will find the Provost’s weekly updates at this site: (https://www.provost.vt.edu/provost-weekly-updates.html); and the archive of the Graduate School’s weekly Monday emails to graduate students at this site: (https://webapps.graduateschool.vt.edu/glcweekly). Students in Northern Virginia and the Washington, D.C. metro area also receive a weekly email on Fridays with information specific to your campuses and region.

Summary:

1.      Graduate Co-op Policy Update
2.      Tickets available for April 7 Moss Arts Center event
3.      Family fun with the Hokie Women’s Lacrosse Team
4.      Author of The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks to visit Virginia Tech
5.      Graduate student featured at “Black in Conservation” event
6.      Center for Communicating Science seeks “Dance your Ph.D.” contestants
7.      Doctoral Dissertation Improvement Grant Workshop
8.      Made by History Workshop on Public Scholarship for Graduate Students
9.      Big Cook Out-Graduate Education Week Event-Rain or Shine!

Dear Graduate and Professional students,

I was going to spend this space telling you about our wonderful Graduate Education Week, with highlights including a fabulous GPSS Research Symposium (shout-out to Kaylee Petraccione for her Herculean efforts there) and a conversation around periods and period poverty as well as our extraordinary awardees and the Big Cook Out today (4 p.m., GLC lawn and lobby).

But, instead, I feel compelled to opine about the ways in which the federal granting agencies incent and reward brutal competition among researchers—a practice which then gets passed along to the graduate students and postdocs supported by these grants. A recent editorial in Science magazine makes the point well: “Students and post-docs deserve more” (https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adh0336). The authors argue that “toxic research environments” are deeply embedded into the system and that solutions require reimagining the whole system to make the funding landscape less competitive. This will inevitably result in fewer big grants and smaller labs.

Is that a bad thing? One study suggests that if our goal is to increase productivity it is better to spread the funds around: (https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0065263). These authors analyzed a number of measures of productivity and reported that “(i)mpact was generally a decelerating function of funding. Impact per dollar was therefore lower for large grant holders.” There is some hope that Congress might be getting it. In the most recent budget cycle, “Lawmakers … asked NSF to address the ‘power dynamic’ between senior investigators and their students that can lead to harassment or worse. Early-career scientists need “safe spaces to voice their concerns without fear of repercussions...” (https://www.science.org/content/article/research-gets-boost-final-2023-spending-agreement). We shall see what NSF makes of it and how this directive is implemented in the next year.

What to do in the meantime while we work to change the system? Make sure that you have a clear understanding of the expectations you and your supervisor/mentor have of you. Early discussions and an understanding of the constraints on both sides of the relationship are crucial to a successful graduate program. You should ask how you are funded and what the constraints are on that funding. You can find a tool to help you start these conversations (and a whole lot more) at Dr. Hugh Kearns’ amazing resources: (http://www.ithinkwell.com.au/resources/tools-for-phd-supervisors/tools-to-give-your-student). I’ll talk more about these resources and developing an Individual Development Plan (IDP) in a future communication.

Have a great weekend everyone!

1.      Graduate Co-op Policy Update

I’m absolutely delighted to share that starting this summer graduate co-op opportunities will not require enrollment in a 1-credit co-op course. With support from the Commission on Graduate and Professional Studies and Policies and GPSS, the Graduate School has worked hard to update this requirement. The revisions to co-op policy will allow students to enroll in a zero-credit co-op course (incurring no tuition charges) and engage in short-term or part-time co-op opportunities as well. It will take a few weeks to update our co-op website (https://graduateschool.vt.edu/student-life/student-services/GradCoop.html) and related policies and procedures, but you will see the changes before the end of the semester.

2. Tickets available for April 7 Moss Arts Center event

Tickets are available for the Moss Arts Center show on April 7 at 8 p.m. featuring Shirlette Ammons, a North Carolina-based poet, musician, emcee, and filmmaker. She draws upon her deep community orientation as someone born and raised in the small eastern North Carolina town of Mt. Olive. Ammons’ interests span the gospel tradition, the “covert musicianship” of the juke joints and cat houses where music was played historically in her region, underground marginal economies of Black and queer music, and coded language that relates to Southern and rural experiences. Student tickets will be available to those who complete this survey:
(https://virginiatech.questionpro.com/ShirletteAmmons) Selected students must be able to provide a valid Hokie Passport (Virginia Tech student ID) and will receive information about ticket pick-up location and time. Only one entry per student per performance. Questions, please email ordi@vt.edu.

3. Family fun with the Hokie Women’s Lacrosse Team

The Women’s Lacrosse team will celebrate the Week of the Young Child on Saturday, April 8, at Thompson Field with games, face-painting, an Easter egg hunt and more, in addition to the opportunity to see the Hokies play against Louisville and cheer them on to victory. The team will honor children and teachers from the stands. The game begins at noon. Admission is free. While the event focuses on children, it is open to all. Thompson Field is located across from Lane Stadium and adjacent to the Tech Softball Park.

4. Author of The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks to visit Virginia Tech

Rebecca Skloot, the author of The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, will present a talk on April 11 at 2 p.m. in the Haymarket Theatre in the Squires Student Center on the Blacksburg campus. Skloot’s work is a lesson in informed consent and bioethics and a sobering chapter in the long history of racial inequity and exploitation in medicine. She will be joined by Shirley Lacks and Jeri Lacks Whye and will tell Lacks’ story and explore the questions woven through it. Skloot’s presentation is part of the Hugh and Ethel Kelly Lecture series hosted by the Institute for Critical Technology and Applied Science in partnership with the College of Engineering. It is free and open to the public. Registration is requested: (https://virginiatech.questionpro.com/t/AVlIwZw8FC).

5.  Graduate student featured at “Black in Conservation” event

College of Natural Resources and Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation graduate student Sharon Dorsey will speak at "Black in Conservation: Diversifying Faces in Wildlife Fieldwork" on Monday, April 17 at 5 p.m. at the Fralin Hall Auditorium. The program includes a film about Dorsey's journey as a Black woman in wildlife conservation and discussion about actionable steps to increase racial diversity in natural science fields. Register at (https://forms.gle/Uqe7s4iwykacTpek9). Read more about Dorsey at (https://vtx.vt.edu/articles/2022/02/cnre-celebrating-women-in-cnre.html).

6.  Center for Communicating Science seeks “Dance your Ph.D.” contestants

Have you often wondered if there was a more active, arresting way to present your doctoral research than a written dissertation? The Center for Communicating Science offers you an opportunity to try conveying through dance. Based on Science Magazine's popular contest, the Center is launching its first annual VT Dance Your Ph.D. Competition! No dance experience is necessary; dance faculty member Rachel Rugh will mentor participants throughout the process of creating their own original dance films. Interested applicants should contact Rugh by Friday, April 14 so they can participate in a required choreography workshop in late April. Participants will work on their projects through spring and summer 2023; all dance films will be shown in an on-campus film premiere in October 2023. The center promises food, prizes, audience voting, and a red carpet! Email rachelrugh@vt.edu for more information and to express interest. Find out more at (https://rachelrughdance.org/vt-dance-your-phd).

7.   Doctoral Dissertation Improvement Grants Workshop

Doctoral Dissertation Improvement Grants provide support to advanced graduate students to conduct research for their doctoral dissertations. This workshop will discuss grants in the social sciences, including current programs from the National Science Foundation Science and Technology Studies (https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2022/nsf22629/nsf22629.htm), American Sociological Association (https://www.asanet.org/academic-professional-resources/asa-grants-and-fellowships/asa-doctoral-dissertation-research-improvement-grants-asa-ddrig/), and American Political Science Association (https://www.apsanet.org/ddrig). The workshop will include an overview of these grants, advice on preparing an application, and guidance from faculty (Barbara Allen, Sarah Ovink, and Lee Vinsel). The workshop is intended for graduate students and faculty advisors in doctoral programs. The workshop will take place over zoom, and registration is required. Please contact Tom Ewing with any questions.

April 19, 12:30 p.m.
Zoom registration required:
(https://virginiatech.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYsduurrTMpH9YE8fbR1vvrqRTcZBlgmt6p)

8.   Made by History Workshop on Public Scholarship for Graduate Students

April 20, 2023, 1 p.m.
Zoom registration required: (https://virginiatech.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYkdeyqrD0oHdTcugWLtox1yJnIKJv9bTx5)

The College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences is coordinating a workshop for graduate students across all fields at Virginia Tech to learn more about opportunities for publicly engaged scholarship. The workshop will be led by editors of Made by History, a section of the Washington Post intended to bring scholarly and historical perspectives to contemporary issues. The workshop will cover the process of writing for public audiences and the benefits of publicly engaged scholarship for graduate students.
Contact Tom Ewing (etewing@vt.edu) with questions.

9.   Big Cook Out-Graduate Education Week Event-Rain or Shine!
Friday, March 31st (TODAY!) 4:30-6:30 p.m., Grad School Lawn and GLC Multipurpose Room, Blacksburg Campus
Graduate students and their families are invited to enjoy food, music, and games. Hethwood Market will provide meat and vegetarian options. DJ Flex will provide music; sponsored by the Graduate and Professional Student Senate. It looks like it may be raining this afternoon so come inside the GLC for food and fun!

As always, please reach out if you need anything; we are here to support you. Your problems, your worries, your fears, and above all you matter.

Aimée M. Surprenant
Dean of the Graduate School
Virginia Tech
Graduate Life Center Rm. 235
Blacksburg, VA 24061
540.231.7581

If you have comments or recommendations for how we can improve the Dean's Weekly Update or suggestions for specific information and topics that should be shared with graduate students, please provide them through this Google Form: (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1nySotSbohDhGQcVDgAPu114_TUzllM8W8SCFwkyvlpY/edit?ts=6272bec2)

We archive these Weekly Updates on the Graduate School Website under the Dean’s Corner, (https://graduateschool.vt.edu/about/deanscorner/weekly-updates.html). For additional information, you will find the Provost’s weekly updates at this site: (https://www.provost.vt.edu/provost-weekly-updates.html); and the archive of the Graduate School’s weekly Monday emails to graduate students at this site: (https://webapps.graduateschool.vt.edu/glcweekly). Students in Northern Virginia and the Washington, D.C. metro area also receive a weekly email on Fridays with information specific to your campuses and region.

Summary:

1.      A reminder: Graduate Education Week begins on Monday, March 27
2.      Ignite Your Future: Panel Discussion with Hokie Graduate Alumni

3.      Don’t Stop the Flow: A conversation about periods and period poverty

4.      Dean’s Cultural Awareness Program tickets

5.      Potential health services pilot program for students in the Washington D.C. metro area

Dear Graduate and Professional students,

Happy Friday! This was a wonderful week—I had many fun interactions with many wonderful people. Along with many graduate students, faculty, staff, and administrators, I attended the Board of Visitors Meetings on Sunday and Monday.  These meetings are open to the public as it is important for all of our community to hear what is being considered and what decisions are being made about the direction of our university. There was a lot of information shared—both in person during the open sessions and livestreamed. Because the Commonwealth budget has not been finalized, there were no decisions made on next year’s budget. But, if you are interested in knowing more about VT’s budget, there is a lot of information found here: https://www.obfp.vt.edu/faqs.html

I had a conversation with one student who felt that graduate students were either not aware that they could go to such events or were worried that their attendance and any advocacy they engaged in would be viewed poorly. To the contrary, I encourage you to assume appropriate advocacy roles. Graduate and professional students contribute so much to the daily life of universities and the world and can be effective advocates for graduate education. Some options for you if you choose to take on the role of a graduate student advocate include participating in VT’s annual Hokie Day where students—undergraduate and graduate—can apply to go to Richmond and advocate for Virginia Tech’s priorities. It’s also a great opportunity for our students to share their VT experience. VT’s Office of Government and Community Relations (https://www.govrel.president.vt.edu) is delighted to work with students to help them hone their messages and choose effective advocacy methods. 

Another opportunity is to get involved in VA21—a higher education advocacy group that lobbies on an array of items, including higher education funding for undergraduate and graduate students (https://www.virginia21.org/). They can help advocate for students from all state institutions. 

Finally, of course, becoming active in the Graduate and Professional Student Senate (GPSS) is a great way to find others who share your experiences and work with the Graduate School to promote the interests of graduate and professional students. 

Other resources can be found here: https://www.apa.org/science/about/psa/2018/02/graduate-student-advocacy

1. A reminder: Graduate Education Week begins on Monday, March 27

Monday, March 27, kicks off Virginia Tech’s 23rd Graduate Education Week. Most of the activities and events will take place in the Graduate Life Center (GLC) on the Blacksburg campus, but there are virtual events and a Happy Hour for at the VTCR-Arlington campus for Washington, D.C. area students. Don’t miss the Graduate and Professional Student Senate’s research symposium on Wednesday, March 29, where students will showcase their work with posters and presentations. The week ends Friday afternoon with the annual cookout on the Graduate School lawn in Blacksburg, and the Happy Hour at the VTCR-Arlington campus. Visit the Graduate Education Week website for more information, https://graduateschool.vt.edu/student-life/graduate-education-week.html. I highlight two other events below.

2. Ignite Your Future: Panel Discussion with Hokie Graduate Alumni

Three Virginia Tech graduate alumni share their educational and professional experiences in a Zoom panel discussion on Friday, March 31, at noon. We will have light snacks in GLC Room B, but you can watch and participate via Zoom from anywhere. The panelists are Sean Collins, managing director of the Apex Center for Entrepreneurs; Anne Hilborn, senior environmental scientists with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife; and Jaishankar Sundararaman, engineering director at Google. Register here: https://virginiatech.questionpro.com/a/TakeSurvey?tt=y3ch//XXkqcECHrPeIW9eQ%3D%3D 

3. Don’t Stop the Flow: A conversation about periods and period poverty

Join the Graduate School in partnership with the Women’s Center, Period@VT, and Planned Parenthood for a panel discussion regarding period poverty, access, and public health on Thursday, March 30, 12-1 p.m., in the Graduate Life Center, Multipurpose Room. Lunch will be provided. All genders and identities are encouraged to attend. Register here: https://virginiatech.questionpro.com/DontStopTheFlow. Questions? Please contact Zuleka Woods at rdauda@vt.edu. 

4.  More Dean’s Cultural Awareness Program tickets

The Dean’s Cultural Awareness Program aims to make arts and culture events more accessible and collaborative for graduate students. Tickets are available for the Moss Arts Center show  on March 31 at 8 p.m. featuring Rissi Palmer. Palmer made her mark in country music but is equally at home in R&B music. Her gift lies in reaching across all musical boundaries. Student tickets will be available to those who complete the survey below for the upcoming show featuring southern soul artist, The show is on March 31st at 8:00 pm, Sign-up here: 

https://virginiatech.questionpro.com/RissiPalmer Selected students will get ticket pick-up location and timeline shared. Only one entry per student per performance. Questions, please email ordi@vt.edu

5.  Potential health services pilot program for students in the Washington D.C. metro area

Virginia Tech and George Mason University are teaming up for a potential pilot program that will allow Virginia Tech students enrolled in our greater Washington, D.C. metro area campuses to have access to George Mason University health service locations, including their Arlington location. Virginia Tech students enrolled in a designated National Capital Region campus-based program (not virtual) will be eligible to participate at the cost of $100 per semester. Only students who opt in would pay the fee and have access to the services. Students must meet all Virginia Code (https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacodefull/title23.1/chapter8/article1/) and Virginia Tech immunization requirements (https://healthcenter.vt.edu/new_student/required_immunizations.html). If you are interested in participating in the pilot program please fill out the survey accessible via this link (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfad4nbmRlpx-aFkmWChOb09q1a1cGAujLalktYuL6Tf5mkJA/viewform) by Monday, March 27th at 5 p.m. Please note: this does not guarantee your enrollment or obligate you to enroll. More information regarding the pilot program will be provided upon completion of the survey and review of the results.

As always, please reach out if you need anything; we are here to support you. Your problems, your worries, your fears, and above all you matter.

Aimée M. Surprenant
Dean of the Graduate School
Virginia Tech
Graduate Life Center Rm. 235
Blacksburg, VA 24061
540.231.7581

Summary:

1.      Celebrate Graduate Education Week
2.      More tickets available for Moss Arts Center events
3.      A reminder from the Global Education Office about registering travel
4.      A call for art, photos or videos for the Washington, D.C. area commencement slideshow
5.      Zoom workshops for graduate student parents of young children
6.      Summer registration open for Little Hokie Hangout in Blacksburg
7.      New Grad Parents Support Group for students in the Washington, D.C. area
8.      Continue to be wary of scams!

Dear Graduate and Professional students,
One thing I have noticed as I move from one institution or country or community to another is that names, categories, and titles mean different things in subtle but important ways. For example, in Canada, “college” means “community college” (I got some very quizzical looks when I asked people where they went to college. They replied, “I didn’t go to college; I went to university!”). Once we start paying attention we realize that even subtle differences within a language can get you into trouble (look up the definition of “pants” in the UK!).
Indeed, there are academic disciplines that deal with the metaphysics and epistemology of classification. This endeavor is often attributed to Plato who argued that successful theories should “carve nature at its joints,” meaning that we should find natural ways to classify the world. As theorists have found, however, this is not so easy and we don’t all see the natural boundaries of things in the same way. In light of this, it is important to approach cross-cultural communication with an open mind and a willingness to learn and adapt. What may seem like a small difference in terminology or classification can have significant implications for how we understand and interact with each other. By being aware of these differences and actively seeking to understand them, we can foster more effective communication and build stronger relationships across cultures and communities.
Circling back to the reason behind my post, I would like to apologize to those who felt left out of my weekly emails because they were not addressed to professional students. In my vernacular, graduate student refers to all post-baccalaureate students inclusive of certificate and professional students. However, I can learn new things and will try very hard not to make that mistake in the future as I work to support all graduate and professional students at VT!

1. Celebrate Graduate Education Week

Virginia Tech’s 23rd Graduate Education Week, scheduled for March 27-31, will recognize and celebrate the work of the university’s more than 6,900 graduate students with the theme: Unlock. Unleash. Ignite. The Graduate School hosts several events and activities throughout the week on the Blacksburg campus and in the greater Washington, D.C. metro area. Among the highlights are: the Graduate and Professional Student Senate’s research symposium on Wednesday, March 29; the annual awards reception honoring colleges’ top master’s and doctoral students and faculty mentors on Thursday; and a panel of graduate alumni discussing their experiences and insights gained while pursuing their degrees and in their life after graduation on Friday. The week ends Friday afternoon with the annual cookout on the Graduate School lawn in Blacksburg and a Happy Hour for students in the greater Washington, D.C. metro area at the VTCR-Arlington campus. Visit the Graduate Education Week website for more information, (https://graduateschool.vt.edu/student-life/graduate-education-week.html).

2. More tickets available for Moss Arts Center events

The Dean's Cultural Awareness Program (D-CAP) has more tickets for performances at the Moss Arts Center available for students. The next offering of tickets is for a modern take on ancient Chinese creation myths that are relevant to our current climate change struggle. This event takes place on Friday, March 24 at 7:30 p.m. Register here for your chance to win: (https://virginiatech.questionpro.com/MountainSea).
Students who are randomly selected will receive information on the ticket pick-up location. You must be able to provide a valid Virginia Tech student ID (Hokie Passport). Only one entry per student per performance. If you have questions, please email ordi@vt.edu.

3. A reminder from the Global Education Office about registering travel

Virginia Tech requires all university-supported travelers, including graduate students, to register their international travel prior to departure to ensure financial approval, credit transfer authorization, safety tracking, and export control support. All graduate students receiving credit for their trip abroad must register their travel with the Global Education Office (GEO) through their “My Study Abroad” account. Those who are not receiving credit and/or whose travel is funded through Virginia Tech must submit a pre-approval in Chrome River. Students do not have access to this system, so they will need to see their department’s fiscal technician for assistance.
For more information, read the notice here: (https://vtx.vt.edu/notices/outreach-geo-register-travel). 

4.  A call for art, photos or videos for the Washington, D.C. area commencement slideshow

The Graduate School encourages students to submit photographs, artwork, and short videos (less than 30 seconds) that depict graduate student life in the D.C. area, especially from graduating students for a curated “Images and Reflections” slideshow that is played before the Washington, D.C. area commencement ceremony and will also be available online.  You can see an example on our YouTube channel, (https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=XM15OjLt5bc).  The deadline to submit materials is April 25, 2023. Submission Link (requires VT login): (https://gs.vt.edu/dcir). You can also email content to GSSONCR@vt.edu or send via Instagram @vtgradschdc.

5.  Zoom workshops for graduate student parents of young children

Interested members of the Virginia Tech community are invited to join in monthly programming focused on supporting parents in meeting their child care and parenting needs. Choosing Quality Child Care workshops are held on the first Thursday of each month at noon via Zoom. Conversations About Our Kids are interactive discussions to support parents in their role as nurturing, supportive, and responsive parents. Discussions will take place on the fourth Wednesday of each month at noon via Zoom. Upcoming topics include Cultivating Cooperation and Surviving the Holidays. For more information, please contact Kim Thomason at kimbe74@vt.edu. To register for upcoming sessions, visit the Virginia Tech Caregiving Site: (https://caregiving.vt.edu/ChildCareResources/programs.html).

6.  Summer registration open for Little Hokie Hangout in Blacksburg

Little Hokie Hangout early childhood education center in Blacksburg is accepting applications for Summer 2023. The program, supported by the Graduate School and housed near the Blacksburg campus, offers care for preschool-aged children. Visit the Little Hokie Hangout website (https://graduateschool.vt.edu/student-life/student-services/spouses-partners-and-children/child-care/little-hokies-hangout.html) to learn more. Register for a summer session here: (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSchyKIYmnoq-e10o2T0yhoXojuURc26qQw7adfCLy728OpXrA/viewform).

7.  New Grad Parents Support Group for students in the Washington, D.C. area

A new affinity group has been created in the Washington, D.C. area for graduate students with children. The goal of the Grad Parents Support Group is to provide child-friendly playdates where graduate student parents can relax, connect, and support each other. The first playdate, aimed at children 10 and under, will be held on Saturday, March 25, 2-4 p.m. at the Toy Nest, 125 N. Washington St., Falls Church. The maximum number of guests for the first "meeting" is 25. Admission is $12 per hour for the first child and $6 per hour for a sibling. Parents do not pay admission. If you and your child(ren) wish to attend, please RSVP with this form: (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1YT-bjS6uGChmBduAyrNPaysezA6J50_k/edit#gid=1575567313).

8. Continue to be wary of scams!

We encourage all community members to be wary of electronic communication with individuals that you do not know, especially when there is a discussion of money or personal information—to include situations where you are attempting to buy or sell an item.
The Virginia Tech Police Department would like to remind all community members that common scams perpetrated against the Virginia Tech community and other general safety tips can be found at (http://police.vt.edu/scam-alerts) and (http://police.vt.edu/safety-security/safety-tips/socialmediascams).

As always, please reach out if you need anything; we are here to support you. Your problems, your worries, your fears, and above all you matter.

Aimée M. Surprenant
Dean of the Graduate School
Virginia Tech
Graduate Life Center Rm. 235
Blacksburg, VA 24061
540.231.7581

Summary:

1.      GPSS commencement regalia loan program
2.      Professional Development Checklist
3.      Tickets available for another Moss Arts Center event
4.      Graduate and Professional Student Senate Annual Research Symposium
5.      A reminder that March is Women’s Month at Virginia Tech

Dear Graduate Students,
With spring break coming up next week, I was thinking back to what that meant to me as a graduate student. For the undergraduate student, spring break is a time to go south, to Florida or the Caribbean for a great party and fun times. For the graduate student, it is a time to catch up on research or scholarship and hopefully concentrate on writing or data analysis. After spring break it is easy to distinguish the groups: the undergraduates are tanned and relaxed and the graduate students are pale and disappointed in the amount of work they were able to accomplish during the so-called “break.” I don’t know if this will help at all, but you are not alone—most graduate students (and faculty!) feel that they are continually behind. This will never go away, so my advice is to acknowledge that fact, keep your long-term goals in mind, and measure your progress toward those goals. I want to encourage you to make some time for yourself—I’ve said it before, but it really is important to find something that makes you happy and schedule time in your calendar to do it. Whether it is going out in nature, binge watching movies, or simply taking a nap, put them in your calendar as a block of time for yourself. Have a great time next week; I hope you meet your goals!
Please note: no update next week—I’m taking a break on Friday!

1. GPSS commencement regalia loan program

Students planning to participate in commencement ceremonies and events this spring may want to take advantage of the Graduate and Professional Student Senate’s cap and gown free loan program.  Fill out the form by March 20 to borrow regalia from GPSS. If you do borrow a gown, please note that you will need to return the gown dry cleaned and with a receipt. Hoods are not included. GPSS will notify applicants by April 10 regarding whether GPSS is available to accommodate their requests. Please contact Cissy Ming (cissym@vt.edu) with any questions. Fill out this form to apply for a regalia loan: (https://forms.gle/jpkUUGKhR7KFMFz88).

2. Professional Development Checklist

As you move through your degree journey, professional development opportunities can be helpful in assessing what you plan to do after graduation. Intentional professional development planning can help you to envision (or re-envision) the unique value you add as a professional in your field, as well as assist in identifying the steps you can take to accomplish your goals. Kerry Spitze, a career advisor in Career and Professional Development, has created a checklist and plan that offers structure and suggests resources to help you target your focus across five key areas: self-awareness, career goals, skills development, new learning and insight, and relationship building. You’ll find the checklist, in Google Doc format, here: (https://docs.google.com/document/d/1FQFwrSRE5oCSvaME4IQGXtibMn30Y17N/edit).

3. Tickets available for another Moss Arts Center event

The Graduate School is working with Moss Arts Center to make the arts more accessible and collaborative with the Dean’s Cultural Awareness Program, known as D-CAP. More than 10 students participated in the first two ticket giveaways for events at the Moss Arts Center. Our next event for which we are offering tickets is an Evening with Viet Thanh Nguyen (acclaimed author), on March 16 at 7:30 p.m. Register for an opportunity to obtain a free ticket with this form: (https://virginiatech.questionpro.com/t/AUAD9ZxDrd). Students will be randomly selected and will receive information about where to pick up their tickets. You must be able to provide a valid Virginia Tech student ID (Hokie Passport). Only one entry per student per performance. If you have questions, please email ordi@vt.edu.

4.  Graduate and Professional Student Senate Annual Research Symposium

The 39th Annual Graduate and Professional Student Senate Research Symposium is scheduled for Wednesday, March 29, from 8:00 a.m. until 6:30 p.m. at the Graduate Life Center on the Blacksburg campus, 155 Otey Street. The symposium’s theme is Looking to Our Roots: Community Engagement, Creative Collaboration, and Conscientious Research. During the day-long event, graduate students from across the university’s colleges and programs will present their ideas and research. The event includes oral presentations and poster sessions throughout the day. To find out more, visit the event page at (https://gpss.vt.edu/programs/gsars.html).

5.  A Reminder that March is Women’s Month at Virginia Tech
Virginia Tech joins entities across the nation in marking March as Women’s Month. This year’s theme is “A Chorus of Voices,” and the Virginia Tech Women’s Center, in conjunction with departments and units across the university, has a calendar of exhibits, workshops, events and programs taking place all month long. Visit the calendar here: (https://www.womenscenter.vt.edu/Program/womens-month/womens-month-events.html).

As always, please reach out if you need anything; we are here to support you. Your problems, your worries, your fears, and above all you matter.

Aimée M. Surprenant
Dean of the Graduate School
Virginia Tech
Graduate Life Center Rm. 235
Blacksburg, VA 24061
540.231.7581

1.      Women’s Month begins March 1
2.      Virginia Tech Life Sciences Seminars
3.      Washington D.C. Metro area Black Caucus and Affinity Group Meet & Greet
4.      Broader Impacts 101 workshop
5.      Principles of Community workshops in March
6.      Counselors at the GLC, Roanoke, and Northern Virginia Center

Dear Graduate Students,

As you might know, the Graduate Student Assistantship Support Task Force submitted its report on February 16. The news article outlining the recommendations can be found here: (https://gs.vt.edu/1h) and you can find a link to the full report in that article.

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the members of the task force for all their work on the report. The seven graduate students and ten faculty and administrators on the task force worked through the summer and the fall semester to gather the data and had regular meetings to discuss the report and the recommendations. The discussions were frank and sometimes difficult—each individual contributed a great deal to the final report and it represents a consensus of the committee. Does that mean that everyone agreed with every aspect of the report? No, like most products of committees, it represents compromise among the members. But, all voices were heard and differences acknowledged.

As noted in the report: “Graduate assistants contribute to the research mission by serving as research assistants for faculty projects while also contributing to discovery through coursework, independent projects, and dissertations. The instructional activities of the university depend on graduate students who assist faculty, support undergraduate learning, and teach their own courses as instructors of record. The service mission of the university is furthered by graduate assistants who work in university programs as well as those engaged in outreach and public scholarship.” To remain competitive in the recruitment and retention of high-quality graduate students, we must provide total compensation packages that are comparable with those offered by peer institutions.

What happens next? The report will be reviewed and a plan will be developed to work to enhance graduate student compensation. Once the university has clarity on state appropriations and tuition and fee increases, we will be able to develop and implement a final plan for Fiscal Year 2024 relating to the allocation of additional financial resources for graduate students. I anticipate we will be able to start the process by elevating stipend levels for assistantships on the lower end of the scale.

I know how important this is to you all and I will keep you up to date as we progress towards the goal of increasing student support.

1. Women’s Month begins March 1

The month of March not only holds Spring Break and the official first day of spring, it is designated Women’s Month. This year’s theme at Virginia Tech is A Chorus of Voices reflecting the national theme: Celebrating Women Who Tell our Stories. Virginia Tech Women’s Center has a calendar of events and programs aimed at promoting, celebrating, and advancing women. Most are in-person, but a few are virtual. You will find them listed here: https://www.womenscenter.vt.edu/Program/womens-month/womens-month-events.html

2. Virginia Tech Life Sciences Seminars

The Virginia Tech Life Sciences Seminars, a university-wide seminar series funded by the Fralin Life Sciences Institute, are available during the spring semester every Friday at noon. Seminars are given by renowned scientists from across the U.S. whose research connects to the life sciences disciplines at Virginia Tech. These interdisciplinary seminars are open to the Virginia Tech community and are offered in-person, hybrid, or virtual. Visit this page to learn more and register:
https://fralinlifesci.vt.edu/VTLSS.html?utm_source=cmpgn_ri&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=vtRICMP_DM1266506

3. Washington D.C. Metro area Black Caucus and Affinity Group Meet & Greet

The D.C. Metro Black Caucus and Affinity Group are hosting a Meet & Greet for students on Wednesday, March 1, 12-1:30 p.m. at the Virginia Tech Research Center, 900 Glebe Road, Arlington. The purpose of the event is to provide an insight on how both the Black Caucus and the Black Affinity Group can assist in the recruitment and retention of Black graduate students throughout the university community. Register by Monday, February 27 via this link: (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfLWJV0EMyNwNlxUJ_AWJTU6s6rKSN_qopIOVo_FPaOVbBh0w/viewform).

Learn about the Washington, D.C. metro area affinity groups with this short video: (https://vtx.vt.edu/videos/k/2023/02/1_poxj4utq.html?utm_source=cmpgn_news&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=vtUnirelNewsDailyCMP_022323-fs)

4.  Broader Impacts 101 workshop

Many funding agencies now require impacts that extend beyond an academic audience to benefit broader society and ask about those impacts in grant applications. The Center for Educational Networks and Impacts housed within the Institute for Creativity, Arts, and Technology collaborates with university researchers to develop and evaluate broader impacts plans that are mutually beneficial to researchers and the public. During this two-hour workshop at 9:30 a.m. on March 9 in Newman Library Room 207a, Associate Director of Broader Impacts, Chelsea Haines, and also the Graduate School’s February Mentor of the Month, will share processes and support available to Virginia Tech researchers. Dr. Haines’ presentation will be followed by a panel that will share experiences with successful collaborations. Learn more and register here: https://profdev.tlos.vt.edu/browse/researchdiscovery/courses/ceni1-030923?utm_source=cmpgn_ri&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=vtRICMP_DM1266506

5.  Principles of Community workshops in March
Principles of Community Week (March 13-17) is just around the corner, beginning the Monday you return from Spring Break, and TLOS (Technology-Enhanced Teaching and Learning Strategies) has 21 workshops available that explore teaching and learning strategies that highlight the university’s commitment to the spirit of community, diversity, and excellence. Learn more about the offerings and register at (https://bit.ly/VTPOC). 

6.   Counselors at the GLC, Roanoke, and Northern Virginia Center

I wanted to remind you that the university has embedded three Cook Counseling Center counselors at campuses that serve graduate students. Katie Hundley’s office is in Room 49 of the Graduate Life Center and she has walk-in and Zoom hours: (https://graduatelifecenter.vt.edu/svs-at-the-glc/weekly-walk-in-services.html); Julie Kaplan is at the Northern Virginia Center in Falls Church; and Jennifer Slusher is at the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine. Visit this page to learn more about our embedded counselors: (https://ucc.vt.edu/about/staff.html). Please visit this page to make an appointment: (https://ucc.vt.edu/about/appointments.html). You also have access to the TimelyCare virtual health and well-being platform 24/7, 365 days a year (https://ucc.vt.edu/timelycare.html).

As always, please reach out if you need anything; we are here to support you. Your problems, your worries, your fears, and above all you matter.

Aimée M. Surprenant
Dean of the Graduate School
Virginia Tech
Graduate Life Center Rm. 235
Blacksburg, VA 24061
540.231.7581

If you have comments or recommendations for how we can improve the Dean's Weekly Update or suggestions for specific information and topics that should be shared with graduate students, please provide them through this Google Form: (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1nySotSbohDhGQcVDgAPu114_TUzllM8W8SCFwkyvlpY/edit?ts=6272bec2)

We archive these Weekly Updates on the Graduate School Website under the Dean’s Corner, (https://graduateschool.vt.edu/about/deanscorner/weekly-updates.html). For additional information, you will find the Provost’s weekly updates at this site: (https://www.provost.vt.edu/provost-weekly-updates.html); and the archive of the Graduate School’s weekly Monday emails to graduate students at this site: (https://webapps.graduateschool.vt.edu/glcweekly). Students in Northern Virginia and the Washington, D.C. metro area also receive a weekly email on Fridays with information specific to your campuses and region.

Summary:

1.      Reminder: Call for nominees for GPSS Executive Board elections     
2.      Seminar: How to Develop Career Relevant Skills in Academia
3.      Dining Etiquette Workshop
4.      Pop-up Hokie Shop at Northern Virginia Center
5.      Global Connect: International Student Support Group
6.      COVES Fellowship Opportunity
7.      Giving Day Thank You   

*NOTE: The items in these updates are meant to amplify but not entirely duplicate those in the Monday email from the Graduate School. You will find a more complete listing of information here (https://webapps.graduateschool.vt.edu/glcweekly/)

Dear Graduate Students,

This is going to be quick as I am travelling in India and trying to keep up with my other responsibilities at the same time as having days-long meetings here. It has been a busy and exhausting time but rewarding and wonderful. I’ve met so many fantastic people, seen some amazing sights (mostly from car windows), and eaten some incredible food. We met with the folks from NMIMS in Mumbai to talk about our accelerated masters in business, Vellore Institute of Technology in Chennai, IIT Madras, and Boeing India. Today we are going to Mahindra Research Valley followed by a tour of IITMRV. Tonight is a ribbon cutting of VT India in Chennai followed by a cultural event and dinner. The technical and data sciences are very strong here in India and I’m eager to see how we can continue to partner in a way that is beneficial to all. Of course, I keep steering the conversation to methods to continue to support students wherever they are—I think my companions are starting to call me a broken record.

On another note, thanks to everyone who donated to the Graduate School or any fund on Giving Day—I think it was a good success.

1. Reminder: Call for nominees for GPSS Executive Board elections

The Graduate and Professional Senate is holding elections for their executive board members for the 2023-2024 school year. Roles include varying positions from representing graduate students in the shared governance system at VT to running events and programs for students. All positions are centered around investing in and supporting our graduate student community. Applications are open to all graduate students and all levels of participation are welcome. Feel free to email gpss@vt.edu with any questions, and submit application materials to taylorcl@vt.edu using the information found at: (https://gpss.vt.edu/about/elections.html).

2. Seminar: How to Develop Career Relevant Skills in Academia

This Zoom seminar, on Monday, February 20, at 3 p.m., will focus on why it is important to build and highlight transferrable career relevant skills to complement the technical skills that you develop as part of your training. It will also provide an overview of skills useful for both research and non-research careers. This seminar will highlight how to build transferrable skills such as collaboration, leadership, management, and presentation skills as well as other skills such as budgeting, vendor management, and various writing skills. Additionally, we will showcase how to highlight these skills on a resume for different types of roles so that organizations looking to hire you, can be aware of the value you bring to them. (https://virginiatech.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUpcOCtqTouGNfbsGXovlFf14tuVTLyEQlH)

3. Dining Etiquette Workshop

Learn how to conduct yourself during a formal meal in a professional setting, whether the dinner is part of an interview, a conference, or other engagement. The program will include a presentation, helpful tips, and a pizza meal during which you can network with other graduate students! Be sure to arrive on time! Sign-up here: (https://virginiatech.questionpro.com/dining23).

4.  Pop-up Hokie Shop at Northern Virginia Center

The Virginia Tech Hokie Shop, Virginia Tech's official bookstore, will host a two-day pop-up shop on February 20-21 at the Northern Virginia Center (next to the West Falls Church metro stop). Please find dates and times listed below.

•            Monday, February 20 from 2-7 p.m.
•            Tuesday, February 21 from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.

The Hokie Shop is open to everyone. Virginia Tech students, employees, alumni and community members in the D.C. area are encouraged to stop by and get your Hokie gear.  An assortment of merchandise will be available, including clothing, gifts, collectibles and other memorabilia. There will also be a Grad Fair for Spring 2023 graduates, and Herff Jones will also be onsite to take regalia orders.

5.   Global Connect: International Student Support Group

Global Connect is a monthly virtual series that offers a supportive and safe space on Zoom for international students to discuss specific topics relevant to mental health (adjustment/transition, academic stress, relationship issues, work-life balance, etc.), share your own experiences, and develop practical skills to cope with your issues.

Topics and Dates:
        *Homesickness and adjustment 2/2/23
        *Microaggression and discrimination 3/2/23
        *Stress management 4/6/23
        *Relationships and cultural contexts 5/4/23

Time: 5:00-6:00 p.m. (on the first Thursday each month)
Register at: (https://virginiatech.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0j6cOoAON2TjcNM)

6.   COVES Fellowship Opportunity

The Commonwealth of Virginia Engineering and Science (COVES) Policy Fellowship is a science policy fellowship for Virginia that is hosted by the Virginia Academy of Science, Engineering, and Medicine (VASEM). COVES fellows are graduate students or postdoctoral researchers in science, technology, engineering, math and health (STEM-H) fields at Virginia Universities who spend 12 weeks over the summer working with Host Offices in the Virginia legislative and executive branches or in the policy offices of NGOs and scientific industries in Virginia. In addition to their work in their Host Offices, fellows are paired with a science policy mentor from VASEM, trained through an orientation at the start of their fellowship, and participate in networking and career development activities throughout the fellowship. The application deadline for Virginia Tech is March 1, 2023. More information can be found on our website (https://graduateschool.vt.edu/funding/types-of-funding/funding-sponsored-by-the-graduate-school/coves-fellowship.html). 

There will be an information session on February 24th.  To Register in Advance: (https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJUud-6tpjwvEtIaOmWbSPo38pUuN_7IFe_x)
If you have questions, please contact covesfellowship@vasem.org.

7.  Giving Day Thank You

Virginia Tech held its 2023 Giving Day on February 15 and 16.  For 24 hours, students, faculty, staff members, administrators, alumni and the public came together to raise funds for students and programs. Many of you were part of that generous community. The Graduate School received 109 donations, totaling $25, 915, all to support graduate students and programs, including the Little Hokie Hangout early childhood education center. I speak for the Graduate School when I say we are deeply grateful for your gifts. You are helping other graduate students as they progress toward their degrees. Thank you!

As always, please reach out if you need anything; we are here to support you. Your problems, your worries, your fears, and above all you matter.

Aimée M. Surprenant
Dean of the Graduate School
Virginia Tech
Graduate Life Center Rm. 235
Blacksburg, VA 24061
540.231.7581

Summary:
1.      Relief effort for victims of earthquakes in Turkey and Syria     
2.      iThenticate Use Survey 

3.      Graduate Academy for Teaching Excellence is accepting applications for membership

4.      VTGrATE launches podcast series
5.      Zoom seminars on using citation management software

6.      The Dean’s Cultural Awareness Program (D-CAP) with the Moss Arts center

7.      Giving Day
 
*NOTE: The items in these updates are meant to amplify but not entirely duplicate those in the Monday email from the Graduate School. You will find a more complete listing of information here https://webapps.graduateschool.vt.edu/glcweekly/

Dear Graduate Students,

In his State of the University address, President Sands articulated his vision of VT as a top 100 global university. As part of that effort, a group has been tasked with outlining a university-wide global strategy. We’re already doing a great deal of work on a global level, but those efforts are scattered and the individuals doing the work are not always in contact with one another. We also have not developed a clearly articulated vision or discussed the motivations behind this aspiration. From a Graduate School point of view, I am interested in creating and supporting an ecosystem that has a clear focus on preparing our community to live in a global society. Following the accord on internationalization put forth by the Association of the Canadian Deans of Education, I think our principles should include “equity, economic and social justice; reciprocity; global sustainability; intercultural awareness and respect, and equitable access (Association of Canadian Deans of Education [ACDE], 2006).” 

Beck and Ilieva (2019) outlined six guidelines “for practice and action to reduce the harms we identified and move towards more principled internationalization practices” (p. 36). Those are in concert with the principles put forward by the ACDE and include some practical issues that need to be considered. I’m excited to begin the conversation on this topic and welcome your input. There will be plenty of opportunities to be included if you wish.

Finally, in the aftermath of the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria, I urge you to do what you can to help (details below) and reach out if you need support or assistance. Many resources can be found on the Dean of Students web page: (https://dos.vt.edu)

Association of Canadian Deans of Education (2006). Accord on the Internationalization of Education. (https://gs.vt.edu/1f)

Beck, K., & Ilieva, R. (2019). “Doing” Internationalization: Principles to Practice. SFU Educational Review, 12(3), 18–39. (https://doi.org/10.21810/sfuer.v12i3.1031) 

1. Relief effort for victims of earthquakes in Turkey and Syria

Members of the Turkish Student Association at Virginia Tech have coordinated a relief drive for victims of the February 6 earthquakes that occurred in Southeast Turkey, causing widespread damage and thousands of casualties. Items collected will be transported to the Turkish Embassy in Washington, D.C., for a flight to Turkey to get the resources in the places where they are needed most. The collection began February 7 and runs through February 17. You may drop off items at the following locations: the main lobby of the Graduate Life Center; the ACEC in room 140 of Squires Student Center, Steger Hall at Fralin Life Sciences Institute, and room 495 of the Northern Virginia Center in Falls Church. Items needed include: new or gently used winter clothes for adults and children (coats, gloves, socks, boots, sweaters etc.), blankets, sleeping bags, thermos bottles, flashlights, Power Banks, diapers, and hygiene products. For more information, contact Isil Anakok (ianakok@vt.edu).

Information on how to send aid to Syria can be found in this article: (https://gs.vt.edu/1c). We have not vetted these options so please pay attention to the warnings at the end of the article about disaster fraud.

2. iThenticate Use Survey

We are seeking feedback about graduate students’ use of the iThenticate software and its effectiveness. Please complete a short survey on how or if you use iThenticate and your comments about it by February 15. You’ll find the survey here: (https://docs.google.com/.../1FAIpQLSdiQ7NE21z.../viewform).

3. Graduate Academy for Teaching Excellence is accepting applications for membership

The Graduate Academy for Teaching Excellence (VTGrATE) has opened its spring application period, inviting graduate students to become members. The organization focuses on peer mentoring and best practices in teaching and learning, and members have an opportunity to advance from member to fellow. You’ll find the application information here: (https://forms.gle/4eDHzg8Kwyke71Ss6). The application deadline is Friday, March 10, 2023 at midnight. Learn more about the organization here: (https://bit.ly/40UOtpw). You also can follow the Academy on Twitter at @VT_GrATE and Facebook: Graduate Academy of Teaching Excellence @VTGrate.

4.  VTGrATE launches podcast series

The Graduate Academy for Teaching Excellence (VTGrATE) started a new project this semester in which members in the organization interview fellow graduate students about topics or issues that are of interest for a podcast. Topics can include things like maintaining a work-life balance, struggles of international students, etc. The Academy uploaded the first episode on YouTube. You’ll find it at (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RAeud-d2JRw).

5.  Zoom seminars on using citation management software

Virginia Tech Library is offering two free Zoom workshops on using and getting the most out of citation software. Getting Started with EndNote will be on Monday, February 13, 4-5:15 p.m. on Zoom. During the workshop, participants will learn the basics of EndNote, including adding references to your library, organizing your library, and using the program to cite references within a document. Register at: (https://guides.lib.vt.edu/gradworkshops).

Getting the Most out of your Citation Manager will be on Tuesday, February 14, 3:30-4:30 p.m. on Zoom. The workshop will review citation managers such as EndNote, Mendeley, and Zotero that aim to help you save, organize, and cite your references and focus on ways to get the most out of your citation manager. By the end of the session, you’ll be able to integrate citation managers into your existing workflow, identify personal best practices for using citation managers, and use advanced features of the citation manager of your choice to streamline your research workflow. Register here: (https://guides.lib.vt.edu/gradworkshops).

6.  The Dean’s Cultural Awareness Program (D-CAP) with the Moss Arts Center

The Graduate School is working to make the arts more accessible and collaborative with our graduate community through the Dean’s Cultural Awareness Program, working with the Moss Arts Center on the Blacksburg campus. We have secured student tickets for several upcoming shows, starting with “AKUTAGAWA” on February 18th at 7:30 p.m. “AKUTAGAWA” provides magic through tales of the supernatural presented with miniature sets, extraordinary effects, and ingenious artistry. To register for an opportunity to obtain a free ticket, use this form: (https://virginiatech.questionpro.com/AKUTAGAWA). Students will be randomly selected and shared the Blacksburg ticket pick-up location. You must be able to provide a valid Virginia Tech student ID (Hokie Passport). Only one entry per student per performance.  Questions, please email ordi@vt.edu

7.  Giving Day

For 24 hours, beginning at noon on Wednesday, February 15, Virginia Tech will hold its annual Giving Day to raise funds for programs across the university through donations of any size from members of the Virginia Tech community. That community includes current students, alumni, faculty, staff members and administrators, as well as partners and friends of the university. All donations to the Graduate School go toward assisting students and providing programs for them. If you can afford to do so, please consider making a donation of any size to our student-focused funds. visit our Giving Day webpage, (give.vt.edu/supportgradschool) to find out more.
   
As always, please reach out if you need anything; we are here to support you. Your problems, your worries, your fears, and above all you matter.

Aimée M. Surprenant
Dean of the Graduate School
Virginia Tech
Graduate Life Center Rm. 235
Blacksburg, VA 24061
540.231.7581

Summary:

1.      Reminder: Mentorship Brown-Bag Lunch with the dean on February 9     
2.      Deadline extended for Submissions for the 39th Annual GPSS Research Symposium 

3. GPSS Executive Board Elections Call for Applicants

4.      Consider applying to be the 2023-24 Board of Visitors Graduate and Professional Student representative

5.      Accessibility Professional Certification Grant program
6.      Reminder: Still time to apply for a Graduate School-funded fellowship or grant  

Dear Graduate Students,

Today I will be going to a conversation on the impacts of violence on Black communities, organized by Inclusive VT, in the wake of the brutal murder of Tyre Nichols by police—made even more traumatic by the widely available video of the incident. But, of course, we already know what the impacts are: emotional trauma, PTSD, and depressive symptoms. McLeod et al. (2020) performed a systematic review of the literature on mental health outcomes for Black Americans and, not surprisingly, reported “significant associations between police interactions and mental health (psychotic experiences, psychological distress, depression, PTSD, anxiety, suicidal ideation and attempts)…(p. 10).” However, the impacts reach far beyond those who experience police interactions and ripple out to affect the whole Black community. Indirect or historical racial trauma and “cascading collective traumas” (Silver et al., 2021) have a cumulative effect on an individual’s mental and physical health. Violence against the African American Community has been declared an epidemic and a public health crisis (Fraser et al., 2018). 

How do we help our community cope with the damage these continual events have? The most obvious step is to work for societal change and advocate for racial justice at the community and national level. However, that takes time and progress in this direction has been slow and frustrating. In the meantime, data show that those who have “more community commitment, integration, strong social networks and instrumental and emotional support (Silver et al., 2021)” suffer less from cumulative trauma than those without. 

So, please reach out to one another, provide and accept support, and strengthen your connection to your social network. As T. A. Webb famously said, “a burden shared is a burden halved.” 

Frazer, E., Mitchell, R. A., Nesbitt, L. S., Williams, M.  Mitchell, E. P.,  Williams, R. A., & Browne, D. (2018). The Violence Epidemic in the African American Community: A Call by the National Medical Association for Comprehensive Reform, Journal of the National Medical Association, Volume 110, Issue 1, Pages 4 15, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnma.2017.08.009.

McLeod, Melissa N. Heller, Daliah Manze, Meredith G. and Echeverria, Sandra E. 2020. Police Interactions and the Mental Health of Black Americans: A Systematic Review. Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities, Vol. 7, Issue. 1, p. 10-27.

Silver, R.C., Holman, E.A. & Garfin, D.R. (2021). Coping with cascading collective traumas in the United States. Nat Hum Behav 5, 4–6. (https://doi.org/10.1038/s41562-020-00981-x)

1. Reminder: Mentorship Brown-Bag Lunch on February 9

Come join me at 12:20 p.m. on Thursday, February 9 in the Multipurpose Library of the Creativity and Innovation District (CID) for a brown-bag lunch to discuss mentoring. This is one of a series of lunch discussions intended to create and cultivate a community of practice around mentoring. These rich conversations include discussions about challenges, opportunities, experiences, and successes. Students, faculty, and staff are welcome to attend. Bring your lunch and participate or just eat and listen. All are welcome and there is no need to register. A Zoom option is available: (https://virginiatech.zoom.us/j/83367205928) Meeting ID: 833 6720 5928

2. Deadline extended for Submissions for the 39th Annual GPSS Research Symposium

The Graduate and Professional Student Senate (GPSS) Research Symposium team has announced a call for papers for its March 29 event (https://gpss.vt.edu/programs/gsars.html). The submission deadline for abstracts has been extended to February 8, at 11:59 p.m. EST. Use the Submissions Portal (tinyurl.com/gpssresearchsymposium) to submit your abstract. The volunteer application is linked in the top right corner of the abstract submission page. Students whose submissions are accepted will be notified by February 28 at the latest. For support, please email GPSS Research Symposium Co-Chairs, Mae Early-Wilmer and Kaylee Petraccione, at gpssresearchsymposium@vt.edu.

3. GPSS Executive Board Elections Call for Applicants

The Graduate and Professional Senate is holding elections for their executive board members for the 2023-2024 school year. Roles include varying positions from representing graduate students in the shared governance system at VT to running events and programs for students. All positions are centered around investing in and supporting our graduate student community. Applications are open to all graduate students and all levels of participation are welcome. Deadline is February 20. Feel free to email gpss@vt.edu with any questions, and submit application materials to taylorcl@vt.edu using the information found at: (https://gpss.vt.edu/about/elections.html). 

4. Consider applying to be the 2023-24 Board of Visitors Graduate and Professional Student representative

Each year, the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors, the governing body for the university, selects one undergraduate student and one graduate/professional student to serve as representatives to the board. Anna Buhle, the current graduate/professional student representative, will serve through the end of the academic year. The BOV is holding an information session on Zoom at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, February 8, about becoming a student representative.  The Zoom meeting and application link can be found at (https://students.vt.edu/bov).

5.  Accessibility Professional Certification Grant program

Technology-enhanced Learning and Online Strategies (TLOS) is accepting applications for the Accessibility Professional Certification Grant program. Recipients will gain the opportunity to develop expertise and earn the International Association of Accessibility Professionals’ Certification in Accessibility Core Competencies Certification (CPACC). The program is open to faculty, staff, and graduate students. Find out more about the program in this notice: https://vtx.vt.edu/notices/provost-tlos-at-grants.html?utm_source=cmpgn_news&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=vtUnirelNewsDailyCMP_020123-fs. The notice includes a link to the application.

6.  Reminder: Still time to apply for a Graduate School-funded fellowship or grant

The Graduate School manages and funds several fellowships and assistantships for graduate students. You’ll find information about them on the Funding Sponsored by the Graduate School webpage: (https://graduateschool.vt.edu/funding/types-of-funding/funding-sponsored-by-the-graduate-school.html), including what the award is, who can apply, how to apply, compensation, and deadlines. Several of the application deadlines are in March, including the Dean’s Diversity Assistantships, McNair Assistantships, and the COVES and Powell fellowships. 

   
As always, please reach out if you need anything; we are here to support you. Your problems, your worries, your fears, and above all you matter.

Aimée M. Surprenant
Dean of the Graduate School
Virginia Tech
Graduate Life Center Rm. 235
Blacksburg, VA 24061
540.231.7581

Summary:


1.      Update on the Graduate Assistantship Support Task Force     
2.      Changes to Immigration Support Services for students in the Washington, D.C. area
3.      Grants available for conference travel and lodging
4.      Kids Night Out Free Childcare on Thursdays
5.      Reminder: The Nutshell Games scheduled for February 8
6.      Graduate and Professional Student Senate spring 2023 meetings
7.      Call for Papers for the 39th Annual GPSS Research Symposium

Dear Graduate Students,


I’m reading a recent edited volume entitled, Towards a Global Core Value System in Doctoral Education. The authors “advocate(s) for a core value system to overcome inequalities in access to doctoral education and the provision of knowledge” across the globe. They also discuss new forms of doctoral education and dissertations and point to recommendations made by the Canadian Association for Graduate Studies report on the future of the dissertation (https://gs.vt.edu/19), in which they recommend broadening the definition of the doctoral dissertation to include other forms of demonstrating scholarly activity in a discipline.


I encourage you to take a look at the book (it is free to everyone) and let me know what your thoughts are. Chapter 10 was written by a group of early career researchers (Ph.D. students) who contributed their experience to the recommendations. These issues need to be discussed and thought about locally to fit our context and community. Together we can work to build a continuing dialogue about doctoral education at Virginia Tech and around the world.


Nerad, M. et al (eds). 2022. Towards a Global Core Value System in Doctoral Education. London: UCL Press. (https://doi.org/10.14324/111.9781800080188)


1. Update on the Graduate Assistantship Support Task Force


The Graduate Assistantship Support Task Force met yesterday to discuss a draft of their report.  They are close to finalizing the report and will be submitting it to me and the Provost before March 1. The Provost and I will then review the recommendations and discuss how to move forward with their recommendations. Consideration of financial implications and decisions on budget allocations will be made, following our process for budgeting in accordance with university priorities and incorporated into the FY24 university budget.  Please stay tuned.


2. Changes to Immigration Support Services for students in the Washington, D.C. area

To serve all international students at Virginia Tech in a more comprehensive, coordinated, and consistent manner, the Washington, D.C. area International Students Services have been consolidated into the (Cranwell International Center). International student advisors, as well as other faculty and staff within the Cranwell International Center, will provide integrated immigration and support services, as well as dedicated programs and events, to all international students at all Virginia Tech campus locations. Jessica Mullins, assistant director for D.C. International Students Services, has joined the Cranwell International Center team but will remain based at the Northern Virginia Center in Falls Church.

For students in the Washington, D.C. area, in-person, walk-in advising will be available Mondays, 3-4:30 p.m. and Thursdays, 2-4 p.m. at the Northern Virginia Center in Falls Church. Later this semester, the Cranwell International Center will begin providing dedicated programming and events for international students based at VT campus locations in the Washington, D.C. area.


3. Grants available for conference travel and lodging

Graduate students presenting research conducted at Virginia Tech are eligible to apply for the Graduate and Professional Student Senate’s Spring 2023 Travel Fund Program. Grants may cover registration, lodging, meals, abstract fees and other costs of presenting at an in-person or virtual conference with a start date from April 1-June 30. Students from all disciplines are invited to apply, even if your conference abstract has not been officially accepted. Applications are due February 27, 2023 at 11:59 p.m. Please email cissym@vt.edu  with any questions, and visit (https://gpss.vt.edu/programs/tfp.html) for full details and information.


4.  Kids Night Out Free Childcare on Thursdays


The VT Women’s Center, 206 Washington St., provides free childcare every Thursday from 6:30-8 p.m.  Games, snacks, toys (and maybe a movie!) are provided. Sitters are provided by Chi Delta Alpha Sorority, and they are excited to meet your kids. Register here: (https://doodle.com/meeting/participate/id/bWPQXxEd)  or go to VT Women's Center home page weekly for a new signup available on Monday afternoons. Questions? Contact Jessie Meltsner at jmelts@vt.edu.

5.    Reminder: The Nutshell Games scheduled for February 8


Can you describe your research in 90 seconds or less? That’s what the contestants in this year’s Nutshell Games will do on Wednesday, February 8, at 5:30 p.m. in the Moss Arts Center on the Blacksburg Campus. The games take their name from the phrase, “in a nutshell,” which means, “in the fewest possible words.” Thirty graduate students will compete for prizes by sharing their research stories in less time than a Super Bowl commercial break. The event, sponsored by the Center for Communicating Science, is free and open to the public. Visit the Center’s website to learn more: (https://communicatingscience.isce.vt.edu/).

6.    Graduate and Professional Student Senate spring 2023 meetings


All graduate and professional students enrolled at Virginia Tech are invited to attend any and all of the Graduate and Professional Student Senate (GPSS) meetings throughout the Spring 2023 semester. Meetings are held every other Thursday, beginning February 2, and run from 5:30-7 p.m. EST, unless the Senate approves a time extension. During the meetings, the Senate discusses ways to improve campus life, scholarly development, and community for our constituency. If you'd like to submit a discussion topic for an upcoming Senate Meeting, please send an email to gpss@vt.edu, and provide at least two weeks’ notice to place your item on the agenda. You may join via Zoom as early as 5 p.m. for an open forum that takes place before the meeting. A Zoom link to the meetings will be sent to you once you register at the provided link:  (https://virginiatech.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAsf-2prD8qG9VqBgKoQN1vyonJRjwIcHeD).


7.      Call for Papers for the 39th Annual GPSS Research Symposium

The Graduate and Professional Student Senate (GPSS) Research Symposium team has announced a call for papers for its March event (https://gpss.vt.edu/programs/gsars.html). Please submit abstracts by February 1, 2023, at 11:59 p.m. EST in the Submissions Portal (tinyurl.com/gpssresearchsymposium). The volunteer application is linked in the top right corner of the abstract submission page. Accepted submissions will be notified by February 28, 2023 at the latest. For support, please email GPSS Research Symposium Co-Chairs, Mae Early-Wilmer and Kaylee Petraccione, at gpssresearchsymposium@vt.edu.

January 20, 2023

Summary:


1.      Reminder: Mentorship Brown-Bag Lunch on January 24
2.      Welcome and Welcome Back Events Continue
3.      Graduate School Funded Fellowship Nomination Periods are Open
4.      Save the Date: The Nutshell Games on February 8
5.      Join me for lunch on January 31
6.      Pizza, Networking, and Answers to the Question: What Have I Gotten Myself Into?
7.      Women’s Center of Virginia Tech: Call for Program Proposals for Women’s Month 2023

Dear Graduate students,

When I was an undergraduate at NYU, as part of my scholarship, I was given the opportunity to experience the rich cultural and arts scene in New York City at a very significant discount. I saw "Cats" on Broadway, "The Flying Karamazov Brothers" at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, went to the Metropolitan Opera House to see "Aida" and up to the Bronx to visit the art museum “The Cloisters.” Imagine my delight when I saw among the Moss Arts Center’s offerings next month a performance by the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre. This group was my first exposure to modern dance and ballet. Alvin Ailey was an African-American dancer, choreographer, and activist who founded the dance company to foster Black artists and Black culture through the medium of dance. The company has grown and thrived and continues to be “dedicated to enriching the American modern dance heritage and preserving the uniqueness of the African-American cultural experience” (https://www.alvinailey.org/alvin-ailey-american-dance-theater/alvin-ailey). In addition to performances, they also engage in community work including dance education and a day camp for children.


I believe that art is essential to the human experience, whether you are a scientist, an engineer, a sociologist or anything in between. Research has shown that engaging with art increases an individual’s well being, satisfaction and happiness, and improves quality of life (Grossi et al, 2011). So, I encourage you to try to find some events to attend or ways to express yourself through the arts in the course of your graduate career.


The best news of all is that all of the Moss Arts Center’s performances are $10 for students. There are also lots of other events from the School of Performing Arts (https://www.performingarts.vt.edu/performances.html). Find something you enjoy and take the time to experience it!


Grossi, E., Sacco, P.L., Blessi, G.T. et al. (2011). The Impact of Culture on the Individual Subjective Well-Being of the Italian Population: An Exploratory Study. Applied Research Quality Life 6, 387–410. (https://doi.org/10.1007/s11482-010-9135-1)


1.      Reminder: Mentorship Brown-Bag Lunch on January 24

As part of the Graduate School’s commitment to provide a variety of mentoring support, I’ve put together a roving brown-bag lunch series intended to create and cultivate a community of practice with discussions around Mentoring: challenges, opportunities, experiences. The first one will be on Tuesday, January 24, beginning at 12:20 p.m. at Fralin Hall (360 West Campus Drive), room 105.  A Zoom option is available: (https://virginiatech.zoom.us/j/83367205928) Meeting ID: 833 6720 5928


2.      Welcome and Welcome Back Events Continue

Students in Blacksburg, mark your calendars for the Welcome Back Connect Lunch on Thursday, January 26, 12-1 p.m. in the GLC multipurpose room. Register at (https://virginiatech.questionpro.com/2023GSwelcome). Read the weekly GLC email you receive on Mondays to find more events. Northern Virginia students, the weekly newsletter you receive from the team at the Northern Virginia Center will provide more information about other events. You can also find events happening at the NVC here: (https://www.nvc.vt.edu/Current-Students/communities.html).


3.       Graduate School Funded Fellowship Nomination Periods are Open


The Graduate School manages and funds several fellowships and assistantships for graduate students. You’ll find information about them on the Funding Sponsored by the Graduate School webpage: (https://graduateschool.vt.edu/funding/types-of-funding/funding-sponsored-by-the-graduate-school.html), including what the award is, who can apply, how to apply, compensation, and deadlines. Several of the application deadlines are in March, including the Dean’s Diversity Assistantships, McNair Assistantships, and the Powell Fellowship.

4.    Save the Date: The Nutshell Games on February 8


Imagine telling someone about your research in 90 seconds or less. That’s what the contestants in this year’s Nutshell Games will do on Wednesday, February 8 at 5:30 p.m. in the Moss Arts Center on the Blacksburg Campus. Thirty graduate students will compete for prizes by sharing their research stories in less time than a Super Bowl commercial break. The event, sponsored by the Center for Communicating Science, is free and open to the public. Visit the Center’s website to learn more: (https://communicatingscience.isce.vt.edu/).

5.    Join me for lunch on January 31


Each semester, I meet with students for brown-bag lunch sessions and other informal events to hear what you have to say: your ideas, your concerns, what you are experiencing, and your thoughts on how we can improve graduate education. Bring your lunch to the Graduate Life Center Room C in Blacksburg on Tuesday, January 31, at noon and let’s talk!


6.    Pizza, Networking, and Answers to the Question: What Have I Gotten Myself Into?


The Graduate School’s Student Services team knows this question often comes up during the course of a student’s graduate education experience.  Meet fellow graduate students to talk about your experiences, ask questions, and share tips. There will be pizza, both meat and vegetarian. Register here: (https://virginiatech.questionpro.com/a/TakeSurvey?tt=UqkK2dLeAB4ECHrPeIW9eQ%3D%3D).
If you register for this event but later need to cancel, please let Lindsay Barron know by emailing lbarron@vt.edu.

7.      Women’s Center of Virginia Tech: Call for Program Proposals for Women’s Month 2023

The Women’s Center at Virginia Tech invites members of the campus community to submit a program proposal for inclusion in the Women’s Month calendar. The calendar will be distributed widely throughout the university, surrounding communities, and online. The deadline for program submissions is Friday, February 3. (https://gs.vt.edu/18)


As always, please reach out if you need anything; we are here to support you. Your problems, your worries, your fears, and above all, you matter.

Aimée M. Surprenant
Dean of the Graduate School
Virginia Tech
Graduate Life Center Rm. 235
Blacksburg, VA 24061
540.231.7581

January 13, 2023

Summary:

1.      Spring Semester Welcome Events in Blacksburg and Northern Virginia
2.      Mentorship Brown-bag Lunch Series
3.      Professional Development Opportunities via CIRTL
4.      Understanding and Managing your Assistantship     
5.      TLOS Spring Semester Accessible Technologies Workshops

Dear Graduate students,

Welcome to those who are new at Virginia Tech and welcome back to all those who are returning! I hope you had a chance to rest and relax for at least a little while over the holidays and are coming back refreshed and energized. This is a good time to reflect on your priorities and plan for the next few months. Make sure you identify some short-term projects that you can complete to gain a feeling of success while keeping an eye on your long-term plan. Realize that your motivation will fluctuate over time—sometimes you will be very motivated and sometimes you won’t. Take advantage of those times when you are motivated to make a lot of progress and take advantage of the low motivation times to rest and refresh. Include those down times in your plan—schedule rest times and plan to get sufficient sleep. Sleep is so important that the NIH has compiled the research on it on a web site and guide to sleep (https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/sleep/) in which they summarize the research on how it works, why it is important, and how much sleep you need in order to function well both physically and mentally. Of course sometimes you just can’t follow this advice and circumstances require you to overdo it--as the saying goes: “Everything in moderation, including moderation.” (quote attributed variously to Oscar Wilde, Horace Porter, and Petronius). Just do the best you can to keep yourself, on average, at equilibrium (following the Confucian Doctrine of the Mean, as I understand it).

Have a great semester!

1.      Spring Semester Welcome Events in Blacksburg and Northern Virginia

The Graduate School has planned several events to welcome new and returning graduate students as we begin the Spring 2023 semester. You’ll find the events scheduled for the Blacksburg campus on this website (https://graduateschool.vt.edu/calendar-and-events.html), which includes links for those requiring registration (such as meals). Students in Blacksburg, mark your calendars for the Welcome Back Connect Lunch on Thursday, January 26, 12-1 p.m. in the GLC multipurpose room. Register at (https://virginiatech.questionpro.com/2023GSwelcome). 

Northern Virginia students are invited to attend the Warm Up to Graduate School workshop on Tuesday, January 17, 4 - 5 pm at the Northern Virginia Center, Room 200. The panelists will include program coordinators and recent graduates discussing key differences between undergraduate and graduate school. New students are encouraged to attend. Warm beverages and snacks will be provided at this opportunity to meet fellow students and network as the semester begins.

Take a break between classes and join the Graduate School and NVC Library as we play card and board games, Wii, Playstation, ping pong, pool, and more in the NVC Café between the hours of 4PM - 7PM.
The weekly newsletter you receive from the team at the Northern Virginia Center will provide more information about other events. You can also find events happening at the NVC here: (https://www.nvc.vt.edu/Current-Students/communities.html).

2.      Mentorship Brown-bag Lunch Series

As part of the Graduate School’s commitment to provide a variety of mentoring supports, I’ve put together a roving brown-bag lunch series intended to create and cultivate a community of practice with discussions around Mentoring: challenges, opportunities, experiences. I’ve reserved space in various conference rooms around the university to have a venue to get the conversation started. Bring your lunch, come together and participate, or just eat and listen—everyone is invited: students, faculty, and staff. No need to prepare or sign up; just drop in! You are welcome to attend one, two, or all of the lunches—whatever suits your schedule and interest.
 A Zoom option will be available: https://virginiatech.zoom.us/j/83367205928 Meeting ID: 833 6720 5928

Here are the dates, times and locations:
Tuesday, January 24th 12:20-1:20 p.m. at Fralin Hall Room 105
Thursday, February 9th 12:20-1:20 p.m. at CID
Monday, March 27th 12:10-1:10 p.m. at G101 Riverside Circle Roanoke
Thursday, March 30th 12:20-1:20 p.m. at Liberal Arts Building Conference Room 005
Thursday, April 6th 12:20-1:20 p.m. at Northern Virginia Center in Falls Church
Thursday, April 27th 12:20-1:20 p.m. at Newman Library multipurpose room

3.      Professional Development Opportunities via CIRTL

Virginia Tech is now a member of the Center for the Integration of Research, Teaching, and Learning (CIRTL) network, which provides a variety of professional development opportunities available to graduate students and post-doctoral associates at institutions in the CIRTL network at no cost. Descriptions and registration information for spring 2023 CIRTL programs can be found at (https://cirtl.net/spring-2023-programming-preview/). Registration for the "Advancing Learning Through Evidence-Based STEM Teaching" MOOC is currently open at (https://cirtl.net/event/advancing-learning-through-evidence-based-stem-teaching-spring-2023/). To learn more about CIRTL, or register for other spring 2023 cross-network programming opportunities, visit the network's website at (https://www.cirtl.net/). If you have questions about CIRTL at Virginia Tech, email the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning at teaching@vt.edu.

4.       Understanding and Managing your Assistantship

Thursday, January 19, 12-1p.m. via Zoom
Monday, January 23, 3-4 p.m. GLC Room B

Students on assistantship will learn about payroll, tuition awards, maintaining eligibility, performance management, time worked, time off, and termination. Also get tips on how to work with your supervisor to get the most out of your assistantship experience. PLEASE NOTE: There is a virtual option and an in-person option on separate dates. Please choose accordingly. Register here: (https://virginiatech.questionpro.com/a/TakeSurvey?tt=owRHGIUY/kgECHrPeIW9eQ%3D%3D).

5.    TLOS Spring Semester Accessible Technologies Workshops

The Accessible Technologies team at Virginia Tech Technology Enhanced Learning and Online Strategies (TLOS) offers a range of virtual and in-person workshops to help faculty, staff, and students learn more about ways to make their work more accessible to a wider audience. Training sessions include making PDFs accessible, accessibility and slide presentations, universal design for learning, speech to text technology, using captions, and more. All are free. You’ll find the list of the spring sessions on this Google document, which includes URL links to the workshops so you can register for them: (https://docs.google.com/document/d/1r1qQbezTAJrdJHqFSqrOomuHwfRNlcaIvgX_ozJD7ss/edit).

As always, please reach out if you need anything; we are here to support you. Your problems, your worries, your fears, and above all you matter.

Aimée M. Surprenant
Dean of the Graduate School
Virginia Tech
Graduate Life Center Rm. 235
Blacksburg, VA 24061
540.231.7581

December 9, 2022
Dear Graduate students,

Summary:

1.      Winter break and January hours for Graduate Life Center and Graduate School
2.      Student speakers at Graduate Commencement in Blacksburg, December 16
3.      The 2022 Graduate Alumni Achievement Award winner
4.      Celebrating fall 2022 graduates in Northern Virginia

We are well into the crescendo of the semester when we reach a peak of frenzied activity only to crash during the holidays. One of the great (and awful) things of being an academic is that this cycle happens over and over again. Time is linear, passing in constant, regular, measurable steps, inexorably ticking on. When we think of time as linear it becomes something that can be spent wisely or poorly. We berate ourselves for wasting time when we are not doing something.  On the other hand, if we see time as cyclical, we have the opportunity to use that cyclicality. The seasonal nature of the academic calendar means that there will inevitably be slow times during the year. You can use that knowledge to deliberately plan for “moments of stillness” as Jim Bruce advocates for in his "Be Still" blog (https://er.educause.edu/blogs/2018/5/be-still#fn2).  "[Be] still to give your brain some downtime," Bruce says, "You'll see an overall energy increase, more results, and no overall loss in productivity." There is also cyclicality in our brains and our bodies, called the circadian rhythm, and you can take advantage of that by working on hard things during your best periods and resting when you are in a down cycle. 
There is science to back up the assertion that you can take breaks without a loss of productivity; some of it cited in the Bruce blog. By resting you are in fact assuring that you can do your best later, rather than working in a linear fashion which will blunt out your highest peaks. 
If you really hate that I’m framing this all in a “get the most out of yourself” kind of capitalist framework, you might think of “Rest as resistance” and take a look at the great work of the founder of the Nap Ministry, (https://thenapministry.wordpress.com), Tricia Hersey. The followers of the Ministry believe that “rest is a form of resistance and name(s) sleep deprivation as a racial and social justice issue.” 
However you wish to think of it, find some time to rest and do nothing in the coming weeks. I know I will. This is my last weekly update of the semester. I’ll start up again in mid-January. Happy holidays!


1.     Winter break and January hours for Graduate Life Center and Graduate School

The Graduate Life Center and Graduate School offices will be closed December 23-January 2, as will all university offices. We will reopen on Tuesday, January 3. During the weeks before the first semester begins, the Graduate School offices will be open during our regular hours: 9 a.m.- 4 p.m. Please note we will be closed on January 16 in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, but offices will be open as usual when the semester begins on January 17.

2.      Student speakers at Graduate Commencement in Blacksburg, December 16

Three doctoral students will be the speakers at Virginia Tech’s Graduate Commencement ceremonies on Friday, December 16 at 2:30 p.m. in Cassell Coliseum on the Blacksburg campus (https://vt.edu/commencement.html). The ceremony does not require tickets for admission, so those who are not graduating are welcome to attend and cheer on the graduates. The speakers’ short remarks are modeled on the Nutshell Games created by the Center for Communicating Science. The students are: Ariel Heminger, Ph.D., plant and environmental sciences; Abdulaziz Alenezi, Ph.D., educational research and policy studies; and Steve Gerus, Ph.D., sociology. All three will be hooded and will receive their doctoral degrees during the ceremony.

3.      The 2022 Graduate Alumni Achievement Award winner

During the Blacksburg December 16 Graduate Commencement ceremony, Dr. Karey Sutton (Ph.D, 2010), will receive this year’s Graduate Alumni Achievement Award. Sutton is the Health Equity Research Scientific Director for MedStar Health Research Institute in Washington, D.C., where she is responsible for strategy and growth in health equity research and for building partnerships and community relations to foster such research. She earned her doctoral and master’s degrees in Science and Technology Studies at Virginia Tech and two bachelor’s degrees from Howard University. Her research explored the neglect of African-American and Latinx communities in genetic testing and research. Since completing her degrees, she has been recognized as a leader in health equity research and advocacy. During her time at Virginia Tech, Dr. Sutton was active in the Black Graduate Student Organization, the Graduate Student Assembly (now the Graduate and Professional Student Senate), and was a Minority Academic Opportunities Program (MAOP) scholar. We congratulate Dr. Sutton!

4.      Celebrating fall 2022 graduates in Northern Virginia

A reminder that there will be a celebration for December graduates in the Washington, D.C. area on Monday, December 12, at 6 p.m. at the Virginia Tech Research Center in Arlington. The event is not an official commencement at which degrees are conferred, but names will be read, graduates will walk across a stage to receive their diploma covers, and there will be refreshments and opportunities for photos. See this page for more information: (https://www.nvc.vt.edu/Current-Students/dc-commencement.html).

As always, please reach out if you need anything; we are here to support you. Your problems, your worries, your fears, and above all you matter.

Aimée M. Surprenant
Dean of the Graduate School
Virginia Tech
Graduate Life Center Rm. 235
Blacksburg, VA 24061
540.231.7581

Dear Graduate students,

Summary:
1.      Meet Ringo the Virginia Tech Patrol Pony at the GLC
2.      Newman Library brings back Cheesy Nights for Finals Week
3.      Free Ramen on Reading Day in Blacksburg and Northern Virginia
4.      Diversity Scholar Nomination Deadline Extended     
5.      A reminder about Commencement, December 16

Today I want to talk to you about something called the “hedonic treadmill.” It turns out that people are rarely satisfied with what they have, even if they have more now than they did in the past. It’s as if for every level of achievement (money, recognition, etc.), the treadmill just moves faster, so we stay in the same place. We think that we’ll finally be happy when we get to the next great thing and so on. One explanation for this is adaptation—although we’re happy to have achieved something at first, we eventually get used to it and go back to a neutral state. Another explanation is that, when thinking about how things could be different, we seem to have a natural bias to think of how they can be better. One study showed that, “when people imagine how things could be different, they almost always imagine how things could be better and seldom reflect on how they could be worse (Mastroianni & Ludwin-Peery, 2022).” This even holds for things that we really like—we still automatically think of how they could be even better.

There are some interesting suggestions of techniques to keep this from happening.  Mastroianni writes about some of them in his blog (https://experimentalhistory.substack.com/p/the-five-tools-of-hedonic-design). These include a change of pace (interrupting a pleasant experience), stopping something pleasant before you can adapt (all good things come to an end), alternating pleasant experiences, and imagining how things could be worse.

As Eeyore put it: “Could be worse. Not sure how, but it could be.”

Mastroianni, A., & Ludwin-Peery, E. (2022, November 14). Things could be better. https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/2uxwk

1.     Meet Ringo the Virginia Tech Patrol Pony at the GLC

If you have not yet met Ringo the Patrol Pony, the latest member of the Virginia Tech Police Department, come to the Graduate Life Center on December 8 at 4 p.m. for coffee, cookies and a chance to see this adorable denizen of good cheer and chat with our campus’s police officers. You can read more about Ringo here: (https://www.kplctv.com/2022/11/18/virginia-police-department-adds-pony-its-force/).

2.      Newman Library brings back Cheesy Nights for Finals Week

Students on the Blacksburg campus can stop by Newman Library December 8, 9, and 11, and get a hot, crispy grilled cheese sandwich (gluten-free bread and nondairy cheese available), fruit, cookies, and a hot beverage to help you make it through your hours of studying, writing, researching, and grading exams and papers. Dubbed Cheesy Nights, the free meals are made possible by cheerful library staff and a host of volunteers, as well as several organizations on campus that provide funding to make this event happen. Learn more about the program here: (https://lib.vt.edu/magazine/spring-2020/scholarship/cheesy-nights.html).

3.      Free Ramen on Reading Day in Blacksburg and Northern Virginia

Students in Blacksburg can stop by the Asian Cultural Center, room 140 in the Squires Student Center, and pick up a free cup of ramen on Thursday, December 8, from 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
 Hot water will be supplied by Au Bon Pain. While there, you can learn a bit more about the center and its programs. In the Washington, D.C. area, visit the Northern Virginia Center lobby in Falls Church for ramen with toppings and tea from 2-4:30 p.m. on December 8. There will be mac-and-cheese available, too!

4.       Diversity Scholar Nomination Deadline Extended

The Graduate School has extended the nomination deadline for those interested in becoming Diversity Scholars in the Spring 2023 semester. Diversity Scholars are graduate students who specialize in and advocate for the awareness, knowledge, and skills associated with diversity and inclusion in the Graduate School and greater community. The application process and timeline are listed at (https://graduateschool.vt.edu/diversity/diversity-scholars.html). Nominations (self or by others) are due by December 9 and applications are due by December 16. For questions or additional information, please email Dr. Shernita Lee at shernita@vt.edu.

5.     Reminder: Graduate Commencement in Cassell Coliseum on December 16

Virginia Tech’s commencement ceremonies are fast approaching. The fall 2022 ceremony for graduate students will be Friday, December 16 at 2:30 p.m. in Cassell Coliseum on the Blacksburg campus (https://vt.edu/commencement.html). The ceremony does not require tickets for admission, so those who are not graduating are welcome to attend and cheer on the graduates. See the commencement page for further details regarding attending commencement as Cassell Coliseum has policies governing what you can carry into the facility. Also see the Graduate School’s What You Need to Graduate page for more information about dates and deadlines: (https://graduateschool.vt.edu/academics/what-you-need-to-graduate/deadlines-for-academic-progress.html).

There will be a celebration for December graduates in the Washington, D.C. area on Monday, December 12, at 6 p.m. at the Virginia Tech Research Center in Arlington. The event is not an official commencement at which degrees are conferred, but names will be read, graduates will walk across a stage to receive their diploma covers, and there will be refreshments and opportunities for photos. See this page for more information: (https://www.nvc.vt.edu/Current-Students/dc-commencement.html).

As always, please reach out if you need anything; we are here to support you. Your problems, your worries, your fears, and above all you matter.

Aimée M. Surprenant
Dean of the Graduate School
Virginia Tech
Graduate Life Center Rm. 235
Blacksburg, VA 24061
540.231.7581

Dear Graduate students, I was asked to put the summary first, so you can skip to what is interesting below. Let me know how you like it (link to google form at the bottom).

Summary:
1.      GPSS Research Development Program accepting applications
2.      Graduate School is accepting nominations for the 2023 Diversity Scholars Program
3.      Undergraduate Student Mentorship Workshop
4.      TLOS: Gradescope offers faculty, instructors flexible options to grade assignments
5.      Nomination period now open for the Bouchet Graduate Student Honor Society
6.      Graduate Commencement in Cassell Coliseum on December 16
7.      Graduating Students’ Exit Survey is Live

Today I want to talk about writing in an academic setting (creative writing feels different to me, but I’m not experienced in that so I may be very wrong!). There is this myth that you are either a natural writer or someone who struggles with writing. In my experience, almost everyone has difficulty from time to time and almost everyone has times when the words come naturally. Your task is to figure out how to put yourself in the latter position more often than not. In academic writing the main reason people experience “writer’s block” is because they are not clear on what they want to say. If you are unsure about your argument or your purpose in writing something, it is impossible to make progress and you often get stuck at the very beginning. Rather than writer’s block, it is really “thinker’s block.”  For me, what gets me out of that state is to outline my thoughts and arguments, talk them through with a colleague, or even sometimes draw a picture of how these go together. Another strategy is to write an annotated bibliography (examples here: https://gs.vt.edu/14) and work to form a coherent logical thread to make an argument.

The good news is that there are lots of places to get advice on how to write fluently and productively (try the awesome series of videos by Dr. Cecile Badenhorst, (https://www.youtube.com/@cecilebadenhorst4997) –she even has great advice for faculty on providing feedback). The bad news is that not all advice works for everyone. Some people respond very well to writing boot camps or scheduled writing times while others prefer what is called “snack writing”—writing in little pieces. Some find it easy to write without editing and go back later while some prefer to micromanage as they go along. Even more discouraging, what works for you in one particular situation (e.g., writing a research or scholarly paper from scratch), might not work for you when another situation arises (e.g., writing a grant proposal or revising an article). You need to find what works for you and ignore the rest.

Finally, we often think about writing as a solitary exercise, and it largely is. But, talking about your ideas, working through how to explain concepts to others, trying out arguments, or just hearing someone else’s point of view is a part of academic writing—it is a form of communication and disseminating ideas so in essence it really is a conversation among colleagues.

I won’t be doing an update next week so please have a great break and I’ll talk to you in December! 

1.      GPSS Research Development Program accepting applications
The Graduate and Professional Student Senate is now accepting applications for the senate’s Graduate Research Development Program. The application deadline is January 19, 2023 at 11:59 p.m. EST. Master’s or doctoral students are eligible to receive up to $850. Funds may be requested for travel, lab analyses, supplies and other expenses incurred for degree-contingent research. $10,000 will be distributed. Application materials and full instructions can be found here: (https://gpss.vt.edu/programs/grdp.html). Please e-mail Cissy Ming at cissym@vt.edu with any questions.

2.      Graduate School is accepting nominations for the 2023 Diversity Scholars Program
Diversity scholars are graduate students who specialize in and advocate for the awareness, knowledge, and skills associated with diversity and inclusion in the Graduate School and greater community. If interested, the application process and timeline is listed at (https://graduateschool.vt.edu/diversity/diversity-scholars.html). Nominations (self or by others) are due by December 2 and applications are due by December 16. For questions or additional information, please email Dr. Shernita Lee at shernita@vt.edu.

3.      Undergraduate Research: Faculty invited to take part in Student Mentorship Workshop
The Office of Undergraduate Research, HHMI Inclusive Excellence in the Sciences at Virginia Tech, and the Office of Undergraduate Academic Affairs invites faculty, post-doctoral fellows, and graduate students to participate in the Mentoring Undergraduates Workshop on Wednesday, January 11 in 2420 North End Center. Registration is required: (https://gs.vt.edu/12).

4.      TLOS: Gradescope offers faculty, instructors flexible options to grade assignments
Technology-enhanced Learning and Online Strategies (TLOS) has secured a one-year license for Gradescope, a Canvas-integrated grading platform offering flexible options for grading paper-based, digital, and bubble-sheet quizzes, exams, and homework assignments. The license will allow Virginia Tech to pilot the platform beginning in spring 2023, when it will become available for use in all Canvas course sites. (https://gs.vt.edu/13)

5.      Nomination period now open for the Bouchet Graduate Student Honor Society
The Edward Alexander Bouchet Graduate Honor Society (Bouchet Society) recognizes outstanding scholarly achievement and promotes a diversity and excellence in doctoral education and the professoriate. The Bouchet Society seeks to develop a network of preeminent scholars who serve as examples of the five pillars: scholarship, leadership, character, service, and advocacy for students and postdoctoral researchers who have been traditionally underrepresented in the academy. The deadline for department nominations is December 9, 2022. You may learn more here: (https://graduateschool.vt.edu/diversity/bouchet-society.html)  Questions? Please contact Dr. Shernita Lee at shernita@vt.edu.

6.      Graduate Commencement in Cassell Coliseum on December 16
Virginia Tech’s commencement ceremonies are fast approaching. The fall 2022 ceremony for graduate students will be Friday, December 16 at 2:30 p.m. in Cassell Coliseum on the Blacksburg campus (https://vt.edu/commencement.html). The ceremony does not require tickets for admission, so those who are not graduating are welcome to attend and cheer on the graduates. See the commencement page for further details regarding attending commencements as Cassell Coliseum has policies governing what you can carry into the facility. Also see the Graduate School’s What You Need to Graduate page for more information about dates and deadlines: (https://graduateschool.vt.edu/academics/what-you-need-to-graduate/deadlines-for-academic-progress.html)

7.      Graduating Students’ Exit Survey is Live
After a brief hiatus for revisions, the graduate student exit survey is now live and available to all graduating students and can be found on the graduation checklist in HokieSpa. This survey should be completed as close to graduation as possible to ensure accurate reporting related to your post-graduation plans. The survey captures graduate student experiences related to assistantships, advising, and student services. It also asks about students’ career plans after graduating and how prepared they feel for the future. These results help the Graduate School, colleges, and departments better serve graduate students in the future. Your experience and feedback are important to us!

As always, please reach out if you need anything; we are here to support you. Your problems, your worries, your fears, and above all you matter.

Aimée M. Surprenant
Dean of the Graduate School
Virginia Tech
Graduate Life Center Rm. 235
Blacksburg, VA 24061
540.231.7581

Dear Graduate students,

Research and scholarly ethics and integrity are part of a continually changing landscape as our understanding of various issues evolves and we are made aware of potential harms our work can do. I recently came across the Global Code of Conduct for Research in Resource-Poor Settings (https://www.globalcodeofconduct.org). This code “is a resource for all research stakeholders who want to ensure that research is carried out ethically in lower income settings and without ‘ethics dumping’ and ‘helicopter research.’” In 2018 the European Commission adopted the code as a mandatory reference document for Horizon 2020—their main funding mechanism. The fundamental values espoused in that code and adopted by the researchers include: fairness, respect, care, and honesty. Each of those are further broken down into specific guidance for all disciplines. You can find lots of in-depth information and case studies to use as guides on their website.

This is a wonderful resource as it recognizes that, “Research that is not relevant in the location where it is undertaken imposes burdens without benefits.” Understanding the broader impact of our work is a critical part of ethical behavior. There are many great examples of research communities innovating in the research and scholarly ethics space. For example, Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador created and adopted a policy on research involving indigenous groups which recognizes that, “the conduct of research that impacts indigenous communities, cultures, and lands must be grounded in ethical conduct and respectful, ongoing engagement with indigenous groups (https://gs.vt.edu/z).”

At Virginia Tech, resources for exploring these issues can be found in the office of Scholarly Integrity & Research Compliance (SIRC) (https://www.research.vt.edu/sirc.html). They have a seminar series, engage in consultations, and provide other tools that you can access. I encourage you to explore their resources and to think deeply about your work and how it affects others.

Summary:
1.      Little Hokie Hand-Me-Down Shopping Days
2.      Reminder: Diversity Scholars Information Session on November 15
3.      Still time to apply to be a Graduate Student Tour Guide
4.      Thanksgiving Lunches
5.      Board of Visitors: Quarterly Meeting to be held November 13-14 in Blacksburg
6.      CETL: Faculty, Instructors invited to attend December Course Design Clinic
7.      Reminder: Town Hall about Additional Services for Graduate Students

1.      Little Hokie Hand-Me-Down Shopping Days
The Little Hokie Hand-Me-Down offers graduate students and staff with children an opportunity to shop for gently used clothing and other items available at NO cost. This year’s shopping days are November 15 and 16 in the multipurpose room of the Graduate Life Center on the Blacksburg campus at 155 Otey St. Graduate students, staff, and others can shop for free items at the event. November 15, from noon until 5 p.m., is for graduate students only. November 16, from 8 a.m. until noon, staff, other students, and graduate students are welcome to shop for donated items. For more information, visit the Women’s Center website, (womenscenter.vt.edu).

2.      Reminder: Diversity Scholars Information Session on November 15
Learn more about the Graduate School’s Diversity Scholars program and the application process during a virtual information session at 2 p.m. EST on Tuesday, November 15. Register at: (https://virginiatech.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwodu2rqDMiGt2FoXq79BtjH60xSxE8u-Z8  For questions or additional information, please email the Office of Recruitment, Diversity, and Inclusion at ordi@vt.edu.

3.      Still time to apply to be a Graduate Student Tour Guide
The Graduate School is still accepting applications from graduate students interested in serving as tour guides to prospective graduate students for the Spring 2023 semester. Applicants must have good communication skills, an eagerness to share VT with others, familiarity with their campus location, and be willing to conduct 2-5 tours a semester. Tours are typically 1.5 hours. Applicants must also have a current, valid driver's license, though walking tours will also be offered. Tour guides will be provided with training and will receive a small stipend at the end of the semester. Interested students are asked to complete the following survey to apply for a graduate student tour guide position: (https://forms.gle/fS5X9JsPUV8uSbvf6).  Interviews for these positions will take place in late November. Contact grads@vt.edu if you have questions.

4.      Thanksgiving Lunches
Join fellow students in Blacksburg or in the Washington, D.C. and Northern Virginia area for a Thanksgiving meal and conversation. The annual Thanksgiving Potluck at the Northern Virginia Center in Falls Church is scheduled for noon on Thursday, November 17, in the NVC’s Community Café. All graduate students, faculty, and staff in the region are welcome to attend. The center provides the basic staples of a traditional Thanksgiving meal (turkey, gravy, dressing, and mashed potatoes). The NVC team asks faculty and staff to bring a dish to share, and students are also welcome to bring a dish if they would like to do so.
In Blacksburg, plan on gathering at 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, November 22, in the Graduate Life Center’s multipurpose room for lunch. The Graduate School team will provide chili (meat, vegetarian/vegan/GF versions) and dessert. Please let the team know if you plan to attend by registering so they know how much food to prepare: (https://virginiatech.questionpro.com/tbreak).

5.      Board of Visitors: Quarterly Meeting to be held November 13-14 in Blacksburg   
The Virginia Tech Board of Visitors will hold its quarterly board meeting on Monday, November 14, at 1:15 p.m. in Room 2100 in Torgersen Hall (620 Drillfield Drive) on the Blacksburg campus. All other committee meetings held during the two-day session will be at The Inn at Virginia Tech (901 Prices Fork Road) in Blacksburg unless otherwise noted. On Sunday, November 13, at 2 p.m., all board members will meet in open session and attend an information session in Latham Ballroom A/B. (https://vtx.vt.edu/articles/2022/11/bov-meeting-november-2022.html)
A reminder that the Board of Visitors livestreams its full-board meetings. Information can be found in this VTX notice: https://vtx.vt.edu/articles/2022/08/bov-livestream-fall-2022.html.

6.      CETL: Faculty, Instructors invited to attend December Course Design Clinic
As faculty and instructors begin planning for their spring 2023 courses, join the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL) for its December Course Design Clinic and leave with a course plan and syllabus for the spring 2023 semester. The clinic will take place December 19-20 at the North End Center, Training Room 2420. There is no cost to attend, but registration is required. (https://gs.vt.edu/11)

7.      Reminder: Town Hall about Additional Services for Graduate Students
The Graduate School will hold a virtual Town Hall at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, November 17 to share information about resources for graduate students across the university’s campuses. All graduate students are welcome to attend. Register here: (https://virginiatech.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_kLkAeYa_SUuAsAT8Rt7e5w)

As always, please reach out if you need anything; we are here to support you. Your problems, your worries, your fears, and above all you matter.

Aimée M. Surprenant
Dean of the Graduate School
Virginia Tech
Graduate Life Center Rm. 235
Blacksburg, VA 24061
540.231.7581

Dean’s Weekly Update 11/04/2022

Dear Graduate students,

A while ago in this space I talked a bit about the importance of apologies—saying sorry is absolutely essential if we make a mistake or if we cause harm to someone else. However, sometimes we say “sorry” for things that don’t really require an apology. Life coaches argue that apologizing too much can destroy your confidence in yourself and cause others to see you as less competent.

In trying to determine if there are any empirical data to back up this assumption, I found a paper by Chaudhry and Loewenstein (2019) in which they discuss four forms of communication that give others information about credit or blame: thanking, apologizing, bragging, and blaming. All of these “introduce image-based costs and benefits for both the communicator and the recipient of communication: Each of the four communications involves a tradeoff between appearing competent and appearing warm” (p. 313). The authors also explored individual differences (women apologize more than men) and cultural expectations (women are expected to be warm) and how those might drive different types of behaviors.

A take home message is that if you apologize needlessly you could be showing yourself and others that you are questioning your competence. In her TED talk on this topic, psychologist Dr. Maja Jovanovic (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G8sYv_6uyss) argues that if the answer to the question, “Why did you apologize?” is “I don’t know,” then just stop doing it. Instead of using apologetic phrases, try saying: “Excuse me,” or “Thank you for your patience,” or “I am unable to attend this meeting,” or “These are my initial thoughts,” etc. You can still be polite and respectful when talking and giving your opinions without apologizing for those thoughts or opinions.

Remember, giving apologies when warranted is absolutely important—just don’t do it when it is not justified!

Chaudhry, S. J., & Loewenstein, G. (2019). Thanking, apologizing, bragging, and blaming: Responsibility exchange theory and the currency of communication. Psychological Review, 126(3), 313–344. (https://doi-org.ezproxy.lib.vt.edu/10.1037/rev0000139.supp)

Summary:
1.      Reminder: Town Hall about Additional Services for Graduate Students
2.      International Graduate Education Week
3.      Graduate and Professional Student Senate Travel Fund Period Extended
4.      GPSS Graduate Housing Survey
5.      Little Hokie Hand-Me-Down
6.      Institutional Review Board (IRB) 101
7.      Interested in being a Graduate Student Tour Guide on the Blacksburg Campus?
8.      TLOS: Accessible Virginia Tech Branded Slide Presentation Template Available

1.      Town Hall about Additional Services for Graduate Students

The Graduate School will hold a virtual Town Hall at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, November 17, to share information about resources for graduate students. The Town Hall is in response to answers and questions we received from new graduate students who completed a survey about additional services. All graduate students are welcome to attend. Register here: (https://virginiatech.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_kLkAeYa_SUuAsAT8Rt7e5w)


2.      International Graduate Education Week

Virginia Tech will celebrate International Education Week November 10-14, 2022, with a series of events open to the entire university community. International Education Week (IEW) is a joint initiative of the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education that highlights the benefits of international education and mobility worldwide. A wide range of events have been planned, including a Keynote address, Global symposium, Intercultural learning workshop, International Student Perspectives Panel, and many more. To learn more, please visit the IEW website: (https://international.vt.edu/IEW.html)

3.       Graduate and Professional Student Senate Travel Fund Period Extended

The Graduate and Professional Student Senate (GPSS) has extended the period for the Winter 2023 travel fund program, which now covers in-person or virtual conferences with start dates from January 1 to April 30. Graduate students presenting research conducted at Virginia Tech are eligible to apply for grants of up to $750, which may be used to cover registration, lodging, meals, abstract fees and other items. Students from all disciplines are invited to apply, even if their conference abstract has not been officially accepted. Applications are due by 11:59 p.m. on November 15. E-mail cissym@vt.edu with any questions, and visit (https://gpss.vt.edu/programs/tfp.html)  for full details and instructions.

4.      GPSS Graduate Housing Survey

The Graduate and Professional Student Senate is conducting a Graduate Housing Survey in which they are interested in learning about graduate students’ current housing situations. Some questions also ask what types and kinds of housing students want. All responses will go towards providing aggregate statistics to help the GPSS and the Graduate and Professional Affordable Housing Working Group advocate for affordable housing for graduate and professional students. Participation in this survey is completely voluntary. There are no foreseeable risks associated with it; however, if students feel uncomfortable answering any questions, they can withdraw from the survey at any point.  Responses will be completely confidential. Four respondents will be randomly selected to receive tokens to the Blacksburg Farmers Market. For more information about the survey, or to ask questions, contact the Graduate and Professional Student Senate at gpss@vt.edu. Visit (https://virginiatech.questionpro.com/GPHousingSurvey22) for the survey.

5.      Little Hokie Hand-Me-Down

Every year, the Graduate School, Graduate and Professional Student Senate, and the Women’s Center hold Little Hokie Hand-Me-Down, an event that offers graduate students and staff with children an opportunity to “shop” for gently used clothing and other items. This year the Hand-Me-Down will be held on November 15 and 16 in the multipurpose room of the Graduate Life Center on the Blacksburg campus at 155 Otey St. Graduate students, staff, and others can shop for free items at the event. November 15, from noon until 5 p.m., is for graduate students only. November 16, from 8 a.m. until noon, staff, other students, and graduate students are welcome to shop for donated items. For more information, visit the Women’s Center website, (womenscenter.vt.edu).

6.      Institutional Review Board (IRB) 101

Graduate Student Services is offering a four-part series of presentations about the Institutional Review Board (IRB). The first is scheduled for Monday, November 7, at 2 p.m. on Zoom. This is a great opportunity to learn from the IRB team if you are new to IRB or just need a refresher course. The program will include a brief overview of the IRB, the IRB’s crucial role in conducting research at Virginia Tech, and how to get started working with the IRB. Register here: (https://virginiatech.questionpro.com/t/AWKvpZvKTc)

7.      Interested in being a Graduate Student Tour Guide on the Blacksburg Campus?

The Graduate School is seeking graduate students to serve as tour guides to prospective graduate students for the Spring 2023 semester. Applicants must have good communication skills, an eagerness to share VT with others, familiarity with the Blacksburg campus location, and be willing to conduct 2-5 tours a semester. Tours are typically 1.5 hours. Applicants must also have a current valid driver's license, though walking tours will also be offered. Tour guides will be provided with training and will receive a small stipend at the end of the semester. Interested students are asked to complete the following survey to apply for a graduate student tour guide position: (https://forms.gle/fS5X9JsPUV8uSbvf6).  Interviews for these positions will take place in late November. Contact grads@vt.edu if you have questions.

8.      TLOS: Accessible Virginia Tech Branded Slide Presentation Template Available

As part of the Choose Accessible Learning Materials (C.A.L.M.) campaign series, Keep C.A.L.M. and Simplify Slides encourages faculty and other presenters to develop their slides using best practices for digital accessibility. To assist Virginia Tech community members in creating accessible slides, a new template is now available through TLOS’ Accessible Technologies team. (https://vtx.vt.edu/notices/it-tlos-simplify-slides.html)


As always, please reach out if you need anything; we are here to support you. Your problems, your worries, your fears, and above all you matter.

Aimée M. Surprenant
Dean of the Graduate School
Virginia Tech
Graduate Life Center Rm. 235
Blacksburg, VA 24061
540.231.7581

If you have comments or recommendations for how we can improve the Dean's Weekly Update or suggestions for specific information and topics that should be shared with graduate students, please provide them through this Google Form: (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1nySotSbohDhGQcVDgAPu114_TUzllM8W8SCFwkyvlpY/edit?ts=6272bec2)

We archive these Weekly Updates on the Graduate School Website under the Dean’s Corner, (https://graduateschool.vt.edu/about/deanscorner/weekly-updates.html). For additional information, you will find the Provost’s weekly updates at this site: (https://www.provost.vt.edu/provost-weekly-updates.html); and the archive of the Graduate School’s weekly Monday emails to graduate students at this site: (https://webapps.graduateschool.vt.edu/glcweekly). Students in Northern Virginia and the Washington, D.C. metro area also receive a weekly email on Fridays with information specific to your campuses and region.

Dean’s Weekly Update 10/28/2022

Dear Graduate students,

We all know that many aspects of graduate school are challenging and that you need to spend long hours in the lab, the library, the field, and in front of your computer. Because of the many demands and critical tasks that you need to complete, putting a priority on sleep can be very difficult. However, it is vitally important and could be the single most important health behavior we engage in (Barber, et al, 2010). Without adequate sleep we are less equipped to regulate our behaviors and direct them towards our goals, which can make it impossible to complete tasks. Graduate students also need to be able to use all of their cognitive resources to think critically and absorb difficult material. Lack of sleep diminishes our limited cognitive resources (Deak & Stickgold, 2010). Good sleep improves performance on cognitive tasks (Barber & Munz, 2010): thus, lack of sleep is counterproductive.

Of course it is easy to say “prioritize sleep,” but actually doing that is not so simple. How do we go about getting enough sleep? First, you need to be a master time manager and specifically add sleep into your calendar. Second, try to get consistent sleep—Barber et al, 2010 show that consistent sleep patterns, particularly waking up at the same time every morning, leads to decreased psychological strain and increased processing power. Finally, if you are having trouble sleeping, there are lots of tools available (both pharmacological and behavioral) to help you find good sleep, depending on the root cause of the sleep difficulty. Talk to your doctor or your therapist for help. There are also lots of online resources, many of which can be found at the National Institute on Aging which has some great evidence-based resources to help: https://www.nia.nih.gov/scienceofsleep.

Thanks for reading and sweet dreams!

Barber, L. K., Munz, D. C, Bagsby, P. G., & Powell, E.D. (2010). Sleep consistency and sufficiency: Are both necessary for less psychological strain? Stress and Health, 186-193. https://doi.org/10.1002/smi.1292

Barber, L. K. & Munz, D. C. (2010). Consistent-sufficient sleep predicts improvements in self-regulatory performance and psychological strain https://doi.org/10.1002/smi.1364
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-stone-age-mind/201209/sleep-and-grad-school-how-important-is-it-students

Deak, M.C., Stickgold, R. (2010). Sleep and cognition. Wiley Interdisciplinary Review of Cognitive Science. 1(4):491-500. doi: 10.1002/wcs.52. Epub 2010 Feb 1. PMID: 26271496; PMCID: PMC5831725.

Summary:
1.      Town Hall about Additional Services for Graduate Students
2.      Starting Your ETD: Tips for Graduate Students
3.      DMV Connect at the Blacksburg Public Library
4.      Learn about some Great Faculty Mentors
5.      Election Day is November 8
6.      Virginia Tech’s inaugural Global Symposium begins on November 10

1.      Town Hall about Additional Services for Graduate Students

Every year, the Graduate School sends out a survey to new graduate students, asking them what services they are interested in or need. The Graduate School will hold a virtual Town Hall at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, November 17, to address survey responses and answer questions. All graduate students are welcome to attend. Register here: (https://virginiatech.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_kLkAeYa_SUuAsAT8Rt7e5w)

2.       Starting your ETD: Tips for Graduate Students

Graduate School staff will provide tips and advice and answer questions about the Electronic Thesis or Dissertation (ETD) process during a virtual webinar at 7 p.m. on Monday, November 7. This presentation is aimed at students in the early stages of writing their thesis or dissertation but is relevant to students at any stage of the process. Learn how to format and structure your Electronic Thesis or Dissertation so that you can submit it after your defense and best meet Graduate School formatting guidelines. (https://virginiatech.zoom.us/j/81734365548)

3.      DMV Connect at the Blacksburg Public Library

Virginia’s Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) will bring its mobile customer service center, DMV Connect, to the Blacksburg Public Library on Monday, October 31. Hours will be from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m., with a break from 12:30-1:30 p.m. for lunch. The mobile center offers REAL ID, drivers licenses, identification cards (adult and child), disabled parking placards, vehicle titles, Virginia vital records, address changes, vehicle registrations, E-Z Pass transponders, compliance summaries, transcripts, hunting and fishing licenses, and knowledge testing. Walk-ins only.

4.      Learn about some Great Faculty Mentors

Each month, the Graduate School honors a faculty member for outstanding mentorship. The “Mentors of the Month” are nominated by graduate students from across the university’s colleges, programs, and campuses. Learn about this month’s honoree and prior ones, and how to nominate a great mentor, here: (https://graduateschool.vt.edu/about/awards/outstanding-mentor-award/Mentor_of_the_Month.html)

5.      Election Day is November 8

I encourage all eligible voters to cast their ballots on Tuesday, November 8. Your voice and your vote matter. If you are voting by mail, please make sure you get your ballot in the mail so it can be counted. For those of you voting in Virginia, you can learn more about your polling place at (https://www.elections.virginia.gov).

6.      Virginia Tech’s inaugural Global Symposium begins on November 10.

The symposium will feature a keynote speaker, concurrent panel discussions, cultural events, and a variety of interactive workshops. All are welcome. (https://international.vt.edu/IEW/Program_2022.html)


As always, please reach out if you need anything; we are here to support you. Your problems, your worries, your fears, and above all you matter.

Aimée M. Surprenant
Dean of the Graduate School
Virginia Tech
Graduate Life Center Rm. 235
Blacksburg, VA 24061
540.231.7581

If you have comments or recommendations for how we can improve the Dean's Weekly Update or suggestions for specific information and topics that should be shared with graduate students, please provide them through this Google Form: (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1nySotSbohDhGQcVDgAPu114_TUzllM8W8SCFwkyvlpY/edit?ts=6272bec2)

We archive these Weekly Updates on the Graduate School Website under the Dean’s Corner, (https://graduateschool.vt.edu/about/deanscorner/weekly-updates.html). For additional information, you will find the Provost’s weekly updates at this site: (https://www.provost.vt.edu/provost-weekly-updates.html); and the archive of the Graduate School’s weekly Monday emails to graduate students at this site: (https://webapps.graduateschool.vt.edu/glcweekly). Students in Northern Virginia and the Washington, D.C. metro area also receive a weekly email on Fridays with information specific to your campuses and region.

Dear Graduate students,

Today I want to talk about the importance of intentionally building a support network around yourself by creating what is called a mentoring map. We can all conjure up images of the tormented writer scribbling their heart out onto a piece of paper, tragically alone in a garret; the frenzied scientist in a dank, underground lab frantically pouring dark, steaming liquids from one beaker into another while suspicious-looking substances bubble behind them on a hot plate; or the lonely artist dabbing paint onto a canvas in a cheerless, unheated, bleak atelier. We may even think about the ivory tower as an isolating, solitary existence, devoid of feelings and color and focused entirely on research and scholarship. These images are often held up as the model of success in every field— these “(q)uasi-romantic, maybe even masochistic, ideals about hardship and individuality being the driving forces of good scholarship (Bengsten, 2017, p. 276).”

To the contrary, let me fill you in on a secret: You don’t have to do it alone. What is “it”? Everything: writing, research, presentations, teaching, proposals, everything. No one manages the journey in academia without the help of others. So, how do you get started? The Earth Science Women’s Network (www.ESWNonline.org) has a template you can use, and a wonderful summary of how to take ownership of your own mentoring was written by Dr. Mirjam S. Glessmer (https://mirjamglessmer.com/2018/08/22/taking-ownership-of-your-own-mentoring/) and described in more detail in the article below.

All successful scientists, scholars, and engineers rely on a network of others for support, sponsorship, ideas, opportunities, and more. Don’t let them tell you anything different.

References:

Glessmer, M.S., A. Adams, M.G. Hastings, R.T. Barnes (2015). Taking ownership of your own mentoring: Lessons learned from participating in the Earth Science Women’s Network, published in The Mentoring Continuum: From Graduate School Through Tenure, Syracuse University Graduate School Press, ed. Glenn Wright, 2015. https://gs.vt.edu/w

Bengtsen, S. S. (2017). An Exploration of Darkness within Doctoral Education: Creative Learning Approaches of Doctoral Students. In C. Zhou (Eds.), Handbook of Research on Creative Problem-Solving Skill Development in Higher Education (pp. 260-282). IGI Global. https://doi-org.ezproxy.lib.vt.edu/10.4018/978-1-5225-0643-0.ch012

Summary:
1. Important information for Ph.D. students regarding commencement
2. Graduate and Professional Student Senate Winter 2023 Travel Fund Program
3. GPSS call for Senators for 2022-2023 academic year
4. Diversity Scholars program information session
5. Risks, Policies, and Best Practices of Conducting Ethical Research Online
6. Graduate Student Research Notebook Accountability Group
7. “disAbilities at Work: Thriving in an Abled World”

1. Important information for Ph.D. students regarding commencement

Effective Fall 2022, doctoral students who want to participate in the Graduate School commencement ceremony must have their final examination card showing satisfactorily passing of the examination submitted to and finalized by the Graduate School seven days prior to the commencement ceremony in order to participate. All doctoral diplomas will be mailed directly to students from the diploma company; no diplomas will be distributed on stage. For Fall 2022 doctoral graduates, the final examination card must be submitted to and finalized by the Graduate School by Friday, December 9, 2022. If you wish to order a custom doctoral gown and hood, select your preferred supplier online, such as Oak Hall, GraduationAttire, Herff Jones, and others, allowing sufficient time for delivery.  More information can be found here: https://graduateschool.vt.edu/academics/what-you-need-to-graduate/commencement.html

2. Graduate and Professional Student Senate Winter 2023 Travel Fund Program

Graduate students presenting research conducted at Virginia Tech are eligible to apply for the Winter 2023 Travel Fund Program. Grants may cover registration, lodging, meals, abstract fees and other costs of presenting at an in-person or virtual conference with a start date from Jan. 1-March 31. Students from all disciplines are invited to apply, even if your conference abstract has not been officially accepted. Applications are due November 15, 2022 at 11:59 p.m. Please email cissym@vt.edu  with any questions, and visit: (gpss.vt.edu/programs/tfp)  for full details and information.

3. GPSS call for Senators for 2022-2023 academic year

The Graduate and Professional Student Senate (GPSS) is looking for graduates to serve as senators for the 22-23 academic year and also those looking to register their interest for the 23-24 academic year. As a senator, you would have to commit 2 1/2 hours every other Thursday from 5:30 - 7:00 p.m. for senate meetings (the schedule can be found on the GPSS website: www.gpss.vt.edu). Senators would serve on an internal committee, external committee, or an external commission with the university. This typically averages out to 3 hours a month. Senators would also be asked to vote in senate meetings and send an email to the graduates in their program after those meetings to keep them up to date on the information in the senate. This is a great role for those interested in diversifying their CV, getting involved in policy, and improving the graduate experience here at VT! If you have any questions about the role of the senate, or further questions regarding student senators, please don't hesitate to reach out to the GPSS at gpps@vt.edu or to the GPSS Vice President, Chloe Robertson at chloerobertson@vt.edu.

4. Diversity Scholars program information session

Learn more about the Graduate School’s Diversity Scholars program at a virtual information session at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, November 15. Diversity Scholars are graduate students who specialize in and advocate for the awareness, knowledge, and skills associated with diversity and inclusion in the Graduate School and greater community. Diversity Scholars propose, design, and implement projects that enhance the quality of life at Virginia Tech in terms of equity, inclusion and diversity. The session will include information about the application process.  Register at https://virginiatech.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwodu2rqDMiGt2FoXq79BtjH60xSxE8u-Z8. For questions or additional information, please email the Office of Recruitment, Diversity, and Inclusion at ordi@vt.edu.

5. Risks, Policies, and Best Practices of Conducting Ethical Research Online

This virtual presentation from 12:30-1:30 p.m. EST on Wednesday, October 26 focuses on the evanescent nature of online research, which often is intimidating for researchers trained in offline practices. This talk by Alice Fox, a trained ethicist and Ph.D. candidate in Science, Technology, and Society, will discuss the current and emerging ethical landscape of conducting research online – the move from the field of research to the flow of inquiry. Options and models for digital hygiene to keep oneself and one's participants safe will be recommended and discussed. Register via this link: https://profdev.tlos.vt.edu/browse/researchdiscovery/courses/sirc34-102622.

6. Graduate Student Research Notebook Accountability Group

Maintaining good journal habits and sticking to organizational systems can be challenging in graduate school. However, it is important that graduate students, as researchers, have such systems to help stay focused on the path to success. Join the graduate student Research Journal Accountability Group. The group meets Mondays at 5:30 p.m. in Robeson Hall Room 112 and Thursdays at 5:00 p.m. in Robeson Hall Room 116 through November 16. Sign up via this link: https://forms.gle/3GSwy7Fm4TPVCKKW7.

7. “disAbilities at Work: Thriving in an Abled World”

Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine recently hosted a presentation titled, “disAbilities at Work: Thriving in an Abled World,” as part of the school’s Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging Series. October is recognized as National Disability Employment Awareness Month, and this presentation provided stories, tips, insights and more related to both thinking proactively about accessibility and personal stories about navigating the abled world when one has disabilities. Information about the presentation is available on this website, along with links to captioned videos of each speaker’s talk: https://medicine.vtc.vt.edu/past-events/20221011.html. The panelists were Mark Nichols, CPACC, Senior Director of Universal Design and Accessible Technologies; Dr. David Hartman, a psychiatrist and associate professor for the School of Medicine; and Carrie Knofp, CPACC, Services for Students with Disabilities liaison. Additionally, Nichols’ slide deck is available via this link: https://tinyurl.com/vtcat22. It includes links to resources and initiatives that his team is involved in at Virginia Tech.


As always, please reach out if you need anything; we are here to support you. Your problems, your worries, your fears, and above all you matter.

Aimée M. Surprenant
Dean of the Graduate School
Virginia Tech
Graduate Life Center Rm. 235
Blacksburg, VA 24061
540.231.7581

If you have comments or recommendations for how we can improve the Dean's Weekly Update or suggestions for specific information and topics that should be shared with graduate students, please provide them through this Google Form: (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1nySotSbohDhGQcVDgAPu114_TUzllM8W8SCFwkyvlpY/edit?ts=6272bec2)

We archive these Weekly Updates on the Graduate School Website under the Dean’s Corner, (https://graduateschool.vt.edu/about/deanscorner/weekly-updates.html). For additional information, you will find the Provost’s weekly updates at this site: (https://www.provost.vt.edu/provost-weekly-updates.html); and the archive of the Graduate School’s weekly Monday emails to graduate students at this site: (https://webapps.graduateschool.vt.edu/glcweekly). Students in Northern Virginia and the Washington, D.C. metro area also receive a weekly email on Fridays with information specific to your campuses and region.

October 14, 2022 Weekly Update

Dear Graduate Students,

I thought today I’d talk a bit about how to find what is called your “academic voice”.  What is an academic voice, you might ask? It has many definitions but generally it is how you distinguish yourself from other scholars–your unique ideas and perspectives (Robbins, 2016). Although in academic writing you generally try to present the facts, you also have to take a stance or an opinion on an issue. You need to express your core argument clearly and unambiguously and lay out the evidence in favor of that view. It is important to realize that you may be wrong. This makes it risky and takes a bit of courage–particularly when you have to acknowledge that you were wrong!

I highly recommend a beautiful document put together by Dr. Amber Davis, the “Happy PhD” entitled “Finding your academic voice” https://amberdavis.nl/free-resources/. She writes lyrically and, in a poetic way, describes the academic journey. There’s a lot there but my favorite part is when she says: “Doing academic work is about asking the right questions and answering them the right way. It’s simple really. Just not easy. At all.”. You will need to ask her for the document as she would prefer that it not be shared without permission. It’s free, though!

You have something to say. Say it.

Have a great weekend!

Reference:

Susan P. Robbins (2016) Finding Your Voice as an Academic Writer (and Writing Clearly), Journal of Social Work Education, 52:2, 133-135, DOI: 10.1080/10437797.2016.1151267

Summary:
1. Pulitzer Prize winning science writer Ed Yong Lecture
2. Pursuing a Postdoc Proactively
3. Little Hokie Hand-me-down
4. VT Women’s Center Kids Night Out program
5. GPSS is accepting applications for its travel fund program
6. GLC Pumpkinpalooza returns!
7. Spooky Times & Tailgates Await...It's Hokie Halloween at the NVC
8. Policy and Governance: Tutorials on revised university shared governance system
9. New way to schedule lactation room; rooms now included on campus map

1. Pulitzer Prize winning science writer Ed Yong Lecture
Ed Yong, a prize-winning writer for The Atlantic, will present the annual Hugh and Ethel Kelly Lecture at 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 19, in the Anne and Ellen Fife Theatre in the Moss Arts Center. His talk, “The Art of Science Journalism,” will draw on his experience writing before and during the COVID-19 pandemic and exploring the ways that science is shaped by culture, social norms, and collective decisions. Registration is required for the event, and attendees are asked to wear masks. For the registration link and more information about Yong and his presentation, read the VTX story: https://vtx.vt.edu/articles/2022/10/ictas-kelly-lecture-2022-ed-yong.html

2. Pursuing a Postdoc Proactively
On Friday, Oct. 21, at 1 p.m. join Engineering Education Associate Professor David Knight as he discusses his recent paper, “U.S. postdoctoral careers in life sciences, physical sciences and engineering: Government, industry, and academia” (https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0263185). Dr. Knight will share data from his work on career trajectories and earnings for both life sciences and physical sciences and engineering graduates pursuing postdocs in academia, industry, and government. The second half of the session will review common options for postdocs outside academia, including at the National Laboratories, via government agencies, and in industry. The session will be in Graduate Life Center room F and on Zoom. Register here: https://virginiatech.questionpro.com/postdocpositions

3. Little Hokie Hand-Me-Down
The annual Little Hokie Hand-Me-Down returns to the Graduate Life Center Nov. 15 and 16. Organized by the Graduate School, the Graduate and Professional Student Senate, and the Women’s Center, the event provides graduate students, staff, and other students who have families with the opportunity to “shop” for gently used clothing and other child-related items, at no cost. The organizers will begin accepting donations Oct. 17. More information about donations and the dates of the event can be found in the VTX news story: https://vtx.vt.edu/notices/2022/10/gradschool_notice_annual_little_hokie_handmedown_seeks_donations.html

4. VT Women’s Center Kids Night Out returns
The VT Women’s Center has launched its Kids Night Out program for fall 2022 semester. Parents and guardians can enjoy a “kids-free evening” at no cost on Thursdays while their children, ages 2-10, enjoy fun and games and snacks at the center, 206 W. Washington St. in Blacksburg. Parents and guardians can sign up their children on Mondays for the Thursday evening program. Childcare is provided by volunteers from Chi Delta Alpha sorority. Organizers ask that children be potty trained. To sign up for the program and to learn more, visit the Women’s Center website, https://womenscenter.vt.edu.

5. Graduate and Professional Student Senate (GPSS) accepting applications for travel fund program
Graduate students presenting research conducted at Virginia Tech are eligible to apply for the Winter 2023 GPSS Travel Fund Program. Grants may cover registration, lodging, meals, abstract fees and other costs of presenting at an in-person or virtual conference with a start date from Jan. 1-March 31. Students from all disciplines may apply, even if their conference abstracts have not been officially accepted. Applications are due Nov. 15 at 11:59 p.m. Please e-mail cissym@vt.edu with any questions, and visit gpss.vt.edu/programs/tfp for full details and information.

6. GLC Pumpkinpalooza returns!
Get into the spirit of fall at Pumpkinpalooza, a special edition of the GLC Café on Wednesday, Oct. 26, 3-5 p.m. on the Graduate Life Center lawn.  We will have pumpkins to carve and paint, hot cider and fall snacks, lawn games, and more. Please RSVP so we can be sure to have enough pumpkins and snacks for everyone. Register here: https://forms.gle/ZqbALoRqkYJMsoYA8

7. Spooky Times & Tailgates Await...It's Hokie Halloween at the NVC
Please join the Graduate Student Services Office in Falls Church, NVC, for a Hokie Halloween on Thursday, October 27, 2022. We will be hosting a Halloween event full of ghouls, games and good laughs.  RSVP https://gs.vt.edu/u Deadline is Friday, October 22nd.We look forward to seeing you there!

8. Policy and Governance: Tutorials on revised university shared governance system
To assist faculty and staff in understanding Virginia Tech’s revised shared governance structure and how it serves stakeholders across the university, the Office of Policy and Governance has created a series of self-paced online tutorials that outline the history of and guiding principles for effective governance, and the role that faculty, staff and student representative bodies play in the process. https://governance.vt.edu/GovernanceTutorials

9. New way to schedule lactation room; rooms now included on campus map
Nursing mothers now have access to a Lactation Room Resources Google drive. The drive includes a folder where mothers may schedule the time(s) they need to use a particular lactation room, and a folder that will include flyers and resources with information valuable to families. Additionally, the location of dedicated lactation spaces on the Blacksburg, Roanoke, and greater Washington, D.C. metro area campuses are now available on the university’s interactive campus map, including space details and photos. https://gs.vt.edu/v

As always, please reach out if you need anything; we are here to support you. Your problems, your worries, your fears, and above all you matter.

Aimée M. Surprenant
Dean of the Graduate School
Virginia Tech
Graduate Life Center Rm. 235
Blacksburg, VA 24061
540.231.7581

Dear Graduate students, 
This week the Nobel Prize committee announced that Dr. Carolyn Bertozzi, along with Morten Meldal and K. Barry Sharpless, won the 2022 Nobel Prize in Chemistry “for the development of click chemistry and bioorthogonal chemistry.” I’ve loved watching Dr. Bertozzi’s joyful celebrations of the award—she popped champagne, danced, and broke the unwritten rule that we need to be restrained and decorous in celebrating our achievements. However, I am enjoying even more her continual recognition of the role that her graduate students played in this and other achievements and how the diversity of individuals in her lab created an environment in which innovation and excellence can thrive. In a video shared on Twitter (https://gs.vt.edu/t), she talks about the composition of her lab at the University of California, Berkeley, and describes the diversity of the individuals in that space. She says, “the diversity of people created an environment in which we felt that we didn’t have to play by the same old rules as scientists.” This culture allowed them to innovate in ways that led to outstanding discoveries, including the one that resulted in the Nobel Prize. She describes how she played a supportive role in her lab and let that diverse group of students find their voice, realize their curiosity, break the rules, and do impactful research. 
This is what I hope we can foster and support as a graduate community. Diversity and inclusion are about excellence and are about multiple worldviews contributing to break us out of narrowly defined boundaries and see situations from a different perspective. This is not as easy as it sounds, as it means we need to bring in people that we may disagree with. This inevitably creates some conflict, which most of us shy away from. Yet we cannot truly have excellence without inclusion. For more about inclusive excellence at VT see: (https://ie.vt.edu).
Have a great weekend everyone! 

Summary:
1. Faculty, instructors, and graduate students are invited to a showcase of next-generation teaching tools
2. VT GrATE seeks nominations for guests for a Graduate Life podcast
3. Celebrating National Disability Employment Awareness Month
4. Graduate Research Funding Opportunities via the U.S. Department of Energy
5. Virginia Tech community will celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day on October 10.

1. Faculty, instructors, and graduate students are invited to a showcase of next-generation teaching tools
Technology-Enhanced Learning and Online Strategies (TLOS) invites faculty, staff, and graduate students to attend a day of workshops on Friday, October 14 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. in their University Mall offices at 801 University City Blvd., Suite 21 in Blacksburg. Provided through the Professional Development Network (PDN), these workshops will focus on the next generation of teaching tools and how they can help enhance teaching, research, accessibility, and everyday productivity. Refreshments will be provided throughout the day. This campus notice includes the schedule for the day: (https://vtx.vt.edu/notices/it-tlos-tool-showcase.html).

2. VT GrATE seeks nominations for guests for a Graduate Life Podcast
Virginia Tech Graduate Academy for Teaching Excellence (GrATE) is looking for members of the community who are excited to share their stories and entertain an honest conversation about education, graduate life, and pedagogy over their upcoming podcast. In addition to this being a great opportunity for public speaking, the inherent value of bringing your authentic thoughts and voices out to/in support of the rest of the community is recognized. Participants should have some teaching experience (e.g., instructor, TA, mentor, workshop speaker, etc.) and a passion for discussing graduate life topics and struggles. If this cause resonates with you, please fill out the form: (https://forms.gle/2KUzKnh3ZsVBGgRNA).  If you have questions, please contact Mohannad Elhamod at elhamod@vt.edu.

3. Celebrating National Disability Employment Awareness Month
The university Office for Equity and Accessibility (OEA) invites all members of the Virginia Tech community to join them in celebrating National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) in October and the 32nd anniversary of the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The celebration will be held on Friday, October 21, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the Livestock Arena located at 500 Plantation Rd. in Blacksburg. It will explore the benefits of animal-assisted therapy. The event is free, but guests must register online: (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfpVA7rny0zeTQAVUcpJMZhr9QBCUQTcDAtGv4s9te1PAUX6A/viewform). Refreshments will be served. The theme for this year’s awareness month is “Disability: Part of the Equity Equation.” It recognizes the vital role people with disabilities play in making the nation’s workforce diverse and inclusive.

4.  Graduate Research Funding Opportunities via the U.S. Department of Energy
The U.S. Department of Energy offers multiple funding opportunities through its Office of Science Graduate Student Research (SCGSR) program. Applications are due Wednesday, November 9 at 5 p.m. ET. The department is offering an application assistance workshop, “Q&A and Application Guidance,” on October 20 at 3 p.m. ET. Visit the SCGSR program webpage to learn more about the opportunities and the application process: https://science.osti.gov/wdts/scgsr/How-to-Apply

5. Virginia Tech community will celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day on October 10. 
Join the Virginia Tech community in celebrating Indigenous Peoples Day on Monday, October 10. All are invited to collectively learn and celebrate the historical and contemporary contributions of Indigenous Peoples within our region, across the country, and the globe. For more information and event times, please see this article:  (https://vtx.vt.edu/notices/2022/10/20220930_notice_virginia_tech_community_will_celebrate_indigenous_peoples_day_monday_october_10th_1.html?utm_source=cmpgn_news&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=vtUnirelNewsDailyCMP_100722-fs)

As always, please reach out if you need anything; we are here to support you. Your problems, your worries, your fears, and above all you matter. 

Aimée M. Surprenant
Dean of the Graduate School
Virginia Tech
Graduate Life Center Rm. 235
Blacksburg, VA 24061

September 30, 2022 Weekly Update

Dear Graduate Students,

Happy Friday! It has been a busy week and I’m looking forward to the weekend. I was putting together my yearly report for the Provost and reflecting on the things that were accomplished in the Graduate School last year. We did lots of things, but I think what I’m most happy with are the relationships that were created and the connections that were fostered. There’s an old saying that “culture eats strategy for breakfast,” which means that no matter how great your strategy is, your plan will fail without an organizational culture that encourages people to implement it. So, understanding the culture and values of an organization and its members are key to making any significant change. The first step is to know the current culture, the second is to imagine the culture as we want it to be, and the third step is to make a plan to span the gap between those two things. Together, let’s imagine an inclusive, healthy culture for VT to strive for! 

Summary:
1. Fall ‘22 Grads: Borrow Your Cap and Gown from GPSS
2. Inclusion and Diversity Certificate Information Session
3. Hispanic/LatinX Graduate Student Luncheon
4. GAC (Graduate Arts Council) Kickoff
5. GLC Art and Photography Display
6. Celebrate National Disability Employment Awareness Month in October


1. Fall ‘22 Grads: Borrow Your Cap and Gown from GPSS
Are you graduating this fall? Planning on taking photos or walking at the in-person ceremonies, but need a cap and gown? GPSS has caps and gowns for students to borrow! Fill out the form by November 1 and we will try to make those memories happen while saving you money! If you do borrow from us, please note that you will need to return the gown dry cleaned, with receipt. Hoods are not included. You will be notified by Nov. 10 whether GPSS is available to accommodate your request. Please contact Cissy Ming (cissym@vt.edu) with any questions. Apply for a cap and gown loan here: (https://forms.gle/53RJRkTsAv2ucA5p8).

2. Inclusion and Diversity Certificate Information Session
Are you interested in an opportunity to stay competitive, build upon your existing skills, and learn  new ones that are valued by today’s employers? Join us via Zoom at 9 a.m. on October 6 for an information session about our graduate certificate for Inclusion and Diversity, the application process for current students, and its benefits. Register at:  (https://virginiatech.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMrdO-qpzgiGtelwsfiVWHvOrPcqmkgqrLy). If you have any questions, please contact ordi@vt.edu.

3. Hispanic/LatinX Graduate Student Luncheon
Wednesday, October 5, 12-1pm, GLC Multipurpose Room
The Graduate School's Office of Recruitment, Diversity, and Inclusion invites all graduate community members for the Hispanic/LatinX Connect Lunch! Gather with various racial/ethnic minorities, sexual/gender minorities, and others to highlight the Hispanic and LatinX communities in graduate education. Student group leaders, faculty/staff mentors, and community allies are invited! Registration is required: (https://applyto.graduateschool.vt.edu/register/HispanicLatinX22). Questions? Please contact Shernita Lee, PhD at ordi@vt.edu.

4.         GAC (Graduate Arts Council) Kickoff
Wednesday, October 5, 6-7 pm, GLC Room B
Looking for a place to connect with other students with an interest in the arts? Then GAC is the organization for you! Stop by to learn more about GAC and how you can get involved. If you're already a member, we invite you to join us to learn about the events we have planned as well as to reconnect with your fellow GAC members.

5.      GLC Art and Photography Display
The Graduate School invites submissions of artwork and photography by graduate students for display during the fall semester and beyond. Have a favorite place in Blacksburg that brings you peace, joy or happiness? Have a photograph that captures your favorite moment in Blacksburg? Show us your favorite moment or spot in Blacksburg for this art and photography display. Submissions are limited to three pieces (art and/or photography) per graduate student.  More information can be found here: (https://graduatelifecenter.vt.edu/Programs/glc-art-and-photo-contest.html)
Deadline is October 13. For questions, email grads@vt.edu.

6.      Celebrate National Disability Employment Awareness Month in October
The Office for Equity and Accessibility (OEA) invites all members of the Virginia Tech community to celebrate National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) and the 32nd anniversary of the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act in October. (https://vtx.vt.edu/notices/2022/09/oea-ndeam-fall-2022.html)

September 23, 2022 Weekly Update

Dear Graduate students,

There has been a wave of protests over the death of Mahsa Amini, an Iranian woman who was arrested for having a loose head scarf and died in custody after being severely beaten. In the wake of the protests, mobile networks in Iran have been largely shut down and access to social media platforms has been restricted. Our Iranian students and community members are understandably deeply concerned about the safety of their friends and families and are under extreme stress and anxiety. Please help me spread the word that they are not alone and that the VT community is here for support and empathy–we can all lend an ear or a shoulder to cry on.

Along with the worrisome situation in Iran, my heart goes out to those in Puerto Rico, who are still experiencing power outages, and those in western Alaska and Pakistan who are seeing unprecedented flooding, those feeling earthquakes Mexico, and other places in the US and around the world who are experiencing manmade and natural disasters.

Although the effects of all of these events are not as widespread as the pandemic, large numbers of our students and community members are suffering and are having difficulty concentrating on their classes and research. I’d like to ask everyone to reach out to at least one person, to ask how they are doing with genuine curiosity, be present while listening, provide emotional support, share information on resources (below), and, if you are in a position to do so, offer flexibility on deadlines, expectations, or assignments.

We are a community–together we can make a difference.

Summary:
1. Resources for Graduate Students
2. How to report a physical barrier on campus
3. Cranwell International Center Programs and Workshops
4. Dining Etiquette offered in the GLC Multipurpose Room
5. TimelyCare available for all enrolled students
6. The Microsoft license has changed

1. Resources for Graduate Students
The Graduate School has compiled a list of resources for our students including community resources, professional development, and health and wellness links: (https://graduateschool.vt.edu/student-life.html). Cook Counseling resources for mental health and wellness can be found here: (https://ucc.vt.edu/).

2. How to report a physical barrier on campus
The Office for Equity and Accessibility works hard to maintain a campus that is accessible for all. If you encounter a physical barrier, an elevator that does not work, or anything else that impedes travel for all on campus, you are encouraged to report the barrier to the OEA: (https://www.vt.edu/accessibility.html).
 For more information, please see the article below. 
(https://vtx.vt.edu/notices/adm-evergreens/report-physical-barrier.html?utm_source=cmpgn_news&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=vtUnirelNewsDailyCMP_091622-fs)

3. Cranwell International Center Programs and Workshops
Please see the link below for events and workshops that are offered through Cranwell International Center. Some upcoming events are the Cross-Cultural Discussion Group on September 29 and F-1 Immigration Pathways on October 5.  (https://international.vt.edu/events-and-workshops.html)

4. Dining Etiquette offered in the GLC Multipurpose Room
Learn how to conduct yourself during a formal meal in a professional setting, whether it is part of an interview or other engagement. The program includes a presentation, helpful tips, and a free pizza meal. There will be time to network with other graduate students as well. Sign up here:
 (https://virginiatech.questionpro.com/dining).

5.      TimelyCare available for all enrolled students
Any enrolled Virginia Tech student can use TimelyCare (https://ucc.vt.edu/timelycare.html). Scheduled counseling is available wherever you are in the US, and Health Coaching and TalkNow services are available wherever you are around the world. Additionally, TimelyCare provides live translation for over 250 languages. We strongly encourage students to sign up for the service before they need it. It is a new process and it is possible that there will be some glitches in the system. Please let us know if there is an issue enrolling and we’ll work to take care of it.

6.      VT’s Microsoft License has changed
The Microsoft license at VT has changed:  (https://itpals.vt.edu/softwarelicensingcenter/studentsoftware/swbundles/gradmicrosoftbundle.html). Graduate students and non-degree seeking students are not required to purchase a Microsoft license but do have the option to do so as a one-time cost. With our new licensing agreement with Microsoft, there is no longer a free tier that allows access to only online tools.  There is no change for undergraduate students or for graduate students who have previously purchased the license. Graduate students who previously did not buy a license but did use the free tier are at risk of losing data they may have stored with Microsoft.

Dear Graduate students, 

Greetings everyone! Last week I shared a link to a calendar of cultural and religious observances that I thought would be helpful for instructors and GTAs because those dates might affect their students’ participation in classes. However, the link I sent was to an interfaith calendar that did not include Judaism or Islam among its religious observances and, instead, included a preponderance of Christian holidays. I am grateful to the individual who pointed out the error. I sincerely apologize for my carelessness in not properly curating my recommendation and promise to be more careful in the future. A more complete (although of course not exhaustive) list can be found here: https://www.diversityresources.com/interfaith-calendar-2022/.

This experience has been a humbling one and resulted in some reflection on my part about apologies: what they are for and why they are used. According to Devrupa Rakshit, Associate Editor at The Swaddle (a newsletter of health, gender, and culture in India), “People apologize when they have breached someone’s trust, or wronged them in any manner, with the objective of restoring their relationship. ... Moreover, by validating the feelings of the person one wronged, an apology also shows care.” I like that description as well as the pointer to the work done by Beverly Engle on the power of apology. It is important to acknowledge when we do something that is harmful to others to show that we care for their feelings and regret that they were hurt. This does not undo the harm, but it demonstrates an openness to try to avoid future injury. Of course, apologies can be overdone or insincere, but in general, they are a first step toward forgiveness. To bring this discussion full circle, many faiths set aside dedicated time for atonement and asking others for forgiveness including (but not only) Yom Kippur and Samvatsari.  In that spirit, please forgive me if I have hurt you through actions or words.

References:

Engel, Beverly. (2002). The Power of Apology: Healing Steps to Transform All Your Relationships. Hoboken, New Jersey: John Wiley and Sons.

Rakshit, Devrupa (August 2020). Why Some People Over‑Apologize, And Others Never Do, The Swaddle, https://theswaddle.com/why-some-people-over-apologize-and-others-never-do/

Summary:

TimelyCare virtual health program available to all enrolled students

Reminder: Professional Development Opportunities via CIRTL

VT GrATE application period is open

Hispanic-Latinx Heritage Month and Hispanic/Latinx Student Luncheon

1. TimelyCare virtual health program available to all enrolled students

TimelyCare is a virtual health and well-being platform available 24/7, 365 days a year, for Virginia Tech students. Any enrolled Virginia Tech student can use TimelyCare. Scheduled counseling is available wherever you are in the US, and Health Coaching and TalkNow services are available wherever you are around the world. Additionally, TimelyCare provides live translation for over 250 languages. https://ucc.vt.edu/timelycare.html

2. Reminder: Professional development opportunities via CIRTL

Virginia Tech is now a member of the Center for the Integration of Research, Teaching, and Learning (CIRTL) network, and graduate students and postdoctoral associates/fellows at Virginia Tech can participate in CIRTL's professional development opportunities. Two of CIRTL's upcoming professional development opportunities (listed below) are currently open for registration. More information about each opportunity can be found at the links below.

●      Sept. 26 - Nov. 20: An Introduction to Evidence-Based Undergraduate STEM Teaching, https://www.cirtl.net/courses/726

●      Thursdays, Oct. 27, Nov. 10 and Dec. 1. Exploring Careers in Teaching at a Community College, https://www.cirtl.net/events/series/61

To learn more about CIRTL, visit the network's website at https://www.cirtl.net/. If you have questions about CIRTL at Virginia Tech, email teaching@vt.edu.

    3. VT GrATE application period is open

Virginia Tech Graduate Academy for Teaching Excellence (GrATE) is opening the Fall 2022 application cycle. The Academy is inviting graduate students to become members and advance within its peer-mentoring program focused on best practices in teaching and learning. The application deadline is October 11, 2022, at midnight. Visit http://vtgrate.org  for information. To submit your application, click on the following link: https://forms.gle/5hc9jiAgW9mSVzp7A.  You can also follow the Academy on Twitter, @VT_GrATE, and on Facebook, at Graduate Academy of Teaching Excellence @VTGrATE.

    4. Hispanic-Latinx Heritage Month and Hispanic/Latinx Student Luncheon

Hispanic and Latinx Heritage Month traditionally honors the cultures and contributions of both Hispanic and Latinx Americans as we celebrate heritage rooted in all Latin American countries and Spain. During this month El Centro and our partners, share history, heritage, and accomplishments of Hispanic and Latinx Americans of past and present (https://ccc.vt.edu/calendar/Hispanic-Latino_Heritage_Month.html).

As part of that celebration, the Graduate School's Office of Recruitment, Diversity, and Inclusion invites all graduate community members for the Hispanic/LatinX Connect Lunch! Gather with various racial/ethnic minorities, sexual/gender minorities, and others to highlight the Hispanic and LatinX communities in graduate education Wednesday, October 5, 12-1pm, GLC Multipurpose Room. Student group leaders, faculty/staff mentors, and community allies are invited! Registration is required: https://applyto.graduateschool.vt.edu/register/HispanicLatinX22. Questions? Please contact Shernita Lee, PhD at ordi@vt.edu

As always, please reach out if you need anything; we are here to support you. Your problems, your worries, your fears, and above all you matter. 

Aimée M. Surprenant

Dean of the Graduate School

Virginia Tech

Graduate Life Center Rm. 235

Blacksburg, VA 24061

540.231.7581

September 9, 2022 Weekly Update

It is hard to believe we are already ending the third week of the semester—time flies when you are having fun! I’m going to use this space to encourage you all to take advantage of all the great opportunities that are outside of your academic or research programs—both at the university and within the community. Even after 30 years as a professor and administrator, I’m excited and energized by all the intellectual, social, and cultural activities that take place at universities and in their surrounding communities. Take the time to explore what is available, but also reach outside the university. This is an awesome time of year to find fresh produce and crafts at local farmers markets. We’ve provided some links below.  Of course we all have different definitions of what is fun or stimulating—find something that provides you joy and take the time to do it!  

Summary:

1. Be mindful of religious/cultural observances
2. Inclusion and Diversity Certificate information session
3. Applications open for Graduate Student Ambassador program
4. Panel Discussion: Enhancing a sense of belonging, featuring international students from Asia
5. Reminder: Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning services
6. Coffee and Conversation: Anti-bullying in graduate school
7. Blacksburg, Roanoke, Salem, Falls Church, and Arlington Farmers Market

1. Be mindful of religious holidays

As a publicly funded institution, Virginia Tech does not officially recognize all religious holidays and celebrations, but we do recognize the importance of such events in the lives of our community members. In the spirit of inclusive excellence and our Principles of Community, faculty, staff, and students are encouraged to be aware of major religious and cultural observances when planning courses and campus events, and to be sensitive to potential deadlines you might place on that day. You will find more information about this on the Registrar’s website: https://www.registrar.vt.edu/dates-deadlines/religious-ethnic-holidays.html. You’ll find a calendar of religious holidays and celebrations here: http://www.interfaith-calendar.org/2023.html. That page includes a link to 2024, so you can plan ahead for spring semester.

2. Inclusion and Diversity Certificate information session

Are you interested in an opportunity to stay competitive, build upon your existing skills, and learn  new ones that are valued by today’s employers? Join us via Zoom at 9 a.m. on October 6 for an information session about our graduate certificate for Inclusion and Diversity, the application process for current students, and its benefits. Register at:  https://virginiatech.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMrdO-qpzgiGtelwsfiVWHvOrPcqmkgqrLy. If you have any questions, please contact ordi@vt.edu.

3. Applications open for Graduate Student Ambassador program

The Graduate Student Ambassador (GSAP) Program is an opportunity for graduate students to work in partnership with the Graduate School’s Support Hub of Inclusive Practices (SHIP), to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion events as well as to assist with recruiting and retaining underrepresented and minoritized students. Appointments are for one academic year (approximately 20 hours over that time) and provide exclusive opportunities for training, professional development, and engagement with university stakeholders. To apply, please visit: https://virginiatech.questionpro.com/GSAP22 Questions? Contact Shania Clinedinst @ ordi@vt.edu.

4. Panel Discussion: Enhancing a sense of belonging, featuring international students from Asia

Join us on Tuesday, September 13, 12-1:30 p.m. in Graduate Life Center room F for a panel discussion focused on enhancing international graduate students’ sense of belonging by listening to academic and social experiences, challenges, and hints from experienced international students. Free lunch will be provided. Please register https://bit.ly/SOB_Asia. Students, faculty, and staff are welcome to attend. If you have any questions, please contact ordi@vt.edu.

5. Reminder: Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning Services

Throughout the 2022-23 academic year, the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL) is available to partner with faculty and instructors, including Graduate Teaching Assistants, to support the design, development, and implementation of learner-centered instruction. This partnership includes a variety of customized and confidential consulting services to support research-based teaching and learning design and strategies. Through these customized services, faculty and instructors work closely with CETL staff to set goals and action plans. Visit the website to learn more: https://teaching.vt.edu/

6. Coffee and Conversation: Anti-bullying in graduate school

Join us in the GLC multipurpose room on Friday, September 16, 3-4:30 p.m. for coffee and conversation on anti-bullying in graduate school. We will share resources and best practices for graduate students who have experienced peer-to-peer, mentor-to-mentee, advisor-to-student, and other forms of bullying in academia. Please register at https://bit.ly/ABGS22. Students, faculty, and staff are welcome to attend! If you have any questions, please contact ordi@vt.edu.

7. Blacksburg, Roanoke, Salem, Falls Church, and Arlington Farmers Markets

On Wednesdays and Saturdays now through December, those who live in the Blacksburg area can find fresh-from-the-farm produce and other locally made products at the Blacksburg Farmers Market. The market is walking distance from the Graduate Life Center, in the Market Square Park on Draper Road. Visit the market’s website for hours and to find out more about the local vendors who participate: https://blacksburgfarmersmarket.com/. Students living in Roanoke or Salem also can visit local farmers markets, as can students at our Northern Virginia campuses. The Roanoke City Farmers Market website is: https://www.downtownroanoke.org/explore/farmers-market. The City of Salem’s Farmers Market page is: https://market.salemva.gov/. Falls Church Farmers Market is: http://www.fallschurchva.gov/farmersmarket and Arlington is: https://www.freshfarm.org/markets/arlington.

As always, please reach out if you need anything; we are here to support you. Your problems, your worries, your fears, and above all you matter. 

Aimée M. Surprenant

Dean of the Graduate School

Virginia Tech

Graduate Life Center Rm. 235

Blacksburg, VA 24061

540.231.7581

September 2, 2022 Weekly Update

Dear Graduate students, 

I hope the second week of your semester has gone well. The Graduate School and our partners are gearing up for a very productive semester on a great many initiatives. Watch this space for updates. A few weeks ago I promised to tell you about the research on what makes people discontented (in case you missed it, please see my July 29 installment on living a psychologically rich life). The research shows three major things that keep people from being fulfilled. First, envy. According to data collected by Mujcic and Oswald (2018), envy or jealousy is negatively correlated with current measures of a person's mental health, and “... envy today is a powerful predictor of worse mental health and well-being in the future (p. 103).” Second, boredom. Pfattheicher et al. (2021) manipulated boredom and found, in certain circumstances, that “boredom increases sadistic behavior across the board, even among individuals low in dispositional sadism (p. 573).”  Finally, lack of sleep: “(In)adequate sleep represents a significant influential force determining whether humans choose to help one another, observable across micro- and macroscopic levels of civilized interaction (Ben Simon, et al., 2022, abstract).”  

Bottom line, try not to compare yourself to others, keep busy, and go the heck to sleep!

References:

Ben Simon, E., Vallat, R., Rossi, A., & Walker, M.P. (2022).  Sleep loss leads to the withdrawal of human helping across individuals, groups, and large-scale societies. PLoS Biol 20(8): e3001733. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.3001733

Pfattheicher, S., Lazarević, L. B., Westgate, E. C., & Schindler, S. (2021). On the Relation of Boredom and Sadistic Aggression. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 121, 573-600. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/pspi0000335

Mujcic, R & Oswald, A. J. (2018). Is envy harmful to a society's psychological health and wellbeing? A longitudinal study of 18,000 adults. Social Science & Medicine, 198,103-111, ISSN 0277-9536.

Summary:

1. Update on COVID testing and test kit availability
2. Pathways newsletter with tips on teaching
3. Arts@VirginiaTech
4. The Moss Arts Center (MAC)
5. GLC Wellness Room
6. Coffee and Conversation: Anti-Bullying in Graduate School

1. Update on COVID testing and test kit availability

The university has discontinued voluntary testing for COVID-19 for faculty, staff, and students on the Blacksburg campus. The university will provide free at-home rapid tests to students through the Schiffert Health Center to those who cannot obtain an at-home test anywhere else. (https://vtx.vt.edu/notices/2022/08/hokie-wellness-covid-tests-fall2022.html?utm_source=cmpgn_news&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=vtUnirelNewsDailyCMP_090222-fs) Those outside of Blacksburg are encouraged to visit the Virginia Department of Health website for information on where to find free testing sites (https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/coronavirus/protect-yourself/covid-19-testing/covid-19-testing-sites/). Find out more about test information for the semester at (https://ready.vt.edu/testing.html).

2. Pathways newsletter for teachers

Twice each academic year, the Pathways program sends out newsletters to faculty who teach undergraduate students. The newsletters share tips on classroom management and other topics useful to teachers. The fall 2022 newsletter focuses on pedagogy. You’ll find it at (https://www.pathways.prov.vt.edu/news/newsletters/newsletter-fall-2022.html).

3. Arts@VirginiaTech

Tech may be a part of the university’s name, but the arts are an important part of its culture and educational opportunities. The Arts@VirginiaTech initiative is one of Provost Clarke’s priorities, with a focus on integrating arts throughout the university. Through the course of this academic year, programs across the university will highlight their connections to arts. Find out more about the initiative at (https//vt.edu/about/arts.html). The website offerings will grow, so check back often.

4. Moss Arts Center (MAC)

Virginia Tech’s Moss Arts Center offers an array of exhibits, programs, and performances throughout the academic year. To start the semester, MAC is offering a free concert with artist Cimafunk on the center’s lawn at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, September 7. There’s also an opportunity to meet other graduate students interested in arts at the “Meet @ the MAC” event at 6 p.m. on Thursday, September 8. This event offers a tour of the center and an opportunity to learn about the center’s programs. You’ll find a schedule of events and more at the center’s website: (https://artscenter.vt.edu).

5. GLC Wellness Room

Did you know that the Graduate Life Center on the Blacksburg campus has a Wellness Room available to graduate students 24/7? Students must use their Hokie Passports to enter the room, which has a napping pod, light therapy lamp, yoga mats, comfortable seating, and more. 

6. Coffee and Conversation: Anti-Bullying in Graduate School

Join us for coffee and conversation on anti-bullying in graduate school on Friday, September 16th from 3:00 p.m.-4:30 p.m. in the GLC Multipurpose Room. We will share resources and best practices for graduate students who have experienced peer-to-peer, mentor-to-mentee, advisor-to-student, and other forms of bullying in academia. Please register (https://bit.ly/ABGS22).  Students, faculty, and staff are welcome to attend! If you have any questions, please contact ordi@vt.edu. 

As always, please reach out if you need anything; we are here to support you. Your problems, your worries, your fears, and above all you matter. 

Aimée M. Surprenant

Dean of the Graduate School

Virginia Tech

Graduate Life Center Rm. 235

Blacksburg, VA 24061

540.231.7581

August 26, 2022 Weekly Update

Dear Graduate students, 

The first week of classes is finally over—whew! Hopefully, with the weekend on the horizon you can take a bit of time to relax and do something that brings you joy or contentment. One of the items listed in the update below is our program to recognize excellent mentors through our Mentor of the Month award. I think it is a great idea to celebrate those who do a good job mentoring. But, we should remember that very few of us are great mentors for everyone. Most of us are great mentors for some people and probably not so great mentors for others. In my mind, the reason is simply that it is a relationship, and relationships work differently with everyone. Some trainees relish hard challenges and independence, whereas some prefer more balance, structure, and oversight; some want a lot of meeting time, some want to be left alone; some wish for constant feedback, others find that intrusive. Sometimes we click immediately with another person, sometimes we just don’t. Most of the time we can manage to be productive in a relationship that is not perfect, but it does take a bit of work and clear communication on both sides. I also want to make sure you realize that you don’t have to limit yourself to a single mentor—you can cultivate multiple mentors who can guide you in different ways. I recommend looking at the Mentorship Map (https://eswnonline.org/mentor-mapping/) developed by the Earth Science Women’s Network, which lists out the types of support every scientist (and scholar!) needs. Take the time to deliberately find and nurture these sorts of relationships so you have a support network around you at all times. 

Summary:

1. Do you know about the weekly GLC Café?
2. SAFE at VT
3. Virtual mental health counseling and wellness resources for students
4. Welcome reception for new women colleagues
5. VT Libraries to hold research tools workshops
6. Graduate Honor System seeks student and faculty panelists
7. Mentor of the Month Program
8. Next Three Days web site

1. Do you know about the weekly GLC Café?

Every week, the Graduate School hosts the GLC Café in the Reading room of the Graduate Life Center. The event is an opportunity to enjoy coffee, tea, cookies and conversation with fellow graduate students from programs across the Blacksburg campus. The Café is free and open 3:30-5 p.m. every Thursday and the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month. We ask that you bring your own mug, if you can. Regardless, come join your colleagues and enjoy a break from your week.

2. SAFE at VT launched

Virginia Tech has launched SAFE at VT (https://safe.vt.edu/), a website dedlicated to advancing the institution’s progress toward an environment that protects against sexual violence. The site provides clear, current, and comprehensive information and resources for survivors as well as community members who support them, and for those advocating for a safer environment. The site was developed in response to student recommendations and cross-department collaboration within the university’s Sexual Violence Culture and Climate work group (https://www.president.vt.edu/strategicinterests/TaskForces/SexualViolenceCultureandClimateWorkGroup.html). The site replaces the Stop Abuse website.

3. Virtual mental health counseling and wellness resources for students

TimelyCare services complement our existing mental health services and educational programming by giving students a robust and flexible way to use technology to seek out support 24/7. Mental health support needs are unique to each student, and by providing a variety of resources, we hope to encourage students to seek the support that best fits their needs. https://vtx.vt.edu/articles/2022/08/sa-081622-timelycare.html

4. Welcome reception for new women colleagues

Women faculty, staff members, and graduate students are invited to attend the 17th annual welcome reception for new women colleagues on Thursday, Sept. 8 at 4 p.m. in the Latham Ballroom at the Inn at Virginia Tech. The gathering is an informal opportunity to welcome

new folks, begin forging networks, and share information and resources. Register at this link no later than Wednesday, August 31. https://virginiatech.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0ptDPjJlzeiv4uW

5. Research tools for Graduate Students workshop series

There’s a lot to learn in graduate school, and the library can help! This fall, the library will offer a series of free workshops (offered live via Zoom) to help you develop the research skills you need to succeed in graduate school. Learn about literature reviews, database searching, citation management, data management, developing your scholarly presence, and more! For registration links, contact information, and detailed information about each workshop, visit guides.lib.vt.edu/gradworkshops.

6. Graduate Honor System

The Graduate Honor System, charged with reviewing potential academic integrity violations, seeks new student and faculty panelists for this academic year and beyond. Panelists review case documents and participate in hearings to determine whether a violation occurred and decide on appropriate penalties. To become a panelist, attend one of the hour-long training sessions scheduled for Thursday, September 1, 12-1 p.m. or Friday, September 2, 3-4 p.m. in Graduate Life Center Room D Please register at https://forms.gle/jicp54EDKnfSRbjv8 . An additional session will be offered on September 6 from 4-5 p.m. If you have any questions about these training sessions, email gibsonm@vt.edu Learn more about the Graduate Honor System panelists here: https://graduateschool.vt.edu/academics/expectations/graduate-honor-system/ghspanelists.html

7. Mentor of the Month Program

With the Faculty Mentor of the Month program, the Graduate School recognizes and highlights the important role faculty members play in supporting, encouraging, and promoting an affirmative, inclusive scholarly and teaching environment, while contributing to the professional and personal development of graduate students, and cultivating excellence in scholarship. Submit your nomination here: https://graduateschool.vt.edu/about/awards/outstanding-mentor-award/Mentor_of_the_Month.html

8. Next Three Days website

Looking for something to do in the community this weekend or next week? http://www.nextthreedays.com is a web resource that allows you to find lunch and dinner specials, music concerts, drink specials, sporting events, family friendly events, arts & theatre events and any other special event that is happening in the NRV within the next few days. NextThreeDays currently lists events in the New River Valley (Blacksburg, Radford, Christiansburg and Floyd, Giles and Pulaski).

As always, please reach out if you need anything; we are here to support you. Your problems, your worries, your fears, and above all you matter. 

Aimée M. Surprenant

Dean of the Graduate School

Virginia Tech

Graduate Life Center Rm. 235

Blacksburg, VA 24061

540.231.7581

August 19, 2022 Weekly Update

Dear Graduate students,

Welcome to a new semester! For those of you who are new, the Graduate School works very hard to provide up to date information to you all, using a variety of communication methods. This weekly email update from me is intended to come out on Fridays and will include some items that you might not hear about elsewhere or that we think are so important that they should be emphasized. I also take the opportunity to preface the update with advice or observations or to reflect on interesting events in the world of graduate education or tell you about research findings on care and wellbeing for graduate students. So, stay tuned, I’ve promised an update on the research on what are the key things to avoid if you want to lead a fulfilling and satisfying life.

Good luck in your first few weeks of the semester and, as they say, Provehito in Altum!, or launch forth into the deep!

Summary:
1. Welcome and welcome back events
2. Update on managing COVID-19 for fall 2022 semester
3. Graduate student forms have been updated
4. New virtual mental health program now available
5. New Research and Development program series
6. Information session on the Mellon/American Council of Learned Society Graduate Fellowship
7. TLOS tools available
8. InclusiveVT: Recommendations, resources for faculty in establishing class ‘norm of inclusion’

1. Graduate School welcome and welcome back events

The Graduate School Student Services team has scheduled several welcome/welcome back events for students on the Blacksburg campus. You’ll find a list of the events that will take place during the first weeks of the semester on this webpage: (https://graduateschool.vt.edu/student-life/events.html). They include social events, information activities, and workshops. There are also two opportunities to have lunch with me and talk about graduate education. I’m happy to answer questions and share thoughts. Several of the events, including the meals, require registration, but all are free. Many also are available virtually so students on other campuses can participate. Students in the Washington D.C. metro area will find events in their area listed on the Northern Virginia Center website: (https://www.nvc.vt.edu/) and in the weekly newsletter mailed to students enrolled in programs in that region.

2. Update on managing COVID-19 for fall 2022 semester

Provost Cyril Clarke recently shared an update on the university’s fall 2022 semester COVID-19 management plans. The Provost noted, “Like the flu and other common illnesses, COVID-19 is now one illness among many that university employees and students manage on a regular basis. We will continue to monitor and inform our community on the guidance and resources available, but we believe that the time has come for us to stand down the daily emergency management of COVID-19 and other communicable diseases.” Please read the message, which includes guidelines for instructors, faculty members and other employees, students, and the university community at large. (https://vtx.vt.edu/articles/2022/08/provost-svpcbo-fall-2022.html)

3. Graduate Student forms have been updated

During the summer, we updated the forms graduate students use to make them more accessible and useful. They can be found on the Forms page (https://graduateschool.vt.edu/forms.html).

4.   New virtual mental health program now available

Virginia Tech students now have access to TimelyCare, a virtual mental health program, that will serve as an extension of Cook Counseling Center resources. Students can access TimelyCare at no cost on their phones or other devices 24/7 using the TimelyCare app or visiting (www.timelycare.com/virginiatech)  and select from a menu of virtual care options from licensed counselors and mental health providers. Students are encouraged to download the app and register themselves. You can read more about it in this VTX story (https://vtx.vt.edu/articles/2022/08/sa-081622-timelycare.html) and begin using the system now.

5. New Research and Development program series

The Office of Research and Innovation announced that its Research Development team will host a new series this fall. Upcoming series events include: Strategies for Winning National Institutes of Health Program Project/Center Grants; Resources and Training for Virginia Tech Researchers; National Science Foundation’s New Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships; and an Open House hosted by the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC. The calendar of events can be found here: (https://www.research.vt.edu/research-development/events/2022.html). If you are unfamiliar with the series, visit the archived event page and watch on demand here: (https://bit.ly/3CaLFL0).

6. Information session on the Mellon/American Council of Learned Society Graduate Fellowship

An information session about the Mellon/American Council of Learned Society graduate fellowship (Mellon/ACLS) will be held at 2 p.m. on Thursday, August. 25. The session will be on Zoom and requires advance registration: (https://virginiatech.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcoceiurDgiHNSSChYx3P8ttdICyE-sTqq4). The Mellon/ACLS fellowship supports doctoral students pursuing innovative research directions. The current application period is for fellowships that will be granted for the 2023-24 academic year. Applicants must be in a social science or humanities department and able to take a full year of sustained specialized research and training. They also must have completed at least two years and all required coursework for their Ph.D. programs in which they are currently enrolled. The fellowship includes a $40,000 stipend for 2023-24 and $8,000 for research expenses, as well as funding for external mentoring. Find more information and the application materials here: (https://www.acls.org/programs/mellon-acls-dissertation-innovation-fellowships/).

7. TLOS Tools Available

Create accessible learning materials
Proactively designing accessible PDFs and following the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) guidelines when creating course materials benefits all learners. The TLOS Accessible Technologies team offers tools and courses for instructors: (https://www.assist.vt.edu).

8. InclusiveVT: Recommendations, resources for faculty in establishing class ‘norm of inclusion’

Virginia Tech’s Office of Inclusion and Diversity (OID) (https://www.provost.vt.edu/who_we_are/inclusion_diversity.html)
has developed a resource document with recommendations for instructional faculty and GTAs to assist them in establishing a “norm of inclusion” in their classes beginning with the course syllabus and the first class meeting. (https://www.inclusive.vt.edu/content/dam/inclusive_vt_edu/docs/NormOfInclusion.pdf)



As always, please reach out if you need anything; we are here to support you. Your problems, your worries, your fears, and above all you matter.

Aimée M. Surprenant
Dean of the Graduate School
Virginia Tech
Graduate Life Center Rm. 235
Blacksburg, VA 24061
540.231.7581

July 29, 2022 Weekly Update

Dear Graduate students, 

As we end the last week of July and look forward to August, I want to say thank you to everyone who made my first year here at Virginia Tech a stimulating, enriching experience. Although I was quite comfortable at my last university, comfort is not everything—I was ready for a new experience. I have been looking at the research on “What makes life good?” Some of us want a happy life, while others want a meaningful one. But still others want something else—an interesting, psychologically rich life. Oshi and Westgate (2022) argue that at least a third of us search for a psychologically rich life—or a life characterized by a variety of interesting and perspective-changing experiences. What’s different is, the “rich life” is not always filled with happiness or pleasure. Those negative experiences give us a broader frame of reference. The researchers find that those individuals who choose the unexpected over the safe and secure feel most fulfilled. A change in perspective is key. In my next Update, I’ll tell you about the enemies of happiness or fulfillment: Boredom and envy. Enjoy the rest of the summer!

Oishi, S., & Westgate, E. C. (2022). A Psychologically Rich Life: Beyond Happiness and Meaning. Psychological Review, 129(4), 790–811. (https://doi.org/10.1037/rev0000317)

Summary:

1. TimelyMD: new telehealth and tele-mental health services for students
2. Mental health resources
3. Childcare subsidy extended for families
4. Volunteer reviewers needed for Graduate Research Development Program
5. Future Faculty Diversity Program is accepting applications
6. Applications open for the GPSS Travel Fund
7. August preview

1. TimelyMD: new telehealth and tele-mental health services for students

Virginia Tech and two other state universities have partnered to provide telehealth and tele-mental health services to students beginning in the fall semester, free of charge, via TimelyMD, an entity that provides such services to more than 1 million college and university students. TimelyCare, the company’s mental health program, will serve as a virtual extension of Cook Counseling Center resources. Students can access TimelyCare on their phones or other devices 24/7 and select from a menu of virtual care options from licensed counselors and mental health providers, all at no cost. For more information about the program, read the VT News story (https://vtx.vt.edu/articles/2022/06/unirel-mental-health-support.html).

1. Crisis Support Services

You have probably heard or read that the National Suicide Prevention Hotline now has a three-digit phone number: 988. This works on cell phones, phones at the university and other platforms. Other crisis support resources available to students include:

●      Raft, a free paraprofessional phone counseling service, available Monday through Friday, 4 p.m.-8 a.m. eastern time, and 24 hours on weekends. Call 540-961-8400.

●      Connect, a 24-hour referral and emergency evaluation service of Carilion Health Care. Call 800-284-8898.

●      In Blacksburg, ARC Mental health admittance and referral services of Montgomery Regional Hospital and Lewis Gale Hospital: 804-327-5191 or 877-886-7026.

●      Cook Counseling Center, Visit the website for a list of additional resources: (https://ucc.vt.edu/)

1. Childcare subsidy for families extended

Virginia has extended the expanded eligibility for the state’s child care subsidy program through June 2024. If you have at least one child who has not yet started Kindergarten, you may qualify for the program. Read the VT News notice for more information: (https://vtx.vt.edu/notices/2022/07/child-care-subsidy-update072022.html) and visit the Child Care Subsidy Program site: (https://www.doe.virginia.gov/cc/parents/index.html?pageID=4).

1. Volunteer reviewers needed for Graduate Research Development Program

Reviewers from humanities, social sciences, education and business are highly encouraged to apply. You must be a graduate student engaged in research at Virginia Tech and not a current applicant for the GRDP. Each proposal consists of an "extended abstract" describing the context, motivation, methods and impacts of an applicants' research, in addition to a budget and timeline for completion of proposed work. Minimum time commitment is two hours in August - including one hour-long training session (food provided) and review of at least two proposals. Volunteers may be assigned to review proposals within their general area of expertise or entirely outside of it. If interested, please fill out this Google Form: https://forms.gle/UTgkorBo1U3UpoWh6. Additional background on the GRDP: https://gpss.vt.edu/programs/grdp.html. Please contact Cissy Ming with questions at cissym@vt.edu.

1. Future Faculty Diversity Program is accepting applications

The Office for Inclusion and Diversity at Virginia Tech is accepting applications for the 2022 Future Faculty Diversity Program (FFDP) which will occur in person October 2-5. This year the program is primarily seeking candidates in STEM fields. All costs for participants (travel, lodging, meals) will be covered by the Office of Inclusion and Diversity office. The program is designed to assist departments at Virginia Tech with identifying and recruiting talent from historically underrepresented minority populations such as African Americans, Hispanics/Latinx, American Indian/Alaska Natives, and Pacific Islanders and women in STEM. Ph.D. candidates who are seeking postdoc opportunities and have completed all requirements but their degree defense (ABD candidates) are encouraged to apply but must be graduating no later than May 2023. More information and a link to the application portal can be found here: (https://www.inclusive.vt.edu/Programs/FFDP.html). The application deadline is August 15, 2022. If you have questions, contact efcooper@vt.edu.

1. Applications open for GPSS Travel Fund Program

Graduate students presenting research conducted at Virginia Tech are eligible to apply for the Fall 2022 Travel Fund Program, with up to $750 available. Grants may cover registration, lodging, meals, abstract fees and other costs of presenting at an in-person or virtual conference with a start date from Oct. 1-Dec. 31. Students from all disciplines are invited to apply, even if your conference abstract has not been officially accepted. Applications due August 22, 2022 at 11:59 p.m. Please email cissym@vt.edu with any questions, and visit (gpss.vt.edu/programs/tfp) for full details and information.

1. August is just around the corner

It is hard to believe that the fall 2022 semester begins in four weeks. There are several programs and workshops scheduled during the week leading to the first day of classes, Monday, August 22. The GTA workshop is scheduled for August 16. The annual underrepresented/minoritized student luncheon (to which all graduate students are welcome) will be on August 24. The Graduate and Professional Student Senate’s welcome back barbecue will be on the GLC lawn on August 15. Read the weekly graduate school newsletter and check the graduate school website for updated information.

As always, please reach out if you need anything; we are here to support you. Your problems, your worries, your fears, and above all you matter. 

Aimée M. Surprenant

Dean of the Graduate School

Virginia Tech

Graduate Life Center Rm. 235

Blacksburg, VA 24061

540.231.7581

If you have comments or recommendations for how we can improve the Dean's Weekly Update or suggestions for specific information and topics that should be shared with graduate students, please provide them through this Google Form: (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1nySotSbohDhGQcVDgAPu114_TUzllM8W8SCFwkyvlpY/edit?ts=6272bec2)

We archive these Weekly Updates on the Graduate School Website under the Dean’s Corner, (https://graduateschool.vt.edu/about/deanscorner/weekly-updates.html). For additional information, you will find the Provost’s weekly updates at this site: (https://www.provost.vt.edu/provost-weekly-updates.html); and the archive of the Graduate School’s weekly Monday emails to graduate students at this site: (https://webapps.graduateschool.vt.edu/glcweekly). Students in Northern Virginia and the Washington, D.C. metro area also receive a weekly email on Fridays with information specific to your campuses and region.

Dear Graduate Students,

For a long time I’ve deliberately practiced what is called “Realistic Optimism.” A realistic optimist develops an accurate assessment of reality and imagines probable outcomes--paying attention to both positive and negative futures. Although realistic optimists foresee obstacles, they work in a constructive way to find ways around them. They imagine what could become possible in the best scenario, and they work hard to make it a reality. I have to admit that current events are testing this optimism as it becomes increasingly difficult to imagine a positive future. However, I am lucky to be a part of a community that believes deeply in the power of education to spur on positive change. Our challenge is how we can shape such a positive future. We need to think deeply about how we will work together to make that happen. Rest up this summer—we’ve got lots of great plans for the fall and I’ll need your help.

Summary:
1. Stipend increase for GAs, GTAs, GRAs
2. 2022-23 tuition and fees
3. Gender-related and women’s issues
4. Fall research funds available from GPSS
5. Changes to the COVID-19 case management process

1. Stipend increase for GAs, GRAs, GTAs

The Virginia Tech Board of Visitors (BOV) approved a 5 percent stipend increase for graduate assistantships (GAs, GTAs, GRAs) at its April 3, 2022 meeting. The resolution can be found on this page.
The increase is reflected in the stipend table for 2022-23, effective August 22, 2022. The stipend table can be found on this webpage.
The BOV’s Executive Committee approved the university’s 2022-23 budget at its June 14, 2022 meeting in Richmond, and the stipend increase is reflected in the approved budget.

2. Tuition and fees for 2022-23

The Board of Visitors Executive Committee set tuition and fees for 2022-23 at its meeting in Richmond on June 14, 2022. The committee was delegated to do so by the full Board on June 7. The committee approved a 3 percent tuition increase for all undergraduate and graduate students. Tuition and fees for in-state graduate students will rise by $561, to $17,083. For out-of-state graduate students, the increase will be $990, raising tuition and mandatory fees to $32,433. The total cost for Virginia and Maryland veterinary students will rise $812, to $26,898. For out-of-state and non-Maryland veterinary students, the increase will be $1,682, to $57,369. Students enrolling in the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine this summer will see a total cost of $57,721. For more information, read the VTX news story.

3. Gender-related and women’s issues

The Women’s Center at Virginia Tech (https://www.womenscenter.vt.edu) has resources for all of our students. In addition students can access Schiffert Health Center Women’s Clinic, (https://healthcenter.vt.edu/ourservices/womens_clinic.html). Planned Parenthood and other local women’s clinics can be found here: (https://newriverabortionfund.org/clinics/).

4. Fall research funds available from the Graduate and Professional Student Senate

The GPSS Graduate Research Development Program (GRDP) is now taking applications until August 1 at 11:59 PM EST. Master's students are eligible to receive up to $1000 and doctoral students are eligible to receive up to $1500. Funds may be requested for travel, lab analyses, supplies and other expenses incurred for degree-contingent research. At least $16,000 will be distributed. Application materials and full instructions can be found here: (https://gpss.vt.edu/programs/grdp.html).

5. Changes to the COVID-19 case management process

The June 10, 2022 Provost Weekly Update noted that the university has made changes to its COVID-19 case management process, effective June 9, 2022. “Virginia Tech will transition its COVID-19 case management process. The university will continue to provide support to employees and supervisors through Human Resources and the Environmental Health and Safety Occupational Health team. There are currently no state or university employee reporting requirements for a positive COVID-19 test. However, employees should continue to follow the standard procedures for notifying their supervisor in the event of an absence and work with their supervisor regarding sick leave as necessary.”  Read more on the Ready Site page that details the changes: (https://vtx.vt.edu/notices/2022/06/oem-hr-case-management-june2022.html)

As always, please reach out if you need anything; we are here to support you. Your problems, your worries, your fears, and above all you matter.

Aimée M. Surprenant
Dean of the Graduate School
Virginia Tech
Graduate Life Center Rm. 235
Blacksburg, VA 24061
540.231.7581

May 27, 2022 Weekly Update

Dear Graduate students, 

It is a surreal feeling to be riding on a scenic train through the Alps from Basel to Riva San Vitale, gazing at the peaceful, pastoral countryside, the day after visiting the Council of Europe while, at home, gun violence and its inevitable aftermath of grief, finger pointing, and blame sweep across the land. As we learned yesterday, the Council of Europe serves as the guardian of human rights in Europe. Our guide emphasized fundamental human rights such as “freedom of expression and the media, freedom of assembly, equality, and the protection of minorities…(including)... campaigns on issues such as child protection, online hate speech, and the rights of the Roma, Europe’s largest minority. The Organisation helps member states fight corruption and terrorism and undertake necessary judicial reforms.” Of course our guide emphasized that those are aspirational goals, not reality, but, from an American perspective, it is astounding that these countries have formally aspired to these principles and signed onto an agreement to uphold them. 

I’m yet again in the position of asking all of you to take care of yourselves while encouraging you to continue to pretend that all is well and continue your studies and research–trying to ignore what is going on in the country and the world. Is this possible? Is this desirable? I guess the only thing I can do is to encourage you to monitor your feelings and realize when you need to step out, to grieve, to scream, to hide in a closet for a while–whatever works for you. Be well. 

Summary:

1. Summer travel funds available from GPSS
2.  New interactive climate survey results webpage
3. Graduate Life Center summer hours and events
4. Proposed changes for two colleges won’t affect programs
5. A letter of appreciation from the Provost
6.  Update on COVID-19 testing in Blacksburg during summer months

1.     Summer travel funds available from the Graduate and Professional Student Senate

There is still time to apply for the Graduate and Professional Student Senate’s summer travel fund program to cover travel expenses, registration and fees associated with presenting your research at an in-person or virtual conference from June 30-Sept. 30. Full-time graduate students may receive up to $750. The application is open until June 1 at 11:59 PM ET. Contact Cissy Ming at cissym@vt.edu with any questions. The application instructions can be found here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Lv1hnFCKNDjP1RH7o4_-Smj_8uMN5Gmy/edit.

2.     New interactive climate survey results webpage

Three years’ worth of climate survey data are now available on the Graduate School’s website: https://graduateschool.vt.edu/numbers/climate-survey-home/climate_dash.html. We will be updating climate survey data pages throughout this summer, including new visualizations to make comparisons easier across years and demographic categories.

3.     Graduate Life Center summer hours and events

Summer Graduate School office hours are 9-4; GLC café will continue on Thursdays 3-5. Read the listserv for events and other activities. Graduate students have access to the GLC afterhours with their Hokie passports. University offices and the Graduate School will be closed on the following holidays: Memorial Day (May 30), Juneteenth (June 20), and Independence Day (July 4)

4.     Proposed changes for two colleges won’t affect programs

At its last meeting, the Board of Visitors approved changes for CLAHS and CAUS, including a name change for CAUS. The proposal now goes to the State Council on Higher Education for approval. The proposed changes will not affect the degree programs in the schools and departments that are expected to move from one college to the other. 

5.     A letter of appreciation from the Provost

Provost Clarke and Faculty Senate President Robert Weiss wrote a message of shared appreciation for the efforts and accomplishments of faculty, instructors, advisors, and academic staff, including Graduate Teaching Assistants, during the 2021-22 academic year. You can find the message here: https://www.provost.vt.edu/provost-messages/message-appreciation-may-12-2022.html  

6.     Update on COVID-19 testing in Blacksburg during summer months

Virginia Tech has also posted updated COVID-19 testing information (https://vtx.vt.edu/notices/2022/05/unirel_summer-covid-testing.html) for the Blacksburg campus for summer 2022. The voluntary PCR testing is available for employees and students who are non-symptomatic. Tests can be scheduled through VT Notify (https://vtnotify.students.vt.edu/index.php/patient/appointment) for the Blacksburg campus testing site. Testing appointments can also be scheduled at certain pharmacies and urgent care facilities throughout Virginia (COVID-19 in Virginia - Coronavirus) for employees and students. With an appointment, you may walk into the self-testing location on the Blacksburg campus during the hours of operation on your appointment date.

For more information on COVID-19 monitoring or testing information, please read this campus notice (https://vtx.vt.edu/notices/2022/05/unirel_summer-covid-testing.html).

As always, please reach out if you need anything; we are here to support you. Your problems, your worries, your fears, and above all you matter. 

Aimée M. Surprenant

Dean of the Graduate School

Virginia Tech

Graduate Life Center Rm. 235

Blacksburg, VA 24061

540.231.7581

If you have comments or recommendations for how we can improve the Dean's Weekly Update or suggestions for specific information and topics that should be shared with graduate students, please provide them through this Google Form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1nySotSbohDhGQcVDgAPu114_TUzllM8W8SCFwkyvlpY/edit?ts=6272bec2

We archive these Weekly Updates on the Graduate School Website under the Dean’s Corner, (https://graduateschool.vt.edu/about/deanscorner/weekly-updates.html). For additional information, you will find the Provost’s weekly updates at this site: (https://www.provost.vt.edu/provost-weekly-updates.html); and the archive of the Graduate School’s weekly Monday emails to graduate students at this site: (https://webapps.graduateschool.vt.edu/glcweekly). Students in Northern Virginia and the Washington, D.C. metro area also receive a weekly email on Fridays with information specific to your campuses and region.

Dear Graduate students,

Congratulations on the successful conclusion of the Spring semester!  Next week is commencement where I will congratulate the newly minted graduates and greet them as new colleagues. I encourage those of you who are graduating to find time to celebrate and savor your remarkable accomplishments. For those of you who are continuing, I hope you can balance your summer research and scholarship activities with time spent enjoying summer's slower pace, quiet campus, and beautiful natural areas.  Summer is a good time to replenish your reserves and get re-energized. The faculty and staff in the Graduate School will be around all summer as a resource and support for you all. Please stop by and say hi!

Summary:
1. Reminder for graduates to complete the exit survey
2. Plan of Study Experience Survey
3. Commencement ceremonies happen next week
4. CETL: Additional seats available for instructors to attend Summer/Fall Course Design Clinic
5. The Weekly Update will be monthly during the summer months
6. Feedback form now available

1. Reminder for graduates to complete the exit survey

Congratulations to all those who are graduating this semester! We are proud of and delighted for you. As you move through these final days before receiving your degrees and heading off to the next chapter of your lives, we ask that you please complete the Graduate School’s exit survey, which you will find on your graduate student checklist in HokieSpa. Thank you!

2. Plan of Study Experience Survey

To help the Graduate School provide a better experience for students, we invite you to participate in a survey focused on the Plan of Study. Your survey answers will help us better understand the needs and expectations of our graduate students, and you will help shape decisions about improving the Plan of Study experience. Your participation in the study is voluntary, and your responses will be completely confidential. We have fixed the previous campus error—thanks to those who pointed it out! More details and the survey link can be found here: (https://it.vt.edu/partnerships/university-wide-user-groups/ux-community/pos.html).

3. Commencement ceremonies happen next week!

I look forward to congratulating our new graduates at our two Commencement Ceremonies next week: one in Blacksburg at Lane Stadium at 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 11; and another in Northern Virginia at the George Mason University Center for the Performing Arts at 1 p.m. on Sunday, May 15. No tickets are required. You can find details about the Blacksburg event at the University’s commencement website: (https://vt.edu/commencement.html). Find information about the Northern Virginia commencement ceremony here: (https://www.nvc.vt.edu/Current-Students/ncr-commencment.html). The ceremonies will be live-streamed at (https://vt.edu/commencement/2022/watch.html). The Graduate School will post on its website a bulletin listing all of the Spring 2022 graduates. The bulletin will be downloadable and there will be a link on the homepage, (https://graduateschool.vt.edu/).

4. CETL: Additional seats are available for instructors to attend the Summer/Fall Course Design Clinic

In preparation for summer and fall 2022, the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL) has opened additional spots for faculty and instructors interested in participating in the Summer/Fall Course Design Clinic (https://profdev.tlos.vt.edu/browse/teachingandlearning/courses/cetl11-051922). The in-person clinic will take place May 19 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and May 20 from 9:00 a.m. to noon in Library Classroom 207A.

5. For summer, I will switch to a monthly update.

For the next few months I will be sending monthly updates on the last Friday of May, June, and July. Of course if anything urgent comes up, I’ll inform you right away.

6.      Feedback form now available

We have created a Google form for you to give me feedback on this update. You can find the link below. Let me hear your thoughts!


As always, please reach out if you need anything; we are here to support you. Your problems, your worries, your fears, and above all you matter.

Aimée M. Surprenant
Dean of the Graduate School
Virginia Tech
Graduate Life Center Rm. 235
Blacksburg, VA 24061
540.231.7581

If you have comments or recommendations for how we can improve the Dean's Weekly Update or suggestions for specific information and topics that should be shared with graduate students, please provide them through this Google Form: this (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1nySotSbohDhGQcVDgAPu114_TUzllM8W8SCFwkyvlpY/edit?ts=6272bec2)

We archive these Weekly Updates on the Graduate School Website under the Dean’s Corner, (https://graduateschool.vt.edu/about/deanscorner/weekly-updates.html). For additional information, you will find the Provost’s weekly updates at this site: (https://www.provost.vt.edu/provost-weekly-updates.html); and the archive of the Graduate School’s weekly Monday emails to graduate students at this site: (https://webapps.graduateschool.vt.edu/glcweekly). Students in Northern Virginia and the Washington, D.C. metro area also receive a weekly email on Fridays with information specific to your campuses and region.

April 29, 2022 Weekly Update

Dear Graduate students, 

We are down to the last few weeks of the semester and everyone is running as fast as they can toward the finish line and making plans for an amazingly productive summer. On that note, I should reveal that these summer plans are like New Year’s resolutions—you start out with an ambitious plan and you seldom accomplish all of the things that you have promised yourself you would do. This is normal—please don’t be disappointed with yourself. In thinking about how best laid plans often go astray, I’m often reminded of a line by Douglas Adams in the book Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency, in which Dirk had a “Zen form navigation, which was simply to find any car that looked as if it knew where it was going and follow it. The results were more often surprising than successful, but he felt it was worth it for the sake of the few occasions when it was both.” His lesson is that we rarely get to where we thought we were going but we usually end up where we should be. I’m not necessarily advocating for wholesale adoption of this method, but sometimes just going with the flow comes up with great outcomes. Anyway, below are some important items for you to note this week.  

Summary:

1. New form for sharing news on the GLC weekly listserv

2. Plan of Study Experience Survey

3. Reminder about Cultural achievement ceremonies in Blacksburg

4. Webinar on services available through the University Libraries

5. Resources for preparing for summer course instruction

6. 2022 Virginia Tech Transportation Survey: Share your feedback

1. New form for sharing news and events on the Graduate School weekly email

To improve and simplify the process of submitting information about news, events, and activities to the weekly email known as the GLC listserv, the Graduate Student Services office will now use a Google form submission process. If you have a posting to submit, please use this form now: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe2JYIsJWukV6cp6c28CU9vZ3DgGqi0z-pJVdv_KcDH1NjCQA/viewform  Also, please remember to submit your posting by the Friday before the Monday in which you want the information sent out.

2. Plan of Study Experience Survey 

The Graduate School is committed to providing a better experience for the graduate students. In order to improve our students’ experiences with the Plan of Study forms, we are conducting an experience study. When you volunteer to participate in our experience study, you will help us better understand the needs and expectations of our graduate students. The information you will provide will help inform decisions about improving your Plan of Study experience. Your participation in the study is voluntary, and your responses will be completely confidential. More details and the survey link can be found here: https://it.vt.edu/partnerships/university-wide-user-groups/ux-community/pos.html

3. Cultural Achievement Ceremonies

Eight cultural and other organizations will hold their annual achievement ceremonies May 11 and 12 in Blacksburg to celebrate this year’s graduates. You’ll find dates, times, and locations on the cultural achievement ceremony webpage: Cultural achievement ceremonies https://ccc.vt.edu/calendar/ceremonies.html

4. Webinar on services available from University Libraries

In support of teaching and research at Virginia Tech, University Libraries and LabConnect are hosting a webinar titled, "More than Books: An Overview of Services Available Through the University Libraries,” Tuesday, May 24 from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m.  The webinar will feature a presentation from Kiri DeBose, associate director of health sciences libraries and liaison to animal science. The event is free to attend and open to all members of the university, but registration is required. For more information and to register for the webinar, please read this campus notice (https://vtx.vt.edu/notices/2022/04/labconnect_notice_may_24_webinar_on_library_services.html). 

5. Resources for preparing for summer course instruction

For those who are starting to plan for summer course instruction, Section 9.6.1 (Syllabus and Performance Expectation) of the Faculty Handbook (https://faculty.vt.edu/faculty-handbook/chapter09.html.html#9.6.1)

offers guidance for providing students with course syllabi that effectively communicates information about course content, class schedules and attendance, grading scales and overall expectations of the instructor. Faculty and instructors should design their syllabi and other course documents as a useful means for clearly setting the tone of their courses. Syllabi requirements, per the Virginia Tech Faculty Handbook, include the following:

• Academic Accommodations
• Academic Integrity
• Attendance
• Course Objectives
• Grading
• Office Hours
• Prerequisites
• Topical Outline

While not required, faculty and instructors may also consider additional information in the syllabi such as promoting student success, inclusion and diversity, creating a sense of belonging, and clear communication regarding expectations (https://teaching.vt.edu/teachingresources/syllabi-and-learning-contracts/example-syllabus-statements.html). 

6. 2022 Virginia Tech Transportation Survey: Share your feedback

Survey on travel to/from campus, satisfaction with one’s commute, and experiences with campus transportation programs, infrastructure. https://vtx.vt.edu/notices/adm-evergreens/Transpo-parkingsurvey.html?utm_source=cmpgn_news&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=vtUnirelNewsDailyCMP_042222-fs

As always, please reach out if you need anything; we are here to support you. Your problems, your worries, your fears, and above all you matter. 

Aimée M. Surprenant

Dean of the Graduate School

Virginia Tech

Graduate Life Center Rm. 235

Blacksburg, VA 24061

540.231.7581

April 22, 2022

Dear Graduate students,

As Commencement nears I’ve been spending a lot of time celebrating student, faculty, and staff accomplishments with awards ceremonies, research symposia, poster sessions, and more. It has been a great experience to learn more about the amazing things occurring at this university. The breadth and depth of scholarship and research is inspiring and uplifting. However, this frenzy of activity can mask the exhaustion people are feeling. I think we must rely on one another to acknowledge it and work together as a team to support one another as we speed toward the semester’s crescendo. Please look around and see where your supports might be as well as whether there are supports you can offer others.

Summary:
1. President’s office conducting community childcare needs survey
2. Survey regarding the needs of students with disabilities and accommodations 
3. Library funds and resources
4. Commencement reminder
5. Cultural achievement ceremonies will be held May 11 and 12 in Blacksburg
6. Diversity Scholar Spotlight event on April 28
7. The National Institutes of Social Sciences dissertation grants

1. President’s office conducting community childcare needs survey

The Early Childhood Education Initiatives team in the Office of the President wants to gauge the current use and needs regarding childcare across Virginia Tech’s communities and is conducting a survey about this issue. Graduate students are encouraged to participate. The survey will remain open until April 29, 2022, and all submissions are anonymous. Survey link: (https://virginiatech.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_7UQGw2BxWkVpsPk)

2. SSD Survey to assess needs

Services for Students with Disabilities would like all teaching faculty/instructors, including GTAs, to participate in this survey (https://baseline.campuslabs.com/vpiasu/ssdsurvey) to assist their office with collecting data to further their mission and goals. The aim is to improve access and service provision.

3. Library resources and funds

Virginia Tech Libraries have several resources and funds to assist faculty and graduate students. These include the Open Access Subvention fund (https://guides.lib.vt.edu/oasf) so you can use journals that require fees for access; the Library collaborative research grant (https://sites.google.com/vt.edu/lib-collab-grant); and the Affordable + Reusable Textbook initiative (https://sites.google.com/vt.edu/lib-textbook). Visit the web pages to learn more.

4. Graduate Commencement in Lane Stadium on May 11

Virginia Tech’s commencement ceremonies are fast approaching. The Spring 2022 University Commencement ceremony for Graduate Students will be Wednesday, May 11 at 3:30 p.m. in Lane Stadium (https://vt.edu/commencement.html). The Washington D.C. Area Commencement will be held on Sunday, May 15 at 1:00 p.m. at the George Mason University (GMU) Center for the Arts, for graduates of programs located in Northern Virginia. The Lane Stadium ceremony does not require tickets for admission, so those who are not graduating are welcome to attend and cheer on the graduates. See the Commencement page for further details regarding attending commencements as Lane Stadium has policies governing what you can carry into the facility.

5. Cultural Achievement Ceremonies

Eight cultural and other organizations will hold their annual achievement ceremonies May 11 and 12 to celebrate this year’s graduates. You’ll find dates, times, and locations on the cultural achievement ceremony webpage:(https://ccc.vt.edu/calendar/ceremonies.html)

6. Diversity Scholar Spotlight

The 2022 Diversity Scholars will present their projects in the Graduate Life Center multipurpose room at noon on Thursday, April 28. Learn about their work and the Diversity Scholars program. (https://vtx.vt.edu/articles/2022/04/2022-grad-diversity-scholars.html?utm_source=cmpgn_news&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=vtUnirelNewsDailyCMP_042222-fs)

7. The National Institutes of Social Sciences dissertation grants

Grants of $2,500-$5,000 are available to Ph.D. students in the social sciences. See guidelines, eligibility, and proposal requirements linked below. Please encourage eligible students to consider applying for financial support to pursue their research. Virginia Tech is limited to three nominations. Students interested in applying must submit a complete application by 9 am on April 28 to Associate Dean Tom Ewing (etewing@vt.edu). The three proposals selected by nomination will be confirmed by April 29, and the final proposals will be due on Monday, May 2. (https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.socialsciencesinstitute.org/2022-dissertation-grant-program&sa=D&source=docs&ust=1650640635140622&usg=AOvVaw0f5_BfzUQjApxFSp7hCEa5)

As always, please reach out if you need anything; we are here to support you. Your problems, your worries, your fears, and above all you matter.

April 15, 2022 Weekly Update

Dear Graduate students, 

As I rode my bicycle to work today I said “Good morning!” to a herd of deer, a bunch of cows, a flock of sheep, a donkey, some horses (with babies!), geese, ducks, and a squirrel (and also the Provost as he was walking in). Sometimes we get so caught up in being task-oriented that we don’t even notice or acknowledge those around us (human and non-human) and our surroundings. Whether you live in Blacksburg, Northern Virginia, Roanoke, or elsewhere, take some time to appreciate your surroundings, soak up the atmosphere and, as the saying goes, stop and smell the roses. If you feel comfortable, say “hi” to a few people—you may not get a response (the sheep were very suspicious and the cows unimpressed) but you may end up making someone’s day!

Summary:

1. New program to recognize faculty mentors nominated by students
2. Sexual Violence Culture and Climate Work Group & Stipend Task Force
3. We Remember: April 16 Day of Remembrance
4. Commencement 2022
5. Spring faculty and graduate student mixer set for April 28
6. Climate Survey thank you and info
7. Take a break for wellness
   
   

1.     New program to recognize faculty mentors

With the Faculty Mentor of the Month program, the Graduate School recognizes and highlights the important role faculty members play in supporting, encouraging, and promoting an affirmative, inclusive scholarly and teaching environment for graduate students. Graduate students are encouraged to nominate their faculty advisor, committee members, or other faculty members who have played a significant role in their graduate experience, either in a single noteworthy instance or through continued and consistent support: https://graduateschool.vt.edu/about/awards/outstanding-mentor-award/Mentor_of_the_Month.html. The Graduate School selects one faculty mentor a month to receive a certificate and a small token of our appreciation.

2.               Sexual Violence Culture and Climate Work Group & Stipend Task Force

The work group held its first meeting: https://vtx.vt.edu/articles/2021/11/unirel-work-group-meeting.html

The graduate student stipend task force will be announced next week!

3.               We Remember: April 16 Day of Remembrance

This weekend, the Virginia Tech family remembers the 32 students and faculty members who were tragically taken from their loved ones and our community on April 16, 2007. They ranged in age from 18 to 76 and represented a variety of academic areas, faiths, and ethnic groups. On this Day of Remembrance, members of our community are encouraged to pause and honor the 32 individuals who lost their lives on April 16, 2007, in a manner most meaningful to them. The We Remember website provides online resources, news and scheduled events, information about the April 16 Memorial, and an opportunity to reflect on the tremendous promise each of the students and faculty we lost embodied for our world with creativity, intelligence, humility, and humanity. https://www.weremember.vt.edu 

4.               Commencement 2022: Ceremony information, schedules for faculty and guests

The Spring 2022 University Commencement ceremony for Graduate Students will be Wednesday, May 11 at 3:30 p.m. in Lane Stadium https://vt.edu/commencement.html. The Washington D.C. Area Commencement will be held on Sunday, May 15 at 1:00 p.m. at the George Mason University (GMU) Center for the Arts, for graduates of programs located in northern Virginia. Approximately 400 post-graduate certificates, masters, and doctoral degrees will be conferred this spring in the D.C. area. https://www.nvc.vt.edu/Current-Students/ncr-commencment.html 

5.               Spring faculty and graduate student mixer set for April 28

The faculty and graduate student spring mixer will be held from 5-7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 28, at the Historic Smithfield Pavilion, 1000 Smithfield Plantation Road. Faculty and graduate students are invited to attend at no cost. Hors d'oeuvres and beverages will be served. https://vtx.vt.edu/notices/2022/04/gradschool_notice_spring_facultygraduate_student_mixer.html 

6.               Climate survey thank you and information on responses

Thank you to everyone who participated in the Graduate Student Climate Survey. We had a 26% response rate, which is our highest ever. While more analysis of these data will be conducted over the summer, many of the themes already apparent in this survey are in the process of being addressed: graduate student funding, assistantship and research demands, and inclusiveness. I am looking forward to learning more from this survey and to the conversations that will be happening in the fall surrounding those findings. View Response Rate and Representativeness at the following webpage: https://graduateschool.vt.edu/numbers/climate-survey-home/2022-survey/response-rate-2022.html

7.               Take a break for Wellness

Join fellow graduate students, faculty members, and staff in Blacksburg and the Greater Washington, D.C. metro area for a wellness workshop and walk on Thursday, April 21. The walk is scheduled for 12-1 p.m. in person at the Graduate Life Center lawn and the Northern Virginia Center lawn in Falls Church. The workshop, “Breaking up with stress,” will be from 4:30-5:30 p.m. in person at the Graduate Life Center and on Zoom. Light refreshments will be provided for those who attend in person. The registration deadline is April 19. Register via this link:  https://tinyurl.com/GradWalk22. If you have questions, contact ordi@vt.edu. 

As always, please reach out if you need anything; we are here to support you. Your problems, your worries, your fears, and above all you matter. 

Aimée M. Surprenant

Dean of the Graduate School

Virginia Tech

Graduate Life Center Rm. 235

Blacksburg, VA 24061

540.231.7581

Dear Graduate students,

This week I’ve started most of my conversations and meetings with a request that the people in the room think of something that brings them joy in their academic and scholarly pursuits. We all are at a university because there is an aspect of it that brings us joy. It could be the joy of discovering something new, the joy of giving or experiencing a great lecture, the joy of seeing the “aha moment” when a student finally understands, or simply the delight of being able to endlessly debate a topic with others. Joy can be contagious— the philosopher Volf (2015, pp. 132–3, ref below) writes, “Joy is best experienced in community. Joy seeks company (‘come and rejoice with me’) and the company of those who rejoice feeds the joy of each." Try to seek out others and share your joy with them.

Summary:
1.BOV approved stipend increase for GAs, GTAs, and GRAs
2.BOV approved resolution on graduate student compensation
3.The 2022-23 BOV Graduate and Professional Student representative
4.Planned changes for Northern Virginia Center and where to send questions
5.Commencements are just over a month away (May 11 and 15)
6.Customized teaching and course design services available to faculty, instructors

1.BOV approves stipend increase for GAs, GTAs, and GRAs

     The Board of Visitors approved a 5 percent increase in stipends for graduate assistants for the 2022-23 academic year at its meeting on April 4. The stipend will go into effect Aug. 10, 2022. Graduate assistants will continue to receive tuition remission, a stipend supplement of $458 to help mitigate university assigned costs, and the university will pay 88 percent of the annual premium cost of the basic health insurance plan.

2.BOV approved resolution on graduate student compensation

     Resolution 2021-22D (Equitable and Cost-of-Living) was approved by the BOV on Monday and the task force is being formed. Hopefully we’ll be able to announce the composition of the task force by next week at the latest.

3.The 2022-23 BOV Graduate and Professional Student Representative

     The BOV announced the Graduate and Professional Student Representative for the 2022-23 year: Anna Buhle, a third-year medical student at the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine. Congratulations to Anna.

4.Planned changes for Northern Virginia Center in Falls Church

     As you may have heard, in late 2024, the Northern Virginia Center in Falls Church will no longer house Virginia Tech academic or administrative programs.  This is part of a site realignment and the development of a Center for Smart Construction. The university has begun a process to find places for programs in other sites. Possible locations include the Innovation Campus building, The VT Research Center in Arlington, leased space in northern Virginia, and Blacksburg. Provost Cyril Clarke met with Northern Virginia graduate students and faculty on Thursday via Zoom to provide information and answer questions. He sent the following message to students after the session: 
“As we move forward, we look forward to engaging you and your fellow students in further discussions as we continue to serve and support your needs. I, along with college deans and department heads, welcome your comments and suggestions and will ensure your input is integrated into our development and implementation plans for the region. To that end, we have created an online form (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSehh89nRp-OvF-lK6Qsfdb6ZseYCu_UVgX2qQ5iCliaQPj5Fg/viewform) through which you can share additional feedback, ideas, questions, and concerns. We are also in the process of updating a website that will include background on the program alignment process, FAQs, and current information and resources.”

5.Commencement is just over a month away

     Mark your calendars for Graduate Commencement in Blacksburg at 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 11, in Lane Stadium, and in Northern Virginia at the George Mason University Center for the Arts at 1 p.m. on Sunday, May 15.

6.Customized teaching and course design services available to faculty, instructors.

     The Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL) partners with faculty and instructors to support the design, development, and implementation of learner-centered instruction. This partnership includes a variety of customized and confidential consulting services to support research-based teaching and learning design and strategies. Through these customized services, faculty and instructors work closely with CETL staff to set goals and action plans. As faculty and instructors begin planning for the summer 2022 term, they are encouraged to partner with CETL for support and course design resources. For more information and additional programs and services, please visit the CETL website (teaching.vt.edu).

As always, please reach out if you need anything; we are here to support you. Your problems, your worries, your fears, and above all you matter.

Aimée M. Surprenant
Dean of the Graduate School
Virginia Tech
Graduate Life Center Rm. 235
Blacksburg, VA 24061
540.231.7581
http://graduateschool.vt.edu/
@sgsdean

Volf, M. (2015). The crown of the good life: A hypothesis. In M. Volf & J. E. Crisp (Eds.), Joy and human flourishing: Essays on theology, culture, and the good life (pp. 127–135). Minneapolis: Fortress Press.

April 1, 2022 Weekly Update

Dear Graduate students, 

Spring is here and the plants and trees are starting to come out of their winter dormancy. Hope and anticipation are in the air. At the same time, local and world events continue to be of concern and a source of anxiety for many of us. I’m very lucky—my two goofy beagles (Abby and Lenny) can bring some joy into my life every day. I have promised myself that I will take a few minutes each day to delight in that joy. I’d like to ask you all to reflect on one thing that gives you joy and commit to finding a way of experiencing it in the near future. 

Summary:

1. Reminder to fill out the climate survey
2. Graduate Compensation Task Force
3. Update on Northern Virginia Center at Falls Church
4. GPSS cap and gown loan program still open
5. The VT Academy for Graduate Teaching Assistant Excellence is continuing spring office hours

1. The Graduate School triannual climate survey closes April 5

The Graduate School’s triannual climate survey is still open for graduate students across the university’s programs and campuses. Students received email invitations to participate in the survey, which launched on March 15 and closes April 5. The survey measures students’ attitudes toward campus climate, department climate, advising, mentoring and inclusion and diversity. This survey will allow Virginia Tech's leaders to receive valuable input from students about their campus climate. For additional information please review the FAQs (https://graduateschool.vt.edu/numbers/climate-survey-home/2022-survey-information.html) or reach out to Kacy Lawrence at klawr5@vt.edu

2. Graduate Compensation Task Force

The Provost and I are working to finalize the membership on the Stipend Task Force. I’m excited about getting them started and looking forward to the multiple recommendations that will come out of that effort. I expect that the group will engage in a broad consultation exercise with multiple opportunities for the community to weigh in on the topic. Stay tuned; we’re only just getting started.

3. Update on Northern Virginia Center at Falls Church

Provost Clarke, Deans Ross and Belmonte and I traveled to Falls Church on Thursday to discuss the opportunities for institutional growth and a vision for the future of Virginia Tech in northern Virginia. As part of that vision, Provost Clarke informed the group that the process of program realignment around thematic areas of distinction that began in 2019 would continue and that the Falls Church site would no longer house academic programs or administrative areas as of Fall 2024. Further details will be forthcoming as we work through a consultative process to determine the timing for relocation of programs at the NVC . Graduate students and the Graduate School will be deeply involved in those discussions and we will work to make the move as smooth as possible.

4. GPSS Cap and Gown program

Do you need a cap and gown for Spring commencement ceremonies? The Graduate and Professional School Senate has a cap and gown program that loans students master’s and doctoral degree regalia at no cost. The program’s deadline is April 3, so you need to move quickly and fill out the form. Those who borrow gowns will need to have them dry cleaned and must present the dry-cleaning receipt upon returning the gown. You will be notified on April 4 whether GPSS is available to accommodate your request. If you have questions, contact Kayla Alward at kalward@vt.edu. 

5. VT GrATE still holding office hours

The Graduate Academy for Teaching Excellence (VT GrATE) is continuing its spring semester office hours on Zoom. The Academy fellows are available every Friday, 3-4 p.m., through the end of the semester to answer teaching-related questions and talk about teaching and learning, troubleshooting, and more. 

As always, please reach out if you need anything; we are here to support you. Your problems, your worries, your fears, and above all you matter. 

Aimée M. Surprenant

Dean of the Graduate School

Virginia Tech

Graduate Life Center Rm. 235

Blacksburg, VA 24061

540.231.7581

http://graduateschool.vt.edu/

@sgsdean

We archive these Weekly Updates on the Graduate School Website under the Dean’s Corner, (https://graduateschool.vt.edu/about/deanscorner/weekly-updates.html). For additional information, you will find the Provost’s weekly updates at this site: (https://www.provost.vt.edu/provost-weekly-updates.html); and the archive of the Graduate School’s weekly Monday emails to graduate students at this site: (https://webapps.graduateschool.vt.edu/glcweekly). Students in Northern Virginia and the Washington, D.C. metro area also receive a weekly email on Fridays with information specific to your campuses and region.

Dear Graduate students,

     I have very much enjoyed the various Graduate Education Week events and seeing so many of you at the Graduate Life Center and around campus! Graduate Education Week celebrates you and the research, teaching, collaboration and community you create and belong to here at Virginia Tech.

Summary:

1. Congratulations to the Bouchet Graduate Honor Society scholars
2. Award winners celebrated for their achievements
3. Be sure to read the Provost’s message to faculty and staff regarding the university’s in-person mission
4. University Council approves CGPSP Resolution regarding living wages for graduate students with assistantships
5. Join your colleagues, classmates, and friends at the Big Cookout on the GLC Lawn


1.      Congratulations to the Bouchet Graduate Honor Society scholars

     On Wednesday, the Graduate School held a reception to honor the university’s 2022 Edward A. Bouchet Graduate Honor Society inductees: Isil Anatok, Gabriela Carrillo, Anaid Shaver, Michelle White, and Johnny Woods, Jr. University President Tim Sands, former Graduate School Dean Karen DePauw, and Chontrese Hayes, Assistant Dean for Graduate Student Academic Affairs and Student Success and a founding member of the honor society, congratulated the new members of the society. The five will be inducted via an online ceremony conducted at Yale University in April. The inductees were featured in a recent VTX article (https://vtx.vt.edu/articles/2022/03/2022-bouchet-scholars.html).

2.      Graduate School award winners celebrated

     The Graduate School held its annual awards ceremony on Thursday and honored outstanding doctoral and master’s students and faculty members from across the university.

3.      Be sure to read the Provost’s message to faculty and staff regarding the university’s in-person mission

     On Friday, Virginia Tech posted a message from Provost Cyril Clarke to all faculty and staff about the university’s “in-person” teaching, learning, and research mission. “To meet Virginia Tech’s commitment to Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), we anticipate integrating virtual work and online programming across educational, research, and outreach missions, but this must be implemented in accordance with the university’s strategic plan. … Virginia Tech has developed a reputation for excellence in the delivery of in-person programs and student engagement, and while we anticipate that virtual technologies will be used to strengthen program delivery in the future, our commitment to in-person work and instruction is unwavering.” Read the full message here: (https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#inbox/FMfcgzGmvfTwXmBmklTZhdrFLsRBgNfm).

4.      University Council approves CGPSP “Resolution for Equitable and Cost-of-Living-Responsive Graduate Student Compensation” for students on assistantships

     On March 21, the University Council approved the Commission on Graduate and Professional Studies and Policies’ resolution regarding compensation for graduate students on assistantships (https://governance.vt.edu/assets/2022321-03%20CGPSP%20Resolution%202021-22D.pdf). The resolution calls for a task force to draft a report and recommendations by December 31, 2022 for providing assistantship stipends and other financial support. The Graduate and Professional Student Senate developed the initial draft of the resolution, advocated for its adoption, and participated in negotiations to develop a final version.

5.      Join your colleagues, classmates, and friends at the Big Cookout on the GLC Lawn

     The Graduate School’s annual Big Cookout will begin at 4:30 p.m. today on the Graduate Life Center Lawn. Graduate students and their families are invited to enjoy food, music, and games.  Hethwood Market will provide meat and vegetarian options. The event lasts until 6:30 p.m. I hope to see you there!

As always, please reach out if you need anything; we are here to support you. Your problems, your worries, your fears, and above all you matter.

Aimée M. Surprenant
Dean of the Graduate School
Virginia Tech
Graduate Life Center Rm. 235
Blacksburg, VA 24061
540.231.7581
http://graduateschool.vt.edu/
@sgsdean

We archive these Weekly Updates on the Graduate School Website under the Dean’s Corner, (https://graduateschool.vt.edu/about/deanscorner/weekly-updates.html). For additional information, you will find the Provost’s weekly updates at this site: (https://www.provost.vt.edu/provost-weekly-updates.html); and the archive of the Graduate School’s weekly Monday emails to graduate students at this site: (https://webapps.graduateschool.vt.edu/glcweekly). Students in Northern Virginia and the Washington, D.C. metro area also receive a weekly email on Fridays with information specific to your campuses and region.

March 18, 2022 Weekly Update

Dear Graduate students, we are more than halfway through the semester, days are longer, and the weather is improving. Please take a second to take a deep breath, maybe open a window or get outside for a little while today. Remind yourself what is important and re-focus on those things. Easier said than done, of course! 

Summary:

1.     Resources available for those experiencing continued symptoms from COVID-19

2.     Mask mandate lifted

3.     Resources for classroom instruction re: masking

4.     COVID-19 Testing resources

5.     BOV public comment period

6.     Grad Ed Week

1.     Resources available for those experiencing continued symptoms from COVID-19

A growing number of people, including graduate students, are trying to manage long-term symptoms associated with recovery from COVID-19 and also juggle their classes, research, and other commitments. The Hokie Wellness team has compiled a list of resources for students, staff, faculty, and others who are experiencing such symptoms, which can be found here: https://hokiewellness.vt.edu/hwondemand/employee-wellness-on-demand/long-covid.html

Please take advantage of them, and share this information with others who may need it. The medical establishment is currently struggling with this issue and we will do our best to enhance supports as they become available.  

2.               Mask mandate lifted

On March 11, President Tim Sands announced that masks are no longer required in public indoor spaces in Roanoke and Blacksburg, but the university recommends wearing masks in classroom settings. Masks still are required on public transit and in health care settings. KN95 masks remain available for free at several locations across the university’s campuses. You can find more information on this on the university’s ready site, https://vt.edu/ready. 

3.               Resources for classroom instruction re: masking: Faculty guidance, resources on classroom conduct

With the announcement that masks are no longer required in public indoor settings (except for health care settings and on public transit), instructors may recommend but cannot mandate student masking in their classrooms and other indoor instructional spaces unless it is a prerequisite for participating in a specific lab or field activity/setting.

In the Faculty Handbook Section 9.9 (Classroom Conduct), face coverings are not associated with instructional conduct and masks cannot be considered “appropriate dress” in a classroom that can be required by an instructor. Also, a student’s choice to wear/not wear a mask is not considered “disruptive classroom conduct.”

Faculty, staff, and students may continue to protect themselves through the use of personal protective equipment such as KN95 or similar respirators-type masks in all instructional spaces. Free KN95 masks are available to all Virginia Tech faculty and students through University Procurement at several locations in Blacksburg and Roanoke.

The Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL) has developed a number of helpful resources, guidance, and sample statements for instructors as they work to continue promoting and providing a positive classroom environment. https://teaching.vt.edu/OurServices/classbehavior.html

These resources offer steps for implementing and upholding positive classroom behaviors that include:

Setting clear and consistent expectations 

·        Use of health and safety sample syllabus statement (suggested/optional) 

·        Early and frequent communications with students 

·        Modeling behavior and planning for positive student interactions 

·        Holding students accountable for their actions

·        The Provost’s Office, through CETL and TLOS, has also developed a number of resources for faculty should they have students who may not be able to participate in in-person classes for health reasons or related university-approved accommodations.

For more information and additional instructional support resources, visit the CETL (https://teaching.vt.edu)

and Provost’s Office (https://www.provost.vt.edu/provost-weekly-updates.html)

websites.

4.               Voluntary COVID-19 testing 

Testing is still available at several sites on the Blacksburg campus throughout the rest of the spring semester. Please consult the Testing webpage, https://ready.vt.edu/testing.html, for more information. 

5.               BOV Public Comment Session

On March 22, the university’s Board of Visitors will hold a public comment session about tuition and fees for the 2022-23 academic year. The session will be at 1:45 p.m. in the Assembly Hall at the Holtzman Alumni Center, 901 Prices Fork Road on the Blacksburg campus. University officials will provide an overview of proposed tuition and fee ranges prior to the comment period. See the BOV website, https://bov.vt.edu,  for public comment session guidelines.  

6.               Graduate Education Week 

Graduate Education week begins on Monday, March 21. The week celebrates graduate education and you, our graduate students. There is a range of activities and events, including the Graduate and Professional Student Senate research symposium on Wednesday and the annual cook-out on Friday. You’ll find all the events listed on the Graduate Education Week website, 

https://graduateschool.vt.edu/student-life/graduate-education-week.html. 

I look forward to seeing you throughout the week!

As always, please reach out if you need anything; we are here to support you. Your problems, your worries, your fears, and above all you matter. 

Aimée M. Surprenant

Dean of the Graduate School

Virginia Tech

Graduate Life Center Rm. 235

Blacksburg, VA 24061

540.231.7581

http://graduateschool.vt.edu/

@sgsdean

We archive these Weekly Updates on the Graduate School Website under the Dean’s Corner, (https://graduateschool.vt.edu/about/deanscorner/weekly-updates.html). For additional information, you will find the Provost’s weekly updates at this site: (https://www.provost.vt.edu/provost-weekly-updates.html); and the archive of the Graduate School’s weekly Monday emails to graduate students at this site: (https://webapps.graduateschool.vt.edu/glcweekly). Students in Northern Virginia and the Washington, D.C. metro area also receive a weekly email on Fridays with information specific to your campuses and region.

Dear Graduate students,

     On March 4, President Tim Sands sent a message to the Virginia Tech community noting that mask mandates for the Blacksburg and Roanoke campuses are still in force. Masks are no longer required, but are highly recommended in indoor instructional spaces at campuses in the greater Washington, D.C., metro area and Richmond. “If current trends continue, we expect mask requirements for Blacksburg and Roanoke will be lifted soon. Masks are still required on public transit,” the president wrote. More information about updated protocols and resources are posted on the university’s Ready site.

               The Provost’s Office has developed resources for instructional staff who may have students who are unable to attend class in person. I recognize and appreciate how hard our faculty and graduate teaching assistants work to support the ongoing progress of our students.

Take advantage of the resources offered if needed:

• Better Together
• Cook Counseling Center at 540-231-6557.
• Dean of Students Office at 540-231-3787. Referral to a campus cleric may be made through this office.
• Hokie Wellness at 540-231-2233 (students) or 540-231-8878 (employees)
• Office of Housing and Residence Life at 540-231-6205
• Equity and Accessibility at  540-231-2010
• University Ombuds Office at 540-231-3125
• Graduate Office of the Ombudsperson at 540-231-9573

               Please take the time, if you can, during spring break to rest, rejuvenate, and reinvigorate. I realize that not all of you can take significant time off. At the very least, try to get outside when the weather is nice to enjoy the sun. Research shows that even imagining you are outside improves cognitive functioning (to be fair, so does chocolate; https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/11/11/2800).

Please note that I will not be doing a weekly update next week.

As always, please reach out if you need anything; we are here to support you. Your problems, your worries, your fears, and above all you matter.

Aimée M. Surprenant

Dean of the Graduate School

Virginia Tech

Graduate Life Center Rm. 235

Blacksburg, VA 24061

540.231.7581

http://graduateschool.vt.edu/

@sgsdean

We archive these Weekly Updates on the Graduate School Website under the Dean’s Corner, (https://graduateschool.vt.edu/about/deanscorner/weekly-updates.html). For additional information, you will find the Provost’s weekly updates at this site: (https://www.provost.vt.edu/provost-weekly-updates.html); and the archive of the Graduate School’s weekly Monday emails to graduate students at this site: (https://webapps.graduateschool.vt.edu/glcweekly). Students in Northern Virginia and the Washington, D.C. metro area also receive a weekly email on Fridays with information specific to your campuses and region.

Feb 28 2022 Dean’s Weekly Update

Dear Graduate Students,

Current world events, including war in the Ukraine, have added what might seem to be an unbearable burden after the past two years. I don’t have any great advice to give you other than to continue to connect with your community to both receive and provide support. The Dean of Students Office and the Graduate School are ready to offer you care and support – along with fulfilling requests for academic assistance if your attention will be elsewhere in the coming days or weeks. Know that offices like ours are deeply committed to assisting with what you may be feeling right now and the anxiety caused by being away from your own home country, family, or friends.

• Tips for dealing with stress, class and research pressures, and relationships as we near the midway point of the semester, from Bryan Hanson (bryanh76@vt.edu), Graduate School Ombudsperson. Please reach out to Bryan if you’d like to learn more. 

1. Reflect on the role various pressures we have within our place of work and/or study, our home, and our community affect us. 

2. Identify where our support structures lie to help us manage the pressure that derives in each of these domains.

3. Identify how our body responds when we find our stress levels start to reach the threshold of distress.

4. Recognize when these responses are starting to occur.

5. When we feel affected by high levels of stress, we need to take a mental timeout and do what we can in the moment to give presence to these feelings and respond in ways that can de-escalate the tension that accompanies these feelings.

6. Reach out to those that we work or live with and ask for a bit of grace and the support that we need to cope with the stress.

7. Take advantage of  the many resources and support structures available here at the University. 

• The Office of Student Affairs has developed a website devoted to well-being resources for university students. The site includes a link to #VTBetterTogether. https://well-being.vt.edu/

• New COVID-19 mitigation guidelines chart:

  • The  university has developed and launched a new COVID-19 mitigation guidelines chart (COVID-19 Mitigation Guidelines Chart) to help the university community and visitors to campuses understand and adhere to Virginia Tech health and safety protocols. The Provost shared information about the site, noting it “provides links to current information for the university community related to expectations for vaccinations, boosters, masking, and testing.” The COVID-19 Mitigation Guidelines Chart is aligned with and supports official university information provided through the university’s Ready website (https://ready.vt.edu/). The chart will be updated regularly. 

• The GPSS Resolution on a living stipend will be reviewed and voted on during the March 21 University Council meeting. 

• During spring break there are no University classes; therefore, students should also have no classwork assignments and no examinations held this week. We recognize that many graduate students play important roles in labs and lab work cannot always be abandoned for the week of spring break; however, we have asked that the faculty work with their lab students to the greatest extent possible to minimize student lab duties during the spring break week and if a student must work in the lab, provide opportunity to have equivalent break time in the weeks leading up to or just after spring break. 

As always, please reach out if you need anything; we are here to support you. Your problems, your worries, your fears, and above all you matter. 

Aimée M. Surprenant
Dean of the Graduate School
Virginia Tech
Graduate Life Center Rm. 235
Blacksburg, VA 24061
540.231.7581
http://graduateschool.vt.edu/
@sgsdean

We archive these Weekly Updates on the Graduate School Website under the Dean’s Corner, https://graduateschool.vt.edu/about/deanscorner/weekly-updates.html. For additional information, you will find the Provost’s weekly updates at this site: https://www.provost.vt.edu/provost-weekly-updates.html; and the archive of the Graduate School’s weekly Monday emails to graduate students at this site: https://webapps.graduateschool.vt.edu/glcweekly. Students in Northern Virginia and the Washington, D.C. metro area also receive a weekly email on Fridays with information specific to your campuses and region. 

February 18 Weekly Update

Dear Graduate students,

     On February 14, President Tim Sands sent a message to the Virginia Tech community noting that mask mandates may be lifted in coming weeks (https://vtx.vt.edu/articles/2022/02/president-message-021422.html). “As confidence grows that the omicron wave of the COVID-19 pandemic has nearly passed, it appears that we will soon have the opportunity to eliminate the complications of required masks and distancing from our daily routines,” the president wrote. The university will post updates on the Virginia Tech Ready site (http://vt.edu/ready), so check it regularly. Please note that the masking mandate remains in effect for indoor spaces on all of Virginia Tech’s campuses.

     The university continues to offer voluntary testing for employees and students. Visit the Ready Testing information page to learn more about availability, locations, and how to schedule an appointment (https://ready.vt.edu/testing.html).

     At the February 21 University Council meeting, the Commission on Graduate and Professional Studies and Policies will present for second reading the Graduate and Professional Student Senate resolution aimed at ensuring graduate students on assistantships receive adequate compensation for their work.

     If you are instructing a class, or want to instruct a class, you should know that you can take advantage of all the resources available at the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning: (https://teaching.vt.edu) and the University Library (https://lib.vt.edu/find-borrow/grad-student.html).

     As a reminder, during spring break there are no University classes; therefore, students should also have no classwork assignments and no examinations held this week. We recognize that many graduate students play important roles in labs and lab work cannot always be abandoned for the week of spring break; however, we do ask that the faculty work with their lab students to the greatest extent possible to minimize student lab duties during the spring break week and if a student must work in the lab, provide opportunity to have equivalent break time in the weeks leading up to or just after spring break.


     I want to end by noting that I know that this semester has not been easy. You may be feeling frustration, concern, anxiety, and stress--please know that you are not alone. I, too, have experienced many of these emotions recently. To cope, I continue to lean on family, friends and other resources when needed. I hope you will do the same.

     As always, please reach out if you need anything; we are here to support you. Your problems, your worries, your fears, and above all you matter.

Aimée M. Surprenant
Dean of the Graduate School
Virginia Tech
Graduate Life Center Rm. 235
Blacksburg, VA 24061
540.231.7581
http://graduateschool.vt.edu/
@sgsdean

We archive these Weekly Updates on the Graduate School Website under the Dean’s Corner, (https://graduateschool.vt.edu/about/deanscorner/weekly-updates.html). For additional information, you will find the Provost’s weekly updates at this site: (https://www.provost.vt.edu/provost-weekly-updates.html); and the archive of the Graduate School’s weekly Monday emails to graduate students at this site: (https://webapps.graduateschool.vt.edu/glcweekly). Students in Northern Virginia and the Washington, D.C. metro area also receive a weekly email on Fridays with information specific to your campuses and region.

February 11, 2022

Dear Graduate students,

After the shooting that occurred in downtown Blacksburg last weekend, the Graduate and Professional Student Senate shared a useful list of mental health resources. I’m sharing that list and a few more resources below. These sorts of incidents can leave us feeling helpless and despairing. But, remember, you don’t have to do this alone. Reach out to your network of friends, family, and colleagues to share your feelings and comfort one another.

•       Cook counseling: 540-231-6557, ucc.vt.edu/clinical_services_students.html
•       Cook Emergency support services: ucc.vt.edu/clinical_services_students/emergency_services.html 
•       Dean of Students Office: 540-231-3787, dean.students@vt.edu
•       Hokie Wellness: 540-231-2233, hokiewellness@vt.edu
•       Hokie Wellness has a list of mental health resources on its website: https://hokiewellness.vt.edu/students/mentalhealth.html
•       Cook Counseling Center also has a list of resources external to the university on its website: https://ucc.vt.edu/index/coping-and-mental-health-during-covid-19-.html

While the COVID-19 vaccination mandate has been lifted, the university still requires the use of masks inside its buildings. Free masks are available at the following locations in Blacksburg and Roanoke:
•       Squires Student Center, at the information desk.
•       McComas Hall, at the university recreation check-in desk.
•       North End Center, in the main entrance lobby.
•       Newman Library, lobby of the Alumni Mall entrance.
•       Virginia Tech Police Department, at the first-floor security center desk through the double doors.
•       Student Services Building, in the Hokie Passport Services lobby.
•       Student Services Building, in the Hokie Passport Services lobby.
•       Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, in the café, Dock C, and VMIA entrance.
•       And in Roanoke:
•       Fralin Biomedical Research Institute, in the lobbies (reception desks) at 2 Riverside Circle and 4 Riverside Circle, Roanoke

Voluntary testing for COVID-19 also is available on the Blacksburg campus. Information can be found on the VT Ready site: https://ready.vt.edu/testing.html. Students in Northern Virginia can pick-upCOVID-19 mail-in PCR test kits in Falls Church or Arlington: https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=20170330&appointmentType=29318318

On February 7, the Commission on Graduate and Professional Studies and Policies presented for first reading the Graduate and Professional Student Senate resolution seeking a living wage for graduate assistants. Senate President Jack Leff and I presented the resolution and answered questions associated with it. The resolution will be considered for second reading at the February 21 University Council meeting. You are welcome to attend as observers.

Giving Day is Feb. 23-24. Please consider making a gift to the Graduate School to support programs and services, and to provide financial assistance to students. The Graduate School’s Giving Day website is https://givingday.vt.edu/graduateschool.

The provost’s office will highlight the following in its Weekly Update for February 11:
•       The message of appreciation for faculty and ongoing challenges sent February 7, https://www.provost.vt.edu/provost-messages/message-appreciation-february-2022.html.
•       A reminder to wear masks.
•       A note about attendance and student engagement strategies
•       A reminder of the Provost’s goals and priorities, https://www.provost.vt.edu/goals.html

We archive these Weekly Updates on the Graduate School Website under the Dean’s Corner, https://graduateschool.vt.edu/about/deanscorner/weekly-updates.html. For additional information, you will find the Provost’s weekly updates at this site: https://www.provost.vt.edu/provost-weekly-updates.html; and the archive of the Graduate School’s weekly Monday emails to graduate students at this site: https://webapps.graduateschool.vt.edu/glcweekly. Students in Northern Virginia and the Washington, D.C. metro area also receive a weekly email on Fridays with information specific to your campuses and region. 

As always, please reach out if you need anything; we are here to support you. Your problems, your worries, your fears, and above all you matter.

Aimée M. Surprenant
Dean of the Graduate School
Virginia Tech
Graduate Life Center Rm. 235
Blacksburg, VA 24061
540.231.7581
http://graduateschool.vt.edu/
@sgsdean

February 4, 2022

Dear Graduate Students,

Working with Graduate and Professional Student Senate Executive Team, we have decided to provide the graduate community with a weekly update on Fridays, sharing information from the Provost’s office and other university departments and resources that affect graduate students. Our first update is below.

COVID-19 information and updates:

• Vaccines: On January 31, President Tim Sands sent a message to the Virginia Tech community stating that the university no longer requires all students to be vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of enrollment or in-person instruction. This change was effective immediately and includes all campuses. To help the campus community stay up-to-date on revisions to university COVID-19 guidance, a new COVID-19 Mitigation Guidelines Chart has been developed as a quick reference resource to assist employees, students, and visitors in understanding and adhering to the university’s health and safety protocols.
• Testing: Although the university is no longer is requiring mandatory testing for students, we encourage everyone across our campuses to get tested if they are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms or have been exposed to the virus.
• Masks: While the vaccine mandate has been discontinued, the university requirements to wear masks indoors and follow other public health guidelines, such as social/physical distance, remain in effect.
  • Pickup points for masks on the Blacksburg campus can be found here.
  • Masks can be picked up in the lobby of the NVC in Falls Church.
• Information: The university will post any additional updates to protocols and requirements on the VT Ready site and will send information through the VT Daily email.
  • For the spring 2022 semester, Virginia Tech will operate a university helpline (540-231-7600) to help all members of the university community — student, faculty, staff, parents, alumni, and visitors — get information and answers on matters related to the university’s response to the continued COVID-19 pandemic. The helpline is and is staffed Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and on Saturdays and Sundays between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
  • The Graduate School also will make sure the latest information is posted on the Graduate School COVID-19 information webpage 
  • Employees and students in the Washington, D.C. area now have weekly access to take-home COVID-19 test kits for the 2022 spring semester.
  • If you test positive for COVID-19, or if a health care provider has directed you to isolate or quarantine, please report that information using this form. This includes all GAs, GTAs, and GRAs. As I have noted before, disclosing this information will not result in conduct action, nor will it lead to unnecessary inquiries. We are most concerned that you and your family and friends are safe. We want you to have a successful spring semester.

Other reminders:

• Submit a program proposal for Women’s Month 2022: The Women’s Center at Virginia Tech invites members of the campus community to submit a program for Women’s Month 2022: The First 100 Years of Women at Virginia Tech.
• Spring enrollment for Little Hokie Hangout is ongoing. The Little Hokie™ Hangout is a flexible, subsidized care program primarily for Graduate Student families.

We will keep you informed as we learn more. We also will archive these Weekly Updates on the Graduate School Website under the Dean’s Corner. For additional information, you will find the Provost’s weekly updates here, and the archive of the Graduate School’s weekly Monday emails to graduate students here. Students in Northern Virginia and the Washington, D.C. metro area also receive a weekly email on Fridays with information specific to your campuses and region. 

As always, please reach out if you need anything; we are here to support you. Your problems, your worries, your fears, and above all you matter. 

Aimée M. Surprenant
Dean of the Graduate School
Virginia Tech
Graduate Life Center Rm. 235
Blacksburg, VA 24061
540.231.7581
http://graduateschool.vt.edu/
@sgsdean