Welcome to the Graduate School’s weekly newsletter for D.C. area graduate students. The newsletter is published on Mondays. When the university is closed for a holiday on Monday, the newsletter will be emailed on Tuesday. 

The Graduate School held New Graduate Student Orientation this past week. Thank you to all of the new students who attended. You can view the Orientation slide deck online to review all of the information that was covered.  

The slides contain links and contact information for many offices around Virginia Tech that can assist you in your graduate school journey. It is a great resource for new and continuing students alike, so please check it out. 

This Week's Events and Activities

  1. Engineering Expo Career Fair Prep Workshop • 9/3 • 5:30-6:30pm • ZOOM 
    Need guidance on preparing for and navigating Engineering Expo and all the other career fairs this fall? Attend Career & Professional Development’s (CPD) career fair prep workshop and employer panel on September 3rd at 5:30 pm! During this session, you'll learn how to navigate career fairs, prepare your elevator pitch, and make a positive impression. Employers participating in Engineering Expo will also share their advice on successfully connecting with recruiters at a career fair. 
     
    Featured employers: Advansix, NAVAIR Fleet Readiness Center East, Urban Design Partners, & Volvo  
     
    Please register using the link on this page, where you'll also be able to submit questions to the employer panel! https://app.joinhandshake.com/edu/events/1574999

  2. Resume Writing for Graduate Students • 9/4 • 10-11am • ZOOM 
    Having a well-polished resume is a critical step toward getting an interview. Start preparing early to be ready for Fall career fairs. This workshop will provide tips for crafting an effective resume. The session will also include information on Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) and the use of generative AI in crafting your resume. You can register for this event in Handshake. https://vt.joinhandshake.com/events/1566045/share_preview

  3. Master Your Future: PhD: Patiently Hoping for a Degree • 9/17 • 12-1pm • Virtual 
    Master Your Future is a series of professional development workshops designed to help students successfully navigate graduate school and their professional development. https://shorturl.at/OjMVH  

  4. Tech on Tap • 9/17 • 6-8pm • Virginia Tech Innovation Campus HQ 3000 Potomac Ave., Alexandria, VA 22305 
    Join us for a discussion on Virginia Tech’s place in Alexandria’s past, present, and future! The discussion will be led by Susan Piedmont-Palladino, director of the Washington-Alexandria Architecture Center, and Sven Shockey, Virginia Tech alum and leader of the design team for Innovation Campus Academic Building One in Potomac Yard. Registration is $10 and includes a $5 gift to the Washington-Alexandria Architecture Center. Your registration also covers appetizers and a drink ticket. We will be serving Hardywood Fightin' Hokies Lager and Hardwood Pils, as well as other beer and non-alcoholic beverages. Tech on Tap is typically attended by alumni and locals in industry. Join us for an illuminating evening, steps from the new building! https://www.alumni.vt.edu/events/2024/09/tech-on-tap.html

  5. Flip the Fair 2024 • 9/26 • 8:30am-2pm • Roanoke, VA  
    Flip the Fair is a flipped science fair where graduate students present their research science-fair-style on tri-fold poster boards, and 5th graders judge them! Prizes awarded to the best presenters. This year’s event will be held at the Melrose Branch Library in Roanoke. 
    - Sign up to present: https://forms.gle/K18YMj24aViy1oaWA   
    - Sign up to volunteer: https://forms.gle/kQvn7ub3ifkhBZFTA    
    Sponsored by the Roanoke Public Libraries, Roanoke City Public Schools, VSOP, VT Global Change Center, VT Center for Communicating Science, VT Office of Inclusion & Diversity, The Graduate School, FBRI@VTC, VT College of Sciences, and FLSI.  
    Questions: Contact the organizing team: gatespalissery@vt.edu, amandaah@vt.edu, megane97@vt.edu

  6. Master Your Future: Thriving in Grad School: Enhancing Well-Being and Success through Mindfulness and Psychological Safety • 10/22 • 12-1pm • Virtual 
    View the series flyer. Register: https://shorturl.at/OjMVH  

  7. Master Your Future: Moving from Conflict to Collaboration • 11/26 • 12-1pm • Virtual 
    Register: https://shorturl.at/OjMVH  

Job Opportunities

  1. Communications and Marketing Intern, D.C. Area • apply ASAP, open until filled 
    An internship with the D.C. area communications and marketing team will provide hands-on experience for a student to learn about content creation for various communication channels, including social media platforms and the D.C. area website, as well as other marketing and communications projects as assigned.  
    https://vt.joinhandshake.com/jobs/9210491 
     
    Internship responsibilities include:
    • Brand review and compliance for D.C. area collateral
    • Social media content creation, collaboration, and coordination across the D.C. area platforms
    • Website content updates and communications support
    • Newsletter content and social media coordination for student communications
    • Media relations support to promote D.C. area research, faculty expertise, and student success
    • Onsite event support as needed
    • Monitoring and tracking of communications metrics and reporting
    • Assist with project management and execution of D.C. area communications initiatives

Administrative Announcements

  1. Upcoming Professional Development Opportunities from the CIRTL Network 
    Virginia Tech is a member of the Center for the Integration of Research, Teaching, and Learning (CIRTL) Network, which offers a variety of professional development opportunities, including online workshops and courses (non-credit bearing), available to graduate students and postdoctoral associates at institutions in the CIRTL Network at no cost. This fall, the CIRTL Network schedule includes programming focused on evidence-based teaching fundamentals, student belonging, and academic professional development. You can find the full CIRTL Network fall programming schedule, including descriptions and registration information, at https://cirtl.net/events/. To learn more about CIRTL, which includes a network of 45 institutions in the U.S. and Canada, visit its website at https://www.cirtl.net/. For more information about CIRTL at Virginia Tech, visit https://cirtl.vt.edu/ or email cirtl@vt.edu.  

  2. Apply for the CIRTL at Virginia Tech Associate Teaching Program 
    The Center for the Integration of Research, Teaching, and Learning (CIRTL) at Virginia Tech Associate Teaching Program is designed for graduate students and postdoctoral associates to learn about effective teaching practices. Participants will engage in programming focused on foundational knowledge about teaching and complete a teaching philosophy activity. Upon program completion, participants will receive a CIRTL at Virginia Tech Associate digital badge. The program is open to graduate students and postdoctoral associates regardless of teaching experience or responsibilities. Multiple options for program completion are available. To be eligible for the program, you must be a current graduate student or postdoctoral associate at Virginia Tech. To learn more about CIRTL, which includes a network of 45 institutions in the U.S. and Canada, visit its website at https://www.cirtl.net/. For more information and to apply, visit https://cirtl.vt.edu/teaching-program.html.  

  3. Changes to Creation of Microsoft 365 Sharepoint Sites, Teams, Groups 
    In response to Microsoft’s license model changes, Virginia Tech will be modifying procedures regarding the creation of collaborative spaces within Microsoft 365. Beginning Aug. 16, only employees will be able to request and create new Sharepoint Sites, Teams or groups. Students will no longer be able to create new Microsoft365 collaborative spaces, but may be added to these spaces by an employee. Existing Sharepoint sites, Teams, and groups are not affected at this time and may continue to be used. Please contact 4Help at 4help.vt.edu or by phone at 540-231-4357 with questions. https://news.vt.edu/notices/2024/07/it-ccs-microsoft-collaborative-spaces-require-approval.html 

  4. Free Online Professional Development Courses 
    Publication academy courses are a great opportunity for students to pursue and develop skills that can be useful in your current and future professional settings. Students are able to access these courses for free until November 1, 2024. Find more information here: https://graduateschool.vt.edu/student-services/professional-development/publication-academy-course.html  

  5. Leadership Courses - Register Now 
    Enroll now in Leadership courses for Fall 2024: LDRS 5454 (CRN 86980) virtual: Leadership Diverse Contexts Identification and definition of leadership in education settings, communities, & organizations. LDRS 5464 (CRN 86981) in-person: Leadership in a Global Society Identification and development of the personal and professional competencies required for effective leadership in an increasingly global, diverse and multicultural society. LDRS 5534 (CRN 86982) virtual: Cognition, Problem Solving, Pref for Change Theoretical perspectives, processes and techniques utilized in problem solving, both adaptively and innovatively. Individual cognitive preference for working to effect change in institutional structures. LDRS 5544 (CRN 86983) virtual: Leading Teams through Change Theory and techniques for leading tactical, creative, and problem-solving teams through change. Improving leadership within small groups or teams. Questions? Contact Dr Jerald Walz at jhwalz@vt.edu.  

  6. Hokie Passport - Student ID 
    Get your student ID at the NVC Library Resource Center in Falls Church. 
    Students must be currently enrolled and show photo identification - passport or US driver's license - no scans or copies are accepted. 
    No appointment necessary August 26-29 during the first week of classes. 
    Beginning Friday, August 30, you will need to make an appointment; use the following link bit.ly/nvcHokieP (case sensitive).  
    If you need a day and or time not listed or have a question, please email us nvclibrary@vt.edu.  

Find current, previously published, administrative announcements on the newsletter archive page. 

Volunteers and research participants sought

  1. Participants needed for a study investigating essay writing and ChatGPT 
    We are looking for participants who will be asked to write a paper with the assistance of ChatGPT. Participants will also answer a pre- and post-study survey. The findings from these surveys will be used to better understand the query process behind using ChatGPT in the context of essay writing. The study was reviewed and accepted by the IRB (# 24-325) and is being conducted under the supervision of Dr. Sang Won Lee (sangwonlee@vt.edu).  
     
    Participants must be 18 years or older. If you are interested in participating, please start the study at the following link: https://virginiatech.questionpro.com/GPTWritingPreSurvey.    
     
    If you have any questions, please contact Andrew Jelson at jelson9854@vt.edu. The research team will enter the essays into a random drawing and compensation will be given to approximately twenty percent of participants as a $10 gift card. Odds of being selected will be maintained as 1 in 5. The participants will be contacted separately. 

  2. Master’s endurance and ultra-endurance athletes needed for a research study 
    We are examining the relationship between physical activity and total number of calories expended each day (IRB #21-567). This study will require 1 virtual meeting and 2 visits to the Human Integrative Physiology Laboratory at Virginia Tech, which will take approximately 6 hours. Participant qualifications:  
     
    - Highly Active Masters' Athletes (60 years of age or older)  
    - Has an average weekly mileage of 35 miles or more 
    - Stable body weight over the past year (±5 lb.) 
    - Free of cardiovascular, lung, metabolic, kidney disease or cancer 
    - Has competed in a marathon or ultramarathon with the past year 
    - Has not had any recent injuries that have affected training volume 
     
    Participants will be entered in a drawing for $25 cash. (Odds of being selected 1 in 5) 
     
    View the flyer. For questions, contact: Aubrey Johnson aubreyleahj@vt.edu  

Have a great week! 

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External Funding Opportunities

No postings were submitted for this newsletter date. 

Ongoing Services

View current information from this section, Ongoing Services, and ongoing but previously posted Administrative Announcements on the website at https://dcarea.vt.edu/students/newsletter/ongoing.