GSA OCTOBER 4th - ANNOUNCEMENTS

2011

GSA FUN ACTIVITIES: THE PHD MOVIE ADVANCE TICKETS!

GSA will be screening The PHD Movie at the Lyric Theater on Wednesday, October 12th at 7:00 pm! The PHD Movie is based on the popular web comic by comedian Jorge Cham (www.phdcomics.com). The film delves into the unique and funny culture of Academia and follows four graduate students (Cecilia, Mike, Tajel, and the "Nameless Grad Student") as they struggle to find balance between research, teaching, and their personal lives. Tickets are $5.00 and will be available during GSA Office Hours Tue 8-10am and Wed 1:30-3:30pm in GLC Graduate Student Organization Office (21 GLC). Questions: Contact Swetha Kumar at swethak@vt.edu GSA VP of Programs.

GSA SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT:

GRADUATE REPRESENTATIVE TO THE BOARD OF VISITORS-HAVE YOU MET YOUR REP YET? Meet Michelle McLeese, your 2011-2012 graduate representative to the board of visitors (BOV). There are many reasons to know about the BOV and to have your voice heard and be represented! Michelle is your direct liaison to the BOV and she also works with the graduate student assembly (GSA) every month to present information from the BOV directly to you and your departments. Consider visiting Michelle in the Graduate Life Center (23A) or emailing her for more information at mmcleese@vt.edu.

FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES (4TH POST)

I.GSA-GRADUATE RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM (GRDP); CYCLE I The GSA-GRDP is a competitive research funding program administered by the GSA to support qualified research and innovative ideas proposed by VT graduate students (awards up to $600 for selected PhD proposals and $400 for selected Master proposals). Applications go through a rigorous review process by a panel of graduate students and faculties. Visit http://www.gsa.uusa.vt.edu/programs/research_program to learn more about this opportunity. Applications open September 14th. Any questions/Information: should be directed to Milad Radiom, at (GSAGRDPChair@gmail.com) GRDP Chair II.GSA-Travel Fund Program (TFP): CYCLE I The GSA Travel Fund Program (TFP) is here to help relieve some of your financial burdens associated with presenting research at a conference. If you travel between July 1, 2011 to December 31, 2011, you are eligible to apply to the TFP to be reimbursed up to $350 as a masters or $500 as a doctoral student. Applications opened Sept 14 until Oct 15, 2011(5pm). Please review http://www.gsa.uusa.vt.edu/programs/travel_fund. Any questions/Information: should be directed to Franklin Warren, at (GSATFPChair@gmail.com) GTFP Chair

Questions/Suggestions contact: Shaimaa Abdallah GSA VP Membership (shaimaa@vt.edu )

GSA OCTOBER 4th - ANNOUNCEMENTS

2011

UPCOMING EVENTS
I. Academic I.a. THE BLACK GRADUATE STUDENT ORGANIZATION PRESENTS NAVIGATING DEPARTMENTAL POLITICS: PART 2 - (OCT 5TH 2011) TIME/LOCATION: Wednesday, Oct. 5th at 7:15 p.m. in the GLC Rm G.

There's more to grad school than research, teaching, and taking classes. Departmental/university politics can make or break a graduate career. The panel will discuss how to navigate departmental politics political minefield and advice on what to do if you get stuck! Be there! Confirmed Panel Members: Dr. Karen DePauw, Vice President and Dean of Graduate Education Dr. Guy Sims, Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs Dr. Manbeena Sekhon, Cook Counseling Center Ms. Ennis McCreary, Graduate Student Ombudswoman* Ms. Jasmine Graham (Submitted Prelim, Sept. 2011) Ms. Keyana Ellis, PhD Candidate, Agricultural and Extension Education (Defended Prelim Aug 2011) Ms. Kenya King, PhD Candidate,Clinical Psychology (Proposing Dissertation Oct. 2011) Dr. Jonathan Gaines, Mechanical Engineering (Defended dissertation Sept. 2011) *(ombuds definition: investigates complaints and mediates fair settlements)
I.b. HISPANIC LATINO HERITAGE MONTH LUNCHEON - (NEXT WEEK) TIME/LOCATION: Friday, October 14, 2011 from 11:30-1pm GLC room F The Graduate School hosts a Hispanic Latino Heritage Month luncheon open to all students featuring Douglas Garcia, Executive Director of Federal Relations and Outreach for the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities. Topics discussed include internship and fellowship opportunities, trends of Hispanics in education, and how to get involved in HACU. Please complete the following survey if interested in attending https://survey.vt.edu/survey/entry.jsp?id=1314727806340 I.c. ABSTRACT SUBMISSION EXTENTION FOR THE th INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM IN VIRGINIA TECH (Oct 9 ) FIRST

We are happy to announce that the abstract submission for the first Interdisciplinary Research Symposium at Virginia Tech is extended to Oct 9th. This symposium is organized by Interdisciplinary Research Honor Society () and will be held on Nov 4th, 9am-4pm, in the Graduate Life Center (GLC) Multipurpose room. The goal of this symposium is to showcase student research projects to promote and recognize the interdisciplinary work being performed at Virginia Tech by both graduate and undergraduate students. Please visit our website for FREE registration to the event and view additional information on abstract submission at http://symposium.idrsociety.org. Abstracts should be submitted to symposium@idrsociety.org.

Questions/Suggestions contact: Shaimaa Abdallah GSA VP Membership (shaimaa@vt.edu )

GSA OCTOBER 4th - ANNOUNCEMENTS

II. Cultural STRONG TOGETHER INITIATIVE - (THIS FRIDAY)

2011

The Office for Diversity and Inclusion will host a formal kickoff of the Strong Together Initiative with a reception Friday, Oct. 7, from 1 3 p.m., in Latham Ballroom at the Inn at Virginia Tech. A special presentation on the Virginia Tech Principles of Community as well as remarks by students and university officials will begin at 1:30 p.m. The reception, which is free and open to all Virginia Tech students, staff, faculty, and community members, will also serve as a welcome-to-campus mixer for recently hired employees and their families. The Strong Together Initiative is a year-long effort to promote inclusion and unity at Virginia Tech and will include a variety of programming and promotional efforts geared toward raising awareness and application of the Principles of Community among students, staff, and faculty. RSVPs are not required, but are appreciated. If you plan to attend, please send an email to diversity@vt.edu. If you are a person with a disability and may need an accommodation to participate in this program, please notify Perry Martin at 540-231-7500 or diversity@vt.edu.

CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS - (4th POST)

I. GSA Graduate Undergraduate Mentoring Program (GUMP) COMMITTEE We are seeking volunteers for this years revised program. The intention is to create a shadowing program where undergraduate students shadow a graduate mentor. This new program is based on successful programs at other universities whereby undergraduates can get a taste for graduate school while forming real relationships with graduate students whom they can contact for advice in the future. Students will spend 2-4 hrs per week with a graduate student observing routine activities. They will rotate every two weeks for a set period of six weeks in the Spring semester, allowing for a diverse experience with three different mentors. Committee volunteers are needed to help with advertisement materials, recruiting graduate students, hosting one short orientation meeting in the fall semester, and hosting one program completion meeting in the spring semester. Questions/Information contact: Risa Pesapane rpesapan@vt.edu GSA GUMP Chair. II.GSA HEALTH CARE COMMITTEE (HCC) The VT Graduate Student Assembly Health Care Committee is dedicated to improving the health mental and physical of our graduate student body through facilitating discussions and advocating policy changes with the administration of Virginia Tech. Our dedicated consecutive members/team after three years of hard work, last year had a major success and a break through leading to great improvements. We were able to get a new Health Insurance vendor, AETNA, with better benefits and service quality, a 90% subsidy for Grad Students. This year we are seeking volunteers to follow on our HCC PLAN 2011-2012. Check our FB page (no account is needed!) for more information about earlier work milestones: http://www.facebook.com/pages/VT-GSA-Health-Care-Committee/105179039565894#!/pages/VTGSA-Health-Care-Committee/105179039565894?sk=info Questions/Information contact: Amit Amritkar amritkar@vt.edu - GSA HCC Chair (2011-2012).

Questions/Suggestions contact: Shaimaa Abdallah GSA VP Membership (shaimaa@vt.edu )

GSA OCTOBER 4th - ANNOUNCEMENTS

REPEATED
I. LISA STATISTICAL COLLABORATION SERVICE II. *"LIKE" OUR NEW FACEBOOK FAN PAGE* I. LISA STATISTICAL COLLABORATION SERVICE

2011

LISA (Virginia Tech's Laboratory for Interdisciplinary Statistical Analysis) provides faculty, staff, and student researchers with quality statistical support for free. LISA's statistical collaborators are trained to help design experiments, analyze and plot data, run statistical software, interpret results, and communicate statistical concepts to non-statisticians. For best results, request a collaboration meeting with LISA before you collect your data. LISA recommends meeting with a statistician before collecting data to ensure the experimental design will provide appropriate data to answer the research questions. If you are seeking our advice on data analysis or report writing after collecting data, please bring to the meeting a clear idea of your overall research goals, specific research questions, cleaned data you may have already collected, and the results of any analyses already performed - including any plots or graphs. LISA strongly encourages everyone to plot their data! All LISA Courses are from 5-7pm this semester in either Fralin Auditorium or 3060/3080 Torgersen Hall. For Full schedule & Registration check: www.lisa.stat.vt.edu/?q=short_courses For more information about LISA's services, please visit our website (www.lisa.stat.vt.edu). II. *"LIKE" OUR NEW FACEBOOK FAN PAGE* Graduate Student Assembly invites you to LIKE our new interactive Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Virginia-Tech-Graduate-Student-Assembly/101362179953389). You will receive updates about current GSA news, events and programs right in your Facebook newsfeed! Also, you will be able to share departmental events by posting event information directly on our Facebook wall. For a full listing of summer events, visit the Google Calendar on the GSA Website (http://www.gsa.uusa.vt.edu) including trips to the Cascades, the Summer Wine Social, and the annual Welcome Back BBQ!

Questions/Suggestions contact: Shaimaa Abdallah GSA VP Membership (shaimaa@vt.edu )