Graduate Education Week begins on March 26
The Graduate School will hold its annual Graduate Education Week celebration March 26-30 at the Graduate Life Center (GLC) on the Blacksburg campus. Virginia Tech’s National Capital Region and Roanoke campuses also will offer Graduate Education Week activities.
Many departments and graduate programs join the Graduate School in offering a range of events and activities focusing on students and their work, programs, professional development, and fun.
This year’s celebration offers something extra, based on the week’s theme, “Always Curious.” The Graduate School will offer behind-the-scenes tours of a variety of locations, prompting students to explore all that the campus and the community have to offer and featuring the work of graduate students in these spaces. The tours are possible thanks to the generosity of many programs, organizations, and institutions across the campus and community.
The week begins on Monday with the now traditional student appreciation luncheon at 11:30 a.m. in the GLC multipurpose room. The event recognizes and celebrates the contributions graduate students make to Virginia Tech. At 4 p.m., this year’s citizen scholars will present their projects and receive their citizen scholar award in GLC Room F.
On Tuesday, students can learn more about the electronic thesis and dissertation (ETD) process at the “Removing the Mystery of the ETD Review” seminar at 7 p.m. in the GLC multipurpose room. Or, they can head to the Lyric Theatre for a free movie, courtesy of the Graduate School and the Lyric.
On Wednesday, the Graduate Student Assembly will hold its annual research symposium and exposition, filling the GLC with presentations and poster sessions showcasing the latest developments in graduate student research. At 2 p.m., Career and Professional Development staff will hold a LinkedIn Lab in the lobby of the Graduate School. Students can get professional headshot photos taken and can have their LinkedIn profiles reviewed. At 6 p.m. author, mathematician and rocket scientist Olympia LePoint will deliver the symposium keynote address in the GLC auditorium.
On Thursday, the Graduate School and Alumni Relations honors teaching and service award winners, recipients of outstanding thesis and dissertation awards, top doctoral and master’s degree students, and the outstanding faculty mentors from each college at an annual awards banquet. The outstanding graduate student of the year and members of the Edward A. Bouchet Graduate Honor Society will also be recognized.
The week will end on Friday with a big cookout on the Graduate Life Center Lawn and in the multipurpose room. All graduate students and their families are invited to enjoy free food, music, and games.
For a full schedule of events, some of which require registration, and to sign up for a tour, visit the Graduate Education Week homepage.
