Graduate Student Resources: A through Z

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Board of Visitors (BOV), Graduate Representative to
The BOV is the governing authority at Virginia Tech that makes high level decisions which affect the entire university community such as tuition raises, allocation of financial resources to different departments and organizations, and university-wide policies. The graduate representative presents graduate student concerns.

Bookstore, University
Students will find the books that they need for their classes by visiting the University Bookstore either on campus or online. There are two locations, University Bookstore, next to Newman Library, and University Volume Two Bookstore at the University Mall, University City Blvd.

BreakZONE Recreation Center
Sponsors competitive leagues, on-site skills classes, and open play in a variety of activities. The Venture Out Center offers enjoyable, challenging, and affordable ways to experience the great outdoors through adventures, gear rentals, and outdoor resources.

Bursar’s Office (Student Accounts)
Provides information about billing and reimbursements, manages Accounts Receivable, the Budget Tuition Program, Cash Receipts, and Disbursements and Loans and Collections (Perkins and HPSL).

Bus Transportation, Blacksburg Transit
Runs the local bus service, which is free to Hokie Passport holders. Their website contains bus schedules and route information.

Career Services
Offers individual advising to help students fine-tune job search plans; review resumes, curriculum vitae and other job search documents; and addresses individual concerns. Career Services Building.

Communications Network Services
Provides telephone, data, and video services to students and faculty.

Computing and Information Systems
One-stop computing resource site for everything related to computer use, including accounts and access, classes and courseware, Internet and the Web, security and viruses, software and hardware.

Counseling Center, Thomas E. Cook
Promotes the academic, intellectual, social, emotional, and personal development of students. Through direct counseling services for students, outreach education, and consultation with faculty and staff, the Center provides assistance designed to reduce the impact of personal and academic difficulties which interfere with student success at Virginia Tech.
240 McComas Hall, 540/231-6557

Cranwell International Center
Provides a wide variety of services, resources and referrals to anyone with a need that has an international focus. These include but are not limited to assistance with application for a Social Security card and driver’s license, counseling, health and family support, orientation, community linkages, and the host family program.

ETD Support Website
This website provides comprehensive information about electronic theses and dissertations (ETD). It includes an overview of the ETD development process, guidelines for submission, submission tools, and other helpful information.

Event Services Office
Facilitates and enhances programming efforts of the Virginia Tech community by assisting and consulting in the planning and support of events, scheduling events and consulting about equipment, risk management issues, procedure and protocol, and Production Services referrals.

Faculty Development Institute - Fall and Spring Short Courses
A wide variety of courses are offered covering technology topics in teaching and learning, research, communications, and productivity. Faculty, staff, and graduate students are welcome to participate in these courses, especially if they are providing assistance in support of faculty teaching and research activities.

Family and Work Life Resources
Resource information for students and families including help with parenting issues, locating child and dependent care resources in the community, life as a single person, financial management, and more.

Graduate School

• Administration of assistantship, fellowship and scholarship processes
• Announcements on listserv and website
• Assistance with plan of study, curriculum changes, readmission, registration, in-state classification, and other administrative matters
• General advising and student advocacy
• Graduate Education Week
• Immigration advising and assistance to international graduate students
• New Student Orientation at the beginning of each semester
• Seminars and workshops

Also view a detailed list of Graduate School services.

Graduate Honor System
Graduate students, by accepting admission, indicate their willingness to subscribe to and be governed by the Graduate Honor Code and acknowledge the right of the University to establish policies and procedures and to take disciplinary action when such action is warranted. Compliance with the Graduate Honor Code requires that all graduate students exercise honesty and ethical behavior in all their academic pursuits at Virginia Tech, whether these undertakings pertain to study, course work, research, extension, or teaching.

Graduate Student Assembly (GSA)
The GSA is the governance organization for the graduate and professional student community at Virginia Tech. It represents students’ concerns and is the liaison to the university administration with members serving on ten commissions, two advisory councils, nine committees, and with a student representative to the Board of Visitors. The GSA administers several programs, among them: research and travel funds, Research Symposium and Exhibition, several social events during the year, maintains a graduate student listserv to notify students of important announcements, and publishes a newsletter, APEX.

Housing, Off-Campus
The Virginia Tech Off-Campus Housing Office maintains a website with an abundance of information about housing, rentals, subleasing, roommates, transportation, and so on. The site also includes a searchable database of all available housing and students seeking roommates.
123 Squires Student Center, 540/231-3466, e-mail: vtoch@vt.edu

Housing, On-Campus
Student Programs’ Housing and Dining Services offers graduate housing for the 2005-2006 academic year in Main Campbell Hall and the Graduate Life Center at Donaldson Brown. Visit their website for additional information or contact them at:
109 East Eggleston Hall, 540/231-2660, e-mail: housing@vt.edu

Information Services Center
Provides information about University Unions and Student Activities, the university and Blacksburg communities, upcoming events, maps, meeting room key pick-up, schedule of daily events, and lost and found articles. First floor of Squires Student Center.

Institutional Review Board
Reviews and approves research projects involving human subjects.

Intellectual Properties, Virginia Tech
A university affiliated, non-profit, private corporation that handles, protects, and licenses technologies developed by the faculty, staff, and students at Virginia Tech.

Media Center, New
The New Media Center offers members of the Virginia Tech community access to multimedia hardware and software. The Center provides video editing bays, Macintosh and Windows-based computers, scanners, tutorials, classes, and knowledgeable staff.

Medical Insurance Office, Student
Offers a university health insurance program that provides comprehensive coverage for students and their dependents. 110 Student Services Building, 540/231-6226

Medical Insurance Benefits for Graduate Assistants
Students who hold graduate assistantships and who purchase the university-sponsored health care plan, may be eligible for health insurance benefits.

Parking Services
Parking permits are required for parking at Virginia Tech. Parking permits are sold at the Parking Services Office, located at 455 Tech Center Drive and 130 Student Services Building.

Perspective Gallery, Squires Student Center
Presents exhibitions throughout the year, providing diverse artists, media, and styles of local, regional, national, and international reputation. Visits to the gallery are always free. Second floor.

Recreational Sports
Offers non-credit instruction, fitness activities, wellness education and assessment, intramural sports, and extramural sports competition for students, faculty, staff, and their families.
142 McComas Hall, 540/231-6856

Registrar’s Office
Provides academic calendars, sets dates and deadlines for registration, exams, classes, etc. Issues transcripts, verifies enrollment status, handles resignations and withdrawals.

Schiffert Health Center
Provides student medical services that are equivalent to those provided by a general family physician. These services are included in the cost of students’ Comprehensive Fees. Accredited by the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care, Inc., the Center provides primary care and other services through the Women’s Clinic, the Allergy & Immunization Clinic, and the Pharmacy. Health education programs are also available. McComas Hall, 540/231-6444

Statistical Consulting Center
Supports the research mission of the university. In a typical year the center provides more than 3,000 consultant-hours of service to some 65 university departments and state agencies.

Student Centers
The Graduate Life Center, Squires, and Johnston Student Centers are hubs of activity for the university community. They serve as formal and informal meeting places for student organizations, students, and the larger university community. Facilities include meeting rooms, conference rooms, ballrooms, and theatres.
Graduate Life Center
Squires Student Center
G.B. Johnston Student Center (GBJ)

Student Organizations
Over 500 student organizations with a wide range of interests are listed with the Student Activities Office. The staff provides advice and counsel on risk management, fund raising, university policies, and organizational development, as well as advice and assistance in budget preparation and accounting for annual funding through the Student Budget Board.

Technology Websites and Information

• Acceptable use guidelines and policies at Virginia Tech
• Computer and technology infrastructure information at VT
• Portal to courses, e-mail, events on campus
• The source of online courses and many traditional classroom course materials
• You’ve got questions, we’ve got answers
• Antivirus software FREE to all students
• Software you may need to purchase for your degree work,
  offered at a significant discount
  

Ticket Office - UUSA
The major ticket distribution center for events (other than Athletics) for Virginia Tech. The office supports ticket sales for theatrical and music performances, concerts, lectures, movies, and season subscriptions.

University Libraries and Services
University Libraries consist of the main library and several smaller specialty libraries. Students may request interlibrary loans and electronic delivery of articles. Subject specialists provide resource information in almost every field. LiveRef is a popular online question/answer service of the library, as well as the online Research Paper Scheduler. As a convenience to students, the main library offers the use of lockers and access to group study rooms.

War Memorial Chapel
The chapel is host to religious services, weddings, baptisms, prayer vigils, memorial services, remembrance events, initiations, military commissioning, music recitals, student vocal and ministry groups, holiday programs, concerts, lectures, individual prayer and meditation, and religious study.

Women’s Center
Provides information, advocacy, crisis intervention, short-term counseling, support groups, accompaniment to law enforcement, medical facilities and judicial proceedings, and referrals.