Graduate Education Week celebrates successes, possibilities

During this year's Graduate Education Week at Virginia Tech March 21-25, participants will celebrate graduate-student successes, such as student research, and explore future possibilities for graduate education, including a new Graduate Life Center.

The week will include fun for the graduate students -- a GSA social to kick things off, a big cook out, and raffles for an iPod and printers, for example -- and information for students and the public. The public will be able to learn about student research at the Graduate Student Assembly's Graduate Research Symposium and Exposition or participate in one of several discussions of topics ranging from honor-system penalties to social boundaries that shape our lives.

A complete listing (along with times and locations) of all events can be found at the Graduate School website, http://www.grads.vt.edu/GEW2005. Among the events: Dean Karen P. DePauw will give a sneak preview of the Graduate Life Center, Associate Provost Pat Hyer will lead a panel discussion about secrets of hiring in academe, and Calvin Ribbens and Jason Lockhart the Terascale Computing Facility will discuss the keys to success of System X, the supercomputer, in their keynote address.

The Graduate School is encouraging departments to show their gratitude to students by taking them to the Student Appreciation Luncheon. Alpha Epsilon Lambda will induct charter members into Virginia Tech's first honor society devoted exclusively to graduate students, and graduate students who have distinguished themselves will receive honors at an awards banquet.

Many events are open to the public; some, due to limited seating, require registration. For a look at all the events of Graduate Education Week 2005, go to http://www.grads.vt.edu/GEW2005. Call 231-9561for further information.