April, 2008
Career Services Corner: Getting to know Hokie Joe
Last fall, Virginia Tech Career Services welcomed a new member to its staff in hopes of appealing to students by keeping up with popular culture.
Hokie Joe is the newest addition to the Career Services staff. He was created as a way to inform students about upcoming events and opportunities offered by Career Services, through a Facebook profile.
Every student who currently has a Facebook profile can benefit from this information and it is easy to access. The only thing that a student has to do is add Hokie Joe as their Facebook friend and
they will start receiving messages and notifications about events and programs from him. Then when they browse the site they will see updates through their mini-feed and receive notifications through email.
VT Celebrates Asian Pacific American Heritage Month
Typically recognized in the month of May, Virginia Tech celebrates Asian and Pacific Islander culture in April to provide educational and entertainment programs for students before they leave campus for summer break. Highlights of the month long celebration include:
- April 5th, all day—International Street Fair, downtown Blacksburg
- April 5th, 7 p.m.—Filipino American Student Associations 20th Anniversary Culture Night, Burruss Hall auditorium
- April 9th, 7 p.m.— Slam Poet Alvin Lau, Colonial Hall, Squires Student Center
- April 19th, 7 p.m.—Chinabration 2008, Burruss Hall auditorium
- April 25th, 7-10 p.m.— Paul Dateah and HereandNow Theatre Company—Commonwealth Ballroom, Squires Student Center
A complete calendar of events can be found on the Multicultural Programs and Services website
A Better Understanding of the Math Emporium
For the previous couple of semesters, the Dean of Students office has received inquiries from parents about their students’ use of the Math Emporium. With this in mind, we decided to provide parents with more information about the Math Emporium by meeting with Peter Haskell, Interim Math Department Chair and Mike Williams, Math Emporium Director to learn more.
The Math Emporium opened during the 1997 academic year. It was an outcome of the Faculty Development Institute (FDI) in the early 1990’s when the challenge was to develop ways for faculty to better use technology in the classroom. The FDI found that large math lecture sections did not provide the best environment for students to learn and the emporium model would provide a better pedagogy, trading lecture time for more one on one time.
Most important in student engagement is problem solving. The emporium model includes a structured on-line program that allows students to learn through systematic problem solving practice sessions prior to taking a test. Each time a student completes a problem, they are provided with instant feedback. If they need assistance, they hold up a red cup and a staff member responds There are no surprises. If students do the work, they succeed.
There has been the incorrect perception that students teach themselves and no professor is available to teach the courses. We found that a professor is assigned to each course. Once a week that professor schedules a problem solving session which is in lecture format to address any concerns students may have.
The Math Emporium itself is structured, providing regular feedback, one on one help on demand, and is staffed by professors, graduate teaching assistants, and paid undergraduate math assistants. There are 550 work stations, some for general use, testing, or tutoring. The tutoring center is staffed by graduate teaching assistants and is available Sunday-Thursday from 5-9 p.m.
Students have to manage their time to use the Math Emporium. There is no required sitting time and the programs can be accessed by any computer. However, proctored exams and graded work must be completed in the Math Emporium.
Variations of the Virginia Tech model are being utilized at Louisiana State University, Michigan Tech, Idaho, and the University of Alabama. These institution’s programs, though similar, are not at the same scale of Virginia Tech. In addition, we use full time faculty while the other institutions typically use part time or adjunct faculty in their programs.
The Math Emporium is open during the academic year on Sundays from 4:00 -10:30 p.m. and Monday – Thursday from 10:30 a.m.–10:30 p.m. and is located off campus at the University Mall near Volume Two Bookstore.
Meal Plan Rollover Balances
In early April, your student will be receiving an e-mail from the Hokie Passport Office informing him or her of remaining meal plan and/or meal plan rollover balances for the academic year. Those balances must be used by May 7th, 2008.
Any funds remaining after this date will be forfeited as per the Reductions, Refunds and Terms section of the Dining Guide. Balances may also be obtained under the "Personal Info" tab at My VT.
The Hokie Passport is the official Identification Card for Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. It functions as a meal card as well as a building access key and bus pass.
Virginia Tech’s Oldest Media Publication
The Bugle, the yearbook of Virginia Tech, is the campus' oldest media publication. From its inception in 1895, the Bugle has been published virtually continuously. The early years were a time of growth, showing a progression of artistic expression and design. However, during World War II, several campus media organizations were shut down, including the Bugle and the Collegiate Times.
After the war, the Bugle began another long period of growth and reached its largest size ever in 1983, at 556 pages.
The Bugle, along with five other student media organizations separated from the university in 1997 to form the Educational Media Company at Virginia Tech, Inc. (EMCVT, Inc.). EMCVT, a non-profit organization, has two main purposes: to increase the quality of life on the Virginia Tech campus, while providing educational opportunities for students in the media field. The other student organizations within EMCVT include the Collegiate Times (newspaper), WUVT (radio), VTTV (television), SPPS (photography staff), and Silhouette (literary magazine).
Solutions for Your Student’s End of Semester Stressors:
Problem: Academic pressures increase toward the end of the semester.
Solution: Encourage your student to work on time management and eating properly--allowing sufficient time for attending classes, studying, sleeping, and eating balanced meals.
Problem: Some students begin crash diets because of weight gained during the winter.
Solution: Students should consider making a personal wellness appointment through the Schiffert Health Center (540) 231-3070. Topics include smoking cessation, healthy eating habits, and exercising healthy.
Problem: Frustration over colds, allergies and lethargic feelings that may limit social activities because of extreme spring weather changes.
Solution: Students should consider making an appointment with Schiffert Health Center at (540) 231-6444 or go to www.healthcenter.vt.edu/Resources to obtain health tips.
Problem: Increasing feelings of depression and possible harmful behavior occur from the inability to cope with academic and social pressures.
Solution: Students may contact the Cook Counseling Center at (540) 231-6557. On-line screenings for depression, alcohol use, eating disorders, and anxiety are available.
Problem: Increasing concerns about post 4/16 reactions.
Solution: Cook Counseling Center is offering walk-in group sessions for students to discuss their concerns on Wednesdays at 10 a.m. For more information, contact Debbie Thurneck at (540) 231-6557 or email: debbiet@vt.edu
Problem: Temptation to participate in more social activities like formal dances, parties and concerts add to pressure.
Solution: Encourage your student to stay focused on academic pursuits at this critical time in the semester and find balance between academic responsibilities and social needs.
What is DARS and How Will It Help My Student?
The Degree Audit Reporting System (DARS) is a computer generated report for undergraduate and associate level students that match the requirements of a degree program with a student's course work taken. The audit identifies those graduation requirements that are completed as well as those requirements that still need to be completed.
Save the Dates
Month of April—National Poetry Month
April 11, 2008—Deadline for requesting rescheduling of final examinations that conflict or constitute a third exam in 24 hours. (See your Academic Dean)
April 16, 2008— University Remembrance. No Classes
April 21, 2008— Web Drop/Add begins for Fall Semester 2008
April 25, 2008— Last day to apply for Course Withdrawal
April 30, 2008— Classes End
May 1, 2008— Reading Day
May 2, 2008— Beginning of Spring semester 2008 Final examinations (there will be Saturday examinations)
May 7, 2008— Close of Spring Semester 2008 final examinations; Balances must be used for meal plan and/or meal plan rollovers
May 9, 2008— University Commencement Ceremonies (Graduate and Undergraduate)
May 10, 2008— Spring Commencement (College Ceremonies)
A Day of Remembrance
On April 16, 2008 the Virginia Tech community will reflect on the vibrant lives of the 32 students and faculty who were tragically taken from us a year ago. Through light, art, and music we will pay tribute to each and every person we lost. We gather to honor our friends, colleagues, and family members. We will never forget.
Schedule of Events
10:30 a.m. — University Commemoration Drillfield (rain or shine)
12-5 p.m. — Expressions of Remembrance Various locations
7:45 p.m. — Candlelight Vigil Drillfield (rain or shine)