GRAD CLAS NOTES

I want to take a moment to recognize the sacrifices and tremendous effort that you, our students, faculty and staff, are making to ensure we are having a safe and productive fall semester. None of this is easy. The University prepared a comprehensive plan and called on each one of us to do our part. You have embraced the challenge.

We still have a long way to go, though. This weekend saw an uptick in COVID cases on campus. This increase calls for all of us to continue to focus our efforts to stop further spread. I am cautiously optimistic that we can continue the necessary safety protocols, put Community First, and finish this semester strong.

This issue of GRAD CLAS NOTES includes a plethora of resources from our friends in the College and across the University to help you have a successful semester. At Villanova we believe we can achieve great things when we work together. Even though some of us may not be physically on campus, I still feel that collective spirit in our community.

We can do this!

- Emory Woodard, PhD, Dean of Graduate Studies, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Last month's Graduate Student Orientation was a live, virtual event hosted by the graduate deans in the College of Engineering, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, College of Nursing and Villanova School of Business. The Orientation website provides information about the many University-wide offices and resources that are available to all graduate students. You can also watch a recording of the event, or videos from each speaker.

COVID-19 Surveillance Testing Program

Villanova University is instituting a COVID-19 surveillance testing program as part of our ongoing efforts to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in our campus community. Graduate students are expected to comply with testing requests. It is of utmost importance to be tested if you are randomly selected so the sampling efforts remain viable and accurately indicate the prevalence of the disease on campus. More information about this program can be found on the COVID-19 Campus Information website.

New Webpage—Student Academic and Professional Support Services at Villanova

The Office of the Provost recently launched a new webpage that highlights the University’s academic and professional support services for both undergraduate and graduate students, as well as those offered by each college. This page serves as a central web resource for students to access/learn about these support areas. Visit the Support Services page.

Fall 2020 BIPOC Writing Hangouts - Next Session September 29

Faculty of color in the English Department are holding bi-weekly, BIPOC writing hangouts for Villanova community members who identify as people of color. You don't have to be a writer to show up, and you will be provided creative prompts to get you writing. All you need to bring is paper, pen or whatever you like to write with. For folks who like to share their words, there will be time for that, too. Sessions are held every other Tuesday from 7-9 p.m. on 9/29, 10/13, 10/27, 11/10, with a reading on Nov. 17. Email Adrienne Perry, PhD, for the Zoom link.

Women's Leadership Series Webinar—Leading in a Crisis - September 30

Join the first segment of the Women's Leadership Development Webinar and Workshop Series, on Wednesday, Sept. 30, from noon until 1:30 p.m. The webinar, "Leading in a Crisis," features women leaders who faced critical issues in their industries or communities as a result of the COVID-19 crisis. Participants will gain insights, tips and skills to enhance their leadership development, using the lens of leading in a crisis. Moderated by Dr. Terri Boyer '95 CLAS, Founding Director, Anne Welsh McNulty Institute for Women’s Leadership, the focus of the webinar will be on communication, decision-making, negotiation skills, personal financial management and self-care. Learn more.

Upcoming Important Dates and Deadlines

• Oct. 4 – Last Day for Authorized Withdrawal without Academic Penalty (WX) for HRD and MPA online students
  
• Oct. 23 - Last Day for Authorized Withdrawal without Academic Penalty (WX)
• Nov. 23 - Final Day of Classes
• Dec. 4 - Thesis/Dissertation due
• Nov. 30 - Dec. 5 - Final Examinations
  
• For a complete list of dates and deadlines please refer to the on-campus and online academic calendars.

2020 U.S. Presidential Election Series Virtual Events - Begins October 8

Join a series of virtual events about the election with CLAS faculty. On Thursday, Oct. 8, 1–2 p.m., Camille Burge, PhD, will discuss “Race and the Election.” On Thursday, Oct. 22, 1–2 p.m., Matthew R. Kerbel, PhD, will discuss “The State of the Contest, Election Day, and What Happens Next.” The series will conclude on Tuesday, Oct. 27, 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m., with a panel on “The Meaning of the Election in a Pandemic Year” with Billie Murray, PhD, Danielle N. Gadson, PhD, and Tim Horner, D. Phil. Learn more.

Villanova Theatre's Bakkhai Variations - October 11 - 31

Villanova Theatre is pleased to announce its first production of the year, Bakkhai Variations, a collection of five filmed plays, which will be presented both individually and as a unified work in October. These events will be live-streamed to audiences in order to ensure the safety of all participants. In May, Villanova Theatre commissioned five MA in Theatre alumni to write short plays in response to Anne Carson's adaptation of Euripides’ Bakkhai. These gifted playwrights were charged with creating new pieces that would reflect, refract and interrogate Euripides’ original play, and be able to be realized and transmitted remotely, in order to maintain safe distancing. To the surprise of no one involved, Jessica Bedford ’10, Mark Costello ’10, Alexandra Espinoza ’18, Alix Rosenfeld ’16 and Megan Schumacher ’18 have crafted a diverse array of new works that promise to delight and inspire artists and audiences alike. Learn more.

Black "Matter" Lives Virtual Event - October 23

The Villanova Department of Communication is hosting a virtual event, Black "Matter" Lives, on Friday, Oct. 23 from 2 to 4 p.m. with Armond Towns, PhD, Assistant Professor of Rhetoric and Communication Studies at the University of Richmond. Dr. Towns will discuss the relationship between blackness, matter and communication to argue that racial violence situates Black bodies as matter necessary for the materialization of Western society. Learn more.

CLAS Virtual Graduate Open House - October 24

Do you know someone who would be a great fit for a Grad CLAS program? Encourage them to meet us virtually! We are hosting a Graduate Open House through Zoom beginning at 10:30 a.m. EDT on Saturday, October 24. Attendees will learn more about the College’s 60+ graduate degree and certificate programs, meet with faculty and current graduate students, and get the inside scoop on the admissions process. Learn more and register.

Mindfulness Meditation Mondays

Mindfulness Mondays are offered from 12:30–1 p.m. during the Fall semester to create a virtual, comfortable space where you are guided and encouraged to stop and focus on the “here and now.” Sessions will take place each week via Zoom. Mindfulness Mondays are presented by Campus Ministry and co-sponsored by Falvey Library. Learn more.

Graduate and Law Student Faith Sharing - Thursday Nights

Join other graduate and law students for an ecumenical Faith Sharing group that meets virtually on Thursday nights at 9 p.m. Learn more and sign up.

Expert Subject Librarians Available to Help Villanova Students Virtually

Falvey Memorial Library’s subject librarians are virtually available to help with research and coursework. Visit the Subject Librarian site for a detailed list of subject specializations and to schedule a consultation or email a question.

Wildcard Mobile App Available

CBORD Mobile ID is an app designed to be a mobile phone version of your Wildcard. From within this app, you can open doors, use a vending machine, mark attendance at an event or class, and many more uses. CBORD Mobile ID is available as an app from the App Store or Google Play. Learn more.

Office of Graduate Studies - Hours and Operations

The Office of Graduate Studies will be open this fall semester. Our office hours are 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday – Friday. We are located in Vasey Hall – Room 202. Ordinarily, we would invite all students to stop by and say hello this semester. However, in an effort to keep our community safe, we are working to adhere to social distancing guidelines. Virtual meetings are preferred this semester. Please call 610-519-7090 or email gradinformation@villanova.edu to set up a virtual meeting time with a member of the Graduate Studies staff or for any general questions. If you do need to come to our office in person, please ring the bell next to the door or call our main number for assistance.

Graduate Student Lounge Is Open – Falvey 306

The Graduate Student Lounge space will be open this fall semester. Social distancing guidelines will be in place for the lounge and some seating has been removed. We ask that students adhere to the occupancy limit posted outside of the door and be cognizant of others using the space. Masks must be worn at all times. In addition, sanitation equipment will be placed in the lounge and we ask that you please sanitize your space before and after use. We want this space to be available to our graduate students this semester, but we can only keep it open if our students use the space responsibly.

Email: gradinformation@villanova.edu
Website: gradartsci.villanova.edu
Location: Villanova University, Lancaster Avenue, Villanova, PA, United States
Phone: 610-519-7090
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VUGradStudies/
Twitter: @VUGradStudies