Patience and Persistence
As we navigate this most unusual semester, these words keep resonating with me. Although we all have our moments, I have noticed that the Villanova community has treated each other with incredible patience. We continue to acknowledge our collective challenges, and have lifted each other up. As COVID-19 forces us to rethink just about every aspect of our lives, we have been persistent in our academic pursuits. But that comes with a cost. Often, we neglect our mental health and wellness as we forge on with our studies.
In this issue of GRAD CLAS NOTES, we offer a number of virtual events, workshops and resources to help you stay healthy, both physically and mentally. Also in this issue we highlight some very relevant topics in our News section. Our graduate assistant Shea Szpila spoke with a number of our graduate students to find out how they spent their time in the pandemic. I'm sure you will identify with their experiences. Our Human Resource Development program is making tangible steps toward a more inclusive world with its new Inclusion and Diversity Strategy Certificate, and we wanted to recognize CLAS faculty who have bought into the University's Affordable Materials Project (AMP). In addition, I want to call attention to our Theatre Department's remarkable production of Bakkhai Variations, a multi-day virtual event that showcases the amazing talent, and, yes, persistence of our theatre students, faculty and alumni.
As I said last month, we can do this! Be patient with one another. Be persistent in your studies. Lift each other up. And most important, take care of yourself. Be safe.
- Emory Woodard, PhD, Dean of Graduate Studies, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Grad School in the Pandemic: Students Share Their Stories
After campus closed in March, Grad CLAS students dispersed across the country and globe. From reconnecting with family to learning new hobbies to adapting to new ways of learning and working, they showed a resiliency, creativity and optimism that helped them persist through our challenging times and prepared them for the challenges of the future. Read more.
There’s A Better Way to Do Diversity and Inclusion Training
Companies can do more with their efforts to include and support employees from diverse backgrounds says Jameel Rush, vice president of diversity and inclusion at Aramark and adjunct professor of Human Resource Development at Villanova. That thinking is behind HRD's rollout of its new graduate certificate in Inclusion and Diversity Strategy. Read more.
CLAS Professors Win Affordable Materials Project Grants
Villanova Theatre's Bakkhai Variations October 12 - 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 and register.
Streaming Schedule
Monday, Oct. 12 - 8 p.m.
Bakkhai by Anne Carson
zoom reading
Friday, Oct. 16 - 7 p.m.
She Makes Knives Now by Mark J. Costello
available through October 23
Saturday, Oct. 17 - 7 p.m.
The Bakkhai; or, I'm trying so hard to be good by Alix Rosenfeld
available through October 24
Sunday, Oct. 18 - 7 p.m.
Bakkhai by Anne Carson
zoom reading rebroadcast
Friday, Oct. 23 - 7 p.m.
Dionté and Khai Do Dinner by Megan Schumacher
available through October 30
Saturday, Oct. 24 7 p.m.
Beginning by Jessica Bedford
available through October 31
Friday, Oct. 30 - 7 p.m.
exxx...stasis, exxx...hale... by Alexandra Espinoza
available through November 6
Saturday, Oct. 31 7 p.m.
Bakkhai Variations (full-length film showcasing all five plays) available through November 14
Events, Reminders and Information
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.
Spring 2021 Calendar Revised
For the Spring 2021 semester, the first day of classes will be on Monday, January 25 for all graduate students (excluding HRD and MPA online). There will be no spring break and Easter Recess is limited to Friday, April 2. The last day of classes will be on Monday, May 3, and Commencement Weekend will be on May 14 and 15. Details regarding registration, add/drop, and WX deadlines are still underway so please check the academic calendar for updates.
Remote Learning Accommodation Requests for Spring Semester
As with the Fall 2020 semester, we encourage any student who wishes to request a remote learning accommodation for the Spring 2021 semester to first view the master schedule and, if possible, select distance learning classes for the semester. Graduate students will be notified via email with information and instructions for the spring remote learning accommodation request process when the master schedule is published.
Virtual International Potluck - October 18
Join the International Graduate Student Ambassadors on Sunday, October 18 from 6 to 7 p.m. for a virtual potluck. All are welcome! How to participate: make your favorite food from your culture or one that you enjoy, join the Zoom hangout to show and tell about your food, then enjoy dinner and chat with your fellow graduate students! Register for the event.
#LetsVoteNova - PA Voter Registration Deadline October 19
Villanova University’s Mission statement calls for a community of people “who seek to nurture a concern for the common good and who share an enthusiasm for the challenge of responsible and productive citizenship.” The Villanova Student Government Association, the Office of Student Involvement, the Office of Government Relations, along with campus colleagues are excited to provide a campus coalition to promote voter education, voter registration and voter mobilization. The voter registration deadline in Pennsylvania is Monday, October 19. Learn more on the #LetsVoteNova website.
Villanova Women's Professional Network Financial Literacy Workshop - October 20 & 27
Join the WPN for a virtual two-part Financial Literacy Workshop from 7 to 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, October 20, and Tuesday, October 27. This workshop will help graduate students, staff, faculty and the community to: build confidence and motivate action; raise awareness of one's own attitudes, beliefs and concerns around money; provide information on what is needed to develop a personal financial plan to achieve. Learn more and register.
Work/Life Experiments for Adult Students: Balance, Wellbeing and the Upsides of Stress - October 21
Graduate school is a wonderful opportunity to build mastery in your career domain, but alongside professional development and personal growth, there is the stress you feel from academic, work, family and financial pressures. In this virtual workshop, we will talk about the expansionist mindset, primary vs. secondary prevention, flow and recovery - all thought experiments and skillsets that will help you achieve the "balance" that is right for you in graduate school and beyond. The workshop will be led by Heather Cluley, PhD, Associate Director and Assistant Teaching Professor of Human Resource Development, at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, October 21. Register for the event.
Upcoming Important Dates and Deadlines
- 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.
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.
Virtual Graduate Research Symposium - October 30
Join us on Friday, October 30 from 1 to 3 p.m. to celebrate and learn about the research conducted by CLAS grad students as part of the Summer Research Fellowship program. Video presentations followed by live Q&A with students will showcase the exciting research conducted by your peers across many disciplines. Stay tuned for more details and link for the Zoom event.
Brain Health: The Role Mood, Metabolism and Cognition Play - November 5
On Thursday, November 5 at 12 pm, learn how to keep your brain healthy and prevent mental decline with proper nutrition and lifestyle. This virtual workshop is presented by Jessica Pellicciotta, Coordinator of Nutrition and Fitness Programs from the Office for Health Promotion. Register for the event.
NovaNetwork November
Nova Network November is a series of events dedicated to enhancing the professional development of Villanova alumni, parents, graduate students and students in the College of Professional Studies. All programs and events will take place online throughout the month of November. Take advantage of these unique opportunities geared towards experienced professionals by registering for an event today!
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.
CLAS Graduate Studies
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