Preparing for Fall 2021
We are getting close! As we gear up for the Fall 2021 semester, I write today with a few updates and reminders to help us transition back to a more normal academic experience this year.
I would like to extend a hearty Villanova welcome to all of the students who enrolled in our graduate programs since the last edition of this newsletter! GRAD CLAS NOTES is our monthly newsletter in which we share academic news and important dates and deadlines, as well as research and enrichment opportunities that you may find helpful as a graduate student. We hope this communication helps connect you to our community!
For students who graduated this spring, this issue marks your last edition of the newsletter. If you wish to continue to receive it, simply reply to this email or write gradinformation@villanova.edu and let us know you want to stay on the list.
To our new students this year - I strongly encourage you to join us for our University-wide live, virtual new Graduate Student Orientation on Tuesday, August 17. You can find registration information in this newsletter, and you should have received an invitation in your email. Orientation is a great way to set yourself up for success as a graduate student - and it is a lot of fun, even virtually! I also wish to note that we are offering two campus tours this month - see the blurb below and register soon, as space is limited.
Finally, I want to send a heartfelt thanks to everyone who has already uploaded their vaccination documentation or submitted an accommodation form. For those who have yet to do so - you have until Friday, August 13. You can learn more about the vaccination requirement and how to upload your documentation below.
I look forward to seeing you soon! Stay safe. Be well. Go Nova!
- Emory Woodard, PhD, Dean of Graduate Studies, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Theology Doctoral Student Wins College Theology Society Best Student Essay Award
Theology doctoral student Trevor Williams won the Susan G. Perry Award for the Best Student Essay by the College Theology Society (CTS). The award was announced in June at the CTS Annual Convention, a virtual event this year at which Williams was able to present his scholarship. Williams' work, "Trinitarian Animality," was selected from more than 40 submitted essays. Read more.
History Students Assist with 19th-Century Spanish-Language Archives
History graduate students Anamartha Hinojosa and Micaela Miralles-Bianconi were recognized in a recent article in Archival Outlook written by Villanova's Falvey Memorial Library Distinctive Collections Librarian and Archivist Rebecca Oviedo, who worked closely with Hinojosa and Miralles-Bianconi to translate and transcribe a series of letters between families in Philadelphia and Havana, Cuba, in the early 1800s. Read more.
Villanova Theatre Announces 2021-2022 Season
New Graduate Student Virtual Orientation - August 17
The University-wide live, virtual New Graduate Student Orientation is on Tuesday, August 17, from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Orientation will introduce you to key University leaders and acquaint you with the many resources available to you as a graduate student, as well as provide an opportunity to meet your new peers during a special CLAS Zoom session. Learn more and register.
Events, Reminders and Information
Back-to-Campus Safety Plan and Vaccine Protocols
Villanova University is requiring all on-campus students, faculty and staff to be vaccinated against COVID-19 before the start of the Fall 2021 semester. Students must upload their vaccination documentation into Villanova’s secure portal—Villanova.medicatconnect.com—no later than Friday, August 13, 2021. All documentation will be kept confidential. Students who have not uploaded their vaccination documentation or who have not been granted an accommodation by August 13 will be withdrawn from their classes. Even if you have only received one dose of a two-dose vaccine, please upload your documentation of the first dose, then upload documentation after the second dose.
Online students who will not be on campus at any point in the Fall semester will not be required to be vaccinated. As with other vaccines required to attend Villanova, accommodations may be requested for medical and religious reasons. The University will also make provisions for international students to receive the vaccine once on-campus if they are unable to meet this requirement in advance of the fall semester. Please visit the University COVID-19 Campus Information website for the latest information about returning to campus for Fall 2021.
Villanova Theatre Sue Winge Playwriting Competition - Submissions Due August 15
The Villanova Theatre Department is pleased to announce the 2021 Sue Winge Playwriting Competition, offered exclusively to Villanova students, alumni, faculty and staff. The Competition is a program of the Sue Winge Playwriting Award, which annually supports the creation and development of new plays at Villanova University. The Sue Winge Playwriting Award was established in memory of beloved Villanova University employee Sue Winge, who served the University for many years in the Theatre Department and the President’s Office. Learn more.
Join Us for a Graduate Student Campus Tour - August 18 and 25
New to Villanova or new to campus this year? Join Director of Graduate Studies, Emily McCloskey, for a welcome-to-campus tour this month! Emily will point out the best spots for graduate students around campus. Two tour dates available: Wednesday, August 18 and Wednesday, August 25, both at 10 a.m. Register by following the linked dates in this post. Space is limited, so register soon!
Upcoming Important Academic Calendar Dates and Deadlines
- August 19 - Mandatory in-person orientation for all incoming international students. Please contact Hubert WhanTong with any questions.
- August 23 - First day of classes for all Grad CLAS students
- August 29 - Last day for changes in registration status (drops, adds)
- For a complete list of dates and deadlines please refer to the on-campus and online academic calendars.
Become a Graduate Student Ambassador in 2021-2022!
We invite you to join our amazing team of graduate student ambassadors for 2021-2022! Serving as an ambassador is an excellent opportunity for a leadership experience, a chance to meet other graduate students in Grad CLAS, and help prospective students decide if Villanova is the place for them. Ambassadors help with open houses, graduate fairs, preview day and similar recruitment events. This upcoming year we have a variety of virtual and in-person events planned. Consider becoming an ambassador and get the most out of your graduate experience! Learn more and apply.
Nova Network – Join the Grad CLAS Students and Alumni Group
Graduate students are encouraged to join the Nova Network, Villanova's official social and professional network, to find Villanovans in your industry and local area, discuss career-related topics and access resources for your professional development. There's even a Grad CLAS Students and Alumni Group! Learn more about Nova Network.
Graduate Career Services at Villanova – On-Demand Assistance
We know our graduate students are busy with coursework, jobs and home life. So, when it’s time to explore a career move, we want services, resources and coaching to be easy to access. Whether grad students are looking to update resumes, job search, prepare for an interview or network with Villanovans, we have them covered. Check out the Graduate Career Services page to learn more.
Handshake - The Villanova Job Resource
Handshake is Villanova’s go-to resource for jobs, internships, events and more! This mobile career management platform intuitively connects you to relevant opportunities based on your profile, interests and search activity. Through Handshake, you can apply for positions, explore companies and connections and sign up for career fairs and workshops all in one place. Learn more about Handshake.
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