Dear Graduate and Professional Students,

As the fall term draws to a close, I hope you are taking time to focus on your well-being as well as your academic pursuits, particularly over Thanksgiving break.

I want to thank those of you who attended the “Election and Reflection” group conversations with me in the days following the election. One of my favorite parts of being vice provost is getting to meet and talk with graduate and professional students from across the University. We have a number of other events coming up before the term ends, including a graduate student panel and workshop on engaged scholarship in collaboration with the University of Pittsburgh’s Year of Engagement initiative. Details are below.

Looking ahead to the end of the fall term, please note that Hillman Library’s hours have been updated. For the spring term, please review the revised spring academic calendar and note that the University will continue operating according to the Flex@Pitt hybrid model. Teaching assistants and teaching fellows will continue to have the choice of whether to teach in person or remotely. Please talk with your program director as early as possible about your plans for spring.

As a reminder, students engaged in research as part of their academic appointment—including graduate student researchers, graduate student assistants, predoctoral fellows, and others—should review the “Guidelines for Research Trainees during COVID-19 Operations” and talk to their faculty advisors and someone in the school not involved in the research to determine the conditions under which they will be physically present on campus. As always, any concerns can be shared with your associate dean for graduate studies, school ombudsperson, or with the Graduate Studies team via email. You may also report concerns anonymously using Pitt's COVID Concern Connection.

As always, I welcome you to my monthly office hours, and I am always available at VPGodley@pitt.edu. My next monthly office hour is on Friday, December 4, 2020, from 10 to 11 a.m. EST. Please complete the registration form to choose your time slot. Zoom details will be emailed to you after completing the form.

I wish you a successful end of the term and a relaxing Thanksgiving break!

Free Flu Shots: The Student Health Service strongly encourages Pitt students to take preventative measures to limit the spread of flu by getting an annual flu shot. Graduate students can receive FREE seasonal flu vaccine shots through the Student Health Service. Appointments should be scheduled at least one day in advance. Learn more and make an appointment.

Graduate Student Lounge: Due to the transition to Elevated Risk Posture on the Pittsburgh campus, the Graduate Student Lounge in the William Pitt Union is closed effective immediately.

Engaged Scholarship 101 for Graduate Students, Monday, November 16, 2020, noon-1:30 p.m. EST
Engaged Scholarship 101 is open to all graduate students who are interested in participating. More information about the program, including the competencies covered in this workshop, can be found at Engaged Scholarship Development Initiative.

Health Sciences Graduate Programs and Career Paths: The Perspectives of Black Faculty, Wednesday, November 18, 2020, 5-6 p.m. EST
Please help us get to word out to undergraduates who are curious about graduate programs and careers in the health sciences.

A Roundtable on Military Sexual Trauma, Tuesday, November 17, 2020, noon EST
The third installment of the Shattering the Statistic series will feature a panel of experts who will discuss various aspects of military sexual trauma.

Making Difficult Conversations Less Difficult, Thursday, November 19, 2020, 2:30-5 p.m. EST
Learn how to successfully lead difficult conversations and identify and apply personal approaches and tactics to conflict resolution.

Mentoring and Advising Summit, Thursday, March 11, 2021
The fourth-annual Mentoring and Advising Summit will include a graduate and professional studies track. Please consider submitting a proposal for a workshop or idea session by December 3, 2020.

How to Negotiate for Your Next Opportunity, Tuesday, December 15, 2020, 3-5 p.m. EST
Learn how to develop a negotiation strategy that will contribute to your success.

The Graduate and Professional Student Government (GPSG) hopes that you are having a wonderful end of the semester! Here are some opportunities and resources you might take advantage of:

• You can still join a GPSG committee for Event Planning, Public Relations, Bylaws, and more! The time commitment is flexible and it’s a great way to get involved. Fill out the interest form here. 
• GPSG is here to support students with post-election resources for handling difficult conversations and taking care of yourself. We’ve collaborated with Vice Provost Godley on resources for having difficult classroom conversations as a TA or TF, and have a number of mental health resources listed on the GPSG site. 
• November 17 at 4:30 p.m.: We will be having our November Assembly Board Meeting, which is open to ALL grad students who would like to participate. Access the meeting link and passcode.

As always, you can reach out to GPSG on social media (@pittgpsg) and via the GPSG website.

Ford Foundation Predoctoral Fellowship due December 17, 2020: Open to graduate students from underrepresented racial/ethnic groups with three or more years left to complete their PhD. Check fellowship citizenship requirements and learn more. The award includes an annual stipend of $27,000.

American Association of University Women Fellowships due November-December 2020 according to the specific award: American Fellowships, Career Development Grants, Community Action Grants, International Fellowships, International Project Grants, Research Publication Grants and Selected Professions Fellowships. Check AAUWF eligibility requirements and learn more. Awards range from $2,000 to $35,000.

American Educational Research Association-National Science Foundation (AERA-NSF) Grants Program proposal deadline extended to December 15, 2020: AERA-NSF grants are open to researchers who conduct studies of education policy and practice using large-scale data sets. Dissertation Grants are available for advanced doctoral students and are intended to support the student while analyzing data and writing the doctoral dissertation. Research Grants are available for doctoral-­level scholars, postdoctoral researchers and faculty at institutions of higher education. Check AERA eligibility requirements and learn more. Awards are made up to $35,000.