Spectrum - Volume 19 Issue 31 May 22, 1997 - Calendar

A non-profit publication of the Office of the University Relations of Virginia Tech,
including The Conductor , a special section of the Spectrum printed 4 times a year

CALENDAR

Spectrum Volume 19 Issue 31 - May 22, 1997

Events

Saturday, 24

"With Good Reason," 7:30 a.m., WVTF-FM: "Too Young to Die: The Causes and Prevention of Teen Suicides," with Darlene Colson, NSU, and Eileen Nelson, JMU.

Monday, 26

Memorial Day Holiday for Faculty and Staff. No Classes.

Friday, 30

Salary and Wage Paydate.

Non-Copyright Coursepack Material Due for Summer II '97.

Saturday, 31

"With Good Reason," 7:30 a.m., WVTF-FM: "It Doesn't Add Up: The Role of Gender in Math Education," with Lee Doerries, CNU, Marie Sheckels, MWC, and David Wright, Thomas Nelson.

YMCA Hike, 9 a.m., YMCA Parking Lot: Kellys Knob, led by Michael Beaghen.

JUNE

Monday, 2

First Summer Last Day to Drop.

Bulletins

Museum schedules mineral treasure hunt

The Virginia Tech Museum of Natural History will offers "Mapping and Finding Mineral Treasures" Saturday, May 31, from 11 a.m.-noon at the Virginia Tech Museum of Geological Sciences, 2062 Derring.

Children will use maps in a treasure hunt as they seek things made of minerals and uses for the minerals. The program, for fourth and fifth graders, is free, but enrollment is limited. Parents are welcome. To pre-register, call 1-3001 by Thursday, May 29.

Computing Centering offering short courses

The Computing Center offers introductory short courses to university faculty and staff members, graduate students, and undergraduates (at the request of a faculty member). There are no charges for any of the courses.

Registration is required by phoning 1-9500. Registration begins at 8 a.m. each Monday of the week preceding the first day of a class. You may not register more than one person at a time.

All classes meet at the Andrews Information Systems Building located in the Corporate Research Center, 1700 Pratt Drive. (From the intersection of Southgate Drive and Tech Center Drive, proceed south toward Christiansburg. After Tech Center Drive turns 90 degrees to the left, turn right onto Pratt Drive, then right again into the parking lot. Enter the building at the east end near the glass tower.)

If you will be unable to attend a course, please call 1-9500 at least one working day before the class so your place can be offered to someone on the waiting list.

A course may be canceled if fewer than seven people are registered by noon on the Thursday before the course begins.

The following short courses will be offered:

Introduction to Eudora : Eudora is a mail program (client software), using Virginia Tech's campus-wide mail service, for sending and receiving electronic mail (e-mail). Students learn how to send, receive, reply, and forward e-mail messages. You will also learn how to use mailboxes to organize and manage your mail. A single two-hour class, Friday, June 6, from 10 a.m.-noon, Andrews Information Systems Building. Registration begins May 27.

Introduction to Windows 95reg.: Introduces basic concepts and terminology associated with the Windows 95 operating system. Students gain hands-on experience navigating the Windows 95 desktop, using on-line help, exploring new features, and basic system-maintenance tasks. Parallels are made between Windows 3.x and Windows 95 to help ease your conversion. Two three-hour classes, Tuesday and Thursday, June 17 and 19, from 1-4 p.m., Andrews Information Systems Building. Registration begins June 9.

Introduction to the Macintosh: Introduces basic concepts and terminology associated with the Macintosh computer. Students gain hands-on experience with using a mouse, opening and closing windows, icons, and applications. A single three-hour class, Thursday, June 15, 1-4 p.m., Andrews Information Systems Building. Registration begins June 16.

Introduction to the Internet: Learn more about the world-wide "information superhighway" (a.k.a. Internet). Receive hands-on experience with network-browsing tools like Gopher and Netscape. Learn addressing concepts of the network that allow you to understand and decipher electronic addresses. Exposure to software like Telnet and FTP, the universal access programs of the Internet. A single three-hour class, Friday, June 27, 9 a.m.-noon, Andrews Information Systems Building. Registration begins June 16.

If you have a disability and require any assistive devices, services, or other accommodations to participate in these activities, please call the Computing Center at 1-9500 during business hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at least five days prior to the event to discuss accommodations.

Deadline for GRDP support nears

The deadline for the latest round of the Graduate Research Development Program grants from the Graduate Student Assembly is rapidly approaching. Applications must be received at the GSA office in 309 Squires Student Center by 5 p.m. on June 2.

Grants provide some support for students' research, such as for equipment or travel.

Information and applications are available from the GSA homepage: http://www.vt.edu:10021/org/grads/gsa_ home.html.

Direct questions to GRDP chair Paul F. Wagner at pwagner@vt.edu or 1-8948.

Foreign languages offering new fall courses

The Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures at Virginia Tech is offering new courses for beginners in Chinese, Italian, or Spanish and accelerated courses in Chinese, Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish.

All courses feature a flexible schedule, some in the evenings, and a self-instructional component, assisted by a professor and/or electronics. Courses are open to members of the surrounding communities as well as Virginia Tech students.

The introductory language courses are Introduction to Chinese Language and Culture (Chinese 2984, Index 9131), Introduction to Italian Language and Culture (Italian 2984, Index 9132), and Introduction to Spanish Language and Culture (Spanish 2984, Index 9133). Each is a one-semester, three-credit course that includes a supplementary self-instructional component, possibly including the use of e-mail and the Internet.

Accelerated courses are Elementary Chinese (Chinese 2984, Index 9143), Elementary Italian (Italian 2984, Index 9134)), Elementary Japanese (Japanese 2984, Index 9135), Elementary Portuguese (Portuguese 2984, Index 9136) and Elementary Spanish (Spanish 2984, Index 9137). These are new four-credit courses that condense two semesters into one, supplemented with a self-instructional and electronic component. They are designed for learners with some prior experience in the language or those who wish to progress rapidly through the beginning stages of language learning.

All the above courses are open to persons not enrolled as regular students at Virginia Tech on a non-credit basis for a special fee by arrangement through the course registrar in the Division of Continuing Education at the Donaldson Brown Center. For more information, call the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures at 1-5361 or e-mail ceustis@vt.edu . The last day to add the courses is August 29.

Commuter information sought for survey

The planning-district commissions of the Roanoke and New River valleys are investigating the feasibility of express bus service using Interstate 81 between Roanoke/Salem and Blacksburg. As part of this study, a survey of persons commuting between the Roanoke and New River valleys is being conducted.

Commuters and those traveling regularly between the two locations are encouraged to participate in the survey. Call 343-4417 from the Roanoke Valley, or 639-9313 from the New River Valley, or visit the New River Valley Planning District Commission's home page at http://www.bev.net/blacksburg/pdc/index.html .