GRAD CLAS NOTES
December 2023
Happy Holidays from Graduate Studies!

As we enter this week of final exams, papers and projects, I would like to take a moment to acknowledge the tremendous accomplishments of our graduate community. I am impressed not only with the outstanding scholarship of our students and faculty but also with the network of support that we are building with our partners across the University. As we continue to invest in the graduate experience at Villanova, I am excited for what lies ahead in the New Year and in years to come.

I hope that you have a wonderful, safe and well-deserved break. Enjoy the company of family and friends, and please take time to unplug, relax and rejuvenate.

On behalf of all of us in the Office of Graduate Studies, I wish you a Merry Christmas and the happiest of holidays.






Emory H. Woodard IV, PhD, Dean of Graduate Studies, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Graduate Studies News
Read the Fall 2023 Villanova Magazine Online
The Fall 2023 issue of Villanova Magazine is now available online. This issue touches on many Grad CLAS-centric areas including the cover story about how Villanova's campus serves as a natural classroom; a feature on voice assistant technology; accolades for an award-winning Communication professor; research about endangered sea lions in the Galapagos islands; and some major campus renovations that are moving Villanova forward. READ MORE
Communication Professor Wins Freedom of Expression Award
According to Billie Murray, PhD, associate professor in the Department of Communication and assistant director for Academics, Center for Peace and Justice Education, reflecting on America’s past starts with acknowledging the country’s history of and ever-growing propensity toward hate speech, and her work in this area was lauded by the National Communication Association (NCA) at its 2023 annual convention. Dr. Murray won the NCA's Franklyn S. Haiman Award for Distinguished Scholarship in Freedom of Expression for her book, Combating Hate: A Framework for Direct Action. READ MORE
Fall 2023 Graduate Research Symposium Videos Now Posted
Videos from the individual presentations at the Fall 2023 Graduate Research Symposium are now posted on YouTube! The symposium highlighted the outstanding and diverse scholarship being conducted by graduate students in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Students gave either Three Minute Thesis-style oral presentations in the East Lounge in Dougherty Hall or presented posters in the Connelly Center Art Gallery. Read more and see the videos.
Upcoming Academic Calendar Important Dates
Campus Courses
(including Classical Studies)

  • December 13 - 19 – Final Examinations
  • January 16 – Spring semester classes begin
HRD and Online MPA Courses

  • December 17 – Last day of classes
  • January 22 – Spring I classes begin
Events, Reminders and Information
Grad Center Student Lounge
The student lounge in the new Grad Center is now open 24/7 for graduate students. The lounge is located in Vasey Hall, G13 (ground floor). Please use the entrance facing the Connelly Center to access the lounge.

Grad CLAS Student Lounge in Old Falvey
Graduate students in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences can also use their Wildcard to access the Graduate Student Lounge on the third floor of Old Falvey, Room 306. The Old Falvey lounge is a great study space that is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Grad Center Closet
The Grad Center Closet is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. during the week in the Grad Center office suite (Vasey Hall, G13). No appointment necessary. Graduate students can stop by if they are in need of clothing, shoes, accessories and household items. Supplies are limited, and it operates on a first-come, first-served basis.

A Call for Winter Clothing and Accessories 
Do you have new or gently used winter outerwear or accessories? The Grad Center Closest is looking to collect winter clothing and accessories. All donations will go towards other students and families in need. Donation boxes are located in the Grad Center Student Lounge (Vasey Hall, G13).

Graduate Student Satisfaction Survey 
Please check your email for the Graduate Student Satisfaction Survey. Villanova is committed to providing the best possible graduate education, and your feedback is critical to ensure that we continue to improve the quality of the academic experience and support services. This survey is anonymous, and the data will be collected and analyzed by Villanova’s Office of Strategic Planning and Institutional Effectiveness (OSPIE). Summary reports will be provided to the Office of Graduate Studies and graduate programs. 

Grad Center & CLAS Grad Studies Open House – January 19
Save the date for Friday, January 19 from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. for the Grad Center and CLAS Grad Studies Open House in our new space in Vasey Hall! Look for more details soon.

Falvey Data Visualization Competition – Entries Due January 22
The Falvey Data Visualization Competition is a new program established in conjunction with the Library's annual Love Data week celebration in order to recognize the various ways that data is used in Villanova scholarship. The Falvey Data Visualization Award is designed to increase digital information literacy by raising awareness of the importance of data visualization and celebrating good examples. The competition is open to both undergraduate and graduate students. Those that participate will receive professional recognition during Falvey’s Love Data week, be able to add to their professional repertoire by highlighting their research accomplishments, and learn about how others are using data around campus. Winners will receive cash prizes and be recognized at a ceremony that will include presentations by the award recipients on the use of data in their research. Learn more.

Graduating this Spring? Application Deadline – January 31
If you plan to graduate in May 2024, you must apply by January 31. Please visit the Applying to Graduate page to review the graduation application requirements and procedures.

Summer Research Fellowship Application – Due February 1
Graduate students in CLAS are encouraged to apply for a summer fellowship to support their research. Awards are made on a competitive basis in the amount of $3,500 for master's students and $4,500 for doctoral students for work in June, July and August. For details regarding eligibility requirements, criteria, how to apply, deadline for proposals and review process, faculty evaluation of the project, and award recipients, please visit the Graduate Summer Research Fellowship page.

CONCEPT – Papers Due February 1
CONCEPT, the interdisciplinary journal of CLAS graduate students, is now accepting article submissions. The author of the best article in the 2024 issue will receive the Graduate Student Research Prize. The deadline for submission is Thursday, February 1, 2024. Submissions should be based on material that has been researched as part of graduate work at Villanova. Authors should register on the CONCEPT website and follow the instructions there for posting their submission. (An author may submit no more than one article for consideration.) Any questions should be directed to faculty editor, Dr. John Kurtz.

CONCEPT Peer Reviewers Needed
CONCEPT is a graduate student-run publication. Given the breadth of the graduate programs and to ensure fair review of submissions, it is vitally important to have editors and reviewers representing as many disciplines as possible. Those interested in serving as an editor or as a peer-reviewer should contact faculty editor Dr. John Kurtz directly. Volunteers to serve as editors should include a list of their known regular time commitments for Spring semester.

NOVA Alert
Have you signed up for NOVA Alert? This system is the University’s mass notification system used for a major crisis or emergency, as well as weather-related closings and delays. NOVA Alert is your personal connection to real-time updates—instructions on where to go, what to do or what not to do, who to contact and other critical information. It is important that you check your NOVA Alert settings, or if you are not signed up, you can do so by following these simple steps:
  • Go to MyNova and log in
  • Enter Nova Alert in the search box
  • Enter your information 
  • Your Villanova email and cell phone information will be entered into the NOVA Alert system 
Student Support Services Overview
Academic Support
 
Student Health and Well-Being
  • Student Health Center: Open 24/7 during semester. Offering health care to students with individualized attention and timely service. ($25 office visit for graduate students).
  • University Counseling Center: Providing services that help students function optimally with regard to emotional, academic, social and psychological issues.
  • Office of Health Promotion: Empowering students to create healthy learning environments and make responsible, educated choices to maintain balance.
  • Fitness Centers: Campus locations and operating hours available online.
  • Nova Nook: Providing supplemental personal necessities to students in need.
 
Tech Support
  • UNIT Tech Zone: Providing support for all hardware, software and technical problems that students may have with their personal laptop and other on-campus computing experiences.
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