Going AWOL

You guys should know by now, that I care for each and every one of you. You’re like my office children! I look after you; I give you advice (which sometimes falls on deaf ears). I push you, I encourage you, I celebrate your successes, and help you through the difficult times. I do all of this because I believe in your ability to succeed.

My children at home don’t think I really work – they think I just talk to people all day!

When you guys go away in the summer I spend my time thinking about ways I can help you even more. I try to find ways to reach all of you. Only half of you read the blog – so I spend my time thinking of ways to reach the other half. Additionally, I try to find ways to help everyone succeed academically. Again, I believe in your ability to succeed.

So it is going to be hard, but I am going to take a long overdue, well deserved break. When I leave the office on Thursday I am on vacation until Monday, November 28. When I leave the office I am taking work email off my phone. As much as I want to help you all succeed, I need to spend some time relaxing and enjoying the wonders of Disney World.  If you need anything from me – please get it taken care of by Thursday 5 pm.

Words to Live By 
Just because you took longer than others, doesn’t mean you failed. – anonymous

Senior News
Senior pictures are in. Tomorrow is the last day to pick your picture for the composite.

Important Dates
11/18 – Last day to reschedule final exam (look at your exam schedules now)
11/19-27 – Thanksgiving Break
11/26 – Spring Add/Drop Opens

Helpful Tools

Random 

Mel Blanc (the voice of Bugs Bunny) was allergic to carrots.

Sandbox

My Schedule

To schedule a meeting please use your Google calendar, on the left side of your calendar you will see a drop down option to view other people’s calendars. There you can search for mine.  Once you open my calendar you can select a meeting date & time.

It Ends Today

I know I should lead by example, but today is the one day I stop following my own advice. I am not going to get enough sleep. I am going to stay up late, way past my bed time. Pretty sure I’m probably not going to eat a proper diet tonight either.  For me, this only happens once every four years.   I’m not a political junky. But I love to watch the poll numbers come in. It’s like the news anchors are feeding me Reese Cups every 10 minutes!  Ridiculous, I know.

So forgive me tomorrow if I’m grumpy. I promise not to be grumpy about the outcome of the election. I can never be grumpy about democracy in action. But I can (& might) be grumpy because I didn’t get enough sleep.  I’ve already told my dogs I’m not taking them for their 2 mile walk at 5:30 tomorrow morning!

Hey, did you vote?

Ut Prosim  
The 2016 National Roll Call will be taking place on Veterans Day, Friday November 11th at the Pylons above War Memorial Chapel. We will participate in a nationwide simultaneous “minute of silence” alongside many other universities at 2:00 PM local time (11:00 AM Pacific) and then commence with the reading of the names of the fallen from Operations Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, New Dawn, Inherent Resolve, and Freedom’s Sentinel. We anticipate completing the Roll Call around 8:30 PM, but of course, it will continue until all names are read. We encourage all  to spare a few moments of their time to honor our fallen brethren.

The linked Google Sheet is the sign-up for the Roll Call. Reading names is open to everybody in the Virginia Tech community, not just veterans.  There is no limit to the number of slots you can sign up for. If you have any special names you would prefer to read (buddies, family members, etc.), please fill them in the special names column so we can separate them for you to read at your time slot.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/12sPsnhh-WjPr0k_-POX-ULq96hPkBxii3_zXJbjxjEo/edit#gid=2042114392

Senior News
Senior pictures are in. Please stop by my office to pick up your proofs and select your picture for the group composite. A committee (4 randomly selected students) will pick your picture for the composite if you don’t select by Wednesday, November 16.

Important Dates
 11/18 – Last day to reschedule final exam (look at your exam schedules now)
11/19-27 – Thanksgiving Break
11/26 – Spring Add/Drop Opens

Helpful Tools
Tuesday Topic is a new feature in the MSE VT LinkedIn group. Please check it out.

Random 
North Korea holds elections every 5 years, in which the ballots list only one candidate.

Sandbox 

My Schedule
To schedule a meeting please use your Google calendar, on the left side of your calendar you will see a drop down option to view other people’s calendars. There you can search for mine.  Once you open my calendar you can select a meeting date & time.

Friends Come In All Sizes

I want to take a moment and give thanks to Mr. Erling Kindem and express my sadness in his passing. For those that don’t know, Mr. Kindem was a member of the Greatest Generation and a veteran of WWII. He passed away last Saturday at 91.  Mr. Kindem and his neighbor Emmett were a reminder to all that true friendship has no limits. 

MEPS News
Meeting, tonight @ 6:30 in 135 Goodwin.  

VT vs Duke viewing party this Saturday. Details to be announced soon. 

Senior News
Senior pictures are in. Please stop by my office to pick up your proofs and select your picture for the group composite. 

Important Dates
11/5 - Foundry Open House
11/18 – Last day to reschedule final exam (look at your exam schedules now)
11/19-27 – Thanksgiving Break
11/26 – Spring Add/Drop Opens

Helpful Tools
5 HABITS OF EXCEPTIONALLY LIKEABLE LEADERS  

1. Complaining breeds disgust in those below you.  
2. Speak to people how they need to hear it, not how you want to say it. 
3. Be selective in your battles. Sometimes peace is better than being right. 
4. People follow people, not ideas or businesses. 
5. In humility, value others above yourself. 

Random 
The word 'testify' derived from a time when men were required to swear on their testicles.

Sandbox

My Schedule
To schedule a meeting please use your Google calendar, on the left side of your calendar you will see a drop down option to view other people’s calendars. There you can search for mine.  Once you open my calendar you can select a meeting date & time. 

Celebrate

We have to celebrate!

1. MSE DOMINATED MS&T. 
• Wyatt Surbey won 1st place in the Speaking Contest. He is the second VT student to win this contest. 
• Kate Fowler & team won 2nd place in the Geodesic Dome competition. Second year in a row VT took 2nd place in this contest. 
• Casey Clark & team won 1st place in the Geodesic Dome competition. Third year in a row VT took 1st place in this contest.
• VT won Material Advantage Achievement Award of the year.  
2. Course request is over

Fun Stuff 
So this Saturday Studio Collective is hosting Paper Pylots. A paper airplane building contest at the Pylons from 2-3 PM.  Free admission & various prizes that include an actual flight around Blacksburg. Find more information here. Find the Sign up form here. 

Words to Live By  
Procrastination is the art of keeping up with yesterday. Don Marquis 

Important Dates
11/18 – Last day to reschedule final exam 
11/19-27 – Thanksgiving Break
11/26 – Spring Add/Drop Opens

Helpful Tools
Let’s go back and revisit course request for a minute. I did some math this morning and realized about 100 of you avoided me; in that you did not come and see me during course request. Not a good idea. Here’s why … imagine you avoid me during your sophomore year then decide to stop in during your junior year. It is at this time, I point out that you missed/overlooked/avoided a class that is a prerequisite of a prerequisite (and so on) for a senior class. Now, here you are in your junior year and you are not going to be a graduating senior next year. (True story.)

It would be an unfortunate turn of events to find yourself behind the 8 ball because you didn’t take advantage of your academic adviser. I am an invaluable resource that you need to use. If you did not come and see me during course request, please make it a priority to see me soon. 

Random 
Tears caused by sadness, happiness and onions look different under the microscope.

Sandbox

My Schedule
To schedule a meeting please use your Google calendar, on the left side of your calendar you will see a drop down option to view other people’s calendars. There you can search for mine.  Once you open my calendar you can select a meeting date & time. 

If I Can Do It ...

Just yesterday I was helping one of your classmates with a spring schedule. Before doing so, I asked about the current semester. Your classmate admitted that a test score could have been better. We discussed study methods and admittedly your colleague procrastinates and just doesn’t do it. To which I responded that I fully understand, “just this morning I should have gone to the gym, but didn’t.”  I cannot expect you guys to get over your procrastination if I don’t get over mine! So this morning at 5:30 A.M. I dragged my lazy bum out of bed and took the dogs for a mile walk.

It hurt but it was good for me. Now that it’s done I’m excited to go again tomorrow.

Course Request / Required Meeting
You are so fortunate to have me as an adviser – why you ask? Because I want to meet each and every one of you to review your plans for the spring. Unless you are graduating in December we need to have a chat.  :) First option is to schedule a meeting. Second option is to attend after-hours-advising on Wednesday (10/19) or Monday (10/24). 

To schedule a meeting please use your Google calendar, on the left side of your calendar you will see a drop down option to view other people’s calendars. There you can search for mine.  Once you open my calendar you can select a meeting date & time. 

After-hours-advising will be walk-in, first-come-first-served starting at 5pm & you must be signed in by 6pm. 

Please note that the Advising Office will close at 2pm on Thursday (10/20). 

Senior News
Run your DARs.

If you are still looking for employment opportunities, I strongly encourage you to check out the Search Tools & Resources at Career and Professional Development.

Important Dates
10/18-25 – Course Request
11/18 – Last day to reschedule final exam 
11/19-27 – Thanksgiving Break
11/26 – Spring Add/Drop Opens

Words to Live By  
Waiting to develop courage is just another form of procrastination. The most successful people take action while they’re afraid!  – Unknown

Helpful Tools
10 Phrases that don’t belong in your cover letter

This Day in History
10/18/1931 Thomas Edison died at the age of 84. 

Random 
Every person has a unique tongue print.

Sandbox

Conquer Your Fear

Is there something in your life you are afraid to do? Go to the gym? Ask a person out? Try a new food? Touch a spider? Well today is your lucky day because today is ‘Face Your Fear Day.’ My suggestion is you and a friend conquer a fear together. Imagine how different your life will be once you’ve overcome this fear. One thing will be true – that fear will no longer control you.

As engineers you are trained to know – know your math, know your formulas, know how to find the answer to why it broke. That’s why I like to make you guess how many candies are in the jar! Yes, the annual guessing game is back. Conquer your fear of not using a formula and take your best guess. Winner will be announced next Friday (10/21). Oh, there is an actual prize. Be sure to place your best guess when you stop by for your required course request meeting. 

Yes, it is that time of the semester. Everyone needs to meet with me between now and the end of course request (Tuesday, 10/25). Please schedule your appointment today.  To schedule your meeting, please use your Google calendar, on the left side of your calendar you will see a drop down option to view other people’s calendars. There you can search for mine.  Once you open my calendar you can select a meeting date & time. 

Senior News
Senior pictures will be taken on Wednesday & Thursday in the MSE Advising Lounge. Please be prompt for your appointment time.  The photographer will provide the attire. Guys you need to wear a white tee-shirt and ladies please wear a shirt that can easily slip off the shoulder. 

Important Dates
10/12 & 13 – Senior Pictures
10/14 – Fall Break
10/17 – Last Day To Resign
10/18-25 – Course Request

Ut Prosim 
If you haven’t already you need to conquer the fear and register to vote!  I’m not going to ask you who you are voting for but I am going to ask that you vote. We owe it to ourselves and all those that have defended our country, fighting to preserve your right to vote. You have a given right that people in other counties wish they had. Don’t take it for granted.

Friday is the last day to register in Virginia. Click here to register to vote. 

Words to Live By

Random 
More people are killed annually by donkeys than die in air crashes.

Sandbox

My Schedule 
To schedule a meeting please use your Google calendar, on the left side of your calendar you will see a drop down option to view other people’s calendars. There you can search for mine.  Once you open my calendar you can select a meeting date & time. 

Patrick and Gary

Kim and I have the opportunity to attend an advising conference this week (Wed – Fri). While at the conference we are going to brush up on our skills, learn new tricks of the trade and expand our tool kits! All to help you. 

While we are out of the office the Advising Office will only be open from 10am – 3pm Wednesday – Friday. This week only, please do not panic. We will be back and things will return to normal on Monday; Columbus day – the day we celebrate a man who couldn’t ask for directions! 

So while we are gone I need someone to step up and help with Patrick and Gary, my betta fish and snail. (FYI, Patrick's full name is Patrick Gilligan Czamanske) I am going to put them on the bookshelf in the Advising Lounge with their food, a feeding sheet. Whoever is kind enough to take charge and feed Patrick needs to please sign the feeding sheet, indicating to others that Patrick is set for the day.  

Ut Prosim  
Over the past weekend I was at my brother-in-laws (Marty) memorial service. It was a lovely time. During the service my nephew, Duncan, spoke about his father. He mentioned that when he was younger he would sneak into his dad’s dresser and take his white tee-shirts. Getting tired of this, Marty took Duncan to the Gap and bought him his own shirts. Still Duncan took his dad’s because ‘mine were Gap and his were Brooks Brothers.’ This continued and even evolved into Duncan taking his dad’s socks. One day he discovered a photo of underprivileged children in his dad’s sock drawer. He didn’t want to confess that he was taking socks, but he had to ask about the photo. Marty told him that he heard of this soccer team that would not be able to play in the league if they did not get a sponsor, so he sponsored them. This was a surprise to Duncan and he asked why he didn’t tell anyone. Marty responded, “you don’t help others for the recognition.” 

MEPS News

• October meeting tonight @ 6:30 pm in Goodwin 135. 
• Guest speaker discussing "innovation and entrepreneurship."
• Keep an eye out for our first MEPS social event of the year

Senior News
The Grad Fair is Wednesday, October 12. Don’t miss it. 

Important Dates
10/12 & 13 – Senior Pictures
10/14 – Fall Brake
10/17 – Last Day To Resign
10/18-25 – Course Request

Helpful Tools
Seven Excel Feature You May Not Be Using 

Random 
A baby has 300 bones at birth. Adults have only 206. 

Sandbox

New Advising Lounge?

I’m frequently asked if students can have access to the MSE Advising Lounge after hours, everyone indicates that you guys need/want a place to study of your own after normal business hours. I don’t know if it will happen in your tenure, but I am trying to make it happen for future MSE students. To do this, I need your help. 

Just yesterday I was asked to remind everyone to: clean up after themselves, pick up trash off the tables & floor, push chairs in, erase boards when done, and return borrowed items (stapler or tape). 

Again, I cannot make an after-hours lounge happen unless you do your part. Please be respectful of the space and staff. 

Important Stuff
Over the summer The Office of Academic Integrity (formally Honor Court) revamped their entire system. Below is a summary. Please know that MSE does review all submissions for plagiarism and will refer any and all incidents to the Office of Academic Integrity.

OLD SYSTEM	NEW SYSTEM
Faculty seen as prosecutor & needing to prove his/her case and the burden of proof lay with the faculty to prove guilt with countless hours of supportive documentation needing to be provided.	Faculty as expert witness to confirm or deny facts as investigated by the Office of Undergraduate Integrity. Faculty should call 231-9876 to initiate the investigation and will be walked through the appropriate steps.
Intent to cheat was considered.	Intent is not considered. The student either did cheat or did not cheat.
Panel had 4 students & 1 faculty member.	Panel has 3 students & 2 faculty members for closer administrative oversight.
Sanctions were mostly determined by faculty (i.e. double zero on assignment plus X hours of community service).	Sanctions can be requested by faculty on the front end, and if the student accepts the sanction, then it goes no further. But if the student does not, the panel ultimately decides. Sanctions include: suspensions, expulsions, and in the majority of cases, an F* in the course which cannot be removed by dropping or withdrawing from the course – it is permanently on the student’s transcript and they must retake the course. The student must also attend a 2-hour seminar led by the Office of Undergraduate Integrity and do a 16-hour online seminar related to academic integrity.
60+ days to be resolved from the time of being reported	15-20 days to be resolved from the time of being reported
Student could use the arguments, “You can’t prove that I cheated” and “I didn’t mean to” or “I didn’t know it was cheating.”	Only 3 responses for a student: I accept responsibility and the assigned sanction. I accept responsibility but do not accept the assigned sanction (so will go before the panel). I do not accept responsibility not the assigned sanction (so will before the panel).

Important Dates
Please take special note and plan your time wisely: I will be away from the office on Friday, 9/30 and again next week from Wednesday – Friday. This week could not be helped as I am attending my brother-in-laws memorial party (he did not want a funeral). Next week I am attending an advising conference – so I can find new and improved ways to help you. 

10/3 – LAST DAY TO DROP, do NOT drop a class without talking to me first
10/12 & 13 – Senior Pictures
10/14 – Fall Brake
10/17 – Last Day To Resign
10/18-25 – Course Request

Senior News
The countdown to graduation has begun – 227 days from now you will cross the stage. Be ready by reviewing the commencement information now. In case your parents/families are still looking for hotels I strongly recommend Commencement Loading on campus.

Helpful Tools
Land the gig: Interview 101

Random
The first couple to be shown in bed together on prime time television were Fred and Wilma Flintstone.

Ut Prosim 
89th Speak not Evil of the absent for it is unjust. – George Washington, sometime before the age of 16, transcribed “Rules of Civility & Decent Behaviour In Company and Conversation.”

Sandbox

My Schedule
Scheduled meeting times are available 10 – 12 & 1:30-4:30. To schedule a meeting please use your Google calendar, on the left side of your calendar you will see a drop down option to view other people’s calendars. There you can search for mine.  Once you open my calendar you can select a meeting date & time. 

Life!

Last week I had a conversation with my nephew about life. Not the meaning of life, but life and what his expectations of life are. See, an unfortunate turn of events came about and we did not know if a family member would be OK or not. This went on for several days. My nephew became increasingly uneasy each day. At one point he indicated that he needs to know something so life can be normal again. Everyone else in the group remained silent. I spoke up and stated that this IS life – it comes with ordinary days, it comes with unpleasant days; there are good times and bad times. I went on to say that no one’s life is uneventful, no one gets the advantage of living an even keel life. I summarized by telling him that we have to face this difficult time to make those days on the beach with a colorful sunset that much more amazing.

Several times I’ve heard you guys say you ‘can’t wait to get out of school and start your life.’ Please take your time, please stop rushing things, please enjoy these moments. You will never get them back.

Some of you may be familiar with my suggestion of planning things … today’s plans are in pen and future plans (10 yrs & beyond) are in pencil. Why? Because Life Happens! You may know what you want for your life … then you meet this amazing person who wants something different - what to do? You take out your pencil, erase and modify your future plans is what you do.

Imagine this … 10 or 20 years from now you will be staying up late to plan your family’s Disney vacation – finally go to bed at 1. Thinking things are normal you leave a note for your spouse to wake you at 6:30 instead of 5:30 because you are not going to walk the dogs. Perfect plan. Only you get woken at 4:30 because your spouse took the dogs out (he/she wakes early for whatever reason) and the dogs found a skunk. This, my friends, IS life.

Extra Info
Due to my absence last week and pending absences in the coming weeks we are going to modify the meeting schedules a bit. (Life!)

I would like to meet with all sophomores to review your Intake forms before October 12. Around October 12 we will start with required Course Request meetings – this meeting time is required for everyone who will be taking classes in the spring. To schedule a meeting with me please open your Google calendar, on the left side you will see a drop down option to view other peoples calendars. There you can search for my calendar using my VT email address. Once you open my calendar you can select a meeting date & time.

Senior News
There are only a few spots left on the SignUpGenius for Senior Pictures. Please sign up ASAP.

Run your DARs.

Important Dates
10/3 – LAST DAY TO DROP, this is a change
10/12 & 13 – Senior Pictures
10/14 – Fall Brake
10/17 – Last Day To Resign
10/18-25 – Course Request

Helpful Tools
Often times I receive information about internships, coops, full times jobs, and scholarships. These announcements are posted on the MSE Opportunities Blog. This is a follow me only blog in that you must sign up to receive email alerts when a post has been made.

Random
When a bald eagle loses a feather, it will automatically shed the same feather on its other side to maintain balance.

Words to Live By  
Nearly all the best things that came to me in life have been unexpected, unplanned by me. – Carl Sandburg

Sandbox

My Schedule        
Scheduled meeting times are available 9:30-11:30 & 1:30-4:30. To schedule a meeting please log into your Scholar account.

Better Today

Sorry I wasn’t able to bring you the weekly blog last week. Between coming down with a cold & all the little things what went wrong, I wasn’t in a good place on Friday. So I thought it best not to take it out on you then. I’d wait till today – when I’m recovering from a cold and functioning on a lack of sleep! If you will learn anything from me, it is the importance of sleep – everyone needs their sleep nightly or they lose the ability to make good decisions (or answer test questions properly).

Making good decisions is very important when in the lab. Which is why MSE requires you attend lab safety training. The two General Lab Safety training sessions will take place this week: 9/6 & 9/8 from 5-6 in 3100 Torg. See the email previously sent (8/30/16) for complete details. Students who do not complete these the requirements by September 30 will have their departmental lab access suspended until their training is current.

MEPS News
MEPS Meeting tonight @ 8pm, 221 Randolph. Be there to be in the know!

Senior News
First check your graduation term, then run your DARs. DO NOT drop a class till you check with me first.

Senior pictures will be taken October 12 & 13. Schedule your appointment via the email from SignupGenius. 

Important Dates
9/6 - MSE Safety Seminar
9/8 - MSE Safety Seminar
9/13 & 14 - EXPO
9/30 - Last Day to Drop

Helpful Tools

Random
Did you know ants stretch when they wake up in the morning?

Words to Live By 
It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves. William Shakespeare

Sandbox  

My Schedule  
Meetings are not required but encouraged. You can schedule a meeting by accessing my google calendar.

Fun Fact

Last week I was hungry, & running late, so I pulled into a fast food place for drive-through breakfast. At the first window I was greeted by this giant smile that said “Hi Hokie” when he saw my VT color coordinated manicure. Handing me back my credit card he said, “My science teacher told me, ‘everything you learn, you learn from someone else.’ Fun fact for the day.” As I drove forward to retrieve my breakfast I pondered not only his statement but his kindness.  I was pleasantly surprised by both. At the second stop a woman opened the small sliding glass window and handed out my breakfast without a word then closed the window as fast as she had opened it.

As I drove away I was filled with mixed emotions. Was I jaded because the second person was rude or had my expectations been set to high by the first person? Do yourself a favor … when interacting with people do you want to be remembered as the kind person with a smile or the rude lady that didn’t acknowledge the person before her?  

Senior News

First check your graduation term then run your DARs. DO NOT drop a class till you check with me first. 

Senior pictures will be taken October 12 & 13. Look for more information soon. In the meantime, do not dye your hair purple, yellow or pink for Halloween.

Important Dates

8/31 - MSE Welcome Back Picnic

9/5 - Labor Day, no classes

9/6 - MSE Safety Seminar

9/8 - MSE Safety Seminar

9/13 & 14 - EXPO

9/30 - Last Day to Drop

Helpful Tools

Everyone of you could benefit from a workshop offered by the Student Success Center. Please check out all the course offerings & The Seminar Series on Academic Success http://studentsuccess.vt.edu/Academic_Excellence/seminarseries.html

Random

A pregnant goldfish is called a twit. 

Words To Live By

"Look to the future, because that is where you'll spend the rest of your life."—George Burns

Sandbox

Even Pitt bulls understand teamwork.

  

My Schedule 

Meetings are not required but encouraged. You can schedule a meeting by accessing my google calendar.