1. New Student Orientation
Welcome to the VT-WF School of Biomedical Engineering & Sciences Graduate Program!

2. SBES Student Support at Virginia Tech
Dr. Pamela VandeVord
BEAM
Interim Department Head
Dr. H. Clay Gabler
VT Graduate
Program Chair
Amanda Covey
SBES
Graduate Coordinator
Kristie Verniel
BEAM
Admin. Support
Kathy Creggar
BEAM
Fiscal Support
David Ashwell
ICTAS
IT Support
Kayla Chaffin
CIB
Program Support

3. SBES Student Support at Wake Forest
Dr. Emmanuel Opara
WF Graduate
Program Chair
Dr. Joel Stitzel
WF Department Head
Cindy Salley
Fiscal Support
Beth Whitsett
Program Support
Catherine “Kitty” Everidge
Admin. Support
Donna McGee
Program Support
Binda Tatro
Admin. Support

4. I’M a Hokie Too! You have a VT Banner ID number (905XXXXXX)
You have a VT PID (Personal Identifier)
You have online access to many classes
You have access to the library
You will get a diploma that has Virginia Tech on it as well as Wake Forest Univ.

6. However
You don’t register for classes at VT
No enrollment = no transcript
You don’t pay tuition/fees at VT
So what’s the result?
Most of our ‘system’ doesn’t recognize you as an ‘active’ VT student
But because you’re SBES, you’re VT too! (with certain exceptions)

7. What does it affect? . . . . .  Student ‘status’ in Banner
 Full Library Access may be restricted
ILIAD  Interlibrary Loan issues
 Computer / Software Access
Linked to payment of fees and enrollment
Use of VT facilities while you’re in Blacksburg
Many require Hokie Passport card
Passport is tied to being enrolled at VT.

8. (I maintain this group and your PIDs will be added when classes begin)
What can we do?
Fix Status to Active in Banner 
(done at the Graduate School)
Add your PID to the VT Enterprise Group
(I maintain this group and your PIDs will be added when classes begin)

9. About the VT library . . . Go to www.lib.vt.edu
Go here to get more info about access
Click on “Off Campus Sign in” to begin

10. What you should see . . . . . . Need VT PID & Password Main Menu
See orientation website for two factor authentication information.
Main Menu

11. Getting help: http://www.lib.vt.edu/help/extended/extproxy.html
Scroll through this screen to see how things work.
Get info:
Sign-in routine
Proxy Shortcut
FAQs for off-campus
access issues

12. What can I access? Hopefully, just about everything !!
Check out ‘Information For’
Graduate Students & Distance Learners
Explore menu system to discover what you can utilize
Library uses databases from the Registrar’s office for accesses, therefore, ILLiad / Interlibrary Loan may not be available to you.

13. Things to remember
Your VT PID will always stay the same, even if your name changes
Don’t forget your password
If you do, you will have to call the VT 4-HELP line to reset
Learn your Virginia Tech ID number (I have that info) – You may need it if you call the VT help line
Password must be changed once a year!

14. Computing Services
The Computing web site ( is a portal to multiple computer interfaces, software, tutorials & more.
Make sure your anti-virus software is always up to date!
There is NO computer/laptop requirement at the graduate level.

15. Two Factor Authorization
VT uses Duo Security to ask individuals
for a secondary confirmation of their identity at login
Can be a smartphone, tablet, landline, key, etc.
When you log in to any VT website requiring this
service you will be prompted to enroll.
You can install the free app from your appropriate app store.

16. Whether you have an advisor or not, you are responsible for understanding SBES policies
Become familiar with the SBES website.
Become familiar with the SBES Graduate Handbook.

17. "Nothing great was ever accomplished without enthusiasm"
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Progress to
Degree
PhD
Final
Defense
Preliminary
Defense
Qualifying Exam
Plan of Study / STAR
Clinical Rotation
Classes/Seminar
Masters Degree
Plan of Study
STAR
Thesis Defense
Classes/Seminar

18. Canvas (Scholar Replacement)
Canvas.vt.edu
All SBES course materials posted on Canvas
Lecture Notes
Log in using VT pid and password
Quantitative Cell Physiology
(example)
Syllabus

19. Your Fall Semester BMES 5054 / BME 606 – Quant. Cell Physiology
Life Science, Math, or Engineering Courses
BMES 5944 / BME 708 – Seminar Course*
BMES 5994 / BME 797 – (MS) Research Credits*
BMES 7994 / BME 798 – (PhD) Research Credits*
* Enrollment required every semester

20. Seminar Course
You MUST sign up for 1 credit of BMES Seminar EVERY SEMESTER you are here until you graduate!
Dr. Van Dyke sets up a Scholar site for the class along with instructions!
Annual SBES Symposium attendance/participation also included.

21. Your Spring Semester
BMES 5074 / BME 606 – Quant. Organ Systems Physiology
Life Science, Math, or Engineering Courses
BMES 5944 / BME 708 – Seminar Course*
BMES 5994 / BME 797 – (MS) Research Credits*
BMES 7994 / BME 798 – (PhD) Research Credits*
PhD Students will also take Clinical Rotation

22. Clinical Rotation All first year PhD students must sign up for this.
Course information will be shared on Scholar/Canvas, including mandatory immunizations and forms.
Rotations at Wake Forest Hospital, VTCRI, Carilion Clinic/Hospital, Sports Medicine, etc.
Dr. Lee and Dr. Gayzik coordinate this.
SAVE THE DATE
Week 1: March 5-9, 2018
Week 2: May 14-18, 2018
Week 3: May 21-25, 2018
Presentations: June 2018
Three weeks of exposure to the world of clinical medicine!

23. Student Symposium
All students must participate in the annual student symposium.
First year students must present a poster.
All students must present one oral presentation before graduating.
Symposium location will alternate
between WF and VT
2018 will be at WF!

24. Qualifier Exam All first year PhD students must take
Do NOT schedule anything for the entire summer during this.
3 outcomes: Pass, Conditional Pass, Fail
You get 2 tries to pass or you will be forced out of the program.

25. 2nd year and beyond BMES 5944 / BME 708 – Seminar Course*
BMES 5994 / BME 797 – (MS) Research Credits*
BMES 7994 / BME 798 – (PhD) Research Credits*
Remaining required fulfillment courses

26. Requirements within the degree . . .
Ethics Requirement:
Will be done in first semester of SBES Seminar course
WFU students also take three required courses:
GRAD 701 Professional Development
GRAD 713 Scientific Integrity (fall) GRAD 714 Scientific Integrity (spring)
STAR Report:
SBES & Graduate School requirement  done each spring
You and your advisor meet and discuss/record your progress
Form comes to me by the end of spring semester

27. Forms You can find most SBES forms on the website or by emailing me!
Plan of Study
STAR Report
Audit Request Form
Absence Request Form
Course Justification Form
Change of Committee/Advisor Form (w/ Plan of Study)
See Beth Whitsett for other WFU specific forms!

28. Student Tracking Activity Report
READ & FOLLOW instructions!
See online example
Like building a CV!
In “Activities to Date” section:
Use numbering.
current year items.
Use FULL DATES for conferences.
Only report items accomplished in reporting period.
Nothing projected into the future.
Meaning of “internal” and “external”.
Highlight in yellow

29. Star Report Read the instructions! Should be treated like
a continual student CV!
Fill out COMPLETELY!
Should be reviewed yearly
with your advisor!
Info is used to continue our
program accreditation!
Prior courses
Newest courses
(highlighted)
Advisor comments

30. Plan of Study
What is it?
Outline of anticipated/taken courses towards degree
Work with your advisor and grad coordinator!
See SBES website for instructions/examples
Get your rough draft approved by me first!
See the handbook for selecting your committee
MS along the way must submit MS Plan of Study on MS timeline before PhD Plan of Study submitted.

31. Common POS Mistakes Wrong, incomplete or old coursework listed
Committee member issues
Changes made to coursework
Transfer course issues
Turning it in less than a month from a prelim/defense date.

32. Plan of Study Your Committee MS – minimum of 3 people
Advisor and two others (one must be in engineering)
PhD – minimum of 5 people
Advisor and one other core SBES faculty member
3 other committee members (can be SBES)
At least 3 committee members must be engineers
A Non-SBES Committee member is allowed but will need to go through a special process!
See graduate school!

33. About Transfer Courses (See SBES Handout)
If you want to include coursework done elsewhere on your plan . . .
Courses are ‘transferred’ when plan of study is done
Can only transfer up to 50% of the total course credits on your plan
Ex. If you have 30 course credits on your plan, 15 of them can be transfers
Committee must approve – may need syllabus, tests, transcripts, etc.
Graduate Schools MUST have an official transcript showing courses
On paper plan, must tell me the grade (nothing lower than a B accepted)

34. Transfer courses on the POS form

35. Course Justification
Courses older than 5 years from the time of submitting Plan of Study must be approved.
Choose rationale and submit documentation
Must be signed by your committee
Must be submitted with the Plan of Study
Must be signed by Dr. Gabler/Dr. Opara
Will go in your student file.

36. Make your graduate experience a great one!
Be open to a variety of research topics
Do well in classes – get to know your professors
Get involved in the BMES Student Chapter
Talk to graduate students of faculty
Publish & present your work (journal & conferences)
MS student? Consider continuing with a PhD!

37. Get Your Photo Made for the SBES Gallery
We’d like permission to add you to our website photo gallery – it helps us all get to know each other quickly.
Please send a jpg format photo (head-shot) of yourself to Amanda Covey so we can include you on the website.

38. If you haven’t already, do not forget to check out the SBES & Orientation websites for important links and information.

39. Wasn’t this fun?
Any Questions?