Provost's Update - December 2017

As 2017 draws to a close and we put the final touches on another successful year for Virginia Tech, I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank each of you for your support and your tireless efforts to enhance and advance our university.  I hope you are as proud as I am of the achievements and progress we have made together on behalf of those we serve.

Much has changed over the past year, but the one constant we’ve held is our shared commitment to the pursuit of Beyond Boundaries and the transformative vision it holds for our university.  Beyond Boundaries and the tenets of VT-shaped learning will continue to fuel our capacity for providing new opportunities for our students and a variety of rich and diverse liberal education experiences.  I believe these institutional precepts will serve as the cornerstone for strategic development and the impacts we’ll make in the years to come.

Propelled by our Destination Areas and Strategic Growth Areas, InclusiveVT, and the spirit of Ut Prosim, Virginia Tech has made significant progress over the past year in positioning itself as a model for the global land-grant institution of tomorrow.  Investing our time and efforts in creating funding incentives through the PIBB and developing growth opportunities and partnerships in Roanoke and the National Capital Region are essential to continuing this progress and the positive contributions we can make to the people and communities of Virginia.

Proud as we are of these accomplishments and the momentum we have created together, there is still much to be done.  I am looking forward to working with you and our colleagues across the campus to move these important initiatives from the planning phase to implementation to completion.  In addition to helping us to grow Beyond Boundaries, these initiatives and the work you do to advance them will be a foundational element for our next strategic planning process that will commence in the spring of 2018. Many of you will have an opportunity to participate directly in this process, but I have no doubt that each of you will play a part in contributing to its success.

As we finish this week and the 2017 calendar, it is my sincere hope that you will shift your focus from emails and agendas to family and friends.  Before you leave campus, please take a moment to pause and reflect on your personal and professional successes this year and the valuable contributions you have made to Virginia Tech.

I want to wish you and your families a Happy Holidays and safe and healthy 2018!

Cyril