Week of August 19-23

Offices of the Provost, Chief Operating Officer: Impacts from October 17 home football game

Virginia Tech will host a nationally televised football game on the evening of Thursday, October 17 against Boston College. Kickoff for the game is 7:30 p.m. With increased traffic and travel impacts expected, the university will take steps to ensure the orderly flow of traffic and increase safety across the Blacksburg campus:

• University employees who have remote or hybrid work agreements and schedules are strongly encouraged to work remotely on October 17. 
• Administrative offices and non-instructional university offices will close at 2:00 p.m. in Blacksburg. 
• Designated emergency personnel who work will receive authorized closing leave for their time worked from 2:00 – 11:59 p.m.
• All online classes will be held as scheduled. 
• All in-person classes on the Blacksburg campus beginning at or after 3:15 p.m. will be canceled.

Faculty and instructors who have in-person classes affected by this early closing may want to include this information on their course syllabi.

For more information, read this campus notice or refer to University Policy No. 4305: Authorized Closings Leave and Compensation Policy. If employees have additional questions, they should contact their supervisor or HR representative.

InclusiveVT: Recommendations, resources for faculty in establishing class ‘norm of inclusion’

Virginia Tech’s Office of Inclusion and Diversity (OID) has developed a resource document with recommendations for instructional faculty and GTAs to assist them in establishing a ‘norm of inclusion’ in their classes beginning with the course syllabus and the first class meeting. These resources and recommendations include:

• Guidelines for a community of learners 
• Community guidelines that make a difference 
• Communicating welcome, safety, and inclusion

Faculty and graduate teaching assistants (GTAs) may also enroll in one of OID’s inclusive pedagogy courses offered through the Professional Development Network. Inclusive pedagogy is a learner-centered instructional approach built on the principles of respect, inclusion, and cultural engagement.

For more information on these norm of inclusion resources and recommendations, email InclusiveVT or visit the InclusiveVT website.

Scholarly Integrity and Research Compliance: Disclosure guidance, requirements for faculty

The Office of Scholarly Integrity and Research Compliance (SIRC) provides disclosure guidance for faculty and staff to report outside activities and certain financial interests through Virginia Tech’s Disclosure and Management System (Policy 13010). As there are many disclosure and COI stakeholders across the university, the Disclosure and Management System is designed to reduce duplication and is automated and synchronous to the extent possible.

Initial disclosures must be submitted before the outside activity, sponsored research, or university contract begins. Disclosures must be updated within 30 days of any changes and renewed annually, as needed. The three circumstances that correspond to a module on the disclosure system’s landing page are as follows:

• You want to consult or work for an outside entity. 
• You are a PI/co-I on an awarded sponsored research project (i.e., an Investigator). 
• You or an immediate family member have a financial interest related to university contracting.

For more information on guidance, procedures, and requirements as well as a Disclosure Decision Tree, visit the SIRC’s Disclosure Guidance webpage.

Global Education Office: Mandatory training for faculty leading student groups abroad

The Global Education Office (GEO) offers several trainings throughout the academic year to support faculty and administrators in their efforts to lead study abroad programs. Virginia Tech Policy 1070: Global Travel Policy requires university employees leading either credit-bearing or co-curricular student groups abroad to complete training with GEO prior to departure.

• New Program Leader Training (October 24 or March 20, 2025, 8:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.) is designed to provide program leaders and those supporting programs with the tools and resources to lead students abroad.
• Program Leader Community Update is for those who have previously attended the New Program Leader Training. GEO is offering several sessions during the academic year:
  • Wednesday, October 2, 2024 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. (virtual) 
  • Wednesday, October 30, 2024 9:00 – 11:00 a.m. (in-person) 
  • Thursday, November 14, 2024 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. (virtual) 
  • Wednesday, February 26, 2025, 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. (virtual) 
  • Wednesday, April 2, 2025, 9:00 – 11:00 a.m. (in-person) 
  • Thursday, April 24, 2025, 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. (virtual)

For more information on these trainings, read this campus notice or email the Global Education Office. If you are an individual with a disability and desire an accommodation, email Allie Oberoi or call 540-231-2867 during regular business hours, at least 10 business days prior to the event.

ICYMI: University Libraries’ top five tips for a successful start to the fall semester

University Libraries encourages faculty and staff to take advantage of the resources, services, and expertise available to them throughout the 2024-25 academic year. To assist faculty and staff in their teaching and research activities, here are University Libraries’ top five tips for the fall 2024 semester:

1. Subscribe to the University Libraries Research Services newsletter and stay up-to-date about info and services available for your success. 
2. Get to know your library liaison. You have a dedicated library expert who can help you connect with all University Libraries has to offer, from collections, research services, emerging technology, and teaching resources. 
3. Make your work more impactful and help potential collaborators find you by creating a public profile in Virginia Tech Experts, ORCID, and Scopus. 
4. Bring your book idea to life by partnering with Virginia Tech Publishing through the publishing process of writing, editing, designing, peer-reviewing, publishing, and marketing your work. 
5. Take advantage of Virginia Tech’s Open Access Policy. Upload the accepted versions of your published scholarly articles to VTechWorks, the university’s open scholarly repository.

Every Virginia Tech campus has access to all library information resources and expertise. Through the University Libraries website, faculty and staff can search digital and physical resources and request for them to be delivered to you.

For more information, read this campus notice or use the “Ask a Librarian” or book a consultation services offered through University Libraries.

Additional Resources and Updates

• Update to Policy 5000: University Real Property Usage and Events
• Join the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine Clinical Grand Challenge
• Elder Care Symposium registration extended to September 10
• Call for proposals: Whole Health Consortium Seed Grants
• Get ready for another academic year with TimelyCare
• Juan Espinoza named vice provost for enrollment management
• Faculty invited to serve as mentors in first-year research program
• “Montgomery Matters” – Montgomery County (VA) planning underway