Week of August 3-7

2026

GSS: Important travel guidance for faculty, staff awaiting immigration extensions

Recent news reports describe U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detaining some travelers whose Form I-94 admission periods have expired as they pass through U.S. airports, including individuals with pending immigration filings.

Although it remains unclear whether these cases reflect a formal policy change or inconsistent enforcement practices, Global Strategic Services (GSS) is sharing precautionary guidance for Virginia Tech employees whose I-94 has expired while a timely filed immigration petition remains pending.

Until more is known, GSS recommends the following precautions:

If your I-94 has expired and your extension remains pending, carefully consider alternatives to domestic air travel.
If air travel is essential and your immigration extension is still pending with USCIS, contact GSS well in advance of your scheduled trip.
If your I-94 will expire within the next six months, work with your department and GSS to begin the extension process as early as possible.
When traveling domestically or internationally, carry your passport, a copy of your most recent I-94, and the immigration documents that apply to your current legal status in the United States.
If your I-94 has expired and an extension has been filed but not yet approved by USCIS, carry a copy of the USCIS receipt notice for the extension.
After EVERY international trip, review your new I-94 record.

For more information and additional details on this important travel guidance, visit GSS’ Immigration Resources webpage or email GSS.

Faculty Affairs: First-Year Faculty Experience program for new teaching, research faculty

Virginia Tech’s First-Year Faculty Experience (FYFE) is a new year-long professional development and community-building program designed to help new teaching and/or research faculty navigate their first-year by connecting them with campus resources, colleagues, and practical strategies in teaching, research, service, and community.

Led by the Office of Faculty Affairs in partnership with colleagues across the university, the FYFE program seeks to help new faculty:

Navigate the Virginia Tech environment
Build professional networks with campus partners and other first-year faculty
Become acquainted with key aspects of faculty success including:
- Academic freedom
- Building your scholarly presence
- Finding a work-life balance
- Cultivating success in the classroom (for your students and you)
- Teaching with AI
- Getting started with research funding
- Mentoring graduate students

For more information including registration and session dates and times, visit the First-Year Faculty Experience webpage or email Faculty Affairs.

Student Affairs: Seeking Hokie Helpers to welcome students, assist with fall move-in

Student Affairs is gearing up to welcome our new and returning Hokies with Fall Move-In, and is seeking faculty and staff volunteers to serve as Hokie Helpers to assist them as they move into residence halls.

There are five kinds of Hokie Helpers: Drive Through Q&A Station Volunteers, Check-in Volunteers, Building Ambassadors, Wayfinding Volunteers, and Cart Wrangler Volunteers. Hokie Helpers do not handle student belongings, but they do ensure carts are available at check-in tables and help families find residence halls, get checked in, and find their rooms.

Volunteers are needed for half-day shifts August 18-21. Faculty and staff may sign up for just one or as many shifts as their schedule allows.

The last day to sign up to volunteer is August 13.

For more information and to access the online volunteer sign-up form, read this Hokie Helpers campus notice or visit Student Affairs’ volunteer information webpage.

CRCPE: Report physical, digital and parking barriers on Virginia Tech campuses

Virginia Tech is committed to ensuring equal access and strives to maintain a barrier-free environment. With that in mind, faculty and staff are urged to report any physical, digital or parking barriers to ADA and Accessibility Services of the Office for Civil Rights Compliance and Prevention Education (CRCPE) while on Virginia Tech campuses and distributed locations.

How to report barriers on campus:

Physical: issues such as an inoperative elevator or chair lift, a blocked pathway, or an inaccessible entrance. Physical access barriers may be reported by filling out the physical barrier online form.
Digital: web pages and electronic documents such as PDFs or Microsoft Office files can also present barriers. Barriers to digital access may be reported by using the digital barrier online form.
Parking: vehicles blocking accessible parking spaces, access aisles, curb ramps, building entrances, and accessible routes. Barriers to accessible parking or accessible routes may be reported by emailing Parking Services.

For more information, read this campus access barriers campus notice, visit the Accessibility Portal, or email ADA and Accessibility Services.

ICYMI: Research Professional Faculty Leveling Project reaches implementation

Virginia Tech has begun implementation of the new Research Professional Faculty classification structure, marking a significant milestone in a multi-year initiative to strengthen career opportunities, improve classification consistency, and enhance support for the university’s research enterprise.

The new framework provides:

Clear, defined Research Professional Faculty career levels and specializations
Standardized job profiles and qualifications
Improved career pathing and workforce development resources
Reliable external market data to better inform future compensation decisions
Greater consistency in recruiting and classifying research positions across Virginia Tech

Implementation of the new structure does not change an employee’s appointment, working title, benefits, or salary. Supervisors will begin meeting with Research Professional Faculty employees to discuss their positions’ assigned classifications.

For more information, read this research faculty classification campus notice or visit the Non-Professorial Research Faculty Restructure website.

Additional Resources and Updates

Leadership Spotlight: Virginia Tech Presidential Search Information

Please submit a Google form or email Provost Communications for comments or recommendations to improve the Weekly Communications Update or to share faculty, staff, and academic program personnel information.

Visit the provost’s website frequently for new and updated university information. All members of the campus community should also read their VT News daily email for further important updates, notices, and resources.