Week of February 16-20

2026

Message from Provost Julie Ross: ARA report recommendations, next steps

Provost Julie Ross shared a message with the academic community today on the recommendations presented in the Academic Resource Alignment (ARA) report and next steps in the process. Here are summary points from the message:

First and foremost, I want to clarify that the recommendations presented in the ARA report are just that: recommendations.
These recommendations are possible strategies and actions to address alignment issues that were identified by the committee.
They also represent suggestions for additional areas within the academic enterprise that need to be studied.
I am working closely with your deans to review each recommendation, on a case-by-case basis, to determine those we should pursue at this time, and those that require further analysis and discussion.
Moving forward, the evaluation of metrics will be integrated into our standard annual processes for academic reporting and review for each college.
I hope faculty will stay engaged and connect with their deans if they have questions or feedback.
I will continue to share updates and information with your deans, department heads, and Faculty Senate representatives as often as possible.

Read the full ARA update message from Provost Ross on the Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost website.

Virginia Tech: Join President Tim Sands for his State of the University Address on February 18

Virginia Tech President Tim Sands will present his 10th annual State of the University Address on February 18 at 3:00 p.m. at the Center for the Arts at Virginia Tech. Sands remarks will focus on elevating the university’s real-world impact through outcome-oriented teaching, research, and outreach.

The address will include examples of how Virginia Tech’s engagement is affecting the lives of people and communities in Virginia and around the world, and a first look at a new economic impact study that reveals how much Virginia Tech contributes to the economic vitality of communities across the commonwealth.

For more information and a link to the livestream, read this campus notice or visit the State of the University webpage.

Research and Innovation, University Libraries: Federal requirement for digital persistent identifier

Federal agencies require researchers to use a digital persistent identifier — such as an ORCID iD — to clearly and consistently identify who produced funded research. Virginia Tech requests that all faculty who actively publish or apply for externally funded research connect their ORCID iD to their Elements profile by August 2026.

The following steps ensure that a researcher's scholarly record is accurate, complete, and compliant with federal requirements:

Get an ORCID iD, then make it public
Connect ORCID iD to Scopus
Connect ORCID iD to their Elements profile

Faculty are also encouraged to make their Elements profile public. Benefits include:

Simplifies maintaining updated information for new proposals (e.g., Biosketch)
Simplifies data aggregation for reporting metrics
Reduces administrative burden by reusing accurate researcher information across proposals, publications, and reports
Protects researchers by ensuring accurate attribution of scholarly work and reducing misattribution, including improper authorship claims

For more information and further assistance, read this ORCID iD campus notice or visit University Libraries’ research guides webpage.

Provost’s Office: Support for employees, students observing religious holidays

Many Virginia Tech employees and students engage in religious observances during the spring semester that may impact their workplace or classroom participation. As stated in the Faculty Handbook (section 9.6.2: Class Attendance):

“in accordance with our Principles of Community, faculty are encouraged to accommodate students when the observance of religious, cultural, ethnic, meaning- making, or faith-based beliefs conflict with academic requirements.”

The Provost’s Office acknowledges that every course section and class is different, and some are able to be adapted more easily than others. Recognizing that faculty are primarily responsible for decisions on academic requirements for their courses, including assignments and exam timelines, please do your best to support those who are observing religious holidays and practices whenever it is academically feasible.

ICYMI: Share your perspectives, feedback through the COACHE faculty job satisfaction survey

The Collaborative on Academic Careers in Higher Education (COACHE) faculty job satisfaction survey has officially launched and Virginia Tech teaching and research faculty are encouraged to participate and contribute to this important assessment process. COACHE is specifically designed to determine current job satisfaction among faculty at Virginia Tech compared with those at peer institutions.

Check inboxes and spam folders for an email from coachefaculty@abtsurvey.com or coachefaculty@abtglobal.com, directing you to the online survey. The survey should take approximately 25 minutes to complete and COACHE will provide our campus with their summary analysis, as well as the confidential unit-record database, stripped of names and email addresses.

As results from the 2026 survey become available, the Office of Faculty Affairs will share findings with the university community in a town hall-style meeting and on Virginia Tech’s COACHE webpage.

For more information, email Rachel Gabriele in Faculty Affairs or call 540-231-4508. Faculty can also email COACHE directly with survey-related questions.

Additional Resources and Updates

Newsletter Spotlight: Inside the Institute (Fralin Life Sciences Institute)

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.