Week of February 3-7

2025

Message from President Tim Sands: Monitoring guidance, impacts of recent federal actions

Over the past several days, the White House and federal agencies have issued Executive Orders and communications that could directly affect our university, students, faculty, and staff. We are working to understand the impact and watching closely for additional federal communications. We hope to have more clarity in the days ahead, and when we do, we will share that information.

Virginia Tech’s Office of Research and Innovation has created a Federal Agency Update webpage to provide the university community with guidance, updates, and links to relevant resources. Our goal is to provide you with clear, accurate information in a very fluid landscape.

Tim Sands

Offices of the Provost, Chief Operating Officer: Impacts from May 7 Metallica concert

Virginia Tech will host a concert by Metallica on Wednesday, May 7, at 6:00 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:

All in-person classes in Blacksburg ending later than 12:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 7 will be shifted online.
All online classes will continue as scheduled.
University employees who have remote or hybrid work agreements and schedules are expected to work remotely on May 7.
University employees who wholly perform their duties on the Blacksburg campus will use authorized closing leave for the hours they would normally work during the authorized closing.
Administrative and non-instructional offices on the Blacksburg campus will close at 12:00 p.m.

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

For more information or questions about leave during an authorized closing, read this campus notice or refer to University Policy No. 4305. If employees have additional questions, they should contact their supervisor or HR representative.

CETL: Programs, workshops to support faculty in enhancing teaching strategies

The Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL) supports Virginia Tech faculty in advancing research-based teaching and learning design and strategies through certificate programs, learning communities, and workshop offerings.

Throughout the spring 2025 semester, the following are available to support the design, development, and implementation of learner-centered instruction.

Book Clubs – Investigate topics of interest in teaching and learning.
Center for the Integration of Research, Teaching, and Learning (CIRTL) – Professional development opportunities for graduate students and postdoctoral associates seeking to gain teaching-related knowledge and skills.
Communities of Practice – Explore topics relevant to your teaching experiences, interests, and needs with fellow Virginia Tech faculty.
Principles of Effective Teaching (PET) Certificate Program – An opportunity for faculty to engage in and develop substantive knowledge and skills.
Project-Based Learning – Learn about project-based learning at Virginia Tech.
Workshops – Designed to foster teaching and learning knowledge and skills.

For more information and to register for these offerings, visit CETL’s Programs webpage or email CETL.

Research and Innovation: Guidance on using artificial intelligence during research activities

The Office of Scholarly Integrity and Research Compliance (SIRC) in Research and Innovation has worked with campus stakeholders to develop guidelines for members of the Virginia Tech community who are using, or interested in using, artificial intelligence (AI) in the design, conduct, and dissemination of research.

As researchers explore the opportunities and challenges presented by generative AI across various disciplines, it is important for the university to address potential risks and concerns, and to be aware of how this guidance interacts with other policies, ethics, and governing legal authority.

This guidance is not intended as legal advice or as an exhaustive set of best practices and should not be viewed as a final policy. Generative AI is rapidly evolving in terms of technology, deployment models, third-party relationships, terms of service, regulatory landscape, and academic-industry partnership structures.

For more information including PI and university responsibilities, ethical and compliance dimensions of using AI in research, and points of contact in SIRC, read this campus notice or download the AI guidance document.

ICYMI: Information, updates on research impacts from recent federal actions

The Office of Research and Innovation has launched a Federal Agency Updates webpage to keep the Virginia Tech research community informed on executive orders and guidance issued by the new administration that impact federal priorities, awarded projects, and impending funding from federal agencies or sponsors.

In coordination with university leadership, the webpage will provide faculty and research associates with guidance, updates, and links to resources and important information on proposals, awards as well as FAQs.

Principal investigators are encouraged to reach out to their federal grant or contracting officer to understand potential programmatic (or research) changes to their awards and encouraged to monitor federal websites for changes in proposal deadlines, requirements, or other actions.

For more information, visit the Federal Agency Updates webpage or contact the Office of Sponsored Programs in Research and Innovation.

Additional Resources and Updates

Newsletter Spotlight: Virginia Tech Engaged (Outreach and International Affairs)

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.