Week of February 9-13

Provost’s Office: Share your perspectives, feedback through the COACHE 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. 

Undergraduate Academic Affairs: Support for students via the Early Academic Referral System 

Virginia Tech’s Early Academic Referral System (VT EARS) is a tool to assist faculty in proactively identifying and referring undergraduate students who may be experiencing academic difficulty early within a semester. Research indicates that intervention within the first 6-8 weeks of the semester can make a difference. 

VT EARS has a significant impact on student success because of its potential to:

• Increase awareness of the academic support networks. 
• Reduce the number of undergraduate students on academic probation or suspension. 
• Reaffirm the institution’s commitment to at-risk students. 
• Increase engagement between faculty and undergraduate students. 

For more information, visit the VT EARS webpage or email Academic Advising and Transition Support in the Office of Undergraduate Academic Affairs. 

Note: EARS is not for urgent, sensitive, time-critical referrals. If you have an emergency or require immediate assistance, call 911 for the police.

Faculty Affairs: Registration now open for 2026 Virginia Tech Mentoring Forum 

Registration is now open for the 2026 Virginia Tech Mentoring Forum — a day-long conference where Virginia Tech faculty and administrators share mentoring strategies, explore challenges, and develop solutions to support faculty growth. 

This in-person forum will take place March 18 from 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m. at The Inn at Virginia Tech. The event is free and includes lunch and a closing reception, but forum registration is required. Concurrent sessions will focus on mentoring and mentorship led by colleagues representing various disciplines and interests. 

This year’s keynote speaker is mentoring expert Beronda Montgomery, professor of biology at Grinnell College and best-selling author of "Lessons from Plants.” She will speak on, "Mentoring Well: Building Bridges to Access and Success.” 

For more information, email Barbara Lockee in Faculty Affairs or visit the 2026 Mentoring Forum webpage. Register early as seating is limited for this event.

Graduate School, Cranwell International Center: Webinar on international student employment 

The Graduate School and Cranwell International Center invite faculty and staff across the campus to their spring semester webinar on, "International Student Employment: Best Practices and Communication.” 

This virtual webinar will take place on February 16 from 1:00-3:00 p.m. and cover topics such as employment timelines, policies, expectations, and student impact. The event is free for the university community to attend, but registration is required. 

For more information, email Catherine Cotrupi in the Graduate School or visit the Graduate School or Cranwell International Center websites.

ICYMI: Panel discussion on academic freedom, freedom of expression set for February 26 

Faculty Senate, Faculty Affairs, and the Center for Peace Studies and Violence Prevention invite faculty and staff to attend a panel discussion on academic freedom and freedom of expression — core principles of the university and essential to the work faculty do as scholars, teachers, and citizens of the academy. 

This important event will take place on February 26 from 1:30-2:30 p.m. in the Holtzman Alumni Center Auditorium. Featured panelists include: 

• Timothy D. Sands: President of Virginia Tech 
• Tom Ginsburg: Leo Spitz Distinguished Service Professor of International Law and Faculty Director of the Forum for Free Inquiry and Expression at the University of Chicago 
• Robin Queen: L. Preston Wade Professor of Engineering, Professor of Biomedical Engineering, and Chair of the Virginia Tech Task Force on Freedom of Expression and Inquiry 

During the discussion, panelists will explore the meaning, boundaries, and practical challenges of academic freedom and freedom of expression in today’s higher education landscape. A reception will follow. 

For more information, email Ron Fricker, vice provost for Faculty Affairs. Additional details will be shared though the provost’s weekly update and VT News.

Additional Resources and Updates

Newsletter Spotlight: GLC Weekly (Graduate School) 

• Partner with Campus internEXP to support student experiential learning
• Submit events, programs for Women's History Month
• February 2026 Employee Benefits Spotlight
• Hang up, hang out with these semester Digital Well-being challenges
• Mail Services operating with delays as storm recovery continues
• Veteran Services offering Green Zone Training in February
• February 12 town-gown meeting examines safety, security
• Celebrate everyday acts of excellence: Nominations open for Aspire! Awards