Week of January 13-17

2025

Women’s Center at Virginia Tech: Reminder of proposal deadline for Women’s Month 2025

The Women’s Center at Virginia Tech has announced a call for program proposals for this year’s Women’s Month celebration designed to promote, advance, and celebrate women at Virginia Tech and beyond.

The deadline for submissions is Wednesday, February 5. Events should be open to all who wish to participate and offer opportunities to celebrate as well as explore women's and gender issues.

Women’s Month (March) recognizes, affirms, and showcases the achievements, concerns, and diversity of women, and occurs in conjunction with National Women’s History Month. The 2025 theme is “Moving Forward Together! Women Educating and Inspiring Generations,” which recognizes the influence of women who have dedicated their lives to education, mentorship, and leadership.

For more information or to submit a proposal, read this campus notice, visit the Women’s Month program website or email the Women’s Center at Virginia Tech.

Global Education: Faculty applications now open for Global Teaching Scholars Program

Faculty are invited to apply for the 2025 Global Teaching Scholars Program (GTS) – an immersive weeklong workshop that helps faculty develop a global teaching project and gain professional development in intercultural learning.

Facilitated by the Global Education Office and the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL), GTS prepares faculty members to incorporate global learning into their students’ experiences through interactive workshops and place-based activities in Switzerland and Scandinavia.

During the workshops, faculty will engage with local partners to build international connections for global learning and hear international perspectives on the pedagogy of global learning. Applications for the summer 2025 programs are now open and available on the CETL website and will close in February.

For more information and to submit an application, read this campus notice or visit the GTS program webpage.

InclusiveVT: Register for the annual Advancing Diversity Gathering by January 22

Virginia Tech invites faculty and staff to attend the 2025 Advancing Diversity Gathering on January 28 from 1:00-5:00 p.m. at The Inn at Virginia Tech. The gathering is an annual InclusiveVT touchpoint event that brings together diversity and inclusion stakeholders across the university for sharing best practices and learning from one another.

This year’s keynote speaker is Lisa García Bedolla, vice provost for Graduate Studies and Hitchock Dean of the Graduate Division, and Chancellor's Professor of Education at UC-Berkely.

Several interactive workshops and breakout sessions will take place during the summit with discussions on topics such as constructive dialogue in the classroom and workplace, student perspectives on community and belonging, and diversifying science and STEM-focused programs.

The deadline to register for the gathering is January 22.

For more information or to register for the event, visit the Advancing Diversity Gathering website or email Michele Deramo, associate vice provost of Diversity Education and Engagement. Virtual attendance options are also available.

CPD: Learn to become a Career Champion for Virginia Tech students

Career and Professional Development (CPD) invites faculty and staff to become a Career Champion for Virginia Tech students and learn more about CPD’s services for undergraduate and graduate students, career resources, and strategies for career conversations. Through the Career Champion program, faculty and staff will:

Learn the components of the career development process.
Increase knowledge of resources available through CPD for undergraduate and graduate students with varying career needs.
Increase confidence in ability to have career conversations with students.
Understand the importance and value of Virginia Tech student reflection on career-related experiences.
Increase awareness of current career trends.

Registration for the spring workshops closes on January 27.

For more information and to register for core training sessions during the spring 2025 semester, read this campus notice or visit TLOS’ Professional Development Network page for this program.

ICYMI: Resources, guidance for navigating difficult conversations in the classroom

The Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL), in partnership with the Office of Inclusion and Diversity (OID), and Technology-Enhanced Learning and Online Strategies (TLOS), offers faculty strategies and resources for navigating debates, disruptions, or challenging conversations in the classroom so that student learning remains the focus.

Adopt a Disposition for Dialogue – Often, when students make a comment that we regard as problematic, what is needed from us is guidance so that we can engage students in thinking more carefully and critically about topics, and about their use of language.
Know When to Pause – Sometimes, despite our best efforts to be proactive and to model a disposition for dialogue, a disruption occurs and at times, a single voice dominates causing other students to disengage. Your leadership of the class can be undermined, making it impossible to continue.
Be Proactive – The best strategy is to be prepared and establish a classroom environment that fosters trust and common purpose among students.

For more information and additional details on these strategies and resources, visit the Navigating Difficult Conversations in the Classroom webpage or email CETL.

Additional Resources and Updates

Newsletter Spotlight: Research and Innovation – Focus on Research

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.