Week of January 30-February 3

Update from Faculty Affairs: COACHE survey on faculty job satisfaction delayed

There will be a slight delay in the release of the Collaborative on Academic Careers in Higher Education (COACHE) job satisfaction survey. When it is distributed, faculty of all ranks will have an opportunity to share opinions about their experience at Virginia Tech, from compensation and work-life policies to leadership and diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Your feedback is critically important as the university strives to attract and retain outstanding scholars and educators and increase the satisfaction of all faculty. Past COACHE survey data has prompted institutional changes such as enhancements to the shared governance system, the creation of pre-tenure course releases, new faculty mentoring programs, and development of work-life policies.

Participation will entail a 25-minute, web-based survey via a unique link emailed from COACHE, coachefaculty@opinioncast.com. COACHE will provide our campus with their summary analysis, as well as the confidential unit-record database, stripped of names and email addresses.

If you have questions, please email Rachel Gabriele, assistant provost for Faculty Initiatives and Policies, or call 540-231-4508. You can also visit the Virginia Tech COACHE website.

CPD: Create student internship, experiential learning opportunities with Campus internEXP

Career and Professional Development (CPD) is committed to providing quality experiential learning opportunities to Virginia Tech students through its internship and cooperative education programs.

If you’re a department or faculty member who currently hires interns, would like to turn a student wage position into an internship, or would like to hire an intern but don’t know how to get started, CPD invites you to register for an information session to learn more about Campus internEXP (Campus Intern Experience), Virginia Tech’s newest program for undergraduate students designed to support efforts to provide bridge experiential learning opportunities on our campus.

Through Campus internEXP, CPD hopes to connect students with the variety of job functions and amazing professionals that work here on campus to provide quality internship experiences. Those departments and faculty interested in hosting a student intern should register for a required Campus internEXP information sessions to learn more about how to apply to be an internship host/site, how the program works, upcoming dates and deadlines, and how to write a detailed job description.

All information sessions will be held via Zoom. If you would like to learn more about Campus internEXP and hosting a student, please read this campus notice or visit the program website.

If you have specific questions, are unable to attend an information session, or would prefer to meet one-on-one, please email Julia Ward, assistant director for Professional Development and Experiential Programs.

Office of General Education: Faculty invited to submit proposals for Pathways annual grants

The Office of General Education requests proposals for 2023 Pathways annual grants. This year’s grants will support faculty in revising or creating Pathways courses and Pathways minors that go "off the beaten path(way)" to incorporate high-impact practices like study abroad, undergraduate research, service learning, and civic learning and democratic engagement.

The deadline for proposal submissions is March 1.

To align with the grant program’s mission, proposals must serve a broad range of majors to be considered. Additionally, proposals submitted for new courses or minors will be considered, but priority will be given to revising existing courses and minors.

In the past, Pathways grant awards have ranged from $2,000 to $10,000. Funding will be determined by the specific needs of each proposal and may be provided for a number of purposes, including but not limited to summer salary, TA/GA support, travel, and instructional materials.

Pathways General Education is the foundation of every student’s education at this university. As part of the program, students can study and explore topics across the university and create a learning experience that complements their academic focus and meets their career goals.

For more information, please read this campus notice or visit the Pathways annual grants website.

Policy and Governance: University Council meeting discussion items for February 6

University Council will hold its next meeting in the Multipurpose Library (Room 104) of the Creativity and Innovation District (CID) Building and via Zoom on Monday, February 6, beginning at 3:30 p.m. Items for discussion include the following:

Reports from Commission Chairs

• Commission on Administrative and Professional Faculty Affairs 
• Commission on Equal Opportunity and Diversity 
• Commission on Faculty Affairs 
• Commission Graduate and Professional Student Affairs 
• Commission on Graduate and Professional Studies and Policies 
• Commission on Outreach and International Affairs 
• Commission on Research 
• Commission on Staff Policies and Affairs 
• Commission on Undergraduate Student Affairs 
• Commission on Undergraduate Studies and Policies

Unfinished Business

• Commission on Equal Opportunity and Diversity 
  • Resolution CEOD 2022-23A 
  • Resolution to Establish CEOD Representation on University Council

• Commission on Undergraduate Studies and Policies 
  • Resolution CUSP 2022-23A 
  • Resolution to Waive the General Education Requirements for Students Seeking a Second Bachelor’s Degree

For a complete agenda and meeting materials, please visit the University Council website. To receive Zoom log-in information, email April Myers by 12:00 noon on February 6.

If you are an individual with a disability and desire an accommodation, please contact the Office of Policy and Governance by emailing vppg@vt.edu or calling 540-231-6232 by 12:00 noon on the day of the meeting.

ICYMI: Applications now open for Accessibility Professional Certification Grant Program

Technology-enhanced Learning and Online Strategies’ (TLOS) Accessible Technologies group is now accepting applications for the Accessibility Professional Certification Grant Program. Grant recipients gain the opportunity to develop expertise and earn the International Association of Accessibility Professionals (IAAP) Certified Professional in Accessibility Core Competencies (CPACC) certification.

Faculty, staff, and graduate students who want to gain cross-disciplinary knowledge of disabilities, accessibility, universal design, and the associated standards should apply for this grant. Past participants report that the program has provided them with the skills to produce high-quality work that meets the needs of a broad range of people with disabilities.

CPACC is IAAP's foundational certification, representing broad, cross-disciplinary conceptual knowledge. Grant recipients receive membership in IAAP, exam prep training, and a waiver of exam fees. Training covers disabilities and assistive technologies; accessibility and universal design; and laws, standards, and organizational management.

The deadline for applications is Monday, February 6 at 5:00 p.m. Cohort members will meet weekly via Zoom to review materials, ask questions, and see assistive technology demonstrations.

For more information about the Accessibility Professional Certification Grant Program and to submit applications, please read this campus notice or visit the Accessibility Professional Certification Grant Application webpage.

Additional Resources and Updates

• Black History Month events, programs, and celebrations
  Posted-February 2
  Throughout February, programs will honor the achievements of Black people and showcase the diversity of the Black community.
• Feedback requested regarding iThenticate use
  Posted-February 1
  The Graduate School is assessing the usage, effectiveness of the iThenticate software in preparation for potential contract renewal.
• Registration open for annual 3.2-mile Run in Remembrance
  Posted-February 1
  Run in Remembrance in Blacksburg will honor the lives of the 32 students and faculty who were tragically taken from us in 2007.
• University Libraries offering resource trials throughout February
  Posted-January 31
  Databases are accessible through March 3 with feedback requested on how these resources support your research and teaching needs.
• Roving Writing Retreats – Spring 2023
  Posted-January 26
  Segments include three 50-minute writing sessions with a 10-minute break for socializing and tips for writers. Registration is required.
• University Ombuds hosts Transformative Conflict Management Series
  Posted-January 23
  Series explores conflict and techniques for managing conflict in order to transform situations from a breakdown to a breakthrough.