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Week of July 22-26

2024

Inclusion and Diversity: Faculty invited to apply for 2024-25 transformational ally cohorts

The Office for Inclusion and Diversity (OID) invites applicants for two 2024-25 transformational ally cohorts. Both programs are designed to support faculty and administrators as they contribute to building an inclusive academy through their roles at Virginia Tech.

  • Academic Allies for Inclusive Excellence (AAIE) is for full professors and department chairs of academic units across the colleges. 
  • Transformational Allies for Inclusion Leadership (TRAIL) is for administrative and professional faculty at the director level or higher.  

With each cohort, participants join communities of praxis that read, reflect, and act to leverage their positional leadership to build workplaces that are inclusive, equitable, and accessible to all.

Interested employees can apply online through August 5.

For more information, read this campus notice or email Michele Deramo, associate vice provost for Diversity Education and Engagement with OID.

University Libraries: Learn to utilize tools to help manage, analyze research data

University Libraries is hosting a series of workshops in August to help researchers utilize tools designed to assist in managing and analyzing data. All workshops are 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. and offered in-person and online. In-person workshops include lunch and refreshments. Registration is required for each session.

For more information, read this campus notice, visit the registration webpage for each workshop, or email Nathaniel Porter, social science data consultant and data education coordinator for University Libraries.

Research and Innovation: Best Practices for Engineering Research Center Proposals

The National Science Foundation’s Engineering Research Center program is one of the agency’s largest, most prestigious, and most competitive recurring programs. Engineering Research Centers are multi-institution centers that integrate engineering research and education with technological innovation.

As part of its Research Development Seminar Series, the Office of Research and Innovation invites faculty to an online presentation titled, “Best Practices for Engineering Research Center Proposals,” July 30 from 3:00-4:30 p.m. via Zoom. The event is free to attend, but registration is required.

Hosted by Senior Vice President for Research and Innovation Dan Sui, this seminar will address what makes a strong Engineering Research Center concept, essential elements for a successful center, components of a compelling proposal, and resources available at Virginia Tech.

The work done through these centers are expected to benefit the engineering community, the scientific community, and society broadly, and successful proposals must meet a high standard to demonstrate that the proposed center has the appropriate focus, capacity, structure, and resources for impact on this scale.

For more information, read this campus notice, email Robyn Smyth, or visit Research and Innovation’s Events webpage.

Division of IT: Changes to creation of Microsoft 365 SharePoint sites, collaborative spaces

In response to Microsoft’s announcement about changes with its license model, Virginia Tech, through the Division of IT, will be modifying procedures regarding the creation of collaborative spaces within Microsoft 365 (M365).

The following changes will take effect on August 16:

  • The creation of M365 SharePoint Sites, Teams, and Groups will require approval via an IT Service Catalog request. 
  • Only employees will be able to request creation of these spaces.

Employees who wish to create a new M365 SharePoint site, team, or group must request and receive departmental approval starting on August 16. A form to request these items will be made available in the 4Help IT Service Catalog on this date.

Existing M365 SharePoint sites, teams, and groups will continue to be available. Starting on August 16, students, alumni, and retirees will no longer be able to create new M365 collaborative spaces, but collaborative spaces may be shared with them.

For more information, read this campus notice. For individualized technology support, contact 4Help at 4help.vt.edu or call 540-231-4357.

ICYMI: Seeking Hokie Helpers to welcome students and families, assist with fall move-in

Virginia Tech Student Affairs is gearing up to welcome our incoming class of new Hokies with Fall Move-In and Weeks of Welcome, and is seeking faculty and staff volunteers to assist students and families as they arrive on campus.

The Hokie Helpers program supports new and returning students as they move into residence halls. Hokie Helper volunteers come from all over the university and community to showcase the university motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve). Hokie Helpers provide information, welcome new students and their families, unload vehicles, manage logistics, and distribute water bottles to students and families in need of a break from the heat.

Volunteers are needed for fall move-in which begins August 20, and for Weeks of Welcome events. Shifts range from three to six hours depending on the task, and volunteers may sign up for just one or as many as their schedule allows.

For more information, visit the Hokie Helpers webpage or access the online iVolunteer form to view available shifts and sign up.

Additional Resources and Updates

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.