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Week of July 24-28

2023

CETL: Proposals for Faculty Teaching Group Grants due September 1

The Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL), in partnership with the Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost, provides Faculty Teaching Group Grants to support Virginia Tech faculty members who would like to explore a topic related to higher education teaching and learning in a small and interactive learning community.

The primary goals of this grant program are to encourage faculty members to form collaborative support networks within or outside of their home departments and colleges, and to encourage exploration and discovery related to teaching and learning in higher education.

Faculty Teaching Groups will receive a grant of up to $2,000 toward their proposed goals. Approximately five grants will be funded each year. Proposals for this grant program should be submitted electronically with the following Google Form on or before September 1.

For more information, please read this campus notice or email CETL.

Provost’s Office: New Faculty Welcome set for August 18 at The Inn at Virginia Tech

The Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost cordially invites all new Virginia Tech faculty hired within the past year to the New Faculty Welcome on Friday, August 18 from 8:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. at The Inn at Virginia Tech and Skelton Conference Center.

The annual event, hosted by Faculty Affairs and with contributions from units across the university, is designed to provide overview information about the university, perspectives from current faculty, and an opportunity to network with colleagues. The program also offers breakout sessions for Administrative and Professional Faculty and Teaching and Research Faculty.

The event is free to attend, but registration is required.

In addition to the general welcome session, special sessions for new teaching and research faculty members will be held after lunch on August 18 at the following times:

  • Special Teaching Session for New Faculty, 1:00 – 2:45 p.m. 
  • Special Research Session for New Faculty, 3:00 – 4:30 p.m.

For more information on the event or registration, please email Leslie Stevens, faculty affairs coordinator for the Office of Faculty Affairs.

TLOS: Showcase to share perspectives and innovative pedagogical approaches, outcomes

Technology-enhanced Learning and Online Strategies (TLOS) invites faculty and academic staff to attend their TLOS Showcase on August 17. Featured workshops will be led by TLOS faculty partners who will share their perspectives and innovative pedagogical approaches and outcomes. Light refreshments and lunch will be provided.

Registration will open on Monday, July 31. The following workshops and presentations are being planned for the day-long showcase:

  • History Lab: Creative Technologies, Hidden Histories, Informal Learning 
  • Artifical Intelligence (AI) 
  • AR/XR/VR 
  • Digital Assessment 
  • Digital Credentials 
  • Universal Design for Learning (UDL) 
  • Study Aboard 
  • Authentic Assessment using UDL 
  • Video Storyboarding 
  • Teaching Students the History and Science of Food 
  • Teaching Construction Safety with Immersive Augmented Reality 
  • Hypothesis 
  • AR/VR Studio

For more information or details on planned workshops, please email TLOS or visit the TLOS Showcase website.

Policy and Governance: Summer reminder of Policy 4815 – Minors at Virginia Tech

As we see an increase in minors on campus during the summer months as a result of various youth camps and events, faculty and academic staff are reminded to refer to Policy 4815: Minors at Virginia Tech which was established to bring awareness to the presence of minors in programs conducted or hosted by the university and to set minimum requirements for the screening and training of individuals working with minors.

Virginia Tech is committed to the safety and welfare of its students, faculty, staff, and visitors through the establishment of reasonable practices that support a safe and secure environment in all university facilities, as well as to promote safety through policies and programs.

If faculty or academic program staff are planning to work with minors or invite them to participate in a program hosted at Virginia Tech, please review carefully the revised policy.

If you have any questions or need more information about Policy 4815 or programs with minors at Virginia Tech, please read this campus notice or email the Youth Protection Associate Specialist.

ICYMI: New semester-long technology lending program available to faculty, staff

University Libraries at Virginia Tech is partnering with Technology-enhanced Learning and Online Strategies (TLOS) to launch a semester-long technology lending program for the 2023-24 academic year. This initiative provides faculty, staff, and students access to cutting-edge equipment for research, teaching, and collaborative projects free of charge.

Under this program, individuals will describe their university affiliation, project details, and equipment they need in the request form. Available equipment includes high-end computers, 3D printers, DSLR cameras, 360 cameras, VR headsets, eye-tracking equipment, iPads, and more.

All Virginia Tech employees and students, at all campus locations, are eligible to participate in this program. Those interested are encouraged to submit their equipment requests by August 9.

For this pilot year, equipment will be limited, which may lead to demand exceeding supply. If the number of requests surpasses the available inventory, a weighted random lottery will be conducted to determine equipment recipients.

For more information, please read this VT News article or email the Technology Lending Program staff.

Additional Resources and Updates

If you have comments or recommendations for how we can improve the Weekly Communications Update or suggestions for information that should be shared with faculty, staff, and academic program personnel, please provide them through this Google form or email Provost Communications.

Please 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.