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Week of July 28-August 1

2025

University Libraries: Experts profile can elevate scholarship, attract collaborators 

Virginia Tech Experts is a searchable online profile system managed through University Libraries that provides a public-facing view of researchers, scholars, and educators at Virginia Tech, along with their publications, research interests, teaching, and additional scholarly activities.

Activate your profile by using the Elements database system with a few simple steps and boost your online scholarly presence. 

Virginia Tech Experts supports identifying potential collaborators and discovery of research, scholarship, creative works, and areas of specialization and expertise across disciplines.  

For more information including overview slides, workshops, and a video guide, visit the Virginia Tech Experts website.

CETL: Welcome Back Symposium highlights tools, resources for supporting student learning 

The Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL) will host its virtual Welcome Back Symposium, August 22 from 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. The annual symposium provides attendees the opportunity to learn about strategies, tools, and resources current Virginia Tech faculty find meaningful in supporting student learning.

Faculty presenters represent a diverse group of disciplinary backgrounds and a wide range of teaching experience. Sessions will offer practical ideas and suggestions that can be integrated into a variety of course contexts. 

The goal is for teaching faculty members at Virginia Tech to gain information, inspiration, and ideas for strategies that they can implement in their teaching to increase student engagement.  

For more information, read this campus notice, visit the Welcome Back Symposium webpage, or email CETL.

Scholarly Integrity and Research Compliance: Disclosure guidance, requirements for faculty

The Office of Scholarly Integrity and Research Compliance (SIRC) provides disclosure guidance for faculty and staff to report outside activities and certain financial interests through Virginia Tech’s Disclosure and Management System (Policy 13010). As there are many disclosure and COI stakeholders across the university, the Disclosure and Management System is designed to reduce duplication and is automated and synchronous to the extent possible.

Initial disclosures must be submitted before the outside activity, sponsored research, or university contract begins. Disclosures must be updated within 30 days of any changes and renewed annually, as needed. The three circumstances that correspond to a module on the disclosure system’s landing page are as follows:

  • You want to consult or work for an outside entity.
  • You are a PI/co-I on an awarded sponsored research project (i.e., an Investigator).
  • You or an immediate family member have a financial interest related to university contracting.

For more information on guidance, procedures, and requirements as well as a Disclosure Decision Tree, visit the SIRC’s Disclosure Guidance webpage.

Facilities: Updates on summer traffic, pedestrian impacts due to campus construction projects 

As a result of numerous summer capital construction, renovation, and maintenance projects on the Blacksburg campus, the Division of Facilities reminds faculty and staff to expect periodic road and pedestrian route closures and traffic delays in limited areas of the campus through August.

Below is a list of recently announced projects and areas where traffic and pedestrian impacts may occur. Please check below to see if your route or building is affected.

For more information and an interactive map of impacted areas, read the campus notices in VT News for each impacted area or email Virginia Tech Facilities.

ICYMI: ADA Title II compliance target date announced, resources available 

Virginia Tech’s Office for Civil Rights Compliance and Prevention Education (CRCPE), in coordination with Technology-enhanced Learning and Online Strategies (TLOS), emphasize that all employees, including teaching faculty, are responsible for ensuring that the materials they create, share, or use, in any format, are accessible to people of all abilities no later than April 24, 2026.

As part of this effort, the Title II resources webpage has been created and serves as a central hub for tools, training, and support to assist faculty and staff in meeting these obligations. Key features of the webpage include:

For nearly a decade, Virginia Tech has promoted accessibility education and the principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL). UDL guides educational practices and ensures high-quality learning experiences by considering the needs of diverse learners and removing common learning barriers from the educational curriculum.

For more information, read this campus notice, visit the Title II resource webpage, or contact 4Help.vt.edu with questions or to request training support.

Additional Resources and Updates

Newsletter Spotlight: University Libraries Research Services

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.