Week of March 24-28

2025

Faculty Affairs: Nominations open for 2025-26 Provost’s Leadership Development Program

The Office of Faculty Affairs has announced a call for nominations for the 2025-26 Provost’s Leadership Development Program: Leading in Place cohort. This program embraces a broad view of academic leadership, from formal position-based roles to a more lateral view where leadership roles are available to everyone, sometimes referred to as leadership in place.

Seasoned leaders from around campus will join the cohort throughout the semester to allow for broader networking opportunities. Program themes include:

Cultivating environment and culture
Navigating difficult conversations
Leading with emotional intelligence
Supporting community and connection
Ethical leadership
The role of self-care in leadership

All applications should be submitted on or before April 18. Applicants will be notified of the outcome of their nomination by May 16.

For more information including the process and online form for submitting nominations, visit the Provost’s Leadership Development Program: Leading in Place webpage or email Sara Thompto in the Office of Faculty Affairs.

Graduate School: Celebrate our graduate students, programs during Graduate Education Week

Virginia Tech invites the university community to celebrate Graduate Education Week, March 24-29, highlighting the work of more than 7,000 graduate students across the university’s colleges and campuses.

This year’s theme, “Create Your Own Adventure,” encourages students to take ownership of the process of learning and research as they earn their degrees. Universities across the nation observe Graduate Education Week to note the importance of graduate education and increase awareness of the contributions of graduate students to teaching, research, and service.

As part of Graduate Education Week at Virginia Tech, the Graduate School will host a number of events, workshops, information sessions, receptions, and other activities in Blacksburg, Roanoke, and the greater Washington, D.C. area.

For more information and a schedule of events, read this announcement or visit the Graduate Education Week 2025 webpage.

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

Each semester, faculty and graduate teaching assistants (GTA) manage classroom debates and disruptions related to current events and intervene when a discussion on a complex topic becomes contentious. As the course instructor or GTA who sets the tone for classroom discussion, your disposition – the behavior you exhibit and the language you use – serves as a model for students.

The Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL) and Technology-Enhanced Learning and Online Strategies (TLOS) provide some strategies and resources for navigating challenging moments 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 details on these strategies and resources, visit the Navigating Difficult Conversations in the Classroom webpage or email CETL.

Board of Visitors: Quarterly board, committee meetings to take place March 24-25

The Virginia Tech Board of Visitors (BOV) will hold its quarterly meeting on Tuesday, March 25 at 1:15 p.m. in Latham Ballroom A/B, at The Inn at Virginia Tech and Skelton Conference Center. An information session for board members will take place at 9:30 a.m. on March 24 in Latham Ballroom A/B.

Individual committee meetings will be held on March 24 and 25. During the meetings, board members will receive an update on the university’s growing presence in the greater Washington, D.C. area, review designs of a new business building planned in Blacksburg, and consider a resolution on 2025-26 tuition and fee rates.

The March 24 information session and March 25 full board meeting will be livestreamed. To view either meeting, visit the Board of Visitors website. Public comment will not be received during the meetings.

For more information including topics on the agenda and a schedule of committee meetings, read this campus notice or visit the BOV website. If you encounter any issues with the livestream, please call Virginia Tech 4-Help at 540-231-2280.

ICYMI: ‘Empowering Educators’ is theme for annual Universal Design for Learning Day

Technology-enhanced Learning and Online Strategies (TLOS), in partnership with Undergraduate Education and Services for Students with Disabilities, invites faculty, staff, and graduate teaching assistants to participate in Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Day, April 11 from 8:30 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. at North End Center in Blacksburg.

The theme is “Empowering Educators: Practical Strategies for ADA Compliance and UDL Implementation.” UDL Day aims to equip participants with the following:

Technologies, strategies, and resources available at Virginia Tech
Methods to align teaching practices with digital accessibility requirements and UDL principles
Tactics to support all learners and individualized accommodation needs
Best practices to reduce educational barriers for students and make course materials accessible

Seating is limited to 70 participants and light refreshments and lunch will be provided. The event is free to attend, but registration is required.

For more information and a schedule of events, read this campus notice, visit the UDL Day webpage, or email TLOS. Individuals with a disability who desire accommodations may request them on the event registration form.

Additional Resources and Updates

Newsletter Spotlight: Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC

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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.