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Week of March 27-31

2023

Division of IT: What you need to know about Improved Endpoint Protection

Virginia Tech is committed to supporting all members of the university community in conducting research, coursework, and business in a technologically secure environment. As cyberattacks have become more prevalent and advanced, Virginia Tech is taking steps to improve the protection of university-owned endpoints – the computers, laptops, and other devices that connect to the internet.

To better protect endpoints, the Division of IT is working with IT professionals in departments, colleges, and other units to roll out two technology solutions that will help Virginia Tech mitigate cyber threats and maintain the security, integrity, and availability of the university’s information systems. These are:

  • Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR), which continuously monitors IT security aspects of endpoints to identify and mitigate cyber threats in real time. 
  • Data Loss Prevention (DLP), which evaluates outgoing and stored data to ensure that any data that is subject to compliance requirements (for example, student data or personally identifiable information such as social security numbers) is not lost, misused, or accessed by unauthorized users.  

Both EDR and DLP are enabled through Microsoft Defender for Endpoint, Google Workspace DLP functions, and Microsoft M365 DLP functions.

The Division of IT has prepared answers to some Frequently Asked Questions about Endpoint Protection and Privacy and are open to any additional questions that you may have. It is important for the university community to have clear and factual information about these tools.

For additional information on Improved Endpoint Protection, please read this campus notice, visit the FAQs webpage, or email Ask About IEP.

CETL: Prepare for summer, fall course instruction with a Course Design Clinic

The Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL) invites faculty to take part in their spring 2023 Course Design Clinic on May 15 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and May 16 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. in 2420 NorthEnd Center.

Faculty who are designing a new course, redesigning an existing course, working with a group of colleagues to redesign a multi-section course, or just hoping to get a head start on summer fall semester course planning are encouraged to register for this highly anticipated workshop. Participants will leave the workshop with a course plan and syllabus for summer or fall 2023 as well as 12 PDN credits.

During the Course Design Clinic, participants will be guided through several stages of course design, which include:

  • identifying goals and learning outcomes; 
  • organizing the syllabus and schedule; 
  • designing individual class meetings, activities, and assignments; and 
  • planning for assessment of student learning.

Participants will also have focused work time to finalize courses with the support of the CETL staff. CETL’s goal is for faculty to leave the clinic well on their way to having a complete course plan, syllabus, and task list for implementation.

For more information about the Course Design Clinic and to register, please read this campus notice, visit the CETL workshops webpage, or email CETL.

Virginia Tech LGBTQ+ Resource Center: Events, activities to celebrate Pride Week 2023

Virginia Tech’s LGBTQ+ Resource Center invites the university community to take part in campus events and activities in celebration of Pride Week 2023. Held annually during the first week in April, Pride Week is the promotion of the self-affirmation, dignity, equality, and increased visibility of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people.

During Pride Week, Virginia Tech hosts a number of events and offers resources that support LGBTQ+ students’ physical, mental, emotional, and social wellbeing such as free haircuts, legal name change assistance, and STI testing. Events and activities include the following:

April 3:

  • Free Legal Name Change Assistance – 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. in Squires Student Center, Yorktown Room
  • Queer Movie: "Pride" (2014) – 6:00 p.m. in Newman Multipurpose Room

April 4:

  • Free Haircuts with Embellish Hair Studio – 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. in 116 Squires Student Center, Break Zone
  • Queer Comedy Night featuring "America's Got Talent's" Hayden Kristal – 6:30 p.m. in Squires Student Center, Haymarket Theater

April 5:

  • Drop-In Crafts in the LGBTQ+ Resource Center – 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. in 227 Squires Student Center 
  • Queer Sex, Intimacy, and Pleasure with Steph Zapata – 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. in O’Shaugnessy Hall, LSCRC Classroom

April 6:

  • Free & Confidential STI Testing & Mpox Vaccines – 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in Squires Student Center, Brush Mountain A 
  • Speaker Event: Rowan Ellis – 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. in Newman Library, Multipurpose Room

April 7:

  • Denim Day 2023 – All Day 
  • Free and Confidential STI Testing & Mpox Vaccines – 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in Squires Student Center, Brush Mountain A 
  • Pride Week Art Mural – 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in Squires Student Center Atrium 
  • Screening and Q&A: "The Unlikely Story of the Lesbians of First Friday" – 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. in Newman Library, Multipurpose Room 
  • Pride Shabbat – 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. at 710 Toms Creek Road in the Hillel building  
  • Shirlette Ammons Performance – 7:00 p.m. in the Moss Arts Center, Cube

The LGBTQ+ Resource Center at Virginia Tech aims to advance, through education and advocacy, the rights and well-being of all Virginia Tech LGBTQ+ communities locally, across the Commonwealth of Virginia, and around the globe. The Center works to provide space, acknowledge and celebrate intersectionality, cultivate leadership, and engage in activism in the spirit of Ut Prosim.

For more information on Pride Week 2023 and to register for select events, please read this campus announcement or visit the LGBTQ+ Resource Center website.

Student Affairs: Frances Keene to serve as vice president, continue leadership of division

Frances Keene has been named vice president for Student Affairs at Virginia Tech after serving as interim vice president since July 2022. She will continue to lead a division that oversees more than 3,000 faculty, staff, and student employees, over 20 departments, and a number of dynamic and critical student life programs.

“Frances brings extensive knowledge and experience to the leadership of Student Affairs and an unwavering dedication to the advocacy, success, and welfare of all Virginia Tech students. Her commitment to providing students with diverse and dynamic campus life experiences, co-curricular programs, and support services is critical to Virginia Tech achieving its strategic goals and fulfilling its land grant mission. I look forward to continuing our work together on behalf of our students and their success.”

- Executive Vice President and Provost Cyril Clarke

“Frances is a valued member of our senior leadership team and has been an advocate for our students for two decades. Her depth of experience and spirit of service will advance our commitment to support the success of every Virginia Tech student.”

- President Tim Sands

Keene’s career at Virginia Tech spans more than 20 years where she has served as a victim services adjudication coordinator, director of student conduct, assistant director in the university’s Long Range Planning Office, chief of operations for the senior associate vice president for Student Affairs, and an assistant vice president and chief of staff to the vice president for Student Affairs.

As a 2016 recipient of the Aspire! Award recognizing her commitment to embracing Ut Prosim (That I May Serve) as a way of life, Keene was honored for her exemplary work in the community and her spirit of service.

Please join us in congratulating Frances and thanking her for her continued leadership and service to the students of Virginia Tech.

ICYMI: Research and Innovation invite faculty to attend NSF CAREER program workshop

The Office of Research and Innovation is hosting a two-hour National Science Foundation CAREER program workshop for junior level, tenure-track faculty to learn how to prepare effective proposals for the National Science Foundation’s CAREER Award program.

The workshop will take place April 19 from 1:30 - 3:30 p.m. in 310 Kelly Hall and virtually via Zoom. Registration for in-person or virtual (Zoom) attendance is required.

Randy Heflin, senior associate vice president for Research and Innovation, and Alex Leonessa, director of the Proposal Development Institute, will provide an overview of the CAREER program, strategies for developing a successful submission, and tips on creating a compelling Project Summary. Additionally, recent CAREER award recipients will discuss their experiences followed by Q&A session.

The Research Development Series is designed to help faculty in their journey to increase the scope and impact of their research, creativity, and innovation portfolio. With events focused on different facets of sponsored research, from sponsor-specific perspectives to how to work with partners, this webinar series is intended to answer researchers' biggest questions and enlighten scholars at every step in their career.

For more information on this and other Research and Innovation events, please visit their Events and Programs website.

Additional Resources and Updates

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

Please visit VT Ready and the Provost’s website frequently for new and updated university information. All members of the campus community should also read their VTx Daily email for further important updates, notices, and resources.