Week of March 3-7

2025

AEL: Applications for next cohort of Bridge Experience Program due March 14

The Academy for Experiential Learning (AEL) at Virginia Tech invites department heads and school directors to apply for the next cohort of the Bridge Experience Program. Bridge experiences support students’ career exploration and enable them to apply academic learning in a real-world setting.

Academic programs in the Bridge Experience Program work with the AEL to implement an undergraduate experiential learning requirement as part of Virginia Tech’s strategic plan and Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP). Successful applicants will have access to funding, additional support, and a collaborative Community of Practice to facilitate their curricular change.

The application deadline for programs starting in summer 2025 is March 14.

For more information or to apply for the next cohort, read this campus notice or email Jill Sible, director of the Academy for Experiential Learning.

University Libraries: Campus invited to celebrate Open Education Week, March 3-7

University Libraries invites Virginia tech faculty, staff, and students to join them in global celebration of Open Education Week, March 3-7. Open Education Week is an annual celebration and opportunity for those working in open education to actively share their achievements and learn about what others are achieving worldwide.

Members of the Virginia Tech community are invited to participate in the following virtual and in-person events:

March 3: Connecting the Opens: Connecting Open Education, Open Access, and Open Publishing, 6:00-8:00 p.m. – Newman Library 207 and Zoom.

March 4: How to Take Advantage of Virginia Tech's Open Access Policy, 2:00-3:00 p.m. – Zoom.

March 5:

VT Author Stories from the Field: Managing Creation of a Student-Authored Open Textbook with Dr. Donna Westfall-Rudd, 12:20-1:10 p.m. – Zoom.
Open Qualitative Data Analysis: Using QualCoder for Qualitative Research and Methods Training, 1:00-4:00 p.m. – Zoom.

March 6: Introduction to Open Textbooks, 2:00-3:15 p.m. – In-person or Zoom (Zoom only date: March 17 from 12:20-1:10 p.m.)

For more information and to register for these events, visit the Virginia Tech Open Education Week webpage or email Anita Walz with University Libraries.

OIA: Engagement Scholarship Consortium seeks proposals for Roanoke conference

Virginia Tech will host the 2025 Engagement Scholarship Consortium (ESC) International Conference on October 8-9 at The Hotel Roanoke and Conference Center. The ESC Conference is an opportunity for engaging conversations about how stakeholders can work collectively to build and sustain strong communities.

The Office of Engagement in Outreach and International Affairs (OIA) invites scholars, practitioners, and community partners to submit proposals for conference presentations that showcase innovative approaches to engaged scholarship. Proposals will be considered on any topic clearly connected to the advancement of community engagement.

The submission deadline is Monday, March 31.

The ESC is made up of higher education member institutions from around the U.S. that work to build strong university-community partnerships anchored in the rigor of scholarship and designed to help build community capacity.

For more information and to submit a proposal, read this campus notice, visit the ESC website, or email Susan Short in Outreach and International Affairs.

Women’s Center at Virginia Tech: Programs, events to celebrate Women’s Month 2025

The Women’s Center at Virginia Tech invites the campus and local communities to participate in a number of programs and activities throughout March in celebration of Women’s Month 2025. Women’s Month has historically represented the university’s broad commitment to celebrating its dynamic people and strengths through events aligned with the Virginia Tech Principles of Community.

The annual event occurs in conjunction with National Women’s History Month. The National Women's History Month theme for this year is “Moving Forward Together! Women Educating and Inspiring Generations.” This theme recognizes the influence of women who have dedicated their lives to education, mentorship, and leadership.

For more information and a complete list of planned activities, visit the Women’s Month 2025 events webpage or email the Women’s Center at Virginia Tech.

ICYMI: Spring Break 2025 is March 8-16

Spring Break 2025 will take place March 8-16. In accordance with the university’s official academic calendar, undergraduate and graduate faculty/instructors are reminded that they should not hold any class meetings, have assignments due, or administer exams during spring break or any other designated student holiday.

The week of Spring Break is important to the mental health and wellness of all Virginia Tech students and faculty/instructors should preserve these as non-instructional, assignment, or assessment days.

Additional Resources and Updates

Newsletter Spotlight: Governance Corner (Office of Policy and Governance)

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.