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Week of March 6-10

2023

From Provost Cyril Clarke: Guidance and information on ChatGPT, generative AI tools

The emergence of ChatGPT and similar generative AI tools has become a topic of conversation over the past several weeks for faculty and academic departments. As we continue to learn more about this technology and how it is evolving, it is important to take an objective and informed approach to evaluating the possible pedagogical and ethical impacts of generative AI and how these tools might affect our assessment of student learning outcomes.

As an academic community, we need to gain a better understanding of ChatGPT and similar generative AI tools in order to determine if it is appropriate to include them among our teaching and learning resources. To that end, TLOS has developed guidance and recommendations for faculty who want to learn more about ChatGPT/generative AI and suggestions for evaluating potential impacts on course instruction. I encourage you to review this information and have open discussions with your colleagues as to the potential benefits and challenges associated with this technology.

Academic faculty will bear the primary responsibility for making decisions on how or if the use of generative AI tools by students is acceptable in their individual courses. They will be supported in these decisions and provided access to the latest information and guidance. TLOS will post updates and additional resources on their website as they become available.

Thank you for your ongoing attention to and feedback on this new technology. I hope you will continue to discuss this topic and share your perspectives on how ChatGPT/generative AI may impact our approach to educating our students and preparing them for their future careers.

InclusiveVT: Faculty, staff invited to celebrate Virginia Tech Principles of Community Week

Principles of Community Week, March 13-17, is Virginia Tech’s annual celebration of the fundamental concepts that support InclusiveVT, our institutional and individual commitment to Ut Prosim (That I May Serve) in the spirit of community, diversity, and excellence.

The Virginia Tech Principles of Community is an aspirational statement that speaks to what we want to be as an institution. At its core is the belief that Virginia Tech is a community built on respect for all people and each of its members share in the responsibility for upholding its values. These principles reinforce our aspirations for a diverse and inclusive campus, where we can freely express and explore ideas in an atmosphere of empathy, civility, and mutual respect.

Throughout the week of March 13-17, faculty and staff across the university are invited to participate in a variety of workshops and events to learn skills for calling people into community and holding ourselves and each other accountable. This year’s theme is “Moving from Words to Action.”

Spaces are limited for in-person workshops so register as soon as possible. The in-person workshops will be held at the TLOS University Mall location in Blacksburg (801 University City Blvd., Suite 21). Many of the workshops are also presented in hybrid or virtual formats as well as via links to self-directed learning opportunities.

For the first time, there is the opportunity to earn a Virginia Tech Principles of Community Week digital badge. Participants earn badges by completing workshops and/or self-directed courses.

For more information and a detailed list of workshops and events, please visit the Principles of Community website. A downloadable copy of the Virginia Tech Principles of Community is also available on the InclusiveVT website.

Policy and Governance: Tutorials available on university shared governance system

Virginia Tech’s governance system is a shared process of decision-making concerning policies and institutional operation with representation of constituent groups at all levels who have a voice in shaping the university. This system requires an informed and knowledgeable community and allows for transparent, comprehensive, and open communication amongst governing bodies and the campus community.

To assist faculty and staff in understanding Virginia Tech’s shared governance structure and how it serves stakeholders across the university, the Office of Policy and Governance has created a series of self-paced online tutorials that outline the history of and guiding principles for effective governance, and the role that faculty, staff and student representative bodies play in the process.

The tutorial modules, which run from three to 20 minutes, are as follows:

In addition to the online tutorial modules, Policy and Governance offers a Governance 101 resource with information on structures and procedures as well as links to the contributing shared governance bodies, resolution tracker, and how to get involved in the shared governance system.

The Office of Policy and Governance is continually assessing and improving its resources for serving the university community. As the new governance system is implemented, they welcome feedback on these tutorials and ideas for creating additional ones.

For more information or to access these valuable resources, please visit Virginia Tech’s shared governance system website.

Research and Innovation: RISE Lecture Series welcomes CDC’s Grant Baldwin

The Office of Research and Innovation’s Division of Scholarly Integrity and Research Compliance (SIRC) invites Virginia Tech faculty and staff to a presentation by Grant Baldwin, director of the Division of Overdose Prevention at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. Baldwin’s presentation will focus on “Trends in the Opioid Epidemic.”

As the scope, scale, and complexity of America’s drug overdose epidemic changed, the Division of Overdose Prevention was created to serve as a necessary and essential focal point to the CDC’s more expansive and diversified work in the area. As director, Baldwin is responsible for monitoring trends in the opioid epidemic and other emerging drug threats as well identifying and scaling up prevention activities to address the evolving drug crisis which includes supporting local drug-free community coalitions.

The presentation, part of SIRC’s Research Integrity and Scholarly Excellence (RISE) Lecture Series, will take place on March 22 from 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. at the Steger Hall Conference Center or virtually via Zoom. Registration is required for in-person or Zoom attendance.

Each semester, SIRC invites a notable scholar or subject matter expert to share their ideas on ethical issues that are shaping the future of scholarship and the research enterprise. The goal of the RISE Lecture Series is to foster ethical scholarship, explore a diversity of perspectives about the roles and responsibilities of scholars and researchers, and reflect on the ethical impact of our work in the modern world.

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

ICYMI: Statement from Task Force on Freedom of Expression and Inquiry

A draft university statement affirming Virginia Tech’s commitments to academic freedom and the constitutional right of free speech has been presented to President Tim Sands from the Task Force on Freedom of Expression and Inquiry.

The full draft statement, developed by a 21-member group of students, faculty, staff, and alumni, is as follows:

“Virginia Tech unequivocally commits to upholding freedom of speech and academic freedom.

“Virginia Tech affirms the rights guaranteed by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, including the right to freedom of speech. The First Amendment requires the university to protect the expression of ideas and opinions, including those that people may find controversial, disagreeable, or offensive. Freedom of speech, like all rights in the Constitution, is not absolute. While most speech is protected by the First Amendment, it does not protect speech or actions that violate the law, such as incitement, defamation, threats, privacy violation, or intellectual property infringement, nor does it protect against unlawful harassment or discrimination. In addition, the First Amendment allows the university to regulate the time, place, and manner of expression. At Virginia Tech, freedom of speech should be exercised in a manner that ensures a learning environment that supports and promotes civil debate and mutual respect across differences.

“Academic freedom, free expression, and open inquiry are core principles of higher education. Academic freedom enables scholars to conduct research, teach, speak, and publish within an area of expertise without interference or penalty. Academic freedom is essential to create and disseminate knowledge with the mission of improving the quality of life and the human condition within the Commonwealth of Virginia and throughout the world. Virginia Tech must ensure that all members of the university community can ask questions, listen to others, and learn through exposure to a range of ideas from a diverse community of scholars. Virginia Tech is committed to defending academic freedom and freedom of speech while providing a diverse and inclusive learning and work environment.”

For the full announcement and list of Task Force on Freedom of Expression and Inquiry members, please read this VTx article.

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.