Virginia Tech® home

Week of November 28-December 2

2022

Policy and Governance: University Council meeting discussion items for December 5

The next University Council meeting will be held Monday, December 5 at 3:30 p.m. in 1045 Pamplin Hall and via Zoom. New business items for discussion are as follows:

  • Resolution to Establish CEOD Representation on University Council (Resolution CEOD 2022-23A) – Commission on Equal Opportunity and Diversity
  • Resolution to Modify the General Education Requirements for Students Seeking a Second Bachelor’s Degree Requirement for Waiving Pathways Requirement (Resolution CUSP 2022-23A) – Commission on Undergraduate Studies and Policies

For a complete agenda and meeting materials, please visit the governance website. Contact April Myers by 12:00 noon on December 5 to receive the Zoom log-in information.

Message from Provost Cyril Clarke: Inventory, strengthening of IT security controls

Institutions across the country are experiencing continuous cyber-attacks. Virginia Tech is no exception. Considering the critical role of computing in accomplishing the university’s mission, it is necessary that all academic units comply with rigorous IT security standards.

As part of the university’s IT Transformation Program, we are in the process of strengthening IT security controls. A key first step is to conduct an inventory of university-owned IT systems and software. Many units have started this inventory already, but we need to accelerate the effort, so I am asking all academic units to complete this inventory, using a risk assessment tool, no later than March 3, 2023.

This work is being supported by the university’s IT Security Office and you or your IT personnel are encouraged to seek assistance by contacting them at itso@vt.edu. We will share an update on our progress at the next Virginia Tech Board of Visitors meeting.

In addition, please be reminded that all university-owned computers must be secured in accordance with University Minimum Security Standards and administrator privileges must comply with the University Computer Administrator Access Standard. As a best practice, computing assets that are no longer used or required should be decommissioned and transferred to Virginia Tech Surplus Property.

Should any questions arise concerning IT security compliance, cybersecurity risk assessment, administrator privileges, or decommissioning of non-essential IT assets, please contact college/department IT administrators and/or the IT Security Office. I realize that this work is both complicated and burdensome, but it is necessary to secure our ongoing ability to achieve our university mission.

Thank you for your support in accomplishing this important task.

Faculty Affairs: Applications for Pre-Tenure Pandemic Course Relief Program for AY2023-24

Faculty Affairs is accepting applications for the Pre-Tenure Pandemic Course Relief Program for academic year 2023-24.

Requests for fall 2023 or spring 2024 course buyouts are due to department heads, chairs, and school directors by January 31, 2023. Completed applications are due to Faculty Affairs from colleges by February 11, 2023.

The Pre-Tenure Pandemic Course Relief Program is intended to help mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on faculty advancement. It provides a one-course buyout in one semester for pre-tenure tenure-track faculty negatively impacted by the pandemic.

Examples of negative impacts include an increase in time devoted to instruction; unexpected care obligations; delays in research, scholarly, creative, or extension opportunities; changes in areas of research emphasis by federal agencies and other research sponsors; and damage to reputation building due to reduced professional opportunities.

The Provost’s Office will provide up to $5,000 in matching funds to the faculty member’s college or department for a one-course buyout to be used prior to their mandatory promotion and tenure year. The goal is to allow additional time for faculty to focus on their research programs as they prepare for promotion and tenure.

Who is eligible for the program? Participants must be pre-tenure tenure track faculty members who started at Virginia Tech prior to academic year 2022-23. This application cycle is limited to only those who can use it to buy out of teaching in spring and fall of 2023 or spring of 2024.

How many faculty members will be able to participate in the program? We expect to be able to fund about 50 faculty in this cycle. We anticipate additional funds will be available in future years to fund more faculty.

How will the recipients be selected? Priority will be given to those faculty who demonstrate substantial pandemic impacts on their ability to conduct research, scholarly, creative, or outreach activities in preparation for promotion and tenure (P&T).  

What is the process if the department head does not approve of a faculty member’s request? We ask that all applications for funding be sent on to Faculty Affairs after review by both the department head and dean. This includes applications that are approved as well as those that are not.  

For more information and a link to the application form, please visit the Pre-Tenure Pandemic Course Relief Program webpage. Questions may be emailed to Faculty Affairs.

Fall Commencement 2022: Ceremony information, schedules for faculty and guest

Virginia Tech’s fall 2022 University and Graduate Commencement Ceremonies will take place on Friday, December 16 in Cassell Coliseum. University Commencement will start at 10:30 a.m. and Graduate Commencement will begin at 2:30 p.m.

The Commencement 2022 website has detailed information on schedules, parking, live stream, regalia, and frequently asked questions. Doors to Cassell Coliseum will open at 9:30 a.m. and students are advised to arrive one hour before commencement begins. There is no shuttle service available for fall commencements, but Blacksburg Transit will be operating.

Requests for accommodations for guests attending the University or Graduate Commencement Ceremonies must be made to the Office of Equity and Accessibility at least two weeks before the events. For additional information concerning accessibility and disability accommodations, contact the Office of Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD).

For more information, schedule updates, and speaker announcements, please visit the Commencement 2022 website.

Reminder: Nominations for faculty leadership, service academies due December 9

The Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost welcomes nominations of Virginia Tech faculty members for induction into the Academy of Faculty Leadership and the Academy of Faculty Service.

Nominations are due by Friday, December 9.

Instructional, research, administrative, and professional faculty members are eligible for induction into these academies. Nomination packets must include a complete and detailed description of the activity or activities for which the nominee should be recognized, with specific examples of contributions and impact, and two additional letters of endorsement from faculty members or administrators.

The Academy of Faculty Service recognizes exceptional service to the university beyond a faculty member’s usual responsibilities. The Academy of Faculty Leadership recognizes exceptional leadership within the university, either within or beyond a faculty member’s usual responsibilities.

Please note that the separate surveys normally used have been combined into one so that faculty members may be nominated for either or both awards with a single submission. All criteria must be complete for both awards if selecting “both.” Incomplete nominations will not be considered but will be recommended for resubmission next year.

If you have questions about the academies or the nomination process, please email Leslie Sullivan, Faculty Affairs Coordinator. Complete information, including timelines, eligibility criteria, and the form for submitting nominations, is available on the Faculty Affairs 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.