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Week of November 7-11

2022

Board of Visitors: Quarterly meeting to be held November 13-14 in Blacksburg   

The Virginia Tech Board of Visitors (BOV) will hold its quarterly board meeting on Monday, November 14, at 1:15 p.m. in 2100 Torgersen Hall on the Blacksburg campus. The full meeting of the board on Monday as well as the Information Session, held Sunday, November 13 at 2:00 p.m. at The Inn at Virginia Tech (Latham Ballroom A/B), will be livestreamed on the BOV website.

Meetings of the full board held in open session will be available for public viewing; committee meetings and any other meetings held in closed session will not be livestreamed. Public comment will not be received at the meeting.

For more information, please read this university announcement or visit the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors website.

Provost’s Office: Repositioning of TLOS designed to enhance flexible, online learning

To facilitate an increase in the capacity to employ online and flexible learning strategies across the university, Virginia Tech has announced the move of Technology-enhanced Learning and Online Strategies (TLOS) from the Division of Information Technology to the Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost. The repositioning of TLOS will help support collaborations relating to pedagogical and technical needs with academic and information technology resources.

This new alignment includes the promotion of Dale Pike, executive director of TLOS, to associate vice provost. As executive director of TLOS since 2014, Pike has overseen the adoption of digital learning platforms including Canvas and Zoom, the development of new models to support fully online graduate programs, and the elevation of accessibility and universal design for learning as core concepts that guide the organization’s work. In his new role, Pike will partner with academic leadership to plan for and support flexible and fully online courses in undergraduate and graduate programs as part of an overall strategy to support the needs of students.

In early 2022, a Flexible/Online Learning Working Group, co-chaired by Pike and Vice Provost for Undergraduate Academic Affairs Rachel Holloway, was charged by Provost Cyril Clarke with assessing the current state of online and distance learning at Virginia Tech and recommending actions to advance the university’s strategic plans. The working group’s visioning process produced a recommendation to situate TLOS as a unit within the provost’s organizational structure.

Some of TLOS’s technical services and personnel will remain in the Division of Information Technology. A unit that supports distance-learning classrooms will be transferred to the Office of the University Registrar to unify the university’s classroom A/V services.

For more information on this reorganization, please read this announcementor visit the provost’s website.

CETL: Faculty, instructors invited to attend December Course Design Clinic 

As faculty and instructors begin planning for their spring 2023 courses, join the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL) for its December Course Design Clinic and leave with a course plan and syllabus for the spring 2023 semester.

The clinic will take place December 19-20 at the North End Center, Training Room 2420. There is no cost to attend, but registration is required.

During the Course Design Clinic, activities will focus on identifying areas of both strength and weakness in existing course design, incorporating engaging pedagogy, identifying moments to check in with students, and building a stronger community and sense of belonging. Participants will be engaged in focused work time to finalize their courses with the support of CETL staff.

During the two-day clinic, faculty and instructors will be guided through several stages of course design to include:

  • Identifying goals and learning outcomes 
  • Organizing the syllabus and schedule 
  • Designing individual class meetings, activities, and assignments 
  • Planning for assessment of student learning

Through working with CETL staff, participants will receive guidance on rigorous instructional design, assignment-based assessment, active learning strategies, and inclusive course design. The goal of this clinic is to encourage faculty and instructors to think through the multiple levels of granularity for courses and to complete much of the planning while having instructional experts on hand.

For more information about the December Course Design Clinic, please read this campus notice or email CETL.

Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign: Give thanks by donating to those in need

As our university community looks forward to the upcoming holidays and makes plans to visit family and friends in warm and safe surroundings, please take a moment to support those less fortunate through the Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign (CVC). Even a small gift can make a big difference in the lives of others.

The CVC is a voluntary, charitable donation program for state employees. It is an easy and convenient way for employees to support a wide range of not-for-profit health and human services organizations. Employees can designate their contributions to go to specific charities or donate to a general fund. Donations can be made through payroll deduction, check or cash.

Every donation, no matter how small, has an impact. A donation of $50 can provide a week of meals for home-bound senior citizens. Just $35 can provide a Thanksgiving meal for a family of four. With nearly 800 charities to choose from, you’re sure to find a cause that is meaningful to you. If there are multiple charities you are passionate about supporting, you can designate your donation to multiple organizations.

This year’s campaign has a university goal of $400,000 and runs until Friday, December 9. Thank you to all those who have donated so far. If you haven’t had a chance, please consider donating. No amount is too small and every dollar counts.

For more information on the CVC and how to donate, please contact your college/unit steering team representative or visit the CVC website.

ICYMI: Nominations sought for Virginia Tech faculty leadership, service academies

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.