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Week of October 10-14

2022

Times Higher Education: Email to participate in Global Academic Reputation Survey

The Times Higher Education (THE) Global Academic Reputation Survey will open soon and email invitations to participate will be sent periodically over the next three months to Virginia Tech faculty. The results of this survey factor into the university’s overall THE World University Ranking which President Sands has set as a priority in the Virginia Tech Difference: Advancing Beyond Boundaries strategic plan.

Emails will come from profilerankings@timeshighereducationemail.com and those who receive it are encouraged to respond. The survey should take about 15 minutes to complete, and faculty are asked to check their inboxes (and spam folders) periodically for this invitation. Thank you in advance for your consideration and participation.

Policy and Governance: Tutorials on revised 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 revised 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: Resources, training for Virginia Tech researchers

As part of its Research Development Series, the Office of Research and Innovation is hosting a seminar designed for junior and mid-career faculty members that will provide an overview of Virginia Tech’s research and development support services and how to leverage them for success and career advancement.

“Resources and Training for Virginia Tech Researchers” will take place on October 21 from 1:30 – 2:30 p.m. in 310 Kelly Hall and online via Zoom. The event is free to attend, but registration for either in-person or Zoom participation is required.

Guest speakers include Vince Baranauskas, senior research development coordinator for Research and Innovation; Lauren Magruder, director of Pre-Award for Sponsored Programs; Lisa M. Lee, associate vice president for Scholarly Integrity and Research Compliance; and Janet Webster, director of Administration for the Fralin Life Sciences Institute. They will discuss support services available to faculty including:

  • Proposal writing support through the Office of Research and Innovation and the Faculty Activity Support Team (VT FAST) 
  • Centralized support services to assist with the submission of large proposals 
  • Limited Submission overview and workflow 
  • Budgets and contracts with the Office of Sponsored Programs 
  • Coordination of cost-sharing and institutional commitments 
  • Industry teaming and intellectual property support 
  • Competitive Intelligence Software resources to find and track funding 
  • Library support services for research and development 
  • Compliance and Scholarly Integrity 
  • Courses, workshops, and seminars available for finding and pursuing extramural funding

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.

CETL: Call for candidate nomination for 2023 William E. Wine Award

The Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL) is seeking nominations for the 2023 University Wine Award. The award recognizes faculty who have exhibited a history of university teaching excellence and was established in 1957 by the Virginia Tech Alumni Association in memory of William E. Wine (Class of 1904) who was a former rector of the Board of Visitors and Alumni Association president.

Each University Wine Award winner receives $2,000 is automatically inducted into the Academy of Teaching Excellence (ATE). Because the William E. Wine Award recognizes "a history of university teaching excellence," the most competitive dossiers demonstrate continuity of excellence over a significant period of time (i.e., typically at least fourteen years served at Virginia Tech).

Following a college-level selection process of candidates nominated by students, faculty, and alumni, each college may put forth one nominee. From this group of college nominees, three faculty members are selected annually for the university award. Each college establishes its own procedures for selecting a nominee from candidates within the college. Dossier submissions to college committees are due by the second Friday in January.

For more information on guidelines, criteria, and deadlines for William E. Wine Award nominations, please review this Wine Call for Nominations document or visit the ATE Awards website.

ICYMI: Message from Provost Clarke in support for our Iranian faculty, academic staff

Virginia Tech’s Principles of Community represent an institutional commitment to create learning and growth opportunities for all members of our university and affirm the right of each person to express thoughts and opinions freely. The disturbing and disheartening images that we have seen in Iran over the past few weeks have deeply affected our university community and directly impacted our Iranian colleagues, many of whom still have family and friends in the country who are dealing with oppressive conditions and extraordinary circumstances.

In steadfast support of our Iranian faculty and academic staff, and echoing the message sent to Virginia Tech students from Interim Dean of Students Martha Glass, please join me in standing with our affected friends and colleagues and offering them your compassion, empathy, and advocacy during this difficult time.

Please also encourage those in need to take advantage of the university resources available below if they need additional support or assistance.

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.