Week of October 2-6

Division of IT: Town hall on email, calendaring, and Google storage changes set for October 13

To help promote awareness and understanding of the changes coming to employee email and online storage platforms, the Division of Information Technology will hold a town hall for employees on Friday, October 13 from 11:00 a.m. to noon via Zoom.

The virtual event, hosted by interim Vice President for Information Technology and Chief Information Officer David Raymond, will review the university’s plans, focusing specifically on how employees and departments will be affected. All interested employees are welcome to join and the event will be recorded for those who cannot attend. To join the town hall, be sure to log in with your Virginia Tech credentials.

Following the town hall presentation, there will be a Q&A session with questions selected from those submitted online before and during the event.

For more information, read this campus notice or visit the Division of IT’s Google and Microsoft Service Changes webpage.

Research and Innovation: Monitoring potential federal government shutdown, sponsored activity

Virginia Tech is closely monitoring developments in Washington, D.C. to evaluate the likelihood of a federal government shutdown.

Congress must enact 12 appropriations bills that establish discretionary spending levels for the new federal fiscal year or agree to pass a continuing resolution to temporarily fund federal agencies. If Congress fails to enact required appropriations bills by November 17, the lapse in enacted appropriations will require a government shutdown, halting nonessential functions until funding bills are passed.

The Senior Vice President for Research and Innovation and the Office of Sponsored Programs have developed a webpage to provide the most up-to-date information and guidance on what a U.S. government shutdown would mean for research activity. The webpage includes a set of frequently asked questions and contacts for pre-award and post-award questions.  

For more information, updates, and guidance on this matter, visit the Potential Federal Government Shutdown and Sponsored Activity webpage.

Global Strategic Services: Online information session for new international faculty

Global Strategic Services (GSS) invites all new international faculty to attend an online information session Wednesday, October 11 from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. via Zoom. At this session, attendees will learn:

• Rules to maintain your nonimmigrant (H-1B, J-1, TN) status 
• When to renew your nonimmigrant status 
• How to obtain a Virginia driver’s license 
• Steps to obtain a visa in your passport (and if it is necessary) 
• Work authorization options for spouses 
• Permanent residency (a/k/a “green card”) process and options for Virginia Tech international faculty

The GSS office has been undergoing major restructuring and will be working to streamline both nonimmigrant and green card processing moving forward. NOTE: This information session is an online version of the in-person sessions held on campus in early September.

For more information, email Kim Rhodes. Confirm your attendance by Friday, October 6 to receive the Zoom login information.

Policy and Governance: Provide your feedback on Virginia Tech's shared governance system

The Office of Policy and Governance and University Council Cabinet would appreciate faculty and staff feedback through an online survey about Virginia Tech's shared governance system. Input will be used to help gauge how informed the university community is about what is happening in the governance system and whether Virginia Tech students, faculty, and staff feel they know how to become involved in one of the shared governance bodies.

The University Council Cabinet has contracted with QuestionPro, an independent research firm, to field confidential and secure survey responses. Survey results will be reported to the University Council Cabinet in the aggregate without any personally identifying information.

Faculty and staff are asked to complete the online survey by October 16.

For more information, read this campus notice or email April Myers, Director of Governance Administration and Secretary to University Council.

ICYMI: TLOS invites faculty, GTAs to take part in Universal Design for Learning Day

Technology-enhanced Learning and Online Strategies’ (TLOS) Accessible Technologies group invites teaching faculty and graduate teaching assistants (GTAs) to participate in Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Day on October 20 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. at Newman Library’s Lury and Barbara Goodall Room 101.

This professional learning event will focus on integrating inclusive design, pedagogy, and technology to support diverse learning needs across multiple disciplines at Virginia Tech. Participants will learn strategies and best practices they can leverage to reduce educational barriers and foster student engagement and success.

All attendees will receive a digital badge and faculty will earn eight computer refresh credits. Light refreshments and lunch will be provided. Registration is required.

For more information, read this campus notice or visit the UDL Day website. Individuals with a disability who desire accommodations may request them on the event registration form. For additional questions, concerns, or requests for more information, please email TLOS.

Additional Resources and Updates

• University Libraries offering resource trials throughout October
• Faculty Affairs Forum: Best Practices for Peer Review of Teaching
• Indigenous Peoples' Day programming set for October 9
• Survey on faculty engagement in interdisciplinary collaboration
• Document work, elevate profile via Elements and Faculty Experts systems
• October 18 workshop on preparing for promotion to professor
• Monthly programs focused on supporting child care, parenting needs
• Protect yourself and others by getting a flu shot