Week of October 28 - November 1

2024

Research and Innovation: Nominate junior faculty for the Proposal Development Institute

The Office of Research and Innovation encourages department heads to nominate junior faculty members for the Proposal Development Institute (PDI), January 16-17, 2025. The two-day program will cover topics related to proposal preparation, spanning from how to interact with program managers to effectively communicating research ideas in proposals.

In-person participation is strongly encouraged, but Zoom participation will also be available for those that are unable to be in Blacksburg on those days. Nominations for PDI should be submitted no later than December 13, 2024.

PDI provides a variety of experiences that collectively enhance the ability of tenure-track faculty and research assistant professors to successfully pursue externally funded grants and contracts to support their research and scholarly activities.

The program is funded through a $300 registration fee per participant, which departments will commit to sponsoring by nominating their junior faculty.

For more information or to nominate junior faculty, read this campus notice, visit the Proposal Development Institute website, or email Eleanor Nelsen the names and email addresses of the early career faculty who are being nominated.

Division of IT: Safe Online at Virginia Tech provides resources for keeping devices, accounts secure

As part of Cybersecurity Awareness Month (October), spearheaded by the United States Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, Virginia Tech’s Division of Information Technology (IT) has launched Safe Online at Virginia Tech – a new “one-stop shop” designed to help the university community learn the essentials of cybersecurity and personal online safety.

Safe Online at Virginia Tech provides faculty, staff, and students with helpful information to keep devices, online accounts, money, and identities protected. From basic tips for staying secure online to information on 2-factor authentication and advice for making strong passwords, this resource offers valuable information for the Virginia Tech community.

In addition to resources and support, Safe Online at Virginia Tech also includes guidelines for identifying and a portal for reporting an IT security incident. Through the portal, employees and students can self-report a phishing scam, compromised account or data exposure, or suspected malware incident.

For more information, read this campus notice, visit the Safe Online at Virginia Tech webpage, or contact 4Help at 4help.vt.edu.

Organizational Excellence: Faculty, staff invited to workshop on fundamentals of change management

Virginia Tech’s Office of Organizational Excellence invites faculty and staff to take part in a free workshop on “Taking Charge of Change: Fundamental Concepts for Key Stakeholders in Change Management,” October 28 (North End Center, Room 2410) and November 9 (The Inn at Virginia Tech.)

The workshop applies the five tenets of change management to a specific project or change initiative to build awareness and desire for change management. Learning objectives include the following:

Establish a shared definition of change management and how it impacts organizational outcomes
Understand the value of change management
Learn and apply the five tenets of change to an initiative
Develop a ‘commitment to action’ plan

For more information and to register, visit the PageUp workshop webpage or email Amy Hogan, managing consultant for the Office of Organizational Excellence.

Provost’s Office and TLOS: Call for applications, nominations for XCaliber Award 2025

The XCaliber Award (exceptional, high-caliber contributions to technology-enriched learning activities) celebrates courses and significant projects that demonstrate exemplary use of technology and student-centered pedagogy. Such courses and projects typically involve:

Teaching practices that exhibit innovation, engagement, and reflection and foster students’ higher-order thinking skills and 21st-century skills, such as collaboration, communication, critical thinking, and problem-solving.
Learning environments that are technology-rich, student-centered, active and engaged, and authentic.

The XCaliber Award is funded by the Office of the Provost and presented by Technology-enhanced Learning and Online Strategies (TLOS). Recipients receive a cash award and a commemorative plaque and are invited to showcase their award-winning activities at a special event.

To apply or nominate someone for the award, submit an application to TLOS no later than December 2, 2024. Recipients will be notified in February 2025.

For more information, read this campus notice or visit the XCaliber Award website. Further questions about the award or application process can be emailed to TLOS.

ICYMI: Resources, guidance for navigating difficult conversations in the classroom

Each semester, faculty and graduate teaching assistants (GTA) manage classroom debates and disruptions related to current events and intervene when a discussion on a complex topic goes awry. As the course instructor or GTA who sets the tone for classroom discussion, your disposition – the behavior you exhibit and the language you use – serves as a model for students.

The Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL), in partnership with the Office of Inclusion and Diversity (OID), and Technology-Enhanced Learning and Online Strategies (TLOS), provides some strategies and resources for navigating challenging moments in the classroom so that student learning remains the focus.

Adopt a Disposition for Dialogue – Often, when students make a comment that we regard as problematic, what is needed from us is guidance so that we can engage students in thinking more carefully and critically about topics, and about their use of language.
Know When to Pause – Sometimes, despite our best efforts to be proactive and to model a disposition for dialogue, a disruption occurs and at times, a single voice dominates causing other students to disengage. Your leadership of the class is undermined, making it impossible to continue.
Be Proactive – The best strategy is to be prepared. This begins with establishing a classroom environment that fosters trust and common purpose among students.

For more information and additional details on these strategies and resources, visit the Navigating Difficult Conversations in the Classroom webpage or email CETL.

Additional Resources and Updates

Newsletter Spotlight: University Libraries Research Services

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