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Week of October 3-7

2022

Global Education Office: CDC removes country-specific COVID-19 travel advisories

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has suspended its country-specific COVID-19 travel advisories. According to the CDC, a COVID-19 notice will be posted for a country only if there is a concerning variant or other situation that would merit concern.

As a result, the majority of Virginia Tech-supported travelers will no longer be classified as high-risk travelers and will not need to request an exemption to the university’s Policy 1070: Global Travel. The CDC still recommends that all travelers stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines before traveling.

For more information, please read this campus notice. Questions can be sent via email to Global Travel Safety or by calling 540-231-2867.

From Provost Cyril Clarke: Message of 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.

Student Affairs: Faculty Principal of the Residential College at West Ambler Johnston

Student Affairs is accepting applications for the next Faculty Principal of the Residential College at West Ambler Johnston. The new Faculty Principal will succeed Danna Agmon, associate professor of History and core faculty in the ASPECT program, who is completing her sixth and final year in the role.

The Faculty Principal provides the overall vision, builds faculty support and participation, and leads the overall programmatic direction for the residential college. They also work closely with the College Council (the governing body), Associate Faculty Principals and Senior Fellows (other faculty committed to the College), and Student Affairs to enhance the learning environment by engaging students in educational activities designed to promote intellectual and community engagement.

This is a nine month, live-in, year-to-year appointment with an annual evaluation each summer. The term is for three years, renewable once for a maximum of six years. The selected candidate will be a tenured or a tenure-track faculty member who is extraordinarily collaborative, adaptable, and enjoys a high level of engagement with students.

The deadline to apply is November 3 with the selected candidate beginning the role in late summer 2023. Faculty who wish to be considered should send a letter of interest, curriculum vitae, letters of support from their department head and a student, and names and contact information for three references to Jamie Penven, director of Living-Learning Programs.

For more information, please visit the Faculty Principal of the Residential College at West Ambler Johnston search website.

Inclusion and Diversity: University community invited to celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day

The Office for Inclusion and Diversity and the American Indian and Indigenous Community Center invite the Virginia Tech community to celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day on Monday, October 10. The celebration is an opportunity to collectively learn about and celebrate the historical and contemporary contributions of Indigenous Peoples within our region, across the country, and the globe.

The following campus events and activities will take place throughout the day-long celebration:

Virginia Tech's Indigenous Peoples Day resolution was written by Virginia Tech Indigenous students and was approved by University Council on February 18, 2019.

Indigenous Peoples Day sponsors include the Office for Inclusion and Diversity, American Indian and Indigenous Community Center, LGBTQ+ Resource Center, Virginia Tech Women’s Center, Solitude, Department of History, Community Viability Endowment, and American Indian Studies.

For more information and details on Indigenous Peoples Day activities, please read this campus notice or visit the InclusiveVT website.

CETL: Applications open for next cohort of Bridge Experience Program

The Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL) is accepting applications for the next cohort of the Bridge Experience Program. Academic programs in the Bridge Experience Program work with CETL to implement an undergraduate experiential learning requirement as part of Virginia Tech’s strategic plan and its SACSCOC Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP).

Bridge experiences are customized to students’ needs and ambitions. Common examples include undergraduate research, internships, or other site-based experiences matching student post-graduation goals and approved by departmental faculty.

An information session will be held via Zoom on November 17 from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. where faculty involved in the program will share their progress and participate in a Q&A session. Registration is required to receive the Zoom link. Additional information sessions will be held during the first half of the spring 2023 semester.

The application deadline for programs starting in summer 2023 is March 15, 2023. Successful applicants will have access to funding, additional support, and a Community of Practice to facilitate their curricular change.

For more information about the Bridge Experience Program or applying for the next cohort, please email CETL or visit the Bridge Experience Program departments and programs 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.