Virginia Tech® home

Week of October 31-November 4

2022

Reminder: Email to participate in THE Global Academic Reputation Survey 

The Times Higher Education (THE) Global Academic Reputation Survey has opened and email invitations to participate are being 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.

Hokie Wellness: New mental health, backup care services now available for employees

As part of its ongoing efforts to improve the work-life balance of employees, Virginia Tech, through Hokie Wellness, is pleased to offer new mental health services as well as backup care options for children and adults.

TimelyCare mental health and wellness resources

TimelyCare is a virtual health service available to full-time faculty and staff and non-student wage employees, at no cost. TimelyCare is an addition to the Employee Assistance Program and other mental health and wellness support currently offered by the university. Employees may access TimelyCare services regardless of their location in the United States.

TimelyCare offers employees three services:

  • TalkNow, which connects you with a mental health professional to address issues promptly. It provides immediate care during a crisis when you need someone to talk to right away. If you are outside of the United States, TalkNow is available with a U.S.-based phone number or virtual private network. 
  • Twelve (12) scheduled counseling appointments per academic year with counselors licensed in the state where you are located. 
  • Health coaching, which provides information and guided sessions on well-being topics such as dealing with conflict, time management, exercise, sleep, nutrition, and mindfulness.

Employees can connect to TimelyCare by computer, tablet, or smartphone using their Virginia Tech email address. Both phone and video sessions are available. Hokie Wellness encourages employees to register with TimelyCare before needing the service. They also encourage employees to download the app so services can be accessed whenever and wherever needed.

Care.com backup care services for children and adults

For the next year, Virginia Tech is piloting backup child and adult care services with Care.com – a quality, vetted, subsidized solution that can provide help when regular, ongoing care is unavailable. The service has flexible backup care options for children, adults, and seniors.

Full-time faculty and staff across all Virginia Tech campuses and offices will be able to use up to 10 days of backup care for any combination of child or adult care. Employees can also source and vet their own caregiver through Care.com, arrange and pay for care directly, and then be reimbursed through Care.com. Requests can be submitted online, via the app, or by phone.

Employees can access Care.com services at 866-814-1638 or on their computer, tablet, or smartphone using their Virginia Tech email address. Employees are encouraged to register with Care.com before needing the service, and to download the app to access services when needed.

For more information on these and other resources, please read this campus notice or email Hokie Wellness.

Provost’s Office: Nominations sought for 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.

TLOS: Accessible Virginia Tech branded slide presentation template available

As part of the Choose Accessible Learning Materials (C.A.L.M.) campaign series, Keep C.A.L.M. and Simplify Slides encourages faculty and other presenters to develop their slides using best practices for digital accessibility. To assist Virginia Tech community members in creating accessible slides, a new template is now available through TLOS’ Accessible Technologies team.

Simplifying slides creates a welcoming and inclusive experience for everyone in the audience by ensuring all can acquire the same information, engage in the same interactions, and enjoy the same experience during a presentation.

The Accessible Technologies team within Technology-enhanced Learning and Online Strategies (TLOS) provides technology, resources, training, and expertise across the Virginia Tech community to build a culture of proactive digital accessibility. C.A.L.M. is one avenue for achieving the goals of Universal Design for Learning (UDL). In the context of teaching and learning, UDL is an effective way to actively include people with disabilities and at its foundation, makes learning available to the broadest possible audience.

Faculty who want to learn more about making accessible presentations are encouraged to check out the Keep C.A.L.M. and Simplify Slides webpage or request a consultation with an Accessible Technologies team member.

ICYMI: Message from Provost’s Office, Dean of Students: Student absences amid flu cases

As cases of influenza have increased on our campus and in our community over the past few weeks, so too has the number of student absences due to flu and related illnesses. The Provost’s Office and Dean of Students Office are aware of this situation and are working together to provide guidance to faculty in addressing student absences and the expectations of students who have missed class assignments and requirements.

Currently, Schiffert Health Center is seeing high numbers of students with flu symptoms or similar respiratory illnesses. Some of these students can manage with self-care while some seek care from off-campus providers. Yet, many students still come to Schiffert primarily because they are told they need an absence verification for class. Please note that Schiffert does not provide excuses for students, except in special circumstances.

The Dean of Students Office is asking students to communicate directly with their faculty if they need to miss class due to illnesses or other health-related circumstances, and to keep up with all assignments and course requirements. Students are informed that their faculty ultimately decide whether or not they can makeup missed classes, assignments, exams, or other course requirements. At the same time, faculty, with support from their deans and department heads, are encouraged to be flexible on class absence policies and to work with students to provide opportunities to make-up assignments and complete exams, if appropriate. If absence verification is essential, please direct students to the Dean of Students Office.

We recognize the challenges this can cause in managing classes, maintaining rigor and consistency of instruction, and engaging student in in-person activities. Please know that you have the full support and confidence of university leadership, and we trust that faculty will use the experience gained in managing absences during the COVID-19 pandemic to continue supporting students in their academic progress. With this flexibility, faculty are not required to create or deliver customized course instruction, make-up assignments or exams for individual students, unless there is a documented student need, per Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD).

Thank you for your continued service to and advocacy for our students. As we progress together through the school year, your guidance and mentorship to our students will strengthen our institution and the physical and mental well-being of our campus community.

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.