Week of October 6-10

2025

From Provost Cyril Clarke and COO Amy Sebring: Monitoring federal government shutdown

Provost Cyril Clarke and Chief Operating Officer Amy Sebring shared a message with the university community last week on how the institution is monitoring and managing the federal government shutdown that went into effect on October 1. Here are the message highlights:

Though critically important to our institutional priorities, federal funding is just one of many resources that comprise the overall university budget.
Virginia Tech is well-positioned to manage a temporary federal government shutdown and remains focused on our goals, priorities, and responsibilities.
While we await further details, university employees should continue with normal instructional, research, and operations activities until further notice.
We encourage you to stay connected and share feedback with your college/unit leadership, who will be able to provide program and unit level information.
The Office of Sponsored Programs advises researchers to continue to work on their grants and contracts unless the sponsoring agency directs all work to stop or the federal contract/grant officer issues a stop work order.
Faculty should keep in touch with OSP post-award grants/contracts administrator and check the Research and Innovation webpage for updates.
Thank you for your ongoing commitment to Virginia Tech. We will continue to provide updates and guidance as new information becomes available.

Virginia Tech has established a University Guidance and Updates webpage to provide information to the campus community related to the current government shutdown and other emerging federal actions that impact the institution.

Read the full message from Provost Clarke and COO Sebring.

Destination Areas: Proposals for project planning, development grants due October 15

Virginia Tech continues to accept proposals for the next phase of Destination Areas (DA) projects that are aligned with our Beyond Boundaries vision and will achieve the strategic priorities in The Virginia Tech Difference: Advancing Beyond Boundaries.

The Destination Areas Planning and Development Grants (Phase I) will be awarded a maximum amount of $50,000 and are expected to support team and project development over an approximately four-month period. Funding is intended to support awardees in as they engage in a process that is designed to:

better understand and articulate the strategic opportunities and additional resources (e.g., talent, facilities, equipment, etc.) that would be needed to advance the project further and fully realize longer-term project goals; and
gauge the probability of success in achieving long-term project goals.

Proposals are due by October 15 and should be emailed as a single PDF attachment to Catherine Amelink, associate vice provost in the Office of the Executive Vice Provost.

For more information including details on sections, criteria, and key questions to be addressed, read this campus notice, visit the Destination Areas project proposal webpage, or email Catherine Amelink.

Provost’s Office: Support for students, employees observing religious holidays

Many Virginia Tech students and employees engage in religious observances during the spring semester that may impact their workplace or classroom participation. As stated in the Faculty Handbook (section 9.6.2: Class Attendance):

“in accordance with our Principles of Community, faculty are encouraged to accommodate students when the observance of religious, cultural, ethnic, meaning- making, or faith-based beliefs conflict with academic requirements.”

The Provost’s Office acknowledges that every course section and class is different, and some are able to be adapted more easily than others. Recognizing that faculty are primarily responsible for making decisions on academic requirements for their courses, including modifying assignments and exam timelines, please do your best to support students and colleagues who are observing religious holidays and practices whenever it is academically feasible.

Faculty Senate: Join Faculty Senate president for monthly ‘office hours'-style meetings

Faculty Senate President Justin Lemkul invites all members of the university community to join him for his next "office hours"-style meeting, October 10 from 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. in 328A Burruss (inside the Faculty Affairs suite.)

These monthly sessions are designed to address general questions, comments, and concerns related to any aspect of the Faculty Senate's mission. Refreshments will be provided by the Office of Faculty Affairs.

For more information including dates and times for each monthly session, visit the Faculty Senate website. Private or confidential meetings can be requested/scheduled by emailing Justin Lemkul.

Reminder: Impacts from October 24 home football game vs. California

Virginia Tech will host a nationally televised football game on the evening of Friday, October 24 against California. Kickoff for the game is 7:30 p.m. With increased traffic and travel impacts expected, the university will take steps to ensure the orderly flow of traffic and increase safety across the Blacksburg campus:

All in-person classes on the Blacksburg campus beginning at or after 3:00 p.m. will be canceled.
All online classes will be held as scheduled.
University employees who have remote or hybrid work agreements and schedules are strongly encouraged to work remotely on October 24.
Administrative offices and non-instructional university offices will close at 2:00 p.m. in Blacksburg.

Faculty and instructors who have in-person classes affected by this early closing may want to inform their students early and update information on their course syllabi.

For more information, read this campus notice or refer to University Policy No. 4305: Authorized Closings Leave and Compensation Policy. If employees have additional questions, they should contact their supervisor or HR representative.

Additional Resources and Updates

Newsletter Spotlight: University Libraries Research Services

Please submit a Google form or email Provost Communications for comments or recommendations to improve the Weekly Communications Update or to share faculty, staff, and academic program personnel information.

Visit the provost’s website frequently for new and updated university information. All members of the campus community should also read their VT News daily email for further important updates, notices, and resources.