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Week of September 26-30

2022

University Libraries: Faculty feedback needed on future software trainings, resources

In an attempt to better align their software training offerings with the needs of the campus, University Libraries is asking for feedback from faculty via a brief online survey. If there is software that students are expected to use in class, but the software itself is not taught as part of the course, faculty and instructors can indicate it in the survey.

Faculty and instructors can access the survey form online. University Libraries will use the data and responses to teach more of the software that students need to know for class.

For more information, please visit the University Libraries website or call 540-231-6170.

TLOS: Faculty, instructors invited to showcase of the next generation of teaching tools

Technology-Enhanced Learning and Online Strategies (TLOS) invites faculty, staff, and graduate students to attend a day of workshops on October 14 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. in their University Mall (UMall) offices at 801 University City Blvd., Suite 21 in Blacksburg.

Provided through the Professional Development Network (PDN), these workshops will focus on the next generation of teaching tools and how they can help enhance teaching, research, accessibility, and everyday productivity. Refreshments will be provided throughout the day.

The schedule of workshops and events on October 14 is as follows:

9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. (in-person demonstrations throughout this block)

  • DIY Studio Demonstrations – UMall 21A12
  • Improving Your Home Zoom Experience Demonstrations - UMall 2120

For the following sessions, register using the links provided via the title, and choose in-person or virtual attendance.

9:00 to 10:00 a.m.

10:00 to 11:00 a.m.

11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

12:00 to 1:00 p.m.

1:00 to 2:00 p.m.

2:00 to 3:00 p.m.

3:00 to 4:00 p.m.

The PDN group within TLOS, a unit of the Division of Information Technology, facilitates and leverages campus-wide partnerships to offer programs and training opportunities to foster technology integration and increase digital fluency at Virginia Tech.

For more information, please read this campus notice. If you are an individual with a disability or desire an accommodation, please email PDN during business hours, at least seven business days prior to the event.

CETL: Call for nominations for 2022 University Exemplary Department or Program Award

The Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL) is accepting nominations for the 2022 University Exemplary Department or Program Award (UEDPA). The award recognizes the work of departments and/or programs that maintain exemplary teaching and learning environments for students and faculty.

This year’s theme is “creating and sustaining support for early career faculty to develop as effective teachers and/or to contribute to the scholarship of teaching and learning.” A total of $40,000 will be available for awards to the department(s) and/or program(s) determined by the selection committee drawn from the university community.

Nomination materials are due by November 15 and are invited from students, faculty, or others who have benefited from the work of the nominated department or program. Nomination packets must be uploaded to an online nomination form as a single PDF file, not to exceed 20 pages.

To be eligible for the UEDPA, the nominated department or program must have teaching and learning as a primary purpose and identify as a “department” (i.e., academic department or school) or “program” (i.e., an academic program).

For more information on the award and nomination instructions/criteria, please visit the UEDPA website or email CETL.

Equity and Accessibility: Celebrate National Disability Employment Awareness Month

The Office for Equity and Accessibility (OEA) invites all members of the Virginia Tech community to join them in celebrating National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) in October and the 32nd anniversary of the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

This year’s celebration will be held October 21 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Livestock Arena (500 Plantation Road, Blacksburg) and will explore the benefits of animal-assisted therapy. The event is free to attend, but guests must register online. Light refreshments will be served.

The theme for NDEAM 2022, "Disability: Part of the Equity Equation," recognizes the vital role people with disabilities play in making the nation's workforce diverse and inclusive.

Hosted each year by OEA’s ADA and Accessibility Services team, Virginia Tech’s annual NDEAM event celebrates the numerous and varied contributions of America's workers with disabilities. NDEAM is organized by the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Disability Employment Policy.

ASL interpreting will be available at the event. If you are an individual with a disability and need additional accommodations, please email Raksha Sharma or call 540-231-2567 by 5:00 p.m. on October 7. 

For more information on Virginia Tech’s NDEAM celebration event, please read this campus notice or visit the OEM website. Additional details will be provided closer to the event date.

ICYMI: Guidance on managing promotion and tenure cases prior to mandatory year

At the request of the Department Heads Executive Committee, Faculty Affairs has shared a memo with academic deans, department heads, and school directors to provide additional guidance on non-mandatory promotion and tenure (P&T) cases. The purpose of the memo is to clarify that P&T cases do not have to wait until a faculty member’s mandatory year if there is agreement that the faculty member has satisfied all the department’s expectations for P&T.

As a result of extensions, a faculty member may have a probationary period exceeding six years and, with COVID-related extensions, their mandatory P&T year may now be as much as eight to ten years after hire. Furthermore, faculty may have taken the probationary period extensions during the pandemic as “insurance” against future unknown pandemic impacts and now may not need those years to be fully prepared for P&T.

Virginia Tech does not require that faculty wait until their mandatory year to be promoted. Furthermore, faculty who are being evaluated for promotion and tenure, whether in their mandatory year or in a non-mandatory year, are held to the same standards as described in each department’s or school’s expectations document (see Section 3.4.2 of the Faculty Handbook.)

If there is agreement that a faculty member has satisfied all the department’s expectations for P&T before their mandatory year, then they should be supported by their department head, chair or school director, and their department committee(s) in applying for P&T at that time. There is no requirement to wait until a faculty member’s mandatory year.

For more information on this guidance, please read the full memo on the Faculty Affairs website or visit the Promotion and Tenure page for further details. Questions may be emailed to Faculty Affairs.

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.