Provost's Weekly Updates

From President Tim Sands: A message to the Virginia Tech community; TLOS: Faculty invited to test Rolai, use generative AI to enhance teaching; Faculty Affairs: Guidance on promotion and tenure cases prior to mandatory year; ICAT: Virginia Tech, local communities invited to Creativity + Innovation Day 2025; ICYMI: Resources, guidance for navigating difficult conversations in the classroom

Faculty Affairs: Nominations open for Provost’s Leadership Development Program; Graduate School: Celebrate students, programs during Graduate Education Week; CETL: Resources, guidance for navigating difficult conversations in the classroom; Board of Visitors: Quarterly board, committee meetings to take place March 24-25; ICYMI: ‘Empowering Educators’ is theme for Universal Design for Learning Day

TLOS: ‘Empowering Educators’ is theme for Universal Design for Learning Day; Policy and Governance: Tutorials on shared governance system available online; CETL and GEO: Applications open for Global Teaching Scholars South Africa; Reminder: Plan ahead for Blacksburg campus impacts from May 7 Metallica concert; ICYMI: Addressing P&T impacts from research grant, contract interruptions

From Provost Clarke: Updates on federal actions, support for campus community; Faculty Affairs: P&T impacts from research grant, contract interruptions; Research and Innovation: Faculty invited to NSF CAREER program workshop; University Libraries: Resource trials available to faculty, staff throughout March; ICYMI: Applications for next cohort of Bridge Experience Program due March 14

AEL: Applications for next cohort of Bridge Experience Program due March 14; University Libraries: Campus to celebrate Open Education Week, March 3-7; OIA: Engagement Scholarship Consortium seeks proposals for Roanoke conference; Women’s Center: Programs, events to celebrate Women’s Month 2025; ICYMI: Spring Break 2025 is March 8-16

Provost’s Office: Spring Break 2025 is March 8-16; Division of IT: Info, guidance on ban of DeepSeek on state devices, networks; OSP: Workshop to offer ‘Intro to Virginia Tech's Proposal Submission Process’; Reminder: Virginia Tech Faculty Mentoring Forum set for March 5 in Blacksburg; ICYMI: Support for students, employees observing religious holidays

From Provost Clarke and COO Sebring: Guidance on NIH F&A funding cap; Global Education Office: Recent updates to Policy 1070-Global Travel Policy; Faculty Affairs: Join colleagues for spring semester Roving Writing Retreats; Provost’s Office: Support for students, employees observing religious holidays; ICYMI: Be judicious when sharing university data with publicly available AI tools

From Provost Cyril Clarke: Update on potential impacts of executive orders; IT: Be judicious when sharing university data with publicly available AI tools; Faculty Affairs: Virginia Tech Faculty Mentoring Forum set for March 5; Government and Community Relations: Take the Partnership for Progress Survey; ICYMI: Programs, workshops to support faculty in enhancing teaching strategies

From President Tim Sands: Monitoring guidance, impacts of recent federal actions; Provost, Chief Operating Officer: Campus impacts from May 7 Metallica concert; CETL: Programs, workshops to support faculty in enhancing teaching strategies; Research and Innovation: Guidance on using AI during research activities; ICYMI: Guidance, information on research impacts from recent federal actions

Research and Innovation: Guidance, info on impacts from recent executive orders; TLOS: Top 10 tips, resources for faculty for a successful spring 2025 semester; Division of IT: Cybersecurity protections, resources to guard against hacks; University Libraries: Celebrate colleagues at Authors Recognition Event; ICYMI: Faculty support for students via the Early Academic Referral System

AEL: Information sessions, application for next cohort of Bridge Experience Program; Academic Advising: Support for students via the Early Academic Referral System; University Libraries and Faculty Affairs: Workshops, Q&As for Elements system; ICAT: SEAD grant proposals to support transdisciplinary projects due February 3; ICYMI: Reminder of program proposal deadline for Women’s Month 2025

Women’s Center: Reminder of proposal deadline for Women’s Month 2025; Global Education: Faculty applications open for Global Teaching Scholars Program; InclusiveVT: Register for the annual Advancing Diversity Gathering by January 22; CPD: Learn to become a Career Champion for Virginia Tech students; ICYMI: Resources, guidance for navigating difficult conversations in the classroom

CETL: Resources, guidance for navigating difficult conversations in the classroom; Research and Innovation: Faculty invited to apply for NIH R01 writing workshop; Reminder: Guidance, procedures for sponsored events and activities (Policy 5000); Provost’s Office: Share insights for improving our Weekly Communications Update; ICYMI: ADA Title II revisions require accessibility for all digital content

From Provost Cyril Clarke: Happy Holidays 2024!; TLOS and OEA: ADA Title II revisions require accessibility for all digital content; CENI: Applications open for inaugural research affiliate cohort; Division of IT: Faculty input needed on Cyberinfrastructure Strategy Survey; ICYMI: Virginia Tech Experts profile can boost scholarship, attract collaborators

OIA: Technical Assistance Program links faculty expertise, industry innovation; University Libraries: Experts profile can boost scholarship, attract collaborators; CETL: Resources available for faculty preparing for spring 2025 course instruction; Hokie Wellness: Mental health services for faculty, staff available during holidays; ICYMI: Timeline announced for Microsoft storage changes

Faculty Affairs: Call for proposals for 2025 Faculty Mentoring Forum; Division of IT: Timeline announced for Microsoft storage changes; OEA: Include accommodation statement in university event notices; Women’s Center: Program proposals being accepted for Women’s Month 2025; ICYMI: Fall Commencement ceremony information, schedules for faculty and guests

Fall Commencement 2024: Ceremony information, schedules for faculty and guests; InclusiveVT: Registration open for annual Advancing Diversity Gathering; CPD: Learn to become a Career Champion for Virginia Tech students; Center for Humanities: Applications open for spring 2025 Faculty Fellow Program; ICYMI: Update from Provost Clarke on Virginia Tech Global Distinction progress

From Provost Cyril Clarke: Update on Virginia Tech Global Distinction progress; TLOS: Apply for pilot program access to ChatGPT Edu for the spring 2025 semester; Provost’s Office: Open forums for finalists for Virginia Tech Honors College dean; Hokies Give Back Campaign: Give thanks this week by donating to those in need; ICYMI: Faculty preparing for course instruction invited to Winter Course Design Clinic

Office of the President: President Joseph Aoun to speak on AI, future of higher ed; CETL: Faculty preparing for course instruction invited to Winter Course Design Clinic; Division of IT: Participants needed for next-level Microsoft 365 Copilot AI tool trial; BOV: Quarterly board, committee meetings to take place November 18-19; ICYMI: Recent updates to University Policy 1070-Global Travel Policy

Global Education Office: Recent updates to Policy 1070-Global Travel Policy; Provost’s Office: Nominations for Academies of Faculty Service, Faculty Leadership; Innovation and Partnerships: Proof of Concept Grant call for proposals; Operations: Updated traffic, pedestrian impacts due to campus construction project; ICYMI: Provost’s message on conversations about outcome of presidential election

From Provost Cyril Clarke: Conversations about outcome of presidential election; Outreach and International Affairs: Events for International Education Week 2024; TLOS and Division of IT: Protect Zoom meetings by managing AI bots; MAOP: Seeking faculty mentors for MAOP summer research internship; ICYMI: Nominate junior faculty for Proposal Development Institute

Research and Innovation: Nominate faculty for Proposal Development Institute; Division of IT: Safe Online at Virginia Tech to help keep devices, accounts secure; Organizational Excellence: Workshop on fundamentals of change management; Provost’s Office and TLOS: Call for applications for XCaliber Award 2025; ICYMI: Resources, guidance for navigating difficult conversations in the classroom

Provost’s Office: Welcome CALS Dean Mario Ferruzzi; OEA and TLOS: Revisions to ADA Title II to require accessibility for all digital content; Faculty Affairs: Call for proposals for 2025 Virginia Tech Faculty Mentoring Forum; Reminder: Impacts from Thursday night home football game vs. Boston College; ICYMI: Launch of National Distinction Program, recognition of T&R faculty

Reminder: Faculty, staff participation in elections and political activity; CETL: Resources, guidance for navigating difficult conversations in the classroom; Academic Advising: Support for students via the Early Academic Referral System; Hokie Wellness: Faculty, staff encouraged to take part in employee wellness survey; ICYMI: Revisions to ADA Title II now require accessibility for all digital content

From Provost Cyril Clarke: Support for those affected by Hurricane Helene; Provost’s Office: Launch of National Distinction Program, recognition of T&R faculty; Faculty Affairs: Pre-tenure Pandemic Course Relief Program for AY2025-26; Global Education Office: Mandatory training for faculty leading students abroad; ICYMI: Technology-enhanced learning showcase set for October 11

TLOS: Technology-enhanced learning showcase set for October 11; Student Affairs: Call for proposals for fall 2026 Living-Learning Programs; Arts@VirginiaTech: Diverse Voices and Perspectives Lecture Series applications; CETL: Virtual first session offered for faculty attending a fall semester PBL Institute; ICYMI: Gather to write in community during fall Roving Writing Retreats

Reminder from Provost, Chief Operating Officer: October 17 FB game impacts; University Libraries: Services available to support faculty research, scholarship; Faculty Affairs: Gather to write in community during fall Roving Writing Retreats; Provost’s Office: Share your ideas, insights for Weekly Communications Update; ICYMI: Support for students, employees observing religious holidays

Provost’s Office: Support for students, employees observing religious holidays; Northern Virginia Steering Committee: Town hall set for September 26; Research and Innovation: Understanding, planning for limited submission programs; CETL: Nominations for 2024 University Exemplary Department or Program Award; ICYMI: Courseleaf Curriculum Information Management system guidance, resources

Division of IT: Faculty invited to participate in the 2024 EDUCAUSE faculty survey; University Registrar: Courseleaf CIM guidance, resources; CPD: Learn to become a Career Champion for Virginia Tech students; TLOS: Register for an inclusive course design workshop to address learner variability; ICYMI: Faculty support for students through the Early Academic Referral System

Message from Provost Cyril Clarke: Welcome to the 2024-25 academic year; TLOS: Top 10 tips, resources for faculty for a successful fall 2024 semester; Academic Advising Initiatives: Faculty support for students via VT EARS; Research and Innovation: Roundtable on VTCSOM Clinical Grand Challenge; ICYMI: Updated guidance for sponsored events and activities (Policy 5000)