Week of September 22-26

2025

From Provost Clarke: Civil discourse and the role of faculty as scholars, citizens, and role models

Provost Cyril Clarke shared a message with the academic community this week on civil discourse, and the role of faculty and the university that, at its core, is a place where ideas are shared, debated, and tested. Here are the message highlights:

Civil discourse and respectful disagreement are not only welcome here at Virginia Tech, they are essential to who we are.
In times of controversy and division, we have a special obligation as scholars, colleagues, and citizens to listen with openness, engage with respect, and make room for perspectives that differ from our own.
As faculty, we enjoy academic freedom in teaching and research, which is essential to the advancement of knowledge and the education of our students.
We also hold the same First Amendment rights as other citizens when acting in our personal capacity. These rights are fundamental, but they also carry important obligations.
While faculty may exercise their First Amendment rights as private citizens, those expressions must be balanced with professional responsibilities.
Navigating this tension requires judgment, care, and awareness of our dual roles as both private citizens and members of a scholarly community.
Polemical statements on social media, particularly on socially charged issues, rarely manage this balance well.
We must also remember that as faculty we serve as role models for our students who look to us not only for subject-matter expertise but also for examples of how to engage in civil discourse.
I encourage all of us to return often to our Principles of Community, which remind us that we are committed to mutual respect and human dignity.
Thank you for sharing this message and for your leadership in helping us maintain a university environment where scholarship and learning thrive.

Read the full message from Provost Clarke.

CETL: Faculty, instructors invited to join teaching and learning Communities of Practice

The Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL) invites instructional faculty and graduate teaching assistants to join a Community of Practice (CoP). These groups provide opportunities to connect and network with colleagues, share strategies, and support one another in teaching.

Each CoP meets virtually a few times during the semester, making it easy to participate when your schedule allows. Faculty can explore topics relevant to their experiences, interests, and needs along with their Virginia Tech colleagues.

For more information and detailed descriptions of these CoPs, visit the CETL programs webpage or email CETL.

Global Education: Encourage your students to explore the world during Study Abroad Week

The Global Education Office (GEO) encourages faculty to engage their students in exploring a world of opportunities while pursuing their degree during Study Abroad Week. On September 23, the GEO and more than 70 study abroad program leaders and providers will gather for the annual Study Abroad Fair, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., under two big white tents on the Drillfield.

Faculty are encouraged to attend the fair, explore the variety of faculty-led programs and opportunities, and talk with GEO representatives.

Your students can learn how to earn credit while studying almost anywhere in the world, find programs tailored to their majors, and talk with GEO staff about scholarships and financial aid, including support through Virginia Tech Advantage.

For more information and including full details and a map of the fair, read this campus notice or visit the Study Abroad Week webpage.

IT: M365 training sessions available through the Professional Development Network

The Division of Information Technology is offering a series of online courses designed to introduce users to Microsoft 365 (M365) tools available at Virginia Tech. Each one-hour course, offered through the Technology-enhanced Learning and Online Strategies (TLOS) Professional Development Network, will provide an introduction and discussion of the tool, explore features and benefits, and demonstrate its various uses for collaboration within research groups, classes, and projects.

Courses will be taught using the most up-to-date versions of Microsoft Windows 11, Edge browser, Microsoft Office applications, and Microsoft Teams.

Transition to Outlook Email and Calendar
Modern Work: Creating Efficient Workflows
Increase Productivity with Microsoft Teams
Meet Copilot: Your Everyday Assistant
Meet M365 Copilot: A Whole New way to Copilot

For more information and to register for courses within these subject areas, read this campus notice or visit the Professional Development Network website.

ICYMI: Resources, guidance for navigating difficult conversations in the classroom

Each semester, faculty and graduate teaching assistants (GTA) manage classroom conversations and debates related to current events and intervene when a discussion on a complex topic becomes contentious. As the course instructor or GTA who sets the tone for classroom discussion, their disposition – the behavior they exhibit and the language used – serves as a model for students.

The Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL), in partnership with Technology-Enhanced Learning and Online Strategies (TLOS), provides strategies and resources for navigating challenging moments in the classroom so that student learning remains the focus.

Adopt a Disposition for Dialogue – Often, when students make a comment that we regard as controversial or problematic, what is needed from us is guidance so that we can engage students in thinking more carefully and critically about topics, and about their use of language.
Know When to Pause – Sometimes, despite our best efforts to be proactive and to model a disposition for dialogue, a disruption occurs and at times, a single voice dominates causing other students to disengage. Your leadership of the class can be undermined, making it impossible to continue.
Be Proactive – The best strategy is to be prepared and establish a classroom environment that fosters trust and common purpose among students.

For more information and details on these strategies and resources, visit the Navigating Difficult Conversations in the Classroom webpage or email CETL.

Additional Resources and Updates

Newsletter Spotlight: Research Services Newsletter (University Libraries)

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.