A Note from Desk of Dean Sarker

PAC Weekend 2023 a rousing success

The Pamplin Advisory Council (PAC), the senior-level council of volunteers established to promote, support, and improve Pamplin, held its annual fall meeting last week, accompanied by various activities and festivities that celebrated the Pamplin College of Business and its accomplished alumni and friends.

The weekend began early on Thursday, Sept. 28, with a meeting of the Pamplin Community for Leadership and Engagement (PCLE) as well as an orientation for new members of the PAC. The evening concluded with a welcome reception, student showcase, and dinner at the Data and Decision Sciences Building. The 120,000-gross-square-foot Data and Decision Sciences Building is the first of two academic structures to be completed near the northwest end of campus as part of the Global Business and Analytics Complex, often referred to as GBAC. The new building includes specialized labs, dozens of student team rooms, and visualization spaces, and is designed to foster collaboration, especially among Pamplin College of Business, College of Engineering, and the College of Science.

Follow this link to see a gallery of images from the evening.

Announcements

Virtual Informational Workshop on Preparing for Research Leave:
In advance of the deadline for faculty to submit research leave requests to their departments (by November 1), I will be hosting a virtual informational workshop on preparing for research leaves—including an overview of eligibility requirements, leave options and process, and some time at the end for questions.

Here are the details for the session:

Date: Wednesday, October 11, 2023
Time: 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm

Register at: https://forms.gle/VaDQmHb8gCifq2Y98
Registration is required to receive Zoom details for this session.

The PAC DEIB Committee – a subcommittee of the Pamplin Advisory Council – is looking for faculty, staff, and student member representatives!
For more information, and if interested, please fill out the Interest form linked in our QR code (http://pampl.in/PACDEIBCOMMITTEEFORM)  by Wednesday, October 11th, 2023.   For further information please contact deib@vt.edu

Reducing Barriers with Universal Design for Learning (UDL)
Did you know….

  • 1 in 4 adults in the U.S. has a disability (CDC)
  • Nearly 1 in 5 undergraduate students reported having a disability in 2015-2016 (NCES)
  • 12% of graduate students reported having a disability (NCES)
  • Just 37% of students report their disability to their college (NCES)
  • 15-43% of students who report their disability don’t receive accommodations from their schools (NCES)
  • 70% of students with mental health disabilities were not registered to receive accommodations on campus (PNPI)

Help Pamplin foster an inclusive learning environment by improving and optimizing the diverse ways people learn.  Janice Branch Hall, Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) was appointed chair for Virginia Tech’s Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Innovation Group. The UDL is a university committee that leverages UDL principles to help instructors teach effectively, provide accessible course materials, and most importantly, improve student engagement in unfamiliar and dynamic learning environments. See more about Accessibility and Accommodations for Flexible Learning Here. If you are a faculty member interested in incorporating UDL innovations in your classroom, please reach out to Dean Hall via deib@vt.edu. 

Employee Spotlight

Each employee below has been submitted for this recognition by their colleagues. 

Zhang

Jennifer Joe names John E Peterson Jr. Professor In Accounting . Congratulations! Jennifer Joe, professor of accounting and information systems in the Pamplin College of Business at Virginia Tech, has been named the John E. Peterson Jr. Professor in Accounting by the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors.

Venkatesh

Thank you, Katie Wells! As the Director of Academic Advising, Katie oversees advising services and daily operations of the advising team in Pamplin Undergraduate Programs. We want to thank her for making the advising services the best on campus!

Submit staff and faculty for upcoming issues here: Cheriw@vt.edu

Upcoming Events

DEIB is partnering with Fluid and Target to host an LGBTQ+ Lunch & Learn on Wednesday, October 11th in Pamplin Hall, room 1028, starting at 12 PM. Join us for an educational and supportive fireside discussion around active allyship in celebration of LGBTQ+ History Month! Registration is required and can be found at this link. Please disperse this opportunity to your students and colleagues! All faculty, staff, and students are welcome. 

Homecoming Tailgate – October 14th Save the Date

Holtzman Alumni Center, 901 Prices Fork Rd, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA

October Coffee and Bagels: October 18th @ 8:00am room 1060. Come and share coffee and bagels while we celebrate the October birthdays. All are welcome. 

For more events, check out https://pamplin.vt.edu/events.html

Committee Corner

  • Pamplin Undergraduate Assurance of Learning Committee Meeting Minutes Link: Here
  • Undergraduate Awards Committee Meeting Minutes Link Here
  • Pamplin Promotion and Tenure Committee Meeting Minutes Link Here

For a full list of committee and minutes, http://pampl.in/Committees

Extra Items

Employees who need assistance or someone to talk to, including those not covered by the university's health care plans, can contact Employee Relations or Hokie Wellness. These teams can help employees and their families with referrals to local counselors. Some counselors charge fees based on income, making counseling more affordable.

Virginia Tech’s discount shopping website, PerkSpot, features discounts on clothing, electronics, pet supplies, appliances, car rentals, e-bikes, and more. See more information Here

Did you know?

Trivia about Pamplin and Virginia Tech.

Each edition we will ask a question about Pamplin. This will include trivia questions, historical details, or current events. The answer will be published in the next edition.

Sept 29th: Do you know how to find the Pamplin Faculty and Staff Directory?

                      Find the link Here

Oct. 6th: Have you read the Strategic Plan for Pamplin? Where can you find the plan?

Check back next week to find out…..