Newsletter - April 5

From the Desk of Dean Sarker

These edited remarks are from the March 25^th Town Hall meeting that focused on the role of sponsored research to the future of Pamplin.

As you’ve no doubt heard me say on a few occasions, our college’s strategic planning process will revolve around three pivotal pillars: the pursuit of organizational excellence, academic excellence, and research excellence.  Today, I want to share a few words on the third pillar: research excellence, specifically sponsored research.

For those not familiar with the term, sponsored research refers to research activities funded by external entities – such as government agencies, corporations, non–profit organizations, or other institutions. These external entities provide financial support to researchers or institutions in exchange for the exploration of specific topics or areas of interest. 

Undoubtedly, there are financial benefits of sponsored research. Sponsored research offers colleges and universities a significant source of external funding, helping offset the costs associated with conducting the research itself. But there are many other benefits that go beyond the financial.  

Sponsored research enhances our college’s research capacity, furnishing us with the necessary infrastructure and resources to pursue critical inquiries. By fostering partnerships with industry, government, and non-profit organizations, we cultivate a culture of collaboration within Pamplin. It is through these collaborative endeavors that we can tackle grand challenges, effect meaningful change, and contribute to a more efficient, equitable, and prosperous world for all.

There are many prestigious sponsored research organizations that would find Pamplin an attractive partner – including the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency or DARPA, and many others. And while some of these organizations have a primary focus on specific fields such as engineering or biomedical science, they often support interdisciplinary research that spans multiple disciplines, including business and economics. For example, business schools often receive National Science Foundation funding for research projects related to economics, management, entrepreneurship, and organizational behavior. I personally have been fortunate to have received significant funding from NSF for my own research program.

Moreover, sponsored research serves as a catalyst for professional development. It provides faculty and students valuable professional and educational development opportunities including gaining hands-on experience, developing new skills, and expanding their professional networks. 

Further, I do not see sponsored research being divergent to our existing metrics of research excellence (namely, publishing in top-tier journals and in our Pamplin elite). In fact, having served as Senior Editor of two of Information Systems top journals, I can confidently say that the types of research that are being welcomed (and in some cases being asked for in these journals) need the level of support and infrastructure as well a type of examination that can only be achieved through sponsored research efforts. My own NSF grant-funded research has led to multiple Pamplin elite journals and a book, and I know that there are faculty colleagues in the college today who have had similar experiences with sponsored research.

Aligned with the University’s priority of achieving global distinction, sponsored research elevates Pamplin’s reputation and visibility, positively influencing many key indicators that organizations use to rank institutions like ours.

For Pamplin to achieve the level of excellence in research I believe is possible, it is critical that both – sponsored research and institutionally funded research -- are cultivated in tandem. I want us to see such research as “additive” and not “substitutive” to our current research practices. Further, one size of research does not fit all.

To conclude, sponsored research complements institutionally funded endeavors, offering financial support, access to resources, and collaborative opportunities, while institutionally funded research provides researchers with autonomy and flexibility in choosing topics and methodologies without taking into consideration the requirements or expectations of external sponsors. Both have a role in Next-Gen Pamplin. 

Announcements

Nominations are now open for Pamplin’s Diversity Excellence Awards!

The Diversity Excellence Awards seek to honor those who have demonstrated exceptional dedication and commitment to fostering a diverse and inclusive environment, and whose efforts have significantly contributed to advancing DEIB initiatives within Pamplin. These awards reflect our college’s unwavering commitment to creating a supportive and inclusive community where all individuals feel valued and respected. Awards will be presented in four categories:

1. Undergraduate students
2. Graduate students
3. Staff, including A/P faculty
4. T&R faculty

In each category, two awards will be granted: one main award and one honorable mention. Recipients of the Diversity Excellence Award will receive $2000, while Honorable Mention recipients will be awarded $1000.

All members of the Pamplin community are encouraged to nominate deserving candidates who have made significant contributions to DEIB initiatives. More information can be found here. The deadline for nominations is Monday, April 15, 2024 at 5:00pm.

Innovative Research and Ethical Impact project

Most researchers turn to peers when they have questions about responsible research. Are you ready?

We request your help with this university-wide, National Science Foundation-funded project focused on ethical research.

Please complete this one-question survey here. This will assist in identifying influential researchers in your department.

The research is part of Innovative Research and Ethical Impact, a five-year, university-wide, NSF-funded research project.

If you have questions or are interested in getting more involved, then please contact Eli Jamison (elicsj1@vt.edu) or Rockwell Clancy (rfclancy@vt.edu), who is serving as a research scientist on the project.

Enroll in the PDN Course: Considerations for Teaching First Generations Students: A Student Panel Discussion

In participation with TLOS: Professional Development Network will be hosting a panel of current undergraduate First-Generation students and their experiences in the classroom. This is an opportunity to hear directly from current students and how faculty can implement small changes to assist with success in the classroom.

• April 3 from 9am-10:30am in GLC 40
• April 9 from 6pm-7:30pm online

2024 3.2-mile Run in Remembrance

On Saturday, April 13, Virginia Tech’s annual 3.2-mile Run in Remembrance will be hosted on the Blacksburg campus as the community remembers the vibrant lives of the 32 students and faculty who were tragically taken from us in 2007. Register and Details

Commencement 2024: Wednesday, May 8

Pamplin’s commencement ceremonies will be the following:

3:30-5:30 p.m. Lane Stadium (Business Information Technology, Master of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Business Analytics, Hospitality and Tourism Management, Master of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Hospitality and Tourism Management, Management, and Master Business Administration)

7:00-9:00 p.m. Lane Stadium (Accounting and Information Systems, Master of Accounting and Information Systems, Finance, Marketing, and Real Estate)

Attention Falls Church Campus Colleagues!

In honor of our #OnePamplin efforts to foster greater inclusion and belonging across our two campuses, we would like to offer colleagues of Pamplin’s Northern Virginia Center (NVC) an opportunity to travel down to Blacksburg to join in-person for the May faculty and staff meeting on Thursday, May 2nd from 11:30 – 1:30 PM.  The DEIB unit will reimburse for meals and incidental expenses (M&IE) (if applicable), offer roundtrip transportation for interested colleagues, along with a one-night stay at the Inn at Virginia Tech (or Blacksburg-area hotel) the evening before.  We understand that not everyone can travel, but we would like to make this option available for in-person engagement.  Here is the link for NVC team members to sign-up to join us in Blacksburg - https://virginiatech.questionpro.com/t/AahpyZ2Bpp Deadline to register is April 11^th. 

Employee Spotlight

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

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

Upcoming Events

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