Collegiate Times

The Virginia Tech Board of Visitors convened for their quarterly meeting in Torgersen Hall yesterday to hear reports on the individual meetings of the committees which took place over the weekend.

The 2007 to 2008 Board of Visitors is composed of six different committees that lobby and do research for their own needs and goals of the current year. The committees range from Student Affairs and Athletics, Academic Affairs, and Buildings and Grounds, to Finance and Audit, Executive, and Research.

In his report on the Student Affairs Committee, board member Michael Anzilotti described his meeting with 13 representatives from the student body. According to Anzilotti, the university is "in good hands," from the level of understanding the students exemplified.  

Anzilotti asked the 13 student representatives to grade president Charles Steger in several areas, including his post-April 16 initiatives. According to Anzilotti, Steger's "report card" showed 12 A's and one B.

Steger gave his own short presentation concerning several university initiatives such as new security measures and VT Engage.

"It has been enthusiastically received," said Steger of VT Engage. "It's a great way to bring the community together, and I'm very encouraged about it."

Executive Vice President James Hyatt gave a presentation highlighting several of the new security measures instigated since spring, including VT Alert, which now has 18,679 subscribers, and the new 35,000 sq. ft. Public Safety Building.

There was also a report from the Buildings and Grounds Committee meeting in which the committee reviewed plans for a new Basketball practice facility and the ICTAS II building.

In the Academic Affairs Committee report, they cited diversity as a key academic initiative, describing a new system of "inclusive excellence."

"Inclusive excellence re-envisions quality and diversity, linking them very closely together rather than seeing them as competing and possibly contradictory priorities," said board member James Smith.

The Academic Affairs Committee also passed resolutions to honor the Department of Apparel, Housing, and Resource Management; the Grado Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering; and the University Academic Advising Center for their work in undergraduate or graduate advising.