Collegiate Times

New majors, professors and encouraging diversity were all on the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors' agenda yesterday in a series of sessions at the Inn at Virginia Tech that were followed by the quarterly board meeting in Torgersen Hall.

The Academic Affairs Committee met yesterday morning to discuss various initiatives for the undergraduate, graduate and doctorate programs as well as an update from the university provost Mark McNamee and committee chair Sandra S. Lowe.

The Strategic Plan update, presented by McNamee, stressed Tech's core values of freedom of inquiry, mutual respect, a culture of continuous improvement, commitment to diverse and inclusive committees, personal and institutional integrity, Ut Prosim and lifelong learning. The plan is scheduled for implementation over the next six years.

Among the goals of the plan are integrating liberal education into the curriculum through the VT Pathways program, improving first year experiences, increasing Ph.D. enrollment and production, expanding learning opportunities for the staff, faculty and students, increasing the use of innovative technology and creating new regional research and development centers, just to name a few, McNamee said.

The foundations of the plan focus on undergraduate and graduate life, extended partners and stakeholders, infrastructure and physical environment, and resource management and allocation. These strategies include engaging in partnerships with alumni, emeriti faculty, business and government, addressing matters of compensation, maintaining a welcoming campus environment and forming strategic alliances.

Lowe gave the chair's update, which focused on the plan to increase diversity within the faculty, undergraduate students and graduate students.

?The idea is to encourage diverse students to come to (Tech).? Lowe said. ?It's a matter of extending an invitation to these students.?

David Ford, vice provost for academic affairs, presented an update about the VT Pathways program, including the plan to continue the pilot of earth sustainability, the mind and body program, the Gateway Program for new students and discussing this year's applicant pool of 19,000 prospective students.

The committee approved seven emeritus requests, 56 faculty requests and one professorship. Appointments to the Virginia Coal Research and Development Advisory Committee were also approved. Ben Dixon, vice president for multicultural affairs, talked about the diversity at Tech and the various programs that multicultural affairs accomplished throughout the academic year.

Shelley Duke, Academic Affairs Committee member, was enthusiastic about the outcome of the session.

?I thought the meeting was terrific because of all the new programs and the spin-offs,? Duke said. ?It's just terrific for the university's growth.?

The Student Affairs Committee had breakfast with the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Alliance of Virginia Tech, followed by a closed session where student interviews were conducted.