A Message from Amy Sebring

We're ready for a new academic year as a very busy summer ends for University Operations. We wrapped up an eventful 2024-25 that concluded with welcoming more than 65,000 people to campus for the Metallica concert (read the VT Magazine story about University Operations behind the scenes) to spring commencement that brought thousands more for a week of celebrating our many graduating students. Thank you to all our teams that made these events special, safe, and successful for everyone involved.

As you are well aware, our work didn’t slow down during the summer months. The number of projects and initiatives that you and your teams have brought to completion over the summer is too long to list, but a few that jump out as examples of our efforts:

We have also welcomed new employees to our team, and some have new roles. I hope you will have a chance to meet them as well as congratulate your colleagues who have accepted new opportunities in University Operations.

As we look to the year ahead, I would like to take a moment to reflect on what you and your teams have accomplished over the past year. “University Operations – A Year in Review” is a brief recap of our work, but it’s certainly not an exhaustive list of the many initiatives, projects, and events that we have successfully supported and deployed.

Last year, I shared five focus areas that allow us to support the university’s strategic goals. These services and functions are what makes University Operations the enabling infrastructure that supports student and employee success. We continue to fine tune our work, but progress has been made in several key areas that positively impact our community:

  • Improving Business Processes. University Operations is advancing Virginia Tech’s enabling infrastructure through the implementation of an upgraded, cloud-based version of our student information system, and focusing on enhancing systems like the new virtual I-9 process that improves the customer experience and enhances compliance — all efforts that support our students, faculty, and staff in meeting the university’s strategic priorities.
  • Stewarding Resources. Working with colleagues in the Division of Student Affairs, University Operations is planning for future renovations of our existing residential facilities and construction of new facilities that keep pace with student on-campus housing needs. In addition, the University Operations’ Division of Auxiliary and Business Services (ABS) has been laser focused on leveraging efficiencies across our auxiliary operations that generate resources to support the university’s strategic initiatives. This year, the ABS team has consolidated the operations of Virginia Tech Services, Inc. (bookstore, laundry, and vending services) into the ABS auxiliary enterprises portfolio to streamline operations while maintaining service levels across campus.
  • Fostering a Thriving Community.  Through the work of University Operations, Virginia Tech continues to be nationally recognized for initiatives to foster a thriving community by improving employee engagement, campus climate, and enhancing physical accessibility. Read about the university’s national recognition for the Division of Facilities' collaborative approach to construction and the Workplace Excellence Award received by the Division of Human Resources’ Hokie Wellness team.
  • Building Research Resiliency/Capacity. Over the last six months, University Operations’ Division of Information Technology offered free access to generative AI models and created an “AI as a Service” program through the Advanced Research Computing unit to provide a secure, isolated environment to house data.
  • Driving Data-Informed Decisions. University Operations recently implemented a multi-year infrastructure project to install advanced electricity metering across campus. By replacing traditional electric meters with advanced metering technology, Virginia Tech’s Electric Service will gain significant insight into energy utilization that was not previously available. The primary benefits for utilities and customers of AMI are outage detection, remote turn-on/turn-off, accurate readings/billing, better data for energy consumption management, and the potential for time-of-use (TOU) tariff management.

As fall semester gets underway, it’s a good time to think about fresh starts and new beginnings. Higher education nationally faces a number of challenges financially, politically, and socially. Virginia Tech is not immune; however, we are positioned well, in part because we continue to focus on our core mission and meeting the needs of our students, faculty, and staff.