University Operations: A Year in Review
It has been a busy year in University Operations; our employees have worked hard all year to make Virginia Tech a safer, more informed, and vibrant community to learn, work, and live.
Let’s take a look at some of our 2024-25 accomplishments.
Fall 2024
Before students returned to campus in the fall, several construction projects were wrapping up. The Division of Facilities was hard at work all summer preparing for the opening of Hitt Hall, a cutting-edge facility designed to expand the physical presence for the Myers-Lawson School of Construction and home to the newest dining facility, Perry Place; the completion of accessible elevator towers; the opening of the newly renovated War Memorial Hall, and the opening of the Undergraduate Science Laboratory Building. These new additions are transformative to the campus landscape and contribute to advancing education, accessibility, and community at Virginia Tech.
With ongoing construction projects and impacts to pedestrian routes across campus, several units collaborated to update and share the interactive campus map. The updated map includes a new feature that allows community members to find accessible routes across campus, even with ongoing construction.
After more than two and a half years, the Division of Human Resources launched the Administrative and Professional (A/P) faculty job architecture. This work established a job classification system for the university’s nearly 2,700 A/P faculty positions, complimenting existing classification systems for T&R faculty and staff and wage.
The Division of Information Technology also prepared for the start of the fall semester by equipping Hokies with knowledge to prevent phishing and enhance cybersecurity with two-factor authentication (2FA).
During move-in week, Hokie Passport Services hosted the first annual interactive Information Station for new students and their families to engage with several university divisions and units within University Operations. Hokie Passport Services, Mail Services, Parking Services, Sustainable Transportation, the Virginia Tech Police Department, the Virginia Tech Rescue Squad, Emergency Management, Environmental Health and Safety, and the Division of Information Technology all participated and engaged with new Hokies during the event.
Employees across multiple divisions also have a significant role in making game days at Virginia Tech a safe and enjoyable experience for all who attend. Public Safety’s role on game day involves a large-scale collaboration between Emergency Management, the Virginia Tech Police Department, the Virginia Tech Rescue Squad, and Environmental Health and Safety to keep attendees safe and healthy. Facilities, Parking Services, and Athletics are all also key partners on game day.
There were a number of milestones this past year. Public Safety celebrated Environmental Health and Safety’s 50th anniversary as a unit at Virginia Tech, and the Office for Civil Rights Compliance and Prevention Education highlighted the 60th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act.
The fall also marked the establishment of the Sexual Violence Prevention and Education department within the Office for Civil Rights Compliance and Prevention Education, which advances the university’s commitment to a safe and supportive campus for all.
To round out the fall semester and provide students and employees with an end-of-year pick-me-up, employees in Parking Services coordinated the second annual golden ticket initiative, giving prizes to people who parked appropriately during finals season.
Spring 2025
In March, over a decade of planning culminated in the opening of the new Transit Center. The hub marks a new era in sustainable transportation and was made possible by the coordinated efforts of Virginia Tech’s Sustainable Transportation department, Blacksburg Transit, the Town of Blacksburg, and the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation. The Transit Center is also the new home to Sustainable Transportation and the Hokie Bike Hub.
The Office of the Vice President for Policy and Governance highlighted shared governance this year with a series of stories focused on the value of participating in the governance process. Policy and Governance also created Governance Corner, a monthly newsletter with information on all things governance at Virginia Tech.
As the spring semester came to an end, our teams had significant undertakings ahead of them. With the Metallica concert and commencement approaching, we prepared for the largest events of the year. Both events required a university effort, with University Operations having a key role in making them a success.
Spring was also a time to celebrate, recognize, and thank Virginia Tech’s dedicated faculty and staff. Finance, Human Resources, and the Provost Office partnered to ensure full-time, eligible faculty and staff received a state-provided one-time 1.5 percent bonus and merit increases. The university recognized many faculty and staff through annual awards and the annual service recognition program. Then on May 21st, Human Resources hosted the annual Employee Appreciation and Hokie Wellness Fair, which drew approximately 3,000 employees to attend.
Thank you!
It would be impossible to capture the entire volume of work carried out by University Operations in a year, but we hope you know that your contributions are valued and do not go unnoticed. As a team, we support the university's mission and the entire Virginia Tech community by providing the enabling infrastructure that makes Virginia Tech home.
To stay up to date on the latest in University Operations, check out University Operations News on the EVPCOO website.