Extraordinary Employees

Nothing reminds us of our mission of teaching and learning, research and discovery, and outreach and engagement more than the return of 31,000 students with the start of the new academic year!  Nothing could be more central to our mission than our impact, inside and outside the classroom, on the lives of those 31,000 students. 

We have such an opportunity in the development of our students that it makes working in higher education a privilege for us all.  While our thoughts jump first to the classroom and the lab and the interactions of our faculty and students, so many others behind the scenes support our students and the infrastructure that keeps Virginia Tech running.  Unfortunately, we don't often highlight their roles. 

Give women a chance, and they'll take the gold

What an amazing performance by America's Olympians!  The 2012 Olympics will be most remembered for the performance of America's female athletes.  Of the 46 gold medal winners from the United States, 29 of them were women.  Only two countries won as many gold medals as the women of the United States.

How wonderful that this tremendous success occurred on the 40th anniversary of Title IX.  The purpose of the 1972 federal law sponsored by Indiana Senator Birch Bayh was simple - Title IX bans sex discrimination of both men and women in programs receiving federal financial assistance.