Staff contribute in many ways as campus prepares for new academic year
Virginia Tech staff are hard at work preparing for the return of approximately 30,000 students and 1,600 teaching faculty members in the coming days.
On a campus well known for its beautiful, landscaped lawns and stately Hokie Stone buildings, grounds crews are working continuously to prepare the campus for when residential students start returning today.
Facilities operations crews are finishing clean-up work following several wind storms last month. Pavement markings on campus roadways, which include turn arrows, stop bars, crosswalks, and parking lot markings, are being refreshed. Other employees are making final passes through classrooms to address any outstanding maintenance needs.
Several new buildings will open this fall and project managers are preparing them for occupancy. This work includes tracking construction punch lists; obtaining occupancy, health department, and other permits; overseeing fire safety, elevator, and lab equipment inspections; and coordinating furniture and signage installations.
Turner Place at Lavery Hall and West Ambler Johnston Hall, a new residential college, will be open this fall.
Recreational Sports employees are now training the more than 500 student employees they have hired for the 2012-13 year. The student employees will manage several recreational sports facilities and teach various group exercise classes across campus throughout the year.
At their South Main Street location, Printing Services employees are assisting faculty prepare copies of course materials. They are also printing materials for department across campus, including thousands of new business cards, specialized parking passes, and materials needed for student orientation and the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets.
Having recruited hundreds of new faculty and staff members, the Department of Human Resources is hosting several orientation events to welcome new employees to campus. The Human Resources Service Center can answer questions and provide information to new and returning employees.
The Office of the Provost is offering annual new faculty welcome sessions and new academic leaders training sessions as the start of the academic year begins.
Approximately 100 faculty and staff members have volunteered to help students move into their residence halls as part of the Hokie Helpers program. In addition, 4Help’s Get Connected staff have recruited and trained about 40 technologically savvy students who will be available on-campus to provide phone and walk-in assistance for students, faculty, and staff who need assistance installing the university's VTNet software or getting their computers connected to the Virginia Tech network. 4Help’s Get Connected staff will also be available to assist in the residence halls during move-in.
And with the start of the academic year also comes the start of the football season. Facilities and athletic department employees are prepping for the season opener in which Virginia Tech will take on Georgia Tech in a nationally televised game from Lane Stadium at 8 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 3.
