Global Distinction priority enters new phase
The ongoing work is reflected in Virginia Tech’s successes in research and the continued accumulation of faculty honors for research, scholarship, and creative activities.
Continuing the momentum of the Virginia Tech Global Distinction priority, university leaders this fall semester have asked the Global Distinction steering committee to engage in the next phase of its charge: developing key principles, identifying prioritized actions to advance the university’s global reputation, supporting current and emerging scholars, and aligning research investment mechanisms.
At its outset, the steering committee was charged with identifying measures of success, assessing current universitywide efforts, recommending approaches to accelerate progress, offering guidance on maximizing the visibility of impactful research and scholarship activities, and estimating the need for additional investment. The steering committee, in partnership with university leaders and key stakeholders such as faculty, has met throughout the calendar year to shape the initiative.
“Elevating excellence in research and scholarship will expand our impact on the commonwealth and the world,” said Virginia Tech President Tim Sands. “I appreciate the efforts of the steering committee and faculty leaders. Through their work we can clearly see how this priority impacts every member of our university community.”
Executive Vice President and Provost Cyril Clarke said, “Global Distinction seeks to empower faculty, staff, and students to break new ground in impactful scholarship. Through elevating the quality and prominence of scholarship, research, creativity, and impact across the university, we position Virginia Tech to attract, retain, and support world-class talent and partners.”
The ongoing work is reflected in Virginia Tech’s successes in research and the continued accumulation of faculty honors for research, scholarship, and creative activities. Meanwhile, the university is developing measures of progress, including:
- Scholarly impact (e.g., citation impact, publication of books and monographs; curation of designs, visual art and artistic performances, etc.)
- Extramural grant and contract expenditures
- Distinctive faculty awards, fellowships, and memberships
- Research-based doctoral education
- Postdoctoral associate training
Additionally, carefully selected rankings - such as the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Ranking and the THE Impact Ranking - will allow the university to gauge its progress. The steering committee explained that while the university seeks greater impact and not a boost in rankings, the rankings do offer a proxy to monitor progress.
"Advancing research that elevates our global prominence requires collaboration — not in isolation, but through leveraging our strong reputation for partnerships across academic disciplines, industries, and national boundaries," said Dan Sui, senior vice president and chief research and innovation officer and steering committee co-chair. “We are grateful to the steering committee and the university community for their continued commitment to prioritizing this vital effort."
Don Taylor, executive vice provost and steering committee co-chair, said, “It is critically important to this process that we have regular input from our campus community to ensure the steering committee is informed and responsive to ideas, contributions, and concerns so that we can effectively support and advance research across various disciplines and areas of strength and distinction.”
Clarke explained that faculty across the institution will contribute to – and are already contributing to – the initiative by excelling in their work in support of the university’s tripartite mission of education, research, and outreach. He also emphasized progress in strengthening graduate education and developing world-class facilities. “A number of university-level programs already enhance our distinction,” Clarke said, “such as the thematic and investment research institutes, the Destination Area 2.0 program, research-based doctoral programs, and both capital and operational improvements to research facilities and infrastructure.”
Going forward, university leaders are looking for opportunities to actively engage with faculty and solicit their input. Clarke recently shared an update directly with faculty, while Rachel Miles, president of the Faculty Senate and a voting member of the Global Distinction steering committee, was asked this fall to chair the Global Distinction Feedback and Implementation Subcommittee. As these efforts continue, faculty can share questions and feedback via this form.
The steering committee and university leaders expect to continue shaping the Global Distinction initiative in the coming months. Additional information and VT News stories will appear over time on the Global Distinction website and in VT News and the Daily Email.
