About the Faculty Handbook
Each academic year, the Office of the Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs (OVPFA) updates and publishes the Virginia Tech Faculty Handbook (“the handbook”) on behalf of the executive vice president and provost and the Faculty Senate. The handbook serves as a resource and guide for faculty in relation to their responsibilities and to other university policies, procedures, and resources that pertain to them. It is continually revised in response to legal and policy changes, and as a living document, cannot be comprehensive. University-wide policies are available at policies.vt.edu.
During the academic year, the OVPFA does the following:
- requests review of the handbook from content experts across campus. Minor changes (updated titles, typos, policy changes) may be made administratively with appropriate justification. Other changes will be directed through the appropriate governance process for consideration.
- monitors resolutions moving through university governance that would affect language in the handbook and incorporates any approved changes into the handbook.
- keeps accurate records of revisions and justification for any changes to the handbook.
- provides an overview of revisions to the Commission on Faculty Affairs before preparing the handbook for approval by the Board of Visitors each June.
How to use this Handbook
The handbook is designed to help faculty and administrators understand academic policies and practices and resources for teaching, research or creative scholarship, and work-life balance. The handbook describes the terms and conditions of faculty employment and is referenced in each faculty member’s Terms of Faculty Offer (TOFO). Questions about policies, procedures, or resources contained in the handbook can be directed to the OVPFA.