Work-Life Resources

As described in the Faculty Handbook, a one-year probationary period extension shall be automatically granted to either parent (or both, if both parents are tenure-track or continued appointment-track faculty members) in recognition of the demands of caring for a newborn child or a child under five and newly placed for adoption or foster care. The request should be made within a year of the child’s arrival in the family.

An extension of the probationary period may also be approved on a discretionary basis for other extenuating non-professional circumstances that have had a significant impact on the faculty member’s productivity, such as a serious personal illness or major illness of a member of the immediate family, or the ongoing impacts related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Documentation of medical reasons is required and should be submitted with this request. In rare cases, extraordinary professional circumstances not of the faculty member’s making may be acceptable justification for a probationary period extension. 

Probationary period extensions are granted in one-year increments. A cumulative total of two years is usually the maximum probationary period extension for any combination of reasons. A third extension may be requested during the probationary period if one of the extensions is based on the disruption of the pandemic. Requests should be made within a year of the qualifying event or extenuating circumstance. The provost may approve exceptions to these limitations.

If the department head does not support this request, the reasons for denial shall be provided in writing, and the request is automatically forwarded to the dean for further review. If the dean does not support this request, the reasons for denial shall be provided in writing, and the request is automatically forwarded to the provost for further review.

Request to Extend the Probationary Period (Tenure Clock Extension) (PDF)

As described in the Faculty Handbook , the university recognizes the need for all tenured, tenure-track, continued appointment, and continued appointment-track faculty members to balance the commitments of family and work. Special family circumstances, for example, birth or adoption of a child, severe illness of an immediate family member, or even issues of personal health, can cause substantial alterations to one’s daily routine, thus creating a need to construct a modified workload and flexible schedule for a period of time.

Since the circumstances may vary widely for faculty members at different stages of their careers and with different family and workload situations, this policy does not prescribe the exact nature of the accommodation. In many cases, it may be a reduction or elimination of a teaching assignment while the faculty member continues to meet ongoing, but more flexible research and graduate student supervision obligations. In general, the commitment is to work with a faculty member to devise a modified workload and schedule that enables the faculty member to remain an active and productive member of the department. Because there is no reduction in salary, the faculty member is expected to have a set of full-time responsibilities.

Request for Modified Duties Support (PDF)
Guidance on Paid Parental Leave and Modified Duties - November 2023 (PDF)

See the Caregiving Resources at Virginia Tech website.

As described in the Faculty Handbook, while tenure-track and tenured appointments are normally full time, Virginia Tech recognizes the importance of allowing flexibility in the percent employment so that faculty members can better manage the balance between their professional work and family or personal obligations over a defined period of time, or perhaps permanently. This policy is intended to encourage departments to accommodate reasonable requests for part-time appointments; however, part-time appointments are not an entitlement, and requests may be turned down when the faculty member and the department cannot agree upon a workable plan.

Tenure-track faculty members may request a part-time appointment only for reasons of balancing work and family for the arrival or care of a child, the care of a family member, or for personal circumstances related to the health of the faculty member. In addition, they may request a term part-time appointment only, allowing the issue to be revisited on a defined cycle. While such term appointments can be renewed throughout the probationary period, a permanent part-time appointment may not be granted until tenure is awarded.

Tenured faculty members may request either term or permanent part-time appointments for reasons stated above, or to balance work at Virginia Tech with professional practice or significant community or public service, for example, a professor who wishes to serve as a consultant in addition to an appointment at Virginia Tech; a professor who wishes to engage in entrepreneurial activity outside of university responsibilities; or a professor who runs for office for a limited term and wishes to reduce the workload at Virginia Tech for that period. Other reasonable justifications may be considered if approved by the department head or chair, dean, and provost.

Tenured faculty members (or those with a continued appointment in the library or Virginia Cooperative Extension) who are at least 60 years of age and have at least 10 years full-time service at Virginia Tech are eligible to retire through participation in one of the options in the Voluntary Transitional Retirement Program (VTRP).

The VTRP-H option allows eligible participants to retire at the end of the academic year in which they apply, but maintain access to VT health insurance benefits until the age of 65.

The VTRP-1, VTRP-2, and VTRP-3 options allow eligible participants to reduce their full-time employment to full-time retirement over a mutually-agreed upon period of one (VTRP-1), two (VTRP-2), or three (VTRP-3) years, therefore allowing faculty members an opportunity to transition to full retirement over a defined period of time. 

Tenured and continued-appointment faculty interested in participating in the VTRP must apply to participate, and should notify their department head as soon as possible to allow ample time for planning to accommodate a reduced workload. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, and are reviewed and approved by the department head, dean and provost. Please review the policy document and eligibility flow chart to verify eligibility before applying.

Please submit a completed and signed P3A (DOCX) form along with your completed application, so that both can be reviewed, signed, and submitted to Human Resources for processing.

Policy 4410: Voluntary Transitional Retirement Program for Tenured Faculty (PDF)

Voluntary Transitional Retirement Program (VTRP) Application (PDF)