At their regularly scheduled meeting this month, Virginia Tech’s Board of Visitors approved a resolution that would authorize the university to create a new Health Science Division that would support increased collaborative efforts between the university and Carilion Clinic.
The expanded partnership will further support Virginia Tech’s growing research foundation focused on the life sciences. Virginia Tech President Charles W. Steger told the board that the university must accelerate its growth of life sciences research in order to meet or exceed the $540 million Fiscal Year 2012 research target in the strategic plan.
The board approved a resolution that would authorize, at the discretion of the university president, the establishment of the Virginia Tech Technology Services and Operations Corporation as a university-related corporation. If established, the corporation would leverage and manage university technology and services for potential projects that scale beyond serving only the university. Such initiatives could attract new public and private partners that could favorably impact economic development opportunities in the commonwealth and beyond.
A resolution on a number of potential operating and capital budget initiatives that could be submitted to the Executive Budget adjustments and the General Assembly session was also approved. In addition, the board approved resolutions Faculty Handbook revisions and the appointment of Sherwood G. Wilson, vice president for administrative services, to be appointed as the university’s representative to the Regional 9-1-1 Emergency Communications Authority.
The Academic Affairs Committee heard a report updating them on the proposed Virginia Tech, India campus that will include a 70,000-square-foot campus facility and graduate-level programs for approximately 300 students annually. The committee also heard reports on the Office of Diversity and Inclusion initiatives, 2010-11 undergraduate and graduate student enrollment projections and the impact of the recent Howard Hughes Medical Institute award.
