Spectrum - Volume 18 Issue 29 April 25, 1996 - BOV approves PTR, schools, budget

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BOV approves PTR, schools, budget

By David Nutter

Spectrum Volume 18 Issue 29 - April 25, 1996

The Virginia Tech Board of Visitors approved a strengthened post-tenure review process for its tenured faculty at its meeting this week.

"Virginia Tech has always had a rigorous, annual performance-review system by which our professional faculty has received its merit pay," said President Paul Torgersen. "These additions to our Faculty Handbook will strengthen what has always been a part of our academic tradition."

Specifically, additions to the handbook will a.) establish an unsatisfactory rating for faculty members who fail to meet departmental minimum standards; b) provide guidance to departments for the development of such standards; and c) provide a process for review of faculty members who receive two successive unsatisfactory performance reviews.

With the close of the 1996 General Assembly session, the board gave final approval to a budget for the 1996-97 school year.

The budget for all operations will total approximately $494.9 million. The General Fund portion of the budget, that portion funded by the Commonwealth of Virginia, is approximately $181.4 million.

This allocation provides $171.7 million in support for the instructional, research, and Extension programs as well as $8.8 million for student financial assistance and $0.9 million for unique military activities.

The state's support to Virginia Tech amounts to 36.7 percent of its total budget.

The board also approved the creation of a School of the Arts and a School of Public and International Affairs.

The School of Public and International Affairs will bring together faculty members in five departments: geography, political science, international studies, the Center for Public Administration and Policy, and urban affairs and planning. Each program will retain its current identity and college affiliation.

The School of the Arts will strengthen the collaboration between the departments of art, art history, theatre arts and music, and increase the visibility of the fine and performing arts at Virginia Tech. The school will remain a part of the College of Arts and Sciences and report to the dean.

In both cases, no new resources will be required to implement the plans for the new administrative structures.