A non-profit publication of the Office of the University Relations of Virginia Tech,
including The Conductor, a special section of the Spectrum printed 4 times a year

BULLETINS
BT begins new route
The Blacksburg Transit (BT), began a new free bus route on November 30 make travel to downtown Blacksburg more convenient over lunchtime for faculty and staff members and students. A bus will run every 15 minutes between 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on weekdays (when classes are in session).
The bus will stop at the following locations: Newman Library, Burruss, Litton Reaves, McComas, Coliseum, Cranwell, Blacksburg Town Hall, South Main Café, Downtown Post Office, PKs, Blacksburg Baptist Church, Bogens, Derring, Solitude, Hutcheson, War Memorial Hall.
This is a demonstration route that will run through the spring semester (January-May 99) and then be assessed for viability.

Parking survey extended
The Parking Survey completion date has been extended until Friday, Dec. 18 due to the high level of response. Please complete either the written or web survey (http://www.pasn.vt.edu/survey) to provide input on potential parking improvements.
New foreign language courses announced
The Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures announced its new courses for spring 1999. Classes will begin on January 18; the last day to add is January 22.
An introductory language course in Italian will be offered A/F or P/F, and is subject to sufficient enrollment. This is a new one-semester, three-credit foreign language and culture course that is designed for novice learners with little or no previous experience in the language; for those who are interested in starting to study language and culture; and those who are interested in the development of basic language proficiency and cultural knowledge. The goal is to enable learners to reach the level of novice-mid proficiency in listening, speaking, reading, and writing.
Although this course does not meet the foreign language requirement, it may be taken preliminary to the accelerated elementary courses which do meetthe requirement.
Accelerated elementary courses will be offered in Chinese, Hebrew, Italian and Spanish. These are new four-credit accelerated elementary courses, which condense two semesters into one supplemented with a self-instructional and electronic component. The courses are designed for learners with some prior experience in the language or for those who wish to progress rapidly through the beginning stages of language learning. These courses, which may be taken A/F or P/F, meet the foreign-language requirement, and are subject to sufficient enrollment.
Accelerated intermediate courses are Chinese, Italian, Japanese and Spanish. These are new four-credit accelerated intermediate courses, which condense two semesters into one semester of study supplemented with a self-instructional and electronic component. The courses are designed for learners who have completed the accelerated elementary courses or the regular elementary classes. The goal of the courses is to enable learners to reach in one semester the proficiency level of intermediate-mid according to guidelines established by the American Council of Teaching Foreign Languages. These courses, which may be taken A/F or P/F, meet or count toward the foreign language requirement, and are subject to sufficient enrollment.
These courses are open to persons not enrolled as regular students on a non-credit basis for a special fee by arrangement through David Mitchell, Conference Registrar, (1-5182), Division of Continuing Education, 810 University City Blvd., Suite D, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061-0272.
Leave donations requested
Virginia Tech employees in the Controller's Office and Residential and Dining Programs have requested leave donations.
Personnel Services still has employees in the following areas who have requested leave donations: College of Veterinary Medicine, Physical Plant, Residential and Dining Programs, and Tidewater AREC.
A donor form may be obtained from department administrative offices or from Personnel Services department at 1-9331. Return forms to Mary Chapman Gearheart, leave administrator, Personnel Services, 0318.
Nominations sought for XCaliber Award
The Center for Innovation and Learning (CIL) is seeking nominations for the 1999 XCaliber Award. Now in its second year, this award recognizes outstanding contributions to learning that faculty members and teams of faculty and staff members are making as they develop courseware using technology.
Nominations are due by 5 p.m., December 21. Send 12 copies to Anne H. Moore, Center for Innovation in Learning, 327 Burruss Hall (0169). Winners will be selected in January. Awards will be made in mid-spring.
For more information, visit the CIL XCaliber web site at: http://www.edtech.vt.edu/cil/xcaliber.html