Virginia Tech
EN-9: Staff Professional Development

All members of the university community, including staff, are provided annual opportunities to participate in a variety of sustainability related workshops and seminars that are part of the annual Virginia Tech Earth Week. These programs are widely publicized through the university’s daily email announcements and flyers to employees and students. Examples of previous workshop topics include: container gardening and composting, sustainable products, effective communications for environmental advocates, sustainable forestry, “leave no trace” (for backpackers and campers), and permaculture. In addition to Earth Week, the annual Sustainability Week activities, which are hosted throughout the Blacksburg community, are widely publicized to staff, faculty, and students. To view the workshops, seminars and events that have taken place during Earth Week and Sustainability Week please see: http://www.facilities.vt.edu/sustainability/events.asp

Additional staff development opportunities enhance the overall educational effort by targeting programs toward groups of employees based on their roles within their departments.

1. The university supports several internal employee “professional development networks”, which are available to all employees who perform specific roles, such as facilities managers or laboratory specialists, within their colleges or departments. Virginia Tech’s Office of Energy and Sustainability (OES) reaches out to these employee networks to offer programs on energy and sustainability. Presentation topics have included the campus energy and sustainability plan and initiatives, energy conservation, and recycling.

2. Virginia Tech Benefits and Hokie Wellness Fair: The mission of the Virginia Tech Benefits and Hokie Wellness Fair is to provide Virginia Tech employees with information about their financial, physical, environmental, and ergonomic health. The Hokie Wellness Fair has become an annual event. There is representation at the fair from the Office of Energy and Sustainability, Environmental Health and Safety, the Department of Human Nutrition, Foods and Exercise, as well as many other sustainability-related programs. In addition, faculty, staff, retirees, and adult benefited employees have the opportunity to have several health screenings, including blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, postural analysis, and bone density. There are also presentations on health topics, sustainability, ergonomics, financial planning, depression, and sleep wellness. All employees are welcome to attend and participate annually. For more about the Hokie Wellness Fair, please see: http://www.hokiewellness.hr.vt.edu/

3. The university operates a nationally recognized award-winning dining program. Virginia Tech Dining Services introduced a composting program in 2009 as part of a broader set of initiatives focused on sustainable alternatives. Sustainability training is provided to managers and employees.

4. The Virginia Tech Office of Energy and Sustainability participates in the “Our VT” series of monthly educational webinars sponsored by the Department of Human Resources. These free webinars are designed to provide employees across the Commonwealth with interesting information about Virginia Tech activities, people, and accomplishments on a variety of topics. The Office of Energy and Sustainability’s webinar is scheduled to coincide with Sustainability Week, a long running collaboration between Sustainable Blacksburg, the Town of Blacksburg, and Virginia Tech's Office of Energy & Sustainability. First held in 2007, this annual week-long series of events embodies its tagline, "Celebrate. Educate. Motivate." by highlighting sustainability programs and practices that help build a more sustainable campus and town. On September 16, 2014 OES gave a webinar presentation to the University community titled, "Let's Invent the Green Future". The webinar can be viewed at the following link: http://vthr.adobeconnect.com/p73z8fn47go/