Spotlight on educational workshops for employees
From: Office for Equity and Accessibility
Throughout the year, the Office for Equity and Accessibility (OEA) offers interactive and educational workshops on Virginia Tech’s policies and procedures regarding anti-discrimination and anti-harassment, accommodations for individuals with disabilities, and affirmative action. OEA also offers conflict resolution workshops to strengthen communication and increase collaboration in the workplace.
Compliance Workshop on Policies 1025 and 1026, Title IX, and Violence Against Women Act
The Compliance Workshop is required for all Virginia Tech employees every two years. The workshop introduces employees to important information, including the university's anti-harassment and anti-discrimination policies, federal civil rights laws, and complaint procedures. Additional topics in this interactive training include identifying implicit biases, understanding equity and equality, and creating inclusive work environments.
New employees must complete compliance training within 90 days of employment. The workshop is available for registration in the PageUp LMS as an on-demand module or a live, instructor-led training.
Affirmative Action
The Search Committee Charge Workshop is designed for members of search committees and other Virginia Tech stakeholders who may engage in recruitment and search processes. The workshop prepares participants to identify the university's search and selection process, recognize and comply with university and federal equal opportunity and affirmative action policies, and manage a fair and equitable search process. In order to participate in the search and selection process, an employee must have completed the workshop within the last two years.
Employees may register for the workshop in the PageUp LMS or contact Jasmine Tucker, senior affirmative action specialist, for registration details.
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Accessibility Services
The “Americans with Disabilities Act as Amended: What Everyone Needs to Know” training offers participants a basic understanding of the ADA and explains Virginia Tech’s reasonable accommodations process for qualified employees with disabilities.
For digital accessibility training opportunities, contact Scott Chandler, 508 compliance and digital accessibility officer. To request additional workshops and trainings, contact Raksha Sharma, ADA accommodation and outreach specialist.
Conflict Resolution
OEA offers three customizable trainings for conflict resolution, which are available upon request.
“Moving from Conflict to Collaboration” teaches participants to use active listening, open-ended questions, brainstorming, and other skills to make conflict an opportunity for dialogue and connection.
The mindfulness-based conflict coaching system “Dis-Solving Conflict from Within” helps participants use self-inquiry to address conflict and respond to it with strength, clarity, and ease.
In “Compassionate Communications,” employees learn to identify and engage with feelings and needs to create more productive and compassionate day-to-day work interactions and build a more equitable, effective, and collaborative work community.
To schedule a conflict resolution workshop, employees should contact Henry Yampolsky, assistant director for education, outreach, and conflict resolution.