VT Women's Alliance

Women's Caucus (proposed vision, mission, and structure):

Proposed Vision Statement:  The VT Women’s Caucus aims to advance the interests and represent the needs of women and women-identifying individuals across VT’s campus, using our collective power to advocate for a more inclusive and equitable campus through regular engagement with university and community leadership.

Proposed Mission Statement:  The VT Women’s Caucus is an organization of groups representing women’s interests in order to:

a. build connections across T&R faculty, Research faculty, AP faculty, and staff

b. create a forum for the leaders of different constituent groups to regularly identify and share issues of interest and concern, and

c. create a powerful collective voice to advance women’s issues on campus through concrete policy change, culture work, and community building.

Proposed Key Activities: The VT Women’s Caucus will organize this work through

a.    regular meetings of leadership representatives from various women’s interest groups and university senates across campus, including engagement with administrative representatives,

b.    an annual event convening membership from constituent groups for the purpose of networking, community building, and idea generation,

c.    and organized representation at statewide women’s events such as the Virginia Women’s Network Conference.

Proposed Membership:  While all organizations of women and women-identifying persons on campus addressing the constituencies listed above are welcome, formal representation is extended to those organizations that are officially registered with campus officials.  UGSS and GPSS will hold positions as ex-officio representatives.

Proposed Leadership Structure:  Representatives of the respective women’s organizations who constitute the membership of the Women’s Caucus will elect the following officers on a yearly basis:

a.    Chair – convenes meetings, sets agendas, and issues invitations to university leadership in support of the needs and purpose of the Caucus membership.

b.    Vice Chair – supports the Chair and serves as Chair in their absence.

c.    Secretary – maintains records of Caucus agendas and minutes of discussions, supports necessary communications and scheduling needs.

In response to the priorities and projects identified by the group, the Caucus leadership and membership should identify working groups, as necessary, to move their work forward and draft necessary plans, policies, proposals, etc. to put before the full caucus.

Women's Alliance (founding mission):

In the spirit of Ut Prosim, the Virginia Tech Women's Alliance champions an equitable and inclusive culture.

The Women's Alliance, in solidarity with caucuses and other university and community allies, provides the Virginia Tech community a forum to achieve shared goals and promote opportunities for underrepresented groups, which includes women of all identities by advancing:

• Dialogue among the Women's Alliance and the university community
• Campus services and programs that address the needs of women
• Efforts to remove systemic barriers to advancement
• Equity in hiring, promotion, and compensation
• Mentoring and networking opportunities
• Access to quality childcare for university employees and students
• Positive and inclusive campus climate
• Identification and resolution of campus equity and safety issues