2026 SESSION

INTRODUCED

26109261D

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 313

Offered March 9, 2026

Commending the Black Faculty and Staff Caucus of Virginia Tech.

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Patrons—Franklin, L.V. and Rasoul

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WHEREAS, for 45 years, the Black Faculty and Staff Caucus of Virginia Tech has served as a vital resource for Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University by promoting the recruitment and retention of Black faculty and staff members, offering professional development opportunities, and striving to enhance the academic experience for students; and

WHEREAS, the Black Faculty and Staff Caucus of Virginia Tech traces its roots to the late 1970s, when a small group of Black faculty and staff began meeting to discuss racism and the unfair treatment they had experienced at the institution; and

WHEREAS, the Black Faculty and Staff Caucus of Virginia Tech was formally recognized by the institution in 1981, and has since guided major policy changes, governance structure changes, and campus initiatives designed to open doors for historically marginalized people; and

WHEREAS, members of the Black Faculty and Staff Caucus of Virginia Tech serve as student advisors and mentors, provide a support network for colleagues, and offer programming and events for anyone interested in learning more about Black history and culture at the institution or in the broader New River Valley community; and

WHEREAS, the Black Faculty and Staff Caucus of Virginia Tech has been a pillar of support for numerous students, faculty, and staff who might not have been retained without the organization's vision, persistence, leadership, and steadfast commitment to service; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend the Black Faculty and Staff Caucus of Virginia Tech on the occasion of its 45th anniversary; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the Black Faculty and Staff Caucus of Virginia Tech as an expression of the General Assembly's admiration for the organization's vital contributions to equity in higher education.