The CV is an essential ingredient in hiring and promoting faculty. Unlike a resume, the CV grows over time and, for senior professors, can run to dozens of pages.
Appropriately for an evolving autobiographical document, CV stands for “curriculum vitae,” or “course of life” in Latin. Few people use the unabbreviated name, preferring to call it a CV or “vita.” As I learned in this clear explanation of the etymology of the term, it is never grammatically correct to say “vita.” In this case, “vitae” does not designate a plural but rather a modifier of “curriculum.”
To make CV plural, the technical way is “curricula vitarum.” Of course, no one says that. Furthermore, when you do say “vitae,” you should pronounce it “VEE-tye,” not “VEE-tay.”
Some could argue that modern usage has moved beyond the original Latin. Still, nitpickers abound. It’s best not to write “curriculum vitae” or any other title on your CV anyway. Do you write “Cover Letter” at the top of your cover letter? In conversation, it’s fine just to say, “CV.”