The Virginia Tech Board of Visitors will meet on Monday, March 20, at 1:15 p.m. in 2100 Torgersen Hall (620 Drillfield Drive, Blacksburg) to consider tuition and mandatory fees for the 2023-24 academic year.

As part of that consideration, Virginia Tech will hold a virtual public comment opportunity on Thursday, March 2, at 1:45 p.m. The link to observe this event or to pre-register to speak will be posted on the Board of Visitors website. Several members of the Board of Visitors will participate virtually as university officials provide an overview of proposed tuition and fees ranges and to receive public comment consistent with guidelines posted to the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors website.

Tuition and fees support the university’s strategic plan, The Virginia Tech Difference: Advancing Beyond Boundaries, within the context of the many budget implications of the state’s General Assembly actions and other major initiatives that impact university costs. Over the last several years, the board has prioritized the affordability of a Virginia Tech degree while making targeted investments that enhance the value of a Virginia Tech education to both students and the commonwealth and continue to position the university as a leader in teaching, research, and innovation.

With a heightened focus on student affordability, President Tim Sands and the board have launched an access and affordability initiative that will seek financial strategies to ensure a Virginia Tech education is within reach of all Virginia residents regardless of income. The university will continue to leverage incremental state funding with cost containment strategies, administrative efficiencies, and internal reallocations to maximize available resources and mitigate tuition increases.

As a result of these continued efforts, the board has been able to limit the average in-state undergraduate tuition increase to just 1.8 percent per year over the last five years, and to keep tuition increases well below inflation for the last 10 years. This was achieved while making a sustained commitment to advancing underserved and underrepresented student enrollment, increasing institutional support for student financial aid, and advancing critical initiatives that enhance Virginia Tech’s mission as a leading global land-grant institution.

When the board meets March 20, they will consider a combination of cost containment and revenue enhancement strategies that will address employee compensation and benefit increases (including those for graduate assistants), fixed cost increases, continued investment in academic programs, and the enhancement of high-demand student support services.

To further advance affordability, the university will continue to grow philanthropic support and increase student financial aid programs, including the Funds for the Future program, which offsets the cost of tuition and fee increases for returning students with family incomes up to $100,000.

Decisions made by the board March 20 will be contingent upon the outcome of the General Assembly session, when the total of mandated costs and the level of state support are fully understood by the university.

For the 2023-24 fiscal year and consistent with the university’s six-year plan approved by the Board of Visitors in November, the board will consider tuition and Educational and General (E&G) fee increases between 0 percent and 4.9 percent for Virginia resident undergraduates, non-resident undergraduates, and on-campus graduate students.

The board will also consider increases between 0 percent and 8.8 percent for mandatory non-E&G fees to support mandated cost increases including employee compensation and benefits, sustaining and enhancing student services enhancements including the transit system and student health/counseling services.

Virginia Tech maintains the lowest mandatory non-E&G fees among public four-year institutions in the commonwealth.

March 2 public comment guidelines

Following an overview of proposed tuition and fees ranges at the March 2 virtual event, there will be an opportunity for public comment. Those interested in participating in the virtual public comment event must pre-register at the Board of Visitors website on a first-come, first-served basis no later than Thursday, Feb. 23. Speakers will be asked to specify their affiliation with the university (current student, parent, alumnus, faculty or staff, member of the public).

The virtual public comment period will be held for 30 minutes with the option to increase that time up to 60 minutes total if there is sufficient demand. If time remains during the half-hour public comment period after the pre-registered speakers offer their comments, additional speakers may be offered the opportunity to speak during the remaining time. Those wishing to speak must send a request via email to vppg@vt.edu between 1:45 and 2:30 p.m. on March 2.

In addition, there will be dedicated time slots for a representative from the Undergraduate Student Senate and from the Graduate and Professional Student Senate to provide a statement on behalf of their respective constituency. This does not preclude individual students from registering to speak during the public comment period or from providing written comments.

Each speaker will be limited to three minutes and must restrict their comments to tuition and fees only. Speakers wishing to have their comments entered in the public record must submit a typed copy via email to bov@vt.edu by March 2.

If you are an individual with a disability and desire an accommodation, please send an email to vppg@vt.edu or call 540-231-6232 during regular business hours at least 10 days prior to the event.

The March 2 virtual budget workshop and public comment session will also be livestreamed for those who wish to observe (without offering comment).  The link will be provided at the Board of Visitors website.  However, those wishing to make comments must register in accordance with the instructions above.

Guidelines for written comments

In lieu of oral comments, written comments will be accepted through Monday, March 13, and may be entered online at the Board of Visitors website, or mailed to:

Kim O’Rourke
Secretary to the Board of Visitors
Virginia Tech (MC 0125)
800 Drillfield Drive
Blacksburg, VA 24061

 

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