To the Virginia Tech community,

Welcome to the 2024 fall semester! I hope you had an enjoyable summer and are looking forward to the opportunities of a new academic year. New students, faculty, and staff, we’re glad you’re here. Those of you who are returning will notice some changes on our Blacksburg campus.

Construction in the North Academic District on the Blacksburg campus made great progress over the summer, and Hitt Hall, the Perry Place dining facility, and the Undergraduate Science Laboratory Building are now open. We have reimagined campus transportation with the new Orange and Maroon Loops and Campus Shuttle, and the Transit Center will open soon to serve as a central hub supporting access to regional and alternative transportation. A beautifully renovated War Memorial Hall is now open, supporting our health and wellness and providing research and office space for Recreational Sports, the School of Education, the Department of Philosophy, the Center for Humanities, and the Department of Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise. We are completing work to improve accessibility including outdoor elevators at Derring Hall and Johnston Student Center  and walkway upgrades between Burruss and Pamplin Halls. These projects support our ongoing aspiration for a campus that is accessible to all.

This fall will also include final preparations to open the first building of the Innovation Campus in Alexandria early next year. And in Roanoke, planning is underway to develop a new home for the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine as well as expansion of the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC.

As we work and learn in these new facilities and spaces, we can build and strengthen our community by embracing opportunities for creative connections that inspire conversation, collaboration, and innovation.

On that note, this fall we are continuing our initiative with Blacksburg, Christiansburg, Montgomery County, and the New River Valley region to explore opportunities to support our shared interests. I look forward to seeing what our unique strengths and perspectives can accomplish together.

On campus, we will continue to provide venues for constructive and respectful dialogue in the spirit of our Principles of Community across issues that divide our community and the nation. You will hear more about these initiatives in the coming days.

If you haven’t seen it yet, check out the HokieBird and members of the Highty-Tighties surprising Virginia Tech alumna and "Today" show anchor Hoda Kotb for her 60th birthday celebration. During the show, Virginia Tech senior I’yana James was awarded a scholarship in Hoda’s honor. I’yana’s story is truly inspirational, and we are eager to provide more support for exceptional student experiences through Virginia Tech Advantage.

Congratulations to the Hokies who participated in the swimming and diving competition at the 2024 Olympic Games including student-athletes Maria Molla Yanes, Carmen Weiler Sastre, Carles Coll Marti, Luis Dominguez Calogne, incoming freshmen Emily Santos and Maxine Egner, and coach Sergio Lopez Miro. We also celebrate the Virginia Tech alumni who competed, Neil Gourley in track and field, Sami Hill in women’s basketball, Nickeil Alexander-Walker in men’s basketball), and Ian Ho in swimming and diving. And a special congratulations to Cole Hocker, who trained in Blacksburg with Virginia Tech track and field coach Ben Thomas and won a gold medal, setting an Olympic record in the 1500 meter run.

Lane Stadium is a welcome sight this fall with maintenance on the Hokie Stone complete and the scaffolding removed. Get ready to start jumping to “Enter Sandman” at our first home football game of the season against Marshall on Sept. 7 and let’s go Hokies!

Tim Sands,
President

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