Virginia Tech's Graduate Education Week 2025 begins March 24

Virginia Tech’s 25th Graduate Education Week will feature six days of activities and events highlighting the work of Virginia Tech’s more than 7,000 graduate students across the university’s campuses. This year’s theme, Create Your Own Adventure, encourages students to take ownership of the process of learning and research as they earn their degrees.

Universities across the nation observe Graduate Education Week to note the importance of graduate education and increase awareness of the contributions of graduate students to teaching, research, and service. As one of the most research-intensive institutions in the nation and offering at least 20 doctoral degrees, Virginia Tech relies on graduate students in labs and classrooms at its campuses across the commonwealth and beyond.

Faculty and staff in Blacksburg and the greater Washington, D.C., metro area have built a week of events, workshops, information sessions, games, receptions, and other activities.

Wednesday, March 26, will focus on graduate students’ research. In Blacksburg, the day-long research symposium hosted by the Graduate and Professional Student Senate will be at the Graduate Life Center on Otey Street. The symposium is open to the public and includes poster sessions and presentations. In Alexandria, Academic Building One will feature the work of graduate students from programs across the region at a research showcase in the building’s Boeing Auditorium, which also is open to the public.

The Graduate School will honor faculty, staff, and student award winners at a reception on Thursday, March 27, in Blacksburg. This year the Graduate School has introduced a new award recognizing the importance of advising and mentoring graduate students. The outstanding graduate advisor/mentor award is for an A/P faculty or a staff member for contributions to the development and support of graduate students.

The Graduate School will host cookouts for students and their families on Friday, March 28, at the Graduate Life Center and Academic Building One. The week concludes in Blacksburg with an activity on Saturday.

Visit the Graduate Education Week website for a complete list of events, including times and locations.