Board of Visitors meeting highlights continued enrollment demand, strong research portfolio, growth plans in Roanoke

Virginia Tech’s newly named head football coach James Franklin and his wife, Fumi, made a surprise visit to the Board of Visitors quarterly meeting in Alexandria on Tuesday, just one day after Franklin’s hiring was announced. His appearance energized the room and underscored the university’s commitment to both athletic excellence and academic distinction. 

“We are honored to be here,” Franklin said, thanking President Tim Sands, Rector John Rocovich, and the entire search committee for the opportunity. 

Franklin said he looks forward to the fan support in Lane Stadium. “Your entrance is as good as it gets. … The passion in the stadium, it’s special. I look forward to it. I’ve been a part of some pretty good college environments. I’m excited to run out of that tunnel for the first time.”

Franklin’s visit highlighted a meeting that also included reviews of potential enrollment growth scenarios, planning resolutions to enhance the student residential experience, and updates on the university’s expanding research portfolio.

Senior Vice President for Research and Innovation Dan Sui reported to the board that Virginia Tech’s research enterprise continues its upward trajectory, remaining on track to reach $600 million in externally sponsored research expenditures by 2029. 

While growth is moderate amid a more uncertain federal funding environment, Sui said proposal activity and faculty engagement remain strong. He highlighted the Virginia Tech National Security Institute as an example of the university’s expanding national impact through cutting-edge research and workforce development in secure and emerging technologies.

The board also received an enrollment update from Vice Provost for Enrollment Management Juan Espinoza, who shared data showing sustained growth and strong student outcomes.

Virginia Tech enrolled 31,536 undergraduates in fall 2025, up from 27,811 in 2018. The incoming class of 8,264 students met university targets nearly exactly, including 7,088 first-time students and 1,176 transfers. Retention and graduation rates remain among the highest in university history, with 94.7 percent of first-year students returning for their second year and a six-year graduation rate of 85.9 percent.

While Virginia Tech continues to attract strong student demand, Espinoza noted that the number of high school graduates is expected to decline nationally beginning in 2026, necessitating proactive planning to sustain growth and maintain access.

Executive Vice President and Provost Cyril Clarke, who is stepping down in early January to return to the faculty, was recognized for his service to the university and the board at the start of the Academic, Research, and Student Affairs Committee.

As requested by the board at its August quarterly meeting, Clarke presented enrollment growth modeling to help guide strategic decisions. One scenario outlines expanding undergraduate enrollment to 40,000 students by 2033, an increase of about 8,500, achieved through gradual annual growth.

The model highlights capacity challenges and the need for coordinated investments in housing, instructional space, and student services.

Current projections include construction of 1,200 new on-campus beds by 2029, followed by renovation and expansion projects extending through 2037. Additional scaling will be required in faculty hiring, classroom scheduling, and student support services such as health care and career advising to preserve academic quality and the overall student experience.

During the joint Finance and Resource Management and Building and Grounds committees session, planning resolutions were approved to support increased residential capacity on the university's Blacksburg campus through the planning of a new 600-bed residence hall and renovation of an existing residence hall. These projects aim to bolster Virginia Tech’s commitment to enhancing the student experience without significantly impacting the current residential programs.

The Building and Grounds Committee approved the design preview for the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine and Fralin Biomedical Research Institute expansion in Roanoke.

The project will deliver a new academic building to support medical school enrollment growth, enhance facilities for medical education, and enable continued expansion of the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC.

The free-standing academic facility will feature team rooms, clinical exam spaces, learning studios and lecture halls, testing centers, and administrative offices, positioning the medical school to train more physicians and meet the health care and research needs of the commonwealth.

Virginia Tech continues to seek construction authorization funding from the General Assembly for the project, which remains a top university priority.

The board passed a resolution to advance the acquisition of Virginia Tech Foundation property and to convey university property to the foundation, both in Blacksburg. The university will convey approximately 20 acres adjacent to Old Glade Road to the foundation. The university also will acquire 7.4 acres of foundation property at Turner Street, including the North End Center, Gilbert Place, Collegiate Square, and the North End Center parking garage. 

The resolution aligns with designations in the university’s campus master plan and will consolidate key properties and reduce long-term costs.

The outcome strengthens the opportunity to cohesively redevelop the property situated around Old Glade Road and University City Boulevard. It also will maximize the viability of each property while supporting the evolving needs of the campus and the greater community.    

Board approval is the first step in a process that culminates in the review and approval of state officials on any associated transactions. 

Senior Vice President for Advancement Tom Wamsley provided the board with materials outlining the university’s fundraising success, noting that as of Oct. 31, Virginia Tech had raised $1.928 billion, exceeding the Boundless Impact Campaign’s $1.872 billion goal and engaged 118,926 alumni. 

The materials provided to the board show that $119 million has been raised toward the university's 10-year, $500 million goal for Virginia Tech Advantage and that $169.7 million has been committed to the university’s Global Distinction priority. The documents outline steps taken toward the goal of gaining $120 million in donor support for athletics in the next four years, part of a $229.2 million investment plan in athletics that the board approved in September.

In a related action, the board approved an amendment to its bylaws establishing a standing Athletics Committee to enhance board oversight and accountability for athletics spending and ensure continued alignment with the university’s values and academic priorities. 

The board committee is separate from the Athletics Investment Oversight Committee that Sands created to monitor the effectiveness of the university’s investment in athletics and advise him on the rapidly changing external legal, regulatory, financial, and political landscape impacting college athletics

In his remarks to the Board of Visitors on Tuesday, Sands outlined that the committee’s charge includes:

• Developing and monitoring key performance metrics to assess the effectiveness of the department’s overall resource management
• Assessing current business practices and opportunities to enhance external revenue streams
• Evaluating financial risks and emerging organizational opportunities to create a long-term sustainable model for Virginia Tech Athletics

The Athletics Investment Oversight Committee includes one member of the board who will also serve as a liaison to the board for updates and issues that may rise to the level of the board. As an advisory committee to the president, individual members of the committee are not in a position to speak for the university or the president. The president or his designee will provide updates to the campus as needed. Day-to-day financial and operational management of the department remains the responsibility of the athletics director.

In other business during the board meeting:

• An update on the board-directed DEI compliance review related to current federal law and guidance and the board’s March 2025 resolution on the Presidential Executive Order on DEI was presented by Justin Noble, chief audit executive at Virginia Tech. In his presentation, Noble noted university leadership has exercised due diligence through its comprehensive and timely review; university processes and practices align with current guidance; and that institutional review is ongoing to ensure continuous compliance.
• The university’s sustainability progress was highlighted through the 2024-25 Sustainability Annual Report, accepted by the Buildings and Grounds Committee. The report detailed continued gains in operational efficiency, student engagement, and academic integration, including the Sustainable Impact Academy in the College of Natural Resources and Environment, new student-led projects through the Green Request for Proposals program, and continued development of the Bowman Sustainable Land Development Program in the College of Engineering.
• The board also reviewed the Improve Campus Accessibility project, which will add nearly 88,000 square feet of Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant pathways connecting East Eggleston Hall, the Peddrew-Yates Quad, and Quillen Spirit Plaza. The project supports the university’s master plan and commitment to universal access across the Blacksburg campus.
• Resolutions honoring 18 emerita and emeritus faculty members and appointing 10 faculty members to endowed fellowships, professorships, or chairs were approved.

The next full meeting of the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors will be held April 13-14, 2026, in Blacksburg. More information is available on the Board of Visitors website.