To the university community,

This week’s snowfall across our campuses reminds us that winter is just around the corner and so is the end of a busy fall semester. I’m sure our students took advantage of the snow day to spend extra time studying. Good luck on your exams and congratulations to our December graduates who will receive their degrees next week.

As we prepare to take a break before the new year, I look back on 2025 with great appreciation for you and your role in establishing Virginia Tech as a model for the engaged university of the next decade.

This semester felt like a prelude to the possibilities that lie ahead, as we were ranked among the top 25 for learning communities in higher education, won the APLU International Impact Award, and hosted the Times Higher Education Innovation and Impact Summit at Academic Building One in Alexandria.

The new year will bring new beginnings and opportunity, as we advance the Virginia Tech Innovation Network. In 2026 I look forward to working with Provost Julie Ross, who helped lay the groundwork for our growth and connections to and within Northern Virginia. I am also pleased to share that Cyril Clarke, as he returns to the faculty, will devote a portion of his time, experience, and skill to assist with the implementation of our vision.

We will have opportunities to think more broadly about artificial intelligence (AI) and how to lead the development of AI that augments human intelligence and creativity. This will be a key driver of our continuing focus on Bridge Experiences, project-based learning, and impactful research. I look forward to discussing this further in my State of the University Address on Feb. 18, 2026, at the Center for the Arts at Virginia Tech.

Hokie Nation is ready to welcome a new era for Virginia Tech Athletics in 2026, led by our Board of Visitors’ commitment to Invest to Win, strengthened by dedicated support from our alumni and fans, and energized by the arrival of coach James Franklin. It will be an exciting year for Virginia Tech football, bringing opportunities to elevate student-athlete experiences, community engagement, and our national visibility and impact.

Please take some time to rest and enjoy your winter break as we prepare for a landmark year in 2026.

Go Hokies!

Tim Sands,
President

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