Virginia Tech concludes current strategic plan and initiates next phase
The next phase will align with the revised Beyond Boundaries vision and evolving institutional priorities, ensuring the university maintains its leadership in global impact, access, and service to the commonwealth and beyond.
Virginia Tech President Tim Sands has launched a new strategic planning process for the university, building on the continued achievement of multiple milestones as Virginia Tech marks the conclusion of its 2019 university strategic plan, The Virginia Tech Difference.
The planning effort will be led by the Office for Strategic Affairs, under the direction of Vice President for Strategic Affairs Menah Pratt. Building on years of collaboration across the university, the office will guide a process that engages students, faculty, staff, alumni, and partners to shape Virginia Tech’s future priorities and chart a bold vision for the future
The next phase will align with the revised Beyond Boundaries vision and evolving institutional priorities. This approach will ensure Virginia Tech maintains its leadership in global impact, access, and service to the commonwealth and beyond.
“The first phase of the Beyond Boundaries plan offered a road map to elevating the institution in the spirit of our land-grant mission and our motto, Ut Prosim,” Sands said. “We continued raising the bar as we achieved our metrics, transforming our institution to better serve our constituencies and communities. As the landscape for higher education and for Virginia Tech continues to rapidly evolve, it is time to reset our plan, adapt to a new environment, and raise the bar further still.”
What the previous plan set out to do
The 2019 plan translated the university’s initial Beyond Boundaries vision into a set of actionable priorities:
- Advance regional, national, and global Impact
- Elevate the Ut Prosim (That I May Serve) difference
- Be a destination for talent
- Ensure institutional excellence
The 2019 plan identified nearly 40 specific milestones to advance the university’s vision. To poise Virginia Tech as a leader in land-grant universities, key goals focused on extramural research expenditures experiential learning opportunities, enrollment, retention rates, faculty and staff well-being, as well as institutional financial sustainability, alumni giving and the Boundless Impact campaign.
By the numbers: Measurable progress
Virginia Tech has achieved or exceeded several key milestones outlined in the 2019-2024 strategic plan. Notable achievements include:
- Exceeded the extramural research expenditure goal two years ahead of schedule
- Achieved and sustained growth in undergraduate student enrollment
- Expanded access to bridge experiences to nearly all academic programs
- Sustained transformative growth in average faculty compensation
- Achieved and sustained graduation rates for transfer students
- Exceeded the Boundless Impact Campaign two years in advance
- Sustained alumni giving at 22 percent since 2022
- Reached an entering class composed of 40 percent underrepresented minority and underserved students in 2022
- Maintained responsible fiscal management
“The success of the Virginia Tech Strategic Plan is a testament of what we can accomplish when we come together with shared purpose and vision,” Pratt said. “I am proud of the progress we have made, the milestones we accomplished, and the strong foundation we have built through the dedication of our community and its Ut Prosim spirit. As we look ahead, I am excited to continue this momentum and to engage our campus community again as we shape the next strategic plan that will guide Virginia Tech’s bold future.”
Transitioning into the new plan
Building on the achievements and momentum from the previous strategic plan, Virginia Tech is prepared to develop a new plan that is responsive to the evolving higher education landscape.
The Office for Strategic Affairs is conducting listening sessions to hear from colleges, administrative units, senates, and other stakeholders to ensure the new strategic plan reflects and responds to institutional needs. These sessions will continue through the early part of the spring semester to ensure widespread opportunities for campus, community, and alumni engagement.
Additionally, a survey has been created to provide another platform for the community to share input. Members of the Virginia Tech community can access the strategic planning survey online.
The Office for Strategic Affairs is available to assist units with questions regarding plan alignment, engagement, visioning, planning, and implementation of department and unit-level strategic priorities. If your area is interested in a facilitated conversation regarding the new university strategic plan, or unit-level planning, please reach out to strategicaffairs@vt.edu.
