Virginia Tech's Graduate Education Week 2026 begins March 23
Events on Blacksburg campus and in the greater Washington, D.C., area will showcase the impact of the university’s nearly 6,500 graduate students.
Graduate students gather on the Graduate Life Center lawn.
Virginia Tech will celebrate its 26th annual Graduate Education Week March 23–27 with events on the Blacksburg campus and in the greater Washington, D.C., area that highlight the impact of the university’s nearly 6,500 graduate students and the university’s commitment to graduate education.
This year’s theme, Graduate Education for Good, underscores how meaningful change grows from dedication, partnership, and community.
Observed nationwide, Graduate Education Week raises awareness of the contributions graduate students make to teaching, research, and service. At Virginia Tech, graduate students in more than 80 fields support labs, classrooms, research teams, and administrative units across campuses, the commonwealth, and beyond.
The Graduate School and partners across the university will host virtual and in‑person workshops, networking activities, and community‑building events focused on the ways graduate students are “doing good.” A photo and art display in the Graduate Life Center in Blacksburg and in Academic Building One in Alexandria will showcase positive graduate student experiences and highlight the creative work of students from all disciplines. A variety of events will offer networking and professional development opportunities that bring students together from across departments.
Midweek events will spotlight graduate student research and innovation. In Blacksburg, the Graduate and Professional Student Senate will hold its 42nd annual research symposium March 25 in the Graduate Life Center, featuring presentations, poster sessions, and a faculty panel.
In the D.C. area, Tuesday’s highlight is a networking program co-hosted by the Graduate School and the Alexandria Economic Development Partnership that offers an opportunity for students to connect with local employers. The Research Showcase will take place March 26 in the Boeing Auditorium in Academic Building One and will feature work from graduate students across regional programs. The showcase is open to the public.
The Graduate School will recognize faculty, staff, and student award recipients at a reception March 26 in Blacksburg, celebrating excellence in research, teaching, service, and mentoring.
The week concludes March 27 with the Graduate School’s long-standing spring cookout in Blacksburg — now in its 25th year — along with a companion event in Academic Building One in Alexandria.
A full schedule of events, including times, locations, and registration information, is available at online.
