Board of Visitors concludes two-day meeting in Blacksburg
The Virginia Tech Board of Visitors approved a 2.9 percent increase in tuition for resident and non-resident undergraduate students for the 2026-27 academic year on Tuesday, April 14, during its full member meeting.
Tuition and mandatory fees for Virginia undergraduate students will increase $561, to $17,087 annually, and out-of-state undergraduate tuition and mandatory fees will increase $1,203, totaling $40,180 annually. Complete information on 2026-27 tuition, mandatory fees, and room and board costs may be found on the Virginia Tech News website.
Also on Tuesday, the board approved a resolution of appreciation for Sandra “Sandy” Davis, the vice rector who died March 17 at the age of 79. The approval of the resolution was preceded by a moment of silence. A copy of the resolution was presented to her husband, William C. “Jack” Davis, professor emeritus of history in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences.
Mehul Sanghani ‘98, who had previously served on the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors from 2014-22, was appointed by Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger to complete Davis’ term, which was to expire on June 30.
In his report to the Board of Visitors, President Tim Sands, who recently announced his intention to begin the process of stepping down, thanked current and past members for their partnership and commitment to the university during his tenure, noting that their dedication as volunteer trustees has been inspirational.
“It has been the privilege of a lifetime to help steward Virginia Tech over the past 12 years,” Sands said. “For now, I’m committed to supporting the university and the new president through the coming transition, but in the meantime, there is plenty of work to do – go Hokies!”
Rector John Rocovich commended Sands for “12 excellent years of great leadership and accomplishment.” The search committee for a new president will include all members of the Board of Visitors, including faculty, staff, and student representatives, and a representative from the Virginia Tech Alumni Association. Rocovich said he also invited suggestions from Spanberger, and the board plans to select a consulting firm, develop a job description, and move forward.
During the joint meeting of the Academic, Research, and Student Affairs and Finance and Resource Management committee Monday afternoon, committee members discussed a resolution on the impact of the university’s Living-Learning Program on affordability that would have reallocated all returning living-learning community student beds to first-year and transfer students and initiated a review of the efficacy of living-learning communities. The resolution was postponed to allow the university to conduct a thorough review of the program; thus, the resolution did not advance to the full board. The review, already underway under the leadership of Executive Vice President and Provost Julie Ross, will include the program’s impact on student recruitment, student success as well as potential cost savings through administrative efficiencies.
The board approved a resolution to authorize funding to complete the design and construction of a new flagship on-campus university bookstore to be located in Gilbert Place. The new location will offer patrons an enhanced visit and travel experience to both Virginia Tech’s campus and downtown Blacksburg. Once the new bookstore is completed, which is scheduled for next summer, the university will retire the current on-campus bookstore location on Kent Street.
On Monday, the Buildings and Grounds Committee approved the design preview and review of a proposed 1,200-bed residence hall project near Duck Pond Drive and advanced design previews for three additional projects.
The proposed residence hall project will neighbor other student-centric facilities including the Classroom Building, Hitt Hall, Data and Decision Sciences Building, Undergraduate Science Laboratory Building, and the Transit Center. Designed in collegiate gothic consistent with Campus Design Principles and closely emulating the most recently completed residence hall, Upper Quad Hall North, the five-story structures will feature contemporary rooms and efficient building systems, intentional material choices supporting long-term stewardship, and universal design principles.
The committee approved the design preview for the Eastern Shore Agricultural Research and Extension Center improvements capital project. Located in Painter, Virginia, the center is part of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and the Virginia Agricultural Experiment Station and works in close partnership with Virginia Cooperative Extension to deliver research-based solutions to producers and communities. The proposed project will include the construction of new facilities and renovation of the existing main building and will enhance research capacity, strengthen Extension delivery, and support the evolving needs of Virginia agriculture and coastal systems.
A design preview for a new Virginia Tech Rescue Squad facility was also approved by the committee. The proposed facility, to be located off Oak Lane, will establish a new permanent headquarters for the organization. It will provide appropriate operational, training, residential, and equipment space; strengthen the university’s emergency medical response capabilities; and support the continued growth of one of the nation’s oldest collegiate rescue squads.
Finally, a design preview for the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine Teaching Hospital renovation and expansion was also approved by the committee. The proposed project will modernize clinical, instructional, and support spaces; expand specialty services to help meet the rising demand for advanced veterinary care; and strengthen the educational foundation needed to prepare practice-ready veterinary graduates.
The newly formed Athletics Committee met for the first time Monday. Athletics Director Whit Babcock provided an overview of the current state of intercollegiate athletics at Virginia Tech, and board members received additional reports on the rapidly changing landscape of intercollegiate athletics nationally and the Invest to Win budget.
The board announced the selection of the two student representatives for the 2026-27 academic year. Robert Waugh, currently a junior majoring in aerospace engineering in the College of Engineering, will be the undergraduate student representative. Helen E. Phillips, a Ph.D. degree candidate in the Center for Public Administration and Policy in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences, will be the graduate and professional student representative.
Each will serve a one-year term beginning July 1. A story introducing the new student representatives to the community will be published later this semester in Virginia Tech News.
The board also honored faculty members Naren Ramakrishnan and Azenegashe “Ozzie” Abaye with distinguished professorships.
Ramakrishnan, currently the Thomas L. Phillips Professor in the Department of Computer Science in the College of Engineering and director of the Sanghani Center for Artificial Intelligence and Data Analytics in the Institute for Advanced Computing in Alexandria, was named a University Distinguished Professor. The University Distinguished Professorship is a pre-eminent faculty rank bestowed upon members of the university faculty whose scholarly attainments have attracted national and/or international recognition.
Abaye, currently the Thomas B. Hutcheson Jr. Professor of Agronomy in the School of Plant and Environmental Sciences in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, was named an Alumni Distinguished Professor. The professorship is a pre-eminent faculty appointment recognizing those who demonstrate extraordinary accomplishments and academic citizenship through substantive scholarly contributions across all three of Virginia Tech’s core mission areas of teaching, research or creative activity, and engagement. This recommendation was endorsed by President Tim Sands and the Executive Committee of the Virginia Tech Alumni Association.
A story on each of the two new distinguished professors will be published later this semester in Virginia Tech News.
To acknowledge the distinguished service and many contributions of Cyril Clarke as executive vice president and provost from 2017-25, the board has named the walking trail that traces the southern edge of the Duck Pond, extending west to east from Duck Pond Drive to West Campus Drive, the Dr. Cyril R. Clarke Pathway.
In addition, resolutions on nine faculty members receiving new appointments to endowed chairs, professorships, or fellowships and another seven reappointments; 10 emerita or emeritus faculty resolutions; and 89 faculty research leaves were approved by the board.
The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors will be June 1-2 in Blacksburg. More information on the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors may be found online.
