Leadership advances Northern Virginia Steering Committee work

Faculty and staff convened at Academic Building One in Alexandria for a town hall focused on the university’s strategic presence and future in the greater Washington, D.C., area — the culmination of the Northern Virginia Steering Committee’s work, led by Julie Ross, the Paul and Dorothea Torgersen Dean of Engineering and special advisor to the president.

Ross provided an overview of the final Phase 3 recommendations and next action steps from the working groups who engaged D.C. area faculty and staff during the 2024-25 academic year. The working groups focused on parking and transportation, space utilization and rent models, tuition and fees, and student housing in the D.C. area. 

“Our work in the greater Washington, D.C., area is vital to shaping the future of Virginia Tech,” said Ross. “Guided by the Northern Virginia Steering Committee and strengthened by engagement with faculty and staff over the last two years, we have developed a forward-looking framework that positions the university as a leading hub for growing tech talent, uniquely situated at the intersection of industry, government, and research partners in the D.C. area.”

President Tim Sands and Executive Vice President and Provost Cyril Clarke appointed Ross in 2023 to lead the Northern Virginia Steering Committee. The steering committee’s scope of work included the development of instructional, research, and outreach missions with an emphasis on those that will distinctively position Virginia Tech among land-grant universities and leverage the opportunities afforded by operating in the nation’s capital.

Ross shared highlights from the working groups at the Sept. 25 event, along with next action steps some of which include:

• Looking at tuition models and how to best position competitive graduate program offerings in the D.C. area
• Understanding student housing needs and working with regional partners to expand affordable housing options
• Developing space utilization guidelines and productivity metrics to help guide decision-making
  
• Using data to track and inform future transportation and parking needs in the region for students, faculty, and staff

Several of the recommendations have already been implemented while others will guide further development of the university’s strategy in the region under the leadership of Lance Collins, who was recently named vice president of the greater Washington, D.C., area. 

Collins joined the town hall to share his initial thoughts on how he will work with university leadership, faculty, staff, and students to advance and build on the recommendations from the Northern Virginia Steering Committee that are essential for growing Virginia Tech’s innovation network and becoming a top global research institution.

“I’m excited to support President Sands’ vision for growing an innovation network across the greater D.C. area and beyond,” said Collins. “Few institutions can match the breadth and depth of assets that we have at Virginia Tech, and by strategically connecting and aligning them, we have a powerful opportunity to drive transformative impact for the university and the region.”

During his remarks, Collins said he will work to grow a culture that is built on the bold, outward-facing, and collaborative work that is taking place in the region. This includes establishing a regional leadership council with representation from academic and administrative units across the D.C. area to coordinate activities and engagement. He also discussed opportunities to advance entrepreneurship in the region, in partnership with other programs across the university, to grow an ecosystem that nurtures enterprises and the formation of companies. 

Virginia Tech’s presence in the greater Washington, D.C., area is an important link beyond Blacksburg that is growing its innovation network across the commonwealth and beyond. As strategic planning advances in the region, attendees were encouraged to be part of the conversation by participating in future listening sessions and sharing feedback at dcarea.vt.edu/feedback.