Old Dominion News

During a recent presentation to the university's board of visitors, Virginia Tech President Tim Sands discussed the challenges of diminishing public trust and rising affordability concerns in higher education, calling for collective efforts to address these issues, The Roanoke Times reported. Sands emphasized the urgent need to address these pressing issues while acknowledging the institution's commitment to financial support for students and ongoing recruitment efforts.

“The public’s loss of confidence in our institutions, the shrinking pool of college-ready students in the Northeast and Midwest, the destructive culture wars, the assaults on free speech and academic freedom and the affordability crisis are all around us,” Sands said.

Earlier this year, the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors approved a 4.9% tuition increase for both in-state and out-of-state undergraduate and graduate students during a special session, ABC 13 News reported. This increase also included a $208 rise in the mandatory comprehensive fee. For Virginia undergraduate students, this translated to a $593 tuition hike, resulting in an annual tuition of $12,697, while out-of-state undergraduate tuition saw a $1,556 increase, reaching a total of $33,310 annually.

In addition to the tuition increase, comprehensive fees increased by $208, totaling $2,585 for the next year, and annual room and board charges increased by $990, amounting to $11,746 per year. Considering tuition, mandatory fees and room and board costs, the total cost for a Virginia undergraduate student living on campus in 2023-24 would be $27,222, while for an out-of-state undergraduate student living on campus, it would be $48,439. These increases were proposed alongside an estimated $3.6 million in base budget reallocations.        

Since 2018, Virginia Tech has implemented a series of progressive changes to its admissions process, with a focus on accessibility and equity. Notable innovations include a holistic review process involving faculty and staff assessing applicants' qualities like leadership and resilience, the adoption of the Common App to simplify applications, the collection of self-reported academic information to expedite processing, the option for applicants to report SAT and ACT scores and a streamlined fee waiver application process. These initiatives reflect the university's commitment to breaking down barriers and providing a more inclusive pathway to higher education.

In 2021, Virginia Tech disenrolled more than 130 students who either did not submit their COVID-19 vaccination documentation or did not receive an exemption, NBC News reported.