Virginia Tech's Class of 2009 moves in Aug. 17-20
Virginia Tech’s 133rd class begins rolling in between Aug. 17-20 for the Aug. 22 start of classes.
Out of the 17,687 students who applied to Virginia Tech, 12,411 were offered admission. Of those, 5,187 freshmen accepted and will arrive between Wednesday through Saturday, Aug. 17-20, from 43 states and 27 countries. The Class of 2009 has an average GPA of 3.72, up from 3.67, and an average SAT of 1204, up from 1201. This year, Virginia Tech did not consider the new writing component of the SAT test, desiring a year’s worth of data before deciding how or if it will figure in the admissions process. (For more detailed information on Virginia Tech's incoming freshmen class, see the following link.)
Virginia Tech has 9,111 beds, so parking and how quickly students move in is an issue. Most students will begin arriving on campus Friday, Aug. 19, and Saturday, Aug. 20. More than 400 students from Virginia Tech’s Greek community and about 20 other organizations will volunteer and help students and parents move items from the vehicles to the grass in an effort to move traffic along on Washington Street. The group, Team Hokies, will locate itself both days along Washington Street from Kent Street down to Ambler-Johnson Hall. The team will be recognized by T-shirts or lanyards.
In addition, Washington Street will be one-way from midnight Wednesday, Aug. 17, to a time yet to be determined Saturday, Aug. 20. In past years, Parking Services has opened Washington Street to two-way traffic at 6 p.m. each night during move-in; this year, it will remain one-way the entire time.
Virginia Tech will roll out the red carpet for returning students at the Welcome Back Picnic at 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 21, in Lane Stadium. Students will get to touch the Hokie stone, eat dinner, and join in a pep rally ($7 for students without meal plans). In addition, incoming freshmen will go through "The Hokie Experience" this year, the first event of its kind. At 10:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 20, all students are invited to learn about being a Hokie – from learning about Orange and Maroon Effect to learning football cheers and Ut Prosim (That I May Serve).
Returning students will see some changes on campus this school year as well. This spring and summer alone, Virginia Tech has opened The Inn at Virginia Tech and Skelton Conference Center as well as the new Graduate Life Center at Donaldson Brown. Graduate students are moving in to the 115-bed-facility beginning Sunday, Aug. 14.
New faces also join the ranks at Virginia Tech including two key positions. Richard C. Benson will head the College of Engineering, and Zenobia Hikes will head student affairs as its vice president.
In addition to new faces, Virginia Tech has added a new unit -- Virginia Tech’s new Multicultural Programs and Services. Following the merger of two existing offices and other resources dedicated to multicultural issues, Multicultural Programs and Services will provide an educational focus that will include institutionalized partnerships with the Africana Studies Program, the Center for Academic Enrichment and Excellence, the Department of Interdisciplinary Studies, and the Race and Social Policy Research Center. The new administrative unit will now encompass academic-support services, education and research, and advocacy, as well as advising and cultural programs.
