Families of Virginia Tech students will return to campus Friday, Oct. 3 through Sunday, Oct. 5, for Fall Family Weekend. More than 3,700 family members have registered to attend this annual event.

A full schedule of events will allow families to get a first-hand look at student life on campus. Families who have not yet done so can register online.

“Fall Family Weekend is an opportunity for the families of current students to come to campus, spend some time with their student, learn more about Virginia Tech, and learn more about what their student is experiencing here,” said Penny White, director of parent and alumni relations within the Division of Student Affairs. “It also is a chance to get some additional questions answered.”

Departments across campus, including the Ware Lab, Career Services, Dairy Science Complex, and University Libraries will host open houses. Some colleges, including the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, will offer tours.

“This year, the Virginia Science Festival coincides with Fall Family Weekend,” White said, “which means families are going to get a chance to see some of the academics, some of the research, some of the things that are happening on campus that they would not otherwise have a chance to see.”

Families will also be able to get information from the Bursar’s Office, Hokie Passport Services, and University Scholarships and Financial Aid. “What we have learned is that those are the areas families have questions about, even beyond the first year,” White said.

Virginia Tech President Timothy D. Sands will host a wine and cheese reception in the president’s box at Lane Stadium on Friday evening.

White said that since this Fall Family Weekend falls on Yom Kippur, Virginia Tech, in conjunction with the Hillel at Virginia Tech, will offer several programs in observance of this holy day.

“One of the things that we encourage our families to do is to give us feedback after the event because what we’re trying to do is build a program that our families enjoy coming to, and we can’t do that without their input,” White said.

The Hokie Parent Fund provides funding for Fall Family Weekend.

Written by Emily Hughes of Ashburn, Va., a sophomore majoring in communication in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences.

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