It’s still summer in Blacksburg, but signs of seasonal change are everywhere: Backpack-toting students in the library and university footpaths. Spruced up-spaces. A reopened Kent Street. The occasional call of “Let’s go…” followed a few seconds later by an emphatic “Hokies!”

Yes, it’s time for the fall academic year to begin. Classes begin Monday.

And Virginia Tech is ready.

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First-year and returning students who live on campus will move into residence halls on Aug. 21-24. They are returning to a campus that has been meticulously prepared for their return. The campus community will welcome and accommodate all students who matriculate this fall in a manner that maintains and continues to advance the high standards of Virginia Tech.

“This is a very exciting time for Virginia Tech and for the new and returning students who are arriving on our campus this week,” said Executive Vice President and Provost Cyril Clarke. “Employees across the university have spent the summer preparing to welcome them and to provide them with a variety of rich academic and student life experiences, and we are excited to begin the fall semester together.”

Virginia Tech has prepared and upgraded its instructional and research spaces for the fall. Through efficient use and scheduling of classroom space throughout the week, Virginia Tech will be able to accommodate the higher enrollments through expanded scheduling and the hiring of additional faculty, rather than increasing the size of existing classes. The university is increasing the number of sections in high-demand courses and expanding class start times throughout the day and week, including additional options for earlier (8 a.m.) and later (evening) classes that will provide more flexibility for students without increasing the size of classes.

The university also added four more counselors at Cook Counseling Center, which maintains regular business hours year-round. The center is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday. It is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Fridays. A counselor is on-call each evening throughout the year.

The residence halls also are ready to go, including two new locations to accommodate higher-than-anticipated fall enrollment. The Inn at Virginia Tech and HIE Student Housing — previously known as the Holiday Inn Express on Price’s Fork Road — have been transformed into residence halls that will feature the same broadband infrastructure and security services found elsewhere on campus. About 325 students will live at the Inn at Virginia Tech and 195 students at HIE Student Housing.

“Virginia Tech has taken significant steps to ensure that residents of these two special residence halls will experience campus life nearly the same as those in traditional residence halls,” said Sean Grube, director of housing and residential life. “The safety and security of our students is a top priority, and the Virginia Tech Police Department will have jurisdiction over student housing at these new sites.”

Those moving into residence halls will receive a 30-minute loading permit good for parking in the spaces surrounding the halls.

Dining Services also is preparing for the fall semester and is well equipped to meet high volumes for food preparation. The dining halls will deploy numerous tactics to alleviate wait times, including extra staff, expanded hours, maximized menu offerings for efficiency, and grab-and-go options. Dining halls have expanded service hours by nearly 200 hours per week.

The dining halls often see extra churn at the beginning of the fall academic year as students develop their daily routines and optimal meal times. This process plays out annually, as students learn to avoid peak meal times and use all available dining centers more effectively.

  • Turner Place at Lavery Hall will extend dinner service by an hour Monday –Thursday in Atomic Pizzeria, 1872 Fire Grill, and Jamba Juice. Additionally, Jamba Juice will operate for breakfast Monday-Friday opening at 7:30 a.m.
  • Owens Food Court at Owens Hall will open Monday-Friday for coffee and breakfast service starting at 7:30 a.m.
  • Hokie Grill at Owens Hall will open Pizza Hut and Chick-fil-A until 10 p.m. Monday-Thursday. Additionally Dunkin Donuts will be open on weekends from 8 a.m. - 2 p.m.
  • West End Market at Cochrane Hall will extend dinner service until 10 p.m. in Seven70, Bistro, and Grab & Go, Sunday-Thursday.
  • D2 at Dietrick Hall will extend services at the dinner meal period by extension of hours from Monday-Thursday until 7:30 p.m.
  • Au Bon Pain at Squires Student Center will extend dinner hours Monday–Thursday and remain open until 8 p.m.
  • Burger 37 at Squires Student Center will extend hours on weekends by opening at 11 a.m.

Additionally, Virginia Tech has opened campus to an array of food trucks. In addition to Tech’s own food trucks, The Grillfield and Periodic Table, a selection of new, privately operated trucks will be available: Brother Jake’s Brick Oven Creations; Big D’s BBQ & Ribs; Creole That; Fork in the Road; Nomad’s Coffee; Salem Chick-fil-A; and Mann’s Sausage Company. Find more information on the Local Lunch Bites Food Truck Program page.

Even when Virginia Tech is at its busiest, about 2,000 parking spaces are available daily on campus. Students are encouraged to use the bus systembike share, and park in the commuter lots with buses running to the center of campus. Student parking permits for students go can be purchased onlineLearn more about student parking information.

First-year and returning students can find more information at You’re In…Now What? and Information for the incoming Class of 2023.

 

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