The Virginia Tech Board of Visitors will meet on Monday, March 22, at 1:15 p.m. in Latham Ballroom at The Inn at Virginia Tech, 901 Price’s Fork Road, Blacksburg, to consider tuition and mandatory fees for the 2021-22 academic year.

As part of that consideration, Virginia Tech will hold a public comment opportunity on Monday, March 8, at 1:15 p.m. in Assembly Hall at the Holtzman Alumni Center at 901 Prices Fork Road in Blacksburg. Several members of the Board of Visitors will be on hand as university officials provide an overview of proposed tuition and fees ranges and to receive public comment in accordance with guidelines posted to the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors website.

Virginia Tech’s tuition and fees strategy is intended to support the university’s strategic plan within the context of the various budget implications of the state’s General Assembly actions and other major initiatives that impact university costs in the upcoming year.

Over the past several years, the board has sought to balance the affordability of a Virginia Tech education with targeted investment that will position the university as a global leader in teaching, research, and innovation. With a heightened focus on student affordability amidst the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the university has leveraged incremental state funding with cost containment strategies, administrative efficiencies, and the reallocation of existing resources to support these high-priority needs.

As a result of these continued efforts, the board was able to freeze tuition increases for a second straight year for in-state undergraduates in 2020-21, and held tuition increases to 2.9 percent in each of the prior three years — all while making a sustained commitment to critical initiatives that will advance Virginia Tech’s mission as a leading global land-grant institution.

On March 22, the board will consider a combination of cost containment and revenue enhancement strategies that will address the increasing costs of personnel, fringe benefits, fixed costs, continued investment in academic programs including faculty, and the enhancement of high-demand student support services. To further advance affordability, the university will continue working to expand private philanthropy in support of the university and increase student financial aid programs, namely the university’s Funds for the Future program, which offsets the cost of tuition and fee increases on returning students with family incomes up to $100,000.

The following ranges of tuition and Educational and General (E&G) fee adjustments for fall 2021 will be considered by the Board of Visitors. Final decisions are contingent upon the outcome of the General Assembly session, when total mandated costs and the level of state support are fully understood by the university:

  • Virginia resident undergraduates: Tuition and E&G fees may increase between 0 percent and 2.9 percent.
  • Non-resident undergraduates: Tuition and E&G fees may increase between 0 percent and 2.9 percent.
  • On-campus graduate students: Tuition and E&G fees may increase between 0 percent and 2.9 percent.
  • All students: Mandatory fees may increase up to $90 to support mandated cost increases, including employee benefits and compensation, as well as enhancements in student health and counseling services.

These recommendations are designed to continue Virginia Tech’s trend of below-average increases in undergraduate tuition and fees, made possible through commonwealth investment and the university’s focus on cost containment and strategic allocation of limited resources.

Public comment

Board of Visitors members and university administrators will facilitate a budget workshop on March 8 at 1:15 pm at the Holtzman Alumni Center within the Inn at Virginia Tech.  After a presentation providing an overview of the proposed increases, the public will be provided an opportunity to make comments in accordance with Board of Visitors guidelines.

For those interested in participating in the public comment opportunity:

  • By Friday, March 5, speakers must pre-register on a first-come, first-served basis for the public comment period with the board secretary.  Speakers will be asked to specify their affiliation with the university, (current student, parent, alum, faculty or staff, member of the public).  Register at the Board of Visitors website.
  • Following the public presentation on March 8, the public comment period will be held for 60 minutes. If time remains during the one-hour public comment period after the pre-registered speakers offer their comments, additional speakers may be offered the opportunity to speak during the remaining time.
  • There will be dedicated time slots for a representative from the Student Government Association and from the Graduate Student Assembly to provide a statement on behalf of their respective constituency. This does not preclude individual students from registering to speak during the public comment period or from providing written comments.
  • Each speaker is limited to three (3) minutes and must restrict their comments to tuition and fees only. Speakers wishing to have their comments entered in the public record must bring a typed copy.

In lieu of oral comments, written comments will be accepted through Sunday, March 14.  Enter written comments online at the Board of Visitors website, or mail to:

Kim O’Rourke
Secretary to the Board of Visitors
Virginia Tech   (MC 0125)
800 Drillfield Drive
Blacksburg, VA  24061

If you are an individual with a disability and desire an accommodation, please send an email to vppg@vt.edu or call 540-231-6232 during regular business hours at least 10 days prior to the event.

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