Students resume their academic journey at Virginia Tech's Alexandria campus for the complete autumn term.

Virginia Tech Opens New Alexandria Campus in Record-Breaking Expansion

Virginia Tech has marked a significant milestone with the opening of its new Alexandria campus, housed in the 11-story Academic Building One. The campus, located adjacent to the Potomac Yard-VT Metro Station at 3625 Potomac Avenue, is poised to further expand the university's reach and achieve record-breaking feats.

In his welcome address, President Tim Sands emphasized the university's growing influence and record-breaking achievements. He highlighted the campus's global reach, which has never been higher, thanks to Virginia Tech's active efforts to broaden interest in the university worldwide.

The new campus is home to a number of key facilities. The Institute for Advanced Computing, led by interim director Kirk Cameron, is situated within Academic Building One. This institute aims to produce world-class engineers, computer scientists, and business leaders to support the region's technology sector. The Hokie One Stop, offering counselling, registrar services, financial aid, and housing assistance, can be found on the second floor, while the campus library resides on the fifth floor.

The university is experiencing a period of significant growth. The new academic year has seen a record number of first-year students representing a diverse range of Virginia high schools, as well as students from 48 states and 82 countries. This growth is reflected in the 500 graduate students in computer science, computer engineering, and business programs who now call Academic Building One home.

The academic calendar for the semester includes classes running through Dec. 10, followed by final examinations from Dec. 12-17. Key breaks in the calendar include Fall break on Oct. 17 and Thanksgiving break from Nov. 22-30. It is important to note that students had until today to withdraw from the semester with a 100% refund, and they have until Thursday to add classes for the semester.

Virginia Tech's research success is also noteworthy. The university recently ranked fourth among Patent Powerhouses in an IEEE Spectrum survey, behind Harvard, MIT, and the Harvard/MIT Broad Institute. With extramural research expenditures expected to reach another record high, the university's research focus on artificial intelligence, quantum information science, and next-generation wireless technology is set to continue pushing boundaries.

The Alexandria campus is situated about two miles from Amazon's Arlington headquarters, further underscoring the university's commitment to fostering relationships with the tech industry. Despite the physical expansion, the campus dropped the "Innovation Campus" label in May, now simply known as Virginia Tech.

As the university continues to grow and thrive, its impact on the world of technology and education is undeniable. The opening of the Alexandria campus marks a new chapter in Virginia Tech's story, one that promises to be as groundbreaking as the university's past achievements.

Students resume their academic journey at Virginia Tech's Alexandria campus for the complete autumn term.