Virginia Tech students resume their academic year at the Alexandria campus for the first complete fall semester

Virginia Tech Opens New Institute for Advanced Computing in Alexandria

Virginia Tech has officially opened its doors to the Institute for Advanced Computing, located in Academic Building One on its Alexandria campus. The institute aims to produce world-class engineers, computer scientists, and business leaders to support the region's technology sector.

The construction of Academic Building One took place from 2020 to 2024, during which time students attended courses virtually and at Virginia Tech's Northern Virginia Center in West Falls Church. Today, the building houses over 500 graduate students in computer science, computer engineering, and business programs.

Academic Building One is conveniently located adjacent to the Potomac Yard-VT Metro Station and approximately two miles from Amazon's Arlington headquarters. The campus library is situated on the fifth floor, while the Hokie One Stop, offering various student services, can be found on the second floor.

The interim director of the Institute for Advanced Computing is Dr. Laxmikant Kale. The campus focuses on research in artificial intelligence, quantum information science, and next-generation wireless technology. Virginia Tech's research success is notable, with extramural research expenditures expected to reach another record high.

In his welcome message, President Tim Sands emphasised Virginia Tech's expanding reach and record-breaking achievements. He highlighted the university's global reach, which is at an all-time high due to its active work to broaden interest in Virginia Tech around the world. This year, Virginia Tech's first-year students represent a record number of Virginia high schools, as well as 48 states and 82 countries.

Students have until Thursday to add classes, and the academic calendar for the fall semester includes classes running through Dec. 10, followed by final examinations from Dec. 12-17. Fall break is scheduled for Oct. 17, and Thanksgiving break runs from Nov. 22-30. It's important to note that students had until today to withdraw from the semester with a 100% refund.

The university recently ranked fourth among Patent Powerhouses in an IEEE Spectrum survey, behind Harvard, MIT, and the Harvard/MIT Broad Institute. This ranking further solidifies Virginia Tech's position as a leading institution in technological innovation and research.

As the Institute for Advanced Computing begins its journey, it is poised to make significant contributions to the technology sector and further establish Virginia Tech as a global leader in higher education.

Virginia Tech students resume their academic year at the Alexandria campus for the first complete fall semester