ALUMNI ASSOCIATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Alumni Board Room
Holtzman Alumni Center
April 29-30-2011
Board of Directors Attending
Guests
Ryan Beach
*Mary Jones Berry
*Danny Bird
**Morgan Blackwood
**Marvin Boyd
Jeanne DaDamio
Kendley Davenport
Lisa Carter Ellison
Doug Fahl
Jerome Fowlkes
Katie Kyger Frazier
*Bill Latham
Mark Lawrence
Kevin Leclaire
Park Lemmond
Easton Loving
*David Lowe
Pam McConnell
Greg Merritt
Lisa Glasscock Miller
Nick Moga
Jean Montague
Brian Montgomery
Jim O’Connell
Carole Pratt
Glenn Reynolds
Curry Roberts
Lance Smith
**Karen Torgersen
**Jim Wade
*G.T. Ward
**Erich Windmuller
Charles Steger, University President
Elizabeth Hooper, State Legislative Liaison
Mildred Johnson, Director of Undergraduate
Admissions
Nathan Lavinka, Class of 2011 President
Buddy Russell, Vice President for Alumni
Relations Emeritus
Ed Spencer, Vice President for Student Affairs
*Honorary Directors
**Begin Terms July 1
Staff
Tom Tillar
Carolyn Bain
Laurie Brogdon
Josh Burnheimer
Debbie Day
Greg Fansler
Patty Foutz
Bonnie Gilbert
Pam Goad
Lane Guilliams
Gwen Harrington
Dave Hunt
Jack Hutcheson
Robin Jackson
Cathy Lally
Betty Lee
Jamie Lucero
Vijay Mallikarjunan
Ginny Ritenour
Rock Roszak
Laura Wedin
Jan Wilson
Lynn Young
Friday, April 29, 2011
President Curry Roberts convened the spring meeting of the Board of Directors at 2:10 p.m. in the
Alumni Board Room. New board members-elect Morgan Blackwood, Marvin Boyd, Karen Torgersen,
Jim Wade, and Erich Windmuller, whose official terms begin July 1, were given a special welcome. He
welcomed Honorary Directors: Mary Jones Berry, Danny Bird, Bill Latham, David Lowe, and G.T.
Ward, and shared regrets from several members who were unable to attend: Bill Aden, Todd Hearp,
Hoda Kotb, Aaron McClung, Kylene McNeill, Jay Poole, and Phil Thompson. Roberts reported on the
deaths of two distinguished alumni in the past week, Robin Kinzer ’73 and Bruce Jamerson ’79, and
asked for a moment of silence in their honor. He also presented a gift to Brian Montgomery on the recent
birth of his son.
Roberts called for a motion to approve the minutes from the fall Board meeting; moved by
McConnell; variously seconded; motion carried. He then reported for the Executive Committee. The
Committee met earlier in the spring by conference call and reviewed several items during the committee
meeting. These included: discussion of agenda and speakers for the board meeting; consideration of a
change to the Bylaws to provide more flexibility in officer term length; discussion of the report from the
ad-hoc group on diversity; and a review of the current and 2011-2012 proposed budget. The committee
discussed Bylaws changes to allow officers to serve more than one year. In the past, officers had served
two year terms and this change allows for more flexibility going forward. Roberts suggested that Article
VIII (Officers) of the Bylaws be changed to read:
The Association may have a President, President-Elect, Vice President, a Secretary, and a
Treasurer, all of whom shall be elected annually by the Board of Directors and shall serve from
July 1st to June 30th. No officer may serve more than two one-year consecutive terms. An
elected officer…
Another suggested change in years where all officer positions are not filled, one additional at-large
member could be added to the Executive Committee. Roberts suggested that paragraph three of Article
IX (Committees) be changed to read:
The Executive Committee shall conduct all affairs of the Association as necessary between
meetings of the Board of Directors, such actions subject to review by the Board of Directors at its
next meeting. The Executive Committee may consist of the President, President-Elect, Vice
President, Secretary, Treasurer, Immediate Past President, and [remove the word “two”] other
members of the Association elected by the Board, and shall serve from July 1st through June 30th
each year.
He called for a motion to approve the suggested changes to the Bylaws; moved by DaDamio; variously
seconded; motion carried.
Roberts called on Tillar to provide a Staff Report. Tillar commented on the management change
at The Inn at Virginia Tech and Skelton Conference Center to Benchmark Hospitality International. Tom
Shaver, the new General Manager who joined the board during lunch, shared some of the improvements
made in the first several months. Tillar highlighted a recent reception he and Dr. Steger hosted for the
first class of 42 students at the new Virginia Tech Carilion Medical School. He referred members to the
revised dashboard summary which includes target numbers for the year and actual results through April.
Some areas saw increases beyond targets and expectations, including: an increase in the number of active
alumni chapters to 76, a significant increase (to nearly 19,000) in recorded participants in various alumni
(college and constituency) programs, an increase in participation for Hokie Day at the General Assembly,
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and increased revenue from merchandising programs. Merritt asked if the increase in active chapters is
due solely to new chapters and Day replied some new chapters were formed and some clubs moved to
“chapter status.”
Tillar highlighted two new revenue programs including a debit card program with Stellar One,
and a new mortgage loan program with Quicken Loans, which offers $500 cash back to participants at
closing. The Quicken Loans program is a pilot program with royalty revenue guaranteed to the
Association rather than on commission. Overall, the insurance programs have been most successful in
terms of increasing royalty revenue. He reported that there has been one internment in the Columbarium
and a total of $52,500 has been received in the first few months of advertising. There are a total of 60
niches ($5,000 per niche) with space to add several more walls of niches. The partnership with the
University Bookstore nets $75,000 in income and includes promotion of diploma frames and graduation
announcements, advertising in the Virginia Tech Magazine, and co-sponsorship of two grad fairs and the
Homecoming Open House. Tillar reviewed the current staff organizational chart, highlighted the most
recent staff appointments including Dave Hunt, Communications Director, and Pam Goad, Alumni
Records Coordinator, and reported the Association is fully-staffed with the exception of a half-time
receptionist position to be filled in the next several weeks.
Tillar reported that the current year’s budget will end below the budget target partly due to less
benefits charges than originally anticipated by the university. He reviewed income projections for the
2011-12 fiscal year of $2.648 million, which carries forward the current year’s budget of $2.536 million,
with an additional $112,000 from state general funds to support expenses of the continued Family
Relations efforts (the former Office of Recovery and Support). The Association has approximately $1.2
million remaining in Chase credit card royalty reserves, and two additional endowment accounts valued
just under $5 million. He concluded with a review of the projected budget of $2.648 million for 2011-12,
a 4.4 percent increase. Roberts invited a motion for adoption of the 2011-12 budget; moved by
Davenport; variously seconded; motion carried.
Roberts called on Carole Pratt to report for the Alumni Constituencies Committee. Pratt
reviewed the winter, spring, and summer events schedule and reported on planned class reunions and
constituency homecomings for fall 2011. Class reunion participation continues to fluctuate, and reported
a significant increase in college and constituency homecoming participation this year. Pratt reviewed
college and other constituency events and activities held throughout the spring, highlighted the new
Drillfield Series program, and recognized the constituency staff for their efforts. She mentioned the
upcoming retirement of General Jerry Allen as Commandant of the corps of cadets and announced that
Major General Randy Fulhart was recently announced as the new Commandant. Pratt recommended the
Board present a resolution of appreciation to recognize General Allen for his service to the university.
Roberts called for a motion for approval of an appropriate resolution of appreciation for General Allen;
moved by Moga; variously seconded; motion carried.
Roberts called on Kendley Davenport to report for the Alumni Chapters Committee. Davenport
said the committee met by teleconference with the staff’s chapter team several times throughout the year
and he thanked the committee and staff for a successful year. He highlighted the Hokie Nation Serves
initiative and the various chapter community service events scheduled in the spring and beyond. A winter
chapter officers training was offered through a webinar where officers joined via conference call and
Adobe Connect. Spring teleconference topics for chapter officers included: speaker events, golf
tournaments, chapter scholarships, community service projects, networking events, and career resources.
A new officers training webinar is scheduled in July and the fall Chapter Officers Forum is scheduled the
September 1-3 weekend with a focus on student engagement. Davenport reviewed newly formed
chapters: Crystal Coast, NC; Greenville, NC; and The Villages, FL. There are still areas with a high
concentration of Hokies where chapter leadership is needed and the committee and staff will address
seeking volunteer leaders for inactive chapters over the coming year.
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Davenport provided an update on the Chapters Committee goals for the year: establishing new
programs to promote student engagement, improved communications with chapters, and national board
member involvement with chapters, and highlighted chapter visits made by Board members during the
year. Two programs to engage students with alumni are the recently introduced “Hokies Hosting Hokies”
dinner program and the Adopt-a-Co-op program. Another area of focus is to “adopt” on-campus student
groups – students in the HTM program who visited Chicago and New York City were hosted at
receptions, providing valuable networking opportunities with alumni.
Roberts called on Ryan Beach to report for the Alumni Services and Communications
Committee. Beach reviewed revenue projections and highlighted the revenue from the alumni tour
program which doubled from last year. The increased interest in alumni tours is mostly driven by a new
travel company relationship with a “free airfare” promotion. She reviewed current programs and services
including the Stellar One and Quicken Loans programs. The Stellar One program will bring in
approximately $45,000 over the next three years and Quicken Loans $15,000 for the first year of the
program. She shared highlights of the 2011 alumni travel program and said the numbers for the Essential
Europe program for recent graduates are quite low for this summer, most likely impacted by the economy.
Beach shared statistics for the communications area including mailings (printed and emails), and
web updates and visits. Major projects for the communications area include a new email system, Content
Management System (CMS) website migration, and branding. The Association is partnering with
University Relations to identify a new email system which will increase efficiency, improve email
delivery, manage bounce-backs, and allow greater flexibility to target specific audiences. In addition, the
new system helps gauge how effective email communications are, and will help to better consolidate
messages from chapters and colleges on a less frequent basis. The CMS migration will take place over
the next several months and will result in a more user-friendly website, with easier navigation. Branding
efforts have been under review and the Association’s logos and visual identity were updated recently,
with plans to finalize the style guide, marketing plan, and other branding materials in summer.
In terms of social media, the Hokie Nation Network (HNN) has 13,579 members and 283 group
pages, the Facebook group has 9,314 members, and there are approximately 995 followers on Twitter.
Beach provided an Alumni Career Resources program update and highlighted several initiatives
including: the Tuesday Evening Career Chats (TECC); career networking events; participation in on and
off-campus job fairs; collaboration with Career Services; and promotion of HNN to alumni and recruiters.
The TECC program is a webinar series to assist alumni who are in the process of looking for a job or
changing careers. Guest speakers provide a 20-30 minute informational message regarding a careerrelated topic and open the session for questions. Beach highlighted the National Capital Region’s 20th
annual Job Fair in March where the chapter raised $51,000 in support of chapter scholarships. She
encouraged Board members to help by promoting HNN, hosting a career-related event, or participating in
the TECC program as a guest speaker.
Roberts recessed the meeting at 3:35 p.m. for a break and reconvened at 4:15 p.m. and called on
Easton Loving to report for the Student Programs Committee. Loving thanked the staff for arranging
the reception with student leaders earlier in the day and emphasized the continued importance of engaging
with students whenever possible. He reviewed Student Alumni Associates (SAA) spring activities,
including new membership recruitment and orientation (48 new members), Grad Fair, Spirit Rally at
English Field, support for Day of Remembrance activities, spring retreat, spring banquet, and a wine and
cheese reception for graduating senior leaders. The Class System spring activities included the Class of
’14 officer elections, Class of ’13 ring design process, the Class of ’12 Ring Dance, and the Class of ’11
Grad Bash. Loving congratulated David Lowe as the Class of ’13 ring collection namesake and Rock and
Patty Roszak as the class sponsors. A suggestion from the earlier committee meeting is to conduct exit
interviews with graduating SAA members and class officers to gauge their satisfaction and solicit their
input on ways to engage with alumni.
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Roberts called on Mark Lawrence to report for the Legislative Advocacy Committee. Lawrence
said there were some high points during the General Assembly session for Virginia Tech and higher
education, but much emphasis will be placed on the 2012 session, and the budget in particular. He then
introduced Elizabeth Hooper, State Legislative Liaison. Hooper reported on budget and policy issues
during the 2011 session. In the 2010 session, Virginia Cooperative Extension (VCE) was directed to
create a restructuring plan which was ultimately rejected in the 2011 session. The Secretary of Education
is conducting a study on VCE’s organizational structure, seeking input from stakeholders, local
government, etc. The Governor introduced a budget amendment that would have required a 5 percent
employee contribution to their retirement (VRS) matched with only a 3 percent salary increase. The
General Assembly adjusted the amendment requiring the 5 percent employee contribution with an
offsetting 5 percent salary increase. Hooper said there was budget language requiring tuition increase
approval by the Governor which was defeated. This would have been a serious matter for the university
as tuition is set by the Board of Visitors and their authority would have been compromised.
Policy issues during the session included legislation to limit the number or percentage of out-ofstate students. Virginia Tech, along with William & Mary, James Madison, and the University of
Virginia, countered with a proposal to increase their in-state enrollment by 50 students which was
accepted. The university received $500,000 in state funding for these additional students. Additional
legislation introduced included prohibiting institutions from enforcing any regulation or policy regarding
firearms, and a bill to prevent the transfer of non-general funds (tuition and fees) to the state treasury.
Both of these bills were defeated. Hooper highlighted increased funding for Virginia Tech including:
almost $1.3 million for base budget adequacy (1.6 percentage increase), almost $1.5 million for VCE,
almost $750,000 for undergraduate financial aid, and money in support of the Cisco Systems PublicPrivate Partnership, which will help to advance the university’s distance learning initiatives. There is still
a $10 million possible reduction for higher education in the 2010-2012 budget which will be addressed in
a bill to be introduced in November. Tillar mentioned that the university’s collective budget including
auxiliaries is more than $1.2 billion, but only $120 million flows to the university in general funds per
year from the state. The university is currently underfunded about $71 million for base budget adequacy
and the goal is 100 percent; the university receives more money from out-of-state students in tuition and
fees than from state general fund dollars.
Hooper commented on Top Jobs of the 21st Century (TJ21), the major piece of legislation to
come out of the 2011 session, which has six major components: the creation of the Higher Education
Advisory Committee (HEAC), a new higher education funding model, changes to the six-year planning
process, tuition and fee development, institutional performance assessments, and restructuring
opportunities. The largest task for HEAC will be to provide a detailed plan to incorporate a funding
model that provides financial incentives, per student funding for enrolled Virginia students, and increased
financial aid.
The new redistricting structure is effective July 1, with primary elections scheduled in late
August. All seats are up for re-election in the November 2011 general election. The university’s chief
focus in the next session will be the 2012-2014 budget. Hooper concluded with a review of Hokie Day at
the General Assembly and thanked Betty Lee for her efforts contributing to the success of the program.
Approximately 70 students attended, and legislators and lobbyists commented on how well-prepared and
knowledgeable the students were. Smith asked why some institutions are getting 100 percent for base
budget adequacy compared to the university’s 87 percent. Hooper responded it depends on a number of
things – funding for initiatives, enrollment, and faculty.
Lawrence said as the federal stimulus dollars go away, the competition for funding will increase
with declining revenue sources. He commented on the committee’s work over the past couple of years in
raising the awareness of the importance of advocacy within our community and the Hokie Nation. Hokie
Day participation has increased dramatically over the past five years and should continue to be a priority
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going forward. Lawrence concluded by thanking the Board for their contributions over the past several
years. Tillar acknowledged the key role Lawrence played with the partnership between Virginia Tech and
Carilion, and thanked him for his efforts in forming that unique partnership.
Roberts called on Nick Moga to report for the Awards and Nominations Committee. Moga
reviewed the Alumni Distinguished Service Awards to be presented in May to Sidney C. Smith Jr. ’63
and John C. Watkins ’69. The Graduate Alumni Achievement Award will be presented at the Graduate
School Commencement to Kirk H. Schulz ’86, ’91. Four graduate student awards were presented during
Graduate Student Appreciation Week in late March, and eight seniors were chosen by their respective
colleges to receive the outstanding senior recognitions on April 2. Moga also reviewed the Association’s
faculty excellence awards which will be presented in August.
Moga presented the results of balloting for new Board members for 2011-2014. Newly elected
members were: Morgan E. Blackwood, Marvin J. Boyd, Karen E. Torgersen, Jim L. Wade, and Erich A.
Windmuller. Re-elected incumbents were: William A. Aden, Todd F. Hearp, Pamela A. McConnell,
Kylene Barker McNeill, Gregory D. Merritt, and Glenn P. Reynolds. These names were published on a
ballot in the university magazine and elected by the active members of the Association. Roberts called
for a motion to accept the results of the election; moved by Lemmond; variously seconded; motion
carried.
Moga presented nominations for Alumni Association officers for 2011-2012: Lance Smith –
president, Matt Winston – vice president, and Tom Tillar to continue as secretary-treasurer. Ryan Beach,
Greg Merritt, and Nick Moga were nominated to serve as members-at-large on the Executive Committee.
Roberts called for a motion to accept the slate of officers; moved by Loving; variously seconded; motion
carried.
Roberts reviewed the evening’s schedule and plans for Saturday, and recessed the meeting at 5:02
p.m.
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Saturday, April 30
Roberts reconvened the meeting at 9:01 a.m. and introduced Charles Steger, University
President. Steger expressed his appreciation to the Board for their leadership and support. He mentioned
the Corps change of command ceremony scheduled later that morning, the final ceremony for General
Allen; the Corps is the largest it has been in decades. Steger highlighted the recent announcement of $45
million in gifts to the College of Engineering, which will benefit future plans for the college. The ribbon
cutting for the new Virginia Tech Research Center in Arlington, which will house a number of research
centers and institutes, is scheduled for June 24. This facility will help to further the university’s mission
to expand its research portfolio in the National Capital Region. Two of the seven floors are available for
commercial lease; a major defense contractor is housing a significant part of their cyber security
operations there, and there will be a secure communications facility to accommodate the VT Advance
Research Corporation. In addition, the university has created a series of subsidiary corporations to
diversify its capacity to interact with government and business.
Steger commented on the $75 million reduction to the operating budget and said the university’s
overall budget is almost $1.3 billion, with merely $120 million in funding provided by the state. Tuition
will increase approximately 9.6 percent next year, placing us ninth in the Commonwealth for tuition and
at the bottom in terms of the total fee package. Financial aid will increase to help offset the additional
financial burdens to students and their families. Steger said the university faces several challenges as a
result of budget reductions: a total of 230 positions were eliminated, including 70 faculty members; many
class sizes are too large, and vast improvements are needed in terms of undergraduate academic advising.
Lawrence asked Steger for an update on the VT Carilion School of Medicine and Research
Institute. Steger said the medical school has its first class finishing up their first year and another 42
students will matriculate in the fall. They are outstanding young students and we are impressed with what
they are doing; they begin their work with faculty in the research institute this coming year. Mike
Friedlander, the Executive Director of the research institute, has done an incredible job of assembling a
team of world-class researchers, and $35 million in research dollars. Berry asked about Top Jobs 21
(TJ21). The Governor created the Commission to focus on the relationship between a robust system of
higher education and a robust economy. There is particular emphasis on growing Science, Technology,
Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) and related health science programs. Virginia Tech produces the
largest number of STEM graduates of any institution in Virginia and the fifth largest number of engineers
of any institution across the country, and to remain competitive, innovation in these areas will be crucial.
The Governor is committed to this initiative and also to the restructuring efforts.
Leclaire asked how tuition increases have affected out-of-state applicants and what we are doing
to get the best applicants from outside Virginia. Steger replied that out-of-state tuition and total expenses
now approaches $35,000, and when there are dramatic increases in tuition there is a drop in applicants
from out-of-state. Out-of-state students pay 138 percent of the cost of education, and we get slightly
more money from out-of-state students than the total funding we receive from the Commonwealth. In
terms of competing for the best students, we give a series of Presidential scholarships, usually $5,000 in
the first year, which are not necessarily need-based. The current ratio is 70 percent in-state to 30 percent
out-of-state students and we try to maintain that number. Moga asked if the recession has affected the
timing of achieving top 30 research status. Steger replied the university was ranked as low as 42 and is
now ranked 44th. The budget cuts hurt, costing us $50 million in research funding, but we continue to
make good progress. This year the university has over $400 million in sponsored research, compared to
$270 million for UVA and about $270 million for VCU. He suggested that to be a major national player,
the program needs to grow to about $600 million a year. In three to four years, the research institute
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should be generating $50 million annually, with another $50 million through the new research center in
Arlington.
Smith asked about the fine levied by the U.S. Department of Education and for a status report on
the lawsuits. Steger responded that the Attorney General filed an appeal last week arguing there was no
due process in their deliberations. We were never given the opportunity to meet with them; they did not
provide an opportunity to review source materials; nor have they provided us with the facts upon which
they based their conclusions. In terms of the litigation, the plaintiff’s counsel admitted to the judge that
he has no evidence or witnesses to support his case. Depositions are set for early summer, with the trial
set for the end of September.
Tillar asked Steger to provide a strategic plan update. Steger remarked that unlike other
institutions, Virginia Tech carefully develops and follows its strategic plan and an update for the 20122018 cycle is in the beginning stages. He asked Paul Knox, former Dean of Architecture and Urban
Studies, to lead a university-wide effort to develop the next long-range plan. Knox and his working group
will look at some basic questions about the future of the university, most importantly, should Virginia
Tech grow? Demand would allow us to grow, but this would certainly put a strain on resources, and
compromise our commitment to maintaining a quality education. Another area has to do with the use of
electronic educational devices and how to integrate them into the curriculum. The plan is to craft four or
five fundamental questions through a series of working papers, with options and suggestions to be
presented to the Board of Visitors (BOV) at their strategic planning retreat later this summer. Pratt asked
about the next phase of the Corporate Research Center (CRC). Steger remarked that the CRC is now at
capacity with 130 companies and over 2,000 employees. Plans are underway to build another 90 acres of
the CRC; combined with that, the runway is being repaired at the airport to extend it to 5,800 feet to
accommodate corporate jets. This phase will take a couple of years and some buildings will need to be
relocated. Another project underway is the new interchange on 460 which will relocate the entry to
campus from Southgate Drive. Latham asked about relocating the dairy facilities. Steger responded that
most of the dairy facilities will be relocated to Kentland Farms with a plan to build about $20 million in
new facilities.
Roberts introduced Ed Spencer, Vice President for Student Affairs. Spencer shared the mission
of the Division of Student Affairs: to promote learning, life skills, and personal growth, with a holistic
emphasis in developing the total student. Over the past year the Division developed five aspirations for
student learning: commit to unwavering curiosity; pursue self-understanding and integrity; practice
civility; prepare students for a life of courageous leadership; and to embrace Ut Prosim as a way of life.
Spencer mentioned that the recent Relay for Life event raised $630,000, the number one collegiate relay
in the nation, which is a testament to the sense of community and Ut Prosim here at the university.
Spencer said the Division also has developed guiding principles for service through learning, respect, and
innovation.
The Division of Student Affairs encompasses 16 departments, and is one of the largest employers
of Virginia Tech with over 3,000 faculty, staff, wage, student employees, and graduate assistants. The
2010-11 operating budget totaled approximately $103 million; most of the funding is auxiliary money
accounting for 48 percent of the university’s total Auxiliary funds. The Division is responsible for an
extensive physical plant, with approximately 60 buildings across the campus, including 11 dining
facilities and 46 residence halls. Administratively, the Division is organized into three subdivisions – one
Associate Vice President oversees career services, housing and residence life, dining services, and student
conduct; one Assistant Vice President oversees the health and wellness areas, including student health,
counseling, recreational sports, services for students with disabilities, and alcohol abuse prevention;
another Assistant Vice President is responsible for oversight of university unions and student activities,
Cranwell International Center, and multicultural programs and services.
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Spencer highlighted some issues for Student Affairs in terms of student expectations including:
services, campus climate, technology, aging and inadequate facilities, increased mental health needs,
violence, alcohol and drug abuse, conflict resolution and civility, and unethical behavior. Among the
Division’s strategic goals are: enhancing facilities, strengthening the partnership with academic affairs,
enriching programs and services to attract top-tier students, developing best practice living and learning
communities, strengthening and developing student leadership initiatives, improving campus climate,
creating an inclusive and welcoming environment, developing initiatives that more effectively address
student alcohol abuse, strengthening partnerships to support the Division’s $3 million campaign, and
preparing ethical leaders for a global society.
Spencer shared the first residential college will open this fall in East AJ for 320 University
Honors students. Two faculty masters will reside in the college, creating an environment where students
can actively participate in their education by engaging with peers and faculty members within the
residence hall. West AJ will open in fall of 2012 as a residential college for approximately 800 nonhonors students. He mentioned the very successful Leadership Tech program, an educational program of
curricular, co-curricular, and service experiences designed for student leadership development; two
alumni of the program recently endowed a fund to enhance future educational and training programs.
Spencer cited recent accomplishments for the Division of Student Affairs: addition to McComas
Fitness Center; highest enrollment in the Corps since 1969; groundbreaking for a new dining/academic
building to replace Shultz Dining Hall; the successful $3 million Student Affairs goal in the Campaign for
Virginia Tech; planning for construction of Phase IV of Greek housing; collaboration with academic units
to implement Quality Enhancement Plan projects; accreditation of Schiffert Health Center and Cook
Counseling Center; and yet another top ranking for Dining Programs. Long-term initiatives include
implementing plans to improve and upgrade facilities. Over the next 15-20 year period close to $400
million in renovations and improvements are planned, including replacing Brodie and Rasche with larger
buildings to accommodate a Corps of over 1,000. At the same time, Lane Hall will be renovated and
bring together administrative offices for the Commandant’s staff, ROTC units, and the Rice Center for
Leadership Studies. Rather than renovating Squires Student Center, a new student center will be built and
sites are currently being evaluated.
DaDamio asked if the planned Greek housing would include larger homes or an expansion of
the current facilities at Oak Lane. Spencer said the concept for new houses is to introduce a “house
mother” for each. Phase IV has 17 lots and the long-range plan includes a recreation and community
building with meeting rooms, and possibly a small dining facility. Smith asked what issues the university
faces in terms of civility. Spencer replied that anger issues and inappropriate emails and text messages
are most common. Smith asked if the outbursts are race or gender based and Spencer replied they are
generally more random incidents. Latham asked what is being done to alleviate situations where students
should be encouraged to seek counseling. Spencer said it begins with the admissions process with
questions on the application addressing background, i.e., arrests, convictions, or protective orders. The
counseling center staff has almost doubled in size, with one full-time and one part-time psychiatrist, and
the possible addition of a second full-time psychiatrist. Intensive training is conducted with staff and,
particularly with RA’s in the residence halls, to screen for certain behaviors and to make referrals for
review. When a student is involuntarily hospitalized, a member of the counseling staff goes to the
hearing, monitors the evaluation, and what the follow-up treatment actions are. Regarding arrests,
Spencer said a referral goes to the threat assessment team, with an evaluation process conducted by the
team and the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. Tillar asked how the Division defines
multiculturalism and multicultural affairs. Spencer said multiculturalism encompasses areas including
ethnicity, sexual orientation, students with disabilities – any way in which people might have differences.
Wedin acknowledged Spencer for his service as the Class of 2012 sponsor and Lowe mentioned that
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Spencer was being recognized with the Significant Sig Award by Sigma Chi fraternity for his professional
career.
Roberts introduced Mildred Johnson, Director of Undergraduate Admissions. Johnson reported
over 21,000 freshman applications were received for fall 2011, a 5 percent increase over last year.
Approximately 13,500 offers were made for a freshman class of 5,187 (3,550 in-state and 1,637 out-ofstate); 2,400 students were wait-listed and 1,478 indicated they wished to remain on the wait-list. Per an
agreement made during the General Assembly session, an additional 50 in-state students were accepted.
Given the current economic conditions, up to 150-200 students could withdraw over the summer.
Johnson shared some statistics for the incoming class: a 12 percent increase in freshman cadet
applications and a 9 percent increase in cadet offers; 24 percent increase in international freshman
applications with a 22 percent increase in offers; 10 percent increase in African American applicants and
a 22 percent increase in offers; a 12 percent increase in Hispanic applications and an 11 percent increase
in offers; and a 6 percent increase in Native American applications with a 5 percent increase in offers.
Accepts of African American students are up 31 percent and Hispanic accepts are up 6 percent. A total of
3,023 transfer applications were received (down slightly from 2010), and approximately 1,000 transfer
students will be offered admission, half of whom are from the community college system. Applications
were received from students in over 3,500 high schools, 49 states, 3 territories and 84 countries, and over
3,600 applications were from legacies.
Johnson reported on the success of the efforts of alumni and underrepresented minority students
going back to their communities as ambassadors for Virginia Tech, resulting in an increase in the number
of legacy applications for underrepresented students. She said federal reporting of ethnicity changed
several years ago in terms of students who self-identify as two or more races. The Admissions Office is
able to categorize those students after the class is set.
She added that the middle 50 percent of offered freshmen had SAT’s between 1160 and 1340,
and GPA’s from 3.81 to 4.24, up from the 2010 entering class. There are many factors to consider when
reviewing applications beyond grades and test scores, but all students are evaluated within the context of
their high school. Other areas for consideration may include ethnicity, legacy, special talents, and
community service among others. Personal statements and recommendations are not required for the
application process. Approximately 21 percent of students are offered early decision, with some
additional offers made in February to students applying to University Honors, the Corps, and some
pipeline initiatives.
The Office of Undergraduate Admissions will relocate to a new building, the Visitors and
Undergraduate Admissions Center, adjacent to The Inn at Virginia Tech in late June. This new facility
will be far more convenient for visiting prospective students and their families. She expressed her
appreciation to the Association for partnering in student recruitment efforts – alumni chapter volunteers
are particularly helpful with college fairs, and Laurie Brogdon has worked with alumni volunteers to
recruit underrepresented students. She highlighted the successful partnership with the annual “A Day in
the Life of College Admissions” program each summer, now in its fifth year.
Leclaire said many of the top tier institutions require essays and asked if Admissions might
consider them in the future. Johnson said they adopted the optional personal statement several years ago
and almost 90 percent of applicants do submit one, and they are currently assessing whether or not to
require these in the future. Morgan asked about efforts to reach out to underrepresented students.
Johnson responded that they collaborated with Laurie Brogdon in training alumni volunteers in the spring.
They called all underrepresented students who had been offered admission in February and an additional
group of underrepresented applicants were called in April. Lawrence asked how many students and their
families visited over the past several weeks and Johnson responded approximately 8,000-10,000 visited
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during their spring breaks. More programs targeted underrepresented students, including visits to high
schools with a majority of underrepresented students across the state, and partnered with the Office of
Academic Enrichment and Excellence to send postcards to potential applicants. Fahl asked how many
students receive financial aid and Johnson responded that over 75 percent receive some form of aid; most
students who do not accept our offer generally are provided more aid by other schools. Tillar thanked
Johnson for her personal assistance throughout the year in tracking particular applications, and for
explaining rationale for admission decisions.
Fowlkes asked about the number of African American accepts. Johnson replied that of the 1,229
African American applicants, 581 were offered admission (compared to under 500 last year) and 104 have
accepted (compared to 60 a year ago). Leclaire asked why Asian American applicants were not
addressed and Johnson said they are not considered an underrepresented group at Virginia Tech. He
asked about the increased numbers of international applications and Johnson responded that most
institutions are seeing higher numbers, with the majority of applicants from China and India. Smith asked
if the university has any program targeting wounded warriors and Johnson said that they are signing a
memorandum of understanding to accept five each year and that they have always worked closely with
identified veterans.
Roberts recessed the meeting for a short break at 10:45 a.m. and reconvened at 11:02 a.m. He
remarked that, after the discussions at the fall board meeting, a Diversity Task Force was created to help
identify a series of goals and objectives in the areas of diversity and inclusion. Smith served as chair of
the task force; other members included Matt Winston, Greg Merritt, and Emily Haynes (a Multicultural
Alumni Advisory Board member). Smith briefly reviewed the outline of the task force discussions which
included goals and desired outcomes, pre-admission actions, on-campus activities, and alumni
involvement. He commented that both Ed Spencer and Mildred Johnson suggested areas where the
Alumni Association might play a role in attracting underrepresented students to Virginia Tech, as well as
creating a positive environment for current students – academically, socially, and culturally.
The task force defined underrepresented groups as including, but not limited to, race, sex, age,
religion, experience, economic status, etc. The definition could also include a possible Lesbian, Gay,
Bisexual, Transgendered (LGBT) constituency. The main goal is to prepare students for their postacademic life. The Association will work closely with the administration to help the university meet its
strategic goals in terms of diversity and inclusion. Smith said appropriate training tools and materials
should be created for volunteers recruiting underrepresented students. In terms of on-campus activities,
the task force recognizes the importance of engaging current students with alumni. Some suggestions
include: mentoring programs; “adopting” a current student organization; inviting successful alumni back
to campus to speak; creating and supporting events that are uplifting; and encouraging underrepresented
students to reach out to high school students in their local communities.
Smith said it is important to identify and recruit alumni who are interested in increasing the
presence of underrepresented groups on campus, and chapters could be more aggressive in actively
soliciting participation and offering more inclusive chapter programming. He added that chapters might
engage with guidance counselors and/or develop programs and relationships with local schools to
increase interest in Virginia Tech. Another suggestion was to include more underrepresented freshmen in
chapter scholarship selections.
Some general conclusions from the task force were: a more multicultural, diverse and inclusive
student body is an attainable goal and the Alumni Association can assist with this; alumni chapters are
willing to assist with diversity and inclusion efforts; and the talents of alumni volunteers should be more
broadly utilized.
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Fowlkes suggested the Association consider surveying alumni from underrepresented populations
to find out what they may need and want from the university. In addition, he suggested surveying current
students on their campus experience – if students are engaged and feeling a part of the Hokie experience
and accepted by the community, there is probably a higher probability they will become engaged as
alumni. O’Connell suggested it is important to expand awareness and understanding among majority
students as well, with more of a global component in teaching students to be citizens of the world and
promoting that awareness among the entire student body.
Reynolds asked if physically and mentally challenged students fall under the definition of
underrepresented groups. The university does some things to try to accommodate such challenged
students, but it remains difficult and a few decide to go elsewhere. The university has been very
successful, however, in accommodating hearing and visually impaired students. Torgersen said she has
served for several years on the Center for Enhancement of Engineering Diversity (CEED) Board. Bev
Watford, CEED Director and Associate Dean of the College of Engineering, has worked hard to increase
the diversity of the college. Successful women and minority high school students are brought to campus
in the spring of their sophomore year for an open house and tailgates before the spring game. These
students are invited to campus each semester until the spring of their senior year. Each student is offered
a small scholarship ($500) if they accept an offer of admission from Virginia Tech. Once they arrive on
campus, they are kept engaged in a variety of ways such as residing in the engineering communities in the
residence halls, and through mentoring programs. Many of these students then go on to serve on the
CEED Board after graduation. This program has been very successful in creating a sense of community
for students and keeping them engaged as alumni. Torgersen encouraged all board members to assist
with efforts in their local communities, with alumni chapters, or their colleges.
Winston remarked on the importance of engaging legacies and suggested that the number of
legacies from underrepresented groups is likely small and some minority alumni may not serve as
advocates for Virginia Tech. Winston suggested thinking about ways to impact and enhance the students’
experiences in hopes they will be willing to stay engaged and become strong recruiters. A survey of
alumni could be valuable to determine what their expectations are and how we are meeting them. The
Board should think very deliberately about how to provide support and encourage greater participation,
and how to build a community that enhances the experiences for both students and alumni. Lawrence
suggested the use of student focus groups may be beneficial in gauging what students want and/or feel
they are missing. Moga suggested we should concentrate on the areas we can impact and perhaps more
emphasis should be placed on recruiting a more diverse SAA. Alumni chapters could form better
relationships with guidance counselors to determine why some students are not choosing Virginia Tech,
and chapters may consider more need-based scholarships.
Smith said the board may not be able to impact the numbers significantly, and it is important to
determine how the Association can assist the university in their efforts. This could help to change the
perspective on what we want to be as a more diverse university and also reach some underrepresented
alumni who are not currently involved with chapters and/or the university.
Blackwood asked about an LBGT constituency group. Smith responded it was more an issue of
identification and communication. No particular organized group has formed among the alumni.
Davenport said it is important to create an environment that makes people feel included and accepted. He
added that the idea of surveys and focus groups is vital to understanding what all underrepresented groups
think about their experience, and how we can impact their experiences in the future. Day said that one of
Laurie Brogdon’s goals is to create a survey for underrepresented groups and she will work with the
Multicultural Alumni Advisory Board, our Board and the Office of Institutional Research to create the
survey. Brogdon said she has begun some research, interviewing a number of Black alumni from the 80s,
90s, and 00s decades.
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Latham said it will be important to include the physically challenged constituency to help
increase the numbers and to identify ways in which the university can provide an environment in which
they can be successful. Winston reiterated that we need to be thinking of ways we can serve alumni, not
students. Smith said the task force will work through some of the issues and report back with suggestions
on the role of the Alumni Association. Frazier asked if the surveys would be sent to all alumni or just the
target group and Brogdon said the intent was to survey by underrepresented group. Frazier suggested an
all alumni survey be developed where alumni might fit in other categories than ethnicity, such as
economic status, etc. Roberts suggested that examples of the surveys be available in the fall for further
discussion.
Tillar remarked that one fact he hears often from colleagues at other institutions that has
emerged in the last ten years is that alumni who have had a good experience in their colleges and
universities don’t self-identify as being minorities or underserved. Many will not respond to a survey
because they no longer find being from a diverse group relevant. That is a positive trend and many of
those alumni are interested in helping their institution. O’Connell asked about surveying graduating
seniors on their undergraduate experience. Day said graduating seniors are sent an exit survey by the
university, and if those kinds of questions are not included, perhaps they could be in the future. Smith
concluded by thanking the Board for their participation in the discussion. The task force will meet to
continue discussions and report further. Roberts thanked the Board for their participation in these
important discussions both last fall and this spring.
There being no new business items, Roberts recognized and thanked several members ending
second terms on the board in June: Jeanne DaDamio, Doug Fahl, Mark Lawrence, and Kevin Leclaire.
Roberts thanked Tillar and the staff for their hard work, challenged the Board to continue to include
young alumni on the Board in the future, and formally passed the president’s gavel to Lance Smith.
Smith expressed his sincere appreciation to Roberts for his leadership and presented him with a gift from
the Alumni Association. Tillar also acknowledged the dimension of leadership both Roberts and Leclaire
brought to the Board and thanked all Board members for their support to the Association and its staff.
With no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 12:09 p.m. The next meeting will be held
November 17-19, 2011 (UNC Thursday night game weekend).
Respectfully submitted,
Thomas C. Tillar, Jr.
Secretary
_______________________________________
Attest: Curry A. Roberts, President
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