New Student Welcome Message

We prepare our students to be future leaders in architecture, art, design, music, storytelling, entertainment, education, and business. Our faculty collaborate across a wide range of disciplines—within the college, across the university, and with external partners—conducting world-class research and producing extraordinary creative scholarship. This community of scholars comes together from many different countries and states to learn, work, create, and practice together in our studios, labs, and classrooms in Blacksburg, Alexandria, Boston, Chicago, and Riva San Vitale, Switzerland.

Once students graduate and join the ranks of Hokie alumni, they remain connected with the college, making meaningful and lasting contributions to their professions and their communities—and continuing to share their knowledge and experience with current students. Our alumni also join the many friends of the college who continue to step forward to help make transformational educational opportunities possible for all students.

Just as our alumni remain engaged and supportive, our faculty and staff members are deeply committed to our learning environment and future success of our students. We boast one of the lowest student-to-faculty ratios among similar schools in public research universities. Our academic programs are well-respected and highly-ranked around the world. Being a part of Virginia Tech means our students also receive all the advantages of a large university and have the opportunity to learn and work with students in more than 150 different majors.

I encourage you to visit and bookmark AAD News for inspiring success stories and videos about our students and faculty. As a friend or family member of a current or future Hokie, we consider you a part of our community, too, and look forward to sharing our ongoing evolution and achievements.

Lu Liu
Dean of the College of Architecture, Arts, and Design