A $50 million donation from the aerospace company Boeing will help jump-start Virginia Tech’s planned innovation campus in Alexandria, Va.
The university announced that Boeing is the the first foundational partner of the planned Virginia Tech Innovation Campus. The university says it wants to make the innovation campus the most diverse graduate technology campus in the United States.
Boeing’s commitment will provide student scholarships, foster the recruitment of world-class faculty and researchers, and pay for STEM pathway programs for underserved K-12 students looking to pursue a college degree and high-tech careers.
“This is a milestone moment in our university’s history, and it will propel our work to help establish the greater Washington, D.C., area as the world’s next major tech hub," Virginia Tech President Tim Sands said.
The Virginia Tech Innovation Campus will anchor a 65-acre innovation district in Alexandria.
Along with supporting the creation of a new physical campus in Alexandria, Boeing’s investment will go toward scholarships, fellowships, and a variety of academic programs.
Boeing’s support will enable new programs and initiatives to be launched through the center, including:
- A data-driven approach to inclusion- and diversity-focused student recruitment that can serve as best practice for higher education.
- A student success center, providing wraparound academic support.
- A new technology leadership program to equip students with the knowledge and skills needed to reshape the culture of the technology center.
- A unique, project-based curriculum that embeds students with industry mentors.
- Collaborative research projects focused on strategic learning domains.
- Programs that provide opportunities for non-traditional undergraduates, including veterans, to eventually enroll and succeed at the Innovation Campus.
YouTube Video: Watch Virginia Tech's announcement:
