Statement Archive

2025

A message from President Tim Sands on the last day of classes for the spring semester, May 7, 2025
A joint message from President Tim Sands and Senior Vice President Dan Sui, April 15, 2025
A message from President Tim Sands, April 10, 2025
A message from President Tim Sands, March 31, 2025
President Tim Sands notes 20th anniversary of Principles of Community, March 14, 2025
A message from President Tim Sands, February 10, 2025
A message from President Tim Sands regarding recent federal actions, January 31, 2025
A message from President Tim Sands at the start of the spring 2025 semester, January 21, 2025

2024

A message from President Tim Sands at the end of the 2024 fall semester, December 10, 2024
A welcome message from President Tim Sands, August 26, 2024
A message from President Tim Sands, April 29, 2024
From President Tim Sands: Welcome back, Hokies, January 16, 2024
A message from President Tim Sands and Vice President Menah Pratt on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, January 15, 2024

2023

A message from President Tim Sands on the last day of classes for the fall semester, December 6, 2023
A message from President Tim Sands before the start of Thanksgiving break, November 16, 2023
A statement from President Tim Sands, October 11, 2023
A statement from President Tim Sands on staff participation in governance, August 28, 2023
A welcome message from President Tim Sands, August 21, 2023
From President Tim Sands: Employee Appreciation and Hokie Wellness Fair on May 17, May 15, 2023
A message from President Tim Sands at the close of the spring semester, May 2, 2023
The impact and importance of our Principles of Community, March 9, 2023
A welcome message from President Tim Sands, January 16, 2023
A message from President Tim Sands and Vice President Menah Pratt on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, January 16, 2023
Remarks from President Tim Sands to the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) on behalf of the Virginia Council of Presidents, January 10, 2023

2022

From President Tim Sands: A year of wonderful experiences and milestones, December 12, 2022
A joint statement from Virginia Tech Board of Visitors Rector Letitia “Tish” Long '82 and President Tim Sands, November 14, 2022
From President Tim Sands: Take part in InclusiveVT Welcome events this week, September 12, 2022
A welcome message from President Tim Sands, August 22, 2022
From President Tim Sands: Employee Appreciation Day and Hokie Wellness Health and Benefits Fair on May 18, May 16, 2022
From President Tim Sands: Finishing the year the Hokie way, May 5, 2022
From President Tim Sands: Take part in these events for Principles of Community Week, March 11, 2022
From President Tim Sands: Masks still required for Blacksburg, Roanoke campuses, March 4, 2022
From President Tim Sands: Mask requirements may be lifted in the coming weeks, February 14, 2022
A message from President Tim Sands, February 4, 2022
From President Tim Sands: Changes in vaccine mandate, plans for successful semester, January 31, 2022
From President Tim Sands: New requirements align with executive action, January 18, 2022
From President Tim Sands: Welcome to a new semester and new year at Virginia Tech, January 17, 2022
From President Tim Sands: Many chances this week to honor legacy of Martin Luther King Jr., January 17, 2022
From President Tim Sands: Expectations for the coming semester, January 11, 2022

2021

From President Tim Sands: Booster shots, tests, and masks required for spring semester start, December 28, 2021
From President Tim Sands: Sincere thanks and good wishes for the holiday season, December 14, 2021
A message from President Tim Sands, October 29, 2021
A message from President Tim Sands and Vice President Menah Pratt-Clarke on Indigenous Peoples Day, October 11, 2021
From President Tim Sands: Our commitment to confront and address sexual violence in our community, September 23, 2021
President Tim Sands updates Blacksburg campus on COVID-19 status, September 20, 2021
From President Tim Sands: Community remembers Sept. 11, 2001, September 10, 2021
From President Tim Sands: InclusiveVT week begins today, September 7, 2021
From President Tim Sands: Welcome to the start of an important year in Virginia Tech's history, August 23, 2021
A message from President Tim Sands and Vice President Menah Pratt-Clarke on Juneteenth observance, June 17, 2021
From President Tim Sands: COVID vaccinations required for students, strongly urged for faculty and staff, June 8, 2021
From President Tim Sands: Cooperation and Hokie spirit helped us finish the year strong, May 5, 2021
From President Tim Sands: Shared achievements come from supporting one another, April 28, 2021
A message from President Tim Sands, Vice President Menah Pratt-Clarke, and Vice President Frank Shushok Jr., April 21, 2021
A message to the Virginia Tech community, April 1, 2021
Special vaccination clinic announced for Virginia Tech employees, March 22, 2021
From President Tim Sands: Let's finish strong, March 15, 2021
From President Tim Sands: Stay engaged and support Principles of Community Week, March 8, 2021
A message from President Tim Sands and Vice President Menah Pratt-Clarke, March 4, 2021
From President Tim Sands: Increased testing and vigilance required, COVID variants presumed to be in region, February 16, 2021
From President Tim Sands: Take care of your mental health, February 11, 2021
From President Tim Sands: Vaccines offer promise, but we have to do more, February 2, 2021
From President Tim Sands: Maintain vigilance and commitment this spring, January 18, 2021
A message from President Tim Sands in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, January 15, 2021
President Tim Sands highlights resiliency and progress in midst of pandemic, January 13, 2021
From President Tim Sands: Model critical thinking and commit to serve your communities, January 7, 2021

2020

From President Tim Sands: Thank you for your outstanding work this year, December 15, 2020
Burruss lighting celebrates community, November 18, 2020
From President Tim Sands: The challenge ahead is to stay the course, November 16, 2020
For the election, Hokies should lead by example, November 2, 2020
Virginia Tech observes Indigenous Peoples Day on Oct. 12, October 12, 2020
Halfway through the semester, Virginia Tech rises to the challenge, October 7, 2020
A message from President Tim Sands: High-contact testing program, September 30, 2020
Coming weeks are critical for the rest of the year, September 22, 2020
A message from President Tim Sands: Implementing mandatory random prevalence testing, September 18, 2020
From President Tim Sands: Participate in InclusiveVT Week Sept. 7-11, September 7, 2020
From President Tim Sands: Virginia Tech continues to monitor new cases, September 1, 2020
From President Tim Sands: Let's continue to work together, August 26, 2020
President Tim Sands updates community on testing and reopening, August 18, 2020
A welcome back message from President Tim Sands, August 14, 2020
A message from Virginia Tech President Tim Sands, August 9, 2020
President Tim Sands issues statement on U.S. Supreme Court decision on Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, June 18, 2020
From President Tim Sands: University will close this Friday to observe Juneteenth, June 16, 2020
Statement by President Tim Sands on Lee Hall, June 8, 2020
President Tim Sands announces plans for 2020 fall semester, June 8, 2020
A statement from President Tim Sands and Vice President for Strategic Affairs and Diversity Menah Pratt-Clarke, May 31, 2020
Planning from the peak: A message from President Tim Sands, April 26, 2020
A message from President Tim Sands on the 2020 Day of Remembrance, April 15, 2020
From President Tim Sands: In the spirit of Ut Prosim, consider the Virginia Medical Reserve Corps, April 10, 2020
A message to students from President Tim Sands, April 8, 2020
A message to Virginia Tech alumni from President Tim Sands, April 1, 2020
A message to Blacksburg Hokies from President Tim Sands, March 30, 2020
A message to the Virginia Tech community from President Tim Sands, March 27, 2020
From President Tim Sands: An update on university response to the COVID-19 virus, March 17, 2020
A message to the Virginia Tech community, March 6, 2020
President Tim Sands: New decade offers great opportunity for Virginia Tech, January 21, 2020
A message from President Tim Sands in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, January 20, 2020

2019

A message from President Tim Sands at the end of the 2019 fall semester, December 12, 2019
A statement from President Tim Sands on the Climate Action Commitment, November 8, 2019
State of the University Address, September 6, 2019
A message from President Tim Sands: Be part of InclusiveVT Week, September 4, 2019
A welcome message from Virginia Tech President Tim Sands, August 25, 2019
A year-end message from President Tim Sands, May 9, 2019
A statement from Virginia Tech President Tim Sands, April 30, 2019
A message to the Virginia Tech Community from President Tim Sands, March 20, 2019
A message from President Tim Sands on Principles of Community Week, February 19, 2019
An update from President Tim Sands on Beyond Boundaries, January 23, 2019
A message from President Tim Sands in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, January 21, 2019

2018

A message from President Tim Sands at the end of the 2018 fall semester, December 11, 2018
A message from President Tim Sands on the Innovation Campus, November 13, 2018
A message to the Virginia Tech community from President Tim Sands, October 28, 2018
A message from President Tim Sands to the Virginia Tech community, October 4, 2018
From President Tim Sands: Statement on AAALAC accreditation initiative, Sept. 26, 2018
From President Tim Sands: InclusiveVT Week drives the commitment to community, diversity, and excellence, Aug. 30, 2018
A welcome message from Virginia Tech President Tim Sands, August 13, 2018
A letter from President Tim Sands at the end of the academic year, May 18, 2018
A statement from President Tim Sands, April 11, 2018
An update from President Sands on tuition and fees, April 10, 2018
A statement from President Tim Sands, March 30, 2018
Principles of Community Week reaffirms our commitment to inclusion and diversity, March 11, 2018
Beyond Boundaries — From Vision to Implementation, January 16, 2018
A message from President Tim Sands in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, January 15, 2018

2017

A message from President Tim Sands at the end of the 2017 fall semester, December 12, 2017
Cyril Clarke named interim executive vice president and provost; Thanassis Rikakis to become Presidential Fellow for Academic Innovation, October 30, 2017
A special statement from President Tim Sands, October 6, 2017
A statement from President Tim Sands on staff participation in governance, September 20, 2017
A message from President Tim Sands on the effects of Hurricane Harvey, August 30, 2017
From President Tim Sands: Welcome to the 2017-18 academic year, August 24, 2017
A message from President Tim Sands and Rector Dennis Treacy, August 14, 2017
President announces staff changes in Office of the President, July 21, 2017
A message from Virginia Tech President Tim Sands on Destination Areas, April 6, 2017
A message to the Virginia Tech community from President Tim Sands, March 29, 2017
A message to the Virginia Tech community from President Tim Sands, March 12, 2017
A letter to students from President Tim Sands, February 26, 2017
An open letter to the Virginia Tech community from President Tim Sands, January 29, 2017
A message from President Tim Sands in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, January 16, 2017

2016

A letter from President Tim Sands on the Beyond Boundaries final report, November 27, 2016
Statement on the presidential election from Tim Sands, November 9, 2016
A message to the Virginia Tech community from President Tim Sands, November 3, 2016
Open letter from President Tim Sands at the start of the fall semester, August 22, 2016
Open letter from President Tim Sands, July 6, 2016
Reflections on the 2015-16 Academic Year, May 19, 2016
Statement from President Tim Sands, May 5, 2016
Presidential message on the 2016 General Assembly, March 17, 2016
An open letter to the Virginia Tech community, March 9, 2016
Statement from President Tim Sands, February 8, 2016
An open letter to the Virginia Tech community from President Tim Sands, January 30, 2016
President Sands recalls Dr. King’s spirit as Virginia Tech begins a new semester, January 18, 2016

2015

A message to the Virginia Tech Community, November 13, 2015
President's Letter to the Virginia Tech Class of 2019, July 2015
President's Letter to the University Community on Visioning, May 12, 2015
Open letter to Ms. Malia Obama and all high school juniors and seniors engaged in the college search, April 2015

2014

President Sands' Installation remarks, October 17, 2014
Open letter from new Virginia Tech President Tim Sands to the university community, June 3, 2014