By Shirleen Guerra | The Center Square
(The Center Square) – Virginia Tech’s Board of Visitors voted 13–1 on Tuesday to approve a $229.2 million funding plan for athletics.
The plan, approved during a special meeting, calls for student athletics fees to rise by $100 in fiscal years 2027, 2028 and 2029. University officials said those fees will remain among the lowest in Virginia and that in-state students from lower-income families and graduate students will not see increases.
President Tim Sands called the plan a “historic juncture” for Hokies athletics and said the investment is needed to help the university compete at the highest level. Sands will also appoint a new Athletics Investment Oversight Committee to report directly to him and the board.
Presentations from Chief Operating Officer Amy Sebring and Chief Financial Officer Simon Allen outlined a mix of revenue sources, including private fundraising and institutional support.
Documents show the package is expected to grow annual athletics spending from $156.8 million in fiscal 2026 to $212.1 million by 2029. Of the $229.2 million total, $120 million is expected to come from new philanthropy, $48.3 million from institutional support, $39.6 million from bridge funding, and $21.3 million from student fees.
University leaders said the funding will not affect current academic budgets but could limit flexibility for future projects. They also said athletics revenues support broader goals, including student recruitment, alumni engagement and regional visibility.
Virginia Tech leaders said the university has lagged behind ACC peers in athletics spending, and the plan is designed to put the Hokies on par with programs such as Clemson and Florida State, both of which invest heavily in athletics.
