Hokie One Stop

A step-by step guide to getting started at Virginia Tech in the Washington, D.C., area is maintained on this webpage.  For international students, there are additional steps to follow, which can be found via this link. 

Be sure to read the Expectations for Graduate Education, and to learn about the Graduate Honor System.

The first point of contact for undergraduate students studying, interning, or conducting research at one of our sites in the northern Virginia area is their home department, faculty advisor, or local supervisor. Undergraduate students should refer to this website for information about additional university support services available locally or remotely from Blacksburg and help navigating their overall Virginia Tech experience. Email DCHokieOneStop@vt.edu for assistance.

Students enrolled in Virginia Tech’s Business Information Technology major with specialization in Cyber Security Management and Analytics (BIT-Cyber) should refer to the program website for a list of resources or contact the program director, Svetlana Filiatreau at sfiliatr@vt.edu or (703) 538 – 3764 to set up a phone or virtual appointment.

New and replacement Hokie Passports are issued out of the Northern Virginia Center Resource Center Library. Students must be currently enrolled and can schedule an appointment to get the student ID card, or they can contact the center directly for more information at nvclibrary@vt.edu or 703-538-8340.

Cranwell International Center provides a wide range of programming and services to all undergraduate and graduate international students at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg and in the D.C. area. International student advising and immigration services are provided by a team of International Student Advisors who are assigned a portfolio of academic college/school/department. The international Student Advisor for a DC based student depending on their program of study, may be based either at Blacksburg or Falls Church/Innovation campus. 

International Student advisors can be reached at international@vt.edu 540-231-6527.  Walk-in hours during the academic year are Mondays 3 - 4:30 p.m. and Thursdays 2 - 4 p.m. in Room 488.

• The Graduate School — D.C. metro area provides a variety of student services to graduate students located at the greater D.C. metro area and surrounding campuses. We assist students from the admission to graduation with all academic progress needs. Services provided include:

  • Processing Graduate School forms: In-State Tuition, Reduced Tuition, Change of Campus, Change of Program, etc. 
  • Readmission and leave of absence approval
  • Plan of Study final approval
  • Preliminary and Final Exam approvals
  • Processing of official transcripts for the student record, test scores, TOEFL, etc.
  • Degree completion advising

• The Graduate School - DC Metro Area is located in Falls Church, at the Northern Virginia Center.  Advisors and staff can be reached via email at gssoncr@vt.edu or by phone at 703-538-8327. Schedule Student Advising Appointments in person and online.

• Registering for classes is done through HokieSPA. Your faculty advisor or graduate program coordinator will assist you with course selection and registration. Once you have registered, you’ll receive an invoice to pay tuition and fees. 

• For information on tuition and fees, please visit the website for the University Bursar.

• For specific academic advising for your program or major, reach out to your faculty advisor or graduate program coordinator.

• To request verification of enrollment or degree or a copy of your academic transcript, contact the University Registrar.

• Many departments at Virginia Tech provide services designed to meet the academic and learning assistance needs of students. Utilizing these services allows students to meet their full academic potential and helps them plan for future academic and professional endeavors.

• For assistance with arranging appropriate services and accommodations for students with disabilities, please contact Services for Students with Disabilities at ssd@vt.edu or 540-231-3788 to set up a phone or virtual appointment.

• The Virginia Tech Writing Center is a free service for all Virginia Tech students, faculty, and staff, at all levels. Although based in Blacksburg, D.C. area students should use this online appointment request form to schedule a virtual appointment or consultation.

• Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTAs) play a vital role in the university’s learning mission. GTAs can access many teaching resources through the Graduate School, the TLOS Professional Development Network, and through the student organization VT-GRATE.

Virginia Tech offers a wide assortment of financial aid and assistance programs that can be applied towards college expenses.

• Office of University Scholarship and Financial Aid and Financial Aid for Graduate Students
• Veteran and Military Connected Student Benefits
• Graduate Assistantships

For information on tuition and fees, please visit the website for the University Bursar.

The following links connect to calendars and lists of deadlines related to academics, financial aid, and tuition and fee payments.

• Academic calendar, drop/add, grade deadlines and availability, and religious and ethnic holidays
• Financial Aid
• Tuition and Fees

The Graduate School’s weekly D.C. area newsletter is the main communication channel to students in the D.C. area. The newsletter is published weekly on Mondays.  We also maintain an archive of past issues.

All current students should automatically receive this newsletter.  If you are not receiving the newsletter, please contact Cathy Grimes and ask to be manually added. 

The D.C. area student events calendar can be found on this page.

• Counseling is available to all D.C. area students through Virginia Tech’s Cook Counseling Center. Appointments will be offered in person or via telehealth. Access self care and support resources online. To make an appointment or for more information call Julie Kaplan, Ph.D., Licensed Clinical Psychologist and Embedded Counselor at the Northern Virginia Center, at 703-635-9957 or jskaplan@vt.edu, Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., or call 540-231-6557 after hours.
  
• As part of Virginia Tech's partnership with TimelyMD, students have free, 24/7 access to virtual care services with TimelyCare – the virtual health and well-being platform designed for college students. Students will have access to:
  • Unlimited on-demand mental health support 24/7, available to all Virginia Tech students throughout the world, through TalkNow
  • Unlimited access to health coaching, available to all Virginia Tech students throughout the world
  • Scheduled counseling sessions, limited to 12 sessions per academic year, available to all Virginia Tech students throughout the United States
  • Register for TimelyCare online or download the app
• The Student Medical Insurance office assists students with enrolling in Virginia Tech's Student Health Insurance Plan. They also help students clarify the often confusing language of insurance, navigate local providers, and submit claims. Contact them at smi@vt.edu or 540-231-6226.

• Hokie Wellness has a number of virtual workshops, connection sessions, and other wellness resources. View the current list of wellness topics.

• The Washington, D.C., area has numerous opportunities for recreation. Check out NOVA Parks to get started. 

Virginia Tech has agreements with two housing providers as options for you in the region. Each offer pricing options, unit options, and services (including furnishings, roommate matching, amenities, utility set up, and much more!) for Virginia Tech students. And they are very welcoming for international students. Please use the links below to find out more or just contact them to get started.

• Dweck Properties/VT HOUSING
  • Complete the request form on the Dweck landing page. A representative will reach out to you within 24 hours.
• National Corporate Housing VT Housing Solutions (scroll down to “Student Housing”)
  • VT@NationalCorporateHousing.com
  • 703-464-5700

Additionally, students can use the DC Off Campus Housing website to see other market options.   

Virginia Tech has signed on with Capital Bikeshare to offer deeply discounted membership rates for students.  The discount rate is $25 per year, a significant savings when compared to the regular rate of $95 per year.  Please refer to this PDF flyer for details on how to sign up and use the discount code vtech4924va.

Virginia Tech partners with the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) to allow eligible students to participate in the University Pass (U-Pass) Program. U-Pass provides full-time Virginia Tech students unlimited access to Metrorail and Metrobus throughout the semester, for about $1 per day. The mandatory fee is included as part of the comprehensive fees package for students. Eligible students are assessed the nominal fee and receive instructions on how to pick up and utilize the pass. See the Virginia Tech UPASS webpage for more details.

The Graduate School hosts or facilitates a number of student events and activities. Check out the student events calendar for up to date happenings! Also, the Northern Virginia Center has a Community Cafe on the first floor where students can hang out, play games, and attend events.

Academic study can sometimes be challenging and difficult.  If you are feeling like you need additional help to succeed in your program, several resources are available.

• The Dean of Students office provides support and care for students in crisis or in connecting to university and community resources. Students should reach out for help with personal/family emergencies, personal/academic support, emergency financial assistance, Honor System and Student Conduct advising, to report other general complaints, or if you just don’t know where to go for help. For assistance or to set up an appointment, please contact Assistant Dean of Students Phillip Hernandez de Wright at phernandez@vt.edu or 540-231-3787.
• Bryan Hanson is the Graduate School Ombudsperson and specializes in conflict resolution. He is based in Blacksburg, but is available to D.C. area students through phone meetings, zoom meetings and occasional in-person meetings. Contact him at 540-231-9573 or bryanh76@vt.edu.
• Virginia Tech is working toward a community free from gender-based discrimination, harassment, and violence. We commit to taking all resports seriously, to treating all individuals with compassion and respect, and to holding those who perpetrate harassment and violence accountable. TO report gender-based harassment, visit Stop Abuse at VT for information.
• The Office for Equity and Accessability coordinates and supports civil rights compliance and offers resources to address workplace conflicts. For support and assistance, please contact Equity Manager, Gennelle Chatman, at gennelle@vt.edu or 703-538-3753.
• The Assistant Dean for Graduate Student Academic Affairs and Student Success is a proactive resource to assist graduate students with a range of academic success outcomes focused on increasing retention, graduation rates, and supporting professional development goals. Students should contact Chontrese Hayes, Ph.D., chontresehayes@vt.edu for assistance in finding solutions to balancing academics and against competing priorities such as work and family

Virginia Tech is committed to promoting, sustaining, and advancing an environment that supports principles of equity, diversity, inclusion, and community.  The following links are excellent resources for individuals and communities who seek education and support.

• InclusiveVT
• Office of Graduate Recruitment, Diversity, and Inclusion 
• Women's Center
• Chosen Names and Personal Pronouns
• Interfaith Engagement
• Graduate Student Affinity Groups: The overarching goals for the affinity groups are to build an enhanced sense of community and share resources to assist staying the course in graduate school. Although the affinity groups are graduate student-focused, all students, faculty, and staff may also participate.  Currently, there are four affinity groups established for students who identify with the following communities:  Veterans, Black, First-Generation, and Latinx. The Graduate School is looking forward to forming additional affinity groups during the 2022-2023 academic year. Contact Chontrese Hayes, Ph.D., for more information.

The greater Washington, D.C., metro area Graduate Student Assembly seeks to nurture the graduate student community across departments by providing social events that foster inter-department, interdisciplinary conversation. The representatives liaise with the VT GSA in Blacksburg to improve scholarly development and the graduate community by creating and implementing goals based on the issues and concerns of graduate students on campus.

A small number of graduate students receive a graduate assistantship to support research or teaching. These assistantships are provided by the academic departments. Though rare, any available on campus student employment positions in the D.C. area would be advertised in the weekly newsletter.

• Legal Services of Northern Virginia
  Understand your options and rights.
• VaLegalAid.Org 
  A guide to free and low cost civil legal information and services in Virginia.
• Virginia Lawyer Referral Service 
  Find trusted lawyers in Virginia.

Career and Professional Development offers the following career related resources and guidance.

• Get customized career coaching and advising services including:
  • Career exploration and/or transition
  • Resume/CV & cover letter reviews
  • Networking strategies
  • LinkedIn profile and professional branding
  • Job search planning
  • Interview strategy & practice interviews
  • Salary negotiation techniques

• Visit Handshake to search for jobs and internships, to view and register for workshops and events, and to make an appointment with a Career Advisor. 

• Utilize these additional resources:
  • Graduate Hokies Career Toolkit: in-depth modules covering the most common career topics, such as writing a resume and cover letter, interviewing, and offer negotiation to name a few. Includes “how-to’s”, multiple resources and examples.
  • Career & Professional Development homepage
    • Graduate Student Career Development
    • Career Fairs – upcoming career fairs affiliated with Virginia Tech
    • Career Planning Guide
  • CareerShift  - conduct and organize your job search
  • InterviewPrep – web-based practice interview platform

The Northern Virginia Center Library is both a branch of the University Libraries and a support center for students and faculty in the D.C. area. Library staff can assist all students with finding resources, accessing collections, and requesting/borrowing materials. Consultations can be provided in person or online. The facility is located on the first floor of the Northern Virginia Center in Falls Church, and is equipped with group and individual study rooms, research materials, 3D printers, and workstations. Contact us at nvclibrary@vt.edu or 703-538-8340. See the current hours.

Students can also reserve a study room in the Library by using the online reservation system.

The Washington-Alexandria Architecture Center Library in Old Town supports architecture programs in the D.C. area. Note that the library is non-circulating: you may use books within the library or take them to your desk, but you may not take them home.

Virginia Tech students may access additional books via Interlibrary Loan (ILL). Use your VT ILLiad account to request books from the University Libraries catalog, or from other affiliated libraries. WAAC students can contact Marlene at mkoenig@vt.edu for more information on creating an account.

Borrowed University Library materials can be returned at the following locations:

• Northern Virginia Center: There is an outdoor book return that is available 24/7 located near the entrance to the building. When the building is open, visitors can return books at the library service desk on the first floor or use the return slot within the orange wall next to the library entrance.

• VTRC Arlington: The book return is located on the 6th floor within the SPIA area. Access requires a key fob or Hokie Passport available only to faculty and staff who work in the building and students enrolled for in-person classes.

• Washington-Alexandria Architecture Center 1001: The book return is the gray "mailbox" inside the main entrance. Access to the building requires a key fob available to WAAC faculty, staff, and students.

You can also use the USPS Prepaid Return Label that came with your request from Interlibrary Loan.

The Northern Virginia Resource Center offers proctoring services for testing. To find out more, contact nvclibrary@vt.edu or 703-538-8340.