People smiling on a sunny day walking across a crosswalk.
New Hokies travel from the Moss Arts Center to Squires with their orientation groups after the opening session of summer orientation. Photo by Christina Franusich for Virginia Tech.

New Hokies will have a more immersive orientation experience thanks to support from Enterprise Systems’ Academic Applications and Data Management Applications units. In July 2023, Student Affairs, with the help of Enterprise Systems, implemented Advantage Design Group’s (ADG) student orientation system using student data integration between Banner and the Virginia Tech Data Lake. This data is used to track where a student is in the orientation process, if orientation reminders need to be sent, or if a student may be at risk of not attending.

During virtual orientation, students will learn about academics, support services, policies, and next steps in their transition to Virginia Tech. Families are also part of the virtual orientation receiving information on how to support their student, university resources, and policies and procedures. Virtual orientation for incoming first-year, transfer, and international students is open from May 1 - July 31.

“The new virtual orientation platform, powered by ADG, increases access for orientation to all of our incoming students regardless of where they are in the world before they arrive on campus in Blacksburg,” said Gabby McCollum, associate dean and director for new student and family programs. The platform is responsive to the student’s needs and its beautiful Virginia Tech branding design provides information that is relevant in a just-in-time form.”

ADG brings the Virginia Tech campus to new students and their families so that when they come to campus, they can focus on the Hokie experience.

To learn more about the university’s virtual orientation, visit students.vt.edu/transition/virtual_orientation.html.