The Virginia Tech Department of Physics offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs in physics, as well as research opportunities for students and faculty. The department has a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion, and is working to create a welcoming and supportive environment for all students.
Enrollment Trends
In fall 2022, the department had a total of 358 undergraduate students and 170 graduate students. This represents a slight increase in enrollment from the previous year. The department is particularly proud of its growing number of female and underrepresented minority students.
Faculty Diversity
The department’s faculty is also becoming more diverse. In fall 2022, 25% of the department’s tenure-track faculty were women and 15% were underrepresented minorities. This is a significant increase from just a few years ago.
Research Funding
The department’s research funding has also been increasing in recent years. In fiscal year 2022, the department received over $10 million in research funding from a variety of sources, including the National Science Foundation, the Department of Energy, and NASA.
Student Success
The department’s students are achieving great success. In 2022, 95% of the department’s graduating seniors were employed or enrolled in graduate school within six months of graduation. The department’s graduate students are also very successful, with many of them going on to careers in academia, industry, and government.
Future Plans
The department is excited about the future. The department is planning to continue to grow its enrollment and diversity, and to increase its research funding. The department is also committed to providing its students with the best possible education and training.
Here are some specific goals that the department has for the future:
- Increase the number of female and underrepresented minority students in the department.
- Increase the department’s research funding by 25% over the next five years.
- Improve the department’s undergraduate curriculum to better prepare students for careers in physics.
- Increase the department’s graduate student enrollment by 10% over the next five years.
The department is confident that it can achieve these goals and continue to be a leading department of physics in the country.
Conclusion
The VT Physics Department is a vibrant and growing community of scholars. The department is committed to diversity and inclusion, and is working to create a welcoming and supportive environment for all students. The department’s faculty is conducting cutting-edge research, and the department’s students are achieving great success. The department is excited about the future and is committed to providing its students with the best possible education and training.