The college's programs in decision support systems and accounting information systems are part of the reason recruiters from 25 major companies ranked Virginia Tech among the 10 best schools in the nation in information systems programs. Pamplin is one of the few schools in the nation to offer a degree option in decision support systems and was the first business school to offer an undergraduate degree option in accounting information systems. It is the nation's largest student-run portfolio that is not managed as part of a course and the third largest in terms of the amount managed. Don Chance and Greg Kadlec serve as SEED's faculty advisors. The college offers merit scholarships to 20 percent of its freshman class and to a top transfer student from each of the 23 campuses in the Virginia Community College System.
Criteria are academic achievement, leadership skills, and service activities.
The scholarships are made possible by endowments established by alumni, friends, and corporate leaders. Pamplin is also a partner with other colleges in the Graduate Program in Information Technology at the Northern Virginia Center. This combined degree and certificate program offers an innovative blend of coursework in business information systems, decision support systems, networking, computer engineering, and other IT specialties. Governor's Award Winners MBA Students have received many Governor's Awards from the Virginia Economic Development Partnership for export strategy plans that the students, guided by marketing professors, developed under a state program to help Virginia companies do business abroad. Preparing Students for Global Business Challenges Through scholarship assistance, Pamplin offers opportunities for study abroad to more students every year than any other business school in the state.