In addition, since it is quality faculty and quality programs that attract quality students, we need to hire, retain, and nurture quality faculty. This is a timeless given. Improving the quality and numbers of graduate students is not an activity that can be isolated from the other factors that contribute to creating a first class university. Further, creating quality programs, in a time of increased competition and decreasing or inadequate resources, requires that we escape from the cookie cutter mentality. Successful recruitment requires that we have the means to show a potential graduate student that Virginia Tech is the best possible place to reach his or her goals.
Different disciplines have different requirements and use different approaches to ensure quality.
The potential graduate student must not only be impressed by the faculty and the programs, but he or she must see that it is possible to successfully complete their program with a minimum of extraneous interference, This means that there must be increased flexibility at the departmental level with regard to setting standards for awarding graduate degrees, and for reallocating resources internally, and for generating income. The profile of the typical graduate student is changing. While this is especially evident at extended campus sites, it is also the case for students at the main campus in Blacksburg. In general, graduate students are older than those entering graduate school fifteen years ago, a larger proportion are married and some have children. Many have experience working for industry.