About the Virginia Tech Student Calling Center

At a glance

We raised over $2.5 million for the university last year.

Our staff consists of 2 full-time faculty & staff members, 16 student staff members, and up to 80 callers.

About Us: Our Mission, History, & Staff

Student Calling Center :: About Us

Our Mission

The Virginia Tech Student Calling Center’s mission is to increase Annual Fund participation among alumni, parents, and friends, while also establishing ties with those who are not able to come back to campus.

The Virginia Tech Student Calling Center:
The Groundwork of Annual Giving

Edited by Kiley McMichael, Assistant Director of Annual Giving

Since 1989, Virginia Tech has sought to strengthen ties with alumni through the Virginia Tech Student Calling Center. Students call alumni to share university news, facilitate demographic updates, gather feedback, and provide a convenient way for Virginia Tech alumni to pledge financial support to the university. While this support goes a long way toward bolstering the university’s overall operating budget, the conversations with Virginia Tech students are the number one reason alumni pledge their support.

In the beginning, the Calling Center students worked from paper print-outs of alumni information and dialed regular phones. Now, callers use integrated computer systems that not only dial the number, but also provide various pieces of personalized information about the alum, and immediate record updating opportunities. After being housed in various buildings around town, the Calling Center moved to its current University Mall location in 1998. Students now staff thirty computer stations for night shifts, Monday through Thursday, and on Sundays.

Students who work for the Calling Center are employed by the university, and strive to personalize each call they make on behalf of Virginia Tech. In addition to a paycheck, many students gain professional experience that contributes to future career goals.