National Ag Week  RECAP

Celebrating the vital role of agriculture with a variety of activities, the CALS Academic Programs office engaged students around campus during National Agricultural Week from March 18-27. Highlights included handing out themed stickers, a mobile "selfie" farm for interactive fun, and a contest to name our new animal friends—Nutmeg, Litton Rooster, Peppa, and Mootallica. Virginia Tech Dining joined the fun with a special monthly drink, the AG Green Matcha Latte, as well as fresh beef tips from our campus Meat Store. The week was a great opportunity to recognize and appreciate the industry that sustains us all!

Thank you for your support in encouraging student participation—we look forward to continuing to provide these enriching experiences for our CALS students!

The Countdown to Commencement is On!

Spring break is behind us, and with commencement just around the corner, there’s excitement in the air as CALS prepares for the big day. Commencement is a time for reflection, celebration, and honoring the remarkable milestones that have brought us all together. We’re excited to announce that the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Commencement Ceremony will be held on May 15, 2025, at 7:30 PM in Lane Stadium. We invite everyone to join us in celebrating the incredible accomplishments of our students!

The University Commencement Ceremony will take place the following morning, May 16, 2025, at 8:30 AM, also in Lane Stadium.

There are lots of resources on our webpage, so please take a look for answers to all your commencement questions. If you need further assistance, we are here to help! Don’t hesitate to reach out at calsaprequests@vt.edu.

The countdown is officially on, and we can’t wait to see you in Lane Stadium as we celebrate this special occasion together!

Course Spotlight

[APSC-2984] Special Study: Data-Based Animal Management

• Credits: 3
• Term: Fall 2025
• Schedule:
  • Lecture: Monday & Wednesday, 11:15 AM – 12:05 PM
  • Lab: Thursday, 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Are you interested in leveraging computational tools to analyze experimental data and solve real-world problems in agricultural studies? If so, consider enrolling in APSC-2984: Special Study – Data-Based Animal Management this Fall 2025! This course is designed for students in agriculture, life sciences, or bioengineering who want to build essential computational and data analysis skills. You’ll start with Excel, covering descriptive statistics, IF-ELSE statements, FOR loops, and real/simulated experimental data analysis. Later, you’ll explore AI-assisted coding in Python, enabling you to solve real-world problems efficiently. The course also includes data visualization and basic linear regression, helping you understand how computational tools can address large-scale datasets. By the end of the semester, you’ll have a practical foundation in data-driven decision-making, an essential skill for modern agricultural and life sciences research.

Interested? Feel free to reach out to James Chen niche@vt.edu with any questions or enroll today!

Upcoming CALS Events

Tuesday, April 22 | CALS Celebrates Earth Day: Join the CALS Ambassadors outside of Litton Reaves Hall for some Earth Day fun and freebies! 

Thursday, May 15 | CALS Outstanding Seniors Award Ceremony: Celebrating CALS seniors who received a departmental or college award for their outstanding leadership, academic achievements, philanthropic activities, or community-focused programs. 

Thursday, May 15 | CALS Spring Commencement: Celebrating our CALS graduating seniors. Ceremony will be at 7:30pm in Lane Stadium.