On March 5, 1896 the school changed it's name to Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College and Polytechnic Institute. The change reflected the development of the college into a school with a strong interest in science and technology, as well as maintaining its traditional ties to the studies of agriculture and engineering. For popular usage, the long name was shortened to Virginia Polytechnic Institute , or V.P.I.
In 1944, the words Agricultural and Mechanical College were dropped from the school's name. Virginia Polytechnic Institute, which is what the school had been commonly called since 1896, now became the official title.
In 1970, after a period of spectacular growth the school's name was
changed once again. It became Virginia Polytechnic Institute and
State University, a.k.a. Virginia Tech.