up project-based learning and research programs in artificial intelligence and machine learning,” said Virginia Tech President Tim Sands. “Building Virginia Tech’s strength and expertise in these fields will support critical technological advancements and our commitment to fuel workforce development in the commonwealth.” “We are delighted to collaborate with Virginia Tech in launching this new initiative which brings together the top talent in our two organizations in a joint mission to achieve ground-breaking advances in robust machine learning,” said Prem Natarajan, vice president of Alexa AI – Natural Understanding at Amazon. “The proximity of this initiative to Amazon’s HQ2 will catalyze research efforts that leverage the depth of talent in the Northern Virginia area to address some of the most pressing challenges in AI.” Amazon and Virginia Tech share a unique history in connection with Amazon’s selection of Arlington, Virginia, for its HQ2. The commonwealth's $1 billion investment in higher education, seeding the doubling of existing computer science and computer engineering programs in Blacksburg, Virginia, helped attract Amazon and was the catalyst for launching the Virginia Tech Innovation Campus. I don't understand how anyone can read these quotes and think it is going to be small, but you have made your self clear, you don't think it will have much impact on Virginia Tech students, and you certainly have a right to your opinion. I wish you could support your case with something besides your opinion, but since you don't seem to be able to do that, I guess we will just have to wait and see what happens and in the meantime let others make up their own mind.