Students with Families

Employment for Spouses
Childcare
Schools in Montgomery County
Activities for Families
Social Network for Spouses

Employment for Spouses
Montgomery County is home to several sizeable public employers in the field of education. Virginia Tech is the state's largest university, providing a variety of job opportunities to members of the Blacksburg Community. Radford University , located approximately 20 miles from Blacksburg, is another source of employment at an institute of higher education. The Montgomery County School System serves 9300 students in 20 schools offering K-12 education.

Three of the largest private employers in the area are:

• ATK-Alliant Tech Systems is the world's leading supplier of solid propulsion systems and the nation's largest manufacturer of ammunition. ATK operates an Army Ammunition Plant in Radford.
• Federal-Mogul is a global supplier to the automotive industry. Their Blacksburg location serves as a manufacturing plant for engine bearings.
• Moog Components Group is a Blacksburg based technology company with design and manufacturing capabilities in motion control and electronic components. Its standard and custom product solutions are used in industrial, commercial, medical, aerospace, and defense applications.

Virginia Tech's Career Services offers a career resource center that is available to spouses. The Center offers a broad array of job-searching tools, including a book of local job listings. Spouses may also use the Center's computer lab to work on their resumes and process online employment applications.

Roanoke, 45 miles from Blacksburg, offers a more robust job market than Blacksburg but requires a longer commute. Workers commute by car or via the Smart Way Bus . Job opportunities in Roanoke may be found on most major job search engines (such as http://www.monster.com ). The Roanoke Times also posts several hundred job listings for positions throughout the area in their online content.

International students: Please note that spouses in F-2 status cannot work under any circumstances. Spouses in J-2 status may work with USCIS permission. Contact International Graduate Student Services at 540/231-8486 or for more information.

Childcare
Virginia Tech's Family and Work/Life Resources serves students as well as faculty and staff. They provide information and references that can assist you to juggle your school and family responsibilities. Their website contains lists of family childcare providers, child care centers, and temporary child care providers as well as tools to help you make the best child care decisions for your family's needs.

Schools in Montgomery County
Family and Work/Life Resources also maintains a comprehensive listing of schools throughout Montgomery County and the New River Valley.

Activities for Families
Family and Work/Life Resources provides numerous suggestions and ideas related to activities that provide fun for the entire family. Montgomery County is filled with libraries, recreation centers, theaters, and parks to explore that are close to home. Check out the Family and Work/Life Resources website for details and contact information for these venues.

There are also an abundance of attractions in southwest Virginia that are fun day trips for the family. A few highlights include:

• Booker T. Washington National Monument , Hardy, Virginia - approximately 56 miles from campus
  The birthplace of Booker T. Washington, this 207-acre tobacco farm features exhibits and a historic area that demonstrates the realities of slave life in America.
• The Cascades , Pembroke, Virginia - approximately 19 miles from campus
  This 66-foot cascading waterfall is worth the 2-mile hike! The site also features a picnic area and fishing in Little Stony Creek.
• Dixie Caverns , Salem, Virginia - approximately 31 miles from campus
  Explore the only caverns located in southwest Virginia. Dixie Caverns also feature a pottery shop, antiques mall, and campground.
• Mabry Mill on the Blue Ridge Parkway , Meadows of Dan, Virginia - approximately 47 miles from campus
  Take a scenic drive to this picturesque stop on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Mabry Mill, built in the early twentieth century, is the most photographed structure on the Parkway. The Mabry Mill Trail features a black smith shop, wheel wright's shop, and whiskey still.
• Natural Bridge , Natural Bridge, Virginia - approximately 71 miles from campus
  The Natural Bridge is a stone formation that is over 100 million years old and is considered to be one of the seven wonders of the natural world. This attraction also features caverns, a wax museum, a toy museum, a monster museum, and a gift shop.
• Mill Mountain Zoo , Roanoke, Virginia - approximately 45 miles from campus
  The Mill Mountain Zoo in Roanoke is the eight-acre home to 200 animals of 53 different species.
• Smithfield Plantation , Blacksburg, Virginia - located on the Virginia Tech campus
  Col. William B. Preston established the Smithfield estate in 1772 after an earlier settlement known as Draper's Meadow was wiped out in an Indian massacre. The oldest part of the existing house was built in 1790. Smithfield is a state historic landmark and is open for tours April through November.
• Virginia's Explore Park , Roanoke, Virginia - approximately 46 miles from campus
  Located on the Blue Ridge Parkway, this 1100 acre park includes three historic areas that represent life in Virginia from 1,000 A.D. to 1850. The attraction features staff in period clothing who demonstrate the skills and lifestyle from various historic periods.

The Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce also includes several recommendations for parks and places to explore.

Social Network for Spouses
Graduate student spouses face unique challenges - isolation, financial stresses, difficulty finding work and/or childcare, and adjusting to life in Blacksburg. The Graduate Families Network is an opportunity for spouses to form a social group for camaraderie and support. Expand your social network, share information, and find help navigating the university's benefits for students and their families. Visit their website for additional information and upcoming events.

Continue to Resources for International Students