Virginia Tech is joining a coalition of predominantly white and historically black colleges working to increase diversity in the health care industry.

Formed in 2004, the Virginia-Nebraska Alliance is a partnership among the University of Nebraska, Virginia's five historically black colleges and universities, and other Virginia schools.

The alliance looks for ways to provide research and academic opportunities for minority students through exchange programs and summer research.

Monday, officials celebrated Tech's addition to the alliance. Officials from historically black Hampton University made plans to host faculty from Tech's College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences in July.

Tech said diversity will be a priority at a medical school and research institute to open in 2010 in Roanoke.