November is one of my favorite months of the year. Thanksgiving is a time to take pause in our lives and reflect on the blessings and moments for which we are most grateful. It is also a good time to consider our future goals and dreams. This month, I'd like to share some of the items I am thankful for and also update you on the forward-looking developments at Virginia Wesleyan College.

 

First, I'd like to express my gratitude for the service and dedication of two of the College's vice presidents who are retiring this year, both of whom were recognized October 21 at the fall meeting of the Virginia Wesleyan College Board of Trustees.

 

Vice President for Student Affairs David Buckingham was honored by the Board with the distinction of "Dean Emeritus." David first came to VWC in 1982 as Dean of Students and Instructor of History. Since then, he has held roles as Dean of Enrollment Services and Special Assistant to the President. He has overseen Admissions, Financial Aid, Community Service, the Chaplain's Office, Student Activities, Campus Security, Counseling Services, Health Services, Athletics and Residence Life. He will officially retire on December 31, and Dr. Keith Moore, longtime Dean of Students, will become Vice President for Student Affairs.

 

The Board also presented Vice President for Advancement Mita Vail with a resolution recognizing her five years of leadership in alumni relations and development. Under Mita's tenure, there have been major grants for scholarships, endowment, capital improvements, and operations. Most recently, the College received donations for improvements to Blocker Hall and also for construction of Birdsong Field and the Greer Environmental Sciences Center. Mita's last day with the College was October 31. Dr. David R. Black will serve as the Interim Vice President for Advancement until a new vice president arrives on February 1, 2016.

 

During the Board meeting, I had the opportunity to talk candidly with our trustees about our plan for a vibrant future. Keeping in mind the institutional goals developed as part of the College's strategic plan, we further outlined our vision for the next five years--a Virginia Wesleyan College that is:  

• Academically sound and true to its purpose of being a student-centered national liberal arts college;
• Responsive to the marketplace, considering best practices to position the College as a leader among its peers;
• Respectful of tradition, yet mindful of future trends;
• Setting annual plans for operations and multi-year plans to ensure a promising future;
• Growing revenues from all sources: endowment, tuition, unrestricted gifts and auxiliary enterprises;
• Accounting for each and every dollar and dispersing these funds frugally and in keeping with the mission and long-range plan of the College;
• Involving its multiple constituencies in the life of the College in meaningful ways.

Just as we have excelled in educating our students to go forth to serve and to lead, the College itself must become a leader among our peer institutions in recruiting within a congested marketplace. Without losing focus on our mission, the College has already begun to assert itself as a proactive presence among state colleges and universities in our market area as we delve further into new systems of delivery of our valued Virginia Wesleyan education.

 

Additional highlights from the past month include:  

• Birdsong Field Dedication: A crowd of more than 150 attended the dedication of Birdsong Field on October 24. The new $2.97 million multi-purpose outdoor synthetic field is named in honor of a family whose generosity to Virginia Wesleyan College has existed since its founding in 1961. My deepest gratitude to George and Sue Birdsong and other members of the Birdsong family, corporation, and foundation for making this project a reality. Birdsong Field, which officially opened September 1, supports field hockey, men's and women's lacrosse and soccer, and intramural sports.
• The Lighthouse: Center for Exploration and Discovery: A grand opening was held October 19 for The Lighthouse, a newly developed "one-stop experiential learning shop" for students. The Lighthouse encompasses three key campus programs: the Career Development and Internship Program, Study Away Program, and Undergraduate Research Program. These programs help students plan for academic, professional, and personal success in a systematic way. The Lighthouse also offers experiential learning grants, an array of instructional workshops, and individualized support services for students. Stop by and visit The Lighthouse, located on the first floor of Clarke Hall.
• President's Environmental Issues Council (PEIC): The appointment of new PEIC members was announced on October 14, including four faculty members, four staff members and two students. Members were selected based on their interest and expertise in sustainability issues and/or their ability to implement new initiatives for the campus community. The PEIC works with campus leaders to address environmental issues and to promote conservation and environmental stewardship among Virginia Wesleyan's students, faculty and staff.

 

All of these initiatives are dependent upon simultaneously building the operating budget, increasing our endowment and finding new sources of significant private funding and support.

 

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We have much to be thankful for at Virginia Wesleyan College, and it starts with each of you. My deepest appreciation for your support and dedication throughout the year and into the future. I encourage you to follow daily reflections and updates on my blog, Dialogue .

 

Warm wishes to you and yours as we enter this season for gratitude.

 

Cordially,