Friends:

 

Greetings from Wesleyan Drive! I have worked in higher education for 36 years --- 27 as a college president --- and I am still amazed at how fast the summer goes by. While these months are an extremely busy and productive time, I always get excited for our students' return to campus. We look forward to reuniting with returning students and welcoming the Class of 2021 in just a few short weeks.

 

Summer is a busy time at Coastal Virginia's premier university of the liberal arts and sciences. We are nearing completion of our transition to Virginia Wesleyan University. Visitors to campus will soon begin to see newly branded signage, with banners and directional markers displaying our new name and logo. Our website has been updated to  www.vwu.edu , and faculty, staff and student emails have transitioned to the new domain as well. This has been an exciting process, and I look forward to beginning our new academic year as Virginia Wesleyan University.

 

I am proud to share that VWU will open its academic year as one of The Princeton Review's "Best 382 Colleges" in the nation, according to the 2018 edition of their flagship college guide being released to the public today. It is an honor to be included once again among America's best. We continually strive to inspire excellence and achievement in our students and as an institution, and it is gratifying to be recognized by preeminent organizations such as The Princeton Review.

 

I am also excited to report that construction of the Greer Environmental Sciences Center was completed this week. The furniture is in place, and several faculty members will now begin the move to their new office spaces. A dedication of the building will take place on Founders Day, September 7. Additional information will be shared soon about our full day of Founders Day activities and celebrations. 

The Avenue of the Sciences is also complete. This new roadway connects Honors Village and the road to Godwin Hall going past Blocker Hall. Construction is running smoothly on the Betty S. Rogers Track and Field Center, and site concepts and planning are in progress for the Susan S. Goode Fine and Performing Arts Center. Chants and cheers can still be heard across campus from our extensive summer camps and conference programs, including 225 children per day at YMCA Camp Red Feather. The new Frank Blocker, Jr. Youth Center is up and running and is in full use as part of this summer partnership program and will serve as the home for a new partner this fall --- Tidewater Collegiate Academy.

 

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Additional news from the past month includes:

 

Passing of Trustee Emeritus Benjamin J. Willis, Jr.: I am saddened to share the July 9 passing of Virginia Wesleyan Trustee Emeritus Benjamin J. Willis, Jr., one of the institution's very first Trustees and one of the Board's longest-serving members. You may view Mr. Willis' obituary, which appeared in The Virginian-Pilot. Please keep the family in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.

 

Batten Honors College Inaugural Cohort: This fall we will welcome the first cohort of the Batten Honors College. Collectively, these impressive students have a grade point average of 4.03 on a 4.0 scale, an average SAT score of 1340, and an average ACT score of 29. The Batten Honors College is gratefully named for Virginia Wesleyan Trustee Emerita Jane P. Batten and her late husband, Frank Batten, Sr. For nearly 40 years, Jane Batten has made Virginia Wesleyan a priority in so many different ways, the latest of which is the development of the Batten Honors College. She has been a force for change, improvement, and empowerment, and she believes deeply that students of the highest academic ability will flourish through this innovative program. We are endlessly grateful for her passion for knowledge and her enduring support. Thank you also to Dr. Joyce Easter, Dean of the Batten Honors College, and Steve Pinto, Director of Enrollment for the Batten Honors College, for their leadership in building this first cohort of students. We appreciate, too, the support of the Batten Honors College admission committee and the faculty who will teach as part of this rigorous program.

 

Norfolk Botanical Garden Partnership: By now you have heard of the many stunning features inside the walls of the Greer Environmental Sciences Center, but the beauty of the building does not stop there. On its exterior, visitors will find a series of teaching gardens created with native plants inspired by the ecosystems of the Eastern Shore, two upland meadow gardens, three wetland gardens, and nearly 60 different plant species, including trees, shrubs, groundcover, ferns, perennials, and aquatic plants. Set within a 145,000-square-foot site area, we knew a unique approach would be required to maintain this beautiful landscape. To that effect, I am pleased to announce a collaborative new partnership with our neighbors at the Norfolk Botanical Garden. As part of this new relationship, a Director of Living Landscapes, employed by the Norfolk Botanical Garden, will be appointed to work with Virginia Wesleyan staff, faculty, and students to provide guidance and proper care of all living landscapes and campus horticultural initiatives, particularly the area surrounding the Greer Environmental Sciences Center. Read more about this exciting new partnership on my blog, Dialogue.

 

NABT/BSCS Biology Teacher Academy: We welcomed high school educators to campus July 9-14 for the National Association of Biology Teachers/Biological Sciences Curriculum Study (NABT/BSCS)  Biology Teacher Academy , presented in partnership with HHMI BioInteractive and supported by the Virginia Department of Education. The workshop, in its third year, is a collaborative endeavor of VWU faculty and NABT Academy Biology Teacher-Leaders. It focuses on promoting rigor in high school biology and AP classes through classroom experiences and strategies that engage students in scientific inquiry. It is a pleasure to host these educators annually and to help further their instruction techniques through our fine facilities and state-of-the-art equipment.

Virginia Private College Week: Many high school juniors and seniors visited campus July 24-29 as part of Virginia Private College Week , sponsored by the Council of Independent Colleges in Virginia (CICV). Virginia Wesleyan was one of 24 private colleges in Virginia offering campus tours and information sessions about admission, financial aid and academic programs, and dispelling  common myths  about the cost of a private college education. Thank you to all who participated, and as always, we invite you to encourage prospective students you may know to visit our beautiful campus.

Sacred Music Summer Conference: Virginia Wesleyan's Center for Sacred Music, along with the Robert F. Boyd Institute, hosted the Sacred Music Summer Conference on campus July 24-29. This annual non-denominational worship and arts event offers continuing education opportunities for church musicians, worship leaders, music teachers, and all who are interested in the sacred arts. New to the conference this year was Dr. Bryson Mortensen's Choral Leadership Academy for high school students interested in developing their conducting and rehearsal techniques. Many thanks to Dr. Sandra Billy, Director of the Center for Sacred Music, for coordinating this wonderful event.

Celebration of our NCAA Division III Softball Champions: We had a great time July 24 at the Norfolk Tides game, where the softball team was honored during the pregame ceremonies. National Player of the Year Hanna Hull '20 threw out the first pitch to the Tides' mascot "Rip Tide" as VWU coaches and administrators watched from a sky box courtesy of our friends at Kaufman & Canoles. I traveled with members of the team to Richmond July 27 to meet Governor Terry McAuliffe and host a " Cheers with Champs " alumni gathering. Thank you to the many graduates and friends who came out to meet the team and have their photo taken with the championship trophy. 

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In my August 22 State of the University remarks to Trustees, alumni, faculty, staff, students, and friends (to be live webcast ), I will highlight the momentum of the University in academic and student-life programs, enrollment, fundraising efforts, and ongoing construction and technological upgrades to enhance our campus. I invite you to tune in as I discuss opportunities that will prepare us to prosper in a changing higher-education landscape.

 

Enjoy the remainder of your summer, and be sure to visit if your travels bring you in the direction of Virginia Wesleyan University.