Thank you to all who joined us August 22 for my State of the University address, whether in person or online. Since I became your president in 2015, we have transitioned from an aspiring college to an inspiring university. We have built an outstanding academic reputation, we have forged new partnerships, developed innovative programs, and enhanced our leadership within Hampton Roads, the Commonwealth of Virginia, and the nation.

I shared many points of pride during the address, but was especially pleased to note that we begin our new academic year with two new nationally prominent additions that speak to our innovative spirit, an understanding of our enrollment potential, and the power of philanthropy. With the opening of the Batten Honors College and the completion of the Greer Environmental Sciences Center, we have expanded our teaching, research, and service toward the vital goals of studying and preserving the natural environment. Both of these additions have attracted significant media attention. The GESC was highlighted recently in the Virginian-Pilot/Inside Business and the Batten Honors College Matriculation Ceremony, which you will read more about below, was prominently featured in the Virginian-Pilot.

If you were unable to join us, I urge you to visit my State of the University webpage where you can read the address in its entirety or watch the recorded broadcast. You may also view a photo gallery from the event. We are grateful for the support of our event sponsors: The Bonnewell Group at Morgan Stanley, represented in attendance by Trustee Gary Bonnewell '79; The Franklin Johnston Group, represented by President and COO Taylor Franklin '04; Hourigan Construction, represented by Executive Vice President Chris Brandt; Sentara, and President/CEO and VWU Trustee Howard Kern; and SunTrust, and South Hampton Roads President Charity Volman.

 

Virginia Wesleyan University had a banner recruitment year. On August 28, we proudly welcomed to campus 424 new freshmen as members of the Class of 2021 and an additional 95 transfer students. Our new University College (announced during my State of the University address) welcomed 33 students to the inaugural online Master of Business Administration cohort. An additional 25 new students enrolled in the Evening and Weekend Program, and 25 students are enrolled in the American Culture and Tourism Management program. Total new student enrollment, at 602 in all programs, is the largest in Virginia Wesleyan University history.

 

Overall enrollment this year is expected to be approximately 1,500 students in undergraduate, graduate, and online programs. Virginia Wesleyan University is on an upward trajectory, positioned well as Coastal Virginia's premier university of the liberal arts and sciences. Our beautiful 300-acre, park-like campus benefits from being located in Virginia Beach with educational and extracurricular amenities attractive to top students.

 

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Additional campus updates and events:

 

Founders Day to Focus on Sustainability September 7: Sustainability will be at the heart of Virginia Wesleyan University's Founders Day on Thursday, September 7, with a ribbon cutting for the new Greer Environmental Sciences Center, environmentally-themed activities and displays as part of the Wesleyan EcoFestival --- featuring guests from the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Virginia Aquarium, Norfolk Botanical Garden, and more --- and a series of distinguished speakers and guests. The day will also feature our annual Alumni Awards Celebration, honoring our Distinguished Alumni Award recipient Douglas B. Wilson '86, Executive Vice President, LifeNet Health; our Alumni Service Award recipient W. Taylor Franklin '04, Co-founder and Chief Operating Officer, The Franklin Johnston Group; and our Graduate of the Last Decade (GOLD) Award recipient Sydney A. Covey '16, Sustainability Program Analyst, Hourigan Construction. The Founders Day tradition honors the University's founding, recognizes important individuals in its history, and celebrates the bright future of the institution. Please visit the VWU website for more information about this special day.

 

Batten Honors College Matriculation Ceremony: We welcomed the first cohort of the Batten Honors College to campus August 20 with a Matriculation Ceremony at the new Greer Environmental Sciences Center. A new tradition at Virginia Wesleyan, the ceremony included music, welcoming remarks, and the signing of a Batten Honors College Matriculation Book that will serve as a permanent record of each entering class. The first exceptional cohort holds a collective grade point average of 4.03 on a 4.0 scale, an average SAT score of 1344, and an average ACT score of 29. The Batten Honors College is named for Virginia Wesleyan Trustee Emerita Jane P. Batten and her late husband, Frank Batten, Sr. View the photo gallery.

 

Allen Village Dedication: With the start of the new academic year, Village II officially became Allen Village, named for the late Dennie Allen '70. A naming ceremony was held August 22 to commemorate Mr. Allen's legacy and celebrate this special occasion. By virtue of his place in the alphabet, Dennie Allen received Virginia Wesleyan's first diploma at our first Commencement in 1970. He passed away last fall on September 1, just one week before our inaugural Founders Day. His obituary described the day he graduated as "the happiest of his life," and said that he "loved to tell people that he was the very first person to receive a diploma" from Virginia Wesleyan. On his death, Dennie left his estate to the University. Naming Village II as Allen Village is a fitting expression of our gratitude to him, our remembrance of him as our first graduate in our first graduating class, and our hopes that students who live and study here will be inspired by what he termed his "happiest day" when he received his diploma.

 

VWU Recognized by Princeton Review and Colleges of Distinction: I am pleased to share that Virginia Wesleyan University has received recognition in two significant national ratings. VWU is included in The Princeton Review's 2018 edition of " The Best 382 Colleges" and has again been named among the country's "Colleges of Distinction." As we begin another outstanding year of teaching, experiential learning and community engagement, these publications provide important external recognition and validation of our hard work throughout the entire year.

Homecoming and Family Weekend--- October 6-8: During the past two years, I've learned much about the time-honored traditions of our University, among them Homecoming and Family Weekend. A schedule of activities and registration information can be found on our website at www.vwu.edu/homecoming.    

 

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Finally, I reiterate my condolences, support and thoughts regarding last month's violence in Charlottesville. From our founding in 1961, Virginia Wesleyan has been an inclusive community, welcoming those of many faiths, nationalities, cultural perspectives, and social and economic backgrounds.

 

This is an exceptionally challenging time in our country, but the opportunities to make a difference, to contribute toward the building of a more progressive society, and to face down the threats posed by bigotry, hatred, and violence have never been greater, or more urgent.

 

I recently offered a challenge and an invitation to our students, faculty, staff, and Board of Trustees. Today I offer the same to you, our wider Virginia Wesleyan community.