Highlights from the past month include:

Virginia Tuition Assistance Grant (VTAG) Program

VWU is leading the charge in support of the Virginia Tuition Assistance Grant (VTAG). Approximately 900 Virginia Wesleyan students benefit from this program, which produces $2.4 million each year for Virginia students. The VTAG Advocacy Center in the Jane P. Batten Student Center has worked hard with their "Thanks for TAG" program where students, parents, and alumni communicate to Governor Ralph Northam and members of the General Assembly how vital the Virginia Tuition Assistance Grant (VTAG) is to them, their institution, and their community.

Renovation of the Boyd Dining Center Announced 

It was announced that a complete redesign of the Boyd Dining Center is coming soon. Improvements will feature modernized and contemporary seating with service areas intended to enhance our campus community's dining experience. The project is scheduled for the summer months with an expected completion of fall 2020. The Marlin Grille, located in the Jane P. Batten Student Center, will also undergo updates this coming January. Improvements will include a fully updated appearance as well as new and in-demand dining options. Finally, we are very excited to announce plans to add a convenience store, which will meet the needs of many on campus, especially students--our number-one priority. Updates will be shared as plans progress. For a preview of the excitement to come, I invite you to view the schematics here.

Enhanced Beautification of Campus

Work began on our new bike and pedestrian path leading from Wesleyan Drive to Smith Drive. Located adjacent to the picturesque entrance and treeline along University Avenue (passing the DeFord Gatehouse), the new path will connect to the existing path at Smith Drive, which was added during the construction of the Goode Center, and continues to the heart of Virginia Wesleyan's campus. Removal of the berms--the raised banks--from the west boundary on Wesleyan Drive to the Virginia Wesleyan University sign and digital message center is forthcoming. Originally constructed as a security buffer, the berms are no longer necessary with recent addition of the decorative and functional columned fencing. All of this enhances the appeal of our scenic 300-acre park-like campus. The parks and trails at VWU provide unique opportunities for teaching, research, wellness, and reflection for the entire campus community.

Marlin Esports Arena
The newly completed Marlin Esports Arena was unveiled. We had a great turnout from our faculty and staff at the campus Open House. Located in the Jane P. Batten Student Center, the recently completed Arena is home to Virginia Wesleyan's new co-ed club Esports program. VWU is a member of the National Association of Collegiate Esports (NACE), and will begin competing with local and national teams in January. Read more about the open house here.

Following the unveiling, our Esports program was featured on WTKR News 3. It was great to have their news team visit campus to check out the Arena and talk with VWU freshman Brandon Kwon and Coach Chris Davis. Enjoy the coverage here.

Signing Ceremony with Thomas Nelson Community College

Our neighbors from Thomas Nelson Community College joined us on VWU's campus to formalize a new admissions agreement. During a signing ceremony, Thomas Nelson President John Devers and I endorsed the Fair Transfer Guarantee which allows Thomas Nelson graduates with an associate of arts or science to enroll seamlessly at Virginia Wesleyan with junior class status. Additionally, in working together through the Virginia Tidewater Consortium (VTC) for Higher Education, students enrolled at Thomas Nelson can enjoy the benefit of cross-registration, giving them the opportunity to take courses at VWU during their sophomore year. We value this partnership which helps students to save credits, save time, and save money. Read more here.

Homecoming and Founders Day
Thank you again to everyone who made the joining of Founders Day festivities and Homecoming & Family Weekend an occasion to remember. We celebrated our Virginia Wesleyan traditions, honored our heritage, paid tribute to some very special individuals, and welcomed our alumni and friends back to campus. Our applause and gratitude go to VWU Trustee and alumnus Eric Nyman '94, President of Hasbro North America, for his outstanding keynote address during the Founders Day Convocation. Eric was also presented with the 2019 Distinguished Alumnus Award, joined by his fellow 2019 Alumni Award recipients Candice E. Driskell '94 (Alumni Service Award), Wallace R. Driskell, Jr. '00 (Alumni Service Award), and Amari Agee '15 (Graduate of the Last Decade Award). Congratulations again to all and thank you for representing VWU so well! In addition, we honored Chief of Virginia Beach Police James "Jim" Cervera and the late Robert "Bobby" Williams, class of 1975.

Our alumni are a big part of our Marlin Family who help make Virginia Wesleyan the remarkable place that it is. Please save the date for our VWU Spring Alumni Weekend, April 3-4, 2020. Learn more about the weekend and other events in the recent Alumni News edition.

VFIC Women's Leadership Development Summit
The Virginia Foundation for Independent Colleges (VFIC) announced the inaugural cohort of VFIC students attending the "Starting Now: 2019 VFIC Women's Leadership Development Summit" in Richmond on November 7. Congratulations to the five Virginia Wesleyan University students who have been accepted into the program: Nailah Alston-Iszard, Jessica Gurley, Diana Jackson, Chelsea Jacox, and Destiny Kinka. We are proud of you!

VWU Profiled in The Princeton Review's Guide to Green Colleges: 2019 Edition

Virginia Wesleyan was recognized as one of the nation's most environmentally responsible colleges and one of 413 profiled schools chosen by The Princeton Review based on a 2018-2019 survey of administrators at hundreds of four-year colleges about their institutions' commitments to the environment and sustainability. The Princeton Review Editor-in-Chief Rob Franek stated, "We salute-and strongly recommend-Virginia Wesleyan University to the many environmentally-minded students who want to study and live at a green college." Read more here.

Virginia Wesleyan's Greer Environmental Sciences Center was featured on the cover of  Sustainable Business Magazine. In the article, Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Maynard Schaus discusses connections between the sustainable building, teaching and research, and the on- and off-campus communities. Read it  here.

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In closing, I'd like to draw your attention to an important upcoming event. One week from today Virginia Wesleyan University and The Gunn Group are co-hosting "Generations Uniting to Address Climate Change," from 1:30-4:00 p.m. in the Goode Fine and Performing Arts Center on campus.

The goal of the conference is to help our community, particularly young people, understand how climate change is altering our environment and what can be done now to mitigate or adapt to these changes. National and local climate change experts and Virginia Wesleyan students will share their knowledge and experiences through a combination of panel discussions and Q&A periods.

A Green Career and Volunteer Fair will take place during the event, featuring representatives from Lynnhaven River Now, Elizabeth River Project, Sierra Club, Chesapeake Bay Foundation, the United States Coast Guard, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, Oceans 2022, and the Marlins Go Green student organization.  I hope you join us for the afternoon of November 8 and contribute to the conversation. Learn more about the panels and speakers here . 

Many thanks to our entire Marlin Family for all you do to serve and support Virginia Wesleyan and our community.