January 2020
New Beginnings
Happy New Year to you and yours! I hope everyone had a blessed and joyous holiday season. 2019 was one for the books, and as the saying goes, "the best is yet to come." I know 2020 will be our best year yet.

Back on campus, we are gearing up for our first term of the calendar year-- January Term 2020--which commences Monday, January 6. For those who may be unfamiliar with the concept, January Term at Virginia Wesleyan is a special three-week academic term during which our students have the opportunity to concentrate on their studies through one intensive course. These opportunities include study-away courses to locations such as Costa Rica, Berlin, Mexico, and Hawaii. In addition to the unique format, January Term offers affordable rates which continue to allow flexibility for our students and opportunities to accelerate their academic careers. Special thanks to Deirdre Gonsalves-Jackson, Director of Summer Session and January Term, for her hard work in making this a meaningful experience for our campus community.

As we enter the new year and reflect on the last, we are proud to report that University College continues to attract positive attention for credit and non-credit programs designed specifically for non-traditional students. For those interested in enrolling in a VWU Online, Evening and Weekend, or Lifelong Learning program in 2020, you can learn more here. We look forward to seeing our strong enrollment in these programs continue to grow to serve our community.


Highlights from the past month include:

December Graduates' Recognition Ceremony
Family, friends, and faculty gathered on campus to celebrate 55 Virginia Wesleyan students who qualified for graduation at the end of the fall semester as well as those who reached the milestone in August of 2019. Both undergraduate and masters-level students were among the mid-year degree candidates. Adding to the special day was the new venue for this year's ceremony. Held for the first time in the Susan S. Goode Fine and Performing Arts Center, the ceremony took place in the Joan and Macon Brock Theatre with a reception that followed in the Eleanor and Henry Watts Grand Lobby and Gallery. Dean of the Susan S. Goode School of Arts and Humanities Dr. Travis Malone, recipient of the 2019 Samuel Nelson Gray Distinguished Teaching Award, offered words of wisdom and reflections in his address to the group. Alisa Crider, Class of 2010 and recipient of the 2018 Graduate of the Last Decade (GOLD) Award, gave remarks on behalf of the Alumni Council and welcomed these accomplished Marlins to the ranks of alumni. To these graduating students: congratulations and remember that as alumni, you are always part of Virginia Wesleyan. We look forward to learning about your many achievements and the exceptional ways you will make a positive impact on the world.  Read highlights from the ceremony, enjoy the photo gallery, and view the video here.
 
Tidewater Community College 69th Commencement Exercises 
It was an honor to deliver remarks at the  69th Tidewater Community College Commencement Ceremony  at Chartway Arena.  Thank you to Dr. Greg DeCinque , President of TCC, for the invitation. It was a wonderful ceremony, and I congratulate the TCC graduates on their accomplishment. We are proud to partner with TCC on our Fair Transfer Agreement which guarantees TCC graduates admission to Virginia Wesleyan. It was also nice to see Dr. Marcia Conston who will become the sixth permanent President of TCC on Monday, January 6. View photos and read more   about the ceremony here.

Cross-Bay Rivalry Presented by ToweBank
We hosted on campus the Cross-Bay Rivalry presented by TowneBank. The basketball doubleheader (women's and men's teams) vs. CNU had a good turnout with strong support from our Marlins and friends. During half-time we recognized our Faculty Athletic Advisors and held a Faculty Appreciation event. Food for the Friends of the Marlin Athletic Fund Hospitality Area was generously sponsored by Taco Bell. It is Virginia Beach-owned and -operated by VWU Trustee and alumnus, Tassos Paphites '79. Desserts were provided by Gigi's Cupcakes, owned by Kaitrin Young, daughter of Tassos. Gigi's Cupcakes is located at The Shops at Hilltop. Our thanks to Tassos, Kaitrin, and our good friends at TowneBank for their continued support. 

Hampton Roads Workforce Council
We were glad to have our friends from Hampton Roads Workforce Council hold their Board meeting on campus in the Shafer Room (newly renovated Board of Trustees Suite). I enjoyed visiting with the Council and welcoming friends to campus. HRWC does outstanding work for our community, Coastal Virginia, and beyond, and their impact is immeasurable in contributing to the economic vitality of our region.

VWU Students Participate at NATO Conference
Five Virginia Wesleyan students participated as "Young Distributors" in the 2019 Chiefs of Transformation Conference, hosted at the Hilton Norfolk The Main by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's Supreme Allied Commander Transformation (NATO-ACT) Headquarters. As VWU Assistant Professor of Political Science and Coordinator of NATO Partnership Dr. Antje Schwennicke shared, our students did exceptionally well, and I congratulate them. Read more here.

Employees By Diversity Report
It has been my annual practice to share data gathered for an Employment by Diversity Report with the campus community. The report can be accessed here. Please note that through the support of private donors, the student work program, Opus, grew again this year. Currently, 421 students are working campus--based jobs, a 25 percent increase over 2018-19.

Coastal 61 at Oxford Village: EarthCraft-Certified
Our public-private partnership for Coastal 61 at Oxford Village is progressing nicely. View progress in this photo from the entrance of  VWU. By incorporating energy and resource efficient designs and systems, the project is EarthCraft-certified. Thanks to our developers, the Franklin Johnston Group, for their responsible and sustainable practices. Read more here.

Clarke Heritage Society
We celebrated members of the Clarke Heritage Society at our annual luncheon. Annie and I had the pleasure of welcoming to campus Alice Clarke for whom the society is named along with her late husband Lambuth, president of Virginia Wesleyan from 1966 to 1992. The Clarkes planted many of the seeds of Wesleyan's future success. We remain grateful to Alice for her continued support of our institution and to the Clarkes for their inspiring legacy. Many of our supporters attended the luncheon, including Jim Bergdoll, Vice President Emeritus, and Henry Light, member of the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) and strong supporter of the Virginia Tuition Assistance Grant Program (VTAG). We thank all of our Clarke Heritage Society members for their commitment to the University in a very important way. Learn more and view the photo gallery here.

"The Future is Here" Campaign
We had a wonderful time recognizing all who supported "The Future is Here" 2019 Faculty/Staff Campaign. Special thanks to Kelly Cordova (Assistant Director of Annual Giving and Alumni Relations) and our campaign ambassadors who were recognized at the thank you reception--Elaine Aird '96, Heather Campbell '04, April Christman '14, Brandon Elliott '03, Randy Lott, Dr. Bryson Mortensen, Jason Seward '05, and Dr. Michelle Vachris. Our full-time faculty and staff members demonstrated their confidence in the future of Virginia Wesleyan with results showing 73% of the campus participating in this month-long campaign, exceeding our participation goal. This year's campaign raised over $42,000 for various priorities across the University. A noteworthy achievement from the campaign is that we had 100% participation from our alumni working full-time on campus. We can be grateful to have such an engaged community of alumni, faculty and staff supporting the University through their gifts of time, talent, and treasure. View the photo gallery here.

Marlin Meadows Garden
Work began on a new campus garden--"Marlin Meadows." This project was one of the student projects funded in the inaugural year of the Earth and Environmental Sciences Department Endowed Fund and coordinated by students of the Marlins Go Green environmental club. The garden extends the Greer Center native gardens toward the chapel and is designed by Brian O'Neil, VWU/NBG Director of Living Landscapes. The finished garden will include a native pollinator garden, a rain garden with carnivorous plants, a small bridge across a drainage swale, and a sitting area for the students to enjoy nature, which will include a table with a solar umbrella charging station. The project will occur in stages with the final plantings planned for next fall when the weather is conducive to their success. In addition to the $1,300 EES endowed fund, students have raised additional funds through a bake sale and have received other generous gifts to support the garden: Native plants were donated by the Virginia Zoo (coordinated by VWU alumnus Mikel Conway, horticulturist at the zoo); wood chips from Nuckols Tree Care; $250 from the local Sierra Club chapter; up to $3,000 from the Elizabeth River Project for native trees and the rain garden; and a generous gift from VWU Trustee Jim Shumadine. My thanks to all for their support and generosity.

Batten Plaza Updates
Work began on several projects in Batten Plaza, an area recently re-branded to help better identify the different corridors of the Jane P. Batten Student Center and Boyd Dining Center. Projects include transformation of the Marlin Grille to a new and improved Harbor Grill, as well as updates to the customer service center, known as the Batten Hub. This information center has been relocated to a more central and accommodating area--at the "T" adjacent to the Fish Tank--for streamlining services and better assisting our campus community and guests. Work has also begun on Coastal Market, a new retail venue at Virginia Wesleyan. Coastal Market will be a campus convenience store offering more options than ever for our students, faculty, staff, and visitors, including to-go food, toiletries, and other products. Coastal Market's hours will expand access to these items and we look forward to the opening! Serving as a vibrant center for the Virginia Wesleyan campus, the Batten Plaza will house the A. Kenneth Scribner, Sr., University Store, the redesigned Harbor Grill, newly constructed Coastal Market, and relocated Batten Hub. The Batten Plaza is designed to be a central gathering place equipped to enhance the overall student experience. I will continue to share updates as work and plans progress.

Steinways on Campus
Six new Steinway and Steinway-designed pianos were delivered to VWU, including a new Steinway B to the Monumental Chapel and Recital Hall. These pianos are important to our efforts to provide the best instrumentation possible for our students.

Kudos to Coach Hoover-Erbig
Congratulations to Virginia Wesleyan's Coach Andrea Hoover-Erbig on being named the Women's Volleyball Coach of the Year by Virginia Sports Information Directors (VaSID)!  Read more  here . 

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As a final reflection on the inspiring and outstanding year at Virginia Wesleyan University as we celebrated success on many levels, I leave you with a special Winter edition of the Virginia Wesleyan University Magazine. This edition provides capital project and campus updates such as our new esports program, a new dining experience coming to campus, and our third consecutive tuition freeze. The issue also includes the 2018-2019 Annual Report, recognizing the contributions of donors and volunteers who have continued to make Virginia Wesleyan a priority in their lives. Our gratitude goes to all who contribute financially and otherwise to our success.

Please know that your immeasurable impact is truly seen, heard, and felt across campus and beyond. As you read through this special edition issue, I hope you'll see that the support we receive allows our students to maximize their experience and time at Virginia Wesleyan. Now, let's make this year our best one yet!

 
Sincerely,  
--
Scott D. Miller, Ph.D.
President