As an affirmation of our guiding principles regarding environmental stewardship, our sustainability leadership team participated in a productive four days at the annual Higher Education Climate Leadership Summit and spring meeting of the
Climate Leadership Network (CLN) in Atlanta, Georgia.
Joining me in Atlanta was Dr. Maynard Schaus (Vice President for Academic Affairs) and Dr. Elizabeth Malcolm (Director of Campus Sustainability, Professor of Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences, and Chair of the Earth and Environmental Science Department).
CLN (formerly the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment) is a select group of 437 colleges and universities who are taking action on climate and preparing students through research and education to solve the environmental challenges of the 21st century. The Summit is hosted by
Second Nature, a Boston-based organization, and the
Intentional Endowments Network (IEN).
I have had an active involvement with CLN since its founding by Second Nature in 2006 and was one of the original signatories of the President's Climate Commitment upon its establishment. In 2018, I was selected as chair of the CLN for a two-year term. As chair, I have also served on the Board of Directors of Second Nature.
This was my final in-person
meeting in this role, as my term comes to an end in June. It has been a rewarding experience to lead this group, and I know my successor,
Elsa Nunez (President of Eastern Connecticut State University and current Vice Chair of CLN) will do an excellent job continuing this meaningful work. David Finegold, President of Chatham University, has been elected to serve as the new Vice Chair, starting in June. I will continue on the Second Nature Board of Directors for a new three-year term.
Virginia Wesleyan continues to benefit from our relationship with Second Nature and IEN in a myriad of ways. The organization is reshaping institutions and communities while training the future political, business, and scientific leaders who will help solve climate change. We have developed and implemented a comprehensive Climate Action Plan and are proud to be a national leader on this important topic. Our institutional mission embraces social responsibility and participatory citizenship as essential parts of an undergraduate curriculum in the classroom, on campus, and in the community. With our commitment to the vitality of this program, we will continue to advance the cause of sustainability and environmental stewardship.
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On a related note, we were among 353 higher education institutions signing the "
We Are Still In" (WASI) declaration in 2017. "We Are Still In" signatories represent a constituency of more than half of all Americans, and together, they represent $6.2 trillion, a larger economy than any nation other than the U.S. or China.
Virginia Wesleyan recently reaffirmed our support of key climate and clean energy policies through the "We Are Still In" commitment by signing a letter urging the Virginia General Assembly for Virginia legislature to include full participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI); passage of the Virginia Clean Economy Act (VCEA); and support for clean transportation and customer access to clean energy options, among other items. WASI is a cross-sector coalition led by Second Nature. Read more
here.
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Highlights from the past month include:
Virginia Wesleyan Earns Champion Title at Statewide Collegiate Ethics Bowl
Congratulations again to the VWU Ethics Bowl team, who finished as the champions of the 2020 Virginia Foundation for Independent Colleges' (VFIC) Ethics Bowl. The VWU team competed against other highly qualified student teams from Virginia's 15 leading independent colleges and universities in early February. We are so proud of their hard work and deliberation on a variety of cases surrounding "Ethics and Higher Education." Our team was undefeated
in the four preliminary rounds and edged out Hampden-Sydney College in th
e final round to win the Batten Trophy for the second time in the event's history. The Batten trophy, named for VWU Trustee Emerita Jane P. Batten and her late husband Frank Batten, Sr., both strong Ethics Bowl supporters, is proudly displayed on our campus. This is an impressive and fitting achievement as our Ethics Bowl team--Alex Powers, Anitra Howard, and Criofan Shaw--are all Batten Honors College students. Read more about this exciting feat here.
My sincere thanks to longtime Ethics Bowl coach Dr. Kathy Merlock Jackson (Professor of Communication Studies) for her hard work and dedication to this program. As many of you know, Dr. Jackson and her husband Joe were victims of a serious car accident the day before the Ethics Bowl and are both in the process of healing. Please join me in keeping her and Joe in your thoughts. I pray for their comfort and full recovery. I share with you an article and interview with the Jacksons here.
Dr. Loren Loving Marquez (Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs) and April Christman (Executive Assistant to the Vice President for Academic Affairs) accompanied the Ethics Bowl team to Lynchburg and coached them through the competition. My gratitude to them both for stepping up and supporting our students.
Winter Board of Trustees Meeting
The Virginia Wesleyan University Board of Trustees held its winter meeting on February 12 in the Board of Trustees Suite in the Boyd Dining Center. Economist and noted author Dr. Jim Koch was the featured speaker at the meeting. Dr. Koch's presentation focused on "Virginia Wesleyan and the Changing World of Higher Education." He is Board of Visitors Professor of Economics Emeritus and President Emeritus of Old Dominion University and President Emeritus of the University of Montana. The Board heard committee reports and signed off on several action items, including approval of recommended faculty promotions and tenure. Dr. Bryson Mortensen (music) earned tenure and will advance from assistant to associate professor, and Dr. Audrey Malagon (mathematics) will advance from associate to full professor.
Thank you to our Trustees for a productive meeting and for their service to the institution. As always, we are grateful for the leadership and guidance of Board Chair John Malbon.
VWU Earns Prestigious Community Engagement Classification
Virginia Wesleyan was selected through a competitive process to receive the Carnegie Foundation's prestigious Community Engagement Classification. Our institution is among 119 U.S. colleges and universities (one of 52 private institutions) this year to earn the elective designation, one of 19 Coalition for Urban and Metropolitan Universities (CUMU) members (and one of four private CUMU institutions). The selective distinction indicates institutional commitment to community engagement and is the leading framework for assessment and recognition of community engagement in U.S. higher education. We hold social responsibility at the core of our values, and I take great pride in this accomplishment and in working among such engaged citizens and leaders. Read more
here.
Virginia Wesleyan Formalizes Agreement for Joint Nursing Program
We hosted leadership from Sentara College of Health Sciences for the signing of an agreement formalizing our institutions' commitment to pursue a joint Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree program. Together we will now participate in an application process with Virginia Wesleyan's accrediting body, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), and Sentara College of Health Science's accrediting body, Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES). Once approved, the BSN would be offered as a joint degree and would involve coursework at both institutions. At least 10 slots would be guaranteed on a competitive basis to students who meet defined admission standards, and additional applicants would be considered. This is an exciting step for Virginia Wesleyan. Read more
here.
"Black History is American History"
We welcomed Dr. Janice Underwood, the Commonwealth and the nation's first cabinet-level chief diversity officer, to Virginia Wesleyan recently. She led an inspiring discussion as part of the University's Black History Month recognition: "Black history is American history," she told guests. "The complicated parts are our history too. We can't always stand up for what is exciting and celebratory, and then denounce or turn our backs on the hard, problematic parts of it." She urged attendees to remember this point all year long, not just during the month of February.
Dr. Underwood strongly believes in servant leadership and culturally relevant reform and is committed to addressing racial, ethnic, disability, gender-based, and other cultural inequities in formal and informal policies and practices in Virginia state government. She is working tirelessly to build a statewide strategic plan for diversity and inclusive excellence across 186 state agencies and with other public and private sectors. Her goal is to make Virginia a national exemplar for the nation regarding diversity, equity, and inclusive excellence. Read more
here.
50th Anniversary of Earth Day
Earth Day Network (EDN) recently announced that Virginia Wesleyan University is one of 11 institutions in Virginia to become a key partner for Earth Day 2020. Marlins Go Green and Facilities Management will host the second annual Earth Week on campus with the theme "Back and to the Future: The Sustainable Progression of VWU." The celebration will honor the 50th anniversary of Earth Day and will recognize the changes at Virginia Wesleyan over the past five decades that have cultivated VWU's status as one of Virginia's leading universities in sustainable development. In 1970, the first Earth Day mobilized over 20 million citizens to demand action on the environmental challenges of the time. Today, Earth Day is observed in around 190 countries and mobilizes one billion people and close to 100,000 organizations. Stay tuned for more information.
Batten Honors College Competition
We welcomed the second of three Batten Honors College competition groups for next fall's class, which will bring our total enrollment to the desired 160. Our second group of competitors was impressive in so many ways. We're delighted with the progress of this highly selective program, which has turned into a national-niche program for Virginia Wesleyan. The first competition weekend took place in November and the third begins this Thursday. This selective academic program is made possible by generous support from Virginia Wesleyan University Trustee Emerita Jane P. Batten H'06 and her late husband, Frank Batten, Sr. View the photo gallery from the weekend
here
.
VWU Athletic Hall of Fame
Virginia Wesleyan University inducted the twelfth class of its Athletic Hall of Fame on February 1 during a special ceremony presented by TowneBank. Two University benefactors and four former Marlin athletic standouts were recognized at the ceremony. Jane P. Batten and George Y. and Sue Birdsong and the Birdsong families were honored for their outstanding philanthropic contributions of resources, time, and devoted support to the University's intercollegiate athletics program. The four former student-athletes, who represent the best of the best from Virginia Wesleyan's athletic history, are Victoria "Tori" Higginbotham-Abbey '14 (Softball, 2010-14), Jessica Edelman Gosnell '13 (Women's Soccer, 2009-13), Nancy Mattox Moore '00 (Women's Basketball and Softball, 1996-00), and Chris Yeager '94 (Men's Soccer, 1990-94). Congratulations again to all! Read more and view photos
here.
Warrior Chorus Project
It was an honor to attend the Warrior Chorus Project: Staged Reading of Greek Tragedy by and for Veterans on campus last month. Directed by Dr. Peter Meineck, former British Royal Marine and Professor at VWU, the Warrior Chorus is a national initiative that trains veterans to present innovative programs based on ancient literature. Made possible by a Virginia Humanities Grant, Virginia Wesleyan hosted the inspiring program in the Brock Theatre of the Goode Center on February 6 and 7. It was a privilege to have the opportunity to honor our veterans and their service. Thank you to Dr. Ben Haller, Associate Professor of Classics, for his work in bringing this program to campus. Learn more here.
Presidential Candidate Holds Virginia Beach/Norfolk Rally at VWU
Virginia Wesleyan University extended an open invitation to all presidential candidates. The Bernie Sanders campaign accepted that invitation, and the democratic presidential hopeful visited campus February 29 to speak to voters ahead of today's primary. Regardless of political preference, it was an excellent learning opportunity for our students and a chance for them to see democracy in action. My thanks to the cities of Virginia Beach and Norfolk for their support, and to our staff for their hard work. Read more here.
Fall 2019 Presidents' List Recognition
Congratulations again to the Virginia Wesleyan University students named to the Fall 2019 President's List--earning a 4.0 GPA last semester. We honored their achievements during a special reception in the Atrium of the Greer Environmental Sciences Center on February 18. View the photo gallery from the event.
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Last, but not least I'd like to applaud our campus community for their strong participation during this year's RecycleMania Tournament and encourage everyone to keep up the good work. Today begins week five of the eight-week recycling and waste reduction competition across the nation and Canada. VWU has participated in this competition since 2011, and I am pleased to share that we are currently ranked first for pounds of per capita recycling against the other Virginia teams competing.
Additionally, we are ranked second among the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) schools competing for per capita recycling and percent of waste diverted to recycling. Our recycling efforts have prevented 21 tons of carbon dioxide emissions.
To stay on top, we need help from our campus community. Every week, student RecycleMania volunteers measure the amount of trash that VWU produces. Please recycle your clean cardboard, bottles, cans, and paper in the blue bins across campus. Please also place your personal-care product containers (empty toothpaste, shampoo, etc.) and foil-lined energy bar wrappers in the TerraCycle bins in Hofheimer Library's 24-hour study room. If you are interested in helping with outreach efforts, monitoring progress, or volunteer during RecycleMania events, please be sure to visit the
Wesleyan Engaged Office
.
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