Friday, February 12, 2016

Nota Bene: Campus Master Plan

February 12, 2016

Recently I shared that Virginia Wesleyan College received a $350,000 grant to assist with our Master Planning needs. In order to shape the vision of the College moving forward, there is a need for a Facility Assessment and comprehensive 10-year Campus Master Plan to complement our Strategic Plan that was developed during the SACS re-affirmation of accreditation. 

It is my desire to have a comprehensive Master Planning effort that includes the following:
  • Facilities Condition Assessment
  • Space Utilization Study
  • Facilities Master Plan
  • Parking Study
  • Action Plan and Timeline 

This Master Planning effort will require collaborative work with many stakeholders, including President's Cabinet/Executive Staff, academic leaders, faculty, and staff. Two national firms will facilitate the process over the next 10 months -- Aramark Engineering Solutions of Philadelphia, PA, and Derck & Edson Associates, LLP, of Lititz, PA. Their combined experience includes clients such as Franklin & Marshall College, Washington College, Bridgewater College, Dickinson College and the University of Scranton. Both will assign dedicated program managers for this project. 

I have asked Laynee Timlin, Chief of Staff, who led the development of the highly regarded "VWC 2020: Pathway to Prominence" strategic plan, to lead this effort. She will be assisted by Bruce Vaughan, Vice President for Facilities and Operations.  

The Campus Master Plan team will consist of:

Dr. Tim O'Rourke, Vice President for Academic Affairs
Cary Sawyer, Vice President for Finance
Dr. Keith Moore, Vice President for Student Life
Dr. Mort Gamble, Vice President for Advancement
David Waggoner, Vice President for Enrollment
Bruce Vaughan, Vice President for Facilities and Operations (Vice Chair)
Laynee Timlin, Executive Assistant to the President & Chief of Staff (Chair)
Joanne Renn, Executive Director of Intercollegiate Athletics
Robert Leitgeb, Chief Information Officer
Donald Stauffer, Senior Researcher and Policy Analyst
Dr. Travis Malone, Chair, Associate Professor of Theater and Chair of the Division of Humanities
Dr. Maynard Schaus, Professor of Biology and Chair of the Division of Natural Sciences and Math
Dr. Robert Albertson, Professor of Management, Business, and Economics and Chair of the Division of Social Sciences
Amy Mallett Rickard '98, President, Alumni Association Board of Directors
Patrice Glover, Student Representative

There will be facilitated discussions and updates with all stakeholders prior to submission to the Virginia Wesleyan College Board of Trustees next October.  

This plan will capture many of the aspirations of our students, faculty, staff, and trustees, organized around the theme of "Pathway to Prominence." I am confident that we will have the talent and resources to seize the opportunities that this planning will create.