Research
indicates that students who work while attending college are more
likely to graduate, feel better prepared for the workforce through
development of leadership skills, and become more active and engaged
citizens. At colleges like Virginia Wesleyan, a work program can provide
not only a meaningful learning experience, but it can also reduce debt
and make higher education more affordable. It is for these reasons that
I’m pleased to announce the establishment of Opus, a summer work program for our students.
The Opus work
program will serve approximately 20 students with financial need who
would like to continue their studies at Virginia Wesleyan. Preference
will be given to rising sophomores and juniors with a personal account
balance owed of $2,000 to $3,000, and who also demonstrate, in addition
to financial need, a commitment to academic studies and campus
involvement.
Participating students will have the opportunity to
live on campus in Brock Village and will be provided with a modest meal
plan. They will begin their duties following May Commencement and will
work 25 hours per week for a period of 13 weeks. Projects will focus on
corrective maintenance, grounds and landscaping, and general campus
beautification efforts.
The major goals and expected outcomes from the Opus program
are to ensure the completion of a liberal arts education for students
with limited financial resources; to develop strong work ethic,
communication and problem-solving skills; to give our graduates the
professional/technical knowledge essential for their work and the
executive skills required to plan, organize and prioritize tasks; to
build a reliable source of workers who are knowledgeable, skilled, and
likely to remain in the region; and to increase campus pride among
students. Eventually, I would like to expand this program to include meaningful work opportunities during the academic year.
As I've outlined in my two State of the College
addresses, recruitment and retention of students are the central goals
of our enrollment plan and vital to the overall budgetary health of
Virginia Wesleyan. Just as important, we need to be alert to
opportunities that enrich our students' experiences through expanded
academic and co-curricular options. I am confident that Opus will
serve as a valuable tool in creating greater financial stability and
ease for a number of our students. It is my goal to provide each student
who arrives on our campus with all the tools they need to walk
across that stage on Commencement Day—a Virginia Wesleyan degree in
hand.
Special thanks to Dr. Keith Moore, Vice President for
Student Affairs, Jason Seward, Assistant Vice President for Student
Affairs, and Rob Levinsky, Director of Physical Plant Operations, for
taking the lead on this very important initiative. Should you have any
questions about the Opus program application process, please contact these staff members directly.
