Dialogue: Nota Bene: Weekly Update

Under the leadership of head coach Brandon Elliott, Virginia Wesleyan has won back-to-back NCAA National Championships in softball. However, the Marlins earned a national championship in another important category last week. The Marlins finished first in the nation among NCAA Division III institutions in the StrikeOut Cancer program.

National Fastpitch Coaches Association members have once again banded together in the fight against cancer, raising over $500,000 in support of the Association and American Cancer Society's annual StrikeOut Cancer initiative.

The Virginia Wesleyan University softball team has once again showed the power of giving, raising a record-breaking $28,620 for the American Cancer Society last spring, surpassing their $25,000 goal. Its ninth year coordinating the event, the squad has now raised a total of $131,032 over the course of that time. The squad has been the top Division III giver over the past three years, each year generating more gifts than the last. We are extremely proud of these meaningful and selfless accomplishments.

The winners receive pink Louisville Slugger bats, generously donated by Louisville's parent company Wilson Sporting Goods, Inc.

Overall: University of Michigan - $163,161.00 (Carol Hutchins)

NCAA Division I: Louisiana State University - $72,000.01 (Beth Torina)

NCAA Division II: Lee University - $7,711.00 (Emily Russell)

NCAA Division III: Virginia Wesleyan University - $28,620.00 (Brandon Elliott)

NAIA: Oklahoma Wesleyan University - $2051.57 (Caty Reeves)

Two-Year College: Indian Hills Community College - $2,000.00 (Laura North)

High School: Martin Luther High School - $4,800.00 (John Oothoudt)

Travel Ball/Youth: VA Glory - $81,000.00 (Suzy Willemssen)

Kudos to Coach Elliott and the Marlin Nation on another impressive accomplishment!

ET CETERA

I am pleased to share that the Beazley Foundation notified us this week of its commitment of $150,000 to support improvements to technology. This is the third donor in the past two months (the other two wish to remain anonymous) to make significant contributions to this important area.

I have endorsed the recommendation of CIO Robert Leitgeb to bring in a technology evaluation team from Ellucian to prioritize our next steps. The evaluation team will be here today.

We value the Beazley Foundation's confidence in our mission, our vision for the future, and our plans for the appropriate care and expansion of the Virginia Wesleyan campus. In recognition of the Foundation's ongoing support, the University will name the student technology center in Clarke Hall the Fred W. Beazley Technology Center.

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Consistent with our mission of service to our native Virginia Beach/Norfolk and our Coastal Virginia heritage, Virginia Wesleyan University has joined the Coalition of Urban and Metropolitan Universities (CUMU). In particular, CUMU membership will strengthen our civic engagement and continuing education programs as approximately 60 percent of members have received a Carnegie Classification for Community Engagement.

CUMU was formed in 1989 by leaders of metropolitan and urban institutions who realized their unique challenges and opportunities as they looked to the future of higher education. Member institutions are an affiliate organization of about 100 universities in metropolitan areas that share common understandings of their institutional missions and values. CUMU is dedicated to our members and the creation and dissemination of knowledge on the issues that face our urban and metropolitan campuses and the communities we serve.

Learn more here.

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Congratulations to Virginia Wesleyan's Education Program on their successful re-accreditation by the Virginia Department of Education. On October 18, the Virginia Board of Education approved the Advisory Board on Teacher Education and Licensure's recommendation that the teacher education program at VWU "...be accredited, indicating that the program has met the standards as set forth in the Regulations Governing the Review and Approval of Education Programs in Virginia."

Kudos to Malcolm Lively, Associate Professor of Education and Director of the Education Program, and his colleagues for a job well done!

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Another shout out to the Women's Softball Head Coach Brandon Elliott who was included in a national column on college recruiting. The column noted his active presence on social media (Tweet was featured in the USA TODAY High School Sports).

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As you may know, I serve as an editor of "Presidential Perspectives," a presidential thought series for college and university presidents. This is the thirteenth year of the thought series; the last three years have been sponsored by Sodexo. Our friend and colleague Jim Jenkins, CEO of Sodexo Universities, North America East, has written a blog on higher education issues. This month's blog is particularly interesting. From virtual reality campus tours to push notifications about an exam, technology isn't a "nice to have" for universities. It's a requirement.

Sodexo's new 2018 Global University Trends Report takes a long look at how technology has redefined how universities attract and educate students. The institutions that don't adapt risk falling woefully behind. Jim has written a blog to share his perspective on how to strike the right balance, "Technology Versus Tradition: How to strike the right balance on campus." Consider this: Nearly 98% of college-bound adults (age 18-24) own a smartphone and expect to use it to enrich their studies and campus activities. Working professionals demand rich, remote learning experiences. Is your university meeting the needs of its diverse student population?

Download the University Trends Report to find out how you can stay on top of evolving technology and other key trends shaping universities worldwide.

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Earlier this month I met with LTC Rhanda Kurdi, Director of the Army ROTC Monarchs--a program benefiting our students. Virginia Wesleyan has an active Army ROTC program in cooperation with ODU, and I am pleased that it has grown in size and stature in recent years.

In collaboration with Keith Moore, Vice President for Student Affairs, and Amy Rush, VWU Army ROTC Advisor, an office has been designated on the first floor of Godwin Hall for our campus-based program. The location provides easy access to the Financial Aid and Veterans Affairs Office located across the lobby. We expect the office to be ready for use by the start of Winter Session.

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Virginia Wesleyan University joined colleagues from 345 colleges and universities nationwide as a signatory on a letter sent to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in support of the Fulbright Program. We wanted to thank him for his support, and alert him to the profound impact that the Fulbright Program has had and continues to have on American higher education.

The Program has been an invaluable resource to colleges and universities for more than 71 years, powering the commitment they have made to global education and understanding. U.S. colleges and universities lead the world, and the Fulbright Program helps make that possible.

A special thanks to Rich Ekman, President of the Council of Independent Colleges, and Millie Gracia, President of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities, who promoted this initiative in widening the program's reach.

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A key to success for any intercollegiate athletic program is financial support from alumni and friends. A new approach to fundraising at Virginia Wesleyan University this year is game sponsorship for home men's basketball games.

Coach Dave Macedo, working with the Center for Advancement staff, has procured sponsorship for all of the Marlins home games this season. The last two games have been sponsored by Steve Weddle '91 and Astro Entertainment. Both games included half-time shooting competition involving our students. Thanks to Steve for his ongoing support!

AROUND TOWN AND ACROSS CAMPUS

It was an honor to accept the Outstanding Non-Profit in Fundraising Award last week from Laurie Harrison, President of the Association of Fundraising Professionals Hampton Roads chapter. Virginia Wesleyan was recognized for its strong record of philanthropic support that has led to new campus construction, two national-niche programs (the Batten Honors College and the Greer Environmental Sciences Center), upgrades of athletic facilities, and enhanced information technology--all constituting an astonishing transformation at our campus in just three years.

Although the Outstanding Non-Profit in Fundraising Award is a wonderful honor for Virginia Wesleyan, we owe tremendous gratitude to those who make our success possible. Leadership support of VWU enriches our mission of teaching, scholarship and service. We appreciate those who joined us at the VWU table to celebrate at last week's luncheon: Trustee Mary Haddad, Annie Miller, VWU Senior Vice President Dr. Mort Gamble, Trustee Susan Goode, Trustee John Malbon and Trustee Emerita Jane Batten. Other trustees at the event included Joan Brock, Louis Ryan, Vince Mastracco, and Sharon Goodwyn. Read more in Inside Business.

Last week I enjoyed visiting with new Virginia Beach Mayor Robert M. "Bobby" Dyer. A veteran of the U.S. Marines and former educator, Mayor Dyer and I discussed areas of mutual interest and possible collaboration.

It was such a pleasure to welcome Alice Clarke and her daughter Virginia Hitch to campus last Thursday for our annual luncheon celebrating members of the Clarke Heritage Society. The society is named for Alice and her late husband Lambuth, a former president of Virginia Wesleyan, and honors those who have included VWU in their estate plans. We thank our members for their commitment to the University in this most important way. View the photo gallery from this special event here.

Assistant Professor of Music and Director of Choral Music Bryson Mortensen, Dean of the Susan S. Goode School of Arts and Humanities and Professor of Theatre Travis Malone, and VWU freshman Ryan Fissinger '22 recently traveled to the Steinway & Sons factory and showroom in Astoria, New York to select the best piano for the Susan S. Goode Fine and Performing Arts Center. As a token of appreciation, Steinway sent a handmade piano hammer to the Goodes, which we had the pleasure of presenting to Susan during last week's Clarke Heritage Society luncheon. The hammer, which is only presented during the selection process, strikes the string to produce the sound from the piano. Read more here.

A wonderful lunch last week with leaders from Greek organizations at Virginia Wesleyan University. I always enjoy these opportunities to learn more about campus life directly from our students. Special thanks to Brandon Foster, President of the Interfraternity Council, for helping coordinate the event.

"New hotel concept proposed in Norfolk near campus; adjacent to the outlet mall and new Ikea." Read more in The Virginian-Pilot.

Virginia Wesleyan University is proud to be home to the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities' Hampton Roads office and to take part in breaking down barriers. Read more in The Virginian-Pilot.

Brick work on The Beacon is complete and crews are in the process of removing scaffolding. We look forward to holding our annual Christmas tree lighting nearby this Friday, December 7. With cooler temperatures in the area, white plastic has been placed across the front of the new Susan S. Goode Fine and Performing Arts Center so that the heating can be turned on. In January the plastic will be replaced with glass. Construction began last week on the new grandstand and new Auxiliary Building for the softball program at Broyles Field and TowneBank Park. Work began last week on the new Auxiliary Building at the Betty S. Rogers Track and Field Center.

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HIGHLIGHTS FROM MY WEEKEND READING

"Major Trump administration climate report says damage is 'intensifying across the country.'" Read more in The Washington Post.
"President Speaks: Let's stop talking about 'non-traditional students,'" reports Education Dive. "'There is a new normal for college students and higher education needs to adapt to serve them,' writes Touro College President Alan Kadish."
According to The Chronicle of Higher Education, U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos proposed sweeping changes on to how colleges handle sexual-misconduct cases. In 2017 DeVos rescinded the Obama-era Title IX guidance, which had called for more-aggressive enforcement of the 1972 law mandating gender equity among colleges that accept federal money. Here are three of the changes proposed under the new policy:

A person accused of sexual misconduct would be guaranteed the right to cross-examine the accuser.

Colleges' responsibilities to investigate would be limited to cases in which there are formal complaints and the alleged incidents happen on campus or within an educational program or activity.

The definition of sexual harassment that colleges are required to act on would be narrower.

For more information on what the changes could bring, read this article in The Chronicle of Higher Education by Sarah Brown and Katie Mangan.

"Sharp Divide Over Trump Administration's Title IX Overhaul. DeVos says proposed campus sexual misconduct rule will restore fairness. But survivor advocates warn it will reduce the responsibility of colleges to maintain a safe environment." Read more in Inside Higher Ed.
"Meet the New Mega-University." Read more in The Chronicle of Higher Education.
This OpEd is interesting and helpful in understanding the recently announced tuition guarantee by our cross-bay rival.
New book traces history of church sexuality debates. "Disagreements in The United Methodist Church about human sexuality extend as far back as the birth-control movement of the 1920s," writes Ashley Boggan Dreff in Entangled: A History of American Methodism, Politics, and Sexuality. The book, published by the United Methodist Board of Higher Education and Ministry, covers the attitudes of U.S. Methodists about sexuality since World War II. Read the press release here. For further reading, Nathan Bangs, an early methodist is subject of a new book.
"Corporate collaboration prepares college graduates for day one." Colleague Mark Lombardi, president of Maryville University, writes: "Meaningful partnerships between universities and corporations require meaningful collaborations to benefit students and drive successful outcomes. Working together with our partners ensures that everyone--students, institutions and partners--can be successful." Read more in University Business.
"Michael Bloomberg: Why I'm Giving $1.8 Billion for College Financial Aid. Let's eliminate money problems from the admissions equation for qualified students." Read more in The New York Times.
More than 120 organizations wrote to DeVos encouraging her to prolong the 60-day comment period surrounding her proposed Title IX changes.