The President's Letter: A Season of Gratitude During Challenging Times

 

November 2020 A Season of Gratitude During Challenging Times

While 2020 has been a challenging year for so many Marlins locally and around the world, this time of year asks members of the VWU family everywhere to pause and reflect on what we are grateful for. Words cannot express my gratitude for our healthy campus, our caring faculty and staff, and our resilient students. I am also thankful for the Virginia Wesleyan University Board of Trustees for their service to our institution. Their support, engagement, and stewardship are evident in all they do. The Board of Trustees wrapped up a busy month with its Fall Business Session last week. Earlier in the month, they met to hear updates from the Emergency Response Team on the University’s COVID Action Plan and held fall committee meetings. During the Fall Business Session, they voted on several important items, including a freezing of tuition for the 2021-2022 academic year for the fourth year in a row.    The Board offered a special welcome to Alisa Crider ’10, an ex-officio member as the new Alumni Council Chair, and also recognized long-time Trustee and benefactor Henry Watts H’07 with the distinction of Emeritus. I would like to thank our Board of Trustees Chair, John Malbon, as well as our Board Committee Chairs—Nancy T. DeFord (Academic Affairs), David Kaufman (Enrollment), Jon Pruden (Student Affairs), Vince Mastracco (Advancement Committee), Tim Bailey (Administration and Finance), and Jim Shumadine (Investment)—for their strategic leadership and service to VWU.

Highlights from the past month include... Commencement 2020: December 5-6 In keeping with the Governor's order of gatherings no larger than 250 people (or 50% of room capacity), we plan to hold five Commencement Ceremonies on December 5-6, one for each academic school. The location for each ceremony will be confirmed once the number of graduates attending is determined. Information regarding ceremony location, tickets, and cap and gown purchasing will be posted on www.vwu.edu/commencement as these details are confirmed. I hope our most recent graduates and their guests will return to VWU for their formal Commencement and the recognition they deserve.  The 2020 Virginia Wesleyan University Exemplary Teaching Award I am proud to share that Dr. Wayne Pollock, Associate Professor of Sport and Recreation Professions, has been named the recipient of the 2020 Virginia Wesleyan University Exemplary Teaching Award by the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (GBHEM) of the United Methodist Church. Presidents from the 117 schools, colleges and universities of the UMC are invited to submit one faculty member from each institution to be recognized by the Nashville-based organization. Read more here. Alumni Council: New Leadership and Members The University announced new officers of the Alumni Council—Alisa Crider '10, Chair; Thomas Taylor, Vice Chair; and Dominique "Dom" Fowler '12, Secretary. The Alumni Council also welcomed six new members—Brandon Adair '12, Myles Baynard '19, Ksera Dyette '11, Taylor “Tip” Major '20, George Rogers '03, and Jaclyn Ruelle '04. The principal purpose of the Alumni Council is to strengthen the bond between our graduates and the University. I thank the entire Alumni Council for their tireless efforts on behalf of the University to expand alumni outreach, engagement, and participation. New Arrivals on Campus This past month, the University welcomed two new leaders to the Marlin family—Kim Hammer, the new Vice President for Advancement and Special Assistant to the President; and Greg Skinner, our new Chief Information Officer. We are delighted to have both of these outstanding professionals as a part of the Virginia Wesleyan community.  Virginia Wesleyan Named Among Nation's Most Environmentally Responsible Colleges VWU is one of the nation's most environmentally responsible colleges, according to The Princeton Review. VWU is one of 416 colleges featured in the education services company’s Guide to Green Colleges: 2021 Edition, released October 20. The Virginia Wesleyan University community is dedicated to a greener campus and a greener world. In addition to its consistent selection for the Green Colleges guide, VWU has been recognized locally, regionally and nationally for its sustainability practices. Learn more here.  Campus 757 With the presidents of Tidewater Community College, Norfolk State University, Eastern Virginia Medical School, and Old Dominion University, I'm proud to have played an active role in the founding of Campus 757. Campus 757 is a talent development initiative that markets to current and prospective students the diverse range of opportunities and offerings available to those that live, study, and work in the Coastal Virginia area. While the area’s universities seek to attract and retain the best and brightest students from around the country, Campus 757 works with these universities to keep these students in the Coastal Virginia area long after graduation. VWU Celebrates Virtual Homecoming and Family Weekend  Marlins everywhere celebrated Homecoming and Family Weekend virtually through a variety of online events during the first weekend of October. I hope our Marlin alumni, students, families, and friends had fun connecting with the University through virtual events like the Marlin 5k, our 4th Annual Chili Cook-Off, pub trivia, campus tours, and the Marlin Fringe Festival. Read more and watch recordings of many of these events and performances here.  President to President: Fostering a Culture of Innovation The second chapter of the 2020-2021 President to President thought leadership series that I edit (along with Dr. Marylouise Fennell) is now available online. In "Embracing Campus Capital: Formulating a Vocabulary for Change," Wofford College President Nayef H. Samhat, Ph.D., explores how periods of change can foster innovation and growth. He describes how his institution harnesses the momentum created by change, reimagining it as an opportunity to pursue the college's strategic vision for the future. VWU CovidSafe The University's Emergency Response Team continues to update VWU CovidSafe to provide information about the current number of confirmed cases impacting our community. It is updated weekly on Wednesdays to keep the campus informed of our current situation. Campus Improvements Renovation of Susan T. Beverly Hall (formerly the Fine Arts Building) progressed very well throughout October. The new roof was installed and landscaping around the front of the building began. Thanks to the Norfolk Botanical Garden/VWU Director of Living Landscapes Brian O’Neil for the design. In the Edward D. Hofheimer Theatre of Beverly Hall, demolition of the existing floor began. A new floor similar to the stage in the Susan S. Goode Fine and Performing Arts Center will be installed as well as other improvements to the walls, ceiling, lighting, and theatre fixtures. A new kiln building on the east side of the building will be constructed in the next month. The entire renovation should be completed by the end of December. Improvements also continue in TowneBank Arena of the Jane P. Batten Student Center. This past month, we added a new players' tunnel entrance from the locker room hallway to the court, thanks to the support of Joe ’94 and Lori ’94 Harris and Pepsi. WC Carpenter Commercial Floor Coverings of Virginia Beach—owned by VWU graduate Kaddy Hamilton '85—installed new athletic prescription carpeting in the main corridor of the team locker rooms, natatorium, sports medicine room, and team entry to the main arena and the Cunningham Multi-Activity Center (C-MAC). Outside of the arena, Archbell Signs started painting the Marlin logo on the walkway to the entrance. Additional improvements around campus include the new windscreen on the outfield fence at Kenneth R. Perry Field at TowneBank Park, funded by former Marlin and current Trustee Tim Bailey '83. A new bicycle and pedestrian path has been added connecting the Susan S. Goode Fine and Performing Arts Center parking lot and the spectator area at Birdsong Field for easy access and convenient parking when larger crowds attend events at the field. Coastal 61 Coastal 61 at Oxford Village is now open. The new eight-building, 244 luxury-apartment community is located on the north side of campus on Wesleyan Drive. Seven of the nine buildings are completed. The other two buildings on the west side of the complex are scheduled for completion by the end of the calendar year. We are proud to embrace both sides of Wesleyan Drive, expanding our presence as we expand our programs and enrollment.

In closing, I'd like to remind everyone to vote in the election tomorrow. There is a lot of work to be done regionally and nationally, and the work begins with every American exercising their right to vote. Please visit the Virginia Department of Elections for information on where and how you can vote tomorrow. Sincerely,

Scott D. Miller, Ph.D. President