Dialogue: Nota Bene: Weekly Update

June 23, 2025

Good morning,

Early last week, I announced that Sentara Healthcare and Virginia Wesleyan University signed an agreement for Sentara College of Health Sciences (SCOHS) to become part of VWU. While many in our community are familiar with our successful joint Bachelor of Science in Nursing program, I’d like to take this opportunity to more fully introduce our newest institutional partner.

Sentara College of Health Sciences operates from a 40,000-square-foot facility on Crossways Boulevard in Chesapeake—just two exits from our main campus. They enroll approximately 500 students, just less than 300 full time.

The College has a proud legacy dating back to 1892, when it began as a modest nursing school in Norfolk’s “Retreat for the Sick.” Over the decades, SCOHS has evolved to meet the changing needs of healthcare education, expanding to include certificate and associate degree programs in a variety of areas as well as nursing at the bachelor’s and master’s levels. Learn more about their offerings at: www.Sentara.edu

With outstanding licensure exam pass rates—99% for BSN and 100% for MSN graduates—and a hybrid instructional model combining online coursework, lab simulation, and hands-on clinical experience, SCOHS is widely recognized for its excellence in preparing healthcare professionals.

Although our institutional paths were distinct—VWU rooted in the liberal arts and SCOHS focused on applied health sciences—we have long shared core values: academic rigor, service to the community, and a strong commitment to experiential learning. These shared priorities have laid the groundwork for a transformative integration.

The transition period has begun. When complete, Sentara College of Health Sciences of Virginia Wesleyan University will mark a new chapter—blending healthcare expertise with the breadth of a liberal arts education. The result will be expanded student opportunity, deeper community impact, and an innovative approach to educating leaders who serve both body and mind.

We are proud to welcome SCOHS into the VWU family.

In April, we proudly shared that Virginia Wesleyan University has again been recognized in the newly released 2025 Carnegie Classifications with a designation that affirms our mission and momentum. VWU is now classified as a “Special Focus: Arts and Sciences” (a.k.a. “National Liberal Arts”) institution—placing us among just 6% of U.S. colleges and universities recognized in this category. This distinction aligns us with a select group of institutions nationally known for their strong emphasis on both the arts and sciences.

We see this designation reflected in our growing campus. The Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art, currently under construction at VWU, marks a transformative step forward in our commitment to the arts. Simultaneously, the integration of Sentara College of Health Sciences of Virginia Wesleyan University establishes a new and robust presence in the sciences, particularly in nursing and allied health.

Further reinforcing our mission, VWU was also awarded a “Higher Access” distinction in the new Student Access and Earnings Classification—recognizing our success in enrolling and supporting students from underserved backgrounds and first-generation college families.

These milestones make clear: Virginia Wesleyan is an innovative university of the arts and sciences with a growing national reputation. I couldn’t be prouder of who we are and where we’re going.

ET CETERA

We welcomed our newest Marlins to campus this past Friday for Marlin Nation Orientation (MNO) and are excited to welcome another group today.

New students and their families are attending a wide variety of information sessions and engaging activities that invigorate and immerse them in Virginia Wesleyan culture. The MNO program is carefully designed to facilitate a smooth transition to the campus experience and to provide new Marlins with everything they need to know to be successful during their first year.

Many thanks to all faculty, staff, and students who have contributed to the success of this year’s Marlin Nation Orientation, and a special thank you to our dedicated Campus Life and David L. Kaufman Center for Enrollment staff members for the notable role they play in these events.

Please be sure to give our newest students and families a warm Virginia Wesleyan welcome today.

AROUND TOWN AND ACROSS CAMPUS

2025 State of the University: August 20

Each August, prior to the start of the fall semester, I deliver a State of the University Address to our campus community. Alumni, parents and friends are encouraged to tune in to the VWU Digital Broadcasting Network to watch this year’s special event as we celebrate the Batten Legacy at our institution.

Join us this week for Wesleyan Wednesday in Chesapeake: June 25

Mark your calendars to join us at Wild Wing Café in Chesapeake for our first Wesleyan Wednesday of the summer and a celebration of John Wesley’s birthday!

The event is free and open to all Marlin alumni, faculty, staff, and their families on June 25 from 5-7 p.m. We hope to see you there!

Coffee + Conversation with Clean Virginia Waterways and Virginia MOCA

Join our friends at Virginia MOCA for a casual conversation exploring their current exhibitions on Thursday, June 26, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. The conversation will be led by Virginia MOCA staff and guest speaker Christina Trapani, Program Director of Clean Virginia Waterways. Christina brings years of experience in environmental advocacy and marine debris reduction.

This event is a terrific example of the University’s shared values with Virginia MOCA. Register here.

Celebration Luncheon for Early Assurance Program Partnership

We were delighted to welcome our colleagues from Old Dominion University and the Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at ODU to DeFord Manor for a special luncheon celebrating the launch of 13 early assurance programs for students pursuing careers in the health sciences. Senior leadership from both institutions came together to formally initiate this exciting new chapter in academic collaboration and student opportunity.

Pictured from left: Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion University Executive Vice President Alfred Z. Abuhamad, M.D., ODU Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Brian K. Payne, Ph.D., and VWU Provost and Vice President Deirdre Gonsalves-Jackson, Ph.D.

Connecting with Longtime Friend of VWU

Always a pleasure to visit with Congressman Bobby Scott during his Town Hall in Norfolk. A steadfast advocate for education and a good friend of Virginia Wesleyan, we’re grateful for his continued support and leadership.

A Preview of What’s to Come

We were excited to welcome David and Susan Goode to the construction site of the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art at VWU, located within the David R. Goode Arts Complex, last week. The museum is on track to open on our campus in early 2026—an exciting milestone for the arts and for the region.

Pictured from left: Hourigan Project Manager Charlie Blakeley, David and Susan Goode, and Hourigan Assistant Project Manager Justus DiPeppe.

PARTNERS IN PROGRESS

A Virginia Wesleyan University Community