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I know you’re busy this time of year, so I’ll keep this brief. But before I get to my wish list, I need to say thank you. When this year’s Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form was both early and easy to use, I knew you must have sent a few of your best elves to help the U.S. Department of Education. I suspect they borrowed not just your workforce, but your North Pole efficiency.
Here at Virginia Wesleyan University, we’ve been busy in our own version of Santa’s workshop, fostering bright minds and big ideas to take shape. We’re crafting gifts that last much longer than anything wrapped in a bow: opportunities, innovation and hope. We hope it’s enough to put us on the “nice list” again this year.
One of our proudest projects on the workbench is the integration of Sentara College of Health Sciences, on pace to be fully incorporated into VWU in 2026, pending Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) approval. This partnership will unite VWU’s strong liberal arts foundation with the applied expertise of the health sciences, preparing well-rounded health care professionals who combine intellect with empathy and skill with heart. When complete, it will be a tremendous win for our students and the communities they’ll one day serve.
Another bright spot in the workshop is VWU-Chesapeake, Virginia’s only degree-granting program for incarcerated learners from a four-year university. Developed in partnership with the Virginia Department of Corrections and the Urban League of Hampton Roads, the program gives incarcerated individuals a second chance through education. I know even you can’t easily deliver joy behind prison walls, Santa, so we’re doing our best to bring a little hope where we can.
And since no workshop is complete without a little art and inspiration, the finishing touches are being added to the new Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art, opening on our campus in early 2026. Mark your calendar, and we’ll have a VIP parking space ready for your sleigh and plenty of carrots for the reindeer.
Of course, every good workshop deserves a great name, and ours will soon be Batten University. Effective July 1, our new name honors the vision and generosity of Jane Batten and her family while symbolizing a new era of purpose and possibility. It reflects our transformation into a dynamic, globally connected institution dedicated to innovation, service and the Coastal Virginia community we call home. So, Santa, when you’re filling stockings this year, please tuck in a little extra Marlin spirit for those who might need it. Even as our name evolves, the heart of this place remains the same: warm, welcoming and full of purpose.
Finally, Santa, if there’s room left on the sleigh, I’d ask you to deliver a bit more understanding, kindness and courage to those who need it most. Our students, faculty and staff work every day to build a more just, inclusive and compassionate world — values that are the true spirit of the season. And because we take seriously our shared responsibility for this planet we all call home, we’ll keep doing our part to protect the environment by recycling, reducing, reusing and re-imagining a brighter, cleaner future for all.
The forecast is calling for a colder winter than normal this year, but here in our little workshop by the Chesapeake Bay, the fires of learning, stewardship and hope are burning bright.
Safe travels, clear skies and extra cookies along the way.
This letter was featured in The Virginian-Pilot on Sunday, December 14, 2025.
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