Special welcome to our first-year students as they begin their journey as Marlins. I encourage our upperclassmen, as well as all faculty and staff, to help ensure that their experience is meaningful and successful. Please support and assist them in any way you can—today and every day. To our returning students, we hope that you are as glad to be back on campus as we are to have you!
Transformational Impact of the Batten Honors College
For the past two years, you’ve heard me discussing the tremendous impact of the Batten Honors College of Virginia Wesleyan University.
Since we announced its founding in 2016, over 68,000 top-performing high school students have demonstrated interest in applying for what has become a national-niche program of Virginia Wesleyan University. With the award-winning Greer Environmental Sciences Center, the Batten Honors College has significantly expanded our teaching and research for the study and preservation of our natural world. Virginia Wesleyan's location at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay and within a few miles of the Atlantic provides a living laboratory for an environmental focus—one of the key goals of the Batten Honors College. Others are to immerse our Batten Fellows and Shumadine Scholars in global understanding through international study-away experiences, and to build leadership skills for lives and careers in unique, high-impact ways so that students can make a vital difference in the natural world and in the wider human experience.
We recently welcomed our second cohort of the Batten Honors College, and we look forward to the contributions of these students to the enrichment of our experience on campus and beyond our borders. Our long-term goal is to enroll up to 160 students during a four-year period in this highly selective program.
We currently enroll 77 students in the Batten Honors College. All reside in the Honors Village (Village IV). Of the initial 40 students selected for the Fall 2017 Cohort, 38 returned for their second year. That group had a collective grade point average of 3.65 in their first year here. Thirty-nine students were selected for the Fall 2018 cohort, the average GPA for Batten Fellows was 4.21, an SAT of 1340, and an ACT of 29.
Our Batten Fellows and Shumadine Scholars have traveled not only across the state or the country, but also across the globe. They represent eight states—Virginia (45), North Carolina (9), Maryland (7), Pennsylvania (6), New Jersey (2), South Carolina (1), Ohio (1), Delaware (1)—and three foreign countries: Australia (2), China (2), and France (1).
I provide this information to underscore the importance of this niche program to VWU. We wish them great success on their adventure of scholarship, research, environmental stewardship, civic engagement, and leadership.
Improvements to Jerry G. Bray, Jr. Village (Village I) begin this week
Improvements to all seven buildings in Bray Village begins this week. This includes full replacement of all shower and bathrooms, painting, and corrective maintenance care.
Over the past two weeks external painting was completed as well as blacktopping to the back of Bray Village from Smith Drive.
Starting with Rose Hall, each residential building will be taken offline on a rotating basis for a period of 2-3 months while upgrades are made. After Rose Hall is completed, attention will turn to Kellam Hall. Students residing in Kellam will be reassigned to Rose to enjoy the enhanced facilities. Similarly, students in Old and Eggleston Halls will move to the most recently completed building as the project progresses. From ceiling to floor, tiles to fixtures, these spaces will have a valuable impact on the student experiences of our newest Marlins residing in these halls.
Bray Village is made up of the Birdsong Hall, Aubrey L. Eggleston Commons, Peter D. Pruden Hall (academic building), and four residence halls: Louise W. Eggleston Hall, Abel E. and Clara Eaton Kellam Hall, Margarette Hanes Old Hall, and the Paul Howard Rose Hall.
Facebook Live "Ask Me Anything"
Last Tuesday Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs Jason Seward ’05 hosted “Ask Me Anything” on Virginia Wesleyan University’s Facebook Live. I enjoyed answering questions that were sent in before and during the event. Joining us and weighing in during the second half of the event was Provost and Vice President Timothy O’Rourke, Vice President for Student Affairs Keith Moore, and Executive Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Tina Hill. If you missed it, you can still watch the video on VWU’s Facebook page or through the VWU Digital Broadcasting Network.
Around town and across campus…
It was wonderful visiting with Bob Nusbaum, whose founding vision for Virginia Wesleyan’s Center for the Study of Religious Freedom (CSRF) has resulted in a robust program devoted to exploration of the complex issues of our time.
I had a great visit with Congressman Bobby Scott at the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce meeting at the Hilton Norfolk The Main. He has been such a wonderful supporter and friend to Virginia Wesleyan University for many years.
Our friend Will Baker, President of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, was recently honored for his years of distinguished service by the National Maritime Historical Society. This tribute video recognizes not only Will’s leadership but the extraordinary work of CBF.
Nice to visit with Gregory DeCinque, Interim President of Tidewater Community College, at a luncheon recently. He came to TCC in July following the retirement of Edna Baehre-Kolovani. Our institutions have been friends and partners for many years.
Demolition started on old Marlins Park — soon to become Broyles Field at TowneBank Park. The new facility will be the home of the two-time defending NCAA National Champion Virginia Wesleyan University softball team in the spring.
Bill Bennett of our Physical Plant staff was recognized with a certificate of appreciation for his countless hours of work and leading the power load shed as a part of the Dominion Energy Virginia/EnerNOC conservation program.
As a part of our environmental responsibility efforts, a fleet of service bicycles have arrived for use by the Virginia Wesleyan Physical Plant staff. Keith Moore, Vice President for Student Affairs; Steve “Sparky” Sparks, Aramark Higher Education; and Don Coberly, Director of Physical Plant Operations, are pictured here with one of the new bikes.
Kent Brown was recognized as Aramark Associate of the Month in August at the “Aloha Wednesday Lunch” in VWU’s Physical Plant building. It was a great to celebrate with Kent and his father, Alan Brown, an Aramark supervisor.
I enjoyed lunch with Hayley Heath, Editor-in-Chief of The Marlin Chronicle, before the fall semester commenced. We discussed trends in journalism and a wide variety of potential VWU stories. Joining us for lunch was Stephanie Smaglo, Assistant Vice President for Marketing and Communications.
I joined our first-year students for their group picture in Convocation Hall last week. Welcome, new Marlins! It looks like they had a great time at Marlin Nation Orientation.
Enjoy this unique time-lapse video showing the progress on the Susan S. Goode Fine and Performing Arts Center.
Steel work continues on the renovation/restoration of the Bell Tower (soon to be The Beacon).
NCAA Division III Identity Initiative
As a part of the Division III Identity Initiative, it is my pleasure to share with you the new NCAA Division III Identity Video.
Highlights from my weekend reading
- Carthage College president shares three challenges for small institutions—and how to approach them— John Swallow says presidents should be "evaluating new ideas of expansion rigorously" before implementing them.
- Teacher shortages are lower than expected in Hampton Roads this year: To recruit teachers, Hampton Roads school districts have traveled to neighboring states and as far away as Houston. There are still dozens of vacancies to fill, and districts find themselves competing to lock in the best candidates. For a licensed teacher amid a statewide and national teacher shortage, it’s a buyer’s market.
- Small colleges hit hard by shrinking enrollments: The problem is national in scope, but is more prominent in New England where many private institutions play a big role in their local economies.
- Artificial intelligence gaining ground as college teaching tool: The technology is being used to help students memorize STEM coursework and improve writing skills, among other things.
- In Defense of the (Liberal) Arts
- The Virginia Beach Dome is making a comeback of sorts: Venture Realty Group, developer of The Wave, is involved in a project that will include a surf park on 10 acres between 18th and 20th Streets.
VWU News and Notes
In case you missed it, the fall 2018 edition of the Virginia Wesleyan University Magazine is hot off the press. Read about our national softball champs, our new strategic plan, our environmental stewardship and more. You might even see a familiar face or two.
Reflections
I hope you find these links useful to my recent columns and publications:
Presidential Events
Most of you are aware that I've made communication with our alumni and friends a top priority. As such, I travel the country sharing exciting updates and our vision for the University. I invite you to stay updated on these activities here.
Connect with me on Social Media
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Best wishes to all for a wonderful week two, fall semester, and academic year!
