A heartfelt thank you to everyone who kept the campus up and running this week with food, power, and shelter in preparation for Hurricane Florence. Your dedication to our students and one another is greatly appreciated. Many thanks for being prepared, responding positively, and helping keep Virginia Wesleyan University running smoothly, and most importantly, safely!
Virginia Wesleyan University Ranked 19th Nationally in Ethnic Diversity by U.S. News
I am pleased to share that Virginia Wesleyan University has been recognized by U.S. News & World Report in two categories of its 2019 Best Colleges rankings. Virginia Wesleyan is ranked 19th in “Ethnic Diversity” among National Liberal Arts Colleges and is featured among U.S. News’ 229 “Best National Liberal Arts Colleges.”
To identify colleges where students are most likely to encounter undergraduates from a different ethnic group from their own, U.S. News factored in the proportion of minority students—leaving out international students—and the overall mix of groups in each institution’s 2017-2018 academic year student body. The categories used in the calculations are African-American (non-Hispanic), Hispanic, American Indian, Asian-American, Pacific Islander, White (non-Hispanic), and multiracial (two or more races). The largest ethnic group at Virginia Wesleyan is African-American, representing 26 percent of the University’s student population.
Pacific Union College is top-rated in the “Ethnic Diversity” category, and rounding out the top 10 are Soka University of America, Agnes Scott College, Harvey Mudd College, Pine Manor College, Pomona College, Wellesley College, Swarthmore College, Amherst College, and Austin College. The top 20 include Fort Lewis College, Whittier College, Occidental College, Bryn Mawr College, Claremont McKenna College, Oglethorpe University, Pitzer College, Purchase College-SUNY, Virginia Wesleyan University, and Wesleyan College.
U.S. News also classifies Virginia Wesleyan University among its 229 “Best National Liberal Arts Colleges.” Methodology for these rankings focuses on academic excellence, with schools evaluated on hundreds of data points and up to 15 measures of academic quality. Overall, the rankings emphasize student outcomes—such as graduation and freshman retention rates—which carry the most weight at 30 percent. The top National Universities and National Liberal Arts Colleges have significantly higher graduation and freshman retention rates than other schools.
We are proud to hold this designation, as it represents the diverse, global community in which our University is located. We are a welcoming, inclusive campus with an outstanding, nationally prominent academic reputation—and we take pride in fostering the kinds of values and traditions that make our students proud to have chosen us for their career and life success.
VWU Featured in National Case Study
A new Aramark study, released this month, states, “Transforming an established higher education institution is a major undertaking requiring capital, expertise, teamwork, vision and leadership. Read how VWU elevated its academic program, executed several new construction projects and significantly boosted fundraising and new student enrollment.” View the full case study here.
9/11 Memorial
Tuesday marked the 17th anniversary of the September 11th attack by terrorists on America. We honored those who lost their lives as well as the first responders who risked their lives with a memorial service, our annual 9/11 Remembrance Gathering in the Peace Garden. Thank you to our student leaders who participated in the service: Yaminah Lewis '21 and Thomas Reinhold '20 for their moving performance of “America the Beautiful", Andre Wiggins '20 for his reading of the Gettysburg Address, and Nicole Johnson '19 who shared powerful quotes of 9/11. I also thank Provost Timothy O’Rourke for his inspiring remarks, Chaplain Greg West for leading us in prayer and the Litany for Peace in Our Communities, and Associate Director of the Center for the Study of Religious Freedom Kelly Jackson for her closing remarks and call to action. Let us never forget. Read more about the event here.
Constitution Day Program – Singing a Freedom Song: Voting Rights in A Minor
Who can vote? At different times in American history, the right to vote has been restricted on account of race, age, gender, literacy, property, wealth (in the form of poll taxes), and length of residency. Even today with universal suffrage, questions remain regarding voter identification at polling places and the purging of registration rolls. The case of Virginia Minor, who argued to the Supreme Court in 1875 that the 14th Amendment gives women the right to vote, offers a window on the past, present, and future of the right to vote in America.
Join us on Thursday, September 20, at 12 p.m. in the Pearce Hospitality Suite, as Provost Timothy O’Rourke discusses “the fundamental political right” that is “preservative of all rights.” Dr. O’Rourke has testified before both U.S. House and Senate committees on voting rights and redistricting issues, and his expert testimony has been cited by the U.S. Supreme Court.
2018 Homecoming and Family Weekend
It’s hard to believe this is just around the corner! Don’t miss the traditions and festivities on October 5-7, 2018. This year will include a special event, THE EDGE 5k Fun Run, where proceeds will support The Excellence Fund in providing annual scholarship assistance for VWU students. View the full schedule here and mark your calendars!
Founders Day and the Year of the Arts
On Thursday, September 6, we celebrated Virginia Wesleyan’s third annual Founders Day, honoring our history and heritage. This year’s festivities began with a special Alumni Awards event held in the Hofheimer Theater, an appropriate location as we continue to celebrate the “Year of the Arts.” This year’s talented and accomplished award recipients are Alisa Crider '10, Public Relations Coordinator at Hampton Roads Transit (Graduate of the Last Decade Award); Clayton Singleton '94, Artist and Teacher at Norfolk Public Schools (Alumni Service Award); and Joseph Ruddy '83, Chief Innovation Officer at The Port of Virginia (Distinguished Alumnus Award). We also honored and thanked a very special alumna, Mavis McKenley ’11, for her three years of service as past Chair of the Alumni Council from 2016-2018.
Guests then headed to the site of the forthcoming Susan S. Goode Fine and Performing Arts Center, where all were invited to make their mark on the building by signing the final structural steel beam. We are grateful to the Goode and the Watts families for sharing in the milestone as well as many special guests who joined us for the ceremony.
Next up was Founders Day Convocation where all students join faculty, staff, and special guests in the Convocation Hall of the Jane P. Batten Student Center. We thank Dr. Larry Hultgren, VWU’s longest-tenured faculty member, for his powerful and engaging words as he recalled his nearly 50 years at VWU and the ways it has grown from an aspiring college to an inspiring university. The Convocation also included performances by the Wesleyan Vox Vera student choir—featuring a fitting rendition of The Beatles’ 1965 hit “In My Life”—recognition of the 2018 Alumni Awards recipients, and a benediction by 2008 alumna Rev. Stephanie Kimec Parker.
Capping off the festivities was a fitting event which celebrates the present and future of Virginia Wesleyan, an intimate Batten Honors College Recognition Ceremony for the 39 newest Batten Fellows and Shumadine Scholars. A ceremonial pinning of each student represents their completion of orientation and formal induction into the Batten Honors College of Virginia Wesleyan University.
Thank you again to all who made 2018 Founders Day festivities possible and most importantly, meaningful. Read more about the day and the honorees here. You can also view photos from Founders Day here.
Around town and across campus…
After a week of demolition, construction has begun on the new step-down, walk-in dugouts for the softball complex at Virginia Wesleyan University.
The first President's Leadership Council (PLC) meeting of the 2018-19 academic year was held this afternoon. The PLC meets monthly in an effort to broaden discussion and participation in shared governance and to foster collaborative processes on key administrative issues.
Make plans to join Virginia Wesleyan's Center for the Study of Religious Freedom (CSRF) at their fall events—read more in the CSRF September e-newsletter.
Read about the latest accomplishments of Virginia Wesleyan University faculty and staff in this month's VWU Faculty Focus.
Scaffolding is up as brick work is in progress on The Beacon.
The VWU Athletics Management Council is off to a great start with a productive first meeting of the new academic year.
Wonderful "Chat 'n Chew" lunch in the President's Dining Room (Princess Anne Room) with the Office of Marketing and Communications staff. We appreciate all they do to further the University's mission. I value these lunches as I get to meet with all of the hardworking departments on our campus. To schedule yours, please contact Jodi Bryant.
Enjoy the following links to stay current on all news and features at VWU:
Highlights from my weekend reading
- Wonderful features and coverage by The Virginian-Pilot and ABC 13 News Now on the Regional Fiber Ring event held at Virginia Wesleyan. As VWU continues to grow and expand our research and educational opportunities, fast, reliable and affordable fiber access will be critical to our future success. You can also read more about this initiative here.
- A great feature in the Southside Daily: Solar SmartFlower making power for Virginia Wesleyan University
Presidential events
I invite you to stay updated on these activities here.
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Have a great week!
