THE LANDMARK FOUNDATION EXPANDS STUDENT WORK PROGRAM
I've often stressed the importance of college work programs and how they benefit the student and the institution. Two years ago, through an initial private gift, we established Opus, a summer work program to assist up to 20 students each year with demonstrated financial need. Ensuring that the students could afford to continue their education at Virginia Wesleyan, the program was an overwhelming success, and a source of pride for the participating students.
Recently I shared the results of Opus with the Norfolk-based Landmark Foundation, and I am therefore pleased to announce that the Foundation has provided a significant grant to extend the summer Opus program to the full academic year.
Supporting education, human services, and environmental causes in Hampton Roads, the foundation was created by Landmark Communications, the predecessor of Landmark Media Enterprises. The company owns businesses including Dominion Enterprises and for many years The Virginian-Pilot. Frank Batten, Jr., serves as chairman, CEO and president of Landmark Media Enterprises and Dominion Enterprises. His mother Jane is Trustee Emerita, a former Board Chair here, and the single greatest benefactor in the history of our University. Her late husband, Frank Batten, provided the funds to construct the Jane P. Batten Student Center, which opened in 2002 and is the hub for our many curricular and co-curricular activities.
As always, we value the longstanding commitment of the Landmark Foundation and the Batten Family to Virginia Wesleyan University and our students.
Affordability of education is an issue of increasing national concern and scrutiny, and Virginia Wesleyan is committed to assisting students and their families. Two years ago, I shared a study that illustrated an "affordability gap" of just $2,500 between VWU and regional public institutions. Many students in our survey indicated they attended VWU despite the cost differential because they found greater value in the small college setting, direct interactions with faculty and staff, and the academic "value added" of attending here. We therefore sought ways to assist students at risk of discontinuing their educations because of personal finances.
Over the first two summers of Opus, the work program served 37 students with financial need who wished to continue their studies at Virginia Wesleyan. Preference was given to rising sophomores and juniors with a personal account balance owed of $2,000 to $3,000, and who also demonstrated, in addition to financial need, a commitment to academic studies and campus involvement.
Participating students lived on campus in Brock Village and were provided with a modest meal plan. They began their duties following May Commencement and worked 25 hours per week for a period of 13 weeks. Projects focused on corrective maintenance, grounds and landscaping, and general campus beautification efforts.
All 37 successfully completed the summer program and remained enrolled.
The benefits of college work programs don't end there. Research indicates that students who work while attending college are more likely to graduate, feel better prepared for the workforce through development of leadership skills, and become more active and engaged citizens. At institutions such as Virginia Wesleyan, a work program not only can reduce debt and make higher education more affordable, but it can also make the educational experience much more useful and meaningful.
The major goals and expected outcomes from the Opus program, therefore, are to ensure the completion of a liberal arts education for students with limited financial resources; to develop a strong work ethic; to build communication and problem-solving skills; to give our graduates the professional/technical knowledge essential for their work and the executive skills required to plan, organize and prioritize tasks; to create a reliable source of workers who are knowledgeable, skilled, and likely to remain in the region; and to increase campus pride among students.
As I've outlined in my two State of the University addresses, recruitment and retention of students are the central goals of our enrollment plan and vital to the overall budgetary health of Virginia Wesleyan. Just as important, we need to be alert to opportunities that enrich our students' experiences through expanded academic and co-curricular options.
Our commitment is to continue to focus on affordability. To date, we have:
- Established the Batten Honors College with 20 full-tuition and 20 two-thirds tuition scholarships each year. We currently have 77 students enrolled.
- Established Opus, a work program for financially at-risk students, expanding it from a summer program to the full academic year.
- Instituted a tuition freeze for 2018-19.
- In partnership with Tidewater Community College-Virginia Beach, established the Virginia Beach Access Scholarship for local commuters.
- Established low-cost January and Summer Term options in person and online.
- Offered a fifth-year tuition guarantee.
Special thanks to Dr. Keith Moore, Vice President for Student Affairs, and Jason Seward, Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs, for taking the lead on this very important initiative. Should you have any questions about the Opus program application process, please contact these staff members directly.
WELCOME TO THE VIRGINIA WESLEYAN FAMILY
Denise Cunningham joined Virginia Wesleyan University this week as Director of Enrollment for the Batten Honors College. For the past five years, Denise has worked as Director of Academics, College and Career at Norfolk Christian School. She has also worked in enrollment-related areas at Roberts Wesleyan College, Houghton College, and Regent University. She holds a bachelor's degree from Roberts Wesleyan College in Rochester, NY, a master of arts in education from Geneva College and an Ed.D. from Regent University.
I am pleased to announce that three other vacant staff positions also have been filled.
Succeeding Don Stauffer, who retired as Director of Institutional Research, is Shane Boyd who currently serves as Institutional Research Associate at Lake Forest College, near Chicago. Shane will join Virginia Wesleyan on November 1. A native of the Coastal Virginia area, he received his bachelor's degree from James Madison University and his master's from Illinois State University.
The position of Scheduler for the Office of the President and the Center for Advancement, held by the late Teri Eddleman, was filled by Karen Weinig, also a native of this area. Karen attended Christopher Newport University for her undergraduate studies and The George Washington University for her master's. Her professional background is in the financial industry and worked as a customer-service specialist and manager for the past 25 years.
With Kala Baskerville's transition to the Financial Aid Office as a counselor, Tina Clark Milligan has been appointed Coordinator of Prospect Research for the Center for Advancement. Tina is a 1988 graduate of Virginia Wesleyan and joins us from the City of Virginia Beach Public Schools. Although originally from Illinois, Tina has lived in our area since 1978.
Please join me in welcoming Denise, Shane, Karen, and Tina to VWU.
SUPPORT THE VWU FACULTY/STAFF CAMPAIGN
As a reminder, this year's Faculty and Staff Campaign, Your Gift is Your Voice, kicks off October 1. This is an opportunity for faculty and staff to contribute financially to the University. As an institution, we are striving to meet goals in academics, enrollment, fundraising, student life, and finance/administration. Every member of the faculty and staff is invaluable to achieving these goals, and I am grateful to every one of you for the efforts you put forth daily. Be on the lookout for more information sent to your home address and via email. You may also visit www.vwu.edu/giveonline to make your gift online today. Those who make gifts before 11:59 p.m. this Thursday, September 27, will be entered into a special "early-bird" raffle for a two park-hopper passes to Disney World in Orlando, Florida!
ET CETERA
Recently, I had an enjoyable conversation and interview with reporter Chris Quintana from The Chronicle of Higher Education about a new report by the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC), "The Independent College Presidency, 1986-2016." Read the article, "What's on the Mind of the Private-College President? 3 Insights From a New Report," here.
Before the Virginia Beach Vision Board of Directors meeting last week, I enjoyed the opportunity to talk with Jim Oliver, former City Manager of Norfolk, Portsmouth and Hampton. His shout out regarding our technology and Coastal Virginia initiatives during his Board presentation on regionalism, which include a discussion of the book "The New Localism" were greatly appreciated. As Virginia Beach's oldest college/university, regionalism is an important part of our agenda.
Last week, I participated in a small group conversation about regional branding with some longtime business leaders. Jim Spore, President and CEO of Reinvent Hampton Roads, hosted the discussion in his office at the World Trade Center in downtown Norfolk. Bob Aston, Executive Chairman of TowneBank, facilitated the discussion which included a significant conversation about our rebranding campaign.
Keith Moore, VWU Vice President for Student Affairs, was interviewed by Education Dive for a story about Hurricane Florence. Education Dive provides news and analysis for higher ed and k-12 leaders. They cover topics such as online learning, policy, educational technology, MOOCs, admissions, blended learning and more.
Congratulations to VWU alumnus Brandon Adair for being hired as a full-time NBA referee for the 2018-19 season! Brandon was named National Player of the Year in 2006.
AROUND TOWN AND ACROSS CAMPUS
Registration is open for the 17th annual Marlin Golf Tournament which will take place on October 5, during Homecoming and Family Weekend, at Cypress Point Country Club. Whether you are a golfer or not, learn the many ways in which you can support VWU's baseball, softball, and men's lacrosse teams here.
Last Tuesday we recognized Virginia Wesleyan students who were named to the President's List for the spring 2018 semester. These impressive students earned a grade point average of 4.0 while matriculating as full-time students taking as least nine semester hours of traditionally graded courses. Congratulations!
Wonderful "Chat 'n Chew" lunch last week in the President's Dining Room (Princess Anne Room) with VWU staff from the Financial Aid Office, Scribner University Store, and the Mail/Copy Center. 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.
Enjoyable visit with Robert Shuford, Sr., Chairman, President, and CEO of Old Point Financial Corporation and a member of the board of The VuBay Foundation. I updated him on campus projects and our vision for the future of VWU.
It was nice to meet Mark Roy, new Executive Vice President of Hourigan Construction. Hourigan has been a good partner to Virginia Wesleyan University on 13 projects during the past 3 1/2 years. Joining us for the picture is Chris Brandt, Vice President of Hourigan and our lead partner during that time period.
See the progressing Susan S. Goode Fine and Performing Arts Center at sunset here. Brick work continues on The Beacon while work on the cupola began last week which will be lifted and put in place atop The Beacon's tower. Progress continues on the new VWU softball dugouts at our new TowneBank park, crews are pictured here putting steel in place.
Great story in the Suffolk News Herald about Devin Killian Blair '13, who became the pastor at Wesley Chapel United Methodist Church in July, following in the footsteps of former pastor Brandon Nichols '12.
Spotlight on the Arts at VWU for Fall 2018: Mark your calendars for a noteworthy season of music, theatre and art. Read more and check out the latest brochure.
STAY CURRENT ON VWU NEWS AND FEATURES
Features
News Briefs
VWU Athletics
Virginia Wesleyan University Magazine
Faculty Focus
HIGHLIGHTS FROM MY WEEKEND READING
- Professor Doug Kennedy shared this interesting piece from The Atlantic which reports: " 'Before the automobile, before the Statue of Liberty, before the vast majority of contemporary colleges existed, the rising cost of higher education was shocking the American conscience.' The New York Times lamented in 1875." The article goes on to report, "Today, the U.S. spends more on college than almost any other country, according to the 2018 Education at a Glance report released this week by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)."
- Read about "A model transfer program that should be copied" here.
- From Washington Monthly: Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Higher Education Policy
- Longtime colleague Lynn Pasquerella, President of AAC&U and the former president of Mount Holyoke College, addresses an analysis of two parallel surveys (Connect Curriculum to Career) of business executives and hiring managers that finds recent graduates lack the skills needed to rise in the ranks at work.
- What's the impact of declining international student enrollment? Colleges are lowering tuition rates and creating more welcoming environments to soften the impact of tighter immigration policies and other headwinds. Read more here.
- Arizona State University has proved to be a highly innovative institution in American higher education. This article describes how 140 ASU online biology students are getting hands-on experience in virtual labs.
- Virginia Beach has the largest workforce (238,126) and the lowest unemployment (3.1 percent). Read more here.
- A good, short history of American higher education by The Washington Post.
I hope you find these links useful to my recent columns and publications:
The Virginian-Pilot
Enrollment Manager
College Planning & Management
President to President
PRESIDENTIAL EVENTS
I invite you to stay updated on these activities here.
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Facebook: @ScottDMillerprez
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LinkedIn: Scott D. Miller, Ph.D.
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Dialogue: prezscottmiller.blogspot.com
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Have a great week!
