BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Last week, we announced four new members elected to the Virginia Wesleyan University Board of Trustees who began their service with the 2018-19 fiscal year. We welcome Jean T. Jenkins '89, Community Leader; Robert W. McFarland, Partner with McGuireWoods; Eric C. Nyman '94, President of Hasbro North America; and James H. Shumadine, Co-President of The Employment Guide. Read more here.
The Board of Trustees is the governing body of Virginia Wesleyan and supports the University's mission, is responsible for securing adequate financial resources for the operation of the University, and establishes long-range goals and institutional policies. The majority of the Board's work is accomplished through committees that correspond to the five functional areas of the University--Academic Affairs, Student Life, Advancement, Finance and Administration, Enrollment--and one which provides oversight of endowment investments.
I have been impressed by the strong quality that our Board of Trustees has had historically and the important role the Board has played in the success of Virginia Wesleyan. Trustees include leaders from business and industry, education, and the United Methodist Church. Since 2015, we have had 15 new members elected to VWU's Board of Trustees and 13 members who are Trustees Emeriti. View the full list of Trustees and Trustees Emeriti here.
The Association of Governing Boards conveys that Board of Trustees are stewards; stewards of the physical resources, stewards of the intellectual climate, stewards of human relationships. We are so fortunate to have men and women committed to the mission of this outstanding University.
I love this quote from the Harvard Business Review: "If a board is to truly fulfill its mission--to monitor performance, advise the CEO, and provide connections with a broader world--it must become a robust team." I believe we have such a Board and I am grateful for their commitment to VWU.
ET CETERA
Impressed by progress on campus, I was recently asked to write a column for University Business about how a construction management partner maximizes value and gives donors peace of mind. I hope you enjoy the read.
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I was one of the early signatories for the Presidents' Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration. Read an update here.
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Reporter Chris Quintana from The Chronicle of Higher Education interviewed me about a new report by the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC), "The Independent College Presidency, 1986-2016." Read his article, "What's on the Mind of the Private-College President? 3 Insights From a New Report," here.
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Last week I attended the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) Presidents Council Meeting and the Virginia Private Colleges (VPC)/Council of Independent Colleges in Virginia (CICV) Annual Meeting at Bridgewater College. It is always enjoyable to spend time with presidential colleagues from Virginia's 27 private colleges.
The ODAC presidents discussed pressing NCAA issues and proposals for the NCAA National Convention in January. VWU Executive Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Tina Hill, Chair of the ODAC Board of Directors, also shared ODAC operation issues with the presidents.
The VPC/CICV meeting included business presentations by the VPC Benefits Consortium, Solar Project, and 403 (b) Multiple Employer Retirement Plan. We also heard presentations from Senator Emmett Hanger, Co-Chair of the Senate Finance Committee; Aubrey Layne, Secretary of Finance; Steve Landes, Chairman, House of Delegates Education Committee, Vice Chair House of Delegates Appropriations Committee; and Delegate Jennifer Boysko.
We had an interactive discussion with Jonathan Alger, President of James Madison University and Chair of the Council of State College and University Presidents. In addition to discussing issues impacting public colleges he encouraged collaboration. JMU has taken a leadership role in the Commonwealth through Campus Compact (the statewide office is now based at JMU) on a variety of community and civic-engagement initiatives and encouraged participation in the "Engagement for the Public Good" program in November.
AROUND TOWN AND ACROSS CAMPUS
Wednesday is Marlin Spirit Day! Be sure to wear your favorite Virginia Wesleyan gear and remember to snap a photo and share using the hashtag #MarlinSpiritDay. Let's take that Marlin Spirit into Homecoming and Family Weekend which is October 5-7. I hope to see everyone out and about for many of the festivities.
It was great to meet with Virginia Senator of the 8th District, Bill DeSteph, recently in Virginia Beach. I provided some updates on campus initiatives and appreciated his comments on affordability of higher education--a topic very important to us at Virginia Wesleyan.
Great times were had by all at the annual Virginia Wesleyan University Mud Games!
I attended a productive meeting of the Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center Foundation Board of Directors. VWU and the Aquarium have been good partners, sharing the research vessel the Ocean Explorer. An impressive asset to our community, the Aquarium has also hosted receptions for prospective Batten Honors College students and their parents.
An impressive presentation about the American Resilience Project by Karen Forget, Executive Director of Lynnhaven River Now, was given at a recent meeting of Virginia Beach Vision's Sea Level Rise Task Force. A critically important topic for Coastal Virginia!
Maury High School senior Saoirse Teevan-Kamhawi is one of three Maury Medical Program students interning at VWU with biology professor Victor Townsend this semester. Saoirse and her two fellow interns were participants in a biology program at VWU last summer and we welcome these impressive young scholars back to our campus!
It was nice visiting with students on a walk through the residence halls in Bray Village recently with Jason Seward, Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs, and Keith Moore, Vice President for Student Affairs. Keith, Jason, and I do this frequently to see the buildings and talk with residents about residential life.
Thank you to Dr. Sandi Billy's "Arts Management" class who invited me to speak on September 20 in the Fine Arts Building. We discussed the role of the Arts at VWU, non-profit boards, fundraising, and related careers.
Our VWU track program is really looking forward to the indoor track that will be part of the future sports center being built at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront. Read more in The Virginian-Pilot.
How nice it was to visit with Michael Desplaines, President and CEO of the Norfolk Botanical Garden (NBG), on campus. VWU and NBG have a multifaceted partnership which provides special expertise to manage our beautiful and unique teaching gardens with a Director of Living Landscapes and Horticulturist. We toured VWU's spacious 25,000-native-plant garden outside the Greer Environmental Sciences Center during his visit.
Always great to visit with State Representative Kelly Convirs-Fowler (Virginia's 21st House of Delegates district) whom I saw at an event in Norfolk at The Harbor Club. She is a 2003 graduate of Virginia Wesleyan.
It was great to host Trustee Emeritus George Birdsong on campus recently to share updates on the many capital projects we have underway and tour the in-progress Susan S. Goode Fine and Performing Arts Center.
Please consider supporting Virginia Wesleyan softball's Championship Fund, an effort that will help the team purchase championship rings. You can make a gift here, noting "Softball Championship" in the designation line.
Wonderful "Chat 'n Chew" lunch in the President's Dining Room (Princess Anne Room) on September 19 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.
Kudos to Virginia Wesleyan University's Amber Matalus of volleyball on being named Player of the Week and Skyler Lattuca of men's cross country on being named Runner of the Week in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC)! Read more on these star athletes here.
A reminder that 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. The Johnny Brown & Richard Drake Annual Golf Classic--a primary fundraiser for Virginia Wesleyan's Track & Field Program--is also coming up. The tournament is on Thursday, October 11, at Sewells Point Golf Club in Norfolk, Virginia. You can support the team by participating as a golfer or consider the many sponsorship opportunities available. More information can be found on the brochure.
I'm happy to report that after a few weeks of bad weather in September, last week crews were able to return to full speed on the Susan S. Goode Fine and Performing Arts Center which opens March 2019. Construction began last week on the new stands for the Betty S. Rogers Track and Field Center. The 332-seat stands will be completed in mid-October. Work also began last week on the foundation for the new press box at Birdsong Field. Steel work has been completed and block and brick work will start next week on the new dugouts for Broyles Field at TowneBank Park. New Sod and fencing will be installed there in the next two weeks. Despite scattered showers last week in Coastal Virginia, brick work continued on The Beacon and topping off should occur in the next two weeks.
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
- An Elite Online Bachelor's Degree--UPenn introduces a new online program reports Inside Higher Ed.
- "Blockchain technology is arriving on college campuses." Read the article here.
- "Universities should lead efforts to slow climate change, if the federal government won't."Read the article here.
REFLECTIONS
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.
CONNECT WITH ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Twitter: @vawesleyanprez
Facebook: @ScottDMillerprez
Instagram: @prezscottmiller
LinkedIn: Scott D. Miller, Ph.D.
Flickr: Scott D. Miller
Dialogue: prezscottmiller.blogspot.com
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Have a great week!
