Dialogue: Nota Bene: Weekly Update

Kudos to VWU's Wesleyan Engaged: Center for Civic Leadership and Service Learning, Hofheimer Library, and Marlins Vote for their collaboration on the Get Out the Vote initiative. They worked together to encourage our students and campus community to vote, providing education on both the process of registering and opportunities to learn more about the candidates.

VWU hosted Congressional candidates Elaine Luria and Scott Taylor for open forums on campus. In addition to the forums, most other local and state candidates visited campus during the campaign season.

Congratulations to the entire campus community for your collective efforts to increase voter registration, education, and turnout.

Read more about their Get Out the Vote efforts here.

Remember, tomorrow is Election Day and Wesleyan Engaged will be providing transportation from 8:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. to and from campus and Ebenezer Baptist Church for those registered to vote within this precinct. The shuttle will pick up and drop off outside the Jane P. Batten Student Center.

Be sure and vote tomorrow, Marlins!

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During the month of October, the 2018 Faculty and Staff Campaign, "Your Gift is Your Voice," produced more evidence that the Virginia Wesleyan family cares deeply about the future of our University. Although pledges and gifts are still being accepted, the campaign to date has achieved $41,566 from 144 faculty and staff members. Congratulations and thank you to all who have contributed thus far.

I want to give a special thank you to our faculty and staff building chairs for their efforts in helping us during the campaign: Elaine Aird '96, Heather Campbell '04, Joyce Easter, Mat Littleton, Randy Lott, Bryson Mortensen, Maynard Schaus, Jason Seward '05, Jayne Sullivan, and Craig Wansink.

I am excited to share that our reception for faculty and staff members who participated in the campaign will be on Thursday, December 6, at 11 a.m. in the Greer Environmental Sciences Center. At this year's reception, we will say "thank you" with lots of great raffle prizes, including four tickets to Disney World in Orlando, FL.

If you are still deciding on your commitment, we hope you'll join us in making a pledge, a gift by cash or check, or a schedule of payroll deduction. For more information on the "Your Gift is Your Voice" campaign, please contact Kelly Cordova, Assistant Director of Annual Giving and Alumni Relations, at kcordova@vwu.edu, extension 5709.

ET CETERA

Recently I enjoyed visiting with some special friends of Virginia Wesleyan University: Congressman Bobby Scott from the 3rd District; Elaine Luria, retired Navy Commander, owner of The Mermaid Factory, and Candidate for Congress from the 2nd District; Governor of Virginia Ralph Northam; and U.S. Senator Tim Kaine. We are grateful for their continued support of VWU.

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Last week I attended a productive gathering of area business leaders addressing regional branding at The Williamsburg Lodge in Colonial Williamsburg. Thanks to Jim Spore of Reinvent Hampton Roads for coordinating the group and meeting.

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For the sixth consecutive year, The Professional Grounds Management Society (PGMS) has recognized Virginia Wesleyan University with a Merit Award in the Society's 2018 Green Star Awards competition. The award was given in the University and College Grounds category for exceptional grounds maintenance. Read more here.

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Virginia Wesleyan University is one of the 399 most environmentally responsible colleges or universities in the nation, according to The Princeton Review. The education services company known for its college rankings features VWU in the 2018 edition of its book, The Princeton Review Guide to 399 Green Colleges. Read more here.

AROUND TOWN AND ACROSS CAMPUS

It was great to share a variety of updates at a recent meeting with the VWU Alumni Council. I'm grateful to our members for their service and commitment to their alma mater and to Troy DeLawrence for his outstanding leadership as Chair of the Alumni Council.

The following day, I hosted a VWU Faculty Roundtable and reception in the Pearce Hospitality Suite of the Jane P. Batten Student Center. We discussed actions from the recent Board of Trustees meeting held two days prior and new initiatives.

Progress continues on the construction of new Susan S. Good Fine and Performing Arts Center, scheduled for opening in late February/early March. Work has begun on the lighted, tree-lined sidewalk/bike path running from the DeFord Gatehouse to the Center. With the construction starting soon on Oxford Village (mixed-use housing across from the main entrance to the campus), increased pedestrian/bike traffic is expected in the coming year.

Construction continued this week on The Beacon (formerly the Bell Tower). As brick work is completed, crews finished construction on the lantern/cupola that will top off The Beacon. Current plans call for a crane to lift the cupola and put it in place on November 9.

Work continues on the dugouts at new TowneBank Park, home to our back-to-back NCAA National Championship softball Marlins. Work on the fencing, backstop and stands will begin this week, followed by the new press box and batting cages. Prescription grass and irrigation system for the outfield was completed two weeks ago. The artificial turf "ring" (third to first base in foul ground), infield, and warning track will follow. All should be completed by January.

It has been wonderful to have Marlins Kirsten Powell and Allison Chism as Presidential Associates this academic year. I initiated this program in 1999 when I was President of Wesley College and it is truly a "win-win"--offering meaningful employment for students that contributes to their career portfolios and assistance with important work for the Office of the President. Learn more about the program here.

I had an enjoyable visit with Downtown Norfolk Council (DNC) President and CEO Mary Miller. Founded in 1979, the DNC is an award-winning organization comprised of more than 300 business and individual members dedicated to promoting and enhancing business, cultural, retail and residential initiatives in Downtown Norfolk.

We had a productive meeting with the Advisory Committee for the Robert F. Boyd Institute last week. During the meeting, we discussed the present and future partnership between the United Methodist Church and higher education, and we brainstormed speakers for the next few years' Boyd Institute continuing education series for UMC pastors and laity.

Leaders of the student-led Marlin Prestige Business Conference provided a briefing to vice presidents Tim O'Rourke and Keith Moore and me last week. The Marlin Prestige will feature workshops, presentations, and interactive panels that embrace the fall 2018 theme, "The Business of Everything."

VWU hosted campus and community partners of the Arts at Virginia Wesleyan University last week. The meeting included a tour of the Susan S. Goode Fine and Performing Arts Center.

Kudos to VWU student photographers Libby Hipple '20 and Grant Bennett '19 for their excellent work capturing a major milestone in Virginia Wesleyan's history.

It was an enjoyable evening with alumni and friends at the Ted Constant Convocation Center as Virginia Wesleyan University and Old Dominion University met in an exhibition basketball game last Thursday. Special thanks to Tim Knight, District Manager of Aramark, for sponsoring the luxury suite for the Marlin Roundball Insiders.

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HIGHLIGHTS FROM MY WEEKEND READING

"Here's What Today's Students Want From College," a special report in The Chronicle of Higher Education.

A new survey from Michigan State University suggests a positive job outlook for new college graduates. Read more here.

Southern New Hampshire University, a leader in non-profits online, adds digital badge capacity. Read more here.

"Documentary explores human influence on our world," reports The Virginian-Pilot.

REFLECTIONS