Monday, November 18, 2019

Nota Bene: Weekly Update

It is a pleasure to share many announcements and good news with you today. WHRO's "A Local Touch" is featuring an interview with Joshua Harris on the commissioned musical composition for the grand opening of the Susan S. Goode Fine and Performing Arts Center last March, and will include the world premiere performance. This will air on Wednesday at 9:00 p.m. Here is the link to the article. 

WHRO is a valued partner of Virginia Wesleyan and the arts, and we are proud of our relationship with them. We were honored to host at the Goode Center recently the premiere of the documentary "City Voices: Homelessness to Hopefulness." The documentary is presented by WHRO and made possible by Susan and David Goode. Learn more here.

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Congratulations to our Virginia Wesleyan Esports team for winning their first match last week. The Rocket League squad competed against Slippery Rock University in a Best of 7 scrimmage match. The entire match was live streamed and is archived on our Twitch channel at twitch.tv/VWU_Esports. In the future, most scrimmages and competitive matches (where permitted) for each of the Esports squads will be live streamed on the Twitch channel.

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We recently welcomed the first of three Batten Honors College competition groups for next fall's cohort which will bring our total enrollment to the desired 160. We're delighted with the progress of this highly selective program, which has turned into a national niche program for Virginia Wesleyan. The competition weekend began with a welcome reception at the Slover Library in downtown Norfolk and continued Friday and Saturday with interviews, campus tours, class visits, and panel discussions. Participating students and their parents also attended a reception Friday evening at the Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center in Virginia Beach.  

Our first group of competitors was impressive in so many ways. Their average academic record includes a 4.18 grade point average (on a 4.0 scale), an average SAT score of 1373, and an average ACT score of 29.75. The second and third competition weekends, which follow the same format, will take place in February and March. 

This selective academic program is made possible by generous support from Virginia Wesleyan University Trustee Emerita Jane P. Batten H'06 and her late husband, Frank Batten, Sr. 

View the photo gallery from our fall Batten Honors College Competition.
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At the 2019 ALL IN Challenge Awards Ceremony held to recognize colleges and universities committed to increasing college student voting rates, Virginia Wesleyan University received a silver seal for achieving a student rate between 30% and 39%. A full list of seal awardees can be viewed here. Our institution is proud to receive this national recognition for our efforts. Our faculty, staff, administrators, and students are committed to working together to reduce apathy, increase engagement, and graduate civic-minded students prepared to solve our nation's, and the world's, most pressing challenges. Thank you to Dr. Brian Kurisky, Director of Wesleyan Engaged, and his team for their leadership and efforts to achieve this honor. 

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We commemorated military service and sacrifice at our annual Veterans Day Ceremony on campus last Monday. It was an honor to introduce our keynote speaker, retired Navy Captain Raymond Duffy who is an adjunct professor in our Management, Business, and Economics department. I am deeply grateful for his longtime service to our country and meaningful words at the ceremony. Pictured here at our Veterans Memorial Monument on Godwin Lawn with Captain Duffy; Luke Dobrin of Boy Scout Troop 259 who performed "Taps;" Luzcelenia (Lucy) Camargo '21, U.S. Navy 2012-2019, who offered the Prayer of Thanksgiving; and The Rev. Greg West, University Chaplain, who gave the Invocation. My thanks to all.

Special thanks to Melanie Monk (VWU Assistant Director of Financial Aid) and Amy Rush (VWU Deputy Director of The Lighthouse: Center for Exploration & Discovery, and Marlin Company Advisor) whose leadership and efforts in planning a dignified and meaningful Veterans Day Ceremony each year are appreciated. Their strong support for our country's veterans and service members is admirable. It was wonderful to have Lieutenant Colonel Camala L. Coats (Professor of Military Science and Leadership at ODU) join us for the ceremony. Lt. Col. Coats oversees the Monarch Battalion which includes our growing Army ROTC Marlin Company. 

My continued thanks to our nation's veterans and members of our military. Your service and sacrifice is remarkable. My father, who passed away two years ago, was a veteran of the Second World War. I understand that there is a tremendous, and often overlooked, labor of love performed every day by the family members and friends who pledge their care and support for our nation's military heroes. Thank you for the unending love, encouragement and stability these loved ones bring to the lives of our service members. 

ET CETERA


Virginia Wesleyan University and The United Methodist Church
You have heard me speak and write often regarding the current international controversy in the United Methodist Church (UMC). Following February 2019 Special Called General Conference action, the Traditional Plan will take effect in the United States on the first day of 2020 while taking effect overseas 12 months after the UMC General Conference in May 2020.   

As President of the National Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities of the United Methodist Church (NASCUMC), I led a small group of representative college/university presidents to Lake Junaluska, North Carolina, for a discussion between the academy and the Council of Bishops of the United Methodist Church. NASCUMC represents the 117 schools, colleges and universities in the United States recognized by the University Senate of the United Methodist Church and  comprises 93 colleges and universities, 13 seminaries, 11 historically black institutions and several private secondary schools.

It was an intentional conversation about recent actions of the church and implications for our universities and developed as a result of the joint meeting last summer at Emory University of NASCUMC; Association of United Methodist Theological Schools (AUMTS); and International Association of Methodist Schools, Colleges, and Universities (IAMSCU).  My colleagues and I clearly shared our collective views regarding the actions of the February 2019 Called General Conference and re-stated, in person, our collective position. Read our joint statement here.

Clearly, Virginia Wesleyan University's mission of inclusiveness places us in conflict with the United Methodist Church and threatens our affiliation.  As your president, let me be clear, we oppose the Traditional Plan and any form of discrimination by the United Methodist Church and I want to communicate our affirmation of the LGBTQ community.  It is our hope that this May's General Conference will reverse the action. We will not abide by the mandate of the Traditional Plan when it takes effect in January and will remain deeply committed to diversity and inclusion, including making campus facilities available for same-sex weddings as has been our practice for many years. The Church's decision does not have any impact on our governance, which is independent of Church control. 

As President of NASCUMC, I am leading a proactive position at our January meeting to insure our independence and protection for our beliefs. As institutions in affiliation we will follow resulting actions in the spring and proceedings of the General Conference in May, when I expect to be more definitive regarding VWU's long-term affiliation and position.
President's Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration

In earlier Nota Benes, I've shared information about my involvement with the advocacy group Presidents' Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration.

The American Council on Education has provided some resources to help track past and future efforts on DACA and frame arguments for congressional delegations:
A final ruling in the case is not expected until spring or early summer 2020.

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As we continue our active support of the Presidents' Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration, we are also committed to the advocacy of Boston-based Second Nature and the Presidents' Climate Leadership Commitments (PCLC). It has been an honor to serve on the Second Nature Board and to Chair the PCLC.  

I invite you to bookmark the SN and PCLC websites to stay updated as we address critical issues impacting our environment.
Virginia Tuition Assistance Grant Program

I thought you'd enjoy this well-written guest opinion piece by colleagues Larry Stimpert and Robert Lindgren in the Richmond Times-Dispatch titled "Virginia's TAG Program: Investing in Greater Access for Virginia's Students." 

Congratulations to Andrea Hoover-Erbig
Congratulations to Andrea Hoover-Erbig, Head Virginia Wesleyan Volleyball Coach, who was named Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) Coach of the Year! We are fortunate to have Coach Hoover-Erbig in our Marlin Family and proud of the work she does each day on and off the court.


VWU Volleyball Makes History
Congratulations to the Virginia Wesleyan volleyball team on a wonderful season! For the first time in program history, the Virginia Wesleyan University volleyball team was crowned champions of the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) as the team defeated top-seeded Randolph-Macon, 3-1 (25-17, 15-25, 25-17, 29-27), on November 9. With the victory, the Marlins earned the conference's automatic bid to the 2019 NCAA Championship. They had a great showing in the first round of the NCAA Regionals, taking an early 2-1 lead before falling to Juniata College 3-2.

AROUND TOWN AND ACROSS CAMPUS
As always, it was great to see Alana Peters '18, member of the VWU Alumni Council, and our mutual friend "Cuppy" from the local Dunkin Donuts who visited campus last week. Alana worked as a Presidential Associate during her time at VWU and pitched for our National Championship softball team. She now works as an Account Coordinator at the Davis Ad Agency in Virginia Beach. Alana and Cuppy were here as part of a promotion through the agency. Joining us for a picture in the Jane P. Batten Student Center is Jesse Weiner, new Director of Cross Country and Track & Field at Virginia Wesleyan.


We had a great turnout for our Chesapeake Alumni Gathering Wednesday at Wild Wing Cafe. Pictured here with Rob Gillikin'00 (VWU Alumni Council Secretary), Rob Kohler '93 (VWU Alumni Council Vice Chair), and Jesse Weiner (new VWU Director of Cross Country and Track & Field).

Congratulations to Michael Desplaines, President/CEO of the Norfolk Botanical Garden, who accepted the Outstanding Non-Profit in Fundraising Award at the recent AFP National Philanthropy Day Awards Luncheon. NBG has a unique public/private partnership with VWU to lead and educate our students in the management of our beautiful campus gardens. VWU trustee and benefactor Susan Goode joined us for a picture here. We also congratulate Charles Birdsong, Owner of Birdsong Peanuts and recipient of the Outstanding Volunteer Fundraiser Award. Charles, his wife Davin, and the entire Birdsong Family have been good friends and strong supporters of Virginia Wesleyan University since our founding. It was delightful to visit with good friend Russell Turner, retired Chief Development Officer from the Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center, at the VIP Reception.

It was enjoyable to meet with Scott Kennedy, Headmaster of Norfolk Collegiate, where we shared updates and discussed our ongoing partnership and collaboration efforts. 

Installation was completed on a new 35-foot lighted flag pole and garden adjacent to Paphites Pavilion at Birdsong Field. Many thanks to the donors who made this project possible. 

With the cold weather, completion of the pathway from Smith Drive to Wesleyan Drive has been slowed. Our contractor indicates work should be completed within the next week.
It was an honor to be the guest of Norfolk Mayor Kenny Alexander for the ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating Norfolk's newly renovated Visitor Center. Kudos to our VWU architect Michael Schnekser of Tymoff + Moss Architects for again having his work showcased. Tourism is thriving in Norfolk with 2.7 million visitors last year.

Thanks to Mary Kate Andris, President and CEO of YWCA South Hampton Roads, and Norfolk Mayor Alexander for inviting me to the grand opening ceremony of the YWCA Norfolk Family Justice Center. It is an important facility for our community and I was glad to attend.

At our recent Virginia Beach Vision Board of Directors meeting, Mark Shea (Virginia Beach Comprehensive Plan Manager) provided an overview of the community outreach process for "VB 2040," and Andria McClellan (Chair of the Regional Broadband Steering Committee) addressed the regional connectivity ring.
STAY CURRENT ON VWU NEWS AND FEATURES

REFLECTIONS
I hope you find these links useful to my recent columns and publications:

PRESIDENTIAL EVENTS
I invite you to stay updated on these activities here.
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Have a great week!
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