It was a pleasure hosting leadership from Sentara College of Health Sciences on campus Friday for the signing of an agreement formalizing our institutions' commitment to pursue a joint Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree program.
Together we will now participate in an application process with Virginia Wesleyan's accrediting body, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), and Sentara College of Health Science's accrediting body, Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES). Once approved, the BSN would be offered as a joint degree and would involve coursework at both institutions. At least 10 slots would be guaranteed on a competitive basis to students who meet defined admission standards, and additional applicants would be considered.
At Virginia Wesleyan, we currently offer several preparatory programs for the medical field, including pre-professional tracks in pre-nursing/allied health, medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, art therapy and counseling.
VWU also has an articulation agreement with Sentara College of Health Sciences whereby students may be guaranteed admission to Sentara's Master's Entry to Nursing Practice (MENP) program, and a Joint Program in Medicine and an Early Assurance Program with Eastern Virginia Medical School. This is an exciting step for Virginia Wesleyan. Read more here.
ET CETERA
VWU Earns Prestigious Community Engagement Classification
Virginia Wesleyan was selected through a competitive process to receive the Carnegie Foundation's prestigious Community Engagement Classification. Our institution is among 119 U.S. colleges and universities this year to earn the elective designation, one of 19 Coalition for Urban and Metropolitan Universities (CUMU) members (and one of four private CUMU institutions). The selective distinction indicates institutional commitment to community engagement and is the leading framework for assessment and recognition of community engagement in U.S. higher education. We hold social responsibility at the core of our values, and I take great pride in this accomplishment and in working among such engaged citizens and leaders. Read more here.
RecycleMania Tournament
Virginia Wesleyan University is again participating in the annual RecycleMania tournament, a friendly competition and benchmarking tool for college and university recycling programs to promote waste reduction activities to their campus communities. Launched last week, colleges across the United States and Canada will report the amount of recycling and trash collected over an eight-week period. They will in turn be ranked in various categories based on who recycles the most on a per capita basis, as well as which schools have the best recycling rate as a percentage of total waste, and which schools generate the least amount of combined trash and recycling. With each week's updated ranking, participating schools follow their performance against other colleges and use the results to rally their campus to reduce and recycle more.
To reduce Virginia Wesleyan's environmental footprint and help meet its RecylceMania goals, students, faculty and staff are asked to put clean bottles, cans, paper and cardboard in the blue recycling bins on campus. Metallic energy bar wrappers and personal hygiene packaging (toothpaste tubes, shampoo bottles, etc.) can be recycled in the Terraclycle bins in the library's 24-hour lounge. In addition, Wesleyan Engaged (Batten 25) is collecting used printer cartridges for recycling and used eyeglasses for donation to the Lions Club. On behalf of the institution, I'd like to thank the Virginia Wesleyan housekeeping staff for their help in our recycling efforts. Learn more about RecycleMania: Campus Race to Zero Waste here.
21st Annual VFIC Ethics Bowl
Yesterday I attended the opening dinner and reception for the Virginia Foundation for Independent Colleges' (VFIC) Ethics Bowl at the University of Lynchburg. Launching the two-day Ethics Bowl competition, the event honored good friend Dr. Ken Garren, President of the University of Lynchburg and Ethics Bowl Co-Chair, who will retire at the end of this academic year. Four students from Virginia Wesleyan are participating in 21st annual Ethics Bowl today and I wish them luck. It was enjoyable to see our team in action last week as they competed against each other, focusing on a fascinating case, in preparation for the big event. Read more here.
We Are Still In
I am proud to share that Virginia Wesleyan has reaffirmed our support of key climate and clean energy policies through the "We Are Still In," commitment. We are among 353 higher education institutions to sign a letter urging the Virginia General Assembly for Virginia legislature to include full participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI); passage of the Virginia Clean Economy Act (VCEA); and support for clean transportation and customer access to clean energy options, among other items. WASI is a cross-sector coalition led by Second Nature. Read more here.
CICV Graph of the Month
Each month, Robert Lambeth, President of the Council of Independent Colleges in Virginia (CICV), shares a statistical graph for the month. I thought you'd find this one interesting, and you can view the graph here.
AROUND TOWN AND ACROSS CAMPUS
We celebrated the life and legacy of Dr. Mort Gamble with a memorial service on campus. It was an honor to deliver the eulogy for my dear friend whom I will deeply miss. My thoughts remain with our Marlin Family as we continue to grieve this tremendous loss. The outpouring of love and support for one another has been uplifting, and I know it would bring Mort joy. Many of you have reached out to me with thoughtful messages of support during this difficult time and I want to thank you again. Your compassion means more than you know. View images from the incredibly moving slideshow shown during the service as well as photos taken at the reception here.
In the wake of the late S. Frank Blocker, Jr.'s passing, Inside Business published a tribute in his honor. We remember our good friend and benefactor of Virginia Wesleyan as a pillar of the community.
It was an honor to attend the Warrior Chorus Project: Staged Reading of Greek Tragedy by and for Veterans on campus. Directed by Dr. Peter Meineck, former British Royal Marine and Professor at VWU, the Warrior Chorus is a national initiative that trains veterans to present innovative public programs based on ancient literature. Made possible by a Virginia Humanities Grant, Virginia Wesleyan hosted the inspiring program in the Brock Theatre of the Goode Center February 6 and 7. It was a privilege to have the opportunity to honor our veterans and their service. Thank you to Dr. Ben Haller, Associate Professor of Classics, for his work in bringing this program to campus. Learn more here.
Virginia Wesleyan University inducted the twelfth class of its Athletic Hall of Fame on February 1 during a special ceremony presented by TowneBank. Two University benefactors and four former Marlin athletic standouts were recognized at the ceremony. Jane P. Batten and George Y. and Sue Birdsong and the Birdsong families were honored for their outstanding philanthropic contributions of resources, time, and devoted support to the University's intercollegiate athletics program. The four former student-athletes, who represent the best of the best from Virginia Wesleyan's athletic history, are Victoria "Tori" Higginbotham-Abbey '14 (Softball, 2010-14), Jessica Edelman Gosnell '13 (Women's Soccer, 2009-13), Nancy Mattox Moore '00 (Women's Basketball and Softball, 1996-00), and Chris Yeager '94 (Men's Soccer, 1990-94). Congratulations to all! Read more and view photos here.
We officially opened the Coastal Market convenience store on campus in the newly renovated Batten Plaza of the Jane P. Batten Student Center. Coastal Market offers more options than ever for our campus community with hours that expand access to items such as on-the-go food options, toiletries, and more. These changes are part of a larger effort to enhance Virginia Wesleyan students' experience. Work began in December on several projects in Batten Plaza, an area recently re-branded to help better identify the different corridors of the Jane P. Batten Student Center and Boyd Dining Center. Projects included the transformation of the Marlin Grille to the new and improved Harbor Grill, which is also now open. Read more and view photos here.
It was a pleasure to visit recently with Kathy Magee, Co-Founder and President of Operation Smile, and Christabelle Fernandez, U.S. Manager of Student Programs for Operation Smile. We enjoyed discussing partnership opportunities. Headquartered in Coastal Virginia and serving communities around the globe, their mission is truly inspiring. Learn more at operationsmile.org.
In my latest column, I discuss the months-long regional branding initiative led by the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce and Reinvent Hampton Roads. Read it in The Virginian-Pilot.
Suffolk resident Dr. Linda Ferguson, VWU Dean of the Birdsong School of Social Science, weighed in on the death and rebirth of Suffolk's own Mr. Peanut in a recent Daily Press article. Read it here.
The Virginia Wesleyan softball team was pegged as the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) preseason favorites in a recent announcement. They also received a No. 7 ranking from the NFCA Top-25 Polls. Read more here.
Congratulations to the Virginia Wesleyan University baseball team, who was tabbed fourth in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) Preseason Poll. Good luck to our Marlins as they launch their season this weekend in Georgia. Read more here.
Mark your calendar for upcoming events and programs, and read up on the latest in the arts at Virginia Wesleyan.
STAY CURRENT ON VWU NEWS AND FEATURES
Features
News Briefs
VWU Athletics
The Arts at VWU
Virginia Wesleyan University Magazine
The Pharos
REFLECTIONS
I hope you find these links useful to my recent columns and publications:
The Virginian-Pilot
University Business
Daily Press
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
(Be sure to subscribe to Dialogue for daily updates via email)
# # #
Have a great week!
