Thursday we held a virtual meeting of the Virginia Wesleyan University Board of Trustees to discuss the University's Action Plan in response to the COVID-19 crisis and provide updates on various ongoing projects. The Board was extremely supportive and appreciative of the good work of many in providing continuity of operations during these challenging times. I am grateful for their stewardship of our institution during this time and always.
On Wednesday afternoon I will host a private Fireside Chat exclusively for faculty and staff on the University's Coronavirus Crisis Action Plan. After a short break, I will hold a public chat for our wider community to announce a significant new initiative. More information on how to access the chat will be sent via email and shared on social media channels.
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Kudos to our students and faculty on completing week two of remote instruction and learning. I am missing each of you and the hustle and bustle of our busy campus. Although we've had to "hit the pause button" in some ways, I am pleased to share that we are continuously working to reschedule impacted events for later dates. Let's think of it as something to look forward to--it is all about perspective, after all.
The Justine L. Nusbuam Lecture, originally scheduled for later this month, will now be held on September 24. The Robert F. Boyd Institute, originally scheduled for March, has been rescheduled for November 9-10. And as I announced a few weeks ago, Commencement will now be held on December 6. More details about Commencement weekend, including Baccalaureate details, can be found here. We look forward to celebrating the Class of 2020 the way it is meant to be celebrated--in person and together with family and loved ones. Please mark your calendar with these new dates.
With one month to go of our academic year, let's finish strong. As we enter week three of this new structure and as I prepare to join my first Zoom meeting of the day, I share with you an Inside Higher Ed piece that gave me a chuckle on this Monday morning: "15 Ways You Know You Are Spending Too Much Time in Zoom."
ET CETERA
VWU's Ashley Roehrman Named Campus Compact Newman Civic Fellow
Campus Compact, a Boston-based non-profit organization working to advance the public purposes of higher education, has announced the 290 students who will make up the organization's 2020-2021 cohort of Newman Civic Fellows. The 2020 cohort includes Virginia Wesleyan scholar Ashley Roehrman. The Newman Civic Fellowship is a year-long program for students from Campus Compact member institutions. The selected students are leaders on their campuses who demonstrate a commitment to finding solutions for challenges facing communities locally, nationally, and internationally.
Ashley is an incredibly high-performing student who has consistently been named to the Dean's List. She speaks three languages and recently completed Virginia Wesleyan's Peace Corps Prep program. A natural born leader and devoted agent for change, Ashley's calling is truly making a difference in our world and in the lives of others. Please join me in congratulating Ashley!
A new Virginia Wesleyan series explores innovative ways faculty are adapting instruction for remote delivery. I invite you to follow along. Read this week's piece featuring Dr. Katrina Henry, Assistant Professor of Physics and Earth and Environmental Sciences, here.
ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge
Virginia Wesleyan University's 2020 campus democratic engagement action plan has been selected as one of the top plans submitted to the ALL IN Challenge. A link to our plan is featured on the sample action plan page of the ALL IN website as a strong example for others to emulate. VWU's Director of Civic Leadership and Service Learning, Dr. Brian Kurisky, led the University's efforts on this project. Well done!
In an effort to support this mission, the ALL IN Challenge has created the Higher Education Presidents Commitment to Full Student Voter Participation. I was proud to demonstrate renewed dedication to encouraging students to be active and informed voters by signing the President's Commitment.
Campus Leaders Participate in Inside Higher Ed Research
Recently I joined 172 higher education presidents who took part in a survey Inside Higher Ed conducted with Hanover Research. Questions were posed about near-term and longer-term priorities, actions taken thus far in response to COVID-19, and where campus leaders felt best equipped to manage the impact of the crisis. As stated in Inside Higher Ed, "Student and employee mental health is campus leaders' top short-term concern, while financial viability and enrollment are their biggest long-term worries, survey finds." Read more in "Presidents Fear Financial, and Human, Toll of Coronavirus."
Alumni Engagement Opportunities
We are glad to present some unique opportunities for alumni engagement at this time and we hope Virginia Wesleyan can be a light for our alumni right now. Read more from our VWU Alumni Office here.
General Board of Higher Education and Ministry UpdateDr. Greg Bergquist, General Secretary of the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (GBHEM), sends along an update, "Pulling Together in a Time of Uncertainty." Read it here.
Additionally, GBHEM recognizes that the COVID-19 pandemic will cause financial hardship for many undergraduate and graduate students. In response to the economic impact of the global pandemic, the GBHEM Office of Loans and Scholarships has made some important updates to its policies. New 2020 guidelines--including a loan payment suspension option--are outlined here.
NADIIIAA Webinar
Recently I was invited by the National Association of Division III Athletic Administrators (NADIIIAA) to present as part of a webinar series. Our discussion was on presidential needs and expectations in athletic directors. It was nice to team up with moderator and longtime friend Kristin "Kiki" Jacobs, Director of Athletics at Roger Williams University. View the webinar here.
President to President: Chapter Nine
The ninth chapter of the 2019-2020 President to President thought-leadership series is now available. I enjoy editing this series with longtime friend and colleague Dr. Marylouise Fennell. In the ninth chapter, "Creative Collaborations: The Promise of Strategic Partnerships," Springfield College President Mary-Beth Cooper explores the value of forming strategic partnerships with organizations that share similar values and goals. She describes tangible steps that institutions can take to identify collaboration opportunities and develop partnerships that benefit the campus and the larger community. Read it here.
AROUND TOWN AND ACROSS CAMPUS
In case you missed it, Governor Ralph Northam sent congratulations to Virginia Wesleyan for being one of five colleges and universities in the Commonwealth, and one of 119 in the nation, to receive the Carnegie Community Engagement Classification for the 2020 cycle. Dr. Brian Kurisky is pictured holding a letter of commendation to the University from Governor Northam here.
We are anxiously awaiting completion of the new decorative brick signage at the main entrance to Virginia Wesleyan University on Wesleyan Drive. You can view brick work in progress and renderings of the completed sign here.
Demolition began a week ago on the stands in Convocation Hall in the Jane P. Batten Student Center. Over the next 12 weeks the old stands will be removed, the floor will be entirely re-done, and new seating installed (a little under 2,000 new seats). When completed, the facility will be called TowneBank Arena in the Jane P. Batten Student Center. Major progress has been made in a short time (view photos here).
Construction continues on Coastal 61 at Oxford Village, the eight building, 244 unit apartment complex being constructed on the north side of campus. The project is a P3 relationship between Virginia Wesleyan University and The Franklin Johnston Group. View recent photos here. To learn more visit coastal61.com.
The Career Development Program is remotely offering resources and meetings to discuss resumes, cover letters, career exploration and job and internship searches. Additionally, the CDP is now offering virtual mock interviews with students and a webinar series. Thanks to Jessica Harrington (Director of Career Development) for her efforts in making these resources accessible to our students. Learn more and view the schedule here.
Advising sessions are being offered to students remotely and "Advising Weeks" run through this Friday, April 10. WebAdvisor remains accessible to both faculty advisors and students. Registration dates and instructions for registration are available for viewing here. Thank you to Dr. Loren Loving Marquez (Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs) and Lauren Nelms (University Advising Coordinator) for their hard work and support in making this remote process seamless and successful.
Thanks to the Downtown Norfolk Council for rounding up some great opportunities to enjoy the arts from home. Many arts organizations are providing virtual classes, performances, and workshops. We can support them and experience something new while social distancing. View "Digital Downtown: Bringing the Arts Home" for more information.
Members of Virginia Wesleyan's Emergency Response Team and I recently hosted a live town hall with information and updates regarding the University's response to COVID-19. In case you missed it, the video is now archived on the VWU Digital Broadcasting Network and is available for streaming here.
Our newest issue of the Wesleyan Review is available. Read about the latest VWU news and events here.
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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In closing, I urge each of you to heed Governor Northam's "Stay-at-Home" order for the health and well-being of our community, our Commonwealth, our nation, and beyond. This is a global emergency and requires every person to do their part.
Know that I continue to be grateful for and impressed by the way our campus community has handled this unexpected challenge. It says a lot about who we are as an institution and as a Marlin family.
Best wishes for a great week at home!
