On July 6, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced concerning new regulations banning international students from remaining at American colleges and universities that, due to the pandemic, have chosen to operate entirely online this fall. While our plan is to hold in-person and remote courses this semester, which may exclude Virginia Wesleyan's international students from these regulations, this information is still an upsetting disruption during an already stressful time. I feel for these students and all of higher education as the administration is making a very difficult situation even more so.
These actions are in direct opposition with our beliefs, values, culture, and mission. For that reason, Ihave joined colleagues on the Presidents' Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration in issuing a position statement and signing on to the amicus brief in support of the Harvard/MIT lawsuit challenging the ICE Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) guidance. The amicus brief will be submitted on behalf of higher education associations seeking to enjoin the directive. I have also signed, on behalf of the University, a letter to Congress coordinated by the American Council on Education asking for assistance in rescinding the regulation.
I want to express my strong support and admiration for our international students, who are valued and important members of our University community. We have been communicating directly with those affected not only by the COVID-19 crisis but also these restrictive new regulations. We will do everything we can to advocate for and support our international Marlin family, and we will keep the VWU community informed as additional details become available.
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I am pleased to welcome the fourth class of new Batten Fellows and Shumadine Scholars to our highly selective Batten Honors College. Founded in 2016, with the first class enrolled in fall 2017, the Batten Honors 
College quickly emerged as a national niche program of Virginia Wesleyan University. Students offered admission to this distinguished program are impressive, and our newest class boasts a collective grade point average of 4.21 on a 4.0 scale, an average SAT score of 1382, and an average ACT score of 30 (both ACT and SAT are a four-year high). Students hail from all over the country--California, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Virginia--as well as internationally with both Germany and India represented:
College quickly emerged as a national niche program of Virginia Wesleyan University. Students offered admission to this distinguished program are impressive, and our newest class boasts a collective grade point average of 4.21 on a 4.0 scale, an average SAT score of 1382, and an average ACT score of 30 (both ACT and SAT are a four-year high). Students hail from all over the country--California, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Virginia--as well as internationally with both Germany and India represented:| Raul Agosto Tallon Allway Katelyn Baines Brian Berkeley Felix Bevc Melina Cabral Alex Cain Claire Carter Cara Caruso Abigail Craige Kiera Doyle Erika Eichelberger Makenna Good Henry Handley Brice Johnson Alysia Kelly Elias Kenworthy Dheeraj Koritala Casey Lang Alyssa Lane Abigail Mahoney Breana Mahoney | Jacksonville, NC Ashburn, VA Atco, NJ Oak Hill, VA Frankfurt, Germany Seekonk, MA Chesapeake, VA Loris, SC Ashburn, VA Sea Isle City, NJ Davidsonville, MD McConnellsburg, PA Lebanon, PA Fredericksburg, VA Elkhart, IN Gainesville, VA Perkasie, PA Hyderabad, India Purcellville, VA Temple, PA Dulles, VA Richmond, VA | Edward McDonald Alexander Moody Jillian Mulholland Benjamin Olson Aaron Oman Jack Palmer Gavin Prouty Rachel Quigley Stuart Reyes Nathan Richardson Alexandra Saxon Jaiden Shaw Grace Sweers Rhian Tramontana Kainaat Trehan Brooke Underwood Samantha Vos John Wampler Nolan Wilson Rachel Wilson Davon Young | Chesapeake, VA Portsmouth, VA Beachwood, NJ Henrico, VA New Market, MD Gainesville, VA Round Hill, VA Columbus, NJ Falls Church, VA Fredericksburg, VA Stone Ridge, VA Stafford, VA Winterville, NC Southold, NY New Delhi, India Chesapeake, VA New Paltz, NY Crownsville, MD Binghamton, NY Aliso Viejo, CA Hampton, VA |
The Batten Honors College is gratefully named for Virginia Wesleyan Trustee Emerita Jane P. Batten and her late husband, Frank Batten, Sr. For nearly 40 years, Mrs. Batten has been a force for change, improvement, and empowerment, and she believes deeply that students of the highest academic ability will flourish through this innovative program. We are endlessly grateful for her passion for knowledge and her enduring support.
ET CETERA
Administrative/Staff Holiday Calendar
I share with our campus community a link to the administrative/staff holiday calendar for 2020. The 2021 calendar will be finalized later this fall as we continue to monitor the COVID-19 crisis and have a better understanding of what the spring semester will look like.
New Website Launches for VWU's Work and Learn Program
Our new Work and Learn Program website is now live. The user-friendly resource allows students to explore 
all options available for on-campus employment experiences through the Campus Cooperative, Federal Work-Study (FWS), Opus, and Residential Leadership programs. The WLP is dedicated to providing students with meaningful work opportunities that allow them to better engage with the Virginia Wesleyan University community. Students will develop the skills and experiences necessary to be competitive in today's job market while also having the opportunity to actively contribute toward the cost of their education. Students can earn up to $2,500 annually through both FWS and the Campus Cooperative. Students selected to serve as a Resident Assistant in the Residential Leadership Program will earn $4,200 annually. The WLP supports the University's focus on affordability of a Virginia Wesleyan education, expanding our reach and providing a longer-term plan that will support our students and University community on many levels. View the new website here.
all options available for on-campus employment experiences through the Campus Cooperative, Federal Work-Study (FWS), Opus, and Residential Leadership programs. The WLP is dedicated to providing students with meaningful work opportunities that allow them to better engage with the Virginia Wesleyan University community. Students will develop the skills and experiences necessary to be competitive in today's job market while also having the opportunity to actively contribute toward the cost of their education. Students can earn up to $2,500 annually through both FWS and the Campus Cooperative. Students selected to serve as a Resident Assistant in the Residential Leadership Program will earn $4,200 annually. The WLP supports the University's focus on affordability of a Virginia Wesleyan education, expanding our reach and providing a longer-term plan that will support our students and University community on many levels. View the new website here.
VWU Organizational Structure Updates
We welcome Heather Campbell '04 as the Chief Enrollment Officer. She replaces David Waggoner, our Vice President for Enrollment over the past five years, who will retire on August 1. In addition to serving as Director of Undergraduate Enrollment, Heather has been an important leader in marketing and events. In addition to a Bachelor of Arts in Recreation and Leisure Studies from Virginia Wesleyan University, Heather also holds a Master of Education in Higher Education Administration from Northeastern University. Please join me in congratulating Heather on this well-deserved position. I know her leadership will continue to be instrumental to our institution.
I also wish to thank David for his service to the institution and strong leadership as we developed a comprehensive enrollment plan over the last five years. His work here is a fitting capstone to a decorated career in higher education.
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Virginia Wesleyan alumnus Trey DelPo '17 is the new Operations Manager and Technical Director for 
the Susan S. Goode Fine and Performing Arts Center. He replaces Tammy Thornes, who retired this spring. Trey graduated from Virginia Wesleyan University in 2017, where he was honored to receive the Hite Award for Distinguished Service to the Theatre Department, and received his master's in theatre from Bowling Green State University in 2018. During his time at these institutions, he worked on a variety of productions serving as an actor, director, dramaturg, set designer, and more. Since then, he has worked on productions for the MLB, the NFL, Netflix, HBO, and the Busch Gardens Entertainment Department. After moving back to the area, while serving as a member of the Virginia Wesleyan University Enrollment team, he continued to work with the Theatre Department on their most recent production of "The Shield" and is incredibly excited to work directly with the professors who helped him find his passion for theatre.
the Susan S. Goode Fine and Performing Arts Center. He replaces Tammy Thornes, who retired this spring. Trey graduated from Virginia Wesleyan University in 2017, where he was honored to receive the Hite Award for Distinguished Service to the Theatre Department, and received his master's in theatre from Bowling Green State University in 2018. During his time at these institutions, he worked on a variety of productions serving as an actor, director, dramaturg, set designer, and more. Since then, he has worked on productions for the MLB, the NFL, Netflix, HBO, and the Busch Gardens Entertainment Department. After moving back to the area, while serving as a member of the Virginia Wesleyan University Enrollment team, he continued to work with the Theatre Department on their most recent production of "The Shield" and is incredibly excited to work directly with the professors who helped him find his passion for theatre.
Coastal 61 at Oxford Village
I've received a number of inquiries about eligibility to live in Coastal 61 at Oxford Village. 
A reminder that when we received approval from the City of Virginia Beach for the complex, we agreed to certain restrictions because it was being constructed in a residential community. Undergraduate student housing there is limited and is based on upper-level standing, with a series of eligibility requirements established by the University in concert with the local civic league and city (see the Office of Residence Life for those criteria before contacting management). Graduate students, 12-month international students meeting criteria, and faculty and staff are welcomed. Visit coastal61.com to learn more.
A reminder that when we received approval from the City of Virginia Beach for the complex, we agreed to certain restrictions because it was being constructed in a residential community. Undergraduate student housing there is limited and is based on upper-level standing, with a series of eligibility requirements established by the University in concert with the local civic league and city (see the Office of Residence Life for those criteria before contacting management). Graduate students, 12-month international students meeting criteria, and faculty and staff are welcomed. Visit coastal61.com to learn more.
Athletics Partners with SIDEARM Sports
I am pleased to share our athletic department has launched a multi-year partnership with industry leader SIDEARM 
Sports. As part of the new partnership, the athletics website will undergo a redesign that will go live on August 12. SIDEARM Sports is one of the biggest brands in collegiate athletics as they have partnered with numerous colleges and universities across all three NCAA divisions as well as NAIA and the NJCAA. The new design will be fully responsive, allowing users to easily access the website on multiple platforms (mobile, desktop, tablet). The redesign also features new looks to the team roster and statistical pages, larger images on story pages, and easy navigation to specific areas for fans and prospective student-athletes, while still providing the comprehensive coverage of Virginia Wesleyan's 22 athletic teams that have been a staple of the Marlins athletic website.
Sports. As part of the new partnership, the athletics website will undergo a redesign that will go live on August 12. SIDEARM Sports is one of the biggest brands in collegiate athletics as they have partnered with numerous colleges and universities across all three NCAA divisions as well as NAIA and the NJCAA. The new design will be fully responsive, allowing users to easily access the website on multiple platforms (mobile, desktop, tablet). The redesign also features new looks to the team roster and statistical pages, larger images on story pages, and easy navigation to specific areas for fans and prospective student-athletes, while still providing the comprehensive coverage of Virginia Wesleyan's 22 athletic teams that have been a staple of the Marlins athletic website.
2020 State of the University
Each August, prior to the start of the fall semester, I deliver an annual State of the University address to the campus community. The address includes highlights, initiatives and significant accomplishments from the past year, recognition of faculty and staff, points of pride, recent University news and information, current campus projects and direction for the future of the University. This year's State of the University will be delivered virtually on Friday, August 21. The program will be streamed and archived on the VWU Digital Broadcasting Network.
COVID-19 Information
As a reminder, please be sure to check Virginia Wesleyan's COVID-19 resource page for updates and information: www.vwu.edu/coronavirus
AROUND TOWN AND ACROSS CAMPUS
Branding for our recently refreshed Recreation and Wellness program (UREC) is in progress across campus. Check out the new graphics at the racquetball courts in the Jane P. Batten Student Center.
Our newest issue of the Wesleyan Review is now 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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Have a great week!
