Dialogue: Nota Bene: Weekly Update

It was an honor to deliver my sixth State of the University address to our Virginia Wesleyan family on Friday. Thank you to those of you who tuned in virtually to hear highlights from the past year and goals for the future. For those who couldn't join us, the address is archived on our VWU Digital Broadcasting Network. Our gratitude to our friends at The Franklin Johnston Group and TowneBank for sponsoring this wonderful event. Read more and watch the 2020 State of the University: WAVY News Release | Feature Story | Video

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Last week we welcomed the fourth class of Batten Fellows and Shumadine Scholars to the highly selective and distinguished Batten Honors College at our annual Matriculation Ceremony. We look forward to their continued success and wish them all the best in their academic pursuits at Virginia Wesleyan. Read more, watch the ceremony in its entirety, and view the photo album here.

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We also paid tribute to recently retired faculty and staff members on campus last week.Three faculty members--Dr. Michael Hall (40 years of service), Dr. Jayne Sullivan (20 years), and Dr. Hilve Firek (10 years)--were honored at VWU's traditional commemorative Tree Planting Ceremony in the new extension to the Wilson Arboretum.

A special luncheon was held for three team members in the Office of Finance and Administration. Congratulations to Midge Zimmerman (30 years of service), Ronda Rothwell (37 years of service), and Audrey Rafferty (36 years of service).

I am grateful to each of these Marlins for their many contributions to our campus and our community. Please join me in congratulating them on this well-deserved milestone and wishing each of them the best in this next chapter.

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I am pleased to share that VWU has received approval from our accrediting body, the

Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges (SACS-COC), to offer a joint Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program with Sentara College of Health Sciences. The 131-credit hour joint BSN degree involves coursework at both institutions. Formal acceptance into the Sentara program occurs at the end of freshman year. Ten qualified applicants are guaranteed admission, and additional students will be considered on a competitive basis. Learn more here.

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Virginia Wesleyan continues to receive widespread recognition as Coastal Virginia's premier university of the liberal arts and sciences. I am proud to share a glimpse of our newest members of the Marlin Family for the fall semester.

For the Fall Session, the University received 2,433 traditional undergraduate applications and accepted 1,773 (73 percent acceptance rate). A total of 415 new students will be enrolling in traditional programs. We welcomed incoming students over the last several days, beginning with our fourth Batten Honors College class on Thursday and other First Years and Transfers over the weekend.

The Batten Honors College continues to bring in strong, engaged students. Now going into its fourth year, we will experience our first full cohort graduation in May. The newest class boasts a cumulative high school 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 as well as internationally. Batten and Shumadine scholars are dynamic additions to our campus community.

More students are finding a fit with Virginia Wesleyan University. This can be attributed to many factors, including the greater visibility of the University and our excellent academic reputation, as evidenced by increasing numbers of out-of-state students.

The majority of VWU's new undergraduate students come from Virginia, with 70 percent of undergraduate

day students coming from the state. Please note that these only include new students through the first registration of the fall semester and only includes our traditional residential learners. With the addition of VWU Global Campus (formerly University College) three years ago, the University now has six starting points each year, including two starts in the Fall Session.

Our joint campus in Tokyo--Lakeland University Japan and VWU Global--currently enrolls 355 students.

This enrollment does not include our non-credit continuing education and lifelong learning offerings. Over 10,000 learners enrolled in those programs in 2019-20.

ET CETERA

Coming Together as a Community This Fall

As we begin the fall semester, let us remember the importance of being responsible citizens and acting with our fellow Marlins in mind. I share with you a video message in preparation for the days, weeks, and months ahead. Be sure to check Virginia Wesleyan's COVID-19 website for all updates, and view this guide to make sure your face covering is "COVID considerate."

Celebrating Nineteenth Amendment Day

August 18 marked "A Century of Votes for Women." Kudos to Virginia Wesleyan faculty members Kathleen Casey and Leslie Caughell for an excellent article on this historic milestone. Read it in Coastal Virginia Magazine.

ICYMI: VWU Receives 2020 Inspiring Programs in STEM Award

Virginia Wesleyan University's Environmental Institute: Summer Scholars program received the 2020 Inspiring Programs in STEM Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine, the largest and oldest diversity and inclusion publication in higher education. The award honors colleges and universities that encourage and assist students from underrepresented groups to enter the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Virginia Wesleyan is featured along with 49 other recipients in the September 2020 issue of the magazine. Read more here.

AROUND TOWN AND ACROSS CAMPUS

Progress at Coastal 61 at Oxford Village continues. We look forward to two of the eight buildings opening in just a few short weeks. View recent drone footage of the apartment community to see updates. For faculty and staff interested in living in Coastal 61, you are eligible for discounted rates through the Preferred Employer Program. Learn more here.

In the latest edition of the Virginia Wesleyan Athletics "Inside Splash" segment, Head Men's Soccer Coach Chris Mills is interviewed by VWU Sports Information intern Taylor Major. Check it out here.

STAY CURRENT ON VWU NEWS AND FEATURES

Virginia Wesleyan University Magazine

The Pharos

REFLECTIONS

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

The Virginian-Pilot