Dialogue: Nota Bene: Weekly Update

December 13, 2021

Good morning,

It's been a semester full of having fun, taking chances, and overcoming challenges. We’re grateful to have been together with in-person instruction under a normal format and for the return of regular fall and winter seasons for intercollegiate athletics. I hope our Marlins are finishing up their final exams with confidence and excitement. Your well-deserved winter break is on the way!

I wish you all a happy, safe, and relaxing holiday. We look forward to seeing our first-year students and many of our upperclassmen back on campus for January Term.

Virginia Wesleyan University and Richard Bland College of William & Mary have reached an agreement for VWU Global Campus to provide bachelor’s degree programs on RBC’s Petersburg campus by the Fall Semester 2022. The arrangement is a culmination of several years of discussions and months of extensive planning. Through a contract between RBC and VWU (VWU Global Campus), students at the Petersburg campus will complete their associate degrees at RBC and have the option of remaining on the campus to complete baccalaureate studies from VWU. The combined four years of study will be seamless for the students in terms of credit and affordability.

According to the its published history, Richard Bland College is a public junior college associated with the College of William & Mary and located in Prince George County, Virginia. Richard Bland College was established in 1960 by the Virginia General Assembly as a branch of the College of William & Mary under the umbrella of "the Colleges of William & Mary.” The "Colleges" system lasted two years. Although other institutions (such as Christopher Newport) which were founded as one of the colleges of William & Mary eventually became independent colleges and later universities, Richard Bland has continued as a junior college of the College of William & Mary. Though under its own administration, Richard Bland College is governed by William and Mary's Board of Visitors and currently enrolls approximately 1,600 students.

RBC's students and highly credentialed faculty have long made the case for baccalaureate status. However, a particular Commonwealth statute prohibits a new public baccalaureate campus in that region. That statute does not apply to the private college sector. Therefore, VWU is honored to have been invited by Richard Bland College of William & Mary to participate in this important public-private educational venture that will benefit so many students and the communities they will go on to serve. Over the next six months, VWU will conduct an in-depth study of the feasibility of establishing a branch of our University on the RBC campus.

ET CETERA

Heather Hahn of the United Methodist News Service reports that United Methodist financial leaders are struggling to estimate what a proposed church split and ongoing pandemic mean for the denomination's bottom line. For now, the General Council on Finance and Administration board proposes cutting the budget for denomination-wide ministries by nearly a third, starting in 2023. But board members stress this is a work in progress.

Construction was completed last week on DeFord Manor. “Punch list” completions, technology installations, and interior decorating will occur during December and January with an anticipated occupancy of February. Learn more about DeFord Manor here.

AROUND TOWN AND ACROSS CAMPUS

Celebrating Alan Brown

Please join us in celebrating Alan Brown and his 25 years of dedicated service to Virginia Wesleyan. He is retiring from VWU/Aramark as of December 31 and will be keenly missed by many Marlins across campus. His retirement celebration will be held on Friday, December 17 at 4:00 p.m. in the Hofheimer Theatre. Kindly RSVP to officeofthepresident@vwu.edu and join us!

Cameia Alexander Named Director of Men’s and Women’s Cross Country and Track & Field

Cameia has been the assistant director since 2020 and was recently named director by Andrea Hoover-Erbig, Executive Director of Intercollegiate Athletics. In her first season with the Marlins, she guided two athletes to the NCAA Division III Outdoor National Championship Meet. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Health & Human Services from Troy University and a Master of Science in Rehabilitation Counseling with a concentration in Clinical Mental Health from Troy University. She previously spent four seasons as an assistant coach at NCAA Division I Troy University where she worked primarily with the sprints and hurdles for the Trojans. Congratulations, Cameia!

Fall 2021 Batten Honors College Excelsis Online Now

The Fall 2021 edition of the Batten Honors College publication Excelsis is now available online. I hope you enjoy learning more about this program, which has become a national niche for Virginia Wesleyan University.

The Batten Honors College selectively enrolls approximately 160 scholars and is one of just 146 honors colleges nationwide.

Strengthening Campus Ministry: Meeting with Rev. Beth Givens, Pastor at Haygood UMC

Dr. Keith Moore, Vice President of Campus Life and Operational Management, and I met with Rev. Beth Givens, Pastor at Haygood UMC, last week to chart a path for the bright future of the Haygood UMC/VWU relationship.

Located just two miles east of campus on Wesleyan/Haygood Drive, the Church has been a partner in the past and often hosts the annual Baccalaureate Service during May Commencement Weekend.

Marie Porter (pictured right) will return to the lead role in the relationship. Many will recall Marie’s good work on our campus in the 2020-21 Academic Year. She was recognized with The Wesley Award during our May 2021 Baccalaureate service. We are thrilled to have her return to VWU.

New to VWU, but no stranger to many in our campus community, Rev. Givens is pastor of Haygood (pictured right). She received her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Virginia and her Master of Divinity from Emory University. In our new understanding with Haygood, Rev. Givens will supplement and support Marie’s work with our students including involvement in certain special events.

I again thank the campus community for their patience and support as we work through final details with Haygood United Methodist Church and look forward to a robust spiritual life on campus once again.

Marlin Family Campaign Thank You Reception

We had a wonderful celebration for faculty and staff who gave to the Marlin Family Campaign during the month of October. This year’s campaign, Be the Ripple That Starts the Wave, inspired over $45,000 of giving from 141 faculty and staff members across campus. Thank you to all who gave! View the event’s photo album.

2022-23 Academic and Administrative Calendars Available

The 2022-2023 academic and administrative/holiday staff calendars are now available online.

Employment by Diversity Report 2021-22

It has been my annual practice to share data gathered for an Employment by Diversity Report with the campus community. The report can be accessed here.

Hosting Greater Norfolk Corporation

Linda Peck visited campus last week as the new Executive Vice President of the Greater Norfolk Corporation after Barry Bishop retired on September 24, 2021.

We discussed the University and items of mutual interest for collaboration. I have served on the GNC Board of Directors for five years and the Executive Committee the last three years.

Learn more about the Greater Norfolk Corporation.

Meeting with Governor-Elect Glenn Youngkin

As a member of the Board of Directors of the Hampton Roads Chamber, I was invited to a private gathering with Governor-elect Glenn Youngkin before his keynote speaker address to the Chamber’s Annual Meeting last Wednesday. I had the opportunity to talk with the Governor-elect about private college initiatives. During lunch, my presidential colleagues from Coastal Virginia (including ODU, NSU, TCC, and PDCCC) and I had the opportunity to discuss with him a broader variety of education issues.

STAY CURRENT ON VWU NEWS AND FEATURES

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REFLECTIONS

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

University Business