Dialogue: Nota Bene: Weekly Update

August 15, 2022

Good morning,

I am pleased to announce the fourteenth class of the Virginia Wesleyan University Athletic Hall of Fame. Members of the 2022 class represent the best of the best from VWU’s athletic history and will be inducted during a special ceremony on Saturday, October 8 at 5:30 p.m., during Homecoming and Family Weekend.

Congratulations to benefactors O.L. "Butch" Everett and John A. Trinder. They will be honored for their outstanding philanthropic contributions of resources, time, and devoted support to the University's intercollegiate athletics program.

Marlin standouts, who represent the very best from Virginia Wesleyan's athletic history, to be honored are Randy E. Lott, Jr. '14 (track & field), Ronald J. Yuhasz, Jr. '01 (men's basketball), and 2017 NCAA Division III National Championship Softball Team.

We look forward to celebrating these athletes and athletic benefactors. Ticket information will be forthcoming. In the meantime, mark your calendars and make plans to join us for this event and the entire Homecoming and Family Weekend on October 7-9.

Several months ago, the Virginia Beach Police Department approached Virginia Wesleyan about a partnership that would help them to build an educational continuum for officers that would broaden knowledge and skills, deepen understanding of human behavior, and graduate professionals with advanced abilities in resolving conflict.

The Virginia Beach Police Department is committed to the highest professional and ethical standards in the practice of policing. The knowledge, skills, and temperament required to meet those demanding standards are tested daily in real times of conflict, crisis, and danger. The exemplary Virginia Beach Police Academy and on-going departmental professional development programs that follow it are excellent sources of knowledge and skills and reflect the Department's learning-centered culture. But, increasing polarization and conflict within the community served by VBPD and similar departments across the country require a broader body of knowledge and skills than have been taught in the past. They also demand a deeper understanding of self and others.

Determined to meet those learning needs for VBPD officers and the public they serve, Virginia Beach Departmental leadership invited Virginia Wesleyan University's President and faculty leaders to partner with VBPD. VWU was asked to partner in this transformational project because of the University's commitment to community development and long, successful practice of experiential learning, which is preferred by working adult students.

Chief Neudigate (pictured) and I have approved a plan that will bring the VBPD and VWU together. The program, developed in a collaborative effort between VWU faculty and staff and VBPD officers, will award credit for some of the college-level transferable content that Officers receive at the Virginia Beach Police Department Basic Recruit Academy and will come to Virginia Wesleyan to complete additional coursework and work toward a baccalaureate degree.

I want to thank Dr. Deirdre Gonsalves-Jackson, Dean of the VWU Global Campus, for leading VWU’s efforts in the development of this program. Dr. Gonsalves-Jackson worked closely with Lieutenant Michele Meister, the Training director of the VBPD, to review curriculum and develop a plan that would create a rigorous and meaningful educational experience for the Officers in the program. On our campus, Dr. Scott Liverman, Chair of the Sociology and Criminal Justice Departments, Dr. Benjamin Dobrin, Dean of the D. Henry Watts School of Professional Studies, Heather Campbell, Vice President for Enrollment, Courtney Knudsen, Registrar, Dr. David Black, Chancellor of the VWU Global Campus, and Dr. Susan Larkin, Vice President for Academic Affairs, have all been heavily involved in the development process, and I thank them for their efforts.

We are committed to being a strong community partner and are honored by the opportunity to support the Virginia Beach Police Department with the educational resources that will allow them to achieve the highest professional standard.

I wish to say “thank you” to everyone who made our “Transformation Now!” fundraising campaign a success of historical significance and proportion. I am proud to share that we concluded our campaign on June 30 with over $172 million in private support. With additional gifts and pledges that occurred outside the official campaign dates, our total private support was slightly more than $181 million.

Two words frame just how grateful all of us are at the University. The first is philanthropia, a Greek word meaning “love for humanity.” The philanthropists who gave literally transformational gifts to this campaign did so because of how much they care about our challenged society and how convinced they are that VWU is a university of consequence designed and determined to graduate problem solvers who have learned experientially.

The second word is sustainability, and it has two applications in this thank you. One is its centrality in our academic programs. The advancement of sustainability is an intended learning outcome for students in the sciences, business, the arts, and community development. The word also applies to VWU itself. More than 70 colleges similar to VWU have closed or merged for financial reasons while we have been engaged in this campaign. By contrast, this university has raised $181 million and expanded globally and regionally. While margins remain too small for us to relax for even a minute, we are by all measures a sustainable and powerfully relevant university.

Some points of pride and statistics to keep in mind as we move forward:

It humbles me to share that seven gifts given during this time period secured placement as the top 10 individual gifts in University history. When I arrived at Virginia Wesleyan in 2015, a goal of mine was to establish a campus "culture of philanthropy.” I believe this campaign has enabled us to achieve that goal.
The Marlins Athletic Fund grew to $306,586 this past year with nearly 87 percent of gifts designated to specific sports programs. The Marlins Athletic Fund does not include capital gifts for athletic facility improvements.
Alumni participation reached 7.2 percent this year. Annual data reported to U.S. News & World Report from 1,451 ranked colleges shows that the average alumni giving rate during the 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 academic years was 8 percent, while the average among the top 100 National Liberal Arts Colleges was 11 percent.
The Excellence Fund continues to see growth, ending the fiscal year with an increase in both dollars and donors with $1,173,594 raised from 710 donors.

During these challenging times, philanthropic support has defined the good future of Virginia Wesleyan University. Thank you for the critical role each of you has played in transforming this University.

With pride, I share the latest 90- and 30-second videos about our Batten Honors College. Videos about Virginia Wesleyan University as a whole are currently in production and will be shared soon. Enjoy:

The Batten Honors College (:90)

The Batten Honors College (:30)

ET CETERA

Alumni and friends can watch my annual State of the University address to our campus community on Friday, August 19 at 12:00 p.m. The address includes highlights, initiatives and significant accomplishments from the past year, recognition of faculty and staff, points of pride, current campus projects, and the strategic direction of the University’s future. We look forward to welcoming our Trustees, faculty, staff, and many friends in person. For our students and alumni, the State of the University will be livestreamed on the VWU Digital Broadcasting Network.

It was such an honor to recognize 24 members of the Virginia Wesleyan University community on August 10 at an appreciation breakfast held in the Joan P. Brock Room of Brock Commons. Faculty and staff were honored for achieving significant milestones in their careers at VWU during 2022—from a decade of service all the way up to 35 years. Our longest serving honorees were professors Denise Wilkinson and Linda Ferguson (pictured), who are each celebrating 35 years at Virginia Wesleyan. I am personally so grateful to each of these employees for their service and dedication. The people here truly set this institution apart and make it such a special place. Read more about the event and view the photo gallery here.

If you haven’t responded already, I continue to welcome your input regarding the following topic:

Dr. Sue Larkin is serving as Vice President for Academic Affairs for a term of December 31, 2021 until June 30, 2023. It is important to me to be participative in this process for staffing this important position beyond that date.

I am committed to making the choice that is best for VWU, and my decision will be guided by the University’s mission, values and environmental context. As I’ve said previously, I welcome input from the faculty and campus community.

Internal comments will be accepted until August 31. No group or anonymous messages will be considered. Messages with author attribution should be sent directly to my private email address. All responses will be received in a completely confidential manner.

AROUND TOWN AND ACROSS CAMPUS

Regulators Approve Dominion Offshore Wind Project

The Virginia Mercury reports that State regulators approved plans by Dominion Energy to construct the nation’s largest offshore wind farm in waters off Virginia Beach but imposed several conditions intended to protect ratepayers, including reporting requirements for cost overruns and a performance guarantee. The hotly anticipated ruling from the Virginia State Corporation Commission gives Dominion the state’s go-ahead to embark on the $9.8 billion project. Read more here.

Norfolk’s Military Circle Mall Headed for Wrecking Ball

Virginia Business reports a news item of nearby interest. The decision to close the mall at the end of the year to make way for its demolition in the first quarter of 2023 came after Norfolk Economic Development Authority members toured the aging facility on Wednesday, Norfolk Economic Development Director Jared Chalk told Virginia Business. Read the full article here.

$11M Grant Will Boost Maritime and Clean Energy Jobs in Hampton Roads, Address Scars from Labor Shortages

Congratulations to our partners at Hampton Roads Workforce Council on this great news: The U.S. Economic Development Administration awarded $11 million to the Hampton Roads Workforce Council in Norfolk to make a training network that focuses on clean energy, cybersecurity and blue economy jobs. Read the article in The Virginian-Pilot.

Former NSU President Marie McDemmon Passes

We were sad to learn of the passing of former Norfolk State University President Marie McDemmon. After her NSU service and before my arrival here, I had the opportunity to do some consulting work with her in Alabama. She was a delightful dynamic leader and left impactful accomplishments throughout her career. Read more here.

Delceno Miles Appointed to Finish Term of Late Councilman Louis Jones

Congratulations to my good friend Delceno Miles on her selection to the Virginia Beach City Council. It was a true honor to speak in support of her candidacy at the City Council Meeting last Tuesday. Read more here.

Construction Updates

Perry Field: Many of you will remember a tragic event last spring when baseball coach Chris Francis was hit in the face by a foul ball batted into the dugout. Through a generous donation by a parent of a player, new protective fencing has been installed in front of both dugouts.