Dialogue: Nota Bene: Weekly Update

August 8, 2022

Good morning,

After five years of significant growth and months of planning and discussion, I am pleased to announce the establishment of a Graduate Council to provide important faculty involvement and guidance in the growing graduate offerings of Virginia Wesleyan University. The structure of the Graduate Council was recommended by the Academic Council, endorsed by the Vice President for Academic Affairs, and approved by me and the Board of Trustees.

For about three years, we have had strategic discussions of the growth of graduate programs for the good future of the University. As we did this, we came to the realization that it was necessary to create the infrastructure to support these programs and ensure that we provide high quality programs that are worthy of VWU.

Several months ago, I asked Vice President Larkin and the Academic Council to explore governance models for graduate programs that would support our growth in this important area.

Their recommendation was informed by the Council of Graduate Schools and the recommendations put forth in the "Organization and Administration of Graduate Education" document. As they note, “Each institution should have a group of faculty members active in graduate programs who serve as a graduate council, review graduate curriculum proposals, set university-wide academic standards for graduate programs, and develop policies and procedures for the effective administration of graduate degrees. All academic matters pertaining to graduate degree programs should be determined by this or a similar group” (pages 16-17).

The Graduate Council will oversee all VWU graduate programs. This body of graduate faculty will review graduate curriculum proposals, set University-wide academic standards for graduate programs, and develop policies and procedures for the effective administration of graduate degrees.

Because members need to have graduate faculty status in order to serve on the council, they are nominated by school deans and then appointed by the Vice President for Academic Affairs. Each school that has a graduate program or that is in the process of building a program will have representation. Because our graduate programs will be growing and developing over the next several years, committee membership will consist of at least five, but no more than 10, members to allow for adequate representation and efficient functioning.

I am pleased to announce the following initial Graduate Council members:

Dr. Rebecca John - Education

Dr. Arthur Pantelides - Business

Dr. Maynard Schaus - Director of Graduate Programs

Dr. Deirdre Gonsalves-Jackson - Dean, VWU Global Campus (ex-officio)

Dr. Susan Larkin - Vice President for Academic Affairs (ex-officio)

This council will add members from other areas as they develop programs.

I am pleased to announce that our own Brooke Underwood has been chosen to serve as one of a select group of students statewide on the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) Student Advisory Council. She will represent VWU and the Council for Independent Colleges in Virginia (CICV). Brooke is a senior fellow in the Batten Honors College, double majoring in business and music. She is a vibrant leader in VWU’s Student Ministries and also a member of the Vox Vera student choir.

Brooke represented VWU this past spring in the International Endowments Network’s Student Corporate Engagement Competition, taking first place in the Undergraduate Division, competing against teams from Arizona State University, Bard College, Central Washington University, New York University – Stern School of Business, Presidio Graduate School, Ryerson University, University of California Berkeley – Haas School of Business, and University of Minnesota. In addition to her involvement on campus, Brooke has recently completed an internship at Haygood United Methodist Church, where she taught weekly music classes to preschoolers and organized a community outreach service program. Please join me in congratulating Brooke.

Kudos to the Joan P. Brock School of Mathematics and Natural Sciences for hosting the fourth Diversity of Life Research Symposium, featuring poster presentations by dual enrollment students from five area high schools: Oscar Smith High School, Deep Creek High School, Maury High School, Nansemond Suffolk Academy, and The Hague School. All students enrolled in a special-designed biology class, team-taught by Dr. Deirdre Gonsalves-Jackson, Dean of VWU Global Campus, and Dr. Vic Townsend, Dean of the Joan P. Brock School of Mathematics and Natural Sciences.

ET CETERA

A reminder that Virginia Wesleyan University is now offering three-year degree pathways for 27 academic programs, resulting in greater affordability, increased retention, and stronger graduation rates. Learn more 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

Welcome Quntashea Lewis, New Head Women’s Basketball Coach

I am pleased to announce Quntashea Lewis as the new Head Women’s Basketball Coach. Quntashea and Desiree Driver of Averett University join the league this season as the first African-American women's basketball head coaches in ODAC history. Read more here.

106 Florida Churches Sue to Exit UMC Denomination

The Florida Conference is facing a lawsuit filed by more than 100 churches that want to leave The United Methodist Church with property and transfer to a breakaway, theologically conservative denomination. Read the story by UMN’s Heather Hahn here.

TechArk Solutions

We had a wonderful lunch meeting recently with our friends and colleagues at TechArk Solutions, discussing ideas for partnership and collaboration in technology and marketing. Joining me for the lunch was (clockwise from left): Sean Flynn, Assistant Vice President for Advancement, Alice Jones, Director of Career Development, Don Blankinship, TechArk Director of Sales & Marketing, Pratik Kothari, TechArk Founder & CEO, John Fall, TechArk Director of Sales & Marketing, and Kim Hammer, Vice President for Advancement and Special Assistant to the President.

Campus757 July Newsletter

Virginia Wesleyan University is pleased to be a charter member of Campus757, a centralized hub connecting students with employers and local attractions throughout the Hampton Roads region. The organization’s goal is to help area college students fall in love with this area and to ultimately stay and make the 757 their home. Read the Campus757 July Newsletter.

Norfolk Botanical Garden Partnership Flourishes

We had a productive meeting last week with our partners at the Norfolk Botanical Garden. We discussed our shared positions for the benefit of our extensive campus gardens and new opportunities for our students. Pictured with me, from left, Jason Seward, Associate Vice President for Campus Life and Operational Management; Les Parks, Director of Horticulture; Carl Simmons, VWU/NBG Curator; and Keith Moore, Vice President for Campus Life and Operational Management. Located on a beautiful 300-acre park-like campus, VWU features a unique 30,000 native plant garden at the award winning Greer Environmental Sciences Center.

VWU/VBEC Partnership Flourishes

I am proud of Virginia Wesleyan University's relationship with Virginia Beach Economic Development and our part in the programs at The Hive in Town Center. Read The Hive's August newsletter here

CICV President Robert Lambuth Retiring

Robert B. Lambeth, Jr., president of the Council of Independent Colleges in Virginia (CICV), has announced his plans to retire after nearly 40 years of CICV leadership. Lambeth has served as president of CICV since 1983, working with over 100 presidents of Virginia’s independent colleges and universities to encourage collaboration and unity among the schools.

Among his many achievements are the development and expansion of the Tuition Assistance Grant (TAG) Program, which has served over 300,000 students attending Virginia's private colleges, including Virginia Wesleyan. The TAG Program will provide a $4,500 grant to over 20,000 Virginia students attending nonprofit private colleges in the 2022-23 school year with a total appropriation of 90.8 million dollars. Lambeth's work and support were critical for the advancement and success of this grant and the aid it provides to students attending independent higher education institutions.

During Lambeth’s presidency, CICV developed an innovative self-insured health insurance program for the employees of CICV institutions. The Virginia Private Colleges Benefits Consortium currently covers 3,300 employees and 6,100 total lives. In recent years, it has become the model for similar programs established by Virginia businesses and private college associations throughout the country. We are proud to participate in this program alongside other CICV member institutions.

In collaboration with CICV college officials, Lambeth also led the creation of the first nonprofit higher education multiple employer retirement plan (MEP) in the United States. The CICV MEP provides retirement benefits to 16 CICV institutions and has over one billion dollars in combined assets. The CICV MEP has also become the model for similar programs offered by other private college state associations.

After retirement, Lambeth plans to continue supporting the work of Virginia nonprofit organizations. We thank him for his tireless work on behalf of Virginia’s private colleges and wish him well in retirement. Learn more about the CICV.

Passing of Former VFIC Chair

I’m sad to report that Charles ‘Terry’ Lindsay, former Chair of the Virginia Foundation of Independent Colleges, passed away on July 18 at the age of 87. Terry was a great supporter of the VFIC and served on the Marymount University board for years. Additional information about Terry’s legacy can be found here. Our prayers are with Terry, his wife Jeannie, and the Lindsay family.

Welcome to Virginia!

Two new presidents joined our family of Virginia Foundation of Independent Colleges, Virginia Private Colleges, and Old Dominion Athletic Conference institutions last month. Frank Shushok comes to Roanoke College from Virginia Tech. Sue Ott Rowlands is the new president of Randolph College and comes from Northern Kentucky University. We look forward to working with Frank and Sue as they begin their work.

Go Virginia Region 5 Council Meeting

Last week, I attended the Go Virginia Region 5 Council Meeting at VMASC in Suffolk. We are proud of our talent development relationship with Virginia Beach Economic Development and the Hampton Roads Workforce Council, a key component of Go Virginia.

Greater Norfolk Corporation Board of Directors

It was good to be back in person on Friday for the first time in two years for the meeting of the Greater Norfolk Corporation Board of Directors at the Dominion Enterprises building. We discussed "Initiatives to Combat Crime Downtown."