February 13, 2023
Good morning, |
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In these uncertain times, it has become increasingly critical to meet with our legislators and those making decisions regarding higher education. As a 32-year veteran of the college/university presidency, I'm often asked by state and local private college representatives to devote time to interpreting these issues and presenting a convincing case to our legislative leaders at the state and federal level.
Most of my work on the federal level in this area is coordinated through the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU). Because more than 1,600 independent colleges and universities enroll more than 3.7 million students across the country, the importance and benefit of these institutions should not be underestimated. NAICU membership consists of traditional liberal arts and sciences institutions like VWU, but also includes historically black colleges, faith-based universities, and women's colleges. For detailed information about our private college initiatives, I invite you to visit NAICU's website. |
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Last week, I spent time at the annual NAICU meeting communicating with key leaders and their staff on important issues impacting higher education and student financial aid, working as a part of the campaign to Double Pell. I am hopeful that our meetings in the capital will result in greater awareness by our government leadership of the many contributions of our colleges and universities, and particularly the necessity of keeping our doors open through the critical investment of all forms of student financial assistance.
Some of the highlights from my time on the Hill: - Visited with long time colleagues and good friends David Warren and Claude Pressnell (below, left). A former president of Ohio Wesleyan University, David served for 30 years as president of the NAICU. I was chair of Tennessee Independent Colleges and Universities (TICU) when Claude was hired as executive director of the Tennessee Foundation for Independent Colleges, and he has served as president of TICU since 2000.
- Caught up with Mark Hanshaw, former associate secretary of the General Board of Higher Education for the United Methodist Church (below, center). Mark also served as executive director of the North American Association of Methodist Schools, Colleges and Universities (NAAMSCU) during my term as president of that organization. He is now general counsel at Cumberland University.
- Saw Sabena Moretz, director of government relations at Virginia Private Colleges (VPC) (below, right). I serve as chair of VPC, and our most important agenda item is growing federal student financial aid programs.
I will continue to keep the VWU community informed of NAICU’s progress in advocating for independent colleges and universities on behalf of students. |
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After leaving the NAICU meeting in Washington, D.C., I headed to Miami for the annual Higher Education Climate Leadership Summit, hosted by Boston-based environmental advocacy organization Second Nature. This is a group that I have been actively involved with from the start, and Virginia Wesleyan has benefited from our engagement through student education, leadership opportunities, and resources. In early 2007, I was among the first 50 presidents to meet in Washington, D.C. to become a charter signatory on the climate commitment initiated by the American College & University Presidents’ Climate Commitment (ACUPCC), supported by Second Nature, the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE), and EcoAmerica. By the end of 2007, more than 350 campuses joined as Charter Signatories. Over the years, ACUPCC was shortened to be the Climate Leadership Network, an organization that I chaired from 2018 to 2020. I have served on the Second Nature Board of Directors since 2018. |
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The 2023 Higher Education Climate Leadership Summit focused on action planning to further college and university climate, equity, and sustainability goals, focusing on implementation, updating commitments, goal-setting processes, and institutional leadership. I’m pictured (top) with Tim Carter, president of Second Nature, and Elsa Nunez, president of Eastern Connecticut State University. Elsa and I are both past chairs of the Climate Leadership Network and currently serve on the Second Nature Board. I’m also pictured (bottom) with Tony Cortese, former President of Second Nature for almost 20 years. He is the founder of Second Nature, Climate Leadership Network, and the American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment. |
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While there, I also had the opportunity to visit with our friends at the Intentional Endowments Network (IEN), a non-profit, peer-learning network advancing intentionally designed endowments that seek to make investments that advance an equitable, low carbon, and regenerative economy. VWU is one of approximately 60 colleges and universities with IEN involvement. I’m pictured with long time colleague and friend, Georges Dyer, president of IEN, at last week’s annual meeting. |
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My involvement with the Climate Leadership Network and Second Nature is a reminder of our Environmental Guiding Principles, which reflect the University's larger commitment to ethical conduct and social responsibility through environmental stewardship and education. Our Environmental Guiding Principles were adopted by the VWU Board of Trustees in early 2020 and are embedded in the permanent institutional mindset for future planning. As such, our Board of Trustees, inspired by our guiding principles and involvement with IEN, voted to adopt an “environmentally friendly” investment policy in 2021.
I thank Second Nature and IEN for their ongoing impact at Virginia Wesleyan University and at higher education institutions around the nation. |
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Many will recall that our team of Batten Honors College students won the IEN Student Corporate Engagement Competition in spring of last year. As previously shared, our environmentally friendly investing, coupled with our Batten Honors College scholars' success in the IEN competition, inspired the Brown Advisory Foundation of Baltimore to make a $50,000 donation to establish a student-led investment fund at Virginia Wesleyan University. We expect student management of this fund to begin this fall. |
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Retired, legendary University of Michigan softball coach Carol Hutchins was here to speak to the VWU Marlins about Title IX in celebration of the 50th anniversary of Title IX’s passing. Coach Hutchins shared her unique experience as a student-athlete four years after the passing of Title IX and as a Division I women’s softball coach to a full house at the Goode Center.
Coach Hutchins was also the keynote speaker for the First Pitch Dinner at the Delta Hotels by Marriott in Virginia Beach, a fundraising event for our three-time NCAA Division III National Championship Softball Team. We thank Head Softball Coach Brandon Elliott '03 for coordinating Coach Hutchins’ visit to VWU. |
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AROUND TOWN AND ACROSS CAMPUS |
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Remembering Amy Dudley The Marlin Family is invited to celebrate the life of Amy Dudley (Payroll Administrator) by sharing memories, messages, and pictures online. Per the wishes of Amy’s family, no funeral or memorial service will be held. |
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Honoring Black History Month |
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Spring Alumni Weekend: Save the Date Mark your calendars for Spring Alumni Weekend, returning to campus April 14-15. Find the weekend's schedule here, and start making plans to join us on campus for spring athletic contests, alumni games, the annual Marlin Family Picnic, and more. |
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Hollywood, Teach Us to Pray Congratulations to C.S. Lewis Endowed Chair in Communication and Christian Thought and Professor of Communication Dr. Terry Lindvall and Professor and Chair of Communication Dr. Stu Minnis on their newly released documentary film, Hollywood, Teach Us to Pray. The film has received some nice media coverage from The Virginian-Pilot and WAVY News-10. The film will debut at VWU on February 28 at 7:00 p.m. in the Susan S. Goode Fine and Performing Arts Center. |
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Update on the ERP’s Ryan Resilience Lab
Many at VWU will recall that Louis Ryan has been a valued member of the VWU Board of Trustees since 2007 and had a distinguished career as general counsel of Landmark Communications before retiring from that office. In December 2021, Virginia Wesleyan announced The Louis and Prudence Ryan Research Symposium and Prize for Excellence in Research for scholars in our highly selective, residential Batten Honors College, honoring the Ryans’ longtime commitment to support the environment and education throughout Coastal Virginia.
The construction of the Ryan Resilience Lab ushers in the next chapter for environmentalism in Coastal Virginia and in our ongoing partnership with the Elizabeth River Project. We look forward to the many opportunities its construction will bring to our students. |
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Campus757 is Heating Up for the Summer Campus757’s January newsletter highlights the latest updates from the organization, which is a division of the Hampton Roads Workforce Council. The newsletter features information about Summer757, an initiative to help boost summer internship experiences with opportunities to further develop workplace skills, create community ties and experience the depths of Hampton Roads’ culture. |
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VA-UMC Throws the Skunk on the Table Skunk on the Table is a new series presented by the communications office of the Virginia Conference of the United Methodist Church to explore issues that are present but may be hard to talk about. Learn more and watch the first episode.
New Country Music Festival is Coming to Virginia Beach According to The Virginian-Pilot, a country music festival at the Virginia Beach oceanfront, called Beach It!, is proposed for June 23-25 and will be voted on by City Council in the coming weeks. |
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President to President: Working Together for Change As executive editor of this thought leadership series, I invite you to read the seventh chapter of this year's President to President publication. In " We Are in This Together," Nova Southeastern University President George L. Hanbury II, Ph.D., outlines strategies for improving connections on campus and creating a greater impact. He shares examples regarding innovations in technology, training techniques, research, diversity and inclusion, community outreach, and more. |
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Happy Valentine's Day, Marlins! Sincerely, |
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-- Scott D. Miller, Ph.D. President Virginia Wesleyan University 5817 Wesleyan Drive Virginia Beach, VA 23455 Phone: 757.455.3215 |
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