August 19, 2024
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You might notice activity around the Susan S. Goode Fine and Performing Arts Center today as we officially break ground on the new Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art at Virginia Wesleyan University. We are excited to officially begin construction of the facility next week. Construction should be completed in late 2025.
We remain grateful to the visionary donors who supported this endeavor - Jane Batten, Joan Brock, and Susan and David Goode. Virginia MOCA at VWU will bridge contemporary art and arts education in exciting and innovative ways for our students, our faculty, and our Coastal Virginia community.
I look forward to sharing news and pictures of the event with the campus community later today. |
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I'm pleased to share that Dr. Kevin Kittredge has been named Director of Nursing and Allied Health. Kevin joined the Virginia Wesleyan University faculty in 2012 and currently serves as Professor and Chair of Chemistry and Biochemistry.
He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana, a Master of Science degree from California State University, Fresno, and a Ph.D. from the University of California, Santa Cruz.
Virginia Wesleyan University and Sentara Health have been good partners on a variety of collaborations in recent years, including the campus based Student Health Center and the Bonnewell Sports Medicine Center. A subsidiary of Sentara Health, Sentara College of Health Sciences is located three exits south of VWU on I-64.
VWU and Sentara College of Health Sciences partnered in 2020 to offer a Joint Bachelor of Science in Nursing. The first students graduated from the program in May.
More information on the Joint Bachelor of Science in Nursing with Sentara College of Health Sciences can be found here. |
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Each August, prior to the start of the fall semester, I deliver a State of the University Address to our campus community. The address includes highlights, initiatives, and significant accomplishments from the past year, as well as recognition of faculty and staff, points of pride, recent University news and information, current campus projects, and direction for the future of the University.
The 2024 State of the University Address will take place this Friday at 12:00 p.m., immediately following our annual luncheon. We thank our sponsors - TowneBank (our presenting sponsor), AMG National Trust, Audacy, Brown Advisory, Hourigan, Kaufman & Canoles, RD Lambert and Son, RE/MAX, State Farm, Todd Evans ‘07, Thorn Run Partners, and Tymoff+Moss Architects – for their support of this important address.
The State of the University will be livestreamed on our VWU Digital Broadcasting Network beginning at 12:00 p.m. Be sure to tune in! |
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AROUND TOWN AND ACROSS CAMPUS |
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2024-25 Policies, Handbooks and Guidelines All policies, handbooks, and guidelines for the 2024-25 academic year have been posted on our website. If there are any questions or concerns, please contact humanresources@vwu.edu. |
Robert Nusbaum Center Fall 2024 Programming The Robert Nusbaum Center is proud to share its Fall 2024 newsletter and upcoming events. This fall’s edition “The Soul of a Citizen: Pursuing an Identity that Matters” can be found online. Some of the fall’s upcoming events will be presented by VWU faculty and friends: Tim O'Rourke, Leslie Caughell, Clair Berube, Ben Haller, Eric Mazur, and Joselyn Takacs. Be sure to make some time this semester to engage with the Robert Nusbaum Center. |
Visiting with Capt. Janet Days – our May 2025 Commencement Speaker We had a great visit with Captain Janet Days at Naval Station Norfolk today. Capt. Days is the Naval Station's Commanding Officer and will serve as VWU's Spring 2025 Commencement speaker. Joining us at Naval Station Norfolk were Larry Belcher (Director of Innovative Partnerships and Enrollment, VWU Global Campus), Deirdre Gonsalves-Jackson (Vice President for VWU Global Campus), and CeeCee Tucker (Special Advisor to the President). |
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Welcome to Captain Matt Frauenzimmer – our New Navy ROTC Liaison In more Navy news, we were delighted to welcome our new Navy ROTC liaison Capt. Matt Frauenzimmer to campus last week. We were joined by Navy Cdr. John Drosinos and Loren Marquez, VWU Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs. Navy ROTC starts at VWU this fall.
Fall 2025 Admissions are Open Applications for Fall 2025 admission are now open! Prospective students are encouraged to take the next step in their educational journey by applying early to secure their spot at Coastal Virginia’s premier university of the liberal arts and sciences. |
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A Visit with Rita Addison Cohen Nice to visit with Rita Addison Cohen, Founder & Executive Director of the Tidewater African Cultural Alliance. Rita is a good partner of the Virginia Beach Cultural Community. We were joined by Deirdre Gonsalves-Jackson, Vice President for VWU Global Campus.
Virginia MOCA Exhibit Examines Identity with AI-Generated Art Nikki Leone’s “Rule Breaker” exhibit comes to the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art, a VWU Partner in Progress, to challenge preconceived notions of art, identity, and following — or breaking — tradition. The exhibit will be on display until January 5. Read more from WHRO. |
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Congratulations to Women’s Volleyball VWU Women’s Volleyball is a recipient of the 2024 American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Team Academic Award. To earn the award, the team maintained a year-long grade-point average of 3.3 on a 4.0 scale during the recently completed academic year. Congratulations to Karissa Cumberbatch, Director of Men’s and Women’s Volleyball, and all the excellent student-athletes for their achievement.
Taking Stock of Virginia's Indoor Clean Air Act 15 years ago, Virginia's Indoor Clean Air Act banned smoking in restaurants. I doubt many of our current students even remember a time when you could smoke in a restaurant, thanks to this law. WHRO examines the effect the Indoor Clean Air Act has had on Virginia’s overall health and smoking habits 15 years later. Read more. |
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Marlins Move In We are excited to welcome our newest Marlins to campus next month! To celebrate Move In Day 2024, we aim to reach an aspiring goal of 240 gifts in just 20 hours and 24 minutes. Join us in showing all of our current and future students how strong the Marlin Spirit is. While they unpack, we invite you to give back to The Excellence Fund or another program that moves you on August 25, 2024. |
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An Ocean Plan for Virginia State officials hosted a public forum at the Virginia Aquarium last week to help develop a plan to guide the future of our state’s interactions with the Atlantic Ocean. WHRO reports that a draft of the plan is expected early next year with recommendations for future research and policies. Read more.
What’s Next for the Chesapeake Bay Agreement A decade ago, states around the Chesapeake Bay signed an ambitious agreement to restore and protect the nation’s largest estuary. With their 2025 deadline just around the corner, WHRO reports that leaders in Virginia and throughout the watershed are now considering how to move forward with the Bay Agreement, while facing growing threats like climate change. Read more. |
Title IX Training Due August 23 On August 1, VWU Human Resources emailed students, faculty, and staff regarding annual, mandatory Title IX training. The U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights requires every institution of higher education to define our responsibilities under Title IX. Whether we are a member of the student body, faculty, or staff, understanding our roles in matters involving Title IX is a priority for each of us.If you haven’t already completed the training, please review the presentation materials and complete the online quiz no later than August 23. |
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It’s WINDSday Check out the latest edition.
Military Circle Mall Plans Still Undecided Virginia Business reports that the plans for the closed Military Circle Mall, located four miles from campus, have yet to be determined. But there are new ideas in the mix. Learn more. |
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PARTNERS IN PROGRESS A Virginia Wesleyan University Community |
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