August 12, 2024
Good morning, |
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We were delighted to welcome a new group of more than 50 WesBridge Scholars to campus on Friday. These first-year students arrive early and engage in the program for two weeks before the start of the fall semester. They take their first college course and earn two credits through a mix of discussion, lecture, service-learning activities, workshops, and assignments. This early glimpse of “life as a college student” helps WesBridge Scholars build good study habits and crucial time management skills while getting a feel for campus life.
A recent gift from Sentara Health helps pave the way for their success, allowing our students to begin their college careers with confidence. This program demonstrates our commitment to providing students with an enriching Virginia Wesleyan experience that sets them up for success now and in the future. We deeply appreciate Sentara Health for making this program possible and for supporting and nurturing our future leaders. Read more. |
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Site mobilization has begun for the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art at Virginia Wesleyan University project. Crews were on site last week installing construction fencing around the main building area and the adjacent new connecting road.
Parking for Susan T. Beverly Hall and business functions in Bray Village have been shifted to the Susan S. Goode Fine and Performing Arts Center lot. Students residing in Bray Village are encouraged to park in the student parking area along Smith Drive, along the Avenue of the Sciences, and the Honors Village lot.
Groundbreaking for the 35,000 square foot building is scheduled for August 19 with completion scheduled for December 2025. Tymoff+Moss is the architect and Hourigan is the contractor. |
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AROUND TOWN AND ACROSS CAMPUS |
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Wesleyan Wednesday at Ballyhoos We had a fun gathering of Marlins, past and present, along with friends and family, at last week’s Wesleyan Wednesdays at Ballyhoos in Virginia Beach. It was great to see so many friendly faces. Please visit our Flickr album to see photos from the evening. |
Campus Shines after “All Hands Day” A heartfelt thanks to the dedicated staff of Campus Life and our partners at Sodexo and Aramark for their hard work during “All Hands Day.” Over 70 members of the VWU family participated in classroom readiness and campus beautification projects, making them shine for the return of our students who will be arriving in less than two weeks. |
Elevate Your Leadership Podcast Available Now I recently had the privilege of joining Robert Pizzini on his Elevate Your Leadership podcast. We discussed the need to continuously innovate to stay ahead in the ever-changing landscape of higher education. Follow this link to enjoy the full episode. |
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“Virginia Beach’s University” Chamber Presentation Last week, I enjoyed sharing thoughts about the impact of VWU in Coastal Virginia at the Virginia Beach Division meeting of the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce. In this photo, I’m joined by Gretchen Heal, HRCC Vice President; Dan Heatwole, Partner, Ripley Heatwole Company; and Brad Martin, Senior Vice President of WPL. |
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Ryan Resilience Lab Earns National Recognition Congratulations to our friends at the Elizabeth River Project (ERP)! The ERP’s Ryan Resilience Lab, designed by Norfolk's Work Program Architects (WPA), has been honored as one of two finalists in the Fast Company’s Innovation by Design Awards. This magnificent facility was made possible by VWU Trustee Louis Ryan and his wife Prudence. They are two incredible philanthropists committed to creating a better world through environmental preservation and education.
VWU and ERP enjoy a wonderful partnership with opportunities for student research and service learning. The Ryan Resilience Lab is available for touring on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Register here. |
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Lunch with Stacy Cummings I had an enjoyable visit on campus last week with local business executive Stacy Cummings. A member of the Board of Directors of Virginia Beach Vision, Stacy was a partner and Vice President/CFO of Priority Auto Group which he helped found in 1998. We discussed VWU's role as Virginia Beach's university, our talent development program, and shared plans for the new Virginia MOCA facility. |
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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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VWU Global Campus No-Cost Talent Development Courses Featured in Inside Business We are delighted to continue to offer no-cost talent development courses to Coastal Virginia through a partnership with Virginia Beach Economic Development. Self-paced online courses and in-person classes at The HIVE or on campus are designed to improve participants’ professional skill sets. These courses are suited for job seekers, business owners, students, recent graduates, and volunteers. |
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. |
2024 State of the University: August 23 The 2024 State of the University Address will take place on Friday, August 23. 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 beginning at 12:00 p.m. |
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PARTNERS IN PROGRESS A Virginia Wesleyan University Community |
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We’re excited to have student-athletes back on campus later this week!
Sincerely, |
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