Virginia Wesleyan College

• Campaign priorities
• Capital projects
• Endowment

CAMPAIGN PROGRESS TO DATE

Recruited 25 New Faculty Over the Last 3 Years, Expanding the Faculty by 7 Positions

Recruited professors with degrees from Carnegie Mellon University, Cornell University, Harvard University, Johns Hopkins University, Ohio State University, University of Georgia, University of Southern California, University of Texas, College of William and Mary and Yale University making the average class size 10.7 and faculty interaction high.

Batten Professors

Recognized and financially rewarded leading faculty by naming 26 Batten Professors over a period of three years, seeking to improve faculty recruitment and retention. Batten Professors receive funds for special advancement of their scholarship.

Faculty Salaries

Have created an endowed fund to help raise faculty salaries by a cumulative 27.1% (5.4% annual average) over the five-year span between July 2004 and June 2008 in an effort to place the College at the Level 2 Rank (second quintile or salaries in the 60-80% range) in the American Association of University Professors National Survey of Faculty Salaries.

Batten Scholar

Recognize and financially reward annually the most outstanding record of scholarly production, thereby promoting an emphasis on undergraduate research and honoring faculty for the products of their scholarly or creative labors.  Six faculty have been recognized with this honor.

Moving the Faculty to a 4-3 Load

Made substantial progress in moving the faculty to a 4-3 teaching load, therefore providing faculty more time for undergraduate research and student interaction.

Faculty Professional Development

Created a Faculty Professional Development Fund to allow faculty to confer with peers from other institutions, to support attendance at conferences, to present papers and pursue research needed to keep their teaching and research on the cutting edge and to create a culture of inquiry for our students.

Bachelor of Science Degree Established

Established the Bachelor of Science Degree acknowledging the important role of empirical study within the liberal arts curriculum and to capitalize on the potential of the new laboratory science general studies requirement.

Creation of the C. S. Lewis Endowed Chair in Communications and Christian Thought

Hired Dr. Terry Lindvall in the fall of 2006, a leading scholar-teacher, author and film producer who creatively integrates the study of faith with study of the media culture. 

Creation of the Thomas R. Fanney Distinguished Professorship in Mathematics

This endowed professorship was established to assist in recruiting and retaining top faculty.

Endowed Scholarships

Raised $10.9 million in new, student endowed scholarships, including the Batten Student Scholars and funds for merit, need based and study abroad awards.

New Library Volumes

Purchased nearly 20,000 new volumes in the last year to expand the library's core collection with books from the list of "Best Books for Academic Libraries."

Center for the Study of Religious Freedom

Enhanced endowed funds so that the campus, Hampton Roads and communities nationally can freely explore issues of faith from a variety of perspectives and to provide our students with the foremost understanding of religious freedom of any liberal arts college in America.

Community Service

Enhanced the endowed fund to support expanded programming for student community service projects.

Expand and Modernize Hofheimer Library

Completed a $5.7 million modernization of Hofheimer Library to transform it into the academic center of campus.  Quiet study hall with access 24 hours a day, 7 days a week; instructional technology classroom; enlarge computer labs; enlarge floor space to accommodate more students; improve lighting and install climate control systems.  A new dedicated, exhibition space was added as the Neil Britton Art Gallery.  Opened January 2009.

Joan and Macon Brock Village

Built a 124-bed facility with private bedrooms, semi-private baths, kitchen with full appliances, living room, local telephone service, cable TV and high-speed Internet and parking, moving to 700 students on a residential goal of 1,000 students. Opened in winter 2005.

Wellness Hall

Modernized Smithdeal Hall and created special wellness programming providing greater housing alternatives for students. Opened in fall 2006.

Village IV

Six-building complex of town houses with 96 beds, private bedrooms, semi-private baths, kitchen with full appliances, living room, local telephone service, cable TV and high-speed Internet, and parking, which will move the College to 80% of its goal for 1,000 residential students.  Opened to students in January 2008.

Electronic Sign

New electronic message sign with brick facade.  Added Spring 2006.

Lake and Marlin Statue

Built two new water retention ponds for stormwater drainage in the outdoor athletic comples.  The larger lake features an eye-catching 14-foot Marlin Statue sculpted by artist Jon Hair. Complete Winter 2009.

Athletic Endowment

Created an Athletic Endowment Fund that supports recruitment and retention of talented and motivated coaches and improved athletic equipment.

Annual Fund for Academic Excellence

Provided increased annual funding to support student scholarships, technology in the classroom, undergraduate research and faculty recruitment and retention.

Marlin Athletic Club

Raised annual athletic funds to support the needs of our athletic program including safe transportation.

» Campaign Progress Report