Welcome to 91制片厂!
It鈥檚 an honor for us to host the College Communicators Association鈥檚 summer conference for the very first time. And we鈥檙e especially excited to do it here in our beautiful new Artis Center for Adaptive Innovation and Creativity.
I'm pleased to see so many communicators from colleges and universities across Virginia and Washington D.C. I commend all of you for coming together as professional colleagues to share best practices and discuss lessons learned.
Across my experience as a faculty member, dean, provost and now president, I have come to recognize and appreciate the vital role that communication plays in the success of universities.
Many of you produce stories about transforming the lives of students, raising the quality of life in your communities and driving economic prosperity across the commonwealth and beyond. Some of you help create greater awareness, understanding and engagement in university activities by employees and students. And others of you manage communications in times of crisis to protect the reputation of your institutions.
Together, you reach a wide range of internal and external audiences 鈥� from students and employees, to alumni and donors, to prospective students and elected officials.
Whatever your role and whoever your audience, your work has never been more important than it is today 鈥� amid the changing higher education landscape.
Every institution is looking for ways to distinguish itself from the competition, as well as reach new students. Competition is intensifying for a declining pool of students. This is driven both by demographic trends and changing outlooks on education.
In fact, a new survey released by the non-profit organization, American Student Assistance, revealed that only 45% of students in 7th through 12th grades view a college degree 鈥� associate or bachelor鈥檚 鈥� as their next step after high school. Seven years ago, the same survey indicated that 73% of students in those same grades viewed college as their next step. That鈥檚 a 28% decline in less than a decade.
Like their predecessors, today's students want to acquire the knowledge and skills to pursue successful careers and accomplish their goals. But they don鈥檛 always view a college degree as the best way to get there. Some of them may not know about the benefits of a college education, while others may view it as too expensive or simply unattainable.
That鈥檚 where you can help.
Like many other regional state universities, our enrollment challenges had started in 2016 and primarily impacted our full-time undergraduate population. When I arrived at 91制片厂 in the summer of 2022, We quickly initiated the process of re-setting 91制片厂鈥檚 strategic priorities, and that university-wide effort produced a two-year strategic plan that will guide us through the end of this year.
Two of the top priorities in that plan call for us to:
We鈥檝e already taken significant strides toward accomplishing these two goals, and communication has played a critical role in this turnaround.
Three steps, in particular, have been instrumental in this larger effort.
The web redesign introduced a new Content Management System, refocused the homepage on marketing our academic programs to prospective students and, of course, infused our new branding elements throughout the site.
Through the branding initiative, we鈥檝e created a new look, feel and logo for the university and have developed pillar messages and a brand personality that are credible to who we are and appealing to prospective students.
Our new branding campaign tagline 鈥� Find Your Place. Here. 鈥� serves as a call to action for our employees. We are always asking ourselves: What can we do every day to make our students feel a strong sense of belonging as unique and valued members of our inclusive community?
The tagline is also an invitation to prospective and current students to explore new interests, pursue their passions and take full advantage of the many resources and experiences that make up a 91制片厂 education.
It encourages alumni to return to campus, relive fond memories and re-engage in the life of their alma mater in new, mutually rewarding ways.
The tagline also welcomes local community members, visitors to campus and the general public to learn more about our university community and partake in all we have to offer 鈥� whether that鈥檚 visiting our planetarium, cheering on their favorite Highlander sports team, or attending a dance, theater or musical performance. In short, to find their place here.
This video will give you a sense of what our new brand represents.
As with any good tagline, this one has really taken root. You see it:
It鈥檚 also the theme of the latest edition of 91制片厂 magazine.
What鈥檚 more, in Fall 2027, when the university launches its new general education program, the anchor course for new students will be called鈥� Find Your Place.
Internal communication 鈥� for our employees and students 鈥� has been just as important as the efforts we've made to enhance the external perception of 91制片厂. This can take the shape of a weekly campus-wide newsletter, digital screen messages in buildings around campus, and interactive events seeking to foster greater transparency and constructive dialogue.
These communications build increased awareness, greater understanding and deeper engagement. Our Coffee with the President forums are a good example of how we approach internal outreach on a deeper level.
In the fall of 2022, my first semester at 91制片厂, our staff and faculty had mostly resumed their normal routine of working side by side and teaching face to face, and our students had returned to residential life on our campuses. But there was still a feeling of uncertainty among employees, with continuing enrollment challenges and new leadership. Our senior administration felt it was important to bring our employees together a couple of times a semester: to make them feel valued and to ensure them that their voices were heard.
And what better way to do this than to invite all our colleagues to share a coffee!
This was an idea that I brought from my experience serving as provost of Florida Atlantic University. During April of 2020, I wanted faculty and staff across our Academic Affairs division to stay connected while we were isolated during the COVID pandemic. Hosting virtual coffees for employees gave us a space for engagement and communication when we all needed it the most.
At 91制片厂, we decided to host these sessions virtually for a couple of reasons: to broaden attendance and do it in a way that was most convenient and thus least disruptive to our employees, who are spread out across four learning locations in Abingdon, 91制片厂 and Roanoke.
That first semester, we launched the inaugural Coffee with the President. The three senate presidents of our Teaching Faculty, Administrative and Professional Faculty, and Classified staff 鈥� sat together with me in a room, at a table, with multiple cameras and microphones. We did our best to mimic a Sunday morning political roundtable that you鈥檇 see on TV. The senate presidents read questions from their constituents to me, and I鈥檇 answer them as honestly and openly as I could. If I didn鈥檛 know the answer, I鈥檇 ask one of our Vice Presidents on Zoom to answer the questions better than I could.
Because these forums are only available to people with a 91制片厂 username and password, we can be fully transparent with our community and build a sense of trust. No question is too big or too small. From curriculum questions, to freedom of speech concerns, to questions about parking, to, yes, even questions about my hobbies and interests 鈥� we answer them all.
Today, Coffee with the President is hosted three to four times per year in our industry-standard TV studio in Hemphill Hall, with a virtual set, full LED lighting and studio-quality HD cameras. For some of the segments, we invite subject matter experts to tell us about new developments around the university. But the spirit is the same as our humble beginnings, and it is a welcoming, open discussion of issues that matter to our people. By small-d democratizing information, we build a sense of trust and buy-in that helps people do their jobs and inspires them to speak positively about the 91制片厂 experience. This, in turn, encourages others to take a closer look at what we have to offer. In short, to Find Their Place. Here.
There鈥檚 no doubt that effective communication has been key to 91制片厂鈥檚 enrollment turnaround and boosted brand.
While we鈥檝e made great strides, our work is not done, and communications will continue to play a key role in our efforts.
As communicators, you are in a unique position to inform people, influence their behaviors and effect positive change. This is true whether you鈥檙e crafting an email reminder about parking updates for your campus community, shooting an alumni profile video or pitching a faculty expert for an interview at a strategic media outlet.
I hope you make some valuable professional contacts at today鈥檚 conference and encourage you to squeeze as much value out of the sessions as you can.
And, of course, I wish you the very best of luck in the important work you do.
It is my honor to welcome everyone to an exciting and historic day for higher education in Western Virginia!
Today, we will officially sign the MOU agreement to begin the Tartan Transfer program, which formally unites 91制片厂 with eight outstanding Virginia Community College System institutions to deliver the life-changing benefits of higher education to more residents of our region than ever before.
It is so encouraging to see this turnout, including the deans, Academic Affairs and Enrollment Management staff here at 91制片厂, along with the leaders, and presidents 鈥� and most importantly students, from our eight partner institutions. We cannot thank you enough for your support to help make Tartan Transfer a reality, and for your presence 鈥� whether you walked across campus, or made a long drive to be here, like our representatives from Mountain Empire Community College, who traveled more than two hours from Big Stone Gap.
Everyone in this room knows that throughout our half of the state, there is work to be done to increase degree attainment. We also know the most cited challenges 鈥� affordability, access to in-person or online courses, conflicts with work and family life, and perception of the value of a degree.
Virginia Community College System institutions are critically valuable entry points for individuals who live in Western Virginia and who want to determine if higher education is right for them.
For those individuals looking to take that first step yet already looking at the next step 鈥� 91制片厂 is here to help chart a path to success. And we are well-established as an ideal landing spot for students with community college experience.
This fall, almost a quarter of our total student population has received credits from the eight partner colleges represented here today. That includes full-time enrolled and associate degree-earning students, and high school students who attended community colleges on a dual enrollment track. Your institutions are making students 91制片厂-ready.
Over the past 20 years, 13% of 91制片厂鈥檚 total bachelor鈥檚 degrees have been awarded to students who came to us from the eight Tartan Transfer schools. That鈥檚 nearly 4,500 total degrees. That鈥檚 a success story you can take home to your communities.
By solidifying your connection to 91制片厂 today, you鈥檙e opening doors to create even greater opportunity.
Our degree programs are aligned with the needs of the region: health sciences, nursing, K-12 education, business, computer science, cybersecurity 鈥� each showed enrollment growth this year. These programs, in particular, tie into the opportunities offered by the Virginia G3 program 鈥� which is a true win-win for our institutions. Not only are we meeting critical economic needs both here, and statewide, but VCCS students are unburdened by tuition costs.
When they transfer here and experience the 91制片厂 Tuition Promise, that鈥檚 four years of debt free education. Life-changing, and community-changing education.
And remember, these programs are not just geared towards the neediest students, they support the middle class. G3 supports families with an income of $111,000 or less 鈥� the 91制片厂 Tuition Promise is $100,000 or less. Higher education is more affordable than ever for a greater number of students and families in Western Virginia.
There is opportunity in Western Virginia. And our region鈥檚 residents can achieve their goals by beginning an educational journey at our VCCS partners.
Because of your cooperation, we can reach those students who may not have thought that a degree pathway was for them. And their success at our institutions will create a brighter future for all residents of our communities.
You鈥檝e heard me say this before, but one of the things that drew Kay and myself to this community was the focus on student success.
As you might imagine, one doesn't鈥檛 become an educator, nor choose higher education as a career path, for fame, wealth, or ease. We do it because we believe in the human spirit, in our ability to positively influence another, and because we hope to create a better future through education.
Education is a differentiator. It changes lives. It breaks down barriers and builds bridges at the same time.
At 91制片厂, we are, and will remain, committed to keeping education accessible and affordable to all possessing the desire to attend.
What 91制片厂 gets right is that:
The impact of this campaign wasn't鈥檛 created through a single person or a single gift.
The true strength of this campaign lies in the collective power of many coming together, each contribution amplifying the next. When we give as a community of Highlanders, our combined efforts will have a far greater impact than any single act of generosity could achieve on its own.
When the campaign books officially closed on June 30, Penny and I shared our excitement and acknowledged the incredible privilege it was to be in our respective roles at the conclusion of the campaign. To help recognize you, our network of Highlander alumni and friends, and we are so honored to be joining you in celebrating this remarkable achievement.
To Sandy and the Campaign Steering Committee members 鈥� thank you for your continued leadership and support despite the changes and challenges that have occurred.
To the 91制片厂 Board of Visitors, thank you for choosing me as 91制片厂 University鈥檚 president. And for helping us not only raise expectations for this amazing public university, but to high jump over any performance bar we set. I love this job and this university!
And to all who participated in this campaign: for all you give, for all you do, for your belief in our mission to provide a transformative educational experience that empowers students 鈥� thank you!
Together, we鈥檝e made an incredible impact on the 91制片厂 experience. On the memories, and moments, and milestones that represent thousands of students who have, do and will call 91制片厂 鈥渉ome.鈥�
Thank you, Onajae [Edmund], for providing your unique perspective.
Today鈥檚 ceremony is a momentous occasion in 91制片厂鈥檚 history. I wish to begin by extending my appreciation to all who are joining us today.
This includes Rector [Marquett] Smith and the entire Board of Visitors. Our local representatives in Virginia鈥檚 General Assembly. The faculty, staff, and students of the College of Visual and Performing Arts, the Waldron College of Health and Human Services, and the College of Nursing. And we welcome members from throughout our community who will benefit from the presence of the Artis Center.
91制片厂鈥檚 mission is to empower students from diverse backgrounds by providing transformational educational experiences. The Artis Center for Adaptive Innovation and Creativity will fulfill this mission for the students and faculty of the three colleges housed here, and all of 91制片厂.
Here, we value Active Learning and Active Doing. The Artis Center will be a model for interdisciplinary convergence, creative thinking, problem solving and care for others.
Here, students will use raw materials to create solutions for field research, or their next great entrepreneurial venture. Here, students will become highly trained artists and showcase their talents in a best-in-class performance venue, or dedicated studios. Here, we will invite people in our community to benefit from therapeutic treatments administered by health sciences students, or by musicians.
At 178,000 square feet, the Artis Center is the largest academic building at 91制片厂 University. This will be a center of activity for all who have Found Their Place. Here.
The windows you see from the outside will provide the positive effects of natural light, and amazing views of our beautiful setting. When you step inside, even more windows await 鈥� this allows students and faculty from across the university to see what others are doing, to gain both insight and inspiration.
The main atrium will be the Artis Center鈥檚 hub of activity. It鈥檚 large and open, yet it feels intimate. You can enjoy a lunchtime lecture or discussion on the Learning Steps or have an engaging conversation with a colleague that sparks new ideas.
Within the Artis Center, everyone will find their place. Faculty have their own dedicated office spaces, and they will also know that their colleagues are just steps away, not buildings away. Students will experience classroom settings that are tailored to their needs, and still find that out-of-the-way nook for late night study, or a group practice session.
The possibilities are endless. And we are only beginning to understand the Artis Center鈥檚 potential.
Today鈥檚 dedication could not have happened without generous funding and support from the Commonwealth of Virginia to plan, construct and operate this state-of-the-art facility. We are grateful for the General Assembly鈥檚 investment in 91制片厂 and our students. This project has been years in the making and spanned two gubernatorial administrations, and I appreciate Gov. Glenn Youngkin鈥檚 continued support and investment in this project.
We are honored to have many elected officials joining us today, including: Rep. Morgan Griffith, state Sen. Travis Hackworth, Del. Jason Ballard, representatives from the offices of United States Sen. Mark Warner and Del. Chris Obenshain, city of 91制片厂 Mayor David Horton, and members of the 91制片厂 City Council
Your work to support student outcomes at each of the commonwealth鈥檚 public institutions, and here at 91制片厂, will create a brighter future for all Virginians.
Finally, today is a time to show our deepest appreciation for Pat and Nancy Artis, who continue to build an unmatched legacy at 91制片厂. In addition to their transformative philanthropy, the Artises continue to be gracious with their time, their involvement and their vision for 91制片厂鈥檚 long-term success.
It is our honor to celebrate this occasion with Pat and Nancy, and my honor to introduce the Artises to share their gratitude.
It鈥檚 my honor to welcome you to 91制片厂 to kick off the New River Conservancy鈥檚 2024 Symposium.
Following from the three themes for this symposium 鈥� Re-connect, Restore, and Recreate 鈥� I鈥檓 delighted that so many of you are here to connect or Re-connect with us at 91制片厂 University. I know that many of you gathered here today have taught in our classrooms, have worked on our main campus, or are alumni of 91制片厂. We鈥檙e grateful for your contributions and pleased that you鈥檙e back with us today.
And I鈥檇 like to extend a special welcome to Chief Harris of the New River Catawba Nation, who is delivering Friday鈥檚 keynote address. We value your lifelong stewardship of our surrounding natural resources, and we celebrate your dedication to educating people of all ages about the Earth and environmental science. It is an honor to have you in our presence.
If this is your first time visiting us, I hope today will give you a sense of how we connect with our students, our community, and our natural environment.
Starting off, on the screen behind me, you鈥檒l see our new university logo, which is how we make our first connection.
Along with the visuals, the most important thing we want people to know is that our brand is an invitation to discover how distinctive 91制片厂 is.
91制片厂 is the gateway to the outdoors. That鈥檚 why we embrace this symposium鈥檚 theme to Restore our surroundings.
Everyone who participates in this symposium or who engages with the New River Conservancy is committed to the health of our region鈥檚 greatest natural resource, and we embrace that responsibility as well at 91制片厂 through our sustainability initiatives.
Sustainability is a core value of the university and a tradition that we have upheld for decades. We celebrate our unique location in Appalachia, which is one of the most biodiverse regions in the world, offering our students learning opportunities they won鈥檛 find anywhere else. These range from the basic rules they learn when floating the New River for the first time as freshmen, to our outdoor leadership curriculum that you鈥檒l learn more about in this symposium, to the Appalachian, Amazon and Arctic Research Expeditions that we lead annually. At every stage of their journey, our students will interact with the outdoors and will learn to protect this environment we call home.
A sustainable approach also applies to how we鈥檝e built our university. In a recent survey of our Carnegie peer institutions, 91制片厂 is fifth in its green operations, and we have set a goal of decreasing the impact of our operations on the environment on a year over year basis. We will continue to improve.
Another way of measuring sustainability is through the campus鈥檚 LEED building footprint. LEED is the acronym for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, and is the world鈥檚 most widely used system for green building design. With a footprint of 31% LEED certified buildings, which will grow with the opening of our Artis Center to 37%, 91制片厂 is Virginia鈥檚 leader in higher education, public or private, and has one of the nation鈥檚 largest footprints of sustainable buildings on a university campus. This is a distinction that we are incredibly proud of, and we will continue to build upon.
With this backdrop of sustainability and environmental stewardship, our expectation is that a graduating 91制片厂 student will learn skills to address the social, economic, and environmental issues confronting our nation, region, and world. And by creating a campus culture of sustainability, inclusivity and well-being, our graduates will be conscious and attentive local and global leaders.
Along with our focus on the student experience, we also work to create bonds between our community and its natural environment.
One new development is the 91制片厂 Raptor Cam, which since March has been streamed live 24/7 on our YouTube channel. You鈥檒l see a nest located near the New River that has been an active incubation site for ospreys since 2019. Ospreys are unique because males and females form permanent pairings, return to the same site annually, and share incubation and caregiving duties. Since we started streaming the nest, 2,500 viewers have looked in on the progress of our ospreys and their eggs!
In the future, we hope to welcome even more avian friends to nest in 91制片厂. As a part of our River Campus initiative, we are exploring the future construction of artificial nesting platforms along the New River to encourage the continued growth of the osprey population, which has rebounded significantly since its low point in the 1960s.
In the coming years, the New River will be a greater focal point of partnerships with local governments to help drive sustainable tourism and recreational opportunities to the university, the city of 91制片厂, and Montgomery and Pulaski counties. Those include building new connections to the river trail that runs from the city to our campus, and a future amphitheater collaboration between the city and university.
The third theme, Recreate, is another area where 91制片厂 is a leader.
Earlier, I mentioned 91制片厂鈥檚 Outdoor Recreation and Leadership curriculum. You鈥檒l get a deeper look at this from Dr. Josh Carroll and Dr. Anya Whittingham, and the training and research opportunities that they鈥檝e brought to our students.
As our outdoor programming teaches the fundamentals of adventure, such as safety and teamwork, 91制片厂 students are also exploring important issues in the space. These include accessibility to the outdoors for novices, people of differing physical and mental abilities, and across economic segments. Sustainable tourism is also a primary focus: exploring issues of conservation, land ownership, and the unique natural characteristics of our region and how to best protect these invaluable resources. When students enroll at our university and pursue outdoor education, they get the complete picture and explore emerging issues. We are among the best in preparing students to open the outdoors to a wider population.
Through the educational and recreational opportunities that the New River and our greater surroundings provide, we hope to build meaningful connections to nature that any student will take with them throughout their lives. Renew the New, for example, brings us together annually to beautify our surroundings. We want them to take the memories from that day and use them to improve the wider world. And to understand that what they learn here will help preserve the places they call home. Whether that鈥檚 here in the New River Valley, or wherever their journeys may lead.
Again, it鈥檚 a delight to be here to kick off the New River Conservancy 2024 Symposium, and I hope you find your remaining time with us valuable and inspiring.
Welcome everyone!
It is truly rewarding to see The HUB come to life and experience the energetic conversations that it is creating. 91制片厂 is proud to have this open and visible presence in the community, and we are proud to partner with the city of 91制片厂 and other regional partners to strengthen our region鈥檚 economic positioning.
This is a space where 91制片厂 can open doors to careers and innovation. Here, we hope to affect those that may not have otherwise connected with us. Like a community member who didn鈥檛 know we could partner with them on a grant, an adult learner who can now make the most of academic offerings in the Vinod Chachra IMPACT Lab, or a business that didn鈥檛 know our capabilities to connect them to talent and expertise that will help with their growth.
Now everyone should know- 91制片厂 is open for business!
The Hub will help fulfill three major university priorities over the next few years:
First, 91制片厂 seeks to define its distinctive nature, which includes making engaged learning inside and outside of the classroom a priority for every student. The HUB offers our students the opportunity to connect with businesses and local governments and gain work-based practical experience that complements their work in the classroom and helps keep them in the commonwealth after graduation.
Second, as the demographic of our students shifts, The HUB鈥檚 dedicated space and audio/visual tech capabilities to produce Vinod Chachra IMPACT Lab courses will allow us to deliver compelling virtual education, with room to grow and meet the evolving needs of southwest Virginia鈥檚 workforce.
And third, The HUB demonstrates 91制片厂鈥檚 commitment to serve as a core economic partner for the region. We invite any business, big or small, to visit The HUB and find out how 91制片厂 students and faculty along with our network of partners can support their goals. From consulting to case studies, on a one-on-one basis or with the backing of a full class of students, our university has people who have a desire to move southwest Virginia forward.
Opening The HUB is a 鈥渨in-win鈥� and sets the stage for greater mutual investment with the city in the quality of life for all city residents. Additional initiatives are in the planning stages, and we look forward to seeing this relationship blossom.
Your presence today is a positive sign of your support for this growing partnership, and we are here to tell you that 91制片厂 is ready and willing to be your partner in strengthening Southwest Virginia鈥檚 economy.
We look forward to continued and shared success.
Go Highlanders!
Welcome to Homecoming, everyone! I want to welcome members of our Board of Visitors who are with us today and acknowledge the members who are watching online.
I also want to make an introduction of my own, to the person who makes my role as President possible. Please help me give a Highlander welcome to the extraordinary First Lady of 91制片厂, Kay!
We鈥檝e been here a year now and have learned how special Homecoming weekend is. Alumni and friends see the university and its surroundings at peak fall beauty - and it is visually stunning out on campus right now. Students are refreshed from fall break and still have time to make lasting memories and new discoveries. The buzz of Highlander pride brings our entire community to life on Homecoming weekend.
So, there was no better time for us to come together, celebrate our accomplishments, and to raise a new shield for 91制片厂. Let鈥檚 get started!
[91制片厂 highlight video plays, including events and initiatives from 2018-present]
What you saw was the result of the strategic plan that spanned that time. And today we will celebrate the completion of that plan.
---
Embracing the Past and Envisioning the Future was the strategic plan developed and championed by past president Brian Hemphill and his leadership team. The plan enhanced our academic offerings, started our journey towards the holistic support of students, and modernized the physical and virtual learning spaces here at 91制片厂.
The most notable outcome of the strategic plan occurred in Roanoke when Jefferson College of Health Sciences merged to form 91制片厂 Carilion, which we shorten to RUC.
Our presence in the region鈥檚 largest city is clearly visible 鈥� RUC can be seen from most downtown locations and Interstate 581. With the MD program at Virginia Tech Carilion and our health sciences and nursing programs at RUC, Roanoke is becoming known as a hub for public healthcare education.
Prior to the merger, approximately 15 percent of 91制片厂鈥檚 student body was enrolled in a health science degree program. 91制片厂 Carilion and its high-impact learning environment has further shaped the makeup of the university鈥檚 students. In 2022-23, that number grew to more than 30 percent of 91制片厂 students. And our growing health care programs are making a difference.
You can see a snapshot of the exceptional licensure and employment rates of RUC鈥檚 graduates. What鈥檚 better is that RUC鈥檚 academic tracks are leading students to in-demand and high-paying careers. According to national estimates, graduates with degrees in emergency services, medical laboratory sciences and respiratory therapy are entering fields expected to grow by 25 percent or more in the next year alone.
91制片厂鈥檚 impact on the region and commonwealth鈥檚 healthcare workforce is significant, and RUC is attracting students that want to contribute to our region鈥檚 success. A pair of Physical Therapy students 鈥� Cassidy Gilmore and Brad Frizzle 鈥� will tell us how RUC is helping them achieve their goals.
[Testimonial video from RUC students]
With success comes the need for flexibility and growth. At 1,100 students, RUC is close to capacity within Carilion Roanoke Community Hospital. So, over the next year, an academic planning study will help us determine the long-term space needs for RUC and how we can position our Roanoke location for future growth in these critical areas of health care.
This strategic plan presented us with another opportunity to significantly expand our academic offerings.
The Vinod Chachra IMPACT Lab was launched to make 91制片厂 the first four-year institution in the commonwealth to offer competency-based education, or CBE. CBE, which is self-paced and online, offers adult learners certificates, credentials and micro-credentials in education, cybersecurity, data science, and geospatial intelligence. And full degrees are now being developed to meet changing demands.
Here is a breakdown of who the IMPACT Lab has served since its launch. One of the best things the IMPACT Lab does is directly connect to 91制片厂鈥檚 mission, which is to empower students from diverse backgrounds by providing transformative educational experiences.
The IMPACT Lab works. And you can hear it in the voices of individuals who have benefited.
[Testimonial video of past CBE students]
Now you know why the IMPACT Lab is a key element in our commitment to offering educational opportunities that best meet the needs of our region鈥檚 evolving workforce.
While enhancing opportunities for non-traditional and virtual students, our focus on supporting the traditional, on-campus undergraduate student has sharpened.
For any new student 鈥� especially a first-generation or community college transfer student 鈥� a single roadblock can quickly evolve into a larger problem causing a student to leave without earning a degree.
In many cases, the problem is not knowing where to go for assistance. Beginning in 2020, 91制片厂 unified its academic and career support services under one roof 鈥� forming the Highlander Success Center, also called the HSC.
Research shows that a centralized location where students can ask questions, and have their needs met, helps results in higher retention and graduation rates for undergraduate students.
As you can see, the HSC walks every step with our students. They know where to go for help.
To speak more about how the HSC supports student success, and professional growth, I鈥檇 like to introduce history major and Peer Instructor Taylor Nguyen.
---
[NGUYEN] My role in the Highlander Success Center is serving as a peer instructor for the University 100 (UNIV100) and University 150 (UNIV150) courses.
For those who don鈥檛 know, UNIV100 helps first-year students transition to college, while UNIV150 helps students get back on track academically.
If you had told me six years ago that I would be mentoring students, I would not have believed that. I originally enrolled at 91制片厂 in 2015. In the first two years I was here, I neglected the work, skipped classes, and generally took it for granted.
In 2017, I left to work in a series of restaurant jobs. Eventually, I became jaded by my experience. Life was hard, and I knew I could be doing more.
In June of 2021, I decided to return to 91制片厂. I returned with a new mindset and saw results my first year. Along with three other students, I represented 91制片厂 in the 2021 College Fed Challenge 鈥� a national competition where students roleplay the Federal Reserve鈥檚 decision-making. Our good performance even earned our team a Zoom call with Fed chair Jerome Powell.
That experience gave me confidence and helped connect me with Heather Hollandsworth from the first-year experience office. Heather invited me to tell my story to her UNIV100 class. When that went well, she asked me to consider becoming a peer instructor.
Teaching UNIV100 is rewarding and humbling. Students saw me as an advocate. I helped connect them with resources to resolve scholarships, academic struggles, mental health struggles, and even to feel safe. In UNIV150, I was able to meet those students where they were. I was living proof that they could succeed.
Now I鈥檓 considering a future in either management or higher education. I could not have done this without the people at 91制片厂 and the Highlander Success Center who believed in me and gave me an opportunity to help others.
---
Thank you, Taylor!
The Highlander Success Center is an investment in our students. We are already starting to see dividends that are causing a ripple effect across the institution.
When we announced our preliminary census data in September, we shared the good news about historic retention increases among freshmen and transfer undergraduate students. These weren鈥檛 records that dated back to pre-pandemic levels, or over the past decade. These were retention increases that were our best since last millennium.
Although 91制片厂 feels familiar to alumni, the main campus has evolved in significant ways since 2018.
The remodeling of Reed and Curie Halls and the Center for the Sciences has allowed our Artis College of Science and Technology to put science on display.
Seeing science in action tells students that what you see, you can be. From unmanned systems research, to cybersecurity, virtual reality, and the greenhouse, state of the art instructional areas and equipment are available and visible across the 94,000 square foot facility, driving a culture of research and exploration. The facility also serves as a key community touchpoint through its planetarium, upgraded last year to provide interactive science education experiences to students across the New River Valley.
LEED is the acronym for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. Reed and Curie Halls and the Center for the Sciences opened as the 11th LEED Gold Certified building on the main campus, demonstrating our commitment to sustainability. 34 percent of 91制片厂鈥檚 footprint is LEED Certified, one of the highest percentages in the nation.
The reach of the university further stretched across Tyler Avenue when The Highlander hotel opened last spring. From Tartan patterns to historic university memorabilia in the suites, to the artwork in guest rooms and hallways, our DNA is woven throughout The Highlander. Two restaurants and 6,000 square feet of event space combine with the guest rooms to elevate the experience of visiting, attending a conference, or doing business with 91制片厂 and the city. I know some of you can already attest to the high-quality hospitality experience and benefits of being right next to campus!
Finally, as the strategic plan concludes, we look forward to a future where we鈥檒l celebrate one final success 鈥� the opening of the Artis Center for Adaptive Innovation and Creativity. This represents an evolution in the way we encourage interdisciplinary education, blending the arts with the health sciences and maker space that will encourage students to connect their learning in ways that traditional building design cannot.
On screen, you鈥檒l see the theater, dance, and music space. The talented performers and instructors who bring these spaces to life will share their expertise with clinicians and therapists who are working to improve the lives of those who live with autism, language and hearing disorders, and physical or psychological conditions.
Programming in the Artis Center Is intended to always keep something happening. A performance in the amphitheater. An artist鈥檚 live demonstration. An impromptu music session. We believe the possibilities are endless here. And we have Nancy and Pat Artis to thank for their generosity, allowing us to proudly display their name on this stunning facility which will open in time for the Fall 2024 semester.
This was an overview of the significant accomplishments of the strategic plan which moved us forward in fulfilling our vision and mission as a public university focused on the success of its students.
We applaud the many individuals involved in creating the strategic plan, and all who put forth their best efforts to move 91制片厂 forward by following this plan.
---
With the closure of our previous strategic plan, a new opportunity arises to solidify 91制片厂鈥檚 standing as a premier, student-focused institution. It is time to further distinguish 91制片厂 as a destination of choice for students seeking a high-quality education.
Over the next two years, we will advance 91制片厂鈥檚 positioning by focusing on the following areas:
These goals are the result of more than a year of engagement and listening. Listening to our students and their families. To faculty and staff. To our alumni. To our community and friends. To prospective students. To local businesses, elected officials, school systems and healthcare systems.
I have complete confidence that our extended community of Highlanders will rise to the occasion and help us accomplish these goals.
Let鈥檚 dive in, so you can see where you too might be able to help.
---
We begin with this guiding principle: we must define 91制片厂鈥檚 distinctive role as a university. As revealed by a recent study, 91制片厂 is well-known for its beautiful campus and small class sizes. But we also learned that many people don鈥檛 know what sets us apart from other higher education institutions. We must tell our story more effectively and celebrate our distinctive nature. The two examples I will highlight today are undergraduate research and the outdoors.
Across higher education, research is typically carried out by graduate students working with faculty. At 91制片厂, we see research differently.
Research should be accessible to all students, not just graduate students, and have applications in all degree programs. Future teachers, health care providers, performing artists, and entrepreneurs all benefit from practicing research. And they benefit from the close working relationships developed with faculty members, who work side-by-side with our undergraduates.
At 91制片厂, more undergraduate students than ever are taking part in university-supported research experiences 鈥� growing from 5 percent in 2018, to more than 20 percent in 2023. Students involved in research are earning higher overall grades, and freshmen who take part in course-based research are retained at higher rates.
Every student should have access to the benefits of engaged learning. In fact, every 91制片厂 undergraduate student, every year, can now participate in research. Just try to find that offer at another university, public or private! I challenge you to find our peer nationally. The Council on Undergraduate Research, the national organization that promotes undergraduate research has a president. Two of the last 3 years, that president has been a faculty member of 91制片厂. We are a national undergraduate research leader, and it is OK to be proud, Highlanders! We do not have a peer in the Commonwealth; 91制片厂 is distinctive!
Between 91制片厂鈥檚 locations in the New River Valley and Roanoke, outdoor experiences are abundant. Our main campus does not need a lazy river 鈥� because a natural version is just steps away! And we provide the inner tubes to float it! Students at RUC can walk out the door of Community Hospital, step onto the Mill Mountain Greenway, and hike a few miles for an amazing panoramic view of the surrounding 50 miles.
World-class outdoor experiences are just a short drive, bike, or hike away. Hiking, rock climbing, whitewater rafting, and the highest-rated mountain biking trails east of the Mississippi are right here, as is Selu our 400-acre nature conservancy. 91制片厂 University is the Gateway to the Outdoors.
The natural resources surrounding us serve as outdoor classrooms, settings for research, platforms for business opportunities, and, my favorite, a place for de-stressing and creating unforgettable moments with friends.
At 91制片厂, we continue to capitalize upon ways students can explore the outdoors as part of their education. Jeremy Armentrout is one of those students who found a way, and he鈥檒l tell us now about how he鈥檚 built himself a customized educational experience.
---
[ARMENTROUT] When it comes to outdoor recreation, adventure and experiential education, 91制片厂 is one of the best places you can go.
I wasn't鈥檛 new to outdoor adventures when I arrived here 鈥� as an Eagle Scout, I had hundreds of miles of backpacking experience in New Mexico, and the Appalachian Trail in Virginia. Plus years of experience as a camp counselor. It was a priority to find a school where the outdoors and my degree program went hand in hand.
I learned quickly that my outdoor leadership and tourism and special events concentrations were truly in step with what we were doing in RU Outdoors. I think the most rewarding part of what I do is leadership. Not every student is as experienced as I was. We鈥檙e able to build confidence.
One of my favorite activities is caving. It鈥檚 a full physical activity 鈥� you have to crawl on hands and knees and through tight spaces. It鈥檚 wet and it鈥檚 dark. It鈥檚 also hard, and first-time cavers can be anxious. What I do is help them get through tight spaces 鈥� literally. It's rewarding to see my peers feel a sense of accomplishment conquering things that are tough.
I mentioned the Recreation, Park and Tourism program. It鈥檚 preparing me for success. I can get the certifications I need and the administrative experience, while learning about sustainability. Conservation, sustainable tourism, and land owner relations are a big part of enjoying the outdoors responsibly.
What I was not expecting was the impact research would have on me. I took part in the Research Rookies program for two years. Along with my mentor, Dr. Anja Whittington, we studied trends in outdoor spending. The prices of equipment and accessibility to experiences. We found that Covid drove up prices and learned the effects it had on people who want to participate. Outdoor experiences aren鈥檛 as accessible as they could be, and the right gear is sometimes out of reach. With that knowledge, we鈥檝e worked at RU Outdoors to make gear less expensive, offer discounted trips and permits, and make the Peters Hall climbing wall free. Research widened my outlook and allowed me to consider the barriers to outdoor adventure.
Following an internship this winter at Snowshoe resort, I鈥檒l pursue a career in a resort or administrative role in the outdoors industry. But no matter what I do, 91制片厂 has prepared me to pursue my passions. There鈥檚 no limit to what you can achieve here.
---
Thank you, Jeremy.
Undergraduate research and our immersion in the outdoors are just a few things that set 91制片厂 apart, and we must communicate and market this distinction:
[Slide with blurred logo appears]
Stick around and stay awake! We鈥檒l tell you more about this slide very soon.
91制片厂 is a significant contributor to the economic success of our surrounding localities and the commonwealth of Virginia as a whole. According to the university鈥檚 2022 economic impact study, 91制片厂鈥檚 impact is worth $390 million dollars in our region annually, and $422 million dollars throughout Virginia. When you expand that to include alumni, the number balloons to a $2.6 billion dollar impact, statewide. Personally, I like the $2 billion number that includes all of you. And we see opportunities to contribute more.
The front porch for economic development is tourism. In 91制片厂, we already have a pair of major pieces in place 鈥� outdoor recreation in our beautiful natural setting, and a world-class hotel. Future recreational enhancements along the New River, and an amphitheater that would serve both the city and university, are among developments which will be a focus of the next two years. Trust me, keep coming back for Homecoming- and 91制片厂 in partnership with 91制片厂 City will make it worth your while!
One of the first successes of the re-energized city-university partnership is now open. This week marked the ribbon cutting of The HUB at 91制片厂. The HUB is our downtown 91制片厂 center for economic development and outreach, and serves as the permanent home of the Chachra IMPACT LAB. This is where the talent of our university is represented by students, faculty, and staff who will connect with our region鈥檚 businesses, governments, and non-profits to share their knowledge and create business opportunities. Students will make meaningful connections through internships, and complete course projects that will support the growth of businesses. The next two years will see a significant increase in university-business partnerships that provide work-based learning opportunities for our students.
This year, 91制片厂 is celebrating 50 years of nursing education. Let鈥檚 hear it for our Highlander nurses! Later this evening, a reception to honor this milestone will take place.
91制片厂 is often the top-ranked nursing school in Virginia based on our stellar licensure pass rates, with our RN to BSN program currently holding the top ranking. We are a mid-sized institution, we do not own a hospital system, yet we produce the second-most nurses of any Virginia four-year institution, graduating more than 230 BSN students per year.
One of the greatest benefits our health sciences students have is significant interprofessional training opportunities in conjunction with VTC in Roanoke and VCOM in Blacksburg. Our students enhance the experience of Virginia Tech鈥檚 medical students, and vice versa.
The southwest and southern Virginia regions do not have sufficient health care infrastructure. A goal for 91制片厂 is to fill the void and build the capacity for care. We will take these two years to become an integral part of the healthcare system in our surrounding communities.
All of you are aware that 91制片厂 is an incredible educational resource for the entire commonwealth of Virginia. We have the infrastructure in place to deliver a high-impact educational experience to a diverse student body at multiple locations and even through virtual settings. And we have the capacity to change the lives of even more students, without sacrificing the close-knit nature of our learning community.
This begins by re-setting our enrollment practices to align with changes in national enrollment patterns. In August, we conducted a series of enrollment strategy sessions to engage all members of our community, and several strategic priorities emerged. To enhance our competitiveness, we will deepen our relationships with educators at regional K-12 partner schools and districts and develop strong transfer pathways from the Virginia community college system. Importantly, 91制片厂 will drive a significant increase in the number of prospective students visiting campus this year, especially from across southwest Virginia. When they get here, our faculty and staff will roll out the Tartan carpet for a dynamic experience centered around the distinctive 91制片厂 learning experience.
When prospective students do visit 鈥�60 percent of those students end up choosing 91制片厂. Remember when I mentioned earlier how you can help? This is one way. You can get the word out to parents and their children, and to K-12 teachers. When they see our university for themselves, they will be hooked by the people and place that Highlanders call home.
Historically, 91制片厂 has provided wide access to higher education at an affordable cost. Of the 15 public universities in Virginia, 91制片厂 remains the third-most affordable. A third of our undergraduate students are Pell Grant recipients, first generation students, or ethnic minorities. 13 percent represent all three categories. We are proud that 91制片厂鈥檚 student profile is representative of our state.
I mentioned community college transfer students as a pipeline that we will grow. We also aim to attract more armed services veterans and military dependents. The commonwealth is home to the second largest population of active-duty military personnel, and the largest population of veterans under the age of 40. 91制片厂 is attractive to veterans for our health and science programs, and our outdoor experiences, and we have been nationally recognized as a military friendly school. Already, approximately 400 students per year use GI Bill funds to attend 91制片厂. We can make this number grow to serve those who served.
Our Military Resource Center with branches at both main campus and RUC, gives these students a critical place to find community, along with academic and career support. To speak more about the Military Resource Center, I鈥檇 like to introduce Marine Corps veteran and business management major Shaun Landry.
---
[LANDRY] It took a journey around the world to bring me to 91制片厂.
I am a veteran of the United States Marine Corps, where I rose to the rank of E-5 Sergeant. My service took me into the Middle East, southeast Asia, east Africa, Polynesian Islands, and Australia.
The role we served was leadership 鈥� training and maintaining positive relationships with other militaries. We wanted ally soldiers to become the best versions of themselves. The experience allowed me to understand how complex logistics unfold and taught me mentorship.
After my discharge in 2020, I struggled. That isn鈥檛 unique 鈥� most veterans feel the same. I did jobs ranging from a carpentry apprenticeship, to landscaping, to working at vehicle maintenance shop. It helped, but I wanted more. I wanted an education.
After community college in North Carolina, I wanted to move closer to home. I did the research and found 91制片厂. Its Military Resource Center, work-study opportunities, and natural environment were a great fit.
What I really wanted was a challenge. I learned that the Davis College of Business was not going to be easy. My experience has exceeded expectations 鈥� and our professors are there at every step to help us. Dr. Bernd Kupka is a great example 鈥� his classes revolve around experience. He鈥檚 had us work with local businesses and analyze their cultures, from top to bottom.
Outside of class, everyone at the MRC is there for me. They have my back and helped me pick my path. Chandler Scott was my mentor. Now, I mentor veteran students. Young veterans are often uncomfortable. I help them establish goals and a path to meet them. I also like to be a sounding board and provide a safe space to talk. That sense of community is great about our MRC 鈥� everyone is like-minded and supports each other.
One man can鈥檛 save the world, but I would like to see resources for veterans be the best they can be. That鈥檚 my career goal. And my 91制片厂 experience has me on my way.
---
Thank you, Shaun, for your service to our nation and for your pride in 91制片厂.
To attract and retain students, it鈥檚 important to provide opportunities for authentic engagement with the university as well as with peers and staff members. Student life at 91制片厂 is designed to supplement classroom learning experiences, challenge students to live beyond their comfort zone, and expose them to new ways of working with other people. Consistent with this design, over the next two years we will growth the number of students involved with multiple clubs and organizations.
Those who find their creative outlets and their people, find themselves. With that in mind, I鈥檇 like to introduce you to public relations major Stephanie Perez, who has taken the advice of joining multiple organizations to heart.
---
[PEREZ] 91制片厂 is the first place I have stayed long enough to call home. I am a military brat, meaning I鈥檝e traveled all over the world my whole life.
Moving made it hard to show my true self to everyone. 91制片厂 has changed my whole view on life, forcing my personality to come out and helping me make my mark.
Let me start again, my name is Stephanie Perez, and I am:
President of Radio Free 91制片厂. College of Humanities and Behavioral Sciences ambassador. Intern at the University Strategic Communications office. Writer for the Tartan Newspaper. I am first generation.
People say I鈥檓 outgoing. I disagree. I am just confident now. In high school I was not. Last summer, I visited my high school and saw its legendary board in the lobby. The legendary board is where all past seniors write their name during their last year there, and in the corner in the smallest handwriting is my name.
My mark. My small mark.
I thought that was my legacy. A small name in a crowd of big names. Well until I came into 91制片厂. The professors here saw something in me that I didn鈥檛 see. A girl whose name should be shown.
Now I walk on campus and see my name everywhere, the Tartan, Radio Free 91制片厂, Hemphill, here.
I want to go to New York and see snow on Christmas Day, I want to walk the streets and see the endless sea of lights. My dream job is to be a Director of Strategic Communications in New York. These are dreams that 91制片厂 gave me.
I didn鈥檛 even know I wanted to live in New York until I went on a trip with student media and I didn鈥檛 even want a leadership job until my internship in University Strategic Communications.
College is about meeting amazing people and showing off your personality because I know I would not be here speaking without a pep talk from all my clubs, who are my family here at 91制片厂.
My mark, My legacy, here is showing people no matter where you are from no matter what you started with. You can be me. You can be standing here in the future telling people who you are. 91制片厂 gave me that gift. Now I will ask you what is your mark here at 91制片厂? Thank you.
---
Thank you Stephanie.
A final goal for the next two years is to ensure that a 91制片厂 education remains affordable, accessible, and a career launchpad to all students who aspire to a brighter future.
This is primarily an inward facing goal. Student interest in careers has rapidly diverged from historical trends across the United States, so we will follow a framework to re-align our resources in ways that best match the career interests of students and best matches the ways students learn. As we realign resources, we will continue to provide a transformative educational experience for our students and holistic support for their well-being in any degree program that we offer. And we will ensure that we deliver on our brand promise of being a close-knit community and providing exceptional customer service to our students.
I think most people in this room appreciate the warm feelings they get when walking around our main campus. Even during the winter! Not many universities have our intimate footprint.
With that in mind, we are well-positioned to modernize numerous existing facilities over the next two years. Two historic residence halls, Norwood and Tyler, are undergoing renovations that will include complete interior re-builds. And in the future, we will work towards an exciting refreshment of the Dedmon Center arena. Muse Hall will host campus鈥檚 dining functions next year as Dalton Hall is renovated, but it will be decommissioned in 2028. And if you feel sad about Muse, take a selfie with it this weekend so you can always carry it with you!
Our university advancement team will continue their work to build affinity and deepen connections, among alumni and to our students. Many of you were recipients of funding through donors when you were students, and we are creating opportunities for you to pay it forward and witness the impact you鈥檙e making here and meet the students they support.
In the short term, we will see successful completion of the Together campaign, the largest campaign in university history and one that has centered entirely on student support. And I promise one heck of a celebration next year when we cross the finish line. A future campaign focused on athletics will follow the completion of the Together campaign, to further elevate the student experience at 91制片厂.
---
These strategic goals for the next two years are a bridge, providing a runway to a five-year strategic plan that will be developed during the execution of these two-year goals.
Our plan aspires to solidify 91制片厂鈥檚 position as the largest institution that serves southwest and southern Virginia, where 50 percent of our in-state students currently come from. Nearly 60 percent of our education graduates are serving students in schools across southwest Virginia. Let鈥檚 hear it for our Highlander Teachers!
The largest regional health provider, Carilion Clinic, has more 91制片厂 educated nurses than from any other school. 91制片厂 graduates make a difference in the workforce across the commonwealth, and our nine-figure economic impact is vital to southwest Virginia. Highlanders drive the success of this region.
Highlanders will care for our region in new ways. The plans for outreach and work-based learning go beyond driving dollars to our surrounding communities. We will work with local governments, businesses, and non-profits to understand where care is needed. And we will position our students and faculty to help improve the physical, mental, and intellectual health of those who surround us. The Highlander influence will expand to underpin the community health infrastructure of our region. We are preparing our students to lead thriving communities. That is where we will make a difference and continue to differentiate ourselves as a university.
To help others understand this 91制片厂, we are set to change how we deliver our message to the commonwealth and beyond. I promised you we would raise a new shield today! I鈥檇 like to introduce Vice President for Economic Development and Corporate Education, Dr. Angela Joyner, to assist.
[Joyner speaks and unveils the new branding system]
This new brand is a celebration of 91制片厂. It is also an invitation. An invitation to future students from all walks of life to experience how we are distinctive and how we can launch their careers. And an invitation to our greater community and people across the commonwealth to engage with us.
We are committed to the shared success of our people and communities. You can help by taking what you heard today and sharing the goals widely. These steps will make our university a more visible destination and more effective partner to Virginia鈥檚 success. And if you thought this new messaging was big, wait until Wednesday, October 25th. We are going to give the whole commonwealth something to talk about, a clear signal that we place students first in our priorities, and we will stand out among all universities in the Commonwealth. You can help by sharing that news when it breaks, too.
There is much for us to be proud of at 91制片厂. Thank you for bringing your alumni energy and pride to supercharge Homecoming weekend and Go Highlanders!
Thank you, everyone, for such kind words of welcome and well-wishes. It is hard to believe it has been less than 100 days since I started. I managed to unclasp the firehouse of learning from my lips just prior to this ceremony, although I know by Monday it will be reattached. So, in this brief window there my mouth is unfettered, I would like to start by offering my gratitude to many people for having allowed me the opportunity to rise to the presidency at 91制片厂.
(First), to the Board of Visitors for identifying the fit between 91制片厂 and me, and for having the faith in me to guide the future of the university. I would like to thank past rector Bob Archer and (current) rector Deb McMahon for their support through this transition. I am so appreciative of past presidents and alumni for building this institution, and most recently, President Brian Hemphill for building pride on campus and creating additional opportunities for education through the addition of the RUC campus and new educational delivery platforms for the institution.
To my wife Kay and to our children 鈥� Torin, Brynn, Teagan, and Cullen 鈥� time together is our most precious resource and I thank the five of you for letting me invest some of that precious time into the pathway towards a presidency. I do desire to be a great president. But I will also find ways to keep the adjective 鈥済reat鈥� in front of husband and dad. Thank you for being part of our family moves across several states so I could build my experience for a presidency. To you most of all Kay, please know I would not be standing here without your steadfast support.
To my family 鈥� my parents, Ron and Lucy, and my sister Tanya 鈥� who would have thought the skinny kid with glasses and a sunny disposition would turn into a skinny president with glasses and a sunny disposition? I appreciate each of you for keeping our family connections strong, and for being examples of how to always keep focused on the bright side of life.
I also need to thank friends and colleagues that have joined Kay and I on our journey to this presidency, where we have made employment stops in Canada, Ireland, Georgia, Oklahoma, Florida and now, Virginia.
President Denise Battles from SUNY Geneseo and I were associate deans together at Georgia Southern 鈥� she introduced me to my first professional administrative conference at the Council of Colleges of Arts and Sciences 鈥� and then there was no looking back from this administrative path. For my colleagues here who worked in my office or with me as a dean, a chair, a director, or through faculty senate; thank you for your willingness to experiment with me on improving administrative practices. You know that I am a scientist, and scientists experiment. I kept trying new things along my administrative journey from budgeting to communication to organizational structure, so I could understand how to make improvements while not triggering a response based on feathers, tar, and/or pitchforks. Just don鈥檛 ask to see my IRB paperwork. I am just beginning my newest research project which involves understanding how in the heck so many of my former colleagues ended up at Virginia Tech. I鈥檒l call it the Belmonte hypothesis for now, and I鈥檒l let you know what I learn.
I want to thank members of the 91制片厂 community who welcomed Kay and I with open arms, including students, faculty, staff, alumni, fellow presidents, and elected and appointed representatives. And I am so inspired by seeing the representatives of each year鈥檚 class at this event 鈥� it is simply amazing! A special thank you goes to all those behind the scenes of this inauguration, including the inauguration committee, the RU Foundation, dining, facilities, RUPD, and volunteers. And notably, my wife Kay. She had to plan most of our wedding, and yes, she organized most of the experiences for our friends and family joining us here. Thank you, Love. My next big personal event won鈥檛 be until retirement 鈥� and that鈥檚 a long way off.
Thank you all for making today such a special day for me, Kay, and the university community.
Now, I would like to provide insight into what I鈥檇 like the future to hold at 91制片厂 University. Following the lead of the wonderful welcoming speakers today, I followed the themes of People, Place, Purpose, and Pride to help frame the vision for our new home.
Purpose
You heard earlier from SGA president Justine McLaughlin about why 91制片厂 was founded and our mission through the years, which included providing opportunities for education and personal growth.
But what will the future purpose of 91制片厂 become?
Current events will shape that future. As an example of how events can change an institution, here is one from our history at 91制片厂, where World War II drove curricular changes. In 1942, a War Defense Council was organized with 91制片厂 city and classes were modified to focus on the war effort. Courses then included Geography for the War, War Craft Math, and Pre-Flight Aeronautics. To the 1943-47 grads holding those year placards? I want to want to talk to you about what鈥檚 on your transcript afterward, OK?
Now, I鈥檇 like to briefly outline a few recent or ongoing events and challenges that have us reconsidering our purpose. When we added our Carilion campus in Roanoke in 2019, the graduates from our new allied health doctoral programs triggered a reclassification of 91制片厂 by the Carnegie Foundation. We are now ranked as a Doctoral and Professional University, and we have been raised into the National Ranking system by U.S. News and World Report rather than being part of regional rankings. Yes, you did hear me correctly, 91制片厂 is now on the national stage.
With our institutional identity shifting, people are asking me how do we leverage that new identity for the betterment of our students and the Commonwealth of Virginia?
While war is not changing our curriculum, a credentials battle is underway. Large corporations are internally developing and providing training for their own corporate credentials which potentially include employment once completed. How do these stack up next to credentials from a university?
Public higher education appears to be becoming unaffordable for an increasing number of capable students, particularly for students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds. People are asking if a four-year degree has sufficient return on their investment, and with increasing tuition costs, if their families will be able afford higher education in the future.
An acute and unexpected pressure emerged from the COVID-19 pandemic. Before the pandemic, students, in general, did not want to take classes online as they wanted to engage with faculty and other students in person. Less than three years later, most students desire the flexibility to take courses online, or individual classes of a course online, at their convenience. Potential students are considering if they even need to come to a university campus to learn.
Although the list of changes and challenges to our purpose are far from complete, I mentioned a new national designation, a corporate credentials battle, affordability, and a post-pandemic learning environment.
Huh, that does sound difficult to solve. Well, would you look at the time 鈥� it has got to be five o鈥檆lock somewhere!
Re-focusing, like many universities, 91制片厂 has encountered challenges to its purpose, but fortunately we also have some solutions under way and planned. And with the ingenuity of our employees, I am confident that additional solutions will follow.
First, we understand we are responsible for helping to meet current workforce needs, while preparing our graduates for global citizenship and to be nimble for future employment opportunities.
Today鈥檚 workforce needs are not the same as tomorrow鈥檚 and preparing flexible graduates is necessary. A significant step in preparing flexible graduates was 91制片厂鈥檚 faculty launching the REAL curriculum in Fall 2021, replacing the traditional general education core present at almost all other institutions of higher education. REAL stands for Reasoning, Expression, Analysis and Learning. In the REAL curriculum, a student takes courses which are part of their degree plan, and all students take at least one major and a minor providing flexibility to their learning. I鈥檝e already met students taking a major with three minors and two majors with two minors, and these students are still on track to graduate on time. That represents exceptional flexibility for a curriculum, which makes our degree plans adaptable to students鈥� interests, alongside workforce needs, and is closer to what is offered by private universities than public universities.
Therefore, our four-year degrees build the broad foundation for an entire career, something that a single company鈥檚 credential cannot provide. By working with faculty and staff, we will continue to move career planning earlier and earlier into our student鈥檚 experience here, so they can align their professional experiences with their intended career pathway and employment.
I see a future where each graduate has had an internship, but also where a student graduates with a professional network which includes at least one 91制片厂 alum. We will build early and purposeful connections between learning and earning, degree and need, flexibility and future.
Another significant step driving students and employers who desire flexible learning environments was the creation of Competency Based Education 鈥� called by its acronym, CBE 鈥� courses and certificates at 91制片厂.
Through CBE, students start courses when they want and take the time they need to master the learning provided by the course, before moving onto the next course. As the courses are asynchronous and online, unlike traditional online courses, students can take CBE courses whenever it is convenient to them, which is fantastic for learners who are working full time or providing care for others. We are the only institution in the commonwealth to have developed offerings through CBE. One of our CBE credentials is in cybersecurity, which was developed in partnership with industrial partners who need these employees. And it just received global accreditation through ABET, the accreditation agency that oversees all engineering programs. We have had many go through the program, but one student, now an alumnus, completed the entire program in three months and got a promotion at their company based on their new credential.
We have used the pandemic as a springboard for adding flexibility to our course modalities and now we are starting to plan for the future. We will advance from credentials to degrees in high need areas. We will work with our community college partners across the commonwealth to co-offer credentials and pathways to degrees to increase flexibility and affordability for students. We will of course continue to offer to fantastic in-person programs that 91制片厂 is known for, but we will also be meeting learners where their needs are, so not every student 鈥� and hence future alumni 鈥� need to come to our campus for their education, although each will still be a Highlander when they complete it.
Keeping higher education affordable requires the university to reduce reliance on increased state support and tuition, as each of those has a limit to their growth.
In support of affordability, we need to include in our purpose working directly on economic development with 91制片厂 city, Pulaski County and Montgomery County. We must work together to attract businesses to work near the university who need interns, or more preferably, attract businesses that will work on campus and hire students on a part-time basis in a career-aligned job for all four years they are here. Then, when we communicate this professional work pathway to potential students, between grants, scholarships, and wages from part-time employment, potential students and their parents see that 91制片厂 provides an affordable and potentially debt-free pathway to a degree.
Additionally, when the activities of our students expand beyond campus boundaries and into the surrounding community, it stimulates other businesses in the area. When the city and county businesses thrive, the vibrancy of those businesses helps the university recruit and retain students, which in turn aids the establishment of new businesses and the growth of existing ones. This is a reinforcing cycle, one that provides an affordable degree pathway for students and elevates the quality of life for residents in the region. By working together on economic development, we are stronger.
As a starting point, we will find a way to move forward on a shared community and university amphitheater that has been stalled for more than a decade. The amphitheater project will add vibrancy to community arts, attract tourists to the area, and provide employment, hence affordability opportunities for our arts, tourism and business students. If you have other business opportunities in mind that involve 91制片厂 students, come see me in about 20 minutes.
You may be thinking, 鈥楽o you鈥檝e thought through a few ways to mitigate some of the challenges facing 91制片厂, like flexible learning modalities, career-focused programming, and affordability. But Danilowicz, what about the change in identity that came from 91制片厂鈥檚 national elevation as a Doctoral and Professional University?鈥�
To that, I will say having been on the job for a total of 92 days that I need something to do to fill my time starting on day 93 which will keep me busy for at least a few years. So, to our new recognition as a nationally ranked university, I say celebrate this achievement for now, and watch this space! I promise not to disappoint!
People
Every institution is bound to its geography, which brings us to our people. In his introduction, Dr. Kurt Gingrich shared that this region is filled with people of Scottish-Irish heritage 鈥� hence the university鈥檚 mascot being the Highlander. Allow me the chance to outline the background connections between the Danilowiczes and the Highlanders.
When Katherine Shannon (now Kay Danilowicz) was born, she moved to Scotland at the age of six months 鈥� and her first spoken words were in Scottish. When Kay and I were married in Hawaii, only one instrument played at our wedding 鈥� the bagpipes. Why, is a story for another day. But a wedding, in Hawaii, with bagpipes.
A few years after getting married, we moved to Ireland for eight years, and all our children have Celtic first names. When we moved to Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, the musicians at commencement and graduation ceremonies played only the Scottish bagpipes and drums. You cannot make this stuff up! We believe fate has aligned the stars throughout our lives to bring us here.
So, to recognize this connection, feel free to call us the McDanilowiczes, because it isn鈥檛 any harder to pronounce.
We have had the great fortune of knowing wonderful people wherever we have been and we have already found such great people here. People who care about other people.
In our new home, this caring is evidenced through 91制片厂/Fairlawn Daily Bread that provides free meals to anyone in need, to the Renew the New members that keep the New River beautiful. Examples of caring on campus include our advisors who are taking on Appreciative Advising to 91制片厂鈥檚 Substance Abuse and Violence Education Support Services, Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic, Occupational Therapy summer camps for students aged 3-6. Our faculty, working with the 91制片厂 Foundation, even launched a pre-K childcare facility, the 91制片厂 Child Development Center, for the community.
These are but examples, as every single one of our faculty cares about the success of their students and their community. People care about other people here. You have made this an environment in which people can be themselves and thrive, so I appreciate this setting for higher education for its sense of caring, and for making it home for Kay and me.
Given our location in Southwest Virginia, we need to support the region in increasing opportunities for degree attainment. Only 20% of the population of Southwest Virginians aged 25 or older have an undergraduate degree, while that averages 37% in the rest of Virginia and 36% nationally. As a result, the average salary in the region is lower, and the age profile is increasing. We must adapt to support this shifting demographic to afford all families and learners the opportunity to pursue higher education to further their income and quality of life for their families and communities.
From our elected representatives, including Governor Glenn Youngkin, Senator Travis Hackworth, Delegate Jason Ballard, to 91制片厂鈥檚 faculty and staff, everyone wants to elevate the degree attainment and associated economic benefits for Southwest Virginia. 91制片厂 is already in the top 100 for social mobility as ranked by Washington Monthly, but we will do more.
People critical to elevating our region include 91制片厂鈥檚 faculty. Our faculty spend more time interacting with students than at the vast majority of universities. In lieu of evenly split time between basic research and educational objectives, like at other institutes of higher education, 91制片厂鈥檚 faculty are wholly focused on educating our students. Until now, our faculty focus has been largely within the framework of credit bearing courses. Yet the most impactful ways to support student learning continue to evolve, so 91制片厂鈥檚 faculty have begun the process of exploring how their time can be best used for instruction and engagement of students 鈥� still 100% focused on student success 鈥� but in ways that may tie students to research, economic development, career trajectory, and community service.
Rather than faculty all being the same, the 鈥榗ookie cutter鈥� approach, we will use differential workloads. Everyone will continue to work just as hard, but in different ways to capitalize upon their individual strengths as a person, which benefits the students of the specific programs with which they interact. We will soon witness an expansion of community-based service-learning projects, experiential research opportunities, paid internships, community health initiatives, and other applied learning opportunities, all involving Highlanders. And this is only the start of dreaming about where the faculty will take these opportunities. While our students learn more than even further elevate their success as alumni of 91制片厂.
Through these changes in workload, faculty will redefine 91制片厂鈥檚 distinctive nature. We will be a destination campus.
It is our connections to other people that will provide these opportunities. As the crow flies 鈥� or around here, the expression would more aptly be as the Hokie trots 鈥� it is less than 10 miles from my office to that of President Tim Sands at Virginia Tech. Try to find two other public universities in rural settings less than 10 miles apart 鈥� you won鈥檛. So, we have the opportunity to work together to set the bar for how closely situated universities can leverage each other to the benefit of the communities and their students.
We intend to add 3-plus-2 degree agreements, where students complete the first three years of their undergraduate degree here, transfer to Virginia Tech, and after their first year receive their undergraduate degree from 91制片厂. This shortens the time and cost for degree attainment. And when people receive not one, but two degrees in Southwest Virginia, they are more likely to stay and bolster the economy of the region. We are discussing opportunities ranging from common undergraduate research projects, to joint workforce development projects, and even adding a 91制片厂 student section to Hokie football games starting in fall 2023. We were once part of the same university; while we serve different students and have distinct missions, our faculty will again strengthen our relationship as sibling institutions to make higher education in our region stronger.
From partnership with Virginia Tech along with our faculty redefining how to engage students, the people engaged through 91制片厂 will elevate degree attainment for the population of Southwest Virginia and continue to raise the social mobility of our graduates.
Place
In his introduction, Mayor David Horton spoke about the original almost 40 acres which was 91制片厂. A lucky 40 acres indeed.
91制片厂 is located in the New River Valley of Southwest Virginia. Was this ever fortunate for people like us who love the outdoors?
Adjoining campus, we have the New River with kayaking, tubing, and fishing, a dog park, and a four-mile walking and running trail. Within 30 minutes we have Claytor Lake, which adds canoeing, swimming, and boating, as well as the New River Trail with 58 miles of biking and horseback riding. Within an hour, we have hiking and camping on the Appalachian Trail including its two most notable destinations, McAfee Knob and Dragon鈥檚 Tooth.
I may sound like an ad for a tourism department, but if you even like the outdoors a little, you cannot help but love it here. But who else knows of these natural amenities? It鈥檚 almost like it鈥檚 a closely guarded secret! We will move to promote this immersive natural environment to future students, and work with the city and counties to promote this outrageously high quality of living to potential businesses that are looking to escape from the congestion of cities and suburbs.
Being a place of natural beauty and abundant outdoor activities, the New River Valley also lends itself to one of the largest learning assets for the university, sustainability. I view sustainability as conserving natural resources in ways which makes them equally available for future generations. For our university and its place in the NRV, this learning opportunity is about preserving the natural environment that surrounds us, which includes through our campus facilities. And we are off to a great start.
LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is the most widely used green building rating system, identifying how much energy, water, and other resources each building uses. Our campus has 12 LEED Gold buildings and one LEED Silver building. For those of you that don鈥檛 have a comparison for that 鈥� let me tell you 鈥� that鈥檚 A LOT! Thirty-five percent of our total facilities footprint is LEED certified 鈥� which is one of the leading LEED footprints in the entire nation. And three more campus projects to be completed in 2024 should each achieve a LEED Silver designation. We have been ranked as a Top Green College for over 12 consecutive years with good reason.
While at Georgia Southern, I had the great pleasure of working with Dr. Lissa Leege, the director of the university鈥檚 center for sustainability, and watched her work with students and our community to quickly raise the university to unparalleled heights of sustainability education for the state of Georgia. All I needed to do was to take down university barriers to allow her entrepreneurial potential to be unleashed. So, to the sustainability team at 91制片厂 鈥� let鈥檚 drive forward from our excellent starting position by taking down the barriers in your way and let鈥檚 see what happens when you are unleashed. Make me proud by help making our campus and community sustainable, as I know you can make us nationally known for our leadership in this area.
With the merger of Jefferson College of Health Professions and 91制片厂, we formed our 91制片厂 Carillion location in Roanoke, otherwise known as RUC. Our numerous health sciences programs at RUC are some of the few nationally that are completely taught in a working hospital. That hospital is the Carilion Community Hospital, the origin of the C in RUC. Virginia Tech has their medical program in Roanoke, and Via College of Osteopathic Medicine and Pharmacy. With our full complement of health sciences programs, we have the opportunity to build an amazing Interprofessional Education experience for students across our institutions, where our students learn to work together across positions in real health care settings. The future of health care education for Roanoke and the southeast is in good hands with the growing partnership of 91制片厂, Carilion, Virginia Tech, and VCOM.
When it comes to place, look around you. Explore the buildings. You won鈥檛 find finer educational buildings and classrooms anywhere. Each building contains a stunning environment in which to learn. And our capstone academic building, the Artis Center for Adaptive Innovation and Creativity, is due to be completed in Fall 2024. This is a building designed to facilitate interaction among students and faculty in divergent academic fields, including the fine arts and allied health. That is another example of building our degree programs around lifelong career flexibility while also securing immediate employment success. The Artis Center will set a new standard for planned interdisciplinary collaboration and sets a tone for how we should continue to evolve as an institution.
From natural amenities, to sustainability, to health care careers, to our facilities which set the highest standard for learning environments, 91制片厂 looks and feels like a private university, but it is available to anyone at a public university price.
Pride
You heard from Kevin Rogers, our Alumni Association President, on how his life and others were transformed by attending 91制片厂. For me, pride comes from outcomes 鈥� what was achieved 鈥� and ultimately that is through stories about what people have been able to do to effect change and support others.
We certainly have positive outcomes for our graduates. Within six months of graduation, 79% of graduates are employed, in the military, or continuing their education in graduate school. Eighty-seven percent of our alumni employment outcomes are related to career goals. Eighty-three percent are employed within Virginia. These are impressive outcomes for our region and the Commonwealth of Virginia. But those outcomes are by numbers. Remember, it is the people that represent those numbers that matter here, and I will now share some inspiring examples about different people in different roles support our community in ways that instill me with pride. Note that my focus was on examples of people that support the community 鈥� individual wealth and individual accomplishments can be impressive, but by themselves do not provide a community with a higher quality of life. It is when people find ways to help others in need, where I find my greatest sense of pride.
91制片厂 nursing students Eleni Frank, Mccallum Parrish and Emily Cha saved the life of a driver in Salem who was in cardiac arrest and unconscious when they found him. They learned those skills from the faculty at 91制片厂 and they developed the confidence to lead in a medical emergency.
This summer, 91制片厂鈥檚 police department was the first at a university in the commonwealth of Virginia to commit to the 30x30 pledge. Since police departments are largely staffed by men, yet student bodies are dominated by women, their goal was to hire at least 30 percent women in each police recruit class by 2030. They are already exceeding that goal. Officers Madison Tibbs, Megan Whited, Morgan Jennings, and Whitney Shaffner are immediate examples of this commitment to diversifying our university鈥檚 police force. Not only does the police force keep us safe, but this diversified force is receiving high accolades from the students and employees it protects.
From flying drones to launching rockets to engaging participants in a virtual mission to mars, 91制片厂 faculty members Rhett Herman, David Horton, Sandra Liss, George Stephenson, and others invested part of their summer to run 91制片厂鈥檚 Summer Bridge: Women in STEM program. Young women from regional high schools attended the program free of charge, the faculty connected them with women who work in science careers at Novozymes Biologicals and TORC Robotics, and by the conclusion of the program these students felt energized about continuing towards degrees and careers in science.
Stacey Price, a double alumna, works in DC as an economic development consultant and a curator. She launched Shop Made In DC, an incubator that uses maker space to empower and scale Washington, D.C. artisans. Then she opened Shop Made In Virginia, then Shop Made In Maryland. In just five years, she has supported over 1,000 artists and generated nearly $5 million which has gone back to those local artisans.
Representing a 91制片厂 and Community partnership, Douglas Brinckman and Wendy Li, along with accounting major Sydney Carneal and other students worked with Lacey Desper, Director of the New River Community Action鈥檚 Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program to file tax returns for 400 residents saving them over $100,000 in filing fees. This means there were 400 fewer headaches in April and they helped make our community more affordable.
Of course, one of the strongest indicators of pride is the investment in 91制片厂 through the TOGETHER Campaign. From alumni, students, and community supporters, we have raised $85.2M of our $100M goal and over 130 new scholarships for students. Every gift matters, and every gift impacts deserving people. Stephanie Sheline, from Mooresville, North Carolina, is a senior management major, with a concentration in entrepreneurship and minoring in dance, and she invested in the Honors College which supports undergraduate research experiences. The Artises and the Davises, the university鈥檚 largest supporters, have named colleges and academic facilities during this campaign, with much of their support going to support student scholarships. Together, they are acting to make college more affordable and experiential for our students.
Through these thousands of donors to the TOGETHER Campaign, from small gifts to large, we will cross that $100M threshold soon, and then celebrate the largest fundraising campaign in the history of 91制片厂. And we won鈥檛 stop there. That is because our students and our mission are worthy of the pursuit of additional support, and the Dedmon Center, a centerpiece of the campus experience where we cheer on our basketball and volleyball teams, is due for some renovation love.
As we continue to elevate the support, experiences and outcomes of our students, and we continue to attract talented faculty and staff that represent the educational and support team of 91制片厂 who also want to make a difference in our community, we will generate more stories of pride with each passing year. With that expansion of Pride comes the confidence that this university, and its team of employees alongside their community and business partners, can move 91制片厂 assertively into the next phase of higher education needed by this region, the Commonwealth of Virginia, and this nation.
Thank you to the students, educators, and leaders of today, along with those of yesterday, for your efforts to successfully achieve our mission. Right now, we celebrate 112 years of 91制片厂鈥檚 impact in the Commonwealth of Virginia, and I pledge to work with you and the students, educators, and leaders of tomorrow to continue 91制片厂鈥檚 mission of elevating lives and livelihoods for all who look to the university for education and support.
Thank you again for accepting Kay and I into this community, for your friendship, and for your partnership over the many years to come.
And go Highlanders!