Dear UMW Community,
Our winter months, while cold and often snowy, have made campus feel even more like home, as we enjoy activities indoors, pursue research and internships, and find ways to warmly welcome each other to campus. And, I want to extend many thanks to our Facilities Services staff that ensures our beautiful campus is accessible, clean, and operational, allowing us to continue to flourish throughout the semester.
Faculty, staff, and students alike are making impressive efforts in research, community outreach, and more. Over winter break, UMW students traveled to Panama, in collaboration with Global Medical Brigades (GMB), an international nonprofit, shadowing physicians, taking patient vitals, assisting pharmacists, and educating community members on preventative health care. This is the eighth international GMB trip led by UMW students. Earlier this month, along with their UMW faculty mentors, three UMW students presented their research findings, along with student researchers from 16 state colleges and universities, at the Inaugural Undergraduate Research Showcase at the Virginia State Capitol.
The Virginia General Assembly adjourned on February 22nd after voting on amendments to the biennial budget. The FY26 budget contains additional investments in K-12 education, health and human resources, higher education, and a 1.5% bonus for state employees, in addition to the already scheduled 3% raise. It is a good budget for UMW with new money for operations, IT infrastructure, energy efficiency, the Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program (VMSDEP), and a master’s in nursing. The Governor has until March 24th to act on the budget, and the General Assembly returns April 2nd to consider any gubernatorial amendments or vetoes.
On Feb. 17, we welcomed hundreds of prospective students and their families to campus for an Admissions Open House with the final one scheduled for Friday, April 18. Destination UMW events, for admitted students and their families, are just around the corner on March 15 and April 12. These important events provide an opportunity to showcase the best of our community – our people, our academic programs, our services, and our facilities and grounds. We also offer rising 10th through 12th graders an opportunity to experience UMW through the 2025 Summer Enrichment Program (SEP). Applications are open through March 21.
On March 14, we celebrate 117 years since the Virginia General Assembly passed legislation establishing the State Normal and Industrial School at Fredericksburg, now the University of Mary Washington. We are proud of our history and the fundamental impact Mary Washington has had in our community, our Commonwealth, and throughout the world. And, over the many decades, our physical footprint has continually evolved, accommodating the ever-changing needs of our close-knit community. Likewise, there are a variety of current ongoing campus construction projectsaimed at improving our facilities and grounds for the decades ahead.
I encourage you to participate in the many cultural events held on campus next month. From the celebration of Women’s History Month to the remainder of the 2025 Great Lives Series, March is full of opportunities to learn, reflect, and engage.
UMW is again hosting the regional Virginia Science Olympiad on Saturday March 1, an academic competition for middle and high school students interested in STEM fields. We anticipate that approximately 1,600 people will attend the event including student competitors, coach/parent chaperones, and Olympiad Judges. In addition, the 4th Annual High School Innovation Challenge @ Dahlgren is taking place February 28 through March 1 at the UMW Dahlgren Campus, where teams from Stafford to the Northern Neck area compete in the “Navigate, Inspect, Gather, Haul, Triage Mission.”
University Staff Council is hosting a wonderful opportunity for staff to connect and show off the diverse array of talents and skills they possess with the USC Coffee Hour and Staff Showcase event on March 6 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in The Underground. This is a special opportunity to celebrate the incredible talents that exist within our ranks, whether they’re work-related or personal passions. Staff members are encouraged to stop by, grab a refreshment, and connect with others. Look for more information in the EagleEye newsletter.
And, students, mark your calendar, update your resume, and prepare your business professional attire for the upcoming annual Career & Internship Fair rescheduled for March 13. This annual event is free for students and features local and regional employers, such as corporations, federal and state government agencies, and non-profit organizations, who are interested in filling full-time and internship positions. Whether you are a senior or a first-year student, the Career and Professional Development Center located on the second floor of the Cedric Rucker University Center is a valuable resource throughout your years at UMW and for making plans for Life After Mary Washington.
And finally, I recognize the pace of national news and events over the last month evokes a range of emotions and raises many unanswered questions regarding how higher education is impacted. I know these events have caused a lot of stress and anxiety for many in our community, and in that context, let me share a few words of encouragement amid the uncertainty.
UMW will not waver from its mission, democratic purpose, and ASPIRE community values. Staff and faculty should remain focused on serving and educating students, and students should rest assured that their well-being and education remain our top priority. In the meantime, I remain in close contact with colleagues, state officials, and national associations and will communicate with campus once we have clear guidance on how recent federal actions affect us.
Throughout the semester, I encourage you to lean on the variety of resources available, including the Talley Center for Counseling Services, TimelyCare, a free, 24/7 service for students to obtain virtual care services, and the Employee Assistance Programs, among a host of other resources.
With spring break approaching, this is a busy time of year. I hope you find healthy ways to rest and recharge over the break, whether that’s spending meaningful time with friends and family, traveling, completing research or class projects, or simply completing a list of unfinished tasks. And, a special shout out to our student-athletes who will remain on campus, preparing for and competing in athletic events throughout spring break.
I look forward to seeing you on campus this semester.
Sincerely,
Troy Paino