Dear UMW Community,
Welcome to campus! For those who are returning, we are eager to kick off a new academic year filled with learning opportunities and personal and professional growth. For all of our new students, faculty, and staff, we are excited to meet you and welcome you into our close-knit, supportive, and dynamic community. Great things happen at Mary Wash!
Recent accolades highlight how UMW continues to make strides as one of the nation’s best liberal arts and sciences universities. Once again, Fiske Guide to Colleges named UMW one of the country’s “best and most interesting” public and private four-year colleges and universities; Money Magazine’s Best Colleges In America included UMW as one of twenty institutions in Virginia; Princeton Review included UMW among the nearly 100 schools named “Best in the Mid-Atlantic region”; and, the Virginia Talent + Opportunity Partnership (V-TOP) named UMW a “Top Employer for Interns.”
The summer months have been filled with wonderful examples of this work. UMW hosted the second annual, 5-week Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Summer Institute and the 24th annual, 10-week Summer Science Symposium, offering undergraduates the opportunity to delve into international economics, digital studies, STEM-related research, etc. In addition, scores of students traveled the globe participating in internships, study abroad opportunities, experiential learning programs, etc. that richly enhance their learning experiences. We also hosted interns on campus, served as the site for summer camps, and welcomed high school students for the Summer Enrichment Program.
UMW’s Admissions Office offered enhanced summer visits for prospective students, showcasing more hands-on, specialized campus tour experiences, as well as opportunities to hear from academic leaders and interview for our “Taking Flight” scholarships. On August 1st, UMW’s Office of Admissions opened applications for admission for the incoming class of fall 2024 and transfer students. We’re so excited to receive the first applications for the next class of Eagles, and since you know our campus best, we want to share an opportunity to help them apply. Faculty, staff and students can share the code UMW63 with any high school senior to apply for free via the Common App. UMW has a long tradition of considering the whole student in their application – a holistic approach that focuses on each student and getting to know what matters to them. Our admissions process has and will continue to comply with federal and state laws, as well as support growing a diverse student body, providing varied viewpoints, personal and family experiences, ideological convictions, cultural traditions, and more. And, likewise, we’re excited to introduce prospective students to the excellent academic, cultural, and community experiences that make UMW such an exceptional place to call home.
You’ll also notice that we’ve been steadily working to improve our campus infrastructure and buildings in order to meet the needs of everyone in our community. The Underground Utility Project has caused quite a major disruption to campus, but, ultimately, updates will reduce water usage and make our heat and hot water systems more efficient and less likely to need major repairs in the future. Last month, we began replacing two rooftop HVAC units on the original section of the Jepson Science Center. And, renovations to the basement of James Farmer Hall provide improved lighting, an accessible family/unisex bathroom and classrooms, labs, and offices that feature new furniture, flooring and ceilings. In addition, new LED lights on the Battleground Athletic Complex will extend some of our athletics games into the evenings and offer additional opportunities for community engagement.
Please pardon the dust as we wrap up these projects and allow extra time to cross campus, noting any detours that may be in place. Please visit https://adminfinance.umw.edu/facilities/campus-construction/ for more information on campus construction.
As we begin this new semester, we acknowledge our truly dedicated and prominent faculty who provide countless hours of guidance and instruction, as well as meaningful support for our students. And, our staff, who genuinely care about our students’ success and take the time to assist students, educating and guiding them as they navigate our processes.
Returning students, we encourage you to pick up where you left off last semester and stay focused on making steady progress towards your goals. It’s important to connect with your academic advisors and mentors early this semester, ensuring you are well-informed about deadlines and unique academic enrichment opportunities such as internships, study abroad trips, etc. And, please join me in extending hospitality and a warm welcome to the newest members of our community.
New students, we encourage you to explore the many academic, social, and personal opportunities available at UMW. At Mary Wash, you can simply be you. And, you are free to try something new, something different, something out of the ordinary. Regardless of the path you choose, know that you matter at UMW. Over the next few days, I look forward to seeing you at Honor Convocation, the Ice Cream Social at Brompton, Eagle Gathering, and more. These time-honored new student traditions bring us closer as a community and exemplify our special bond.
Finally, we encourage everyone to embrace our ASPIRE values – the core community values that emphasize accountability, scholarship, personal and institutional integrity, inclusive excellence, respect and civility, and engagement. These values are at the heart of what we do, explain who we are and encourage ALL of us to support, encourage and build up one another in the classroom, outside of the classroom, and in our community.
By means of this monthly message, I’ll share news, updates and important announcements to keep you informed about the many things on which I am working. If there are topics or issues you would like for these messages to address, please submit suggestions to president@umw.edu.
I look forward to seeing familiar faces and meeting new friends and colleagues over the coming weeks!
Sincerely,
Troy Paino