For the sixth consecutive year, the University of Mary Washington has been named as a “best buy” in the prestigious Fiske Guide to Colleges.  UMW is the only institution in Virginia and the District of Columbia to be awarded this distinction.

Mary Washington is among 44 public and private institutions designated as a “best buy,” delivering outstanding academics and the most reasonable prices. The selective guidebook features more than 300 colleges and universities. The listing was based on questionnaires sent to administrators and a cross-section of students.

UMW rates among 20 public and 24 private schools singled out as “best buys” in the 2016 edition of the guide.

“Mary Washington could easily be mistaken for one of Virginia’s elite private colleges. It offers just as much history and tradition—for a much lower price. . . On the selectivity chart, UMW ranks behind only UVA and William and Mary among Virginia public universities,” according to the Fiske Guide, which has been compiled annually under the direction of Edward B. Fiske, former education editor of the New York Times. “Mary Washington has gained a reputation as one of the premium public liberal arts colleges in the country and continues to attract bright students from around the globe.”

The Fiske Guide is available in bookstores and as an iPad app on iTunes and a web app on CollegeCountdown.com. For more information, visit http://www.collegecountdown.com/.

The University of Mary Washington Bookstore will celebrate the national release date for Go Set a Watchman, Harper Lee’s much-anticipated new novel, with a book talk and reception on Tuesday, July 14.

Professor of English Gary Richards, an expert on Southern literature and Harper Lee’s works, will speak briefly and answer questions about the author and her works. Light refreshments will be served. The event will take place in the UMW Bookstore in Lee Hall from 1-3 p.m.

Taking place 20 years after events in To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper’s new novel will allow readers to reconnect with Scout and Atticus, among other favorite characters.

“Readers are eager to see how Harper Lee has imagined her famous characters later in their lives,” said Richards, who teaches To Kill A Mockingbird in his summer course titled “Writing About the South.” “At the broader level, though, readers will be judging whether this new text–feared by some to be a rough or early draft–can match the power of To Kill a Mockingbird.”

Attendees will receive a discounted price of $19.85 on the first edition of the book in addition to 15% off most regularly priced UMW clothing and insignia during the event. Copies of Go Set a Watchman can be ordered through the UMW Bookstore and picked up at the event. The retail price of $27.99 will apply to the book after July 14.

Reserved parking will be available in the Monroe Hall lot, off Sunken Road, and in Jefferson Square, off College Avenue, near the main College Avenue entrance to the University. Visitor parking also is available on the right hand side of Double Drive, the main campus entryway, and on Level 4 of the Parking Deck.

The UMW Bookstore is owned and operated by the University of Mary Washington. All of the profits support UMW students and programs.

For more information, call the UMW Bookstore at 540-654-1631.

The University of Mary Washington announced the selection of Baker and Associates as its partner in the search for the 10th president of the university on Friday, June 12.

Baker and Associates is an executive search firm established in 2007 whose team brings 60 years of experience to UMW’s search. The search will be led by Senior Vice President Martin Baker. Baker and Associates has conducted more than 500 searches at colleges and universities both in the commonwealth and across the country. Previous presidential and chancellor searches have included the University of North Carolina at Wilmington in 2015, Appalachian State University in 2014 and Western Carolina University in 2011.

“Martin Baker brings a combined passion for liberal arts education and the extensive experience necessary to conduct an innovative and strategic executive search,” said Holly Cuellar, rector for the University of Mary Washington’s Board of Visitors. “The search will be national in scope and every effort will be made to cultivate a rich pool of exceptionally well-qualified candidates for consideration.”

Baker and Associates was selected by the Presidential Search Advisory Committee, which is chaired by Rector Cuellar, following several interviews with multiple firms. The firm will assist the search advisory committee with the initial screening, vetting, and interviewing of candidates and will support the Board of Visitors in the final selection of the next president.

“Being so well-known for its outstanding commitment to liberal arts, there’s already such prestige associated with Mary Washington,” said Baker. “With high-quality faculty, staff and students, along with a dedicated Board of Visitors, there is a lot about the university that will attract a robust pool of candidates.”

According to Baker, the firm will bring a hands-on approach in its proactive outreach to talented prospects who reflect the skill sets and leadership characteristics required by UMW. The firm has conducted a number of successful searches within Virginia, including searches at Longwood University, James Madison University, the University of Virginia and Christopher Newport University. Last year, the firm assisted with the recruitment of the new Dean of the Honors College at Virginia Commonwealth University and earlier this year completed the search to recruit the new Director of Institutional Equity at VCU.

President Richard V. Hurley announced his plan to retire, effective June 30, 2016. Hurley has served as UMW’s ninth president since July 1, 2010.

For more information about the presidential search, visit http://president.umw.edu/search/.

UMW’s new social media directory is live!

The directory takes our tight-knit, active community on social and puts it all in one place, making accounts easier to find. The centralized listing highlights UMW’s extensive presence on social and all of the different niches on our campus.

You can find the directory by visiting www.umw.edu/social and choosing “Directory.” The directory is also linked to www.umw.edu under the social icons in the bottom left corner of the page.

The listing includes all accounts that have been submitted through the account approval form. If you would like your account to be included in the directory, please review the social media policy and submit the form.

Questions? Contact Erika Spivey at espivey@umw.edu.