The UMW Common Read/Experience is one of the first opportunities to engage the incoming first-year students with classmates, upper-class students, faculty and staff in a shared intellectual experience, which can promote critical exchange of ideas and create a sense of community.

UMW has selected Dear Evan Hansen text and accompanying soundtrack as the UMW Common Experience for 2018-2019 academic year. Featuring a high school student with a social anxiety disorder who struggles to make social connections, Dear Evan Hansen is a 2015 stage musical with music and lyrics by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, and a book written by Steven Levenson. The musical premiered in Washington, D.C. in 2015 and opened on Broadway in 2016. Dear Evan Hansen’s original Broadway cast recording entered the Billboard 200 at number eight in February 2017.

We are hoping that you will join the discussion on the morning of August 24^th from 9-11 am.  First-year students from the same FSEM course will discuss the book with one or two faculty, staff, administrators, or upper class students.  We will provide questions and supporting information in advance to help guide the discussions.  We hope that you will join in welcoming the first-year students and participating in the Common Experience event that will kick off their academic experiences at UMW.   If you would like to volunteer to co-facilitate a discussion group, please indicate your interest on the following google form https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1dpPN3gDNSfRPv5sdNrZIRhuMcZobG-jSP23QJ49rINQ/edit?ts=5ad8aae3.  If you have any questions about the discussions, please contact Kelli Slunt, kslunt@umw.edu.

We would also would like to create a video of UMW community members singing “You Will be Found” from the Dear Evan Hansen soundtrack.  Piano accompaniment for your recording is available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-wfaBzHd5QA.  A copy of the sheet music can be found at https://dearevanhansen.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/You_Will_Be_Found_Vocals.pdf.   We still need video footage to make this project a reality.  We are going for the virtual choir effect and individuals or groups can submit either the complete piece or excerpts from the song.  If you are interested in providing footage, please contact Anand Rao, arao@umw.edu.

Thank you in advance for your support of the 2018-19 UMW Common Experience.

The University of Mary Washington has once again been recognized among the nation’s best colleges by the Fiske Guide to Colleges 2019.

This is the ninth consecutive year UMW has received the distinction from the prestigious publication, the nation’s top-selling college guidebook. Mary Washington is among public and private institutions recognized for delivering outstanding academics and the most reasonable prices.

The 2019 edition, the publication’s 35th annual issue, features more than 300 of the “best and most interesting” colleges and universities in the country. The listing was based on questionnaires sent to administrators and a cross-section of students. Read more.

The New Student Orientation Planning Committee would like to announce a few opportunities for faculty and staff to welcome new students and their guests to campus during the upcoming New Student Orientation (June 13, 14, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 25, 26, 27). Last year, Orientation was a great success because of the support from all the UMW faculty and staff who volunteered.

We are requesting support again this year from UMW faculty and staff in welcoming our new Eagles as they experience UMW throughout the day. There are multiple areas that people can get involved. A few available opportunities to volunteer are still available. If you are interested, please sign up for your available time slots on the SignUp Genius – Orientation Volunteers 2018.

If you have any questions or concerns about signing up, please contact JoAnna Raucci (jraucci@umw.edu or x2179). Thank you in advance for supporting New Student Orientation.

Asphalt paving work at the Jepson Science Center begins Monday, June 11, and will continue through the week.

The work area is the unpaved portion of the south access road between College Avenue and the Simpson Library parking lot. The road will remain open during the work: Please be aware of flaggers for directions through the area. This schedule is weather dependent.

Please contact Les Johnson at 540-654-2100 or ajohnso3@umw.edu with questions.