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UMW and Germanna Partner for Business Transfer Agreement

June 2, 2015 by Erika Spivey

The University of Mary Washington and Germanna Community College established a new direct transfer agreement for business administration on Tuesday, June 2.

Lynne Richardson, (left, Dean of UMW's College of Business) makes opening comments prior to a business school agreement signed by Richard V. Hurley, president of The University of Mary Washington (center) and David A. Sam, president of Germanna Community College (right).

The agreement will allow the transfer of credits by students with the Associate of Arts and Sciences degree in Business Administration at Germanna into the Bachelor of Science degree program in Business Administration at UMW, should they complete the five designated courses and meet the GPA requirements. The agreement also allows the transfer of credits by students with General Studies and Liberal Arts degrees at Germanna as long as the specified required courses are completed before the application is submitted. The agreement was introduced following the creation of a B.S. in Business Administration degree offered at night by UMW’s College of Business. The partnership eases the transfer process and promotes coordination of academic courses, programs and degrees offered by both institutions. “We expect that this will be an attractive option to traditional and non-traditional students,” said Lynne Richardson, dean of UMW’s College of Business. “Starting in Fall 2015, UMW’s College of Business will offer seven required courses and electives in each of the fall and spring semesters so students can get a B.S. in Administration by taking classes at night.” This is the second partnership signed by UMW and Germanna within this year as the two institutions partnered with Mary Washington Healthcare for nursing education in August. UMW already participates in co-enrollment and direct transfer agreements with Germanna that permit concurrent enrollment and automatic transfer for eligible students. The University also has a guaranteed-admission agreement with Virginia’s two-year colleges, including 23 branches of the Virginia Community College System and Richard Bland College. Students who graduate with an associate’s degree in arts, sciences, or arts and sciences and meet a minimum GPA requirement may obtain guaranteed admission to the University. For more information about the agreements, contact the UMW Office of Admissions at (540) 654-2000 or Germanna’s Counseling Center at (540) 891-3021.

UMW Announces 2015 Historic Preservation Book Prize

May 6, 2015 by Erika Spivey

The University of Mary Washington’s Center for Historic Preservation has awarded the 2015 Historic Preservation Book Prize to A City for Children; Women, Architecture, and the Charitable Landscapes of Oakland, 1850-1950 by Marta Gutman.

2015 Historic Preservation Book Prize Winner

According to the book prize jury, “Gutman effectively combines nuanced social history, vernacular architecture and urban planning with issues of landscape and gender studies that resonate with modern historic preservation.” The center awards the Historic Preservation Book Prize annually to a book that a jury deems has made the most significant contribution to the intellectual vitality of historic preservation in America. Gutman is a professor of architectural and urban history at the City College of New York and The Graduate Center – CUNY. Published by The University of Chicago Press in 2014, the study addresses the use and reuse of everyday buildings in Oakland, California, by enterprising women who sought to improve urban living conditions for children of working-class families. “Gutman made a strong case for how urban landscapes can be understood as reflecting gender and race, particularly by placing women as active agents in the built environment,” said a member of the jury. “While members of Oakland’s upper and middle class, these women operated publicly as social reformers and political advocates for disadvantaged children.” This year, the jury for the $500 prize also included Steven Hoffman, professor and coordinator for the Historic Preservation Program in the Department of History at Southeast Missouri State University; Megan Rosengrant, undergraduate major in Historic Preservation at UMW; Rebecca J. Shepherd, director of the Masters in Historic Preservation Program at the University of Delaware; Andrea Livi Smith, associate professor and chair of the Department of Historic Preservation at UMW; Aubrey Von Lindern, architectural historian with the Virginia Department of Historic Resources; and Douglas Sanford, jury chair and professor and Prince B. Woodard chair of Historic Preservation at UMW. To nominate a book for the 2016 prize, a book must be first available in the United States between Jan. 1, 2015, and Dec. 31, 2015. Letters of nomination from any source and six copies of the nominated book must be postmarked by Feb. 15, 2016, and sent to Michael Spencer, director of the Center for Historic Preservation at the University of Mary Washington, 1301 College Avenue, Combs 131, Fredericksburg, VA 22401-5300. For more information, contact the Center for Historic Preservation at (540) 654-1041.

State Superintendent, Career Ambassador to Speak at UMW Commencement Ceremonies

May 4, 2015 by Erika Spivey

More than 5,000 parents, friends and well-wishers are expected to converge on the Fredericksburg campus to celebrate the University of Mary Washington’s 104th commencement ceremonies Friday, May 8 and Saturday, May 9. Steven R. Staples, superintendent of public instruction for the Virginia Department of Education, will give the graduate address on Friday at 7:30 p.m. in George Washington Hall’s Dodd Auditorium. Pamela Bridgewater, a Foreign Service officer who served as U.S. Ambassador in three countries, will speak at the undergraduate ceremony on Saturday, beginning at 9 a.m. on Ball Circle. Steven R. Staples As Virginia’s 24th superintendent, Staples serves as the executive officer of the Virginia Department of Education, the administrative agency for the commonwealth’s public schools. He also serves as secretary of the Board of Education.

Previously, Staples served for two years as the executive director of the Virginia Association of School Superintendents. He also was a faculty member at the College of William and Mary from 2008-2012 and worked in various capacities in four Virginia school divisions. In 1997, he was selected as Virginia Superintendent of the Year. Staples received his doctorate in education administration and supervision from Virginia Tech, a master’s degree in education administration and supervision, as well as a bachelor’s degree in history and English from the College of William and Mary. Pamela E. Bridgewater Bridgewater retired from active duty in the U.S. Diplomatic Service in 2013 with the rank of Career Ambassador after 34 years of distinguished service. Bridgewater has served as U.S. ambassador in three countries under three different presidents: President Bill Clinton appointed her U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Benin; President George W. Bush named her U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Ghana, and President Obama appointed her as Ambassador to Jamaica.

Among her extensive overseas tours, she became the first African-American woman to serve as consul general in Durban, South Africa, during the historic transition from Apartheid to a non-racial government. As the political officer assigned to cover Nelson Mandela and the African National Congress, a former U.S. Ambassador to South Africa said, “Bridgewater established a degree of trust and confidence with Mr. Mandela and the ANC leadership that the U.S. had not previously enjoyed.” Her contributions to international affairs and public policy have resulted in numerous commendations, including two U.S. Presidential Meritorious Service Awards, the Charles Cobb Award for Trade Promotion, Department of State Superior Honor Awards and the Secretary of State’s Career Achievement Award. The Fredericksburg native earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from Virginia State University and a Master of Arts degree in political science from the University of Cincinnati. She completed course work and advanced to candidacy for the PhD degree from the American University School of International Service. She holds honorary Doctor of Laws degrees from the University of Cincinnati and Virginia State University, and an honorary Doctor of Public Service from Morgan State University. For more information about the commencement ceremonies, visit www.umw.edu/commencement or call the Office of University Events and Conferencing at (540) 654-1065.

UMW Hosts Virginia Education Specialist as Educator-in-Residence

April 30, 2015 by Erika Spivey

The University of Mary Washington’s College of Education hosted Robert Fugate ’03, an assessment specialist for the Virginia Department of Education, for its 5th annual Educator-in-Residence. He presented as the keynote lecture at the College of Education’s Graduate Research Symposium on Saturday, April 25.

Fugate’s lecture recounted his experience with UMW’s Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) program. With the theme of “The Writing was on the Wall,” Fugate noted that he had first become aware of the program from an announcement posted on the mailroom wall at the middle school where he was an English teacher. Traveling between Richmond and Fredericksburg for two years to complete the program, Fugate attested to how the program rejuvenated his professional spirit and afforded him countless opportunities through which he continues to be energized, challenged and fulfilled. As an assessment specialist in limited English proficiency (LEP), Fugate manages the statewide administration of the English language proficiency assessment testing program and provides technical assistance regarding LEP students’ participation in the Standards of Learning assessments. The Graduate Research Symposium featured more than 40 research projects by current students in the education program and the presentation of several awards. Local chapters of Delta Kappa Gamma recognized two graduates: Holly Perucci for the Initial Licensure Award from Beta Eta Chapter and Stephanie Kobuchi for the Educational Leadership Award from Alpha Tau chapter. The Barbara Bishop Mann (’66) Virginia Educator Award was presented to Julia Gatusso. This award recognizes a student pursuing elementary licensure with passion and demonstrated leadership, who is committed to teaching in a public elementary school in Virginia. For more information about the symposium and keynote address, contact the College of Education at (540) 654-1290.

UMW Student Recognized with Debate Award

April 27, 2015 by Erika Spivey

University of Mary Washington senior Mariah Young was awarded the Julia Burke Award for Character and Excellence at the American Debate Association Nationals. She is the fourth UMW student to receive the award.

Established in 2002, the award recognizes the college policy debater who displays passion for debate, a commitment to helping others, love and respect for the American Debate Association policy debate community and dedication to maintaining friendships in the face of competition. The recipient is recognized with a personal trophy and a $2,000 donation to the charity of choice. Young selected the nonprofit She Should Run, aimed at getting more women involved in politics and public leadership. “The award serves as recognition that our debaters have shown character and goodwill in the heat of competition,” said Adrienne Brovero, director of UMW’s Debate Team. “Mariah exemplifies all those qualities.” A political science and journalism double major from Chesapeake, Va., Young has been a member of the debate team for all four years of her education at UMW. In addition to participating in dozens of public debates, she has participated in the Madison Cup Debates and the Randolph-Macon Washington-Franklin Cup Debates. In 2013, Young represented UMW in a public debate on the presidential war powers sponsored by George Washington University and the Miller Center for Public Affairs of the University of Virginia. “She is a leader and a mentor among her teammates,” said Brovero. “The compassion, friendliness and selflessness she has exhibited with her teammates and her competitors provided our squad and others with an excellent example to model.” Young also is managing editor with the Blue and Gray Press student newspaper and is a lead consultant for UMW’s speaking center. After graduation, she will take a role as graduate assistant for the debate team and will pursue a master’s degree in communications at George Mason University. According to Young, UMW’s debate team has enhanced her life in more ways than one. “Without a doubt, the team has not only made me a better student and debater, but has helped me become a better person,” said Young. The team has seen several successes in recent years, most notably:

2014 American Debate Association National Champion
2014 National Debate Tournament 6th Ranked Team
2014 Washington-Franklin Cup Champions
2013 National Debate Tournament 5th Ranked Team
2013 Elysee Treaty Debate Semi-Finalists

For more information about the award, visit http://juliaburkefoundation.com/ada-award.php.

UMW Initiates Test-Optional Admissions Provision

April 20, 2015 by Marty Morrison

The University of Mary Washington will offer high-achieving prospective students the opportunity to opt out of providing standardized college admission tests with their application for enrollment. The University’s Board of Visitors approved the action during its April meeting.

Donald Rallis' geography class, Thursday Oct. 27, 2011. (Photo by Norm Shafer).

Beginning with the 2015-16 recruitment period, high school students who have maintained at least a 3.5 grade point average have the option of waiving submission of their SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test) or ACT (American College Test) scores when applying for admission to the university. Previously, UMW required either SAT or ACT scores for students to be considered for admission. Students applying for merit-based scholarships would be ineligible for this program. “High school GPAs are by far one of the strongest predictors of college success,” said Kimberley Buster-Williams, associate provost for enrollment management and admissions. “We welcome the opportunity to consider admission for students who perhaps do not test well or for whom a standardized test doesn’t reflect their true potential.” Strong academic students traditionally pursue a rigorous high school curriculum that includes college-level courses, Buster-Williams said. She added that the most compelling reason for instituting a test-optional policy is to enhance the diversity of the student body. Data reveals that schools with test-optional policies often see increased applications from minorities, women, Pell-eligible students, first-generation college students and students with learning differences. In addition, a growing body of evidence suggests that high school GPA is a better indicator of student success in college than standardized test scores. Currently, more than 800 colleges and universities no longer require the submission of standardized test scores in admission decisions, according to Fair Test: The National Center for Fair and Open Testing. To be considered for admission to UMW, any student who applies to UMW must submit a high school transcript, essay and letters of recommendation.

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