Archaeology interns Adam Shinberg (left) and Kaira Otero (right) studying artifacts at Monticello- UVA Archaeological Field School in Charlottesville, VA. Photo by Parker Michels-Boyce.

More than 100 employers have hired University of Mary Washington students this summer, filling vital roles through internships that help the companies.

For the interns, it’s meaningful work that comes with a stipend or paycheck, either directly from the organization or through the Center for Career and Professional Development at UMW. The center coordinates grants for unpaid or low-paid internships and provides training for businesses. New this year is the Virginia Talent + Opportunity Partnership (V-TOP) Internship Support Grant. Students with an approved internship contract and completed application may qualify for $2,000 to cover internship-related expenses identified by the state, such as transportation, housing, workplace attire, and supplies.

These summer experiences offer students opportunities beyond the classroom, preparing them for life after Mary Washington. In honor of Virginia Intern Day on Thursday, July 25, we are sharing some of the impactful stories from our students’ internships. Read more.

The University of Mary Washington is once again recognized among the “Best Colleges in America” by Money Magazine.

The 10^th edition of Money’s flagship colleges list analyzes quality, affordability and future earning potential for a practical analysis of more than 700 four-year colleges. For the second year, the publication has used a star rating instead of numerical list. UMW earned 3.5 stars and is one of 22 Virginia colleges on the list.

“We hope students and parents use our list to discover new colleges that may be worth their attention, and perhaps more importantly, we want our analysis to encourage readers to think critically about what they’re paying for college and what sort of outcomes they can expect in return,” said Money’s education editor, Kaitlin Mulhere.

Unique to the list, which includes net price of a degree, average borrowing rates, and median earnings, are “value add” calculations which measure a school’s actual performance against its predicted performance. According to the methodology, these factors indicate how a college affects graduates’ outcomes. Read more.

The University of Mary Washington Board of Visitors has approved the budget for 2024-25 academic year.

The University of Mary Washington Board of Visitors approved the budget for 2024-25 academic year at the June 7 meeting, following approval of the Virginia state budget in May. Both the statewide budget and UMW budget plan advance higher education by focusing on details critical to student success, the campus experience, and human resources.

“The state through the General Assembly was very generous again to higher education generally and to Mary Washington specifically,” said Vice President for Administration and Finance Craig Erwin.

Among the highlights of the state allocation to UMW are $2.5 million in permanent funding to offset operating cost increases, following $2.1 million provided in the 2023-24 budget addendum. UMW’s state-supported need-based financial aid for Virginia residents will increase to just over $7 million, thanks to additional general fund support of $283,860 in 2024-25.

UMW’s annual budget totals approximately $160 million. About 38% of UMW’s budget comes from general funds allocated by the state, with another 38% from tuition and fees, and approximately 24% from a combination of auxiliary programs including housing, dining, parking, federal aid and other sources.  The 2024-25 tuition and fees for UMW were announced in April 2024. While delays from the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) have created uncertainty for families in the enrollment process, as well as uncertainty in university budgets, the release of financial aid packages in late April and through May have provided the needed information and certainty to move forward with the budget and to provide more information and a plan for the campus community.

This year’s state budget factors in a 3% pay increase for faculty and staff, as well as a 6.3% increase in health insurance premiums, both effective June 10, 2024, and both partially funded by the state. UMW must fund the remainder and has kept human resources as a priority in the upcoming year, with plans for new staff in HR and the budget office to aid in employee recruitment and retention and an allocation for a staff compensation study.

These mandated increases, inflationary pressures, and increased expenses have been key cost drivers in recent years, balanced by efforts such as the faculty early retirement incentive program and a strategic focus on enrollment and retention through all areas of university operations. With a positive enrollment outlook leading into the 2024-25 year and a continued conservative fiscal approach in conjunction with state investments, UMW has a stable and sustainable budget plan with opportunities to re-invest in areas critical to the campus experience.

“We are going into this fiscal year in a very strong position,” said UMW President Troy Paino. “Students and their families continue to choose Mary Washington, and we’re maintaining strong enrollment and retention of students. It’s a credit to the hard work of many on our campus, from the personalized approach in the admissions process and financial aid through the expert faculty leading each class taught and extended through life after Mary Wash. We will continue to work to find ways to reinvest within fiscal practices and approaches in conjunction with the state.”

For more information on the 2024-25 budget plan, see the June 7 board agenda online.

Reunion Weekend brings decades of Mary Washington graduates together.

For Deb Hodges Shelton ’94, Reunion Weekend is a chance to reconnect with college classmates, hang out at old haunts and fall in love with Mary Washington all over again.

“Our alumni really do have a unique relationship with our alma mater since it’s a smaller school,” said Deb, a longtime Reunion Committee member who enjoys getting to know graduates of other classes. She looks forward to spending future reunions with one soon-to-be alum, in particular. “My daughter is a rising sophomore at UMW, so our traditions will carry on!”

More than 700 alumni, families, and friends are expected to return to the University of Mary Washington for the four-day Reunion Weekend, held May 30 to June 2, celebrating classes ending in 4 and 9. Yet, all are welcome to participate in parties and picnics, campus tours, lectures, family fun, class photos, arts and cultural events, beverage tastings, trips to downtown Fredericksburg and Carl’s for ice cream, and much more.

“Reunion Weekend is full of celebration and reconnection, not just with our lifelong friends and classmates, but also with our alma mater,” said Executive Director of Alumni Engagement Mark Thaden ’02. “We hope our alumni leave Mary Washington next week with even more memories than they had before.” Read more.