WESLEYAN WATCH: NEWS AND NOTES

Originally published in the Marlin Chronicle Q: What is “Saving Virginia Wesleyan”? A: Saving Virginia Wesleyan is a small group of alumni and stakeholders who formed an LLC to hold the university’s leadership accountable, reverse the Batten University name change, and restore transparent, mission‑driven governance at Virginia Wesleyan University. To memorialize and preserve the entire process for Alumni, current and future students, we created our website savingvirginiawesle

The Rebranding Risk: Why a Name Change is Not Always a "Force Multiplier" In the world of strategic management, every major move should act as a "Force Multiplier"—an action that significantly increases the effectiveness and reach of an organization. However, in the history of higher education, few maneuvers are as risky as a total institutional rebrand. While the intent is often to signal a new era or honor a transformational donor, the reality is that many name changes lead

(A copy of the letter is displayed in the photo below) February 17, 2026 Virginia Wesleyan Board of Trustees Mrs. Jane Batten President Scott Miller 5817 Wesleyan Drive Virginia Beach, VA 23455 Dear Board of Trustees Members, Mrs. Batten, and President Miller, I am writing with a heavy heart and tears in my eyes holding on to stored photos of fond memories from my favorite educational institution experiences. As a Presbyterian, I was even married in the Monumental Chapel. I

We've argued that the Wesleyan tradition at Virginia Wesleyan is important. Equally important is the school's notoriety as a Virginia institution of higher learning. In the competitive landscape of American higher education, a name is rarely just a label; it is a geographic coordinates system, a heritage marker, and a brand of authority. For nearly 60 years, Virginia Wesleyan University has carried the name of the Commonwealth as a badge of identity. As the institution appro

The marketing team behind the name change from Virginia Wesleyan to Batten University have started a full-court press. We (the alumni) stepped up our game in January with the launch of a new website here at SavingVirginiaWesleyan.org and with more resources to gather stakeholders together to stand against the proposed change. We've spoken up, again and again since the August 2025 announcement. The Board of Trustees and President Scott Miller have refused to listen. Part

Four of the most decorated figures in Virginia Wesleyan athletic history have formally resigned from the University’s Hall of Fame, following the decision to remove the "Virginia Wesleyan" name from the institution. The joint resignation, submitted to Director of Athletics Andrea Hoover-Erbig and President Scott Miller, marks a high-profile protest against the school’s rebranding and the subsequent creation of the Batten Hall of Fame. The signees include standout athletes Rob

For over sixty years, the name Virginia Wesleyan  has stood for more than just a collection of bricks and mortar in Virginia Beach. It has represented a promise—a commitment to a liberal arts education grounded in a specific set of values, a storied Methodist heritage, and a community of "Marlins" that spans the globe. But today, that identity is under siege. The proposal to strip away our name and replace it with Batten University  isn't just a rebranding exercise; it is a f

The controversy around the Virginia Wesleyan University name change isn't going to "just go away". Let's go back to the end of the summer and revive this gem. VWU President Scott Miller essentially suggested that "the beatings will continue until morale improves." In an interview with Andy Fox on WAVY TV , President Scott Miller took to the airwaves to address the massive pushback regarding the school’s rebranding to Batten University. But instead of offering an olive bran

We want to believe in good intentions, but what will keep Batten University tied to the school's Wesleyan roots? In 1961, Virginia Wesleyan College was chartered with a clear identity: a Methodist-affiliated liberal arts institution dedicated to the principles of John Wesley—faith-based inquiry, social holiness, and service to the community. For over six decades, the "Wesleyan" in its name served as a compass for its mission. However, with the 2025 announcement that the insti

WHRO | By Jim Morrison Published December 11, 2025 at 4:32 PM EST Accounts from Virginia Wesleyan University’s Alumni Council shed light on a name change process that was a closely held campaign, and a culmination of university President Scott Miller’s decade of leadership marked by transformative – and at times, controversial – decisions. Marie Nicolo remembers she was the first to speak at a hastily arranged Zoom meeting of the Virginia Wesleyan University Alumni Council o

Re:  “Stand with alumni”  (Your Views, Nov. 23): Virginia Wesleyan Board of Trustees, President Scott Miller and Jane Batten have all lost touch dismissing constituents' requests to meet and discuss concerns. To refuse conversation, reconsideration and a fair compromise is not a faith-based continuation of Wesleyan traditions. Actions speak louder than words. The current administration removed the cross from the official Beacon logo, which was a mistake. The cross represents

Re  “Virginia Wesleyan graduate ousted from alumni council”  (A1, Nov. 17): My conscience will not allow me to remain silent in the face of the atrocious developments at Virginia Wesleyan University. I joined the faculty in 1970 and helped create the excellent academic program and the dynamic atmosphere of that era, which included close involvement of students in virtually all aspects of campus life. I retired in 2002, proud of my 32-year career and the thousands of students

"The fact that you won't even discuss it with us shows a complete lack of respect for the history and for the people themselves." Kerry: Good morning. This is the Kerry and Mike show. And we have on the line with us, we're so honored to have you with us today, Bob Valvano. Bob is a brother of everyone knows Jimmy Valvano. What a beloved figure he was. And welcome to our show. Good morning. Bob: Hey, you are speaking with the proud recipient of the 1979 WTAR Student Athlete Aw

For Kim Mayo , her graduation in 1998 from Virginia Wesleyan was a defining, "magical" moment in her life. But today, the deep bond she once shared with her alma mater has fractured into what she describes as a painful, high-stakes "divorce." Mayo is one of the hundreds of alumni standing in firm opposition to the administration’s plan to discard the Virginia Wesleyan University name in favor of Batten University  on July 1, 2026. However, for Mayo, the cost of speaking out w

While the official university calendar marked October 4th as Homecoming, the true spirit of the Marlin family was found three miles away from campus. Frustration over the planned transition to "Batten University" didn’t dampen the mood on Friday night; instead, it fueled a powerful gathering at Shorebreak Pizza & Taphouse in Virginia Beach. For decades, Shorebreak has been the unofficial headquarters for Virginia Wesleyan alumni celebrations. However, in an unusual move for 2

It was a tale of two homecomings. October 4, 2025 was marked on many calendars as Virginia Wesleyan Homecoming, but this year there were two options for supporting the school. The spirit of Virginia Wesleyan wasn't just found on campus. Instead, a powerful alternative celebration took place off-campus, as hundreds of alumni gathered to send a clear message: Our history is not for sale. While the university administration moved forward with official festivities, a dedicated gr

The fight for the soul of Virginia Wesleyan University reached a dramatic turning point this weekend as a legendary figure in Marlin athletics took a definitive stand against the transition to "Batten University." Bob Valvano , a hall-of-fame three-sport athlete and one of the most celebrated names in the school’s history, used the "No Home Homecoming" boycott to deliver a stinging rebuke to the administration. Valvano, who describes himself as "blindsided" by the 2026 rebran

The gates of Virginia Wesleyan University saw a different kind of gathering this weekend as the advocacy group "We Are Virginia Wesleyan"  launched its "No Home Homecoming" —a powerful alternative celebration designed to unite decades of graduates in a singular mission: stopping the transition to Batten University. As the administration moved forward with official campus festivities, hundreds of alumni chose to stand at the perimeter, signaling that their loyalty lies with th

By  Letters to the Editor  | The Virginian-Pilot & Daily Press PUBLISHED: September 30, 2025 at 6:00 PM EDT It’s homecoming week at Virginia Wesleyan University, but we alumni don’t feel like we have a home anymore. In August, VWU announced that it will be renaming itself Batten University to honor long-time mega-donor Jane Batten. The announcement shocked us. We know and appreciate the Batten family’s investment in VWU, but sacrificing our identity, history and heritage in h

Column: Virginia Wesleyan taught that my voice mattered. Is that still true?  https://www.pilotonline.com/2025/09/06/column-virginia-wesleyan-taught-that-my-voice-mattered-is-that-still-true/ By  Bob Valvano  | Guest Columnist PUBLISHED: September 6, 2025 at 6:05 PM EDT As a young, aspiring basketball coach, I relied on my far more accomplished brother Jim for advice. One of the simple rules he taught me, when I asked if a certain coaching job was worth pursuing, is what I ca

The announcement on August 20, 2025 , was intended to be a celebration. Under the bright lights of TowneBank Arena, during a luncheon honoring the Batten family’s undeniable generosity, the administration dropped a bombshell that would shake the foundations of our community: Virginia Wesleyan University would be renamed Batten University  effective July 1, 2026. While the "standing ovation" inside the room was televised, the reaction outside—across decades of alumni networks

Letters for Aug. 27: Preserve the name, legacy of Virginia Wesleyan
By Letters to the Editor
 PUBLISHED: August 26, 2025 at 6:00 PM ET
Batten University
 origin
Re “Virginia Wesleyan to change name” (A1, Aug. 21):  My father Robert F. Boyd was crucial in building Virginia Wesleyan College, giving a very large part of the foundational money to start the school.

The one and only reason for naming the school after John Wesley is the tremendous spiritual influence Wesley left, l

Preserve the name, legacy of Virginia Wesleyan
 By Letters to the Editor
 PUBLISHED: August 26, 2025 at 6:00 PM ET
Batten University
 Re “Virginia Wesleyan to change name”  As a proud alumnus of Virginia Wesleyan University, Class of 1980, I was shocked and saddened to learn of the proposed name change to Batten University, effective on July 1.
While I deeply appreciate the Batten family’s generous contributions, I believe the name of a respected academic institution should n

By  Brian Kirwin  | Guest Columnist PUBLISHED: August 26, 2025 at 6:05 PM EDT In 1991, I walked the stage for my degree from Virginia Wesleyan College. The experience from those four years leading up to that day I can’t imagine anywhere else. I found Virginia Wesleyan to be a unique mix of what I found Hampton Roads to be in that fall of 1987 — a little urban and a little rural. It had a character I didn’t find elsewhere. There I met a gentleman named Lambuth Clarke, presiden

Alumni say the change erases the school's history, Methodist roots and athletic legacy. You can read the original article on WHRO.org . Click HERE to go directly to the story. The article is abbreviated below in excerpts. Virginia Wesleyan University’s decision to change its name to Batten University is drawing strong pushback from alumni. Alumni said they were blindsided and shocked by the announcement, which was made on Aug. 20 during an event celebrating the Batten famil

The decision to erase the Virginia Wesleyan University name in favor of "Batten University" has sparked a wave of disbelief across the Marlin community. Among those leading the charge is Devin Cowhey, a standout athlete from the historic 2006 Final Four soccer team and a former faculty member. For Cowhey, the 2026 rebrand is more than a clerical change—it is a disruption of a deeply rooted identity. "How do we stop this? How do we make sure our voices—and the voices of curren

Eliza Noe of the Virginian-Pilot wrote a story on the name change announcement that is available through the newspaper's website. Below is a brief synopsis of the story. Original article available here: Virginia Wesleyan Name Change Virginia Wesleyan University, a private institution founded in 1966 by the United Methodist Church, will undergo a total rebranding. The new name honors Jane Batten, a longtime board member and philanthropist, and her late husband, Frank Batten