Virginia Wesleyan Announces Name Change To Batten University

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 Sr. (former publisher of The Virginian-Pilot).

Administrators, including President Scott Miller, characterize the change as a "bold reflection" of the school’s evolution, while Jane Batten emphasized that the school's 60-year Methodist heritage and "ethic of service" will remain the foundation of the institution.

The renaming follows over 40 years of significant financial support from the Batten family. While the university does not disclose total philanthropic gift amounts, the Battens' contributions have funded:

• Batten Honors College: Supported by an $80.3 million endowment.

• Jane F. Batten Student Center: A $22 million central campus facility.

• Greer Environmental Sciences Center: A $20 million project.

• Scholarship Programs: Funding for "Batten Scholars" (80 full-tuition and 80 three-quarter-tuition scholarships annually) and eight endowed professorships.

• Project History: Funding for over two dozen additional campus initiatives.

• Student Body: Currently serves approximately 2,100 undergraduate and graduate students.

• Leadership Role: Jane Batten has served on the board since 1981 and was the first woman to chair the board in 1995.

• Next Steps: President Scott Miller is scheduled to meet with faculty and staff over the coming week to discuss the logistics and strategic implementation of the transition.

  
  

"This is more than a name change. It’s a bold reflection of who we have become and signals our readiness for the future." — Scott Miller, President