Universities, colleges cancel graduation ceremonies amid pandemic
The Virginia Community College System (VCCS) has canceled 2020 graduation ceremonies at all 23 state community colleges in light of federal guidance urging people to avoid social gatherings of more than 10 people, VCCS Chancellor Glenn DuBois announced in a letter Tuesday. “While it’s a celebration of individual achievements, it’s a community celebration. Many of […]
U.Va. staff member tests positive for COVID-19
University of Virginia President James E. Ryan announced late Monday that a U.Va. Women’s Center staff member has tested positive for COVID-19. “Given the progression of the virus, it is not a surprise to discover a local case, but we know it will heighten anxiety,” Ryan said in the statement. The individual is[...]
Northam orders all Va. K-12 schools closed for at least 2 weeks
Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam has ordered all K-12 schools in Virginia to close for a minimum of two weeks, due to the spread of COVID-19 in the commonwealth. Schools will close starting on Monday, March 16, through at least March 27. Localities will be able to make their own staffing decisions to ensure students continue [&hellip[...]
Va. universities moving classes online amid coronavirus worries
UPDATED 6 A.M. MARCH 13 As the novel coronavirus continues to spread across Virginia, more than 15 colleges and universities across the commonwealth — including the University of Virginia, Virginia Tech, George Mason University, Virginia Commonwealth University and James Madison University — are moving all classes online. A student at Longwood University, which is closing […]
U.Va. moving all classes online as coronavirus spreads in Va.
UPDATE, 3:34 p.m., MARCH 11: The University of Virginia’s College at Wise is the latest state higher education institution to announce that it is suspending in-person education and will be moving all classes online as coronavirus spreads in Virginia. U.Va. Wise plans to switch to online classes as of March 23 for the rem[...]
George Mason names associate VP of innovation and economic development
George Mason University announced Tuesday that Paula Sorrell, the director of the University of Michigan’s Economic Growth Institute, will become the associate vice president of innovation and economic development effective May 1. Mason recently created its School of Computing and Institute for InnovAtion (IDIA) in preparation for Amazon.com Inc.’s East Coast arrival. In her new […]
VCU College of Humanities and Sciences appoints dean
Jennifer Malat will be dean of the Virginia Commonwealth University College of Humanities and Sciences effective July 1, the university announced Tuesday. Malat is currently the divisional dean for social sciences at the University of Cincinnati (UC) College of Arts and Sciences and oversees academic affairs, faculty affairs and[...]
The way forward
The daughter of Mexican immigrants, Amy Cortes always figured that she’d go to work as a day laborer like her parents after she graduated from Fort Defiance High School. But somewhere along the way, the Augusta County teen decided, “I wanted to push myself and go to college.” Last year, Cortes, 18, was one of 31 […[...]
VCU Honors College names new dean
Virginia Commonwealth University has tapped Scott C. Breuninger as dean of its honors college, VCU announced Friday. Breuninger starts on July 1. Breuninger currently works with the University of South Dakota (USD) as the director of its honors program and as an associate professor of history. He has been with USD since 2011 and[...]
George Mason University names new president
The George Mason University Board of Visitors has selected Gregory Washington, the dean of the University of California, Irvine’s Henry Samueli School of Engineering, as the eighth president of George Mason. Washington will start on July 1. He takes over from former state Secretary of Education Anne Holton, who has served [...]
Alarm.com launches apprenticeship program
In cooperation with Northern Virginia Community College, Tysons-based Alarm.com launched an apprenticeship program Friday aimed at producing workers with in-demand tech skills. Supported by the state’s GO Virginia economic development initiative, 10 initial apprentices, including three from the military community, will partici[...]
Virginia students could get in-state tuition despite citizenship status
RICHMOND, Va. — The state Senate and the House have advanced bills to make students living in the U.S. without documentation eligible for in-state tuition. SB 935, introduced by Democratic Sens. Jennifer Boysko and Ghazala Hashmi, would require a student to provide proof of filed taxes to be eligible for in-state tuition. [...]