Virginia Wesleyan University Joins NACU

Virginia Wesleyan University (VWU) of Virginia Beach, Va., has joined the New American Colleges and Universities (NACU) consortium, a network of private, comprehensive colleges and universities that come together to share ideas and forge collaborations among its campuses.

“Collaboration and the sharing of ideas is at the heart of a liberal arts education,” says VWU President Scott D. Miller. “As we have grown from an aspiring local college to an inspiring international university, we have become an institution of acclaimed national niches and distinguished service to a diverse student body. We are proud to be a part of NACU and look forward to mutually beneficial relationships with like-minded private institutions across the country.”

An inclusive community dedicated to scholarship and service grounded in the liberal arts and sciences, Virginia Wesleyan carries out the mission that is central to all NACU campuses – to integrate liberal arts, professional preparation, and civic engagement to effectively prepare graduates to be productive and engaged citizens. Moreover, the curricular model at Virginia Wesleyan embraces the legacy of Ernest Boyer whose call for higher education and scholarship to be a service to society led to the formation of NACU in 1995. NACU campuses ensure that students can apply classroom knowledge to the community through ample opportunities to learn by doing in a way that benefits others.

“We are grateful to be able to welcome Virginia Wesleyan into our network of institutions,” said Sean Creighton, NACU president. “Their commitment to the value of a residential campus education coupled with the focus on teaching, research, service, and student-faculty engagement will make them a valuable part of the conversations that we have.”

About Virginia Wesleyan University

Virginia Wesleyan University (vwu.edu) is Coastal Virginia’s premier university of the liberal arts and sciences. Situated on a 300-acre park-like campus in Virginia Beach, the University annually enrolls approximately 1,600 students in undergraduate, graduate, and online programs. Undergraduate degrees include a Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, and Bachelor of Social Work with 39 majors, 31 minors, and 19 pre-professional tracks. Graduate degrees include a Master of Business Administration, Master of Education, and a Master of Arts in Education. Students thrive in average class sizes of 15 and through experiential learning, high-impact leadership, and career development programs. More than 90 percent of Wesleyan’s new graduates are employed or enrolled in graduate school within one year of graduation. The state-of-the-art Greer Environmental Sciences Center, the Susan S. Goode Fine and Performing Arts Center, Chesapeake Bay Academy, Tidewater Collegiate Academy, and other outstanding facilities and programs serve a vibrant campus community and regional partners in education. As a learning community located in the rich and unique ecosystems of Coastal Virginia and the Chesapeake Bay watershed, VWU is committed to promoting and developing the next generation of environmental stewards. The ongoing sustainability efforts of the University reflect a larger commitment to ethical conduct and social responsibility through environmental stewardship and education, as affirmed through the University’s Environmental Guiding Principles. An inclusive community dedicated to scholarship and service grounded in the liberal arts and sciences, Virginia Wesleyan University inspires students to build meaningful lives through engagement in Coastal Virginia’s dynamic metropolitan region, the nation, and the world.