Welcome back to Extra Credit, a weekly roundup of education-related news from across Southwest and Southside Virginia.
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Sweet Briar raises record $14 million as it celebrates milestone
Just a little more than a decade after Sweet Briar College almost closed due to “insurmountable financial challenge,” according to an announcement at the time, the small school is celebrating its 125th anniversary in a big way.
When school officials closed the books for its 2025-26 fiscal year on June 30, the college had raised more than $14 million from alumni, friends, corporations and foundations.
“These gifts make a difference to Sweet Briar’s current generation of women leaders in myriad ways, including their academic careers, the opportunities to take advantage of the college’s Grants for Engaged Learning (GELs), academic program enhancements and professional opportunities for faculty, and more,” according to a news release.
Alumni, students, faculty and other donors have been the backbone of the small private women’s college’s fundraising efforts since the 2015 attempted closure.
Supporters ultimately organized the “Saving Sweet Briar” effort and raised $12 million by June 2015 to keep the school’s doors open.
Now, more than a decade later, supporters continue to champion the school through fundraising for capital and endowment funds and other campaigns.
Of the $14 million raised this year, Sweet Briar had set a goal to raise $5.5 million for the Sweet Briar Fund, its unrestricted annual giving program, according to the release. It raised $6.14 million instead.
Another $5.1 million was given to capital and endowment funds to help pay for the school’s Honors Program and an electrical system upgrade, and to support future projects including the renovation of Gray Hall and Guion Science Center, according to the release.
“I am always amazed at the continued support from all members of the Sweet Briar community through financial contributions, tireless volunteerism, and celebrating our 125th Anniversary,” President Mary Pope Hutson said in a statement. “Our alumni network and our friends and supporters demonstrate a treasured commitment to our college, helping us to raise our profile and attract the next generation of women leaders. We are eager to welcome our new and returning students in August and begin another great academic year!”
In May, the school graduated 106 of its newest alumni.
Virginia Tech discusses potential president candidates, shrinks search committee
The Virginia Tech Board of Visitors discussed potential candidates for the university’s next president during a nearly four-hour closed session last Tuesday.
The university’s presidential search committee met in Blacksburg and briefly discussed results from recent listening sessions and a survey it launched last month to garner feedback from the community before moving into the closed session.
The board is seeking to replace President Tim Sands, who announced in April that he would step down. Sands has said he would stay on, though, until his successor is found.
“We are looking for someone with a very specific skill set. While they may be successful in their current position, they may not be the best fit as a president for Virginia Tech. We are looking for proven leaders, experienced, crisis-tested, with understanding of a large, complex land-grant university,” committee chair and board member Nancy Dye said.
“It is essential that Virginia Tech continues on its forward trajectory without pausing long-term strategic initiatives and capital campaigns, that is our goal as we work together today.”
What happened during the closed session wasn’t public, but Dye did remind attendees that “things [could] move very quickly”.
“We’re conducting a vigorous national search,” Dye said. “For those of you who have been following the Clemson and Michigan search, the University of Florida, and Northeastern University, you already know that we must be nimble as a committee, as candidates we identify may very well be involved in other searches or being pursued by other universities.”
As the search committee identifies candidates, Dye said she and new Rector Jim Miller had decided to appoint a smaller subcommittee to participate in interviews with candidates and make recommendations to the full board.
The members of this new committee will include Dye, Miller, Starlette Johnson, Chris Ramos, Robert Moser and Justin Lemkul, the university’s faculty senate president and faculty representative on the board of visitors.
Greg Esposito of Isaacson Miller, the search firm contracted to lead the search, also provided a high-level summary of what the committee has heard from more than two dozen listening sessions so far.
Recurring themes from these conversations, Esposito said, was that the Virginia Tech community as a whole is most interested in a potential candidate’s commitment to a “student-centered land grant identify for Virginia Tech;” the leadership characteristics of the next president, including commitment to shared governance and supporting campus morale; and commitments to research, health sciences, regional partnerships, town-gown relationships, relationships with the state, and the reputation and branding of the university.
Esposito also reported that the survey has received more than 2,000 responses so far. About 77% of responses so far have come from alumni, and about 92% are “Blacksburg-centered,” he said.
“The survey found strong consensus that the next president should demonstrate integrity, sound judgment, transparent leadership and a commitment to student success, while prioritizing faculty and staff retention, financial sustainability, affordability, and the land grant mission,” Esposito said.
Radford University receives state funding to launch third group of teacher apprentices
Radford University recently received state funding to expand its teacher apprenticeship program.
The program is a partnership between the university and local school divisions to expand access to the teaching profession and fill critical staffing gaps.
Radford’s College of Education and Human Development was awarded more than $130,000 from the Virginia Department of Education to launch its third cohort of teacher apprentices this August. The funding is designed to help reduce financial barriers for students by covering tuition, fees and other costs during their first year of the two-year program.
Program participants gain hands-on experience working full time under the mentorship of master teachers in school divisions across the New River and Roanoke valleys while completing their coursework.
“This investment allows us to continue building innovative, accessible pathways into the teaching profession while directly responding to the needs of our region’s schools,” Tamara Wallace, dean of the College of Education and Human Development, said in a statement.
“Our Registered Teacher Apprenticeship Program reflects the very best of Radford University — strong partnerships, meaningful hands-on learning and a deep commitment to preparing educators who will make a lasting difference in their communities.”
Roanoke College launches 3-year degrees in public administration, cannabis studies
Want to understand government policy around weed or find success in the multibillion-dollar cannabis industry? Roanoke College might have a degree program for you.
The school recently announced that enrollment is open for a new three-year degree program in cannabis studies. It’s also launching an accelerated degree in public administration, though it’s not weed-related.
The programs are completely online and are designed for working professionals, according to a news release.
“These programs are part of our commitment to ensuring higher education is accessible and aligned with the needs of the modern workforce,” Lisa Stoneman, assistant vice president and head of Roanoke College-Roanoke Valley, a workforce development initiative, said in a statement.
“For many professionals, a degree is part of unlocking the next stage of their career. Our goal is to help them shorten the distance between where they are and where they want to be, all while providing the same high-quality education that defines a Roanoke College degree.”
Roanoke College’s three-year degree programs come as many institutions of higher education across the state and country are exploring options for more flexible, faster degree programs.
These programs are a “direct response to job market demand,” according to the release.
The abridged bachelor of science in public administration program includes courses in team management, public policy and data analysis, and the abridged cannabis studies program is launching as 40 states have approved some form of marijuana legalization and Virginia is poised to establish a recreational marijuana market next year.
Roanoke College launched the state’s first four-year degree program in cannabis studies in 2024.
To learn more about either program, visit roanoke.edu/onlinedegrees.
State Education Department celebrates top CTE programs
The Virginia Department of Education recently recognized 19 career and technical, or CTE, programs and partnerships across the state.
The VDOE and the Virginia Community College System honored secondary and postsecondary programs.
The secondary awards included:
- Advisory Committee Award: Chesterfield County’s Career and Technical Center – Courthouse Campus
- Business and Industry Partnership Award: SparkForce, the Fabricators and Manufacturers Association Foundation, nominated by Salem Public Schools
- Exemplary CTE Program Award: Henrico County’s Welding for the 3Es program at the Advanced Career Education Center at Virginia Randolph Education Center
The postsecondary awards included:
- Advisory Committee Award: Tidewater Community College’s Paralegal Associate of Applied Science Program Advisory Committee
- Business and Industry Partnership Award: Norfolk Naval Shipyard Apprenticeship program, nominated by Tidewater Community College
- Exemplary Program Award: Data Center Operations, Associate of Applied Science and Career Studies Certificate program at Northern Virginia Community College
