Fall 2010 Newsletter

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August 2010

Dear Neighbor,

On July 19, Rose and I moved into Brompton.  We are delighted to be your new neighbors, and it is truly an honor to reside in this wonderful historic treasure.  I am looking forward to serving as the ninth president of the University of Mary Washington.  As I embark upon my presidency, I am committed to leading this great institution forward to new heights of excellence and to forging strong bonds of engagement with Fredericksburg and the entire region.

In our University’s efforts to be a good neighbor within the community, I am writing to provide you with information about new developments, some key dates, and major projects.  We appreciate your understanding and patience, and we cordially invite you to participate in public events that are of interest to you.

• Opening of Fall Semester.  On Wednesday, August 18, we will welcome approximately 980 new freshmen and 220 new transfer students who will arrive to move in and begin orientation.  Most of the returning students will arrive over the weekend of August 21-22, and fall semester classes will begin on Monday, August 23.
• Eagle Village Phase I.  No doubt you have noticed the rapid construction across Route 1 from the campus.  This innovative, mixed-use project was built and is owned by the private UMW Foundation.  Soon, 624 upper-class students will move into beautiful new apartments at Eagle Landing, the residential building adjacent to the pedestrian bridge.  During the fall, several exciting new restaurants and other businesses will open in the commercial building, which also contains offices and a multi-level parking garage.  We hope that you will patronize these establishments.
• William M. Anderson, Jr. Center.  Just across from Eagle Village on the campus side, construction of the Anderson Center is moving rapidly.  When this facility opens in time for the 2011-2012 academic year, it will provide much needed space for athletic contests, concerts, convocations, and other events.  Note that, in order to safely route pedestrian traffic around the ongoing construction site to and from the Eagle Village bridge, we are constructing a temporary wooden access walk.  That structure will be removed by next summer.
• Building Renovations.  We have two major renovation projects underway.  Monroe Hall, the University’s oldest academic building, is undergoing a complete makeover. When it is finished next spring, Monroe will once again house several academic departments.  You might have seen the interesting article about the beehive that was discovered in one of the columns during the renovation.  Fortunately, we were able to relocate the bees—and we got some sweet honey to boot!  We also have just begun another major renovation in the center of campus, as two residence halls—Randolph and Mason—are undergoing a two-year project to extensively renovate and modernize the facilities and to provide additional space for students to engage in seminars, discussion groups, and other activities to enhance their living-learning experience
• Brompton Open House.  On Saturday, September 25, from 3-5 p.m., we will be hosting an open house at Brompton.  This will be during the University’s Family Weekend and we are inviting all of our Fredericksburg neighbors who would like to see inside of our home.  You are welcome to visit for a brief walkthrough tour of the downstairs rooms.
• Upcoming Events on Campus
  August 25 – Outdoor Bingo on Ball Circle  (8-10 p.m.)
  August 27 – Outdoor concert on Ball Circle  (6-7:30 p.m.)
  September 1 – Outdoor movies on Ball Circle  (7-11 p.m.)
  September 24 & 25 – Family Weekend
  October 1 – “Rocktoberfest” Concert on Ball Circle  (4-7 p.m.)
  October 21-23 – Homecoming Weekend
  • Pep rally on campus October 21
• Fireworks on the Battleground Athletic Complex October 23—weather permitting

There will be many interesting and exciting activities and programs on the UMW campus in the coming months.  One of the great aspects of living close to a university is the opportunity to enjoy plays, concerts, art exhibits, guest speakers, sporting events, and other cultural and educational offerings.  As President of the University and a longtime member of the Fredericksburg region, I am proud of the positive relations between UMW and the community.  I want to encourage you to participate in the life of the University and hope that you will visit our campus regularly.

Thank you for welcoming Rose and me as your new neighbors.

Best regards,

Richard V. Hurley
President