College of William and Mary

[Anonymous]

As an alumnus of William and Mary, I wanted to share my thoughts on this forum as to the direction of this University. To those of you who know the school, I welcome your thoughts and comments. As well, I see the college now trending upward again, not down as some other posts have suggested.......

For years, except for fundraising imo I believe the college rested too heavily on it's reputation/history and was not the change agent it needed to be to keep up its strong appeal to many of today's students. Admission is still highly competitive but there are kinks in the armor. How did the administration let the food get so awful and not address their aging dormitories for years? Athletics have also declined over the years and we now play in a sports conference where we lack natural rivalries with many of the other institutions. We had a chance to add a medical school with a merger of EVMS and the college administration didn't pursue it further even after the state general assembly approved funds for a study. Adding a medical school would have enhanced the college and complimented their strategy to become a R1 category which they recently obtained.

Academics have not changed and are second to none but if you read you feel otherwise as the undergraduate rankings in recent years don't reflect this due to the significant changes in ranking methodologies. Specifically to USN&WR changes in metrics, how does the number of Pell Grant recipients or number of research articles published properly grade the quality of the undergraduate institution when you have removed metrics such as class size, student selectivity and alumni giving? In addition, the state has been cutting the colleges budget for years along with others. VT and JMU have been able to grow their enrollments to offset the funding declines but the college doesn't have the bandwidth or want to grow this fast.... Compare this to Florida where the governor made it a priority to significantly increase state funding for colleges which has propelled UF and FSU in the rankings. This is like a one two punch for the school.

I do believe the current President and Athletic Director are aggressively addressing these issues. Some have criticized the President including the current Faculty in recent years specifically for the new data school and her style of governance but I believe she is the change agent the college needed. The college hasn't approved a new school in 50+ years until now with the new data school and undergraduate degree in marine science which will be tuition free.

The college is now going through a significant capital outlay to build new dorms and renovate the others. There are six new dorms and two renovated dorms coming online in fall of 2025 as well as a new new Dining Hall. This is just the first phase of this capital project on housing. They have also replaced the food vendor. There is a new addition to the Muscarelle Art Museum, new music building, new Phi Beta Kappa Hall and an addition to the Integrated Science Center. The basketball arena is being renovated and a sports performance center is being built. The college just secured $150MM in endowment gifts to establish a undergraduate marine science program and a new School of Data Science is opening in the Fall. The school just recently completed a successful $55MM fundraising campaign for the athletics program and the AD is doing a great job in my imo.

[Anonymous]

Why don't you email the board of visitors instead of word vomiting to an anonymous forum, which accomplishes nothing?

[Anonymous]

OP.

Because I value other's insight's on this forum.....and good idea. Done

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As an alumnus of William and Mary, I wanted to share my thoughts on this forum as to the direction of this University. To those of you who know the school, I welcome your thoughts and comments. As well, I see the college now trending upward again, not down as some other posts have suggested.......

For years, except for fundraising imo I believe the college rested too heavily on it's reputation/history and was not the change agent it needed to be to keep up its strong appeal to many of today's students. Admission is still highly competitive but there are kinks in the armor. How did the administration let the food get so awful and not address their aging dormitories for years? Athletics have also declined over the years and we now play in a sports conference where we lack natural rivalries with many of the other institutions. We had a chance to add a medical school with a merger of EVMS and the college administration didn't pursue it further even after the state general assembly approved funds for a study. Adding a medical school would have enhanced the college and complimented their strategy to become a R1 category which they recently obtained.

Academics have not changed and are second to none but if you read you feel otherwise as the undergraduate rankings in recent years don't reflect this due to the significant changes in ranking methodologies. Specifically to USN&WR changes in metrics, how does the number of Pell Grant recipients or number of research articles published properly grade the quality of the undergraduate institution when you have removed metrics such as class size, student selectivity and alumni giving? In addition, the state has been cutting the colleges budget for years along with others. VT and JMU have been able to grow their enrollments to offset the funding declines but the college doesn't have the bandwidth or want to grow this fast.... Compare this to Florida where the governor made it a priority to significantly increase state funding for colleges which has propelled UF and FSU in the rankings. This is like a one two punch for the school.

I do believe the current President and Athletic Director are aggressively addressing these issues. Some have criticized the President including the current Faculty in recent years specifically for the new data school and her style of governance but I believe she is the change agent the college needed. The college hasn't approved a new school in 50+ years until now with the new data school and undergraduate degree in marine science which will be tuition free.

The college is now going through a significant capital outlay to build new dorms and renovate the others. There are six new dorms and two renovated dorms coming online in fall of 2025 as well as a new new Dining Hall. This is just the first phase of this capital project on housing. They have also replaced the food vendor. There is a new addition to the Muscarelle Art Museum, new music building, new Phi Beta Kappa Hall and an addition to the Integrated Science Center. The basketball arena is being renovated and a sports performance center is being built. The college just secured $150MM in endowment gifts to establish a undergraduate marine science program and a new School of Data Science is opening in the Fall. The school just recently completed a successful $55MM fundraising campaign for the athletics program and the AD is doing a great job in my imo.

What are your predictions regarding USNWR rankings for the coming year? Do you think the R1 status and significant capital projects will influence the rankings? Do you think the ranking methodologies will change again? Do you think there will be any upcoming change in VA government support to public colleges?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why don't you email the board of visitors instead of word vomiting to an anonymous forum, which accomplishes nothing?

Wow - so unnecesary! I think OP was just trying share her insight.

[Anonymous]

1. About the same unless changes in methodology. These don't move on a dime. It's like turning a battleship unless they change the underlying......
2. Over time, yes. Especially Niche from the students.
3. Yes. They have to sell.
4. I have no idea.

[Anonymous]

Also an alum. I do feel like there is much forward momentum currently. They are addressing the shortcomings of the need for modern spaces and the dining improvements. It’s becoming a very different campus from what I remember, but in a positive way. I’ve been very happy with my students’ experience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As an alumnus of William and Mary, I wanted to share my thoughts on this forum as to the direction of this University. To those of you who know the school, I welcome your thoughts and comments. As well, I see the college now trending upward again, not down as some other posts have suggested.......

For years, except for fundraising imo I believe the college rested too heavily on it's reputation/history and was not the change agent it needed to be to keep up its strong appeal to many of today's students. Admission is still highly competitive but there are kinks in the armor. How did the administration let the food get so awful and not address their aging dormitories for years? Athletics have also declined over the years and we now play in a sports conference where we lack natural rivalries with many of the other institutions. We had a chance to add a medical school with a merger of EVMS and the college administration didn't pursue it further even after the state general assembly approved funds for a study. Adding a medical school would have enhanced the college and complimented their strategy to become a R1 category which they recently obtained.

Academics have not changed and are second to none but if you read you feel otherwise as the undergraduate rankings in recent years don't reflect this due to the significant changes in ranking methodologies. Specifically to USN&WR changes in metrics, how does the number of Pell Grant recipients or number of research articles published properly grade the quality of the undergraduate institution when you have removed metrics such as class size, student selectivity and alumni giving? In addition, the state has been cutting the colleges budget for years along with others. VT and JMU have been able to grow their enrollments to offset the funding declines but the college doesn't have the bandwidth or want to grow this fast.... Compare this to Florida where the governor made it a priority to significantly increase state funding for colleges which has propelled UF and FSU in the rankings. This is like a one two punch for the school.

I do believe the current President and Athletic Director are aggressively addressing these issues. Some have criticized the President including the current Faculty in recent years specifically for the new data school and her style of governance but I believe she is the change agent the college needed. The college hasn't approved a new school in 50+ years until now with the new data school and undergraduate degree in marine science which will be tuition free.

The college is now going through a significant capital outlay to build new dorms and renovate the others. There are six new dorms and two renovated dorms coming online in fall of 2025 as well as a new new Dining Hall. This is just the first phase of this capital project on housing. They have also replaced the food vendor. There is a new addition to the Muscarelle Art Museum, new music building, new Phi Beta Kappa Hall and an addition to the Integrated Science Center. The basketball arena is being renovated and a sports performance center is being built. The college just secured $150MM in endowment gifts to establish a undergraduate marine science program and a new School of Data Science is opening in the Fall. The school just recently completed a successful $55MM fundraising campaign for the athletics program and the AD is doing a great job in my imo.

What are your predictions regarding USNWR rankings for the coming year? Do you think the R1 status and significant capital projects will influence the rankings? Do you think the ranking methodologies will change again? Do you think there will be any upcoming change in VA government support to public colleges?

Sorry, see just previous post.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why don't you email the board of visitors instead of word vomiting to an anonymous forum, which accomplishes nothing?

Wow - so unnecesary! I think OP was just trying share her insight.

*His* insight. Although given other typos in the post, maybe I shouldn’t assume OP knows the difference between alumnus and alumna.

[Anonymous]

As there is still construction occurring, does anyone know how disruptive and for how long the construction will be? After this fall, will it be relegated to another part of campus, or will it be right in the middle of things? Thank you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As there is still construction occurring, does anyone know how disruptive and for how long the construction will be? After this fall, will it be relegated to another part of campus, or will it be right in the middle of things? Thank you.

The majority of current construction will finish up this fall or will be working on inside finishes. The Randolph dorm area will be the main construction for the next two years. After that, the campus center area will be demolished but that is on the edge of campus and won’t be an issue for the main campus area.

https://www.wm.edu/offices/architect/design-construction/construction-map/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why don't you email the board of visitors instead of word vomiting to an anonymous forum, which accomplishes nothing?

Wow - so unnecesary! I think OP was just trying share her insight.

*His* insight. Although given other typos in the post, maybe I shouldn’t assume OP knows the difference between alumnus and alumna.

You know, if you just cannot stand to see a thread where people are having a civil discussion, seeking and sharing useful information, perhaps you could check in on the Politics forum. That might be more what you are looking for.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As there is still construction occurring, does anyone know how disruptive and for how long the construction will be? After this fall, will it be relegated to another part of campus, or will it be right in the middle of things? Thank you.

The majority of current construction will finish up this fall or will be working on inside finishes. The Randolph dorm area will be the main construction for the next two years. After that, the campus center area will be demolished but that is on the edge of campus and won’t be an issue for the main campus area.

https://www.wm.edu/offices/architect/design-construction/construction-map/

Thank you!

[Anonymous]

OP and PP with a current student, our Dd is seriously considering W&M. Do you have any sense of what campus life is like for a student who would not be looking to join a sorority? Are clubs difficult to get into?

[Anonymous]

I think it's very positive that the dorms are being upgraded. I like that many freshman and sophomore live on campus. I also like increase spending on athletics including club and recreational. I would also be interested in a college that has great summer internship experiences in the fields of study. And great clubs for kids to join.