Virginia Wesleyan University’s decision to change its name to Batten University is drawing strong pushback from alumni.
A petition called “Stop Renaming Virginia Wesleyan University” has gathered more than 4,000 signatures. Alumni have also sent letters and emails to the board of trustees, posted widely on social media and contacted members of the alumni council. Some former staff of the Marlin Chronicle, the student newspaper, said they have reached out to current student journalists in hopes of sparking coverage and dialogue.
Alumni said they were blindsided and shocked by the announcement, which was made on Aug. 20 during an event celebrating the Batten family legacy. The new name acknowledges decades of philanthropic support from Jane Batten, former chair of the university’s board of trustees, and her family.
“There’s definitely a need from the alumni for answers,” said Devin Cowhey, alum and the starter of the petition. “Let’s talk about this. What happened? How did this process go down?”
Alumni are seeking a conversation with the school to understand the reasons and to find ways to honor the Batten family without losing the Virginia Wesleyan name — a legacy they value. As of publication, they said the school has not responded to their requests.
Erica Tachoir, a 2005 graduate with decades of experience in higher education, said the change erases the school’s history and spirit.
“I’ve been around long enough to know that schools live and die by their name, reputation, return on investment, alumni dollars and relationships to the community,” Tachoir said. “And this feels as if the school is being sold out to this idea that it doesn’t need to keep its connections to whom it is historical.”
The name of Virginia Wesleyan is deeply tied to the Methodist Church. According to Tachoir, working-class church members once gave weekly and monthly donations that helped build the campus “brick by brick.”
She worried that removing “Virginia Wesleyan” erases the church’s role in founding the school and the spiritual identity it carried. To her, the change feels like a loss of the soul and a break from the institution alumni once knew.
The United Methodist Church issued a release in support of the name change on Aug. 21.
Brandon Adair, a 2012 graduate and NBA staff official, said most athletes are disappointed by the name change, which they believe erases 60 years of the program’s sports history.
“We’re still the Marlins at the end of the day, but to have just one person change the name of the whole university, that says a lot,” Adair said.
Cowhey shared a similar feeling, recalling the pride that came with competing under the Virginia Wesleyan name. As a student athlete, she said the school’s identity was tied to its victories, from a Final Four run her freshman year to national championships in basketball and softball, along with achievements in Ethics Bowl and Model UN.
To her, the name on the jersey’s front mattered most, and “Virginia Wesleyan” represented that spirit.
Alumni said they struggled to receive responses from the school about the name change. Kelly Cordova, chief of staff of vice president for strategic initiatives, provided the following to WHRO:
“The response to Batten University has been met with enthusiasm and strong support from alumni, donors, and community partners who are eager to share in this new chapter. At the same time, we appreciate that not all members of our extended community will agree with this decision, and we respect those perspectives.
This decision followed a careful, deliberative process. In February, the Board of Trustees unanimously voted to develop an action plan, which was subsequently presented and again unanimously approved in May. Eleven distinguished alumni serve as voting members of the Board, and all supported the action at both meetings.
As we move forward, we remain committed to honoring our United Methodist heritage and the traditions that have long defined our campus. With confidence and optimism, we embrace this exciting new chapter in the life of the University.”
Virginia Wesleyan University President Scott Miller is a member of WHRO’s Governing Board of Directors. The board is not involved in the editorial process.
Jane Batten, of the Batten family, is a longtime donor to WHRO Public Media. The Batten family has not made any direct donations to WHRO Journalism.
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