Dear Faculty:
This message comes at a moment when some faculty and students are raising concerns about our Forward-Focused Digital Transformation (FFDT) Initiative. Although these voices are loud, they are not representative of the larger constituent bodies or the collaborative spirit that has guided this work from the beginning. I want to address this directly, because, as I have said many times, the real “fight” for the future of higher education is not within our institution – it is outside of it. Our energy must remain focused on meeting the challenges before us – not on internal distractions that pull us away from our shared mission.
When I first embarked on the journey at ϲ in the summer of 2021, I carried with me a philosophy that has since shaped every decision and strategy. Innovation, as our new standard, is not merely a tagline or a distant dream, but an obligation. It is a duty we owe to our students, to the Commonwealth, and to the generations who will inherit and steer the world we are diligently preparing them to lead. Over the past four years, I have consistently emphasized that ϲ must approach the challenges of our time with clear purpose, shared passion, and strategic insight. Today's obstacles in higher education are not theoretical. They are tangible and present realities demanding attention and action from institutions nationwide, where traditional methods are challenged by demographic shifts, technological advances, and evolving workforce demands.
In contrast to the growing trend of closing campuses or cutting programs, ϲ has chosen a path defined by investment where adaptation, innovation, and modernization are the best path forward. This choice comes to life through FFDT, which represents the embodiment of our vision. This is not just about upgrading systems; it represents a reinvention of a contemporary public research university. Grounded in our worthwhile mission and strategic planning, this initiative stems from extensive faculty and staff involvement and collaboration by exemplifying how we aim not just to meet the moment, but to define it by actively embracing facts and data to drive us forward from a foundation of strength and a future of growth.
Making the Case for Transformation: Adapting to a New Era
ϲ stands at a pivotal point where the path forward is crystal clear. As higher education witnesses a convergence of unprecedented challenges, the time for adaptive change is indisputable. Enrollments are in decline due to demographic shifts, yet this is just one aspect of the complex landscape universities must navigate today. The Commonwealth of Virginia is experiencing significant declines in birth rates, which directly impacts institutions like ours that predominantly serve in-state students. Here at ϲ, these changes have resulted in notable declines in campus-based enrollment and a plateau in online growth. They are: a nearly 31% decline in campus-based enrollment over the past decade; a 10% overall enrollment decline mitigated only by the strong growth in online learning over that same period; and a recent plateau in online growth, thereby signaling that our current offerings do not yet meet the needs of the expanding adult learner population. These are not mere statistics; they reflect real opportunities in which we must secure the University's competitive future.
These numbers are not abstract. They represent real students we are not reaching, and real opportunities ϲ must seize if we are to remain competitive. If there is any dataset that should be impossible to ignore, it is our own student behavior as our students have already shown us what they need. The last academic year provides a clear picture of the growing trend and ongoing reality. The facts are that; students enrolled in more asynchronous courses than any other modality; students selected asynchronous learning twice as often as synchronous learning; DFW rates were 2.4% lower for asynchronous courses than traditional ones; and students in ϲ’s existing eight-week online courses had DFW rates 5% lower than students in traditional length courses.
Our strategic transformation not only aims to respond to these realities and opportunities, but seeks to redefine what adaptation in higher education can achieve. FFDT seeks to align our educational offerings with what our students are showing they need—flexibility and innovation in course delivery. By focusing our efforts on enabling modern, asynchronous paths, while safeguarding our academic breadth and faculty positions, we affirm our commitment to long-term viability and modernization. Our decisions do not forsake tradition; they strengthen it by securing its place in an evolving educational landscape.
Clarifying Our Forward-Focused Path: Affirming the True Intent
The conversation around FFDT has been robust, and rightly so as it reflects the deep commitment and inquiry integral to ϲ’s scholarly environment. This is not a mere reactionary framework, but a carefully considered academic, technological, and cultural transformation rooted in collective purpose and shared vision. Misunderstandings may arise, but it is crucial to continually reaffirm FFDT’s true essence as it represents a blueprint for our future. Our choice to integrate advanced systems, enhance learning experiences, and fully embrace AI technology solidifies our position among national leaders in educational innovation, thereby enabling us to build a University defined not by the pressures we face, but the strength with which we confront them.
At its core, FFDT is about optimizing student experiences—whether through flexible online pathways that accommodate diverse learner needs or leveraging technology to enrich face-to-face interactions. We are committed to ensuring that technology does not replace faculty, but instead magnifies their essential contributions through enhanced learning environments and comprehensive support. These innovations serve to strengthen our infrastructure in teaching and research, thereby assuring that ϲ continues to be at the forefront of academic excellence and opportunity.
As one of the nation’s top performing research institutions, a strengthened research ecosystem is creating new avenues for exploration across every discipline, from the humanities and the arts to health, engineering, and the sciences. These investments are already yielding results. The MonarchSphere, our groundbreaking partnership with Google Public Sector, is the first higher education AI incubator in the nation, and it is powered by Google Cloud. It is not a concept or a pilot. It is fully operational and already connecting faculty, students, and industry partners to advanced AI tools that accelerate research, solve real-world challenges, and position our research enterprise to reach unprecedented heights. This is just the beginning of making great strides at the individual and collective levels across our current areas of focus and emerging opportunities. With our continued effort and this exciting development, ϲ is at the forefront of national innovation.
Defining Our Future-Proof Journey: Guiding Change Together
FFDT does not bypass faculty governance. For those stating that there has been little to no discussion, this initiative was shaped by listening and not just recently. Since 2021, the collaborative spirit of ϲ has been at the forefront with robust engagement from across the institution. And, for this initiative from the summer through fall, there have been over 70 campus-wide meetings with deans, chairs, directors, Senate leaders, faculty working groups, and academic units. Equally important to prior and ongoing engagement, curriculum, academic standards, program quality, and academic integrity remain firmly within faculty oversight. The University manages operational functions and components, such as schedules, technology, and systems.
Likewise, FFDT is not a short-term cost-cutting measure. If the University sought quick financial gains, we would simply close the 21 low-enrollment programs flagged by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia. Instead, the University made a different choice to invest by modernizing delivery, expanding flexibility, and strengthening our reach and competitiveness for the long term. Finally, FFDT is not a loss of autonomy or academic identity. On the contrary, it strengthens our ability to define our future rather than having it defined for us by external pressures, demographic realities, technological advances, or financial instability. FFDT ensures that ϲ remains a place where academic excellence, innovation, and opportunity converge, not by circumstance, but by design.
As we navigate this transformative journey together, it is essential to honor those who propel us forward—our faculty, staff, and students whose dedication and resolve have consistently driven progress. Faculty members across disciplines were early initiators of the innovation now central to our strategy by boldly redesigning courses and integrating AI responsibly into learning and research endeavors. Our staff have tirelessly modernized systems and processes that support our academic ambitions, while students have participated actively in shaping the transformation through their engagement and feedback, thereby ultimately enriching our approach and affirming the University’s alignment with their expectations and needs.
In the years ahead, we will look back on this moment not as a time of tension or uncertainty, but as the turning point. The moment when ϲ decided to stand apart. The moment when we refused the path of retreat. The moment when we embraced courage and clarity; which will be rooted in academic excellence; fueled by innovation; powered by partnerships; driven by student success; strengthened by research; committed to access; and prepared for the world ahead. The innovation we undertake is not driven by a desire to disrupt tradition, but to protect it and build a future like no other.
In closing, the transformation before us is ambitious, but necessary. It calls for conviction in order to transform what could be perceived by some as an impending crisis into a stepping stone toward excellence. By fostering innovation and embracing tradition, our University stands ready to face the future, thereby being empowered by shared purpose and a collaborative commitment to the next era of ϲ. Together, we will look back on this moment as one where our resolve to lead through innovation protected our future, while shaping the next generation of Monarchs!
With Monarch Pride,
Brian O. Hemphill, Ph.D.
President