W&M’s Batten School & VIMS
Be part of a global movement.
The accelerating pace of global change poses grave challenges to marine systems and to billions of people who live near coastlines. Worldwide, coastal communities face existential threats: rising sea levels, increased storm intensity and flooding, loss of agricultural land and impaired water quality. At this crucial moment, William & Mary is leading the way forward. A transformational $100 million gift from philanthropist Jane Batten HON ’17, L.H.D. ’19 catalyzed the newly named Batten School of Coastal & Marine Sciences.
Batten’s visionary gift positions the Batten School & VIMS as the premier destination for developing solutions to these threats — building on the university’s strong scientific reputation and unmatched expertise in coastal resilience
William & Mary is calling on the global community to unite in support of the school’s groundbreaking research and innovation.
The university plans to raise an additional $100 million to fully realize the vision for the Batten School.
$50M gift fuels scholarships in coastal and marine sciences
W&M’s largest scholarship gift — the biggest ever for a school of coastal and marine sciences and the first of its kind nationally — will empower the next generation to tackle the world’s most pressing environmental challenges.
The $50 million gift from Dr. R. Todd Stravitz ’82 and the Brunckhorst Foundations comes at a time when global crises are disrupting billions of lives. The R. Todd Stravitz Scholars Program will provide full tuition support for students pursuing the new bachelor’s degree in coastal & marine sciences at W&M’s Batten School.
This builds on the momentum of the $100 million gift from Jane Batten HON ’17, L.H.D. ’19.
Located on the York River in Gloucester Point, Virginia, the Batten School & VIMS will offer the ideal setting for coastal and marine research and education, surrounded by wetlands, marshes and coastal waters. The renderings of the new infrastructure, provided by design firm 3North, are conceptual only.
Conceptual rendering of a courtyard connecting envisioned new infrastructure to a renovated Visitor Center. Rendering courtesy of 3North.
Aerial view of a potential campus plan, featuring new infrastructure that will build community, serve the public with engaging educational opportunities and present emerging solutions. Rendering courtesy of 3North.
Facing the York River, a potential amphitheater would be a central outdoor gathering space for events. Rendering courtesy of 3North.
A renovated Visitor Center in Watermen’s Hall with inviting and innovative exhibits will welcome visitors and introduce them to the wide range of research, education and advisory work taking place on campus. Rendering courtesy of 3North.Giving Opportunities
Batten School of Coastal and Marine Sciences Endowment
Funds distributed from this endowment will support: outstanding interdisciplinary science through recruitment and retention of outstanding faculty; enhanced support for graduate and undergraduate students; and growth and expansion of public outreach and engagement programming.
Campus Transformation
Fundraising efforts will support transformation of the Batten School & VIMS (Gloucester Point) campus through renovation and enhancement of existing areas and new construction projects. This riverfront campus is home to 450+ faculty, staff and students associated with VIMS and the Batten School of Coastal and Marine Sciences.
The outcome of the campus transformation projects will include expanded opportunities to convene stakeholders and scientists around emerging solutions to coastal and marine challenges, and new opportunities to engage students, educators, policy makers and the public.
Our first effort is renovation of the Visitor Center. Once completed, the new center will welcome visitors with modern, interactive, and engaging exhibits connecting the public to our key mission areas and our coastal and marine scientists.
Virginia Institute of Marine Science Impact Fund
Gifts to the VIMS Impact Fund in the VIMS Foundation provide William & Mary’s Batten School & VIMS the greatest flexibility to support current needs ranging from research and equipment to student support and new programs. VIMS is unique among coastal and marine science institutions in its legal mandate to provide research, education, and advisory service to government, citizens, and industry. Graduate students in the Batten School of Coastal & Marine Sciences have an unparalleled opportunity to conduct research that matters. Research at the Batten School & VIMS extends from inland watersheds to the open ocean, with an emphasis on coastal and estuarine science.
R. Todd Stravitz Scholars Program Endowment
Funds distributed from this endowment will provide support for the R. Todd Stravitz Scholars Program for undergraduate students majoring in coastal & marine sciences at the Batten School.
R. Todd Stravitz Scholars Program Fund
This expendable fund will provide support for undergraduate students majoring in coastal & marine sciences at the Batten School.
Global Vision
The Batten School's focal points build on the university’s Vision 2026 water initiative, elevating William & Mary’s commitment to innovative solutions that ensure the resilience of the world’s oceans, coasts and waterways.
Interested in learning more about giving opportunities for W&M's Batten School & VIMS? Contact:
- Evan C. Lichtenstein, Assistant Vice President of Development, Schools & Academic Initiatives
- 757-221-1979
- eclichtenstein@wm.edu