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UMW officials still working on details
IRVINGTON--The name Mary Washington College will remain part of the University of Mary Washington, but how and when it will appear is an open question.
The board of visitors' unanimous vote yesterday to include the MWC name in the university's new mission statement came just over two weeks after UMW President William Anderson said MWC would no longer be used in connection with the Fredericksburg campus.
Still, questions remain about how the MWC name will be used.
"The devil is in the details," said Mona Albertine, newly elected rector, or chair of the university board of visitors, "and now, what is the implication of this?"
The vote came during a weekend retreat at The Tides Inn in Lancaster County near the tip of the Northern Neck. It upheld the promise of school officials and several board members to retain the college name even after it moved to university status this month.
Gov. Mark Warner signed the university name into law in March, and it took effect July 1.
That day, following a celebration to mark the changeover, Anderson held a press conference with reporters in his office.
Responding to a question about how college officials would now refer to the undergraduate campus, Anderson said it would be called the College of Arts and Sciences.
The James Monroe Center for Graduate and Professional Studies in Stafford County would change to the College of Graduate and Professional Studies, he said. That change was accepted by the board, and there will be no longer be a James Monroe Center.
Anderson said he misunderstood the reporter's question about keeping the Mary Washington College name.
"Campus to me means buildings," he said yesterday, speaking to board members.
Anderson said he gave the name College of Arts and Sciences as a descriptive name for the undergraduate school on College Avenue.
The academic name of the Fredericksburg campus will remain Mary Washington College, he said.
"I think that's where some of the initial confusion came about--my misinterpretation of that question," Anderson said. "The liberal arts and sciences college retains the name Mary Washington College."
Anderson said he was not trying to reverse his prior commitment to keep the college name, or change the campus names without board approval.
"I do not have that authority, I know that, that would come to you," he told board members.
Further, Anderson said, he was "responsible personally" for confusion that may have resulted over the past two weeks.
However, a university press release may have contributed to the confusion.
Released several hours after the press conference, it said "The campus in Fredericksburg is the site of 'University of Mary Washington-College of Arts and Sciences.'" It made no reference to keeping Mary Washington College within this framework.
Although yesterday's vote upheld the college name, its use is largely undetermined.
For instance, Anderson said he would one day like to establish academic schools under the College of Arts and Sciences.
How Mary Washington College would fit into such a scenario is unknown.
Board member Margaret Moncure went through a list of questions about what name will appear where.
"What does this mean when we pass this?" Moncure asked of the mission statement.
Signs on Interstate 95 will direct travelers to the University of Mary Washington, said Ron Singleton, senior vice president for advancement and university relations.
At the bookstore, the university name and logo will be emblazoned on merchandise, Singleton said. If there is demand for MWC products, the bookstore could accommodate that market, he said.
The undergraduate school's stationery will use only University of Mary Washington and department names.
Athletic team uniforms will be changed to reflect the University of Mary Washington name.
Diplomas will carry the legal name of the school: University of Mary Washington.
However, Albertine pointed out that some universities, including Harvard, find a way to incorporate a college name on diplomas.
Albertine said further legal research will be done to investigate diploma possibilities.
Also at the meeting, Albertine was unanimously elected rector of the board of visitors.
The board's former rector, Dori Eglevsky, stepped down in June due to term limits.
Member J. William Poole was unanimously elected vice rector.
To reach KELLY HANNON: 540/374-5436 khannon@freelancestar.com