Dear Panther Family,
As we approach the start of a new academic year and prepare to gather in couple of weeks to celebrate a historic milestone – the inaugural NCAA Division II year for Ferrum College, we reflect with pride on the remarkable progress and accomplishments across campus this July. Our Panther family continues to grow stronger, and our commitment to academic excellence, financial stewardship, athletic achievement, and institutional advancement is more vibrant than ever.
The Division of Academic Affairs continues to make progress as we move through the heart of summer. July has been marked by focused execution on sustained engagement with incoming students and families. From a highly coordinated slate of orientation programs to milestone completions in policy alignment and accreditation, the division is helping to position the College for a strong launch to the 2025-26 academic year.
Orientation Programming: Multiple sessions, both in-person and online, were held to welcome new students and their families:
Strategic and Operational Milestones:
Submitted institutional responses to SACSCOC OCIS and the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), demonstrating rigorous cross-unit coordination.
Advanced strategic planning efforts, including the 2024-25 Annual Report, suggested edits to the Strategic Plan, and developed objectives and performance metrics for 2025-26.
These achievements strengthen our academic foundation and ensure a quality student experience. Additional updates on ongoing projects will be shared as we move closer to the academic year. As we finalize preparations for the fall, our collective work continues to reinforce the College’s academic mission and deliver an experience that is both rigorous and responsive. With this momentum, we remain well-positioned to support our students, strengthen our programs, and lead with purpose in the year ahead.
Our Athletics Department continues to be a powerhouse of recruitment, relationship-building, and results. Thanks to the tireless efforts of our coaches and athletics administrators, Ferrum is attracting student-athletes of remarkable caliber — individuals who not only excel on the field but also bring talent, discipline, and character into the classroom. Their high-touch, personalized approach to recruitment is transforming interest into action, yielding student-athletes who believe in our mission and are ready to lead. This momentum is evident in our growing deposit numbers, robust summer camp engagement, and continued investment in both staffing and sport-specific development.
Student-Athlete Deposits:
Fall Sports Student Reporting Dates:
Football: July 30
Men’s Soccer, Women’s Soccer, Cross Country, Volleyball: August 4
First NCAA Division II official home game: Women’s Soccer, September 4
Summer Camps:
Hosted over 1,000 coaches and campers across Football, Women’s Basketball Youth Camp, Women’s Lacrosse, Volleyball, Baseball, and Softball.
Together, these efforts reflect a strategic, mission-driven approach that is clearly working. The synergy between recruitment, coaching, and support staff is positioning Panther Athletics as a powerful draw for students who bring talent, character, and academic promise. The momentum is real, and it’s building – on the field, in the classroom, and across campus. The future of Panther Athletics is bright, and it’s only just beginning.
With great excitement and deep pride, we are thrilled to share that Billy Wagner, our proud Ferrum College alumnus, will be formally inducted into the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown this weekend – making history as the first Division III player ever to receive this honor. This is not only an extraordinary day for Billy and his family, but a milestone moment for Ferrum College. His legacy as both a Panther and a professional athlete continues to inspire generations, and we celebrate this achievement as a defining chapter in our storied athletic tradition.
The Facilities, Grounds, and Housekeeping teams have demonstrated remarkable dedication and resilience throughout the summer months. Housekeeping has worked tirelessly to prepare and turn over our residence halls, again and again, as we welcomed a steady stream of camps and events to campus. Our grounds crew has persevered through extreme heat, with temperatures soaring above 100 degrees, to maintain and enhance the beauty of our campus – earning praise from visitors and returning community members who say Ferrum College has never looked better.
Meanwhile, our facilities personnel have tackled every challenge thrown their way with courage and composure: managing flooding, power outages, malfunctioning air conditioning units, and manual operations to support our campers, all while navigating the complexities of FEMA paperwork and water damage assessments. Their behind-the-scenes efforts have been nothing short of heroic, keeping the College running smoothly and ensuring that all who visit feel welcomed, safe, and proud to be here.
Amidst this activity, our Human Resources team continues to onboard new personnel, despite being short-staffed themselves. They have done so with grace, professionalism, and unfailing warmth. Always welcoming, always with a smile, they serve as a vital first impression for new employees and a steady source of support for current staff.
Ferrum College continues to build momentum on the path toward long-term financial stability and sustainability. Our fundraising efforts are not only aligned with the College’s strategic priorities, but are also a reflection of the growing confidence among alumni, donors, and partners in Ferrum College’s vision and direction. The preliminary FY2025 totals represent a powerful vote of support for our mission, fueling student scholarships, academic innovation, and the infrastructure needed to carry us into a more resilient future.
FY2025 Preliminary Fundraising Totals:
This upward trajectory is more than just numbers; it is an affirmation of the value and impact of a Ferrum College education. As we continue to broaden our donor base and diversify our funding streams, each gift strengthens our ability to invest in students, deepen community partnerships, and ensure the College’s continued vitality. With the continued commitment of our internal teams and external supporters, Ferrum College is advancing boldly and strategically toward a future defined by excellence, opportunity, and financial stability and sustainability.
A new narrative is taking root here on West 40: Ferrum College is becoming a destination of choice. It’s more than numbers; it’s a movement. A belief. A shared commitment to our students, to one another, and to a future defined by purpose and promise.
Working closely with Dr. Nancy Brubaker, Chris Watters, the Virginia Farm Bureau, Conference and Events, and our Police Department, Ferrum College welcomed Virginia Farm Bureau today (July 25) to host a statewide Expo and Camp on our campus – an outstanding opportunity to showcase Ferrum College as a hub of agricultural education and leadership.
A highlight of this event was the Gubernatorial Candidates Forum, featuring both major candidates in individual conversations – an extraordinary coup for Ferrum College that places us at the center of statewide civic discourse. This event will not only elevate the College’s visibility but also deepen community engagement and reinforce our relevance across the Commonwealth.
The Admissions and Financial Aid teams have worked with extraordinary dedication and heart throughout this recruitment season, making thousands of calls, sending personalized emails, leading campus tours in sweltering heat, and patiently guiding families through every step of the enrollment process. Their efforts have not just been transactional; they have been transformational.
Many of our incoming students are the first in their families to attend college, and the care, clarity, and compassion with which these teams have explained financial aid packages and walked students and families through award letters – often late into the night, has made all the difference. The tireless, human-centered approach of our Admissions and Financial Aid staff has not only driven record-setting deposits, but has reinforced the very values that define Ferrum College: access, opportunity, and unwavering support.
As a result, our admissions numbers are soaring. Thanks to the hard work and heart of so many across campus, we are welcoming what looks to be the largest incoming class in many, many years:
This is a moment to celebrate; it is also a reminder that our work is not yet done.
We still have work to do to yield the class, so please continue reaching out to your students. If you advise students, a personal message from you can be incredibly impactful. If you’d like to connect with new or prospective students, please don’t hesitate to contact Admissions – they would greatly welcome your support.
A personal note, a kind reminder, or a simple “we’re excited to have you” can truly make all the difference.
In addition, we are sending email and video texts to prospective students, their parents, and returning students. You’ll find a link to this week’s videos below – please feel free to share them!
Returning Students Video Message
Admitted Students Video Message
Parents/Families Video Message
Thank you for all you do to support our students and our College.
As we gather in a couple of weeks to celebrate a year marked by historic milestones, we recognize that our strength lies in the dedication of our people, the resilience of our students, and the shared vision that propels us onward. Together, we will continue to build on this momentum, ensuring that Ferrum College remains a destination of choice and a community where every Panther thrives.
While yielding the incoming class remains a top priority, we are also preparing to meet other pressing challenges in the year ahead – challenges that many institutions like ours are facing, including resource optimization, program alignment, and the evolving expectations of students and families.
Together with the Board of Trustees, the SLT (Senior Leadership Team) has been working diligently on our strategic plan which is beginning to reveal areas of opportunity, refinement, and change to help us address these realities. Consider this a “coming attraction” – the full plan and its implications will be shared with the campus community in the months ahead. We are committed to transparency and thoughtful execution as we move forward together.
We are building something special, and I remain deeply grateful to each of you for your role in shaping Ferrum College’s future. Let’s finish the summer strong – and start the year even stronger.
Here’s to a remarkable year ahead! Onward and Upward!
With gratitude,
M3
Mirta M. Martin, Ph.D.
