State of the University
From President Katherine A. Rowe
This year, conversations throughout William & Mary have explored what it means to be the “Alma Mater of the Nation” in the 21st century. The phrase is more than a nod to our unique history. It calls us into our present-day duties to lead global solutions and innovate for the future.
For 332 years, our country’s first university has prepared leaders to meet the greatest needs of their time with excellence and integrity.
The first quarter of this century has been marked by a global pandemic and rapid technology change. Even as we embrace the reach that new tools bring, we know the value of learning in company with others. In all my years as an educator, I have never experienced a campus that cherishes human connection more than ours does today. I hope these core commitments resonate as you read William & Mary’s annual report. As we evolve to excel — reaching for efficiency and building sustainably — the needs of our people and our nation remain our guide.
A solid financial foundation
William & Mary enters the second quarter of this century strong, thanks to our community’s energetic support. Building on the momentum of our For the Bold and All In campaigns, William & Mary continues to buck the national decline in charitable giving. The university’s consolidated endowment surpassed $1.45 billion.
Access and opportunity remain our focus as a public university. This year, William & Mary again guaranteed full scholarships for all in-state, Pell Grant-eligible undergraduates. Philanthropic support for internships meant that William & Mary also funded internship experiences for every undergraduate who sought one. This year, for the first time, 20% of our incoming in-state undergraduates are Pell Grant recipients. Starting in 2019, national rankings have prioritized social mobility; combined with strong scholarship support, William & Mary’s very high completion rates make us a terrific launch platform for low-income students.
In fiscal year 2024 (FY24), William & Mary set a new record for donations outside a comprehensive campaign, securing $107 million to support areas across the university. Gifts of $100 or less added up to $1.2 million. Our All In campaign for W&M Athletics exceeded its $55 million goal. On our 11th One Tribe One Day, our community of donors supported more than 900 different campus designations, for a total of $3.7 million.
On the heels of this record-breaking year, William & Mary received the largest gift in the university’s history — and the largest gift ever to an institution of marine and coastal sciences: $100 million from friend and philanthropist Jane Batten HON ’17, L.H.D. ’19 in FY25 to name W&M’s Batten School of Coastal & Marine Sciences.
Vision 2026 positions William & Mary to lead nationally
With two years remaining in our strategic plan, William & Mary has reached key milestones:
A new School of Computing, Data Sciences & Physics will open its doors in fall 2025. Internationally recognized scholar Douglas “Doug” Schmidt ’84, M.A. ’86 has been named the inaugural dean.
A new bachelor’s degree in coastal and marine sciences at the Batten School — the first at a Virginia public university — will meet a growing need for professionals in the “blue workforce economy” in multiple industries. Currently under state review, the degree answers increasing student demand.
A national model for civics education at scale is being developed by W&M students, faculty and staff. Over the past four years, 100% of students and leadership boards, and over 70% of W&M faculty and staff, have participated in William & Mary’s “Better Arguments,” a curriculum that strengthens listening and debate.
Fresh discoveries unite the nation as we celebrate its founding. Uncovering moving stories of faith, education and resilience, W&M’s research for the newly reconstructed Williamsburg Bray School is bringing a national spotlight to our town’s African American legacies. Celebrations in town and national media attest to the power of this groundbreaking history.
William & Mary now leads the nation in internships. Generous donor support increased funded internships by 86% from 2023 to 2024. This support is one reason Princeton Review continues to rank W&M among the country’s top public universities for internships. The Wall Street Journal once again ranked W&M among the top publics for salaries in finance, consulting and tech. Nearly three-quarters of our One Network members indicate that they will provide career connections, advice and more.
Investing in efficiency and sustainability for the next 100 years
The “Year of the Environment,” which launches in January 2025, will shift our focus to long-term gains. We are rolling out new business systems to improve efficiencies for our talented faculty and staff. Investments in geothermal wells are reducing energy costs and will advance carbon neutrality. William & Mary’s Comprehensive Plan, to be finalized next year, outlines the most extensive campus transformations in a century.
- Restoration begins this winter on W&M’s Wren Building, which will get its first new roof in a century. Other repairs will strengthen its foundation. The country’s oldest academic building will welcome new generations of students well into its fifth century.
- Through 2032, W&M will modernize campus housing and dining. To meet the needs of our students, we will reduce the average age of facilities from 60 years to 10 (100% air-conditioned). In 2025, we will open two new residence halls with 1,200 beds.
- Three signature W&M labs will come together at Gates Hall in 2026. Students and scholars from the Global Research Institute, the Institute for Integrative Conservation and the Whole of Government Center of Excellence will share collaborative space at this global destination for teaching and research. Together, they will lead solutions in the most challenging arenas of conservation, national security, world economic development and inequality.
Philanthropic support at all levels fuels such innovations. I am deeply grateful to our generous donors for ensuring that William & Mary continues to flourish in our fourth century.
Katherine A. Rowe
President
