So Far

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  • In late 2017, a group of Shore residents with a strong desire to see a 4-year institution on the Shore began to meet and outline the steps necessary to establish such an institution. (SHORE U)

  • In 2018, a 501(c)(3) Foundation was established to research, promote, plan for, and assist in the creation of an institution (University of the Eastern Shore of Virginia Foundation, EIN 82-4377832).

  • Also in 2018, the Foundation raised funds from a diversity of donors, generated publicity, created this website, publicized our plans, located potential sites, and identified higher education expertise on the Shore.

  • In 2019, the Foundation met with Virginia’s Secretary of Education and the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia to gather information and consider next steps.

  • As a result of these meetings, we learned that there were many advantages to collaborating with established public institutions and the Shore’s community college - the Eastern Shore Community College (ESCC). The Foundation began looking for possible branch campus partners that could be collocated with ESCC.

  • The leadership of ESCC agreed to provide introductory classes in partnership with a public university providing higher-levels (3 and 4 level) classes in subjects of particular importance to the Shore and Commonwealth.

  • ESCC occupies a campus with opportunities such as contiguous unused land and infrastructure (utilities, fiber optic and a nearby airport (MFV)). This can support needed higher education expansion.

  • The Foundation has met with executives at various Virginia institutions. Late in 2019, meetings were held with senior executives at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU). This began a very productive relationship with multiple departments at the university, including the Executive MBA Program in the Business School. Executive MBA candidates working with their professors offered to develop a Business Plan for Shore U - an offer that was immediately and enthusiastically accepted.

  • As part of the Plan, the MBA candidates developed and delivered two surveys targeted to residents on the Shore to solicit data on the economic and education resources and needs.

  • On June 4, 2021, VCU’s MBA team briefed Virginia’s Governor. At that meeting, VCU committed to a partnership with Shore U with a request for funds. (See PDF)

  • Early in 2022, the Foundation was notified that the Educational Leadership Program would assign EdD candidates to develop staffing, curricula, and other plans for Shore U. This was the second major program of assistance for Shore U.

  • Also in 2022, the Engineering Department at VCU requested the help of the Foundation in introducing VCU’s Engineering program to executives at NASA, Rocket Lab, and the Virginia Space Authority. Later, Rocket Lab announced that it had selected NASA/Wallops as the site for the manufacture and launch of its electron rockets with the associated 250 new positions on the Shore. The NASA, Rocket Lab and Space Authority meetings opened up opportunities for internships for VCU engineering students.

  • By the summer, another VCU department, the Department of Interior Design came to the Shore in the form of the Eastern Shore Study Away Program. VCU architecture students designed and constructed a memorial for the Barrier Island Center in Machipongo, Virginia. This was the fourth VCU department to engage with Shore U.

"The secret of getting ahead is getting started."

— Mark Twain