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VWC, EVMS Sign Admission Agreement

Early Assurance Program creates enhanced opportunity for Virginia Wesleyan students to attend graduate school


Photo by Doug GardnerNews Release | March 24, 2016

An agreement signed March 22 between Virginia Wesleyan College and Eastern Virginia Medical School provides an enhanced opportunity for VWC students to earn graduate degrees in eight EVMS master’s programs.

The new EVMS Early Assurance Program gives admission preference to VWC students interested in pursuing advanced degrees in the fields of Physician Assistant, Surgical Assisting, Contemporary Human Anatomy, Laboratory Animal Science, Pathologist Assistant, Art Therapy, Biotechnology, and Public Health.

The two institutions also offer a Joint Program in Medicine, established in 2003, which allows VWC students to apply for admission to Eastern Virginia Medical School during their sophomore year. Accepted students are guaranteed admission to EVMS upon completion of their bachelor’s degree at VWC.

"This new agreement builds on an established foundation of collaboration between Eastern Virginia Medical School and Virginia Wesleyan College," said VWC President Dr. Scott D. Miller. "The Early Assurance Program provides outstanding opportunities for our students to gain preferential consideration at a premier school of medicine and health professions, recognized nationally for preparing the next generation of health-care providers with a strong community-oriented focus."

President Miller was joined at the signing event, held on the Virginia Wesleyan campus, by Richard V. Homan, MD, President and Provost of EVMS and Dean of the EVMS School of Medicine, and C. Donald Combs, Ph.D., Vice President and Dean of the EVMS School of Health Professions.

"EVMS is pleased to partner with Virginia Wesleyan College, an outstanding institution with an excellent academic reputation,” said President Homan. “We are excited to offer this educational opportunity to Virginia Wesleyan graduates. Many of our alumni choose to remain in Hampton Roads, so the community is the ultimate beneficiary of this new venture."

"We are delighted to have these new agreements with Virginia Wesleyan,” added Dr. Combs. “They broaden the pool of high quality students who are eligible to enter EVMS' health professions programs and, at the same time, offer Wesleyan students a clear pathway to professional practice. Both institutions seek to improve life in the communities that support us, and one of the best ways to ensure that is to have students are bright, energetic and oriented to public service in one way or another. That is the focus of these new agreements."

Early Assurance Program candidates will complete a program of enriching scientific and service experiences at Virginia Wesleyan, as well as academic advising directed toward admission to Eastern Virginia Medical School. Students who fit the admissions criteria may apply during their junior year at VWC. Selected students are assured of admission to EVMS during their senior year.