VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — Despite mounting protests and an online petition with thousands of signatures, Virginia Wesleyan University says the decision to change its name to Batten University "is final."
A protest was organized ahead of a closed-door meeting at Virginia Wesleyan University on Friday to discuss the name change.
Protesters gathered around noon, and at 1 p.m., staff and faculty met for a closed‑door town hall to discuss this change.
"Oh, we were completely caught off guard," Kim Russell, a graduate from 1993, said.
Watch related: VWU alumna starts petition to stop school's renaming
Russell said Virginia Wesleyan is where she met her husband and holds so many memories.
She said that as an alumnus, she just wanted to know why the change happened.
"We'd like to understand why we'd like to see the white paper that was done that convinced Mrs.Batten to go along with this name change," Russell said. "We're so appreciative of everything she's done for the school. We think she's amazing, but we just want to understand what got us here."
The name change, intended to honor Jane P. Batten and her family’s contributions to the university, will take effect on July 1, 2026.
Friday's town hall was intended to address concerns raised regarding the name change — however, students and alumni who aren't currently working for VWU are not permitted to attend. This included staff from The Marlin Chronicle, VWU's student newspaper. Instead, the student media group's faculty adviser will attend the meeting.
This name change has garnered notable pushback from students and alumni, with one online petition accruing over 5,000 signatures as of Friday afternoon from people who want to halt the rebranding effort.
"Is there a different way to honor the family while still keeping the Virginia Wesleyan legacy?" Devin Cowhey, the creator of the petition, said.
Cowhey said she would hope alumni could have a conversation with university leadership.
"People are flooding social media with their Virginia Wesleyan stories, and we want to have that conversation, so at some point we're going to keep going until we have that," Cowhey said.
Watch previous coverage: Virginia Wesleyan University to be renamed 'Batten University' in 2026
News 3 reached out to the university for a comment on the protest.
In a statement, the university says that at this time, there is no plan for an alumni town hall and that alumni who have contacted the president's office have received direct responses.
"This past week has reminded us how deeply Virginia Wesleyan lives in the hearts of our alumni," said Tina Raines, executive director of marketing and communications for VWU. "We have read each comment and story and have engaged in countless conversations. We are paying attention, adjusting our messaging to address the questions and concerns. While it has been hard at times, it is also beautiful to see a community come together. This passion is something we never want to lose."
She continued: "We love our alumni and take great pride in their accomplishments. They will always be part of this community, and their legacy is what makes our future possible. A name like Batten—associated with nationally renowned philanthropists whose vision and generosity have shaped our University—helps us broaden our appeal while honoring the foundation alumni helped build. As President Miller explained, this decision is final."
