VIMS & The Batten School Open House
Saturday, October 24, 2026 | 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Blow Memorial Hall, BOV Conference Room
Join fellow William & Mary alumni during Homecoming Weekend for a special opportunity to meet faculty and students from VIMS and the Batten School of Coastal & Marine Sciences and learn about the undergraduate coastal and marine sciences program.
The bachelor's degree program in Coastal and Marine Sciences launched in the fall of 2025 as the first undergraduate major in coastal and marine sciences at a Virginia public university. The program provides a foundational education in coastal and marine sciences with an emphasis on experiential learning and research.
Known as Stravitz Scholars, students accepted into the undergraduate program benefit from full tuition support thanks to the transformative gift of Dr. R Todd Stravitz ‘82 and the Brunckhorst Foundations. Additionally, they each receive a $5,000 stipend to fund independent research, internships or related study abroad opportunities thanks to Jane Batten’s HON ‘ 17, L.H.D. ‘19 historic philanthropy. Stravitz Scholars also benefit from formal mentorship from VIMS & Batten School graduate students as well as unparalleled immersive research and experiential learning opportunities in the field and lab. Join us in recognizing the transformative power of philanthropy and the bright future of marine science at William & Mary's VIMS & Batten School.