VMI Talks Strategic Plan

VMI Talks Strategic Plan Officials Give Presentation To City

Lexington leaders got a chance last week to learn firsthand about Virginia Military Institute’s latest longrange plan.

In a work meeting held at Smith Hall last Tuesday, VMI Superintendent retired Maj. Gen. Cedric T. Wins, along with other VMI officials, presented the Institute’s strategic plan to Lexington City Council, with a focus on the capital improvement projects they are planning over the next decade.

These projects aim to modernize VMI’s facilities while emphasizing the strategic plan’s theme, “Forging 21st Century Leaders.” The plan was announced to the VMI community on Founder’s Day, Nov. 11, of last year, and it strives to enhance opportunities for cadets and foster deeper engagement with the Lexington community.

An aspect of one of the plan’s capital improvement projects has drawn criticism from preservationists and other local residents: the planned demolishing of Cabell Hall and Neikirk Hall, two historic homes on Letcher Avenue, to make way for a new, expanded Moody Hall. The existing Moody Hall structure is also planned for demolition as part of this project. The revelation of these plans last fall sparked letters of protest sent to VMI’s board of visitors from the Lexington Architectural Review Board and other groups.

At last week’s meeting, Lexington Mayor Frank Friedman asked if there was any chance the demolition plans could be changed.

Brig. Gen. Dallas Clark, VMI’s deputy superintendent for finance and support, who led the projects portion of the meeting, indicated that VMI is open to discussions about relocating the houses, though the feasibility of such a move remains low due to logistical and financial constraints.

“If there was someone who wanted to come forward and was interested in taking acquisition of it, they would need to fit within the timelines that we’re working with,” Clark said. “But certainly VMI is open to having those discussions with whoever would be interested.”

In the meantime, Clark said, some architectural artifacts, such as fireplace mantles and the grand front doors of Moody Hall, may be salvaged and incorporated into the new design, or reused or displayed elsewhere on campus.

Academics, Recruiting Wins addressed the Council members at the beginning of the meeting to outline the strategic plan. The plan, which runs from 2024 to 2034, he said, focuses on preparing cadets to excel as leaders in a rapidly evolving world while maintaining the traditions and values that define VMI’s legacy.

“This world is crying out continuously for young people who value honor and integrity and demonstrate it each and every day,” Wins said, also noting that it was the first time he has participated in a City Council meeting in Lexington.

Wins described the plan as a roadmap for sustaining VMI’s reputation as a top institution for leadership training and education. The strategic priorities are based on these pillars: prepare exceptional leaders; strengthen academic excellence; foster esprit de corps; recruit top cadets and boost success; and deliver 21st century infrastructure.

A video shown during the meeting highlighted how the plan aligns with VMI’s historical mission while looking ahead to meet contemporary challenges.

The presentation also highlighted the challenges facing higher education, including the looming “enrollment cliff” caused by declining birth rates and shifts in attitudes toward college. Wins explained that VMI has ramped up recruitment efforts to attract cadets who align with the Institute’s demanding academic and leadership programs.

Council members asked about the number of Rockbridge area students attending VMI. Clark estimated there were eight to 12 students from the area, and highlighted a roughly $60,000 local alumni endowment fund that provides scholarship funding for local students. When Council members suggested VMI participation in local high school award nights to publicly announce these scholarships, it was met with interest. Wins noted that it could boost community engagement and recognition.

Wins was also asked about how many students join the military, and how many go on to other careers. Approximately half of VMI graduates go into the military, according to Wins, but many others pursue careers in state and federal government, engineering, and the private sector. VMI has developed partnerships with organizations like the CIA, FBI and Army Research Lab to create career pathways for cadets. The faculty also encourages graduates to pursue advanced degrees, such as law school or MBA programs.

Appreciation was expressed to the city of Lexington for its support in the building of VMI’s aquatic center and the Corps Physical Training Facility.

“We are now starting to do a little bit more to expand the offering of those facilities,” Wins said, “to host and sponsor events that will allow people who otherwise might not be familiar with Lexington to come in and spend a day.

“We are trying to make full use of these facilities, both for the needs of the Institute, but also to evaluate our ability to provide people a broader experience.”

There was a question about the recent national conversations surrounding H-1B visas, which allow U.S. companies to employ foreign workers in specialized fields, and how VMI could answer the need for STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) graduates in U.S. industries.

Wins said that from what he understands, “the demand has outpaced the supply of STEM graduates. I think that creates for us an opportunity to continue to produce good, strong STEM graduates. Plus, some of our other academic offerings are equally valuable.”

The Building Projects

After the discussion of academics and recruiting, Clark gave a presentation on VMI’s planned capital improvement projects.

The $68 million Moody Hall project is in the final stages of its design phase, which will be completed this May. The new facility will feature a main event space capable of hosting 700 guests, significantly expanding VMI’s ability to hold key campus events, such as alumni gatherings. Construction is scheduled to begin in October of this year.

Another major undertaking is the $69 million renovation and expansion of the Nichols Engineering Building. The project involves a 33,000-square-foot addition, focusing on modern laboratory spaces, classrooms, and offices designed for cuttingedge technology, enhancing learning for engineering students, who make up the largest major at VMI. Construction will begin with the new addition, followed by renovations to existing spaces, ensuring minimal disruption to academic activities. The design process is 90% complete, and construction is due to begin later this month.

One of the biggest projects is an $89 million expansion of the Center for Leadership and Ethics (CLE). Currently in phase two, the project will include new classrooms, lecture halls, an auditorium, and a new VMI museum that will replace the current museum in Memorial Hall. A 425-car parking structure will also be built into the hillside near Patchin Field to address ongoing parking demands.

Environmental considerations have been central to the planning process, particularly regarding Woods Creek, which runs through the area. VMI officials assured Council that stormwater management systems will adhere to state standards, and the creek, which is currently subterranean in parts, will remain unaffected. The timeline for the CLE project anticipates construction beginning in 2026 and completion in 2028.

There is also a planned set of renovations for the Turman House, which “provides overnight accommodations for VIP visitors to VMI on its upper level, while a separate apartment in the rear of the building houses visiting scholars.” Work on the $3.5 million project begins in February, with the main house being completed in the fall. The design is nearly complete, and the full project is expected to be finished by spring 2026.

The Institute is planning extensive renovations for two other historic houses on campus, 307 and 309 Letcher, which currently hold the admissions and financial aid offices. The $12.3 million project will begin next summer. Clark noted the cost of this project and emphasized the care that VMI takes in the preservation of their historic buildings, where possible.

“This represents the types of things that we do with many of our historic facilities,” he said. “To maintain our historic structures … the investment we’re making into those structures is significant.”

There are two major safety and security updates planned: an $11 million post-wide project that will include updated gates and campus entry security; and a $34 million update to barracks windows and cadet safety, estimated to be completed in December.

VMI owns the New Market Battlefield, including three structures: the Shirley House, the Bushong Farmhouse, and the Hall of Valor, which is the main museum for visitors to the battlefield. Extensive renovations are planned for the Hall of Valor, which is being updated for the first time since its construction in the 1970s. The $23 million project is in its planning phase.

Another project involves minor updates and renovations to the historic Freeland House, also known as “The Castle,” which is used for faculty housing. An expansion of Hinty Hall, the facilities management plant, and Chessie Trail, are also part of this project.