A New Path Forward

Update: August 6, 2025

Sentara Health and Virginia Wesleyan University advance plans to expand healthcare education in Virginia

Sentara College of Health Sciences to join Virginia Wesleyan University in 2026

Sentara Health and Virginia Wesleyan University (VWU) are excited to announce a major milestone in their growing relationship, aimed at expanding and strengthening health sciences education. Both organizations have formally signed initial agreements marking the first steps in transitioning Sentara College of Health Sciences (SCOHS) into a professional college within Virginia Wesleyan University.

Beginning January 1, 2026, SCOHS will be operated as the Sentara College of Health Sciences of Virginia Wesleyan University, a professional college within VWU’s academic structure, housing all existing degree and certificate programs. This integration builds on the longstanding success of SCOHS and opens new pathways for students by linking career-focused health sciences education with the broader academic resources of a highly respected national university of arts and sciences.

“Our shared vision is to prepare the healthcare workforce of the future while honoring Sentara College’s deep community ties and proud academic legacy,” said Dr. Angela Taylor, president, Sentara College of Health Sciences. “We look forward to working closely with Virginia Wesleyan University to create new opportunities for students, expand access to in-demand programs, and continue meeting the growing healthcare workforce needs of our communities.”

“We are proud to build on our strong relationship with Sentara as we take this important next step forward,” said Dr. Scott D. Miller, president of VWU. “Integrating Sentara College into Virginia Wesleyan’s academic community will create exciting new opportunities for students and strengthen health sciences education across our region.”

Both institutions are now focused on the key steps necessary to ensure a smooth and successful transition, including required regulatory and accreditation processes. Key details of the transition plans include:

Through Summer 2026, all current students will complete their programs and courses of study under the Sentara College of Health Sciences name. Starting in Fall 2026, students will receive their credentials from the Sentara College of Health Sciences of Virginia Wesleyan University.
For current SCOHS students, there will be no changes to out-of-pocket costs, courses of study, or graduation timelines.
The existing SCOHS campus and facilities will continue to be used, supporting continuity for students, faculty, and staff while preparations are being made to transition all programs to the VWU campus.

Prospective students are encouraged to contact the VWU enrollment office for the most up-to-date information.

This collaboration represents a shared commitment to innovation, opportunity, and student success. Over the coming months, efforts will focus on solidifying SCOHS’s permanent integration into VWU, with both institutions committed to minimizing disruption and ensuring continuity for students, faculty, and staff throughout the transition.

Update: June 16, 2025

Sentara Health and Virginia Wesleyan University
Expanding Academic Relationship

Establishing “Sentara College of Health Sciences of Virginia Wesleyan University”

HAMPTON ROADS, VA., June 16, 2025 - Sentara Health and Virginia Wesleyan University (VWU) have signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) to expand their academic relationship by establishing a new academic unit at VWU called the “Sentara College of Health Sciences of Virginia Wesleyan University.”

“This expanded relationship reflects our vision to prepare the healthcare workforce of the future while honoring our deep community ties and proud 130-year academic legacy,” said Dennis Matheis, president and chief executive officer of Sentara Health. “We look forward to working closely with Virginia Wesleyan University to create new opportunities for students, expand access to in-demand programs, and help meet the growing healthcare needs of the communities we serve.”

This builds upon a strong history of collaboration between Sentara College of Health Sciences (SCOHS) and VWU on health-related academic programs, student wellness services, and joint Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree offerings. The LOI with VWU comes following Sentara’s announcement to realign the SCOHS academic model to better meet current and emerging workforce needs.

“We are honored to expand our longstanding partnership with Sentara Health through the establishment of the Sentara College of Health Sciences of Virginia Wesleyan University,” said Dr. Scott D. Miller, president of Virginia Wesleyan University. “This bold step reflects our shared commitment to addressing critical healthcare workforce needs while advancing access to high-quality education. By uniting Sentara’s rich legacy of healthcare excellence with Virginia Wesleyan’s academic infrastructure and student-centered mission, we are creating a powerful model for the future of health sciences education in Coastal Virginia and beyond.”

The details of the proposed relationship are currently being developed, and updates will be shared as they become available. Both institutions are committed to minimizing disruption and ensuring continuity for students, faculty, and staff.

April 17, 2025
A Message from Dr. Angela Taylor

As Sentara continues to evolve to meet the future of healthcare, we are also shaping the future of our college. Sentara College of Health Sciences (SCOHS) has proudly educated healthcare professionals for more than 130 years. Now, we are taking steps to align our academic model with current and emerging workforce needs across the communities we serve.

We want to make you aware of two significant developments underway:

Degree Programs – We are working to establish strategic partnerships with state and regional universities to transition all nursing and non-nursing degree-granting programs.

Certificate Programs – We are evaluating our certificate offerings, including the types of programs, structure, and delivery format that will best meet future needs.

The exact changes to each specific program are still to be determined and we will share additional details as soon as plans are finalized. All current students will be able to complete their programs, either at SCOHS or through a designated partner.

At this time, we are pausing new admissions into degree-granting programs while final decisions are made. We will continue to accept new students into our medical assistant, patient care technician, cardiac electrophysiology, and monitor surveillance certificate programs at the Chesapeake campus.

Updates will be posted here as they become available. We know there will be a lot of questions, so we have put together a team to help provide answers. Please don’t hesitate to contact us at newpath@sentara.edu.

newpath@sentara.edu

1441 Crossways Blvd, Suite 105
Chesapeake, VA 23320

(757) 388-2900