Nov. 2, 2007 — The Faculty Senate approved the Frank Batten Sr. School of Leadership and Public Policy on Tuesday afternoon by a vote of 53 to 8 with one abstention.

With this vote, held in the Dome Room of the Rotunda, the Senate also transferred the University’s existing Bachelor’s/Master’s of Public Policy degree program into the Batten School as its first degree program.

"This an important day for the University and the faculty and students and friends who believe in the importance of training leaders for public service," said Batten School planning and implementation co-chairman Eric Patashnik, an associate professor of politics and associate director of the public policy program. "It will cultivate future leaders for the nation and the world."

Patashnik said he was gratified to have such strong support for the school from the faculty, which he said played an important role in planning the school.

Students will apply to enter the Batten School in their third year and begin working toward their master's degree in their fourth year. They will complete their undergraduate degree in their selected field and graduate with their undergraduate class, then perform a summer internship and return for a fifth year of work to receive their master’s degree.

Now that the Faculty Senate has approved the school, it will be submitted to the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia and a nationwide search will begin for the founding dean. Executive Vice President and Provost Arthur Garson Jr. will lead the search.

Once approved, the school, which will initially be housed in Varsity Hall and later move to Garrett Hall, is scheduled to open in fall 2008, with the first class holding master’s of public policy degrees graduating in spring 2009.