VUU: ‘Changes will enable the university to continue’ its progress

Virginia Union University continues its march to be best-in-class among HBCUs in the United states — and we are taking additional steps to accelerate our progress.

We are expanding our business office to accommodate the University’s growth. Our leadership team is reviewing all internal processes so they demonstrate the speed, rigor, and compliance that our stakeholders expect.

We are taking these steps, in part, to address issues with submitting our annual audited financial statements in a timely manner, as the Free Press recently reported.

These changes will enable the University to continue building on our progress.

Virginia Union is rising in the rankings. The most recent U.s news national rankings showed Virginia Union rising more than 30 positions in just four years. virginia Union now ranks as the country’s 43rd best HBCU, after breaking into the top 50 for the first time last year. The university was not ranked at all just four years ago, when the upward trajectory began.

Students are choosing Virginia Union. The University posted its highest total enrollment in five years with 1,865 students enrolled this academic year, growing at both the un - dergraduate and graduate levels. And thanks to forward-looking support by Gov. Glenn Youngkin and the General Assembly, many Pell-eligible Virginia residents can now attend Virginia Union tuition-free.

The University’s financial stability remains exceptionally strong. Revenue from tuition is up in this academic year, and expenses are down across the University. The University’s endowment continues to perform well, even despite the stock market’s downturn throughout 2022.

The recent Community Leaders Celebration honored Dr. King and was the largest celebration in years. Our athletic teams are performing well, and Virginia Union will take on Morehouse College in the 2023 Black College Football Hall of Fame Classic over the Labor Day weekend.

This progress challenges us to move faster and to do more. These are great days to be part of Virginia Union, and we are proud to call Richmond our home. Come visit!

dR. HakIM J. lUcas President and cEO Virginia Union University Richmond

Hearing Examiner will hold an evidentiary hearing in this case on May 24, 2023, at 10 a.m.

•Further information about this case is available on the SCC website at: scc.virginia.gov/pages/Case-Information pursuant to Code § 56-585.1 A 5 d for approval of a revision to its Rider PPA. Through its Petition, the Company seeks to recover projected and actual costs associated with certainery related to the PPAs approved by the Commission in Case No. PUR-2020-00134 (“CE-1 PPAs”), Case No. PUR-2021-00146 (“CE-2 PPAs”), and the PPAs currently pending approval in Case No. PUR-2022-00124 that will enter commercial operations during the rate year in this proceeding (“CE-3 PPAs”). In total, Dominion has incorporated costs associated with six CE-1 PPAs, 17 CE-2 PPAs, and seven CE-3 PPAs that are scheduled to be operational on or before August 31, 2024.

Rider PPA is one of the rate mechanisms included in the overarching framework approved by the Commission in Case No. PUR-2020-00134 for the recovery of non bypassable limited exceptions. In this proceeding, Dominion asks the Commission to approve Rider PPA for the rate year beginning September 1, 2023, and ending August 31, 2024 (“Rate Year”). The Company is requesting a total revenue requirement of ($22,045,000) for recovery in Rider PPA for the Rate Year, which represents a net credit to customers. If the proposed Rider PPA is approved for the Rate Year, the impact on customer bills would depend on the customer’s rate schedule and usage. According to Dominion, implementation of its proposed Rider PPA on September 1, 2023, would decrease the bill of a residential customer using 1,000 kilowatt¬hours per month by $0.22. Interested persons are encouraged to review Dominion’s Petition and supporting documents in full for details about these and other proposals.

The Commission has taken judicial notice of the ongoing public health issues related to the spread of the coronavirus, or COVID-19. In accordance therewith, all pleadings, briefs or other documents required to be served in this matter shall be submitted electronically to the extent authorized by 5 VAC 5-20-150,

(ii) by completing and emailing the PDF version of this form to SCCInfo@scc.virginia.gov; or (iii) by calling (804) 371-9141. This public witness hearing will be webcast at scc.virginia.gov/pages/Webcasting Electronic copies of the public version of the Petition may be obtained by submitting a written request to counsel for the Company: Elaine S. Ryan, Esquire, McGuireWoods LLP, Gateway Plaza, 800 East Canal Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219, or eryan@mcguirewoods.com On or before May 16, 2023, any interested person may submit comments on the Petition electronically by following the instructions on the Commission’s website: scc.virginia.gov/casecomments/Submit-Public-Comments Clerk of the State Corporation Commission,

Stories by Fred Jeter