Batten School of Coastal & Marine Sciences & VIMS

Batten School & VIMS Website

The Batten School of Coastal & Marine Sciences is one of six graduate units at William & Mary (W&M). As the second oldest university in the nation, W&M is known as both a “Public Ivy” and a leading research university. The Batten School is also an integral part of the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS), which is in Gloucester Point, only 16 miles from the Williamsburg campus.

VIMS was founded as the Virginia Fisheries Laboratory in 1940 through the efforts of Dr. Donald W. Davis, then chair of the Biology Department at W&M. The Laboratory was named the Virginia Institute of Marine Science and became an independent institution by an Act of Virginia’s General Assembly in 1962. VIMS returned to the administrative umbrella of W&M in 1979.

Since then, VIMS has served as the research partner of W&M’s graduate School of Marine Science – renamed the Batten School of Coastal & Marine Sciences in 2024 – which evolved from a Master’s program in Aquatic Science that began at W&M in 1940 and granted its first Ph.D. degree in 1968.

Today, VIMS is one of the largest marine science and research education centers in the United States, leading in coastal and estuarine science. Its three-part mission – interdisciplinary research, education, and advisory service – offers students a dynamic environment to engage science in service to society. More than 1,000 Batten School alumni have gone on to successful careers in academia, government, and the private sector.

The Batten School offers three advanced degree programs in marine science, a professional master’s degree (M.A.), a thesis-based master’s degree (M.S.) and a doctoral degree (Ph.D.). All offer options for disciplinary and interdisciplinary studies. Students entering without a M.S. are offered a M.S. bypass option. Two subconcentrations are also available, either in marine policy or shellfish aquaculture. Interested students also have a wealth of opportunities to participate in areas of applied research and advisory service to government and other organizations.

The Batten School offers an undergraduate bachelor’s degree or an undergraduate minor in Coastal & Marine Sciences. The minor is jointly offered and administered by the Batten School and the College of Arts & Sciences. More information on the undergraduate program is available at https://www.vims.edu/academics/wm_undergrad/.

Batten School & VIMS Administrative Officers

Derek Aday, Dean, Batten School & Director, VIMS
Siddhartha Mitra, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs
Megan La Peyre, Associate Dean for Research and Advisory Services

Batten School & VIMS Office for Academic Affairs

Siddhartha Mitra, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs
Jennifer Dahnke, Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs
Jennifer Hay, Graduate Registrar
Mouna Litz, Finance and Program Administrator

Office for Academic Affairs 
P.O. Box 1346
1370 Greate Road
Gloucester Point, VA 23062
Phone: 804.684.7105

Programs

Academic Calendar

Additional dates and deadlines of importance, including registration dates, may also be found on the Exams & Academic Calendars webpage of the University Registrar. Calendar dates are subject to change.

Fall Semester 2026

Calendar

Date	Event
Aug 18-20	New student orientation, ESL field trip
Aug 24-25	New student orientation
Aug 26	First day of classes
Sept 7	Labor Day
Oct 8-11	Fall Break
Nov 3	Election Day
Nov 25-29	Thanksgiving Break
Dec 4	Last day of classes
Dec 5-6	Reading period
Dec 7-11	Exams
Dec 12-13	Reading period
Dec 14-15	Exams
Jan 22, 2027	Winter degree conferral (no ceremony)

Spring Semester 2027

Calendar

Date	Event
Jan 27	First day of classes
Mar 13-21	Spring Break
May 7	Last day of classes
May 8-9	Reading period
May 10-14	Exams
May 15-16	Reading period
May 17-18	Exams
May 20-22	Commencement Weekend
May 22	Spring degree conferral

Summer Sessions 2027

Calendar

Date	Event
Jun 1 - Jul 2	Summer Session I
Jul 6 - Aug 6	Summer Session II
Jun 1 - Aug 6	Summer Session III
Jun 19	Juneteenth
Jul 4	Independence Day
Aug 27	Summer degree conferral (no ceremony)

Academic Standing & Satisfactory Progress
Academic Probation & Appeals
Auditing a Course
Core Course Exemption
Degree Program Time Extension
Grading & Quality Points
Graduation
Leave of Absence
Registration
Registration Changes
Retaking a Course
Transfer of Academic Credit
Withdrawal from Degree Program
Reinstatement after Withdrawal

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General Statements of Policy

All students enrolled at William & Mary, including students at the Batten School of Coastal & Marine Sciences, are bound by the regulations noted within the W&M Student Handbook. The university reserves the right to make changes in the procedures and regulations contained within the W&M Student Handbook at any time. The W&M Student Handbook contains important information about W&M’s expectations regarding student conduct, student rights and responsibilities, and relevant processes and procedures to address alleged misconduct. The Honor Code, Student Code of Conduct, and their procedures are also included in the W&M Student Handbook.

Any Batten School student seeking to raise a specific concern or discuss a problem regarding graduate studies may contact the Batten School Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at (804) 684-7105 or contact the Batten School Graduate Program Ombuds Team. General queries and questions about the Batten School academic programs should be sent to academicaffairs@vims.edu.

Academic Standing & Satisfactory Progress

Admission to the Batten School graduate program implies a significant and sustained commitment on the part of the student to maintain its rigorous academic standards and always demonstrate responsible conduct. The Batten School Office for Academic Affairs supports students, faculty, and staff in these efforts as well as promoting student resilience. To remain in good academic standing a student must maintain a cumulative GPA of B or better (≥ 3.0) with no core course grade lower than B-, and no grade lower than C-. In addition, the student must continue to make satisfactory progress as defined by William & Mary degree requirements and regulations of the Batten School.

The Batten School Registrar and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs regularly review student transcripts and milestone progress to ensure the timely completion of degree requirements. A student who fails to remain in good academic standing or demonstrates willful misconduct, may be placed on probation, dismissed from the degree program, or lose financial aid provided by the program. The Batten School strives to ensure that performance of graduate students in courses, on comprehensive and qualifying examinations, progress in research, and the acceptability of capstone projects, theses or dissertations, is evaluated based on objective, ethical, and professional criteria.

Satisfactory Progress: Student progress within the degree programs of the Batten School is guided by milestones, which specify how long a student must complete each degree requirement. Failure to meet major milestones, which include the Comprehensive Examination (Ph.D. only), Qualifying Examination (M.S. and Ph.D.), Internship and Capstone (M.A.), and Graduation (all programs), or complete coursework as scheduled, constitutes evidence that a student is not making satisfactory progress in the program. Additionally, a core course grade lower than a B-, a grade in any other elective course lower than C-, or a cumulative GPA falling below 3.0, indicates that a student is not making satisfactory progress per Batten School requirements. The student must also continue to make satisfactory progress as defined by William & Mary degree requirements. Failure to make satisfactory progress in accordance with Batten School or William & Mary policies may result in a student being put on probation, dismissed from the degree program, or lose financial aid provided by the program. 

The Batten School is committed to providing timely notice and support to students who are not making satisfactory academic or research progress. The M.A. Program Director monitors capstone research and internship progress for M.A. students, while academic advisors and advisory committees monitor thesis and dissertation progress for M.S. and Ph.D. students. If a student is not making satisfactory progress, the academic advisor must notify both the student and the associate dean in writing. The advisor and associate dean will then work with the student to develop a remediation plan with defined milestones and a timeline for improvement. Students are generally expected to demonstrate satisfactory progress within one semester, although the associate dean will make final determinations on a case-by-case basis, considering any extenuating circumstances. Refer to the Unsatisfactory Grade in Thesis or Dissertation policy for details.

Academic Probation & Appeals

A student will be placed on academic probation due to any of the following:

• a cumulative grade point average less than B (3.0)
• a grade deficiency in a core course (lower than a B-)
• a D or F in any graduate level coursework
• failure to pass the qualifying exam within 6 months (M.S.) or 12 months (Ph.D.) of the milestone deadline (last day of month specified)

In the case of a grade deficiency in a core course, the student must make up the deficiency within one full semester (fall or spring) by retaking the course and passing with a grade of B- or better or by passing another course from the Fundamentals core group with a grade of B- or better.

Probation will last until a student’s cumulative average is raised to at least 3.0 and the core course requirement is satisfied but will not exceed one calendar year from the start of probation. Any student receiving more than one D or F will be dismissed from the degree program without appeal.

When a student is placed on academic probation, the Batten School Registrar will notify the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and the student’s advisor(s) within one week following the grading or milestone deadline. The student is required to meet with the academic advisor(s) and the associate dean to develop a remediation plan. A remediation plan can consist of repeating coursework, completing specific assignments, or engaging in other activities designed to address areas of weakness. The meeting will be scheduled by the advisor within two weeks following notification of probation by the Registrar.  

A student may not appeal placement on academic probation. If, after 12 months on probation, the student's cumulative GPA remains below 3.0, grade deficiencies have not been corrected, or required academic milestones remain delinquent, the Registrar will submit a Request for Automatic Dismissal to the Batten School & VIMS Academic Council (AC) for review.

The Request for Automatic Dismissal will include the student's academic transcript and any other relevant documentation pertaining to the student's academic performance. The AC will review the materials, discuss the student's case, and determine whether to recommend dismissal. The council must communicate its recommendation to the associate dean within 10 business days of receiving the Registrar's request.

The associate dean will review the AC's recommendation and supporting documentation and, within 5 business days, issue a written decision notifying the student of either acceptance or rejection of the recommendation.

A student may appeal a dismissal decision by submitting a written request to the Dean & Director within five business days of notification. The Dean & Director's decision is final.

Appeal of Dismissal Due to Failure to Meet the Graduation Deadline Following Maximum Time Extension: A student who does not meet the graduation milestone must apply for an extension to the Registrar. Information on that process is available below under Degree Program Time Extension.

If after time extensions totaling two years for the M.A. or M.S. program, or three years for the Ph.D. program, the student has not completed all degree requirements for graduation, the Registrar will submit an automatic appeal of dismissal consisting of the student’s academic transcript, and any other pertinent documents to the AC for review. The council will determine if the student is recommended for dismissal from the Batten School and submit its recommendation to the associate dean within two weeks of receipt of the appeal from the Registrar. The associate dean’s decision to accept or reject the council’s recommendation shall be final and will normally be made within one week of receipt of the council’s recommendation.

Appeal of a Grade: If a student feels that a grade has been incorrectly assigned, the student should discuss the matter with the instructor. If discussion between the instructor and the student cannot resolve the issue, the student may appeal to the associate dean who will attempt to reconcile the matter. A grade appeal must be made by the student as soon as possible but no later than the end of the student’s subsequent term of enrollment after the grade in question has been assigned.

Appeal of Non-Approval of Thesis or Dissertation by Advisory Committee (for M.S. and Ph.D.): Unanimous committee approval is necessary for satisfactory completion of a thesis or dissertation defense and acceptance of a final version of the thesis or dissertation. If unanimity has not been achieved following the defense or after at least the second reading of a revised thesis or dissertation by one dissenting committee member, the student may appeal to the associate dean for an independent review. The associate dean may request the AC to review the document or appoint an independent and unbiased faculty from the Batten School faculty to review the document. This review should be completed within one week. After that review, a substitute opinion which, if in agreement with the majority, will signify the acceptance and permit the independent reader to sign the approval form(s) in lieu of the dissenting committee member. Only one substitution of approval shall be permitted through appeal to the council.

Auditing a Course

Any graduate student may register to audit a graduate or undergraduate course with permission of the instructor, the student’s advisor and the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. An audit form is required and may be obtained from the Batten School Registrar. Before beginning the audit, the student and the instructor must agree on what is required for the audit to be successful. The audited course is listed on the student’s official transcript with either a grade of ‘O’ for a successful audit, or ‘U’ for an unsuccessful audit.

Core Course Exemption

Apart from MSCI 503 Interdis Res Estua/Coastal Sys, students who have had comparable undergraduate coursework elsewhere may petition for exemption from any Batten School graduate core courses. The application for core course exemption must be approved by the core instructor(s) of the Batten School course for which exemption is sought. Prior to consulting the core instructor, the student must attach the following to the course exemption application: (1) a syllabus of the student’s applicable prior course work and (2) an official transcript showing the grade/credits of the student’s prior coursework. The course instructor must indicate on the application that the student’s previous studies have been reviewed and that they are sufficient to permit exemption from the applicable core course. The application and attachments must be submitted in entirety to the Batten School Registrar (registrar@vims.edu). Credits for exempted courses will not be transferred to a student’s record. Refer to the Transfer of Academic Credit policy for additional information. There are no exemptions from MSCI 503 Interdis Res Estua/Coastal Sys.

Degree Program Time Extension

The expected graduation date is 21 months for the M.A. program, 36 months for the M.S. program and 60-72 months for the Ph.D. program. A student who does not meet the graduation milestone must apply for a degree program extension to the Batten School Registrar. Adequate justification for the extension is required, as is the permission of the student’s academic advisor and committee members for M.S. and Ph.D. program students, or the academic advisor for M.A. program students. In addition, the student and student’s advisor may be required to meet with the Batten School Associate Dean for Academic Affairs to discuss reasons for delay and remediation plans. The associate dean may grant up to two extensions for M.A. or M.S. students in one-semester increments. Ph.D. students are granted a one-year extension for first-time requests and up to two additional one-semester extensions.

A student on an approved extension must complete all requirements for the degree program within a maximum of one year for the M.A. or M.S. or two years for the Ph.D. Subsequent decisions about student continuation in the program are made by the associate dean and on a case-by-case basis, with full consideration of extenuating circumstances. While it may not always be attainable, the overarching goal is for every admitted student to successfully complete the degree program. A student who exceeds the graduation milestone by 2 years for the M.A. or M.S., or 3 years for the Ph.D., may be dismissed from the degree program. A student who exceeds the time limit for degree completion and who has not been granted a time extension will not be permitted to register in the Batten School.

Grading & Quality Points

The grades A, B, C, P (pass, in certain courses), D, and F are used to indicate the quality of work in a course. Also used are ‘+’ and ‘-’ notations, except that there is no ‘A+’.  ‘W’ indicates that a student withdrew from the university before the end of the ninth week of classes or dropped a course between the end of the ninth week of classes and the last day of class and was passing at the time that the course was dropped.

For each semester credit in a course in which a student is graded A, 4.0 quality points are awarded; A-, 3.7; B+, 3.3; B, 3.0; B-, 2.7; C+, 2.3; C, 2.0; C-, 1.7; D+, 1.3; D, 1.0; D-, 0.7. P carries credit but is not included in a student’s quality point average.  A course graded D+, D, D-, or F is included in the student’s quality point average but carries no credit towards the graduate degree.

In addition to the grades A, B, C, P, D, F, and W, the symbols ‘G’, ‘O’, ‘U’, and ‘I’ are used on grade reports and in the university records. When a student audits a course, a grade of ‘O’ or ‘U’ indicates a successful or unsuccessful completion of the audit. When documenting work in-progress towards M.S. (MSCI 599 Thesis) or Ph.D. (MSCI 699 Dissertation) research, a grade of ‘G’ or ‘U’ is given since there is insufficient evidence upon which to base a standard letter grade.

A grade of ‘U’ is only given to a student under exceptional circumstances, truly justifying unsatisfactory progress in thesis or dissertation research despite the advisor(s)’ attempts to address the student’s research performance. Advance consultation with the approval of the Batten School Associate Dean for Academic Affairs is required before a ‘U’ grade may be submitted for unsatisfactory progress in research.  Refer to the Unsatisfactory Grade in Thesis or Dissertation Policy for details.

The ‘G’ is not used as an alternative to ‘I’ when the student is the cause for the non-completion. Unlike the deferred grade ‘I’, ‘G’ or ‘U’ does not automatically revert to ‘F’ after one semester. 

‘I’ indicates that because of illness or other major extenuating circumstances the student has postponed, with the explicit consent of the instructor, the completion of certain required work. ‘I’ automatically becomes ‘F’ at the end of the next semester if the postponed work has not been completed, unless the instructor requests an extension for another semester. An ‘I’ may not be extended more than once without the approval of the associate dean.

Graduation

Filing for Graduation: Students filing for graduation must complete an online graduation application in Banner. Students are responsible for paying a one-time, non-refundable graduation fee, currently $150.00 per degree, to be charged to the student’s account on the initial filing date. Only first-time filing may be done with the online filing process. If a student is unable to complete the requirements for graduation by the date specified, the student must notify the Batten School Registrar to re-file for a new graduation date. There is no additional graduation fee charge for re-filing.

Conferral of Degrees: William & Mary confers degrees in January, May, and August of each year. The commencement ceremony is in May. Graduates of the same calendar year, by default, are invited to participate in this commencement ceremony. Degree recipients of the previous August are recognized and invited if they did not attend the previous year’s commencement ceremony.

Leave of Absence

Under unusual circumstances and following consultation with a student’s advisor(s), the Batten School Associate Dean for Academic Affairs may grant a leave of absence. An approved leave of absence is limited to a maximum of one calendar year during the student’s degree program and relieves the student of the obligation of paying tuition. It is understood that a student on leave of absence is not present on campus, not receiving financial support including workship funding, and not drawing upon campus resources. A student must terminate the leave of absence and be a registered student in the term in which the degree requirements are completed or in which the student graduates. 

The milestone timeline and time limit for degree completion requirements will be stopped for a student with an approved leave of absence. Upon return from approved leave, the student’s milestone timeline and time limit to degree completion will resume.

Registration

Students in the M.A., M.S. and Ph.D. programs should refer to the individual degree program requirement pages for specifics on registration for each program.

Part-time students: A student who wishes to pursue part-time studies in a degree program should consult with the Batten School Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. Part-time students are not eligible for Batten School & VIMS assistantships, fellowships, or workship funding. Furthermore, part-time students may have their milestone timelines considerably adjusted compared to full-time students pursuing the same degree. See non-degree seeking admissions policy for related information.

VIMS and William & Mary Employees: Employees of VIMS and William & Mary (W&M) may be eligible for the Employee Educational Assistance program. Employees are responsible for submitting the appropriate paperwork to W&M before the add-drop deadline and before an approved tuition waiver can be applied to their student account. Employees who are not classified as degree-seeking students must also submit a completed Batten School non-degree-seeking student application along with written approval from the course instructor(s) to the Batten School Registrar prior to course registration. See non-degree seeking admissions policy for related information. Employees interested in ultimately obtaining a graduate degree should consult with the Batten School Assistant Dean and Associate Dean as early as possible in their course sequence so that they can apply to a graduate degree program in a timely manner.

Changes in Registration

All changes in student schedules must be done in accordance with relevant deadlines as indicated in the academic calendar. Any changes requested after the close of registration require approval of the instructor(s) involved and the Batten School Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. Students may not add courses after the last day for changes in registration. If a student drops a course(s) before add/drop ends, the course(s) dropped will be removed from the student’s record. If the student drops a course(s) after the add/drop period ends through the last day of classes, the grade of “W” or “F” will be awarded by the instructor in the course depending upon whether the student was passing at the time the course(s) was dropped. A student may not drop a course after the last day of classes. If a student does not complete a course, the grade of “W” or “F” will be awarded by the instructor in the course, with the approval of the associate dean and the appropriate university authorities, depending upon whether the student was passing at the time the course ended.

A student wishing to withdraw from a course(s) because of medical reasons after the add/drop period ends may apply to the associate dean for approval. If approved, a grade of “W” will appear on the transcript for each course.

Retaking a Course

For a core course to satisfy the core course requirements, a grade of B- or above must be earned in the course. A grade deficiency in a core course may be made up by retaking the course and passing with a grade of B- or better or by completing another course from the core group with a grade of B- or better. In the case of non-core coursework, degree credit is granted only for coursework in which a student earns a grade of ‘C-’ or better. A graduate student may repeat one course outside of the core curriculum in which a grade of ‘C’ or lower is received. In addition, M.A. program students may repeat the capstone or internship one time with permission of the M.A. program director. When a course is repeated, both the initial and new grades earned are included in computations of quality point requirements.

Transfer of Academic Credit

A student admitted to a Batten School degree program may apply up to 15 hours of graduate credit for graduate courses equivalent to the Batten School core courses earned at another accredited institution, upon recommendation of the Batten School & VIMS Academic Council and the approval of the Batten School Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. Credit may be transferred only for courses in which the student received a grade of ‘B’ or better and will not be counted in compiling the student’s quality point average at William & Mary.

To petition for acceptance of transfer credits, the application must first be approved by the equivalent instructor(s) of the Batten School course for which transfer credit is sought; indicating that the student’s previous studies were reviewed and that those studies are sufficient to permit acceptance of the applicable transfer credits. Prior to consulting the course instructor, the student must attach the following documentation to the application: (1) a syllabus of the student’s applicable prior course work and (2) an official transcript showing the grade/credits of the student’s prior coursework. The completed application must be submitted to the Batten School Registrar, (registrar@vims.edu).

Students may petition for up to 6 additional credit hours of graduate work not already applied toward another degree, but the total transfer of credits cannot exceed 15 hours. The credits must have been earned in courses appropriate to the student’s Batten School degree program.

Withdrawal from Degree Program

Withdrawal from the degree program constitutes termination of the student’s program of study in the Batten School. Withdrawal may be voluntary on the part of the student or be imposed by Batten School for reasons of academic deficiency, failure to make satisfactory progress in research, or other reasons pursuant to the William & Mary Student Handbook, Honor Code, and Student Code of Conduct (see section General Statements of Policy). The Batten School Associate Dean for Academic Affairs will place a student on leave of absence for one semester if they fail to register for a regular semester (fall or spring; or summer for MS/PhD students) and have not requested a leave of absence or permission to withdraw from the degree program. If the student has not applied for a leave of absence prior to the end of registration for the next regular semester, or if the associate dean is not able to justify continuing the leave of absence, the student’s record will be marked “withdrawn unofficially.”

A student who withdraws from the degree program after the add/drop period will be awarded a ‘W’ or ‘F’ for each course in progress at the time of withdrawal.

A student who withdraws from the degree program after the beginning of the school year should obtain appropriate faculty signatures on a degree program withdrawal form and a Batten School student check-out form. All forms must be returned to the Batten School Registrar, (registrar@vims.edu).

Reinstatement after Withdrawal

A student wishing to be considered for reinstatement after withdrawal must reapply to the Batten School under the procedures in effect at the time of reapplication.

Admission to Non-Degree Status

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Admissions Policies

Admission Application Fee Waiver
Domicile
Graduate Tuition
Information for Senior Citizens
Student Health Insurance
Veterans Educational Benefits

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Admission Application Fee Waiver

The Batten School of Coastal & Marine Sciences offers admission application fee waivers to individuals who meet any of the following criteria:

• Active Duty and Honorably Discharged Members of the U.S. Armed Forces
• Peace Corps or AmeriCorps Participants
• Fulbright Scholars
• McNair Scholars
• Graduates from Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs)
• Individuals with Demonstrated Financial Need

Visit the Batten School admission website or contact the Office for Academic Affairs through the admissions email (admissions@vims.edu) for further information.

Domicile

A student domiciled in Virginia is eligible for in-state tuition rates. To obtain the in-state rates, students must either complete the residency portion of the online application when they apply for admission to the Batten School, or complete and submit the Application for Virginia In-State Tuition Privileges form by the first day of classes of the semester for which in-state eligibility is sought. For more information on establishing domicile, refer to the Eligibility for In-State Tuition Rates section within the Tuition & Other Expenses page. All questions about eligibility for domiciliary status should be addressed to the Office of the University Registrar, (757) 221-2808.

A full-time, degree-seeking graduate student of the Batten School who holds an assistantship may be eligible for a waiver of the out-of-state (non-resident) tuition rate to the in-state (resident) rate, but out-of-state domicile status is not changed.

Graduate Tuition

William & Mary (W&M) reserves the right to make changes in its charges for any and all programs at any time, after approval by the Board of Visitors.

 A $25 registration fee and $58 comprehensive fee is also required for the summer session.

The tuition charged will be based on a student’s enrollment and established domiciliary status. Students determined to be domiciled outside of Virginia will pay out-of-state rates. Those determined to be residents will pay in-state rates. Auditing fees are the same as those specified for part-time students, unless the auditor is a full-time student.

For more information on tuition and domicile, please see W&M’s statement regarding Eligibility for In-State Tuition Rate. Please contact the Batten School Registrar (registrar@vims.edu) for additional information.

Information for Senior Citizens

Senior citizens may take courses at William & Mary for either audit or credit on a space available basis. Registration for senior citizens taking classes at the Batten School begins two weeks prior to the first day of classes of each term. Please visit the University Registrar’s webpage or contact the Batten School Registrar (registrar@vims.edu) for additional information.

Student Health Insurance Requirement

William & Mary (W&M) requires all full-time undergraduate, full-time graduate and all F-1 and J-1 international students to have adequate health insurance coverage throughout the school year. Full-time students who hold a Batten School & VIMS-administered assistantship may be eligible to apply for a health insurance reimbursement supplement through the Batten School & VIMS Office for Academic Affairs each fall and spring/summer term. The maximum reimbursement supplement may be equivalent to the cost of the college-administered student health insurance premium for a single person. Students with non-W&M policies may receive a reimbursement supplement of the actual amount paid for their insurance, up to the cost of the W&M policy. The reimbursement supplement will be processed through W&M Payroll and is considered taxable income. For additional information, refer to your Batten School offer of admission, W&M: Student Services, or the W&M Student Health Insurance webpage.

Veterans Educational Benefits

William & Mary (W&M) appreciates the sacrifices that our active duty, veterans, reservists, national guard and military dependents make as they serve our country.  We are committed to our active duty service members, their dependents and veterans in transitioning to W&M and being successful. Please visit our Military and Veteran Students webpage for additional information about veterans education benefits.

Hargis Library
Acuff Center for Aquaculture
Analytical Service Center
Andrews Hall
Chesapeake Bay Hall
Davis Hall
Eastern Shore Field Laboratory
Field Support Center
Information Technology
Nunnally Hall
Seawater Research Laboratory
Watermen's Hall

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William J. Hargis, Jr. Library

Hargis Library, a part of the William & Mary (W&M) Libraries group located in Watermen's Hall, supports the diverse information needs of faculty, research scientists, and students at the Batten School of Coastal & Marine Sciences & VIMS by providing a rich array of electronic and print collections in the biological, ecological, oceanographic and physical sciences. These specialized collections are a blend of books, technical reports, online and print based journals as well as topographic maps and nautical charts. Many scientific reports have been digitized and are available for viewing by connecting to the library’s website.

Current research literature can be identified by using major scientific research databases. Students, faculty and staff can also connect to the broad array of over 200 databases available via main campus connections and VIVA - the Virtual Library of Virginia, as well as the materials in the collections of the other W&M libraries. In addition to the collections at W&M, research materials from other institutions can be acquired for your use via Hargis Library’s InterLibrary Loan Service.

Librarians are able to provide help in locating information, identifying the best tools for your research project and clarifying how to access resources. More information on Hargis Library can be viewed at https://www.vims.edu/library/.

Acuff Center for Aquaculture

Completed in 2022, the Acuff Center for Aquaculture is a 22,000-square-foot shellfish hatchery facility that supports collaborative research, education, and advisory teams within VIMS’ Shellfish Aquaculture Program. The building has an expansive open floorplan allowing flexibility to meet the changing research and husbandry needs of many users, including the Aquaculture Genetics and Breeding Technology Center (ABC), a variety of other VIMS researchers, and those who are a part of the VIMS Shellfish Aquaculture Science Initiative (SALT-SI). The facility honors the exceptional leadership and generosity of A. Marshall Acuff, Jr. ‘62, L.H.D. ‘07, P ‘93 on VIMS’ behalf, and is named for the Acuff family.

Analytical Service Center

The Analytical Service Center (ASC) provides water and sediment analyses to students, scientists and governmental agencies. The ASC has researched, refined and developed methodologies for analyses in a wide spectrum of environmental matrices. The quality of data is the result of thorough statistical controls, documentation, and training. Instrumentation is state-of-the-art, with computer control interfacing, background correction and optimization for saline samples.

Andrews Hall

This 71,000-square-foot facility, which was completed in 2007, houses programs in marine ecology and biological oceanography, geological and physical oceanography, fisheries and aquaculture. The facility includes class and meeting rooms for the academic program, which can also be used for distance learning and videoconferencing.

Chesapeake Bay Hall

Completed in 2024, this state-of-the-art (68,240-square-foot) LEED-certified research facility serves as a hub for lab-based research in shellfish health, fisheries genetics, aquatic diseases, harmful algal blooms, marine contaminants, microplastic pollution, microbiology, and plankton ecology. A first-floor teaching lab allows for hands-on learning using cutting-edge instrumentation and scientific tools. 

Davis Hall

Completed in 2018, this 32,000-square-foot facility is the first LEED-certified building on the Gloucester Point campus. Davis Hall is named after VIMS’ Founding Father, W&M Biology Professor Donald W. Davis. The building houses the Center for Coastal Resources Management, Virginia Sea Grant, Information Technology & Networking Services, Marine Advisory Services and News & Media Services.

Eastern Shore Field Laboratory (ESL)

The VIMS ESL campus, on Virginia’s Eastern Shore, offers access to coastal lagoons, salt marshes, barrier islands and coastal waters. Located in Wachapreague, about 2 hours from Gloucester Point, this facility supports research on a wide variety of coastal issues with special emphasis on bivalve aquaculture. The ESL houses a hatchery, nursery, seawater flume, nearby bivalve grow-out sites and has a well-equipped laboratory, small boat facility, and dormitory.

Field Support Center

Completed in 2010, this 10,000-square foot, 3-story facility provides space for a broad range of technical services and vessel maintenance. The technicians, machinists, welders, fabricators, and mechanics on staff can design, fabricate, and repair complex electronic and mechanical instruments and tools. Personnel also assist in designing field programs, operating vessels, and conducting field work either locally or away. They support the diving program, which complies with AAUS standards. In addition to the 93-ft R/V Virginia, 65-ft R/V Bay Eagle, the 29-ft R/V Fish Hawk, and the 29-ft R/V Ellis Olsson, a sizeable fleet of smaller boats can be hauled by trailers. On request, Field Support Center personnel provide training to qualify students to operate boats.

Information Technology (IT)

Information Technology (IT) supports the technology needs of Batten School & VIMS students, faculty, and staff both on campus and remotely with Windows, macOS, and Linux systems (note: Linux support may be limited - contact IT for details). IT maintains the campus-wide network and Wi-Fi, providing fast, secure access to the internet and national research networks. IT offers a wide range of services, including email and file storage, printing and web hosting, database access, high-performance computing, and video conferencing and collaboration tools. Students have access to up-to-date hardware and software in the library and campus computing lab. Short-term laptop loans are also available by request. IT staff are available to help students configure and connect their personal devices, provided they meet minimum system requirements.

Nunnally Hall

Completed in 1992, Nunnally Hall houses modern laboratories, dissection facilities for large vertebrates, and an extensive collection of fishes that includes approximately 350,000 specimens representing approximately 315 families, and more than 1,000 genera of marine and freshwater fishes. The VIMS Nunnally Ichthyology Collection serves a broad community of basic and applied research scientists and fisheries managers, and it provides an important resource for local community outreach. Through its history, the VIMS collection has grown from an uncatalogued teaching collection to become one of the largest repositories for freshwater, Chesapeake Bay, and coastal fishes in Virginia.

Seawater Research Laboratory

This 47,000 square foot facility allows scientists from VIMS and other institutions to conduct research on living marine and estuarine organisms under controlled conditions, allowing for great diversity with respect to the type(s) of organisms which may be studied and the conditions of exposure. The Seawater Research Laboratory consists of six primary contained wet lab areas, including some that are highly specialized to allow the safe containment and treatment of aquatic pathogens and toxins. Special care is taken to protect the laboratory personnel who work within these areas. State-of-the-art filtration and effluent treatment technologies are utilized to protect the receiving waters of the York River estuary from exposure to these compounds as well.

Watermen’s Hall

Opened in 1984, this 40,000 square-foot building houses our Visitors Center, McHugh Auditorium, and many of our administrative offices. It also houses the William J. Hargis Jr. Library, with more than 80,000 volumes and electronic access to marine literature worldwide. The administrative offices headquartered in Watermen’s Hall are Dean & Director, Academic Affairs, Advancement, Finance, Research & Advisory Services, and Sponsored Programs.