This year, we are excited to welcome 72 new students into our undergraduate Public Policy & Leadership minor. 

The Public Policy & Leadership minor continues to be a popular option for students to consider. We received 143 applications for this program, with an admittance rate of 79%. This year, we brought in students from across the country, including Alabama, California, Georgia, Illinois, Texas, and Pennsylvania, as well as students with dual citizenship to six countries. Minority students comprise slightly over a third of the class, and women comprise over three-quarters of the program. 

We admitted students with GPAs that ranged from 2.946 to 4.0, with an average class GPA of 3.71. Students from the minor are majoring in the McIntire School, the School of Education and Human Development, and the College, in majors ranging from American Studies to Computer Science to German to Media Studies to Sociology. Students were active in a variety of CIOs and organizations (including the Asian Student Union, Environmental Justice Collective, Madison House, Student Council, The Virginia Belles, and Cavalier Daily), undergraduate research, and part-time positions across and off Grounds, including with the Office of the Texas Attorney General, Teach for America, and political campaigns.  

 In addition to the minor in Public Policy & Leadership, Batten – offers a Social Entrepreneurship minor, a pan-university, interdisciplinary program that allows you to take electives across many different schools at UVA. This year we welcome 45 students into the SE Minor. Part of the larger Entrepreneurship minor housed administratively at McIntire, our social entrepreneurship track focuses on impact investing, entrepreneurial approaches to global development, and equity-based leadership. All you need to do to apply to this program is to take ENTP 1010: Startup to gain access to the application. 

Batten’s minors welcome applications from all students who will have completed required prerequisites by the start of the programs and exhibit readiness for the rigorous curricula. Enrollment into each minor is open, but dependent on class capacity. 

Together, our differences make us stronger. Together, we are Batten. We look forward to bringing in the next group of committed policy leaders in the months to come! If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to send us an email at BattenAdmissions@virginia.edu or make an appointment to discuss our minor programs with Estrella!