The University of Virginia Board of Visitors is meeting for the first time since the controversial ouster and reinstatement of President Teresa Sullivan. She and the board are taking part in a two-day retreat in Richmond starting Wednesday.
It was supposed to be her final day as president of UVA, but instead Sullivan is leading a retreat for the board of visitors that reinstated her amid a swell of controversy.
The board is creating a strategic planning committee, a new group that will act as a liaison between the board of visitors and President Sullivan to bring about change at UVA.
Getting back on track, UVA's board of visitors and its president began to plan for the future of the university. A facilitator helped tee up the big picture issues facing UVA and the board, which include how to do more with less.
"We live in a time where the traditional operating principles and the possible future of higher education generate serious debate and questioning," said UVA Rector Helen Dragas.
Dragas said major shifts are afoot affecting sustainable funding, educational delivery and academic quality. She again apologized for the controversy surrounding Sullivan's forced resignation and reinstatement, and said its time to find true common ground with the university's president.
Sullivan said, "I think it's very important to address how we will work together collaboratively."
But during the discussion about "leading change and sustaining excellence," Dragas focused on what she called "winds of change" - specifically the pace of that change.
"Deciding if, when and how to react or even proactively plan can be a complicated labyrinth to navigate," Dragas said.
UVA Faculty Senate Chair George Cohen watched the three-hour discussion, and says the talk isn't drilling down to the issues at UVA.
"It's good to at least get people talking," he said. "I think that's a positive thing and hopefully something good will come out of it."
The governor sent a letter to the entire board Tuesday. In it, he congratulates UVA for making the number one stop in Forbes magazine and having the lowest tuition hike in the state, but he did say the work with Sullivan needs to be honest.
Six new people are joining the board of visitors group, including four new appointments to the regular board and two advisors. One of the advisors is former chief operating officer Leonard Sandridge.
Wednesday's session ran until 5:30 p.m. The second half of the retreat starts at 8:30 a.m. Thursday at the Omni Hotel and should wrap up about 11:30.
