Transparency Matters

Dear Wahoos,

The Board of Visitors will be holding their meeting at the Boar’s Head Resort this week. When we went online to view the meeting agenda yesterday, we were surprised to see the following notice:

PLEASE NOTE: THERE WILL BE A CLEAR BAG POLICY IN PLACE AT THE BOAR'S HEAD RESORT PAVILION FOR THESE MEETINGS.

Let’s be clear, security is a very serious matter. Every member of the Board and the University community deserves to be safe, and if there is a credible threat, we applaud the University in taking proactive steps.

However, the bags should not be the end of transparency at the Boar’s Head. Transparency must be present within the room where the BOV decisions are made as well. The actions of the Board must be as transparent as those bags.

The Presidential Search

Scott Ballenger, Secretary to the Board of Visitors, conveyed to the Faculty Senate that the selection of the tenth president is not listed on the Board’s meeting agenda. However, as we know from actions taken during previous meetings of the Board, the absence of an agenda item does not prevent Board members from putting forward a resolution during the meeting itself. It is our hope that the Secretary’s statement does not obfuscate the true intent of Board members.

Many in the University community lack trust in this Board because of its continued refusal to pause an ill-conceived search which risks a failed presidency. This has prompted anxious watching and waiting. Many believe this Board will not pass up an opportunity to name a president before the Commonwealth’s Governor-elect can fill the vacancies which have made the current BOV non-compliant with statutory requirements.  We hope the Board will show good judgement and restraint, and refrain from acting on this crucial issue when its very legitimacy is in question.

You can view the schedule for this week’s Board of Visitors meeting here: https://bov.virginia.edu/meetings/december-3-5-2025-meeting-board  Open sessions of the meeting will be streamed live for public viewing and can be accessed at https://bov.virginia.edu/live.

In The News

Here are a few recent media pieces that may be of interest:

• “After calls to pause, presidential search committee defends its ongoing work.” Virginia Magazine (UVA Alumni Association).
• “Nine deans ask U.Va. Board of Visitors to pause selection of 10th president.” The Cavalier Daily.
• “UVA interim president’s feet held to the fire during state Senate subcommittee hearing.” Cville Right Now.
• “UVA's presidential search continues despite protests from politicians, faculty and students.” WVTF
• Op-Ed by William Walker. “Weeping at their destiny, rather than laughing at their folly.” Richmond Times-Dispatch.
• Op-Ed by Michael King: “Backroom agreements have no place at U.Va.” The Cavalier Daily.

As always, we will be watching closely and keeping the community informed. This Board may control the agenda this week, but they do not control the narrative — not when thousands of students, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends of the University are paying attention. Transparency is not a burden; it is a basic expectation of public leadership. Until this Board chooses to meet that expectation, we will continue to shine a light where they will not.

With determination and resolve,

Ann Brown (College ‘74, Law ‘77) and Chris Ford (Engineering ‘87)

Co-Chairs, Wahoos4UVA

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