February 28, 2025
2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Madison Hall PCR & Zoom Webinar
Senators Present: Huiwang Ai, Aaron Bloomfield, Eve Danzinger, Jennifer Greeson, Michael Kennedy, Jim Lambert, Alicia Lopez Opere, Andrew Pennock, Brian Pusser, Eric Ramirez-Weaver, Sue Saliba, Jim Savage, Jeri Seidman, Jessica Sewell, Brian Wright
Ex-Officio & Guests Present: Kim Acquaviva, Maite Brandt Pearce, Ian Mullin, Monica Park
Call to Order: Jim called the meeting to order at 2:01
Jim shared a slide showing the timeline of senate activities.
Review and approval of EXCO minutes from February 10, 2025: unanimous consent to approve.
Maite Brandt Pearce:
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There’s now an Online Targeting Resources website for faculty.
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Provost Policy 004 has been submitted to school leadership, faculty senate policy committee, general faculty counsel to gather revision feedback to constitute the scope of the changes.
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Questions were raised about nonstudents attending classes, what is allowed, is there any guidance if ICE were to show up? If faculty know of other universities that have come out with policies, feel free to share those as a starting point for UVA.
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Questions about how the flow of information works: senators not receiving information from Dean or GFC representative. Governance ad hoc committee can investigate this.
BOV Representative Michael Kennedy:
BOV had a special session to hear the results of the William & Connolly investigation. Only governor appointed members could attend. Craig Kent, head of UVA Health System, resigned following the meeting.
On February 21, the BOV released Resolutions on Gender Care and Proper Board Governance.
Discussion about BOV and if they will release and of the Williams & Connolly findings? Discussion about the final Resolved Further statement where the Board states they should be consulted on any material policy changes or the creation of any task force or other committee created to formulate or evaluate and potential material policy changes.
Resolution on External Challenges
The resolution passed via a Qualtrics vote with the results being 59 For, 6 Against, and 6 Abstain. Discussion about how to get the news of this resolution out. Suggestions for UVA Today, UVA Arts magazine, or reaching out to Brian Coy.
Planning March 21 agenda
Health system change of leadership needs to be there.
Shelter in place needs a time slot to acknowledge it.
Outside people in classroom, what are the rules?
Karen Inkelas rolling out new teaching evaluations – discussion to remove from the agenda or keep. Should this move to a committee?
Greg Roberts, Dean of Admissions: scheduled to present at the March faculty senate meeting. Questions for him to answer:
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Clarify students being admitted through the transfer portal. How is recruiting? How are the programs he created working and what are the strategies going forward?
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University guides have been disbanded, how will tours and admission be handled?
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How is the university responding to the language in executive order about disallowing mentioning of race in applications.
DEI Committee:
Drafted a Resolution of the University of Virginia Faculty Senate in Defense of Academic Freedom, Institutional Integrity, and the Principles of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion:
WHEREAS, the University of Virginia was founded upon the principles of free inquiry, freedom of thought, and the pursuit of knowledge as articulated by Thomas Jefferson, author of the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom and the primary author of the Declaration of Independence;
WHEREAS, the University of Virginia is committed to upholding the ideals of free speech, academic freedom, and the open exchange of ideas, as evidenced by its selection as the top institution in the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression’s 2024 college free speech rankings;
WHEREAS, the University of Virginia faculty are dedicated to educating students, conducting research, and serving society in ways that promote intellectual growth and cultivate a more informed workforce equipped to participate fully in a modern democracy, which necessarily involves robust debate among diverse viewpoints, as well as active and equitable efforts to include marginalized perspectives from across the political spectrum;
WHEREAS, the Presidential executive order on “Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing” of 20 January 2025 and the Department of Education’s Dear Colleague Letter of 14 February 2025 threaten to undermine these foundational principles by imposing restrictions on what faculty can research and teach;
WHEREAS, these restrictions jeopardize the University’s capacity to fulfill its mission as an institution of higher learning and its commitment to fostering a community characterized by respect, dignity, and the free exchange of ideas;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the University of Virginia Faculty Senate:
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Affirms its unwavering commitment to the principles of academic freedom, freedom of expression, and the pursuit of knowledge without governmental interference;
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Stands in resolute support of faculty members whose teaching, research, and related service engage with issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion, recognizing these efforts as essen6al to the University’s mission;
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Commits to working diligently with the University administra6on—including the Deans of Schools, the Provost, the President of the University, and the Board of Visitors—to protect faculty rights, defend the integrity of academic inquiry, and ensure the University remains a bastion of free thought and open discourse in service of our communities, Commonwealth, and country;
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Demands an inclusive, on-going dialogue between all levels of the administration and the Faculty Senate in order to promote the Jeffersonian values on which this institution was founded.
Motion to add it to the March full senate meeting agenda. Motion seconded with all in favor, and one abstain.
Listening Session: Jim Lambert shared some topics that were part of the External Challenges listening session on February 24. He also mentioned that these have been shared with President Ryan and Provost Baucom.
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Accounting revenue and cost impacts of policy changes.
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Planning senator roles in review and formation of policy changes.
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Describing responsibilities or rights of faculty/staff/students if immigration officials arrive to their classrooms or laboratories.
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Understanding how the President and Provost communicate with the BOV about policy changes.
Standing Committees:
AAC: No report
FRRRW: No report
Policy: Provost Policy 004 please reach out to the Policy Committee. They have a Box that can be accessed through the Faculty Senate website.
DEI: Committee is meeting on Monday with Brie and Christa Acampora on the Religious Task Force initiatives. They’ve met with students and are passing along their concerns.
Grievance: The Committee has one or more cases under review.
Finance: Lori McMahon has been invited to speak.
RTS: No report. They’ve been meeting with Lori McMahon
Ad hoc on Bylaws: Aaron is collecting comments on bylaws. He will need 5 – 10 minutes at the March meeting but will need longer at a meeting past that.
Ad hoc on Representation and Governance: Brian Pusser is meeting with the Office of the President about how they put people on committees. After that he will go to the Provost Office. Jeri Seidman is gathering information about how each school interacts with senators.
Nominating Committee: Michael Kennedy updated EXCO that the is one candidate for chair elect and he is in negotiations with two others. Candidates will give their statements at the April meeting. So far, there is not a candidate for Faculty Senate of VA which is an easy job to handle.
EXCO At Large will have two open seats and there are currently three candidates.
Athletics Advisory Council: Jeri Seidman stated that they have a meeting on Monday, March 3.
Worked on agenda items for Faculty Senate meeting on March 21, 2025.
Meeting adjourned 4:19