Much of the destabilization and change characterizing the University’s last year has occurred at the administrative and governance level — the Board of Visitors composition is largely redone, U.Va. Health has seen an abundance of executive leadership turnover and the University has a new University President, Scott Beardsley. However, throughout the past year, students have made their voices heard on the changes impacting their educational experience.
When reflecting on the events of the last year, students most strongly emphasized the value of student input and engagement in University affairs. Undergraduate leaders expressed hope that students would continue to feel empowered to make their voices heard in the future.
In regards to institutional stability, student leaders fell along a continuum, with some expressing confidence in the University’s stable footing, while others expressed doubt, making clear federal overreach and the ensuing instability continue to affect the University’s future. Some expressed cautious optimism and approval of Beardsley’s leadership, while others argued there are ominous, long-standing consequences of federal overreach.
Throughout the last year, various University-affiliated groups and Contracted Independent Organizations issued statements, met with University leaders and voiced their concerns about federal interference, leadership changes and the enduring values of the University.
Student Council issued statements asking the Board to pause its search for the next University president and opposing the Trump administration’s Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education. Council members have met with Beardsley and commented on “unconstitutional demands” from the White House. Additionally, various CIOs, including University Democrats and many identity affinity groups, spoke out against federal interference in higher education and issued opinions on changes in Board governance.
As student leaders reflected on the events of the last year since Ryan’s resignation, they encouraged fellow students to stay up to date on University happenings. They asked for faculty and administrative members to make time to consider student voices.
Students are capable leaders and should be included in the governance considerations
Many students said that since the moment of Ryan’s departure, the student body demonstrated thoughtful engagement.
Saehee Pérez, Student Council vice president for administration and rising fourth-year College student, said in an email statement to The Cavalier Daily that due to this evident student engagement, the connection between students and administrators should be strengthened.
“For those who are now in University leadership, I think a key takeaway from President Ryan’s departure is how much students are willing and eager to engage in University affairs if given the space and option,” Pérez wrote. “As such, I think it’s crucial that proper rapport is built between students and admin.”
Pérez said this connection would ideally reach University students of all backgrounds. In return for this bridge, she expressed hope that students would feel empowered to use a mutual avenue of communication in considerations of University governance, voicing their opinions and concerns.
Michael Mitchell, Student Council president and rising fourth-year Commerce student, echoed this hope for increased student engagement in the future. According to Mitchell, students have proven they are active members of the University community over the past year.
“What I hope endures from this past year is the heightened awareness students have shown toward both University and state-level affairs,” Mitchell wrote. “I would love to see that kind of engagement carry forward in times of greater stability.”
Building off of Mitchell and Pérez’s statements, Semony Shah, University Democrats president and rising fourth-year Commerce student, labeled this level of student engagement as a critical value of the University in an email statement to The Cavalier Daily.
“Ultimately, this past year has shown that student governance and our ability to organize and fight back are the true defining characteristics of our University, not its administration,” Shah wrote.
College Republicans did not respond to request for comment on the University’s institutional stability one year after Ryan’s departure.
More broadly speaking, Pérez emphasized the importance of student engagement in politics — inside and outside of the University.
“I hope this anniversary reminds students about the importance of keeping up with politics and its real-world impact,” Pérez wrote. “I also hope it pushes students to think beyond the just politics that affect them and consider how it affects those who don't share the same privileges or opportunities as well.”
Looking forward, Harper Tran, Student Council vice president for organizations and rising fourth-year Batten student, said in an email statement to The Cavalier Daily that interactions between leadership and students will be vital to rebuilding trust.
“To rebuild trust, I encourage leadership across Grounds to continue having open, accessible conversations with students, and student leaders to ensure there are pathways open for those whose voices often go unheard,” Tran wrote.
The University is on steady footing
A couple student leaders expressed to The Cavalier Daily their confidence in the University’s ability to navigate the adversities of the last year. They expressed careful optimism in University leadership’s ability to maintain its values of academic rigor and excellence throughout administrative change.
Raheem Bashir, Class of 2029 president and rising second-year Commerce student, said in an email statement to The Cavalier Daily he believes the University is more institutionally stable than it may seem. According to Bashir, Beardsley’s “clarity of purpose” upon entering his role and his early stewardship is promising.
Bashir was a rising first-year at the time Ryan resigned and never attended the University under his leadership. Nonetheless, he acknowledged Ryan’s departure due to federal interference forced “a leadership transition nobody asked for,” but according to Bashir, the University handled the change well.
“The institution is in steadier hands than the last year might suggest from the outside,” Bashir wrote. “President Beardsley came in with clarity of purpose — research excellence, global competitiveness, preparing graduates for a world being reshaped by AI and economic disruption.”
Bashir wrote Beardlsey recognizes the University’s dependence on federal funding. According to Bashir, research universities cannot walk away from national funding sources, and Beardsley is attempting to “build a cushion” by creating a “leaner internal structure,” building artificial intelligence corporate partnerships and conducting targeted philanthropy.
“The goal is resilience, not independence. If another funding shock hits, U.Va. absorbs it rather than freezes. That's the right framework,” Bashir wrote.
Mitchell agreed there is some sense of stabilization across Grounds, although he noted more work must be done following a shaking year.
“President Ryan's departure marked the beginning of a year defined by transition and confusion, but there has been a notable stabilization across the University's leadership, from the President's office to the Board of Visitors,” Mitchell wrote. “That said, the University is still in flux, and the work of finding solid footing is not finished.”
There is stabilizing work to be done
Other students were less optimistic about the University’s positioning. Some said it is vital for the University’s leadership to reflect continuity and foster a sense of security in the student experience, which the University has not always been able to do this year. Pérez said that frequent leadership changes can prevent this sense of security from returning to Grounds.
“I think President Ryan’s departure made clear how important institutional stability is for students to feel like they can navigate the University without uncertainty,” Pérez wrote. “With the continuing prevalence of ‘interims’ at U.Va., I think much of the University is still in the process of finding that stability.”
Shah pointed to enduring consequences of federal overreach in the last year as truncating a sense of institutional stability. She said that actions by the federal government have sewn distrust that continues to fester today.
"The lasting effects of federal overreach continue to darken the institutional stability at the University a year after President Ryan's forced resignation by the Trump administration,” Shah wrote. “This instability has created a deep sense of distrust among students and faculty that the newly appointed Board of Visitors has yet to address … [and] we have yet to see any promising or substantive change that restores student faith in University leadership.”
Tran provided thoughts on where the University should go from here — as stabilization steadily returns, the University community must pause to absorb lessons from the last year. With these learning sentiments, it can move forward more resiliently.
“Jim Ryan's departure marked the beginning of a period of uncertainty across the University. As we enter a new academic year on more stable footing, I think it's important that we don't forget or brush aside what we've experienced but reflect and build on lessons learned,” Tran wrote.
Grace Little is a news editor for the 137th term. She is a third-year student from Dallas, Texas majoring in Neuroscience and the Interdisciplinary Major in Public Policy, Politics and Media Studies. She enjoys writing about the shifting landscape of higher education.
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