The Board of Visitors’ Committee on the College at Wise convened Monday in the David J. Prior Convocation Center in Wise, Va. following a series of Board meetings Thursday in Charlottesville.
The Board named Jackson Sleadd, Class of 2027 President and third-year College student, and Jeri Seidman, outgoing Faculty Senate chair and professor of Commerce, as the incoming student and faculty representatives to the University’s Board for the 2026-27 academic year.
The Finance Committee, chaired by Vice Rector Victoria Harker, is responsible for the University’s financial affairs and business operations, and the Committee manages the budget, tuition and student fees.
Written reports submitted by the Office of Audit and Compliance to the committee outlined high-risk findings in student services, information technology, parking operations and payroll administration at U.Va. Health.
The full Board of Visitors will convene Thursday to vote on tuition and fees for the 2026-27 academic year, hear an update on research at the University and discuss the University’s risk management programs.
The Faculty Senate’s Executive Council met Friday to hear updates from University President Scott Beardsley on his future strategic planning for the University, which will aim to build upon former University President Jim Ryan’s 2030 Plan.
During public comment, fourth-year Engineering student Alexander Church spoke out against the proposal, noting the University's budget should be limited to mitigate the need to increase tuition.
University President Scott Beardsley did not know as a college student that he would become president of the University — he said he “never envisioned” it, but then again, he said he never envisioned marrying a French woman or moving to Belgium, either.
The panelists reflected on campaigns, presidential transitions of power and the domestic policy challenges of the Obama administration — such as the federal budget, sustainable urban planning, civil rights and healthcare.
Vice Rector Victoria Harker immediately moved the committee into closed session to begin the interview process for the student representative position.
According to his close friends, colleagues and family members, he will be remembered for his commitment to the communities which he was involved in and for going above and beyond in everything he did, from his scientific discoveries to his care for the people around him.
University spokesperson Bethanie Glover announced in an email release Wednesday that the University will pause its search for a permanent executive vice president and provost, delaying the selection of a new provost until the next academic year at the earliest.
Senators heard from Jim Lambert, faculty representative to the Board of Visitors, who discussed the Board’s one-day meeting March 5.
During an open forum discussion period at the meeting, Senate leadership discussed a potential resolution brought forth by Senate members, which would call for the Board to rescind its March 2025 resolution to dissolve the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.
Ten newly-appointed members and the remaining seven selected Carlos Brown as rector Feb. 20.
Harker is a Class of 1986 alumna and a former Board member — former Gov. Robert McDonnell (R) appointed Harker to the Board in 2012.
Philip E. Bourne served as the first Stephenson Dean of the School of Data Science from the School’s founding in 2019 until his passing Sunday.
Craig Kent, former chief executive officer of U.Va. Health, filed a defamation lawsuit Feb. 23 seeking more than $34 million in damages against the law firm and individual attorneys whose report to the University Board of Visitors preceded his resignation last year.
The full Board of Visitors met Thursday afternoon for the first time since the appointment of Rector Carlos Brown, Vice Rector Victoria Harker and eight other new Board members by Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D).
The Health System Board is a subcommittee of the Board of Visitors that oversees the operations of the University Medical Center, the School of Medicine and the School of Nursing.
