Law School launches mediation clinic

The Law School recently opened a clinic to help low-income families resolve disputes outside of the court system, said Kimberly Emery, clinic co-instructor and assistant dean for pro bono and public interest. The Family Alternative Dispute Resolution Clinic originally began as a pilot pro bono clinic and transitioned to an academic credit-granting clinic at the beginning of this semester, Emery said. The clinic will work to resolve disputes through mediation and collaborative practice, said Richard Balnave, clinic co-instructor and law school professor. The juvenile courts refer mediation cases to the clinic and its partner, the Mediation Center of Charlottesville, Balnave said.

Increased diversity of Class of 2013 impresses BOV members

The Special Committee on Diversity met Friday afternoon to present the University's 2009 admission statistics to the Board of Visitors. The total number of applications rose by 17 percent, an increase Dean of Admissions Greg Roberts said may have resulted from the University's use of the common application.

University hospital boasts unique ultrasound technology

The University's Magnetic Resonance Guided Focused Ultrasound Surgery Center - one of the world's most advanced ultrasound facilities - will open its doors for the first time today. University Radiation Oncology Prof.

Frank Batten passes away at age 82

Frank Batten, Sr., who donated $100 million in 2007 to establish the University's Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy, passed away Sept.

University launches new e-mail service for alumni

The University recently partnered with Google to set up Vmail, a new alumni e-mail system that launched last Wednesday.

BOV approves distribution rate increase for fiscal year

The University Board of Visitors Finance Committee approved a 5.5 percent endowment spending distribution rate for the 2009-10 fiscal year after meeting to discuss the status of the University's monetary investments yesterday afternoon. In difficult economic times, the University's endowment helps provide some financial stability to support initiatives as commonwealth funding fluctuates, particularly in light of Gov.

City Council aims to protect LGBTQ rights

[caption id="attachment_30121" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="City Council met Tuesday night to discuss and eventually pass a resolution to protect lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer citizens from discrimination at their jobs.

Department of Corrections ends program

The Virginia Department of Corrections recently decided to cancel a local bookstore's link to a program that provided reading materials to Virginia's inmates because of a concern that contraband items may be hidden in the pages. The 20-year-old Books Behind Bars program allowed Charlottesville's Quest Bookshop to donate books to inmates at the commonwealth's penal institutes in an effort to improve prison literacy rates. "Every item coming in to a facility has to be checked by officers," said Michael Leninger, director of communications for the Virginia Department of Connections.

University sees $10.3m state budget reduction

Gov. Tim Kaine's proposed state funding cuts will result in a $10.3 million budget reduction for the University and higher tuition costs for students next year, said Colette Sheehy, vice president for management and budget. The cuts are part of a statewide initiative that Kaine proposed to close a $1.35 billion budget gap for 2010, Kaine spokesperson Gordon Hickey said.

Republican Laurence Verga enters congressional contest

Laurence Verga announced last Thursday that he is officially running for Virginia's fifth district congressional seat in 2010, making him the third Republican to enter the race. Verga, founder of a real estate company called Verga Consulting and an Albemarle County resident, said he is running for office because he is disappointed in the direction that President Barack Obama and the Democratic Congress are taking the country. "We need to have citizens [in office] that are passionate about politics, not business as usual in D.C.," Verga said, noting that his primary issue is the economy and job creation, which he hopes to achieve by cutting taxes.

Faculty Council discusses new payroll, evaluation systems

[caption id="attachment_30063" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="At yesterday's General Faculty Council meeting, Susan Carkeek, right, explained the new payroll and performance management systems to council members.

College extends drop period

As the University community continues to adjust to the new Student Information System, the College extended its drop deadline for fall courses to Sept.

Archive Index

University seeks more funding for AccessUVa

The University has announced that it will undertake a massive fundraising campaign for AccessUVA so that it can remain an affordable higher education institution. In an e-mail sent yesterday to University alumni and friends, President John T.

StudCo relaunches Newspaper Readership Program on Grounds

Student Council announced last night that it will relaunch last year's Newspaper Readership Program with the New York Times this semester. The program, launched in association with the Arts and Sciences Council, will distribute copies of the New York Times at six locations across Central Grounds, including Alderman Library, Cabell Hall, Newcomb Hall, Observatory Hill Dining Hall, the chemistry building and Clark Library.

Kaine proposes education funding cuts

Gov. Tim Kaine released his spending reduction plan yesterday, proposing up to a 15 percent cut in funding for higher education institutions. "Higher Ed has definitely been hit more than once," Kaine said in a press conference yesterday.