In his first meeting with the Faculty Senate as president, Beardsley introduced himself and provided an update on his work during the first several weeks of his term.
The three participating panelists also considered the role of politics in education and attitudes towards diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives in education and the workforce.
The review by both firms followed a letter of no confidence sent Sept. 5, 2024 to the Board of Visitors, in which 128 U.Va. Physicians Group-employed faculty demanded the removal of Kent and Kibbe.
The Board of Visitors appointed John Harris to the Health System Board, which is charged with oversight of U.Va. Health and the Medical Center.
Despite having a long-term career in the private sector working in consulting, Beardsley shifted towards education leadership in 2015 and, more than 10 years later, will begin his position as the University’s president today.
An engagement letter between the Virginia attorney general’s office and Wilkinson Stekloff law firm, obtained by The Cavalier Daily from an anonymous source, confirms that the firm was retained to represent the Board in the days leading to Ryan's resignation.
Two additional discussions focused on the extension of the Representation and Governance committee — a temporary committee established in Spring 2025 — and a new course materials platform the University plans to introduce, titled One Access.
Sheridan said that since signing the Justice Department agreement, the University has seen a “dramatic rise in divisive politics."
Sources qualified the search or elements of the search as “highly unusual” in large part because of the actions of Porter Wilkinson, who was at the time a member of the Board of Visitors and is now vice rector.
The presidential search committee and the University’s external search firm announced Friday that the search would continue, despite a Faculty Senate resolution passed Nov. 14 which called for a pause.
