<p>
Yes, and this is why she has not lost her job yet, as opposed to what’s his name and his hastily written email reply-all.</p>
<p>President Sullivan spoke to the BOV for about 10 minutes. She emerged to the Rotunda steps to thunderous applause and chants of “Terry, Terry, Terry”. She spoke briefly to the crowd of roughly 2,000, thanking them for their support. The crowd sang her out with the Good Old Song as she left.</p>
<p>I have to assume that she will face some major internal issues on the Board. Anything cobbled together on one-on-one meetings is not properly described as “overwhelming consensus.” And I get the sense that she did not go to the trouble to have the Board approve her statement. I imagine that several Board of Visitors members are unhappy about what this is doing to their reputation and community standing, and tired of having her announce what the Board has decided before it meets.</p>
<p>If Sullivan had withdrawn her resignation, Dragas and her coup leaders would need a 2/3rds vote to fire her.</p>
<p>However, it looks very very bleak right now. </p>
<p>The board will spend a minute later this afternoon telling everyone what they concluded inside their secret meeting. </p>
<p>The only option left may be for the Va. General Assembly to dissolve and re-constitute the Board of Visitors, which is fully within their power.</p>
<p>This is must reading below.</p>
<p>Professor Larry Sabato goes into full attack mode - including blasting Gov. McDonnell for refusing to do anything to end this debacle. </p>
<p><a href=“https://twitter.com/#!/LarrySabato[/url]”>https://twitter.com/#!/LarrySabato</a></p>
<p>President Sullivan’s statement: </p>
<p>[First</a> Time Since Ouster, Sullivan Speaks - NBC29 WVIR Charlottesville, VA News, Sports and Weather](<a href=“http://www.nbc29.com/story/18817164/first-time-since-outser-sullivan-speaks]First”>http://www.nbc29.com/story/18817164/first-time-since-outser-sullivan-speaks)</p>
<p>McDonnell had the chance to lead. He blew it.</p>
<p>Re Dragas’s comments, pretty much everything I thought she should say with the exception of specifics for the vision. But she seemed to punt on that topic by saying the faculty and deans would be responsible for making the detailed decisions. That really is the business way of doing things…“Make it work! We didn’t force you to cut xyz program that was your decision.” </p>
<p>Re Sullivan’s comments - wow, quite a bit of detail from someone who was saying goodbye. It’s clear that there’s a difference in philosophy between her and the BOV. I’m sympathetic to her position but it was also her responsibility to convince the BOV of the error in their position. I really don’t think she has the option of recinding her resignation especially if provided in writing. In any case, it’s not clear that Sullivan’s approach would achieve in the medium term whatever cost savings the BOV intended. </p>
<p>Interesting tidbit - just receive a long email from the President of VT explaining the financial difficulties facing the university and the steps they are taking to hold the line on tuition increases. While tuition bills will be coming out in the next month I don’t think the timing is coincidental.</p>
<p>Sullivan would have a nightmare year if she rescinded her resignation. Right now, everyone thinks she is in the clear and wherever she goes she will be highly thought of. If she stays, she has to deal with a significant number of influential people who tried to pull a coup on her and clearly do not want to work with her. I would not want to work in that environment and I would not want to be pressured to make things work or be in that environment when I had already decided against it. I wish her all the best in her future endeavors which should be away from all of this mayhem.</p>
<p>
She didn’t owe them anything at this point. The only reason to gravel for your job is if you actually want it. I don’t think she did. I’m not saying it was an option under any circumstances, but IMHO as much as she seemed to love the UVa community I believe she is ready to make this part of her history and move on.</p>
<p>I would agree with your thoughts on the email from VT. Probably not a coincidence. Every public school in the state is facing the same basic issues of pittance in state funding, hesitant to raise tuition too much, restricted in OOS admissions…it’s very hard.</p>
<p>A lot of people showed up to show their support for President Sullivan and the faculty today. I only hope the governor is paying attention. I found Teresa Sullivan’s statement to be sincere; I wish she was staying on. On the other hand, the tone of Ms. Dragas’ statement seems patronizing to me. </p>
<p>Thanks to whoever cleaned the Rotunda columns.</p>
<p>Seeing President Sullivan on tv, speak to the crowd, I did not get the impression she will stay. </p>
<p>I’m glad I did’t vote the Governor and will definately contact his office.</p>
<p>Sullivan was right not to rescind her resignation – something she could easily have done, whether she did it in writing or not. That would have inflamed the situation enormously and made her effectively the leader of an insurrection. It would be almost impossible for anyone to “win” in that context, starting with the University.</p>
<p>By staying resigned, but dressing down the Board publicly – her statement is couched in nice language but it is scathing, and basically calls the Board incompetents – she creates a situation in which the Board’s current leadership can be reined in, and a strong President selected who will uphold the same mainstream ideals as Sullivan. And she even remains available for a draft if things go that far (but I doubt they will).</p>
<p>rjkofnovi:
“When I visited UVA this spring no one mentioned hostile takeovers, closing departments, reputation gaps, or faculty leaving.”</p>
<p>No, but I’m sure they gloated about UVA being the number two ranked public school at USNWR. :-(</p>
<p>Dean J :
College Rep</p>
<p>“anabel1 and rjkofnovi, this all started last Sunday.”</p>
<p>With all respect, Dean J, I know that they did not know about this but I think more about
dept changes could have been mentioned at campus orientations (when visiting specific depts). For instance, I did not know that certain engineering majors were being cut until I talked to that dept on the phone. The website was out of date (and many pages still are) with old info or out of date blogs. Your blog BTW is great.</p>
<p>And yes, my son gave up many other schools, like others. Tuition was a factor in many cases and now I am so uncertain what the future costs are going to be at UVA for the next four yrs. For the most part, UVA has been able to maintain the tuition yr after yr without going up crazy. Now with little money form Richmond and donors threatening to
support UVA, where does that leave us? Maybe UVA bring in more OOS like CA schools do to make ends meet?</p>
<p>livelaugh - Read the statement President Sullivan made to the BOV (linked in post #285 by sabaray). It is very clear she is leaving. She will be missed.</p>
<p>“Already in the last ten days we have lost faculty to other universities”…does it show the list anywhere?</p>
<p>
There are caps on how many students can major in certain departments, but that is not new. If entire departments are being razed in the coming year, that is news to me. The engineering school has a lot of new space. </p>
<p>The VA/OOS ratio can’t be changed without action from Richmond and tuition is set by the Board of Visitors.</p>
<p>[UVa</a> board selects commerce dean as interim president | Daily Progress](<a href=“http://www2.dailyprogress.com/news/2012/jun/19/uva-board-names-interim-president-ar-1997570/]UVa”>http://www2.dailyprogress.com/news/2012/jun/19/uva-board-names-interim-president-ar-1997570/)
</p>
<p>"“The BOV is looking for decisive and bold action, and we should continue to give them what they want,” he said."</p>
<p>UVA better be prepared for some decisive and bold actions from it’s faculty. I have a feeling many are going to want out. What a stupid statement for anyone to make at a time like this.</p>
<p>^^^^^^I totally agree…a really poor choice of words.</p>
<p>Decisive and bold action???
Give them what they want???
Does this guy live in a cave??? The bold in decisive action UVA wants is for the BoV to resign.</p>
<p>It’s so disappointing that we chose UVA for our daughter’s education. We’re investing tens of thousands of OOS tuition dollars and this debacle is the best that the university can do? But then, obviously the administration does not care what the students or their parents think, as there is a long line of students waiting to take their places if they decide to leave. What a mess!</p>