<p>[Cabal</a> Hall? Why would Darden trump Carr’s Hill? | The Hook - Charlottesville’s weekly newspaper, news magazine](<a href=“http://www.readthehook.com/104213/cabal-hall-why-does-darden-trump-carrs-hill]Cabal”>http://www.readthehook.com/104213/cabal-hall-why-does-darden-trump-carrs-hill)</p>
<p>Interesting piece about “the Darden Cabal”</p>
<p>
To the best of my knowledge, the student representative doesn’t have a vote on the board. </p>
<p>Could you dial this down a bit Charlie? The phrase “Palace coup leaders” is a little much. Every local news outlet is going to milk this for all it’s worth and make it as sensational as possible trying to connect relationships and motives. They are contradicting each other on key items at times. There is a lot we don’t know, we may never know, however at this early date, the extent that we do know is minimal and not enough to make judgements.</p>
<p>
I have a hunch that the “philosophical differences” cited by the BOV boil down to business vs. educators. Ideally a university president balances both of these interests. I think we are seeing a shift toward UVA placing a higher priority on the business side of higher education. If this is proven true, it will be a sad day for academics.</p>
<p>“My goodness… I find all these posts about USNews rankings quite troubling. Why do they even matter? The funny thing is that the top schools are only the top schools because students make them the top schools. What would happen if all of America’s best and brightest attended community colleges?”</p>
<p>UVA’s current business model depends upon the one-third OOS students paying two-thirds of UVA’s tuition revenue. UVA is no longer the screaming deal that it was back when I attended OOS. Tuition, room and board at UVA now run $46k. OOS parents like me need to perceive that UVA is a “good enough” school to justify that outlay as compared to our alternatives.</p>
<p>Those OOS kids also apply to similary ranked private schools like Vanderbilt, Wake Forest, Notre Dame (sticker price low 50s but often with merit aid that drops the net price), other OOS flagships like UNC ($36k sticker), and their home state flagship ($15-20k sticker).</p>
<p>It is easy to bang on US News and the other rankings as flawed or arbitrary. But they’re not any worse than the other non-quantitative methods that parents and kids use to determine what schools are good enough to pay for. If UVA’s rankings are not good, its business model doesn’t work so good.</p>
<p>Second point. UVA’s US News ranking gets pulled down a lot by its low score for financial resources. That isn’t an arbitrary or irrelevant factor. Sullivan and the BOV both have expressed serious concern over UVA’s future ability to pay competitive compensation to high quality faculty. US News is seeing and grading the exact same thing.</p>
<p>More on the 33 letter. I doubt they can undo what has been done. </p>
<p>[33</a> U.Va. leaders urge board to reconsider Sullivan ouster | Richmond Times-Dispatch](<a href=“http://www2.timesdispatch.com/news/news/2012/jun/13/33-uva-leaders-urge-board-reconsider-sullivan-oust-ar-1985309/]33”>http://www2.timesdispatch.com/news/news/2012/jun/13/33-uva-leaders-urge-board-reconsider-sullivan-oust-ar-1985309/)</p>
<p>Also Governor steps back from fray.</p>
<p>[Governor</a> ‘surprised’ by dismissal of Sullivan | Daily Progress](<a href=“http://www2.dailyprogress.com/news/2012/jun/12/governor-surprised-dismissal-sullivan-ar-1983846/]Governor”>http://www2.dailyprogress.com/news/2012/jun/12/governor-surprised-dismissal-sullivan-ar-1983846/)</p>
<p>There’s way too much drama going on around this issue. The reasons for Sullivan’s departure are, I’m sure, quite transparent to her. I doubt the board would want to share those details with the public for many reasons.</p>
<p>You do not have the support of most of the faculty, staff and students if you are doing a bad job. Just does not make sense. They will need to come clean as they are still a public school and have to answer to that public for their decisions including the whys of them. If they have an ace they better play it soon. So far just crap cards about dyanmic change whatever that means. And Michael Mann is not enough reason either.</p>
<p>Charlie – speaking as a UVA alum, UVA parent and a lawyer, you need to lighten up as you are way around the bend. There’s no doubt that Sullivan was ousted in compliance with all applicable laws and contracts. The Dardenites on the BOV surely know plenty of smart UVA law grads from their days up on the North Grounds who would have advised them how to do this. Sullivan is gone, isn’t coming back and doesn’t want to come back. She’ll get a reasonable severance deal and will move on to some other plush university job where she’ll be very happy.</p>
<p>The most important task of any board is to decide who the president/CEO should be. If the BOV honestly didn’t think Sullivan was the right leader and had a different philosophy, then they are obliged to remove her (despite her luminous resume and how well-liked she was by the faculty). I doubt this had anything to do with climate change or right/left wing conspiracy theories.</p>
<p>The only thing I’d like to hear is what exactly is the philosophy/vision for UVA going forward? It is standard procedure for the BOV and Sullivan to not be talking much about this at this point in time. So we won’t really learn what that philosophical difference was for weeks or months.</p>
<p>My guess is that Sullivan (who is an academic type) wasn’t psyched up about the financial and political realities facing UVA – make more seats available to in-staters, don’t raise tuition, and get by with less and less money coming from the state. Which translates into (i) go out and raise a TON of money, (ii) increase enrollment significantly, but (iii) do so while spending less not more. So that means stuff like 3 year degree tracks, bigger classes, online class delivery, and lay offs.</p>
<p>I don’t really like that philosophy for UVA and I bet many of the BOV don’t either. But that seems to be the hand that has been dealt to the BOV by VA taxpayers and VA politicians. Can’t raise tuition; can’t get more state money; can’t increase OOS enrollment at the expense of in-staters.</p>
<p>Charlie–As you likely know, I am a UVA alum too. My son is a rising second year, my daughter a rising first year. I appreciate that you are digging into this. I actually used the word “coup” to describe this situation when it first broke. While northwesty and blue iguana may be uncomfortable with your approach (I admit, I don’t usually operate so aggressively myself), I think it is necessary given the circumstances. We deserve a detailed explanation for the seemingly covert actions. If it was above board, why all the secrecy? </p>
<p>The BOV’s actions concern me on many levels. This isn’t a private institution; it is a state school founded by Thomas Jefferson. It is alarming to think that a few people are using their power to secure their own agenda. I hope the truth comes out so that we can all move forward.</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.cavalierdaily.com/2012/06/13/board-faces-pressure-to-explain-sullivans-resignation/[/url]”>http://www.cavalierdaily.com/2012/06/13/board-faces-pressure-to-explain-sullivans-resignation/</a></p>
<p>Ms. Dragas’ response to faculty concerns:</p>
<p>[More</a> Reaction To Sullivan Resignation, Rector Responds To UVA Faculty - 1070 WINA](<a href=“http://www.wina.com/Reaction-To-Sullivan-Resignation-Rector-Responds-T/13433066]More”>http://www.wina.com/Reaction-To-Sullivan-Resignation-Rector-Responds-T/13433066)</p>
<p>She still doesn’t answer the questions…</p>
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<p>I’m sure we don’t catch every blog link or email quote - we rely on reports for the most part.</p>
<p>Dragas could not be more clear that she is not going to publicly discuss Sullivan’s perceived shortcomings. That is standard procedure in these situations. Also clear that the lawyers have forbidden Dragas from doing that. So don’t expect anyone to say “Sullivan couldn’t raise money” or “Sullivan was unwilling to do online classes” or “Sullivan wouldn’t do layoffs.” It will be weeks or months until the real story seeps out. Until then, it will just be cliches about different outlooks and philosophies.</p>
<p>My guess is that the BOV felt Sullivan wasn’t on board with the aggressive agenda that VA’s elected representatives have for VA’s universities – more degrees for VA residents in less time and at lower cost and without more state money and especially in STEM areas. To me, that sounds like the future UVA is supposed to be less Princeton and more Penn State. Or, dare I say it, more like Tech…</p>
<p>I fear that our state administrators will embark on a path to “dumbdown” the University of Virginia through increased in-state enrollment, online degrees. and restrictions on research. I would hate to see UVA become another VT. . This Republican will be voting Democratic in 2013.</p>
<p>The last comment by a poster seeming to disparage Virginia Tech, one of the best engineering and architecture schools in the county, unfortunately seems pretty typical of the pompous , arrogant stereotype that sometimes follows UVa. " I would hate to see UVa become another VT." Amazing. Having one UVa kid and now one at VT, it is disheartening to see that kind of attitude.</p>
<p>My apologies. My intent was not to disparage VT. It is indeed an outstanding university with one of our country’s best engineering departments. I was once a grad student and TA there. Nevertheless, the two schools are different. I would hate to see UVA undergrad education become as large as VT’s. My concern is with possible changes that may be forthcoming based on comments from previous posters and the BOV remarks. I am quite proud that UVA is a highly competitive university and one of the finest schools in the country. I worry about changes that might diminish that reputation.</p>
<p>Well said sevmom. Same situation here. One in each. Both excellent.</p>
<p>Thank you for clarifying that, teacher56. And yes, guillaume, I am glad to get a response from teacher56. Obviously, teacher56’s comments struck a nerve with not only me. Agree-both excellent schools.</p>
<p>Updated Washington Post Article. This gives a glimmer into what Sullivan presented to the board in May. </p>
<p>[U-Va</a>. board: President Teresa Sullivan’s removal came after an “extended” talk over school’s health - The Washington Post](<a href=“http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/u-va-board-president-teresa-sullivans-removal-came-after-an-extended-talk-over-schools-health/2012/06/13/gJQAV1E9aV_story.html]U-Va”>http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/u-va-board-president-teresa-sullivans-removal-came-after-an-extended-talk-over-schools-health/2012/06/13/gJQAV1E9aV_story.html)</p>
<p>Which of these were elected by McDonnell?</p>
<p>[Board</a> Members/Staff, Board of Visitors, University of Virginia](<a href=“http://www.virginia.edu/bov/visitorsandstaff.html]Board”>http://www.virginia.edu/bov/visitorsandstaff.html)</p>