After the first semester of faculty representation on the Board of Visitors, both faculty members and administrators are calling the change a success.
Last June, the Board invited former Faculty Senate Chair Kenneth Schwartz to serve as a non-voting member of the Board's Educational Policy Committee, the External Affairs Committee and the Special Committee on Diversity in an attempt to provide faculty with a more active voice on the Board.
"The Faculty Senate Chair has attended Board meetings for several years, and has frequently spoken, answered questions, etc.," President John T. Casteen, III wrote in an e-mail. "The change is perhaps in part a matter of bringing faculty interests more centrally into the relevant committees' work."
Current Faculty Senate Chair Ricardo Padron echoed a similar sentiment, noting that he feels the change allows for faculty to be heard more actively by the Board.
"What I saw in the last Board meeting was that Ken was able to ask questions and make remarks and managed to get the Board talking about things that might not have made it into the conversation otherwise," Padron said.
According to Schwartz, he has worked to draw the Board's attention to key needs of the University, such as graduate student and faculty support.
"They clearly understand that new initiatives must always consider these core needs," Schwartz said.
According to Board Secretary Alexander Gilliam, Schwartz's participation during the fall semester has been "very beneficial," but the full impact of his input cannot truly be measured until later in the semester.
The possible impact that the position can have in the future is unknown, according to Padron, who said it is currently important for Schwartz to form relationships within the committees.
"It's a matter of relationship building, and that is when we can start asking questions about what we can actually do with [the position]," Padron said.
Schwartz added that he is "pleased and honored to be involved" on the Board.
"On behalf of the Senate and the faculty as a whole, we believe that it is very valuable to have a voice at the table with these three important committees," he said.
Read More
Student Council votes to relocate Hereford orchard and basketball hoop
By Lauren Seeliger | 9 hours agoStudent Council passed a resolution Tuesday to relocate the orchard and basketball hoop of Hereford Residential College due to construction in the surrounding area.
Dean Rucker honored with Z Society’s highest honor, Pale Z Award
By Brendon Bordwine | YesterdayThe Society has a storied history of honoring University leaders with the Pale Z.
Students receive free STI testing through U.Va. Health and Wellness
By Jackie Bond | YesterdayThrough funding from Student Council, students are now able to receive free STI testing with SHW which includes tests for HIV, Syphilis, Gonorrhea, Chlamydia and Hepatitis C.
