1. United States
2. Va.
3. Letter

We write today as members of the University of Virginia and greater Charlottesville-Albemarle community to express our deep concern and a formal vote of no confidence in UVA’s Board of Visitors. The University of Virginia exists to serve the public good. It belongs to the people of Virginia, not to private political interests. Yet recent events make clear that the Board has failed in its core responsibilities: to protect UVA’s independence, academic integrity, and democratic governance. The Board’s failure to defend the University against political interference has undermined public trust and compromised the wellbeing of students, workers, faculty, and our broader community. President James Ryan’s resignation under duress—citing political pressure, threats to UVA’s funding, and a lack of Board support—is alarming. Equally troubling is the Board’s silence in the face of federal overreach and external political influence. Rather than engage openly with the University and the communities it serves, the Board has operated without transparency, excluding UVA stakeholders from critical decisions that affect us all. “Listening sessions” are not a substitute for shared governance. The students, workers, and residents whose lives are shaped by UVA deserve not just to be heard, but to be meaningfully included in decisions about the University's future. The Board’s actions represent a serious threat to democratic norms. They endanger academic freedom, suppress the kind of research and inquiry that has historically driven social progress, and dismantle hard-won structures of community inclusion and dignity—particularly around Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) efforts that support local students, employees, and marginalized communities. Therefore, we join the UVA Faculty Senate and General Faculty Council in their resolution of no confidence in the Board of Visitors. We respectfully call for the following actions: 1 Public accountability: The Board must explain the full scope of events leading to President Ryan’s resignation. 2 Transparent, community-centered appointments: Future Board members must be selected based on integrity, independence, and demonstrated commitment to community trust—not partisan loyalty. 3 Democratic governance: The search processes for interim and permanent presidents must include real decision-making power from students, workers, and residents. We propose that at least 75% of the selecting body represent those constituencies. 4 Rebuilding trust: The University must re-establish inclusive governance structures that give students, staff, and the broader public a real seat at the table. UVA’s future depends on restoring trust, transparency, and democratic accountability. We demand better for our University, for our community, and for generations to come.