Yes, Virginia. There is a controversy – and apparently a showdown tomorrow.

Inside Higher Ed carries two items on the ongoing controversy set in motion by the firing of the president of the University of Virginia by its Board of Visitors (the U-VA's equivalent of the Regents).  One item suggests that a high-up underling – the chief financial officer of the university – was in cahoots with those members of the Board who carried out the firing.  See http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2012/06/25/questions-about-uvas-coo-strine-show-complicated-loyalties-administrators.

The Board is due to meet tomorrow – possibly to undo what it did.  However, now it faces a missive from the state’s governor that says:

“Let me be absolutely clear: I want final action by the board on Tuesday. If you fail to do so, I will ask for the resignation of the entire board on Wednesday. Regardless of your decision, I expect you to make a clear, detailed and unified statement on the future leadership of the university.”

See http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2012/06/25/virginia-governor-calls-finality-tuesdays-meeting.

Earlier posts on this blog note that the firing seemed to have something to do with online education and such and a perception the president was not implementing innovations fast enough.


A further update appearing on the morning of the vote is at:
http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2012/06/26/board-vote-today-puts-uva-center-debate-about-public-university-governance