CNN Lauds U.Va.’s Educational Value
Great video from CNN’s “AC360″ blog:
Soccer Coach Wows Board of Visitors
Sorry it’s been a couple of days since the last post. I covered the Board of Visitors meeting Thursday and Friday, and that tends to eat up all available time. (You can read the story here.)
I didn’t want to file my notes from those two days of meetings, though, before recounting George Gelnovatch’s inspiring appearance before the Student Affairs and Athletics Committee.
Gelnovatch is the head coach of the U.Va. men’s soccer team, which won the NCAA championship back in December. Often, championship coaches and players are invited to make an appearance before the board, and usually these are feel-good, dog-and-pony-style shows. Smile, say a few words, get a nice round of applause.
Gelnovatch’s appearance on Friday, however, was more than that.
Dedication of Fletcher Gym Draws Appreciative Crowd
A student told a fitting story during Friday’s dedication of the Mark E. Fletcher Gymnasium at the Aquatic and Fitness Center.
Colin Hood, now the vice president for organizations for U.Va.’s Student Council, recalled being invited to a Rotunda dinner during his first year, when he was a member of the council’s Safety and Wellness Committee. He had been told that he would be seated next to the chairman of the University Safety Committee, which would give him a good chance to do a little networking.
Board of Visitors, Health and Safety, News, On Grounds, People, Student Life, safety | Monday, November 2nd | By: Dan @3:26 pm | 1 Comment
“Mark E. Fletcher Gymnasium”
The visitors’ “board books” regularly include written reports that are not usually included in the discussion agenda. However, Bob Sweeney, the senior vice president for development, took the time to call attention to a “naming report.”
The gymnasium at the Aquatic and Fitness Center — where the photo at right was taken — has officially been designated as the “Mark E. Fletcher Gymnasium.”
Give Your Input to the Presidential Search Committee
I remember a slogan often heard when I was growing up: “Earn Your Right to Gripe! Vote!”
While the selection of the University’s new president will not be put to a vote, that doesn’t mean you won’t have any opportunity for input. University Rector John O. “Dubby” Wynne, twho chairs the search committee, has announced a series of public forums to allow faculty, staff, students and alumni to offer their two cents’ worth.
The schedule:
- Forum primarily for students: Aug. 25, 10 a.m.-noon, Newcomb Hall ballroom.
- Forum primarily for staff: Aug. 25, 3:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m., Zehmer Hall auditorium.
- Forum primarily for Health System personnel: Sept. 1, 7:30 a.m.-9:30 a.m., McLeod Hall auditorium.
- Forum primarily for faculty: Sept. 1, 4 p.m.-6 p.m., Newcomb Hall ballroom.
- Forum primarily for alumni: Sept. 12, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Alumni Hall ballroom. (Co-hosted with Alumni Association.)
- Forum primarily for the College at Wise: Sept. 29. (Time and location to be announced.
If you can’t make any of those meetings, there are still two options. One, you can send your comments by e-mail to presidentsearch@virginia.edu or you can access an online form for your comments on the Presidential search Web site.
Board of Visitors, News, On Grounds, Presidential search, human resources news | Friday, August 7th | By: Dan @9:31 am | 0 Comments
Presidential Search Online
The search for a new president now has a Web site. The site includes the latest updates on the quest to find a successor for John T. Casteen III, and the schedule for the four open meetings that will be held Aug. 25 (for students and staff) and Sept. 1 (for Health System employees and for faculty). There is also an online form for submitting comments and advice.
Presidential Search Committee Named
John O. “Dubby” Wynne, the rector of the University, announced the 19-member committee that will be responsible for choosing a successor to President John T. Casteen III, who announced his retirement, effective in August 2010, last month.
(I was a little disappointed not to be chosen, but I guess they weren’t looking for a representative from the blogging community.)
The committee will host open forums regarding the search on Aug. 25 and Sept. 1 (times, locations TBA).
Committee members listed after the break …
Most-Viewed Press Releases
Now, through the magic of Google Analytics, here are the three most read (or at least page-viewed) press releases for last week, June 22-28:
- Jefferson’s Parapet to be Restored at Pavilion X
- Changes at the Top: Wynne, Abramson to Lead Board
- Citizens in 34 Countries Show Implicit Bias Linking Males More Than Females with Science
Board of Visitors, News, On Grounds, Thomas Jefferson, research | Monday, June 29th | By: Dan @3:15 pm | 0 Comments
Casteen Retirement Announcement Video is Online
The video of U.Va. President John T. Casteen III’s retirement announcement (below) is now posted on U.Va.’s YouTube page. Also posted there: UVA Today TV segments with Bob Spekman and Dan Willingham; and an ‘Explorations in Black Leadership’ episode with Geoffrey Canada, the president and CEO of the Harlem Children’s Zone, which President Obama sees as a model in providing education and other social supports in urban centers.
Media on Casteen’s Departure
U.Va. President John T. Casteen III’s announcement of his plans to step down as of Aug. 1, 2010 garnered plenty of notice in the media. Here’s a run-down of some of the stories:
Chronicle of Higher Education (subscription required)
Charlottesville Daily Progress
(Stories about the University are updated by noon every workday at Headlines@U.Va.)
A Big ‘Wow’: Casteen Announces He’s Leaving in 2010
U.Va. President John T. Casteen III, one of the longest serving chief executives in American higher education, announced today he will step down on Aug. 1, 2010. He will have served 20 years as U.Va.’s president.
BOV Talks Money
The University’s Board of Visitors is in town for its regular meeting. We’ll be posting a full BOV roundup sometime over the weekend – hopefully Friday evening – but it might be helpful to throw out a highlight or two from the first day of the meeting, which was dominated by money issues.
