University of Virginia and its Board of Visitors would make a major mistake if they cowered to political correctness and re-hired the rightfully ousted President Theresa Sullivan. Her commitment to slowness in confronting change would make the tortoise honk his horn behind her.
WINA’s Coy Barefoot calls today’s meeting “historic” and I don’t see why, other than his paychecks from UVA as a faculty member could be amplifying his passion. But let’s inject a dose of reality here. While it’s important to UVA and has policy implications, it isn’t exactly changing the course of human history. Who, besides Wahoos, will really care one day, week, or year from now? How many students would’ve even known Sullivan’s name six months ago?
Though editorial boards and faculty have rushed to protect her in the past weeks, Sullivan has disqualified herself by demanding the ouster of Rector Helen Dragas before she’d even consider returning.
The gall!
The Washington Post reported that Sullivan “wants to remain if Rector Helen E. Dragas resigns.”
How can anyone expect Sullivan to effectively serve as President having called for the resignation of BOV Rector Dragas? If anyone needs a taste of the real world, it’s Sullivan.
Sullivan has spent a lifetime without earning a living in the private sector. Her last 20 positions (yeah, 20 jobs she’s held, folks…..hint?) and not one of them in the competitive, profit-demanding, accountable-for-results world of the private sector.
She’s a career administrator. Does UVA want a caretaker or a leader? Judging from the reaction from the cushy faculty and their students currying favor for their next grade, it may be a caretaker they choose.
Big mistake! Sullivan should care more about students’ future and less about protecting the waning years of the Academic Elites.
This is Sullivan’s chance to finally spend her time trying to get a private sector job and learn what her UVA graduates go through trying to make a living and pay back their student loans.
The Real World is peeking into UVA, and UVA doesn’t like it.
This is a big argument about the cocoon of University living where Academic Elites protect their turf, charge tens of thousands of dollars to students who learn how marketable their educational investment is or isn’t long after the University waves goodbye to them.
Professors pontificate while their Teaching Assistants do the teaching of unsuspecting students who graduate wondering why they majored in Sanskrit and Classic European Literature with a minor in Subjects No One Hires In Anymore.
Costs of a college degree have been skyrocketing, and people like Helen Dragas want to know why. Technology has changed everything from your bank account, your investment portfolio, and it could change learning. It also could bankrupt Universities who fail to accept the challenges of the marketplace. It could drive innocent students into staggering debt they aren’t equipped to handle with a degree that has no hope of repaying their investment.
Dragas is asking good questions. She is demanding strong leadership. Looking at Sullivan’s resume, it is clear that she’s a caretaker, not an innovator.
If the Board of Visitors retreats and re-instates Sullivan, it will be a vote of arrogance denying the reality of the marketplace for the short term protectionism of self-important elites.
Moreso, if Dragas is not re-appointed by Gov. McDonnell, there is really no reason for any of the Board to be appointed at all. The Board will be nothing but a rubber stamp committee to sing back-up to their Captain Smith-like President Sullivan whenever she feels the urge.
UVA will rank right up there with the Candlestick Guild, who congratulated themselves when they stood firm against that crazy Edison gadget.
Looks like the only light bulbs not shining are at UVA – the same ones they installed by holding it in the socket as the world revolved around them.
Link to hearing is here.
