1374 keep VMI the historical state college HB 333 do not reach the liberal viewpoint of Jan 6 Hb56 give funds for family members

HB478 This testimony is in favor of the enactment of a Fine Arts Seal of Excellence on high school diplomas. In considering the Fine Arts Seal of Excellence on a diploma, a lot is to be considered. Guidelines and criteria should reflect the dedication students have given to the Fine Arts Program of their school district to receive such an honor. This honor would be not only an encouragement to the dedication and participation of the programs that really compliment the educational experience students receive academically, This recognition would not only serve to encourage the students participating and dedicating themselves, but also be a lighthouse to beacon prospective students to participate in such programs. We have long known the value of such programs to improve academic improvement, aid in responsibility through punctuality and taking ownership of being a part of team effort. These skills are valuable and carry young people into adulthood and through the rest of their lives. To recognize their significant dedication to such programs for most of their formidable high school years will I believe shape stronger intellect and success in our future graduates. Please deeply consider the positive impact this will have on future graduates when approving this measure. Respectfully, Mrs. O’Neill

Please vote "yes" on HB780. The shared governance crisis at Old Dominion University* could have been averted with more careful and balanced selection of BOV members. Our universities cannot remain academically or intellectually sound without this codification. Faculty and students must have a voice in the management of curricula and academic affairs; this right should not be treated as an optional courtesy that may be extended by some but not all presidents and Boards of Visitors. *the opinions expressed here are my own personal opinions and do not pretend to speak on behalf of VAC Agency #65 (Old Dominion University) nor any other official entity.

This bill makes important reforms to remove political interference in the operations of the boards of public higher education institutions, strengthens institutional governance by including faculty, staff, and students as voting members of the boards, and requires boards to adopt policies that support and advance shared governance and ensure the key role of the faculty over curriculum, academic progress, and student assessment. I urge you to vote "yes" on this bill.

This bill makes important reforms to remove political interference in the operations of the boards of public higher education institutions, strengthens institutional governance by including faculty, staff, and students as voting members of the boards, and requires boards to adopt policies that support and advance shared governance and ensure the key role of the faculty over curriculum, academic progress, and student assessment. I urge you to vote "yes" on this bill.

As a faculty member serving the state of Virginia, I am extremely concerned about how Boards have become political agents to suppress learning and interfere with students' right to learn as well as faculty rights to teach. This bill makes important reforms to remove political interference in the operations of the boards of public higher education institutions, strengthens institutional governance by including faculty, staff, and students as voting members of the boards, and requires boards to adopt policies that support and advance shared governance and ensure the key role of the faculty over curriculum, academic progress, and student assessment. I urge you to vote "yes" on this bill.

HB780 makes important reforms to remove political interference in the operations of the boards of public higher education institutions, strengthens institutional governance by including faculty, staff, and students as voting members of the boards, and requires boards to adopt policies that support and advance shared governance and ensure the key role of the faculty over curriculum, academic progress, and student assessment. Some members of the subcommittee may be in receipt of a press release sent by the executive committee of the ODU Faculty Senate to regional delegates describing an ongoing crisis of leadership and shared governance. If the faculty had voting membership rights on the board of visitors, this crisis could have been mitigated or altogether avoided. I urge you to vote "yes" on HB780. **the opinions expressed here are my own personal opinions and do not pretend to speak on behalf of VAC Agency #65 (Old Dominion University) nor any other official entity.**

Members of the Subcommittee, I write to voice strong support for HB 780, which Delegate Callsen is sponsoring, and which parallels provisions in SB 381, sponsored by Senator Surovell. I am a member of the Advisory Council for Wahoos4UVA and author of the “Constitutional Imperatives” Substack essay entitled, “Undoing Irresolvable Conflicts of Interest and Unshackling University Counsel at UVA and All Virginia’s Public Universities.” The essay is available here: https://richardmarks66.substack.com/p/undoing-irresolvable-conflicts-of. (You may already have seen it.) It has been cited with favor by Wahoos4UVA, and the link distributed to Wahoos4UVA’s mailing list. You are well aware that Virginia's previous Attorney General prevented UVA’s University Counsel from defending against the federal government’s attack on the University's academic freedom. UVA’s Board of Visitors also failed to attempt a defense. These experiences teach the need to specify in legislation that boards of visitors at all Virginia’s public universities have a fiduciary duty to preserve and defend the institution’s academic freedom. Defense of academic freedom and freedom of speech must be part of each institution’s core mission and mission statement. HB 780 and SB 381 specify this requisite of corporate governance. This clarification is an essential complement to provisions in HB 780 and SB 381 specifying that counsel at Virginia’s public universities owe their duty of loyalty to their respective institutions, rather than to some undifferentiated, vague, and hence unknowable general duty to the people of the Commonwealth at large. If we at Wahoos4UVA can help advance this legislation and its companion bill in the Senate, please call upon us. You have our vigorous support for this legislation.

Dear Members of the Subcommittee, I write in strong support of HB 780, legislation that introduces vital reforms to modernize the governance of Virginia’s public higher education institutions. By insulating governing boards from short-term political volatility and centering the expertise of those who live and work within our campus communities, this bill helps ensure that Virginia’s colleges and universities remain stable, competitive, and firmly focused on their educational mission. Key Pillars of Reform Institutional Stability By extending governing board terms from four to six years, HB 780 promotes continuity, institutional memory, and thoughtful leadership. This reform mitigates the “pendulum effect” caused by frequent turnover and enables boards to engage in more effective long-term strategic, academic, and financial planning. Meaningful Shared Governance Requiring the inclusion of faculty, staff, and students as full voting members reflects a common-sense modernization of board composition. These voices bring essential, on-the-ground perspectives to decision-making, ensuring that policies are informed by the realities of teaching, learning, research, and campus operations. This strengthens board deliberations and leads to more durable and effective outcomes. Commitment to Neutrality and Academic Freedom HB 780 appropriately codifies the duty of governing boards to uphold ideological and partisan neutrality. By affirming academic freedom and freedom of speech as core governance responsibilities, the bill protects the integrity of academic programs, safeguards institutional reputation, and preserves public trust in the value of a Virginia degree. Accountability and Transparency Through improved appointment procedures, clarified duties for legal counsel, and strengthened expectations for collective board responsibility, the bill establishes a more robust system of checks and balances. These provisions ensure governing boards act in the best interests of their institutions and the Commonwealth, rather than reflecting any single political agenda. Conclusion The reforms advanced by HB 780 are not merely administrative adjustments they are essential to preserving the excellence, credibility, and long-term vitality of Virginia’s public higher education system. By aligning board composition and responsibilities with nationally recognized best practices in shared governance, this legislation fosters trust, transparency, and academic excellence. I respectfully urge you to report HB 780 out of subcommittee with a “YES” vote. Sincerely, Dirk Burruss Professor, Reynolds Community College

I am writing to urge your support for this bill, which introduces vital reforms to protect public higher education from political interference. By granting faculty, staff, and students voting seats on governing boards, this legislation strengthens institutional oversight and codifies the principles of shared governance. Most importantly, it ensures that faculty maintain primary authority over curriculum and academic standards. Please vote 'yes' to protect the integrity of our institutions.

ABSOLUTELY NO TO HB 359

Please vote no in HB 1473. Colleges and universities must have the authority to set reasonable rules for protesters that do not violate first amendment rights. This bill would strip them from doing that and put students, faculty, and community member members at risk. Thank you.

I am an attorney who practiced government law for nearly forty years. HB1473 would not eliminate or unduly curtail the necessary authority of colleges and universities to regulate the time, place and manner of speech by students and others on campus. It would, however, place guardrails around such regulation to protect the constitution rights of students and the open exchange of ideas that our learning institutions should foster. In the last several years we have seen harsh penalties and violence inflicted on peaceful protesters, particularly those calling for a ceasefire in Gaza and equal rights for Palestinians. Some of the participants in these demonstrations were of Palestinian decent, many were Jewish and most were neither. However, the demonstrators were falsely accused by many of being antisemitic, and on November 16, 2023, the Attorney General sent a ridiculous letter to Presidents and Board members at state colleges and universities claiming that protesters were calling for a second Holocaust. Clarifying the protections for freedom of speech on campuses in state law, as would HB1473, is essential to protect our students and the learning experience provided by the open exchange of thoughts and opinions, especially in times of emotional turbulence. Looking back at campus activism over the last several decades, we might observe that student activists were pretty much on the right side of history. They were right about the civil rights movement, they were right to call for an end to the Vietnam war and they were right to call for increased focus on environmental protection. Assure that students have the right to speak and be heard. Please support HB1473.