A report released Wednesday by the nonprofit Partners for College Affordability and Public Trust analyzed 15 public universities in Virginia for the accessibility of information such as board meeting minutes, policies and bylaws, and contact information for board members.
According to this report, Virginia Commonwealth earned an overall ‘C’ grade in the study of how transparent its governing board is to the public.
However it earned a failing grade in regard to its board member accessibility.
From the report-
The board currently provides the public options to observe meetings by video streaming or in-person, while allowing for physical distancing and health pre-cautions. In-person attendance is limited to 10 people who register in advance, with preference given on a first-come, first-serve basis. A phone dial-in option is not provided. Video recordings of in-person or virtual meetings are posted to the board website for public record (https://president.vcu.edu/board/minutes/).
Generic contact information for the board listed on the board website (https://president.vcu.edu/board/), including a mailing address and email address (bov@vcu.edu). The board website also lists contact information for a point-of-contact for the board (Chelsea Gray, Assistant Secretary and Board Liaison), including a mailing address, phone number, and an email address (cgray8@vcu.edu). Contact information to communicate with individual board members is not available.
According to board policy, a period of public comment will be accepted at the board’s annual Budget Workshop, which is routinely attended by the full board. Board policy does not specify that written comments be distributed to all board members.
The Partners for College Affordability and Public Trust announced the report Wednesday to coincide with the introduction of a bill in the Virginia General Assembly that addresses concerns about transparency among college governing boards. The proposed bill, H.R. 2120, would require boards to make meetings accessible to the public remotely and to post contact information such as email addresses for board members, among other policies.
“Service on a Board of Visitors for a Virginia public university is a highly coveted political appointment, but it is also a position of serious responsibility,” Del. Mark Keam, D-Fairfax, and the bill’s patron, said in a news release from the nonprofit. “Their decisions impact the lives of countless students, faculty, staff, and the broader university communities. At a time when the public’s trust in our institutions is frail and taxpayers demand more from government, I believe our colleges and universities must reassure their stakeholders that they are committed to the highest standards of public service.”
