The University of Virginia Board of Visitors has called a special meeting on Friday to address the university and medical center’s compliance with executive orders signed by President Donald Trump in the first few weeks of his administration.
UVA has addressed the recent federal actions on its website with guidance for students and faculty on gender ideology, foreign aid, the green new deal and diversity, equity and inclusion programs.
It is likely that the board will review orders that may impact the university or health system including gender-affirming care for youth under the age of 19, immigration enforcement, DEI programs and a federal freeze and/or reduction of indirect cost reimbursement on research.
Gender-affirming care
UVA Health resumed gender-affirming care on Friday after two court challenges resulted in a temporary restraining order on Trump’s EO banning services for youth under the age of 19.
UVA Health initially paused services on Jan. 31 at the recommendation of Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares.
“UVA Health will continue to monitor legal developments in this case and provide our patients with the best care possible under Virginia and federal law,” the health system said in a statement last week.
VCU Health and the Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU announced Feb. 14 that it would not reinstate gender-affirming services. In a statement, VCU said Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s office reinforced to them that the prior directive from Miyares prohibiting gender-affirming services in response to the president’s executive order “still stands.”
The Trump administration has instructed federal agencies to take various actions against healthcare providers that fail to follow the EO on gender-affirming care including threatening research grants and funding through Medicare and Medicaid.
Immigration
UVA acknowledged multiple executive orders signed by the president increasing enforcement related to immigration laws.
“Historically, external law enforcement agencies have contacted University Police in advance of any planned activities on Grounds so that the university can help ensure that those activities are conducted in the least disruptive manner possible and in accordance with all relevant state and federal laws.”
UVA encouraged anyone approached by an outside law enforcement agency to contact the UVA police department to work on a response to any request. UVA also encouraged international students, faculty and staff to have their approved immigration documents available at all times.
Diversity, equity and inclusion
The U.S. Department of Education has also given universities two weeks to ban DEI initiatives as well as eliminate DEI programs in admissions, financial aid and hiring or risk losing federal funding, according to a “dear colleagues” form letter sent last week.
A lawsuit filed by multiple education groups in response argued that the executive orders on DEI exceed executive authority.
“There’s a fine line between removing programs that are considered to be discriminatory by race and removing programs that speak to a cultural or ethnicity support for students,” said Cynthia Jackson-Hammond, president of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation, in an interview on Morning Edition. “This is not going to be a quick and easy kind of examination.”
UVA said it “operates all of its programs, including diversity, equity, and inclusion, within the bounds of state and federal law. Fostering a community that celebrates diversity in all of its forms, where all people are welcome and have the opportunity to succeed, remains a core value of our institution.
“We are currently assessing the president’s actions to better understand how they may affect programs, people or operations here at UVA and will offer updates as more information is available.”
Research funding may also be impacted
Research funding may also be impacted by recent guidance from the National Institutes of Health who announced a standard 15 percent rate for indirect costs of research.
A temporary restraining order has also been granted on this order due to pending litigation.
“Members of the university community who are engaged in federally supported research should continue with their activities unless they receive a stop-work order from their funding agency related to the federal executive orders.”
Virginia Tech President Tim Sands said the cap on costs could result in a $13 million loss for its annual research budget. If the reimbursement reduction is extended to all federal agencies, it could result in a $55 million annual impact on VT.
“Lives will be lost due to the corresponding reduction in the pace of biomedical research,” Sands wrote.
UVA has not provided data on the potential financial loss to the university.
Board of Visitors meeting agenda
The Board of Visitors meeting agenda shows the majority of the meeting will be held in closed session to consult with legal counsel regarding:
- the Board of Visitors’ authority to make regulations and policy concerning the university
- the university’s posture regarding compliance with executive orders and the potential impact on the business of the medical center
- certain care/procedures performed at the UVA Medical Center and clinics, during which there will be a discussion of proprietary business related and competitively sensitive information pertaining to the operations of the medical center
It’s worth noting that 13 of the 17 members of the board were appointed by Youngkin.
The open session and action items will include a discussion regarding executive orders and resolutions pertaining to the the authority of the board as well as certain care/procedures performed at the UVA Medical Center and clinics.
The meeting is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. in the board room of The Rotunda.
University of Virginia Board of Visitors members
Board members include:
- Robert D. Hardie, rector
- Carlos M. Brown, vice rector
- Robert M. Blue
- Daniel M. Brody
- U. Bertram Ellis Jr.
- Marvin W. Gilliam Jr.
- The Honorable Paul C. Harris
- Stephen P. Long, M.D.
- Paul B. Manning
- John L. Nau III
- David O. Okonkwo, M.D.
- The Honorable L.F. Payne
- Amanda L. Pillion
- Rachel W. Sheridan
- David F. Webb
- Douglas D. Wetmore
- Porter N. Wilkinson
- Michael J. Kennedy, faculty representative
- Lisa A. Kopelnik, student representative
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Crystal Graham
