Virginia 2020 Progress Report
February 16, 1999

• Commissions Under Way As the new semester began, the four planning commissions were beginning their work. Each commission has established a regular meeting schedule.
• International Activities, chaired by Brantly Womack, met for the first time on January 21. The 29 members represent most areas of the University and bring a range of personal and career experience to their work. The group will focus initially on five strategic areas and is planning a national conference for the fall.
• Science and Technology, under the leadership of Anita Jones, held its first meeting on January 26 and will meet biweekly throughout the spring semester. Representing Arts & Sciences, Engineering, Health Sciences, and Law, the 18-member commission will concentrate initially on determining the principles for making strategic investments in science and technology.
• Fine and Performing Arts, chaired by Bob Chapel, met for the first time on February 2. Its 21 members bring richly diverse backgrounds and experience to their goal of planning programs and facilities for the future. The commission will begin with a broad and inclusive look at the present status of the arts. A separate citizens’ advisory group is offering outside perspective.
• Public Service and Outreach, led by Rebecca Kneedler, is composed of 17 members, again representing many areas of the University. They met for the first time on February 10 and engaged in a substantive discussion of how we might define our institutional mission of service.
• Undergraduates and graduate students also are serving on each commission, bringing valuable perspective to the process.
• At its January meeting, the Board of Visitors received a report on the commissions’ progress.
• On December 15, the University’s senior leadership met with the four commission chairs to review and discuss progress. President Casteen introduced the discussion by emphasizing the importance of sustaining strong leadership over time and of ensuring accountability to all members of the University community. He also reiterated the need to be open, to guard against the process becoming an exercise in developing "wish lists," to avoid surprises as much as possible, and to seek external evaluation.