Welcome from the Student Member of the Board of Visitors

Dear Students:

To everyone, whether you are a fourth- or first-year, welcome! It is so, so incredible to see you all back on Grounds! My name is Sarita Mehta, and I am the Student Member of the Board of Visitors (BOV) for the 2021-2022 academic year. The Board of Visitors is the highest governing body at the University, responsible for long-term planning and approving all major decisions at UVA. This includes everything from budget proposals to building renovations to managing the health system, and many other deeply important matters.

I know that in many ways the return to Grounds and in-person instruction is overwhelming. I’ve felt it myself -- I genuinely offer my support to anyone and everyone as we navigate this new normal. If there is ever anything I can do to help you, personally or professionally, please feel free to contact me. I really would like to thank each one of you for your tremendous resilience this past year and a half. I would also like to thank all the front-line workers and health-care professionals who gave countless hours in the name of our greater good.

As Student Member, my role is to represent the 24,000-plus students at the University, including undergraduate, graduate, and professional students in Charlottesville, Wise, and across the Commonwealth. Speaking for the entire student body requires an understanding of all the diversity, in experience and perspective, that shapes our community. I want to know what you think and what you care about, such that I can best elevate the opinions and concerns of students to the Board of Visitors. I hope you all will reach out with input though email ([email protected]). I am always happy to find time to chat in person, as well!

The Board just had our annual retreat, an opportunity to collectively reflect on recent events while looking toward new horizons. We discussed the future of enrollment at UVA, thinking about ways to better serve incoming students and to enroll more diverse sets of students, something that is of great importance to me. We also discussed UVA Athletics and had a chance to reflect on all of the incredible accomplishments of this past year, from the Tokyo Olympics to the NCAA Lacrosse Championships. The Board will have its next meeting on September 24 and 25. I strongly encourage you to reach out to provide any input or questions you may have regarding this meeting.

Looking Ahead
This role is not about me, it is about you-- every individual makes an indispensable contribution in making UVA such a special community. I sincerely wish to personally engage with as many people across the University as I can, so I will continue to reach out to groups around Grounds, and I hope you will reach out to me as well. These are challenging and uncertain times, but they also present the unique opportunity to reflect upon our past systems and practices to shape a new and better normal. I believe that together we can support and lift one another to orient ourselves to a brighter future characterized by those deeply important virtues-- unity, compassion, and respect—that define us. I look forward to the work this year holds and wish you all the best in the start of this year!

Sincerely,

Sarita Mehta
Student Member of the Board of Visitors | 2021-2022
 

About the Board of Visitors
The Board of Visitors is composed of 17 voting members appointed by the Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia, subject to confirmation by the General Assembly, for terms of four years. In addition, the Board of Visitors appoints, for a one-year term, a full-time student and faculty member at the University of Virginia as non-voting members of the Board of Visitors. The Rector and Visitors serve as the corporate board for the University of Virginia, and are responsible for the long-term planning of the University. The Board approves the policies and budget for the University, and is entrusted with the preservation of the University's many traditions, including the Honor System. The Board maintains offices in the Northwest Wing of the Rotunda and meets four times per year. Meetings are open to the public.
See a list of all Board Members.

Comments, questions, or concerns?

Contact Sarita Mehta, the 2021-2022 Student Member of the Board of Visitors at [email protected].