From President Scott C. Beardsley: Introducing “Grounds for Conversation”
Many of the best and most illuminating conversations of my life have happened around a table, sharing a meal or enjoying a cup of coffee. I imagine that the same is true for many of you. There is something powerful about coming together around a common table.
We all know how an extra half hour spent talking with someone over coffee can create or strengthen connections that could lead to new opportunities and partnerships. At the Darden School of Business, where I served as dean, the school’s “First Coffee” tradition began around its founding in 1955 and still brings together students, faculty and staff each morning for conversation and connection, building a sense of community one day at a time.
In the spring, my team and I launched a “Grounds for Conversation” listening and learning tour with the simple goal of bringing our community together for open conversations about the university and its future—and some great coffee, tea and other refreshments along the way.
I have been fortunate to meet with students, faculty and staff in many of UVA’s 12 schools and its major divisions, as well as UVA Wise, UVA Northern Virginia, UVA Health, and the athletics department, with more meetings planned for the fall. I have also met with community leaders and traveled to several areas with high concentrations of UVA alumni.
Through these conversations, I am learning where our community sees UVA excelling in meeting our mission of education, research, patient care and service. I have been hearing ideas on what we should keep doing, where there are opportunities to improve and what “no-regret moves” would accelerate our impact. These are changes or initiatives we can implement relatively quickly to shore up areas of need or address opportunities.
We are also building a strategic and financial fact base to inform our decision-making work.
We will continue to distill and act on these ideas, but themes that have come up so far include a focus on affordability, including further building up the AccessUVA program for need-based aid and scholarships; equipping our students for a changing world by continuing to increase global experiences and taking a thoughtful approach to AI; investing in faculty excellence at every school so we can attract, retain and develop exceptional faculty; continuing to grow the impact of UVA’s major research centers; further investing in UVA Health to continue providing world-class patient care, as well as life-changing treatments and research breakthroughs; and partnering with leaders in our local communities, the commonwealth and the nation to advance our shared goals.
Themes that have come up so far include a focus on affordability, investing in faculty excellence and further investing in UVA Health.
The “Grounds for Conversation” listening tour will also inform our long-term strategic thinking. The good news is that many of the strategic initiatives of the “Great and Good” 2030 strategic plan launched under former President Jim Ryan (Law class of ’92) have been fully realized; the remainder are on their way to completion. Leaders across the university worked hard to bring us to this point, and their work is to be applauded. Now we must honor and build on that excellent work as we look ahead to a vision for UVA’s enduring excellence in pursuit of our mission well into the future.
That means setting our aspirations high, keeping our mission as our North Star and carrying forward the excellent work that is already happening. Excellence doesn’t come from dramatic gestures or constant reinvention, but from discipline and courage in pursuit of our mission. From intentional actions guided by our values. From setting high standards and working steadily toward them with talented professionals. From doing many things—sometimes hundreds of things—just a little bit better, every day. Most importantly, excellence matters most when pursued in service of a clear purpose.
If we sustain purposeful excellence in every domain of our mission, we will achieve the full potential of the mission and be recognized as the best public university and university medical system in the country.
Achieving that goal begins with learning through listening and conversation. I am deeply grateful for every conversation I’ve had over the spring. It has been a privilege to see not only the talent contained within our university community, but the passion and deep desire to see the university succeed.
Every person in this community—students, staff, faculty, alumni, healthcare providers, researchers, friends and donors—is invested in its success. And every conversation matters. I am grateful for your input so far, and I hope to see you soon for a great cup of coffee and even better conversation.
Scott C. Beardsley
President of the University of Virginia
