Our Unshakeable Commitment to Global Experiences

Jefferson stature in front of Rotunda with fluffy snow on the ground

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he rapid cascade of executive orders and other policy changes from the federal government over the past several weeks has raised significant uncertainty about their potential impact on many of UVA’s key missions like research, teaching, and health care, even as many of these actions are challenged in the courts.  Members of our community worry about personal impacts, including from the prospect of significant reductions in the federal workforce for those interested in public service careers and the potential financial impact on family members who currently work in the federal government.  Our international community likewise wonders about the implications of potential changes in immigration law and policy that could affect individuals as well as the University’s growing global engagement.

UVA leadership is working hard to keep abreast of these changes, their interpretations, and implications for our operations, while remaining true to our foundational values of academic freedom in the pursuit of truth, community support and service, inclusivity, and global engagement.  You can stay current on the changing policy environment by regularly consulting the University’s recently created webpage on federal policy changes, and help us ensure our information is responsive by communicating any questions and concerns you may have about these unfolding changes to [email protected].

UVA leadership is working hard to keep abreast of these changes, their interpretations, and implications for our operations, while remaining true to our foundational values of academic freedom in the pursuit of truth, community support and service, inclusivity, and global engagement. 

Through this period of rapid change, we in Global Affairs are redoubling our commitment to UVA’s global vocation by working even harder to create opportunities for our community to enjoy enriching international experiences, both for self-discovery and a better understanding of the world around us.  The semester began with the largest number of J-term participants in study abroad programs in UVA history.  It continued with a binational seminar in Shanghai on challenges and opportunities in the U.S.-China relationship. You can read about both in this issue.  Here at home, we launched the pilot program Global Educator Opportunity (GEO) Fellowships to bring practitioners and scholars from around the world into UVA classrooms and to support innovative faculty proposals to internationalize teaching and learning on Grounds.  In early March, we’ll co-host a Miller Center program on the burgeoning relationship between the U.S. and India with the participation of a senior Indian diplomat and prominent UVA experts.  Our new partnership with the City and University of Bologna will offer growing opportunities for our scholars to engage in cutting-edge research into the use of big data in smart municipal governance and environmental sustainability.  And this summer, thanks to our new Walker Global Experience Scholarships, we anticipate unprecedented opportunities for our students to have practical hands-on experiences in a variety of overseas locations.

Despite the rapid changes, there have never been more opportunities to enjoy a global experience through UVA, and our commitment to growing them is unshakeable.

Stay Global!

Steve Mull

Vice Provost for Global Affairs