Virginia Lawmakers Debate University Board Reforms

Bills aim to set clearer guidance on board appointments and allow universities to seek outside legal counsel.

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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Democratic state lawmakers in Virginia are proposing bills to adjust the process for appointing members to public university governing boards and to give universities more autonomy in hiring their own legal counsel. The measures are an effort to reduce partisan influence over higher education institutions and rebuild trust between students, faculty, and their communities.

Why it matters

Recent controversies over university board appointments in Virginia have fueled debates about the politicization of higher education. These bills aim to establish clearer guidelines and reduce partisan squabbling over board membership, which could help restore confidence in the governance of the state's colleges and universities.

The details

One bill, proposed by Del. Lily Franklin, would prohibit board appointees from serving if they are rejected by state lawmakers and bar them from making decisions primarily motivated by political loyalty. Another measure from Sens. Creigh Deeds and Scott Surovell would shift board terms to staggered six-year appointments, rather than the current four-year terms. The bills would also create a process for universities to seek outside legal counsel if they feel they are not receiving adequate representation from the state attorney general's office.

  • In 2022, the Virginia Senate rejected 28 of former Gov. Glenn Youngkin's university board appointees, sparking a dispute over the legislature's authority.
  • The current legislative session in Virginia is expected to end in the coming weeks.

The players

Lily Franklin

A Democratic state delegate from Blacksburg who introduced a bill to reform the university board appointment process.

Creigh Deeds

A Democratic state senator from Charlottesville who co-sponsored a bill to shift board terms to staggered six-year appointments.

Scott Surovell

A Democratic state senator from Fairfax who co-sponsored a bill to allow universities to seek outside legal counsel.

Glenn Youngkin

The former Republican governor of Virginia whose university board appointees were rejected by the state Senate in 2022.

Jason Miyares

The former Republican attorney general of Virginia who pushed back against the Senate's rejection of Youngkin's board appointees.

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What they’re saying

“We've got a tit-for-tat going back and forth. What has been seen in the last four years was definitely putting politics into the governance (of higher education), but for people on my side of the aisle, it was responding to (Democrats) putting politics in the other direction.”

— Chris Head, Republican state senator (pilotonline.com)

“Students pay into the institution, we deserve our fair share via a vote.”

— Clay Dickerson, University of Virginia student council president (pilotonline.com)

“That's because there's been this erosion of trust in higher education.”

— Lily Franklin, Democratic state delegate (pilotonline.com)

What’s next

The bills will continue to face deliberation in the Virginia legislature, and lawmakers will work to align the House and Senate versions before the legislative session ends.

The takeaway

These proposed reforms aim to depoliticize the governance of Virginia's public universities by establishing clearer guidelines for board appointments and giving institutions more autonomy in seeking legal counsel. If enacted, the measures could help rebuild trust between higher education stakeholders and the communities that anchor the state's colleges and universities.