Date: October 28, 2021
One of the lasting impacts of this season of learning how to use Zoom at Virginia Theological Seminary is in respect to our Board committee work. Our practice was to hold all Board meetings face to face; normally, in a massive two-day intensive, where committees met on the Tuesday and the full Board on the Wednesday. However, Zoom taught us something important: we learned that attendance was higher; the chat facilities extended the questions; and the accountability of the administration was better.
As a result, the Board committee meetings are continuing to be held on Zoom. On Tuesday, the Buildings and Grounds Committee met; yesterday, the Academic Affairs Committee met. In both meetings, important issues were discussed and really analyzed.
I am grateful to all those who work so hard to make these meetings a success. The chairs of these committees and the faculty and staff that support those chairs make these meetings succeed. Meanwhile, some face-to-face work is important. So the full Board meeting will be happening on campus on Tuesday, November 9, and Wednesday, November 10. We will be, in terms of governance, a blended institution as we ensure the delivery of appropriate governance.
The Very Rev. Ian S. Markham, Ph.D.
Dean and President