On the surface, the resignation of Virginia Tech president Tim Sands seems unlikely.
Sands, who has been president of the public university for 12 years, announced Thursday that he plans to resign soon. The university’s news release highlighted his accomplishments and offered positive remarks about his time at the helm of Virginia Tech.
But a message Thursday night from Democratic Senator Tim Kaine raised questions about Sands’ resignation.
“I am deeply troubled by the sudden departure of President Tim Sands from Virginia Tech,” Kaine wrote in a shared statement. Within Higher Ed hours after the announcement was made. As a university, Kaine noted his accomplishments. But he also hinted at inefficiency.
“This action bears the hallmarks of well-publicized attempts to oust Presidents at other Virginia public universities—[Virginia Military Institute, the University of Virginia, George Mason University]. I urge Governor Spanberger to put an end to this latest attack on Virginia higher education and take all necessary steps to protect the university’s leadership from politically motivated agendas,” Kaine wrote.
The senator did not specify in that statement what he was talking about. But his comments suggest he sees Sands’ departure as fitting a pattern established by other community boards in the state.
Kaine added to his message in an audio recording provided by himself staff, saying he was “not at liberty” to share the information he received, but showing that the board wanted to move quickly to remove Sands before new members joined.
“I think there is a desire on the part of some members of that board to remove him by force, even though he does not deserve to be treated like that, so that the board can choose the president before the Governor. [Abigail] “Spanberger can put the stamp of the administration on the Virginia Tech board,” Kaine said in a recording of Friday’s press conference.
He also pointed to the precedent.
In the case of VMI, the Board of Visitors voted last March not to renew the contract of then-Superintendent Cedric Wins, who had publicly clashed with the college’s students over diversity, equity and inclusion efforts at the college amid efforts to correct a culture that was criticized as racial and sexist.
At UVA, then-President Jim Ryan stepped down in June amid a federal investigation into DEI programs at the university. In time, he will reveal that he was forced by the board to resign and that he suspects dishonesty about the circumstances of his exit and the investigation. After his departure, UVA reached an agreement with the federal government regarding DEI’s concerns.
And at GMU, the board has repeatedly clashed with President Gregory Washington over DEI efforts, among other issues. Although many expected Washington to be fired last summer, students and faculty expressed opposition to the expected move; instead the board voted to retain Washington—and promote him, despite protracted behind-the-scenes wrangling.
In each case, the presidents were fired or pressured by boards appointed by former Republican governor Glenn Youngkin, who often called conservative operatives and donors to those roles. While his successor, Spanberger, a Democrat, has moved quickly to rebuild governing boards across the commonwealth, 13 of Virginia Tech’s 14 boards. members were appointed by Youngkin, although one was elected by former Democratic governor Ralph Northam and later reappointed by Youngkin. (Member 14 is ex officio and not elected is the governor.) Although Youngkin’s sponsors are among the 14 members, the board does not contain a large number of political activists or former Republican officials, like many other public university boards in Virginia.
If there’s a controversy, as Kaine said in his secret message, it’s a well-kept secret. Virginia Tech did not comment on Kaine’s unusual statement when contacted Thursday night Within Higher Ed.
“President Sands’ leadership and commitment to the mission and vision of Virginia Tech has been transformative for the university, the commonwealth, and public higher education,” Virginia Tech spokesman Mark Owczarski wrote in an emailed statement. Within Higher Ed.
Asked to address the statement directly, Owczarski did not respond.
In his resignation announcement, Sands said the time was right for him to step down and allow the next president to “take full control.” Although the announcement did not specify an exact timeline, Sands wrote that he “will serve until my successor is in place.” A university news release said he will “step down in the coming months.” However, presidential searches often take a year.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, said another source familiar with the situation Within Higher Ed that Spanberger had been in contact with Virginia Tech director John Rocovich and the two spoke directly about the need for candidates, which they would do. named in July, to be involved in the search.
“The two spoke openly about the need for the president to be elected through an open and comprehensive process that does not destroy the public’s trust in the leadership of the universities,” they said.
