A volunteer organization that provides tours of the University of Virginia is reporting that the school has suspended their ability to do so until a training plan is in place.
In an August 28 letter posted to Instagram, the leadership of University Guide Service stated they are not able to do either admissions or historical tours this fall.
“The justification for these suspensions is based on the Administration’s view that UGS is failing to fulfill its delegated functions, particularly in terms of reliability and tour quality,” write the two co-chairs and vice chairs. “In contrast, our own accountability measures—including tour feedback solicited from all admissions tours visitors—suggest that this is an incomplete view of our tours.”
The letter goes on to state that UGS is working with the Office of Undergraduate Admission to develop a training plan for volunteers who give admission tours, but there’s no plan in place yet for how UGS might be able to resume historical tours. Representatives say they will work with the administration but only up to a point.
“This will remain true as long as this relationship does not harm our ability to share an honest and complete account of UVA and its history,” the letter continues.
The Cavalier Daily is reporting reports that admissions tours will now be employed by student interns. Follow them for continuing coverage.
In a statement, the University of Virginia confirmed that interns will be used for this fall while a performance improvement plan is in place.
“The University has been in close contact with the student-led University Guide Service, or UGuides, over the past two academic years to address a trend of issues and concerns surrounding guide attendance and tour consistency, and to discuss plans for improvement,” said Bethanie Glover, deputy spokesperson for University Communications.
According to the Student Affairs website at UVA, the University Guide Service is a Special Status Organization which means work is performed that could be done by the school itself if it wanted.
“Students act as University agents and are covered by the University’s risk management plans in the performance of their delegated duties,” a description reads. “Students are required to maintain a close working relationship with a designated University advisor.”
Glover said the University Guide Service has a long tradition of providing tours.
“We are working with the UGuides on a performance improvement plan which will extend through the fall 2024 semester, reviewing the University’s expectations for guide attendance and tour content and delivery,” Glover said.
In February 2023, the Cavalier Daily reported the content of text messages from one member of the Board of Visitors who has expressed criticism of the University Guide Service as well as the administration of President James Ryan. Bert Ellis would later apologize for the texts targeting UVA students according to a March 3, 2023 article in the Charlottesville Daily Progress.
Ellis is one of the co-founders of the Jefferson Council, an organization founded to is preserve “the legacy of Thomas Jefferson, the Lawn, the Honor Code, and the free exchange of competing ideas and intellectual diversity one would expect from Mr. Jefferson’s university.” The group’s blog has posted several articles critical of the work of the University Guide Service.
Ellis was in the first round of appointees made by Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin. Another four were made in 2023 and another five this year.
The Board of Visitors will next meet September 11 through September 13.
Since this story was published, there have been other accounts:
- University of Virginia Suspends Tours Criticized for Emphasizing Ties to Slavery, Stephanie Saul, New York Times (paywall), August 31, 2024
- UVA Suspends Student-Guided Tours, Jim Bacon, Bacon’s Rebellion, August 31, 2024
- UVa suspends student tours accused of pushing ‘woke’ history, Jason Armesto, Charlottesville Daily Progress (paywall), August 31, 2024
- Contradicts UVA Explanation Suspending University Guide Service, Jay Hart, Cville Right Now, September 4, 2024
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