"“I’m not too optimistic, but I’m still putting up a fight,” says Jan Cornell, president of UVA’s Staff Union. “Everybody’s saying, ‘Jan, go away. Charter is going to pass.’”

Indeed, Cornell’s voice has been one of the few notes of dissention regarding university autonomy, and last week an ambitious charter proposal sailed through a Senate committee.

On Wednesday, February 2, the Senate Education and Health Committee unanimously passed a charter bill, S.B. 1327, drafted by Sen. Thomas Norment (R-James City), legislation that generally reflects a form of college autonomy favored by UVA. The committee’s 15-0 vote in favor of Norment’s bill suggests an emerging consensus for his charter plan. The House of Delegates is considering a bill similar to Norment’s, H.B. 2866, sponsored by Del. Vincent Callahan (R-Fairfax).

The only thing is the legislation isn’t called “charter” anymore. Norment’s bill provides autonomy options for all Virginia colleges, not just the three big schools (UVA, William and Mary and Virginia Tech) that proposed the charter idea last year, and apparently “charter” sounded too elite.

“We’re trying to get away from the word ‘charter,’ because it’s open to all universities now,” says Danita Bowman, Norment’s legislative aide. “It’s really a restructuring of the financial arrangements that the colleges can have.”

Norment’s bill would establish three levels of autonomy. All universities would be eligible for the first level, which would grant the schools freedom from State oversight in purchasing, terms of employment and construction projects.

The second and third levels would provide greater freedoms, but would require the schools to meet certain criteria, such as a sound bond rating and a healthy fundraising stream. UVA, William and Mary and Virginia Tech would likely pursue the third level of autonomy.

Cornell’s objections to charter—or whatever it’s called—concern the universities’ freedom to set hiring policies. Current UVA employees who were hired under terms set by the Commonwealth will see no change if charter takes effect, but new employees will be hired under terms set by the universities.

UVA Vice President Leonard Sandridge argues that charter could give UVA the financial wherewithal to provide better terms for its future employees. Cornell doesn’t buy it.

“UVA will be just like a private company,” Cornell says. “They won’t have any of the rights, privileges and benefits of State employees. In 10 years, UVA workers will be stuck with low pay and low benefits.

“If we have concerns,” Cornell says, “under charter the only people we can go to are the Board of Visitors, and you know damn well the Board of Visitors isn’t going to talk to a groundskeeper.”

In an e-mail update of legislative affairs, Charlottesville Delegate Mitch Van Yahres says he has “reservations” about the bill because “I don’t feel it contains enough protections for employees.” He hasn’t seen the House version of the bill, so, Van Yahres says, he hasn’t made a final decision on how he will vote.

Details about charter are still open to debate, but it appears that at least some schools will be able to set tuition rates without politicians’ oversight. Governor Mark Warner has said he wants charter legislation to include language that ensures access to higher education for low-income students. Given the complexity of the legislation (Norment’s bill is about 80 pages long), the whirlwind atmosphere of the General Assembly session and the colleges’ lobbying efforts, Cornell says she’s doubtful employee concerns will gain much traction.

“People have told me that the employee part is off the radar,” Cornell says. “Tuition is what legislators are most concerned about.” (John Borgmeyer, C-Ville Weekly, February 8, 2005)