RICHMOND ---- The University of Virginia Board of Visitors met behind closed doors to discuss “legal and personnel matters” for about two hours on Wednesday evening.

Inside were the governing board members; their leader, Rector Helen E. Dragas; and a lawyer from the state Attorney General’s office. Waiting outside were officials who typically are allowed to attend closed sessions: U-Va. President Teresa Sullivan, the board secretary and the board’s usual attorney. Two newly appointed special advisers to the board were also not included.

As time passed — much more time than the 75 minutes allotted on the agenda — those outside exchanged nervous glances.

The events of the summer have left many top officials weary of longer-than-expected closed-door meetings, especially those dealing with personnel issues. On June 8, Dragas asked Sullivan to step down, saying that she had the support of 15 of 16 board members. Sullivan agreed to resign, and the lack of explanation incited an angry backlash from faculty, alumni, students and others, many of whom demanded that Sullivan return and Dragas resign. On June 26, Sullivan was reinstated and, since then, she and Dragas have said they are committed to working together.

This week the board is meeting in Richmond for a retreat, its first gathering since the board unanimously voted to void Sullivan’s resignation. This retreat had originally been scheduled for July, with plans for board members to stay at an executive training center at the U-Va. Darden School of Business. Darden became a lightning rod in the controversy, which many saw as a clash between traditional academics and business executives over their differing visions for the future of public higher education. The retreat was bumped to August and moved to Richmond, in hopes that Gov. Robert F. McDonnell (R) could attend. (He did not, but sent the board a letter on Tuesday.)

RICHMOND — Helen Dragas, rector of the University of Virginia, opened the governing board retreat here Wednesday at about 1:40 pm by acknowledging “the many difficulties of the last few months” and again offering her “sincere and personal apology” for the controversies that have distracted the board.

Dragas said the retreat is an opportunity for the board to “reconcile our differences, rejuvenate our leadership and reshape our future outcomes.” Dragas also pointed out challenges ahead for the board: sustainable funding, changing education delivery and keeping up with the fast pace of changes.

Much of the retreat, which runs through Thursday morning, will focus on how the board operates and governs the university. On Wednesday afternoon, a governance consultant led the board through a series of questions and discussions. Terry MacTaggart of the Association of Governing Boards kicked off his presentation by acknowledging everything that has happened this summer, with the ouster and reinstatement of U-Va. President Teresa Sullivan, and the swarm of reporters in the back of the room.

“This is an awkward environment, okay, this is not a great environment,” said MacTaggart, a former university president himself. “Let’s just acknowledge that, and relax to the extent that we can.”

Meanwhile, Gov. Robert F. McDonnell (R) sent a letter Tuesday to the governing Board of Visitors to mark the occasion.

RICHMOND ---- To become a member of the University of Virginia Board of Visitors, one must first be appointed by the governor -- and then learn as much as humanly possible about the historic school as quickly as humanly possible during a two-day orientation session.

The latest class has four members, who gathered for a crash-course on UVA 101 on Tuesday and Wednesday. Their classroom is a conference room at the Omni Richmond Hotel. Their instructors are U-Va. President Teresa A. Sullivan and a parade of top administrators. And their reading material included binders, manuals, handouts and a copy of a handbook issued to all new U-Va. parents.

On Tuesday, Sullivan reassured them that it was okay to feel like they were “sipping from the fire hose.”

Board members meet Wednesday in Richmond. (Jenna Johnson/The Washington Post)

And unlike previous classes of new members, this group is under the watchful eye on a panel of reporters who take notes, tweet and snap photos. Two local activists are recording the event and streaming video.

The governing Board of Visitors fell under the national spotlight this summer after its leader, Rector Helen E. Dragas, asked the president to step down. Sullivan resigned in early June, but was reinstated later that month. There are still lots of questions about what happened, why it happened and whether Dragas and Sullivan can productively work together from here on out. Both women have said they are dedicated to making things work.

Texas A&M University sent mobile alerts to students and faculty Monday about a shooting just blocks from the school’s campus. While the story continues to develop, this handful of alerts and tweets shows what the story looked like as it unfolded online and on campus.

The University of Virginia released more than 1,200 pages of e-mails and other documents Friday that contained hundreds of calls from alumni, faculty and others for the leader of the governing board, Rector Helen E. Dragas, to resign.

Dragas has apologized for the nature in which she tried, unsuccessfully, to oust U-Va. President Teresa Sullivan in June, but she has held her ground as rector and voted on June 26 to reinstate Sullivan. Gov. Robert F. McDonnell (R) subsequently reappointed Dragas to the board and voiced concern that she had become “the sole target” of criticism at a time when the university needed reconciliation. Dragas and Sullivan also issued a joint statement about working together to advance the university’s goals in July.

U-Va. Rector Helen Dragas smiles during the June 26 meeting during which the board voted to reinstate President Teresa Sullivan. (Steve Helber - AP) The public records release showed more than 450 calls for Dragas’s resignation, most during the peak of the crisis. Reading through them reminded us of Paul Simon’s 1975 hit “50 Ways to Leave Your Lover,” which lists ways to call it quits, like “Just slip out the back, Jack,” or “Make a new plan, Stan.”

The e-mails were released in response to a public records request by the Hook, a Charlottesville weekly, which asked for communications to and from Dragas that mention the possibility of resignation.

There were some e-mails in support of Dragas. But they were far outnumbered by e-mails from critics.

“It has been well documented that even though we acted in good faith, some were angered by the Board's actions two months ago and my role specifically,” Dragas said Sunday night. “I have expressed my sincere apologies and great regret for the controversy and the misunderstandings that led to it. Since that time, the Board unanimously reinstated President Sullivan and we have pledged to move forward positively. I intend to dedicate my energies to constructive leadership and the future of the University.”
Here is a sampling from the critics:

1) “Resign!”

2) “Her immediate resignation would be a positive step towards healing, but short of that, MDPV (‘Most Despised Person in Virginia’) cannot be allowed to serve another term.”

3) “Dump Dragas.”

4) “It can be simple. You don't need to explain. It can be short. Just do it and get it over with. That's my advice -- given in kindness.”

5) “Each and every one of you should resign! The damage you have done to the University is beyond belief.”