Virginia leaders are moving to reform how the state appoints and structures governing boards for its public colleges and universities, an effort aimed at reducing partisan influence in higher education governance.

Retired Major General Cedric Wins, who was ousted as Virginia Military Institute's first Black superintendent last summer, is now serving on a state commission examining board governance. Wins described the work as another act of service during remarks at a higher education conference in Washington D.C. on Monday.

The push to depoliticize college boards reflects broader concerns about how state governors and legislatures select trustees and board members. These appointments have increasingly become vehicles for advancing political agendas rather than institutional stewardship. Virginia joins other states grappling with board politicization, where appointees prioritize ideological positions over educational mission.

Governing boards shape institutional direction on curriculum, hiring, budgets, and campus policy. When appointment processes become partisan, boards may prioritize partisan goals over what serves students and faculty. Wins' involvement signals Virginia's commitment to examining how the appointment process works and what structural changes might insulate boards from political pressure.

The commission's work comes after Wins' departure from VMI sparked controversy. His removal in June 2023 occurred amid disputes over the military academy's approach to diversity initiatives and institutional culture. Wins had served since 2020 and became the institution's first superintendent of color in its 182-year history.

By shifting Wins into a governance reform role, Virginia leaders appear to value his perspective on institutional leadership and board function. The state's effort to strengthen governance structures could serve as a model for other states. Reform options typically include lengthening board member terms to reduce turnover driven by election cycles, establishing clear qualification standards for appointees, and creating transparent vetting processes that emphasize educational expertise over political loyalty.

Virginia's public higher education system includes the University of Virginia, Virginia Tech, William