University of Virginia interim President Paul Mahoney announced Wednesday that UVA has reached an agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice regarding the government’s five remaining federal investigations.
The agreement includes no monetary penalty and no external monitoring, and it affirms UVA’s academic freedom.
Under the terms, UVA agrees to comply with civil rights laws and report quarterly on its compliance efforts through Dec. 31, 2028. During that period, the government will suspend its current investigations. UVA leaders will continue to confirm the University’s compliance through the end of 2028, at which time the government will conclude the investigations.
Mahoney announced the news in a message to the University community Wednesday afternoon, just hours after he sent a signed copy of the agreement to the federal Office of Civil Rights. The University posted the full text of the agreement and a list of questions and answers about the agreement.
“We intend to continue our thorough review of our practices and policies to ensure that we are complying with all federal laws,” Mahoney wrote. “We will also redouble our commitment to the principles of academic freedom, ideological diversity, free expression, and the unyielding pursuit of ‘truth, wherever it may lead,’ as Thomas Jefferson put it. Through this process, we will do everything we can to assure our community, our partners in state and federal government, and the public that we are worthy of the trust they place in us and the resources they provide us to advance our education, research, and patient care mission.”
Mahoney’s community message came just days after UVA decided against participation in the Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education offered by the U.S. Department of Education. While Mahoney conceded there is room for improvement in higher education, he said government research dollars to colleges and universities should be distributed based on the merit of the work, not by a favored status with the government.
UVA Board of Visitors Rector Rachel Sheridan said the federal agreement announced Wednesday preserves UVA’s autonomy while recognizing the government as a critical funding source for the University’s research enterprise.
“This agreement allows UVA to move forward together, upholding the University’s principles and independence while maintaining the essential research partnership with the federal government,” Sheridan said. “This has been a challenging time for many institutions in higher education, including UVA. The agreement results from steadfast adherence to the same values that have guided generations of UVA’s leaders and that we have honored as stewards of that legacy.”
The agreement is the result of months of concentrated work led by Mahoney since he assumed the post of interim president on Aug. 11, according to UVA leaders. Mahoney and others have worked these past months with the Justice Department to address concerns the agency raised about the University’s compliance with federal civil rights laws and its response to allegations of antisemitism on Grounds.
Previously, the Justice Department closed two investigations into UVA “based on the information we provided to the department about our policies and actions,” Mahoney said in September.
“President Mahoney has navigated a complex federal landscape with remarkable skill and care,” Brie Gertler, interim executive vice president and provost, said. “I am grateful for his thoughtful leadership throughout this important process.”
Mahoney concluded: “Some work remains to be done to satisfy fully the terms of this agreement. I am optimistic, however, that our community will be able to pursue that work in a manner consistent with the values and principles that are at the heart of everything we do.”
