Since assuming office Jan. 1, University President Scott Beardsley has embarked on a “listening and learning initiative” with the ambitious goal of spanning the entire University community.

In a statement to The Cavalier Daily, University Spokesperson Bethanie Glover described the initiative — Grounds for Conversation — as an effort to learn the University’s strengths and areas for improvement.

“Through these meetings, President Beardsley is learning where U.Va. currently shines, what we should keep doing, where there are opportunities to improve against our mission, and what 'no regret moves’ would accelerate our impact,” Glover wrote.

The tour, according to its website, aims to “gather feedback and insights from the University community.” Conversations during the tour and feedback from a survey open to community members linked on the website will help formulate future decisions and identify opportunities for the University moving forward.

“Beardsley is eager to learn what drives our community’s tremendous pride in U.Va. and to hear ideas for short-term and longer-term actions to accelerate progress in support of the University’s mission as we work to fulfill the mission’s full potential,” the website reads.

University community members — students, faculty, staff and alumni — are joining Beardsley for conversations around the world, spanning from U.Va. Health and the College at Wise to  cities across the Commonwealth and the globe.

According to Glover, Beardsley has met with leaders and representatives of all 12 University schools, U.Va. Health, the College at Wise and U.Va. Northern Virginia. Glover also noted he has met with past and present student leaders of class councils, the Honor Committee, the University Judiciary Committee and Student Council.

Beardsley’s meetings — or “engagements,” as described by the initiative’s website — have varied in content and scope depending on the group, and Glover wrote that they will continue into the 2026-27 academic year.

According to Eric Swensen, public information officer for U.Va. Health, Beardsley’s meeting with U.Va. Health consisted of a tour of several intensive care units, the Emergency Department and the Children’s Hospital. Beardsley also joined a faculty meeting at the School of Medicine, Swensen wrote in a statement to The Cavalier Daily.

“We greatly appreciate President Beardsley’s interest in learning more about the health system and how quickly he reached out to schedule his visits,” Swensen wrote. “The faculty and staff were so pleased to meet President Beardsley and share their stories about U.Va. Health and its impact.”