Ross Mugler, president and CEO of the Association of Governing Boards (AGB), testified before the Virginia General Assembly urging clearer separation of roles between trustees, presidents and faculty to preserve shared governance while protecting fiduciary duties. AGB emphasized non‑voting faculty engagement rather than board votes to avoid conflicts of interest. Separately, Virginia Tech announced it will end university‑funded identity‑based graduation ceremonies, citing guidance from the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights and legal compliance. The twin developments reflect mounting state and federal attention to governance, compliance and the legal boundaries of campus practices.