University of Virginia Library

A. Virginia's Continuing Commitment

On December 2, 1969, Mr. Leon Panetta, Director of the Office of Civil Rights of the U. S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare, wrote to Governor Mills E. Godwin calling for a desegregation plan for Virginia's institutions of higher education. During the Spring and Summer of 1970, members of the Governor's office, college officials and the State Council of Higher Education worked to develop a plan to insure that Virginia was in full compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. A plan was submitted to the Department of Health, Education and Welfare in December 1970. Throughout 1971, 1972 and the early months of 1973, no correspondence was received from the Department of Health, Education and Welfare regarding the 1970 plan. On March 27, 1973, Mr. Peter Holmes, Director of the Office of Civil Rights, inc letter to Governor Holton, indicated that the 1970 plan was not satisfactory and requested additional information relating primarily to 1971 and 1972. On April 20, 1973, Governor Holton responded to the Office of Civil Rights stating his firm belief that Virginia is in full compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and providing extensive details on developments during 1971-72.

On May 21, 1973, the Office of Civil Rights formally notified Governor Holton that in its opinion "Virginia's dual system (of higher education) has not yet been fully disestablished." This correspondence also requested additional data and additional actions planned by the State. On June 11, 1973, Governor Holton in a letter to the Office of Civil Rights supplied extensive additional information and actions taken and proposed by the Commonwealth which supported his "strong conviction that Virginia is in full compliance." On November 10, 1973, the Office of Civil Rights notified Governor Holton that Virginia's proposed actions

fall short of compliance with Title VI and that a revised plan be submitted for Virginia by February 9, 1974. In addition, on November 5, 1973, Governor Horton supplied data pertaining to institutional faculty affirmative action plans.

Thus, the plan presented here is not a new plan for Virginia's institutions of higher education, nor is it the first such plan submitted to the Office of Civil Rights. Rather, it represents a continuing commitment on the part of the Commonwealth to guarantee to its citizens equal opportunity in all acclivities relating to institutions of higher education. Although many of the specific plans mentioned herein indicate continuing commitments on the part of the Commonwealth, It should be clearly under- stood that they are intended to augment plans proposed in earlier submissions to the Office of Civil Rights and should not be considered as a new and/or different plan for guaranteeing equal opportunity.