Governor says some schools may need to rethink missions
In its first full meeting, at John Tyler Community College's Midlothian campus, McDonnell gave the 45-member commission a mandate to come up with a plan that is "both visionary and achievable."
"Access to the American dream goes right through the doors of a college or a university," said McDonnell, who has set a goal of achieving 100,000 additional degrees over the next 15 years.
Higher ed reform commission takes on major policy initiative
Gov. Bob McDonnell challenged his commission on higher education reform Monday to "dream big" as it develops a blueprint for increasing degree attainment, expanding research and development partnerships and controlling the escalating cost of attending college in Virginia.
State Commission Begins Work on Higher Education
McDonnell said, "Those states and those nations that provide the best trained and best motivated workforce are going to be the ones that are going to be the leaders in the global economy for decades to come."
Higher Education Committee Has First Meeting
Dominion chief heads McDonnell’s higher-ed panel
"This Commission will play a pivotal role in the effort to make Virginia a more highly educated state where businesses seek to locate and good jobs are available to our citizens in the communities they call home," McDonnell said. "We must make higher education more affordable and accessible for Virginians, and expand pathways to earning a college degree."
McDonnell creates higher education panel
Richmond Times-Dispatch/Charlottesville Daily Progress
“A college diploma is one of the keys to the good-paying jobs of the 21st century, and businesses seek to operate where there are well-educated workers with the skills necessary to make their enterprise successful. With this in mind, it is imperative we do more to expand access and affordability at Virginia’s colleges and universities.”
Rockefeller Institute Study on Higher Education
A New Paradigm for Economic Development. How Higher Education Institutions are Working to Revitalize Their Regional and State Economies.
McDonnell to soon name government reform panels
Gov. Bob McDonnell is getting set to announce his commission on higher education inovation.
McDonnell on Higher Education Innovation commission
"Pushing ahead on another of his campaign pledges, McDonnell plans to issue an executive order in the next two weeks to create a Governor's Commission on Higher Education Innovation. The panel will develop recommendations and timetables to implement his higher-education agenda -- including the goal for state colleges and universities to grant 100,000 additional associate's and bachelor's degrees during the next 15 years."
McDonnell Highlights Importance of Higher Ed in Inaugural Address
"And let us recognize that a high school degree is no longer the finish line in a global economy. We must create affordable new pathways to earning a college degree and make a commitment to confer 100,000 additional degrees over the next 15 years. We must make our community colleges national leaders in workforce development and career training.These are investments that will pay individual and societal dividends for many years to come."
College: Degrees of Success
"According to the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service at UVa, every dollar invested in the commonwealth's colleges and universities creates more than $13 in economic activity -- and $1.39 in state tax revenue. Few -- if any -- government expenditures result in a 40 percent return on investment. The institute estimates that an additional 70,000 college degrees awarded by 2020 would create $16 billion in increased personal income for Virginians, and an additional $1.9 billion in state revenue. In the not-so-long-run, higher education more than pays for itself."
Bolstering college access
"There is clear evidence of the links between advanced education and a state or nation's economic competitiveness and between knowledge creation--the very product of research universities--and job or company creation. The best jobs go to the best workers. And those workers gravitate to colleges or communities built on innovation or advanced research. Today's challenges in energy, health care, life sciences, and the environment can be met only with qualified human capital. This is America's competitiveness edge."
Governor Elect McDonnells Plan for Higher Education
by Mark Hubbard
“My focus is our higher education system, but the subject is really much broader. It’s about the future of Virginia as a thriving community, a growing economy, and a place where people from diverse regions and backgrounds, with varied interests ad abilities, can live fulfilling, prosperous lives.”
Study: Higher education has major impact on Valley economy
"A recently released study sanctioned by Grow by Degrees, a campaign of the Virginia Business Higher Education Council, provides an unprecedented look at the large impact of Virginia's public colleges, universities and community colleges on Virginia's economic output, job creation and state tax revenues. The study demonstrates that for every dollar the state spends on the public higher education system, it generates $13.31 of economic activity and $1.39 in increased tax revenues that flow back to the state."
Group meets to campaign for more college funding
"The study also found that public higher education in Southwest Virginia is responsible for $4.755 billion in annual contribution to state’s gross domestic product, 20 percent of total GDP in Virginia attributed to higher education, 23,473 jobs created by higher education operations and $500 million in annual tax revenues generated for Virginia."
Higher Ed Touted
"The valley has higher education to thank for 10,000 + jobs and over 2.2 Billion dollars in Virginia Gross Domestic Product generated in Valley Region Higher Education Investment."
Hampton Roads colleges’ boost to economy
"Hampton Roads public colleges and universities have created more than 22,200 jobs and contributed $450 million in annual tax revenue to the state, according to a study released Thursday by the Virginia Business Higher Education Council."
Study finds local colleges provide region with thousands of jobs and millions in revenue
"According to a study conducted by the University of Virginia's Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service, the region's public colleges and universities are responsible for more than 22,000 jobs in the area, more than $4.3 billion in goods and services and more than $450 million in tax revenues annually. But state funding for higher education has been slashed over the past two years as Virginia struggles with a revenue shortfall. Colleges and universities have been hit four times in 24 months, cutting about 25 percent of their state funding at a time when record numbers of students are applying for admission and struggling to find ways to pay for college."
Higher Education: Virginia Is Innovating for Success
"In a period of diminished resources it is important to nourish those activities that will have lasting impact on the economic future of the state's citizens. The commonwealth's future will be shaped by our willingness to transform Virginia into one of the most highly educated states in the nation."
Higher Education: The Commonwealth, Colleges Stand at a Crossroads
"We are at a real crossroads in the state's continued ability to retain and attract the kind of businesses that bring prosperity to our people and to meet the educational demands of a growing and more diverse population. Whether we are able to meet these challenges should be of concern to every elected official and every Virginian."
Public college costs rising faster than private
"Tuition and fees for public four-year colleges are now $7,020 on average and for private colleges $26,273, the College Board reported Tuesday, with prices rising faster in the public sector."
Empty Promises: What Virginia’s candidates propose for higher education
"Both candidates have embraced an initiative by the Virginia Business Higher Education Council to boost the share of state residents earning college degrees to 50 percent of working-age Virginians from the current 42 percent. The council calculates that for every dollar invested in public higher education, the state gets back $1.39 in tax revenue."
Investing in higher ed: Virginia underfunds its colleges and universities at the cost of itseconomy.
"Transportation might get most of the attention in Richmond, but Virginia underfunds other core government services, too. Higher education has been the ugly stepchild of the state budget for years."
Study shows economic boost from higher education
"A new study conducted by the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service at the University of Virginia shows that for every dollar the state spends on higher education, a total of $13.31 of economic activity and $1.39 in tax revenue is given back to Virginia."
Governor nominees plan for higher education
"The budget cuts affecting higher education institutions might be alleviated by state investment, according to a report by The Virginia Higher Education Council Thursday at The Virginia Summit on Economic Competitiveness and Higher Education."
Educators hear from hopefuls
Democrat Creigh Deeds and Republican Bob McDonnell spoke separately to the Virginia Summit on Economic Competitiveness and Higher Education, held in Richmond yesterday. Both men also spoke of the connection between education and economic development, saying that Virginia can't compete for jobs and businesses in a global economy if its education levels don't match or surpass those of other states or countries
Kaine links colleges, roads
"... the Virginia Business and Higher Education Council, sponsor of the summit, that showed Virginia's higher educational system has a major economic impact on the commonwealth, returning $1.39 for every $1 invested."
Study finds high return on state’s higher education investment
"Virginia receives $1.39 in state tax revenue for every dollar it invests in public higher education, says a study by a business coalition that is campaigning for increased support for colleges and universities."
Find the Money For Higher Education
"One of the big advantages of living in Virginia has long been the state's outstanding public colleges and universities, where students can get a top-quality education considerably cheaper than at a private institution."
PRESS RELEASE: STUDY SHOWS MAJOR ECONOMIC IMPACT OF HIGHER EDUCATION
by Mark Hubbard
RICHMOND, Va. – October 1, 2009 – A new study conducted by the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service at the University of Virginia provides an unprecedented look at the large impact of Virginia’s public colleges, universities and community colleges on Virginia's economic output, job creation, and state tax revenues. The study demonstrates that for every dollar the state spends on the public higher education system, it generates $13.31 of economic activity and $1.39 in increased tax revenues that flow back to the State.
COALITION DRAWS SUPPORT OF RESPECTED VIRGINIA LEADERS
by Mark Hubbard
Grow By Degrees, a campaign initiated by the Virginia Business Higher Education Council (VBHEC) to promote economic growth through high-impact investment and innovation in Virginia’s public colleges, universities, and community colleges, today announced that 10 respected Virginia leaders – all present or former Governors and U.S. Senators – have joined the Grow By Degrees coalition as honorary co-chairs
Governor candidates offer ideas for improving higher ed
"Virginia's candidates for governor insist that the state's public colleges will play vital roles in reviving the economy and preparing students for high-demand professions and emerging industries."
Grow by Degrees Initiative Encourages College Education
"Several prominent Virginia businessmen, including two former University Board of Visitors members, have come together to work on a new initiative called Grow by Degrees, which hopes to make higher education more affordable and applicable in the workforce."
Issues That Matter to You: Higher Education Costs
"As college campuses prepare for the fall semester to begin, the two men running for governor are turning their attention to higher education, one of the central issues emerging in this year's gubernatorial race."
Sen. Whipple: Grow by Degrees – A New Plan for Virginia
"In order to compete in the new economy we need more college graduates... To address the issue, the VBHEC has launched the initiative “Grow by Degrees” that calls for an additional 70,000 associate, bachelors, graduate and professional degrees to be awarded over the next ten years."
A Vow to Ease Tuition’s Burden
"Republican Bob McDonnell and Democrat Creigh Deeds will argue over many topics this year, but it's good to know they both recognize that state support for public colleges isn't a partisan issue."
Lofty Goals for Higher Ed
"The goals of the Virginia Business Higher Education Council are lofty: to make higher education more affordable and to encourage education to such a degree — pun intended — that by 2020 the commonwealth will create 70,000 more graduates at all levels of post-secondary education."
Group Promotes College Access
"A coalition of Virginia business leaders announced an initiative yesterday designed to build support for expanding access to higher education in the state."
Keeping Virginia Competitive
"Education and business leaders from around Virginia kicked off a new initiative on Monday morning that they say will keep Virginia competitive."
Higher Education Council Revved Up About College
"University and business leaders gathered Monday at the Taubman Museum of Art to announce a new effort they hope will result in a more focused, efficient and dedicated commitment to higher education in Virginia."
Group Hopes to Expand Va. College Enrollment, Aid
"A coalition of state business leaders, hoping to catch the ear of the next governor, on Monday launched a campaign to expand enrollment, financial aid and funding at Virginia's colleges."
Grow By Degrees Campaign Pushes Higher Education as Vital to Economy
"Local and state business leaders and college presidents unveiled a new campaign Monday to boost both the number of people attending public college and the number of degrees earned by college students."
Coalition launches effort to increase state support for higher education
"A coalition of business and education officials put Virginia politicians on notice yesterday that voters want the state to invest more in its colleges and universities."
Virginia College Campaign Kicks Off
"Grow By Degrees, a campaign of the Virginia Business Higher Education Council, launched Monday to increase the number of college degree holders in the state while plotting a long-term recovery for Virginia’s economy."
Coalition Touts Impact of Higher Education on Economy
"Grow By Degrees, a campaign initiated by the Virginia Business Higher Education Council (VBHEC) to promote economic growth through high-impact investment and innovation in Virginia’s colleges, universities, and community colleges was formally launched today in a series of press events throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia."
Click here to download the Grow By Degrees Polling Data.
70,000 MORE DEGREES: We Must Upgrade Virginia’s Higher Education
"The Commonwealth of Virginia is home to a myriad of global business interests, including companies like ours that confront the difficult energy and health care issues of our time. We have long been fortunate to have one of the best systems of higher education anywhere in the country, and it is especially vital now, since many of the challenges in today's knowledge-based economy can only be addressed through advanced education, skill, and research."
Va. colleges’ graduation rates higher than national average
"A national survey of college graduation rates gives high marks to James Madison University, the College of William and Mary and the University of Virginia."
Few Gains are Seen in High School Test
"U.S. high-school students haven't achieved any significant gains in reading or math for nearly four decades, according to a new federal report that underscores the challenges the Obama administration faces as it pressures schools to raise standards to produce a more competitive work force."
College Less Affordable During the Recession
"Grant and Alisa Southwell did exactly what they were supposed to do. Before their first child, daughter Caitlyn, was born, they started saving for their children's college education."
Some professions will be looking for employees
"Layoffs and hiring freezes are pushing up the jobless rate, but some employers locally and across the state are still hiring."
Biden Calls Affordable College a Priority
"Vice President Joe Biden announced college affordability as an administration priority during a Middle Class Task Force speech in St. Louis today."
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