WHO WE ARE
About the Grow By Degrees Coalition
Our Coalition is comprised of business, community, education, and economic development leaders and organizations from throughout Virginia. Though they reflect a variety of perspectives and backgrounds, Coalition members share a conviction that Virginians, regardless of income, should have access to the broader economic horizons opened by a college education. They also share a belief that only a sustained program of investment and innovation in higher education—embodied in state law and in the business plans of our educational institutions—will make Virginia a national and international leader in attracting new business investment, research grants, and excellent job opportunities in the new economy.
About the Virginia Business Higher Education Council (VBHEC)
VBHEC was founded in 1994 by Virginia business leaders on the principle that the prosperity of Virginia and the well-being of its citizens is fundamentally tied to access to a strong system of public colleges and universities. A nonprofit, nonpartisan partnership between Virginia's business community and higher education leadership, VBHEC’s mission is to enhance the performance of Virginia’s public colleges, universities, and community colleges and their funding by state government so they can produce the greatest possible positive impact on Virginia's economy. VBHEC is committed to educating the public about higher education's crucial role in Virginia's economy, and it strives to secure the support needed for the Commonwealth's colleges, universities, and community colleges to rank among the nation's best.