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2004 SESSION

044268102
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 197
Offered January 14, 2004
Prefiled January 14, 2004
Requesting the State Council of Higher Education to consider the establishment of a public four-year degree granting institution of higher education in South Central Virginia. Report.
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Patrons-- Armstrong, Amundson, BaCote, Barlow, Baskerville, Bland, Brink, Councill, Dudley, Ebbin, Eisenberg, Hall, Howell, A.T., Hull, Hurt, Johnson, Jones, D.C., Lewis, Marshall, D.W., Melvin, Miles, Moran, Petersen, Phillips, Plum, Pollard, Scott, J.M., Shannon, Shuler, Sickles, Stump, Van Landingham, Van Yahres, Ward, Ware, O. and Watts; Senator: Reynolds
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Referred to Committee on Rules
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WHEREAS, the State Council of Higher Education, created pursuant to Chapter 1.1 of Title 23, is charged with serving as the coordinating agency for the public institutions of higher education in Virginia; and

WHEREAS, among the Council's duties and responsibilities is the biennial preparation of plans concerning public undergraduate and graduate education, including the location of all public educational programs; and

WHEREAS, in July 2003, the State of Council of Higher Education issued revised enrollment projections for the community colleges and public four-year institutions of higher education which predicts that the actual growth in the number students may reach 61,000 students by 2010; and

WHEREAS, institutions of higher education serve the dual role of educating students and anchoring economic development in the communities where they are located; and

WHEREAS, there is currently no public four-year or graduate degree-granting college or university in South Central Virginia; and

WHEREAS, in the absence of a public four-year institution of higher education, educational opportunities for Virginians who reside in South Central Virginia are limited and the economic competitiveness of the region is restricted; and

WHEREAS, the Joint Subcommittee to Study the Need for Increased Availability of Higher Education Services in South Central Virginia (SJR 459 (1999) determined that a need exists for a public four-year institution of higher education in South Central Virginia; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the State Council of Higher Education be requested to consider the establishment of a public four-year degree granting institution of higher education in South Central Virginia in developing its systemwide needs assessment plan for higher education in the Commonwealth. Such institution shall strengthen and support existing public and private institutions of higher education in the South Central Virginia region. In its deliberations to develop the plan, the Council shall (i) collaborate with all interested parties, and (ii) evaluate all available options, including, but not limited to, the creation of a branch campus of an existing institution in the South Central Virginia region.

The State Council of Higher Education shall submit to the Division of Legislative Automated Systems an executive summary and report of its progress in meeting the request of this resolution no later than the first day of the 2005 Regular Session of the General Assembly. The executive summary and report shall be submitted as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents and reports and shall be posted on the General Assembly's website.