HD5 - Educational Resources and Needs of the Roanoke Valley and Southwest Virginia

  • Published: 1972
  • Author: State Council of Higher Education for Virginia
  • Enabling Authority: House Joint Resolution 48 (Regular Session, 1970)

Executive Summary:

The "Virginia Plan for Higher Education," published by the State Council in 1967, indicated that no additional public four-year institutions should be established or planned at this time.  However, the Plan provided:

"As part of its continuing responsibility for leadership in promoting and coordinating a statewide system of higher education, the State Council, with the advice of staff and faculty members of existing institutions, will develop criteria to guide the future expansion of Virginia's family of public institutions.  These criteria will reflect the role of the private colleges and universities, the growth of existing institutions, the Commonwealth's commitment to a statewide community college system, the educational services available through extension, the potentialities of  new instructional methods such as television, and other pertinent factors.  The criteria will also be harmonized with both state and metropolitan area planning."

Beginning in July of 1968, the State Council undertook a study to determine how such future expansion of public higher education beyond the two-year level should proceed.  The results of that study were released in a "Criteria Report" approved by the Council on July 16, 1969.  A copy of that report is included in this appendix.

To provide the framework for the implementation of this study and recommendation, the General Assembly amended the State Council statue in the 1970 Session to read:

"23-9.11 (b) No additional State-controlled institution, with the exception of new community colleges, shall be established, nor shall any existing institution presently limited by law to two-year programs, nor any existing institution presently limited to four-year programs, be changed to a higher degree level until a study has been conducted by the State Council of Higher Education concerning the need for such an institution or development and the presentation by the State Council of a report and recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly."

House Joint Resolution No. 48 was introduced at the same session in which the Council's study and recommendation role was offered and approved.