Enrollment in Virginia's state-supported institutions of higher education has increased from 64,111 in 1966 to 149,422 in 1978. Over these same years, appropriations for higher education have grown even more rapidly. In the 1966-68 biennium, the appropriation was approximately $325 million: $182 million from the General Fund (tax revenues) and $143 million from special funds (tuition, fees, and other sources). In the present biennium, this appropriation exceeds $835 million: $457 million from the General Fund and $380 million from special funds. At the present time, almost 17 percent of the operating expenses from the General Fund of the Commonwealth are appropriated to our state-supported system of higher education. Although Virginia has many fine institutions of higher education and many outstanding educators, it has become apparent to the General Assembly that the higher education community in Virginia is not well enough coordinated to meet the total needs of the Commonwealth. During the 1972 session of the General Assembly, therefore, the late Senator William F. Stone introduced Senate Joint Resolution No. 21 to create a Commission on Higher Education.

Pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution No. 21, the Privileges and Elections Committee of the Senate appointed Senators Paul W. Manns of Bowling Green, William F. Stone of Martinsville, and Edward E. Willey of Richmond to serve on this Commission; the Speaker of the House of Delegates appointed Delegates Richard M. Bagley of Hampton, Archibald A. Campbell of Wytheville, Ray L. Garland of Roanoke, W. L. Lemmon of Marion, D. French Slaughter of Culpeper, and W. Roy Smith of Petersburg to serve. Senator Stone was elected Chairman and Delegate W. Roy Smith was elected Vice-Chairman. After the death of Senator Stone on August 19, 1973, Senator Willey was elected Chairman to succeed him.

The Division of Legislative Services, represented by Messrs. John A. Banks, Jr., and Robert W. Bendall, served as secretariat of the Commission. Dr. Daniel E. Marvin, Jr., Director of the State Council of Higher Education, and his entire staff, as well as Mr. L. M. Kuhn, Legislative Fiscal Officer, provided valuable staff assistance to the Commission.

During the Commission's two years of study, the members spent considerable time and effort acquainting themselves in detail with the problems of higher education in Virginia. As a result of the members' independent study, consideration of testimony gathered in meetings with college presidents and the Commission's consultants, the Commission has concluded its study and is prepared to report at this time.

The Commission wishes to call attention to the supplementary material in Section VIII of its report. This material includes a "State Level Management, Planning and Coordination Review" by Donald Shaner and Associates, consultants to the Commission; and Reports submitted to the Commission by the State Council of Higher Education. The Commission wishes especially to emphasize the Council of Higher Education's report on "Legal Education and Manpower Requirements in Virginia," and to endorse the conclusions reached in that report.