RD217 - Annual Report of the Virginia Community College System


Executive Summary:
Virginia’s community colleges have had an extraordinary year in 2004-05. We’ve been able to EXPLORE new ways of reaching, retaining and encouraging our students to graduate. We’ve been able to ENGAGE our faculty, our students, and community stakeholders in strategic partnerships that benefit all Virginians. We EXCEL at implementing workforce and academic transfer programs that meet community needs.

Your support has made this possible. Thank you for your commitment to Virginia’s 23 community colleges—their services and programs, their students, their faculty and staff.

This past year I had the privilege of chairing the Council of Presidents (COP), the circle of presidents who head Virginia’ s public colleges and universities. Both as chancellor of the VCCS and as chairman of the COP , I appeared with the four-year presidents before the General Assembly in the winter to make the case for changing the w ay our institutions operate.

The Higher Education Restructuring Act offered by the COP was approved this spring, signaling momentous change in the w ay higher education institutions will govern themselves. Virginia’s community colleges, presidents, students, faculty and stakeholders played a key role in that approval. You made it happen.

This new environment gives colleges and universities the right to seek more governing authority from the state. But that privilege carries with it responsibility and accountability. We must all demonstrate in specific measurable ways that we are doing our job.

Personally, I believe Virginia’s community colleges are ahead of the game . "Dateline 2009," the five-year strategic plan adopted by the State Board, calls for the combined efforts of all 23 community colleges to achieve the goals set forth in the plan. Looking back at last y ear, we can now see our gains college by college, as well as collectively.

We are making significant strides in goal areas including Transfer, Graduation and Retention, Workforce Services, Dual Enrollment, and Private Funding. Enrollment gains projected b y the State Council of Higher Education make it imperative that we continue to set our goals high to meet the demands of our students , our communities and our Commonwealth.

By serving the Commonwealth more aggressively and with greater accountability, it is my earnest desire—and firm belief—that Virginia’s community colleges will soon be ranked world-class institutions. As we explore, engage and excel, we will realize our goals.

Glenn DuBois
Chancellor