Two pieces of legislation of interest to the VCCS moved forward during the week between January 18 and January 22. In addition, legislation creating a community college scholarship match program will be heard beginning January 26.

SB 182 (Stosch) lowers the grade point average for students eligible for the community college transfer grant from 3.0 to 2.5. This change will make approximately 1,400 more students eligible for the transfer grant, which currently awards a $1,000 base amount to eligible community college students who obtain an associate degree and an additional $1,000 to students studying science, teaching, engineering, math, and nursing. This bill was heard on January 21 in Senate Education and Health, was reported unanimously on a 14-0 vote, and was re-referred to the Senate Finance Committee. The estimated fiscal impact is $520,000 based on estimated participation and enrollment in science, teaching, engineering, math and nursing.

SB 323 (Ruff) changes the name of the Secretary of Education to the Secretary of Education and Workforce Development. This bill passed unanimously from General Laws and Technology and was heard on first reading on the Senate floor on January 20.

On January 26, three bills of interest to community colleges will be heard in the Higher Education Subcommittee of the House Education Committee. HB 961 (Crockett-Stark) would jumpstart a community college scholarship match program for community college students studying science, teaching, technology, engineering, math, and nursing. For every dollar raised privately by each of the 23 foundations serving Virginia’s community colleges or the Virginia Foundation for Community College Education, the state would match the donations on a dollar for dollar basis up to $5 million. A similar bill, HB 1005 (Athey), will also be heard before the subcommittee; this bill enacts a community college scholarship match program without specifying the areas of study. Delegate Athey is also the patron of HB 1011, which would allow Virginia’s community colleges to offer baccalaureate degrees in nursing, education, applied technology and other high-demand fields.

A list containing links and status of the bills of interest to the VCCS is available here.  January 22 was the deadline for General Assembly members to introduce legislation; most of this legislation is still being processed and bill numbers have not been assigned.  As legislation surfaces, it will be added to the list and highlighted in this blog. 

Posted by Ellen Davenport