HB 1011 (Athey) would allow community colleges to offer bachelor’s degrees in the high-demand fields of nursing, education, applied technology and other high need areas. The bill was heard on February 2 in the Higher Education Subcommittee of House Education.   Athey offered amendments to the subcommittee to narrow the bill to two pilot programs, one at the Virginia Beach campus of Tidewater Community College and one at the Middletown campus of Lord Fairfax Community College.

Athey, a graduate of Lord Fairfax Community College who went on to receive a bachelor’s and then a law degree, is a strong proponent of Virginia’s community colleges and explained how these pilot programs would help Governor McDonnell reach his goal of 100,000 more college graduates. Citing the affordability and appeal of Virginia’s Community Colleges, Athey discussed statistics of similar successful programs in 18 other states and stressed that it was time to move forward with this concept in Virginia. 

A number of subcommittee members expressed support for the concept of community colleges offering baccalaureate degrees, but felt that legislation was premature at this time and tabled the legislation. Instead, subcommittee members expressed strong interest in the idea of studying the concept of community colleges offering baccalaureate degrees.

Delegate Tom Rust , who chairs the subcommittee, indicated that this proposal will be forwarded to House Education Committee Chair Bob Tata for inclusion in a study of higher education in Virginia that is likely to be undertaken by the Governor.

Another bill patroned by Delegate Athey and heard before the Higher Education and Arts subcommittee was HB 1066.  This legislation would create the development of a uniform certificate of general studies to be offered at each community college for students who maintain a 3.0 average.  Upon completion of this general studies certificate, the student would then be able to transfer all credits to a four-year institution upon acceptance at that institution.  Concerns were voiced by SCHEV and one of the four-year institutions about the legislation.  The subcommittee recommended on a 4-3 vote that the legislation be reported. 

The House Education Committee will receive the subcommittee recommendations on both HB 1011 and HB 1066 at its meeting on February 8.

SB 534(McDougle), a bill to eliminate both SCHEV and the State Board for Community Colleges was passed by temporarily today in the Senate Education and Health Committee.  The Higher Education subcommittee had recommended on January 28 that the bill be tabled.

Posted by Ellen Davenport