Governor Bob McDonnell held a press conference yesterday to talk about his legislative plan to increase the number of Virginia college graduates.

My colleague Ellen Davenport wrote about that yesterday.

The Governor’s plan is the right public policy and Virginia’s Community Colleges support it.

In their coverage of the press conference, however, the Richmond Times-Dispatch wrote something that I don’t understand:

But only 38 percent of Virginians can go to a Virginia school, he [McDonnell] said. “That says that we have a ways to go.”

I’ve never seen that figure before and I don’t know what it means.

At the end of the day, everyone can attend a Virginia Community College.  It’s our mission.

Over just the last four years, Virginia’s Community Colleges have added nearly 48,000 additional students.  Our fall-to-fall enrollment has jumped by 27,000 students during the same time.

The guaranteed transfer agrrements with more than two-dozen public and private universities means everyone can begin their pursuit of a UVA, Virginia Tech or VCU bachelor’s degree at a community college.  You can explore all those opportunities at the Virginia Education Wizard.

This is, of course, why the Governor’s Higher Education Reform panel applauded the transfer opportunites students have at our community colleges in its interim report:

“There is no doubt that an expanding community college system is an essential component in the state’s increased degree attainment strategy… Promoting community college transfer options [is an] essential strategy for providing affordable access to college degrees for an increasing percentage of college-age Virginians.”

Don’t be discouraged, Virginia!  Your community colleges are open for business and excited about helping you earn the credentials that we offer, and more.

Posted by Jeffrey Kraus