Plan calls for more students
By Ben Baynton, contributing writer
Posted on October 9, 2006

Gov. Timothy M. Kaine recently released his economic development strategic plan, which is required by Virginia state law. This plan introduces nine goals, which are expected to be completed by 2010. 

One of the goals Kaine plans to accomplish is an increase in the number of Virginia students between the ages of 18 and 24 in a higher-education program. The goal is a 5 percent increase in participation, from 34 percent to 39 percent, or about 34,000 students.
“I think the proposed increase is realistic,” said Douglas Garcia, the Virginia Assistant Secretary of Education. Through dual enrollment, AP and IB students can earn credit toward college, decreasing the amount time that student spends in college, and creating space in required 100 and 200-level courses.

Agreements between community colleges and traditional four-year universities such as JMU have created feeder colleges. This allows students to pass from a community college to four-year university without losing many credits.

Another issue is how to get students into college that are currently unable or unwilling to go.

“The main incentive that I feel will get students to come is the realization that we live in a global society where we are not just competing against students from the United States, but students from India, Japan and China,” Garcia said.

Kaine’s plan would establish reimbursement or even tuition forgiveness for students studying science-related disciplines, education, nursing and education.

Rick Siger, the Deputy Secretary of Commerce and Trade believes that the highly specialized programs in Virginia universities will attract students.

One example is the Information Systems Security Professional program at JMU. JMU is one of only seven designated centers of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education in the nation.     

“Because of the success of our universities, companies are attracted to Virginia,” Siger said. This is why an increase in student population is an important component of the Strategic Plan.

“The thing I find curious is that we have adapted some policies that are an impediment to those goals,” said Virginia State Sen. Mark Obenshain (R-26th District). Obenshain has previously served on the Board of Visitors at JMU.

Obenshain said the problem is not attracting the students to universities but making them economically accessible.

“I think those are laudable goals, but we’ll see if the governor enacts a tuition freeze,” said Obenshain. “JMU has grown faster than state funding.” 

In fact, The National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education, a non-profit nonpartisan organization, gave Virginia an F on affordability. However, the organization also gave Virginia a “B” for participation. 

“The last thing we want to do is increase enrollment without increasing economic accessibility,” Obenshain said.