Make college more affordable, SCHEV says

With public colleges facing state budget cuts of up to 15 percent, the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia today adopted a report on ways to make school more affordable.

The report acknowledges that tuition will likely increase to offset the loss of state funds, but it says a portion of those increases should be dedicated to need-based financial aid for in-state students. The report gives schools a broad range -- between 5 percent and 30 percent --depending on each institution's circumstances.

Called "Toward Affordability," the report also recommends better marketing for the Virginia Guaranteed Assistance Program as an inducement for high school students to get better grades.

Alan Edwards, SCHEV's policy studies director, said the goal would be to reach high school students who aren't aware such assistance is available. Because they don't think they have the means to go to college, they often don't work hard enough and fail to meet the threshold for qualifying for the assistance.

In other action, SCHEV gave provisional certification for a new private, for-profit university. South University, which is based in Savannah, Ga., is building a $10 million school on West Broad Street in Glen Allen.

Provisional certification will allow the university to begin soliciting enrollment before construction is completed in August.

Contact Karin Kapsidelis at (804) 649-6119 or .