They’re worried about the burden that rising college expenses are putting on their parents, and whether their younger siblings will even have the opportunity to go to college. Their level of financial aid might be the same, but it no longer covers all their costs. Many have jobs to help out, but as colleges cut course offerings they’re finding it more difficult to make their two schedules work.

The State Council of Higher Education for Virginia has accepted remediation plans by Richard Bland College and the University of Virginia’s College at Wise intended to bring the schools into compliance with certification standards.

The State Council of Higher Education for Virginia will urge the General Assembly to appropriate an additional $58.7 million in undergraduate financial aid over the next two years to offset the decrease in state support that has resulted in higher tuition. Noting the declining fortunes of the state’s colleges and universities, SCHEV yesterday adopted a resolution that set student aid as its top priority for the 2010-12 budget biennium.

The state will seek a waiver from the federal government that would allow Virginia to move forward stimulus funding to help offset more than $196 million in budget cuts to higher education this year. Secretary of Finance Richard D. Brown told the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia yesterday that it appears the state will qualify for the federal waiver that is required to use $91.5 million in stimulus money this fiscal year instead of next.

Federal stimulus funds allocated to Virginia’s public colleges helped keep the average increase in tuition and fees for in-state undergraduates to about 5 percent for the upcoming school year.

Virginia State University and two colleges were told yesterday to come up with remedial plans to address why they have failed to meet certain performance standards required under state law. VSU, Richard Bland College and the University of Virginia’s College at Wise were at risk of losing their certification for falling short of benchmarks related primarily to their graduation rates.

Twelve professors from Virginia’s public and private colleges and universities have been named Outstanding Faculty Award winners. The faculty members, named yesterday by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, will receive $5,000 from the Dominion Foundation. The awards program is administered by SCHEV and underwritten by the foundation, the philanthropic arm of Dominion.