Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, November 3, 1995 TAG: 9511030071
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B8 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: ALLISON BLAKE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
"It seems to be critically important that you recognize, even as you seek to distinguish your community colleges from other higher education institutions, that all of Virginia's higher education is in a very serious situation," he said.
With funding cuts reducing Virginia higher education to 43rd in per-student spending nationwide, Baliles offered his suggestions for boosting community colleges.
"Community colleges enroll many different kinds of students: transfer, occupational-technical, industrial training and avocational, for example. Perhaps each group should be supported differently by the state and pay a different tuition for its courses," said Baliles, who spoke before the annual meeting of the community college system at the Marriott Hotel in Roanoke.
He also spoke to the towns and cities where community colleges are located.
"Much of the pressure for new construction, in my judgment, seems to come from the localities. They seek facilities for civic functions, to aid economic development, or for recreation and the performing arts. Perhaps construction of this kind should come at the initiative of local governments, who also would agree to help pay for it," he said.
Established nearly 30 years ago, the Virginia community colleges increasingly offer training programs with the help of specific industries and companies. For instance, at Virginia Western Community College in Roanoke, a training program is under way so workers can go on the job and help the refrigeration industry adapt to the new ban on freon.
The colleges also educate one-third of the students in the state's public higher education system. Among initiatives the colleges hope to improve are the Teletechnet program, Old Dominion University's televised bachelor's degree program and community education and public service funding, so the two-year colleges can continue to offer noncredit and continuing education classes.
But in his remarks, Baliles also stressed that the system must "reaffirm its commitment to industrial training and that the commonwealth support that commitment."
He also recalled his 1986 proposal to freeze tuition in the two-year schools.
"The cost of that action was modest by today's standards, if I remember correctly, but the results were just what we wanted: Enrollments shot up as Virginians went back to school, and the entire system was energized.
"Those responsible for Virginia's budget today would do well to remember how quickly and positively our citizens responded when we froze tuition a decade ago," he said.
Republican Gov. George Allen has instituted a tuition cap that limits increases to the rate of inflation.
Baliles sees the downward slide of public funding for colleges and universities as an economic threat. Information is driving decision-making in many countries, he said after his talk.
"To me, it puts a premium on education."
by CNB