THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, December 3, 1994 TAG: 9412030273
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PHILIP WALZER, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 58 lines
The State Council of Higher Education recommended approving Norfolk State University's restructuring plan Friday. It had rejected an earlier version in November.
But that still might not save NSU from budget cuts of up to 6 percent next school year for missing a deadline.
The council last month approved restructuring plans for all but six of the 15 state-supported, four-year colleges and the community college system.
On Friday, council officials said the revised plans of four of the rejected schools should be approved: Norfolk State, Longwood College, Mary Washington College and Radford University.
The two other schools whose plans were rejected - Christopher Newport and Virginia State universities - have decided to submit revised plans later this month, said Donald J. Finley, associate director of the state council. The General Assembly required colleges to submit restructuring plans this fall and next, to encourage streamlining in higher education.
Last month, state Education Secretary Beverly Sgro said the six universities could lose up to 6 percent of state funding next year for failing to meet the November deadline for acceptable plans.
Sgro was not available for comment Friday. But a spokeswoman, Kari Walter, said Norfolk State - and the other schools - won't necessarily be off the hook.
``The governor has made it clear that colleges that have not submitted suitable plans by the due date could be subject'' to the cuts, she said. He will release his proposal for the state's 1995-96 budget on Dec. 19.
Finley said the revisions from the four schools offered specifics lacking in the originals. ``Once they decided what to do, we wanted them to tell us how,'' he said. For instance, ``in faculty development, how many teachers - and by when - would get the necessary training for technology?''
NSU promised to train 95 percent of its professors to use computers in the next four years. In the report, the university also set a goal of graduating 34 percent of its freshmen within seven years.
State reports show NSU graduates less than 20 percent of its freshmen within seven years, the lowest rate among state-supported universities. The council previously complained that the plan didn't adequately address the problem.
Norfolk State President Harrison B. Wilson said Friday: ``I'm pleased for our faculty and the individuals who worked so hard on this. We've done a lot of work, and I think we have a good plan.''
He said he would lobby state officials to avoid budget reductions. ``I certainly hope there aren't budget cuts for our school or any of the other schools. It would be very difficult with our financial situation.''
The council will vote on the four revised plans on Dec. 13.
KEYWORDS: NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY by CNB