2006 Virginia General Assembly Session
With over 7,500 students and over 8,000 open-enrollment and contract-course students served annually, Lord Fairfax Community College (LFCC) provides individuals with an affordable, high-quality education without having to leave home. These students represent over 230,000 students enrolled at the 23 colleges in the Virginia Community College System (VCCS).
But what would happen to these students if they had to pay higher tuition rates? Would they drop out, missing out on all of the benefits of a college education and higher earning potential, which translates into a stronger economy and higher tax revenue for the state? And what would happen to the projected 16,000 additional students per year that will descend on Virginia community college campuses in three short years? Will there be enough classroom space, enough equipment, enough faculty, enough financial aid? If the Commonwealth of Virginia does not assist the VCCS in providing citizens with the opportunity to obtain an education, the economic vitality of the state will suffer.
According to a recent economic development study, the average annual increase in income for LFCC students who graduate with an associate’s degree is between $7,000 and $8,000. Furthermore, annual increases in income of approximately $1,300 to $1,500 are also experienced after a typical year at LFCC. Of course, increased income translates into more tax revenue for the state.
As in years past, the future of higher education in the Commonwealth of Virginia is in the hands of the members of the Virginia General Assembly. This year, the members are grappling with the complexity of the state’s transportation needs, trying to ensure that Virginia keeps “moving.”
Please do not misunderstand me. I agree that improvements in the area of transportation are warranted and needed. However, at the same time, I urge our state legislators to explore other avenues of funding for transportation and support the governor’s budget, which addresses critical operating budget and construction and renovation needs within the VCCS. It is imperative that funding for transportation does not take the place of support for community colleges and other higher education institutions. An investment in higher education is an investment in the future of the state.
One way legislators may invest in higher education is by supporting legislative bill SB540. This new bill creates a Community College Transfer Grant Program to be administered by the State Council of Higher Education in Virginia. This program would greatly expand the educational opportunities of students who cannot afford the cost of a four-year institution, allowing graduates with an associate’s degree to continue paying community college tuition rates while pursuing a bachelor’s degree.
Juggling the state budget and trying to meet all funding needs are difficult tasks. LFCC’s students and employees greatly appreciate the commitment and support of the members of the General Assembly to higher education and Virginia’s community colleges. In today’s fast-paced society where knowledge is everything, LFCC is poised to continue educating the workforce of tomorrow.
John J. “Ski” Sygielski
President
Lord Fairfax Community College