Nationally, support for higher education has been in decline in recent years as Americans grew concerned about students graduating without useful skills and burdened with high college debt. The trend was evident even before the coronavirus pandemic. But in Virginia, recent research by the Virginia Business Higher Education Council (VBHEC) shows strong public support for higher ed.
VCCS State Board members received a briefing on the survey at their November meeting. They also paid tribute to a longtime VCCS leader who is retiring at the end of this year. More on that below.
The higher education survey numbers are timely; Virginia lawmakers will gather in Richmond in January for their annual budget 
deliberations. The VCCS State Board approved a six-year plan in September calling for a major investment of new state funding to ensure our colleges are prepared to meet the needs of Virginia learners and businesses.
“Virginians believe higher education generates value for the commonwealth, with a good return on investment,” said M. Kirkland “Kirk” Cox, president of the VBHEC. Cox, a career educator and former speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates, presented the survey results to the VCCS State Board on November 9.
Cox said it’s significant that significant majorities of Virginia Democrats and Republicans all support higher education. He argued that translates to strong political support for Virginia’s colleges and universities, including community colleges. The graphic below is from a presentation that Cox made to the VCCS State Board on November 9. You can download the entire presentation.
Also at the November Board meeting, members paid tribute to longtime VCCS leader Sharon Morrissey. Dr. Morrissey, Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic and Workforce Programs, will retire at the end of 2023, capping a 37-year career in higher education leadership in Virginia and North Carolina.
(l. to r.) VCCS Board Chair Peggy Layne, Dr. Sharon Morrissey, Sr. Vice Chancellor, and Dr. David Doré, VCCS Chancellor.
Board Chair Peggy Layne said Morrissey provided exceptional leadership as Interim Chancellor, maintaining positive momentum for the VCCS while helping overcome a period of disagreement with the governor’s office. Chancellor David Doré thanked Morrissey for her steady leadership over the years and for helping him as he assumed his new responsibilities at the VCCS this past spring.
“What an honor it has been to have served the Virginia Community College System for so many years,” said Dr. Morrissey. “We have amazing talent here, with people who care deeply about the system and the students that we serve. I retire with great peace of mind, knowing this system has great leadership that will help students achieve their goals.”
