The passage of the Virginia Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2011 will have a profound effect on the Commonwealth’s colleges and universities for decades to come. Also known as the "Top Jobs Act," or "TJ21," this groundbreaking legislation calls on Virginia’s institutions of higher education to create or enhance programs that lead to more college graduates, greater employability, and a strong economy for the future of all Virginians. In the spirit of TJ21, SCHEV is devoting this space to the innovative programs being implemented at the Commonwealth’s colleges and universities aimed at achieving these goals.
Some Specific Areas TJ21 Addresses
- Increased enrollment of Virginia students, including underrepresented populations
- Increased degree completion for Virginia residents who have partial credit
- Increased degree completion in a timely or expedited manner
- Improved retention and graduation rates
- Increased degree production in high-demand areas
- Increased research, including regional and public-private collaboration
- Utilization of resources and facilities beyond the traditional semesters and class times
- Technology-enhanced instruction, including course redesign, online instruction, and resource sharing among institutions
- Enhanced community college transfer programs and grants
Specific Programs that Address TJ21 Goals
- TelePresence (GMU)
- Open-Source Textbooks (VSU)
- Talent Expansion through Research, Engagement, Preparation, and Scholarships (UMW)
- January Term (UVa)
- Incubator Management (W&M)
- Second Bachelor of Science in Nursing (GWU)
- Valley Proteins Fellows Program (VCCS)
- The Scholar-Citizen Initiative (RU)
- Resource Sharing for Increased Engineering Degrees (VMI)
- Summer Research (UR)
George Mason University - TelePresence
George Mason University leads the "4-VA" consortium that utilizes technology-enhanced instruction and resource sharing among GMU, James Madison University, the University of Virginia, and Virginia Tech. The initiative uses TelePresence, which allows the universities to conduct meetings, share classes, and collaborate on research initiatives that are not available to all the institutions on an individual basis.
For more information: http://www.4-va.org/
Virginia State University - Open-Source Textbooks
The Reginald F. Lewis School of Business (RFLSB) at VSU continues to seek out and employ innovative technology to attract students and provide them an affordable education. With textbooks estimated to add up to 25 percent to the cost of a higher education, the RFLSB found a solution to help students succeed, while making their education more affordable. The School entered into a partnership with Flat World Knowledge, an open-source textbook company, to build a revolutionary seat license agreement whereby a large percentage of the school's core curriculum is delivered electronically. In keeping with Virginia's Top Jobs initiative, this "Digital at the Core" initiative reduces the economic strain on RFLSB students and their families, increases access to VSU's AACSB-accredited business school, and provides the technology graduates need to compete in today's business climate. RFLSB administration estimates the electronic delivery of curriculum is saving over $200,000 annually. In 2011, Governor Bob McDonnell honored VSU's "Digital at the Core" project with the Governor's Award for the Innovative Use of Technology in Higher Education.
For more information: http://www.vsu.edu/pages/7105.asp
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University of Mary Washington - Talent Expansion through Research, Engagement, Preparation, and Scholarships
The University of Mary Washington's STEM Talent Expansion through Research, Engagement, Preparation, and Scholarships (STEREPS) is a multi-dimensional project bringing together several activities and enhancing current UMW programs and initiatives designed to promote diversity and STEM education. The National Science Foundation recently awarded UMW a three-year grant to develop and support this project. Principle goals of the initiative are to (1) increase the overall retention and graduation of STEM majors at UMW and (2) increase the retention and graduation of STEM majors from culturally diverse or under-represented groups. A new summer bridge program will help students acquire the foundations they need to perform most effectively when they enroll in "gateway" STEM program required courses. The program also expands undergraduate research opportunities for STEM students, thereby giving them hands-on opportunities to experience the challenges and satisfactions of STEM work. STEM students will work together with faculty mentors in new learning communities that will enhance retention and progression to graduation for these students. The program will also provide scholarships for selected students from culturally diverse backgrounds who enroll and major in a STEM discipline. Finally, UMW STEM students will participate in a summer outreach initiative with area high school juniors. This portion of the project will develop early and on-going relationships with high school students. Through these relationships, future students enter a pathway where they make connections to UMW, come to better understand the opportunities STEM careers provide, and ultimately enroll in college to major in one of the STEM fields.
For more information: Professor Kelli Slunt, kslunt@umw.edu, 540-654-1406
University of Virginia - January Term
The University of Virginia's January Term seeks to utilize resources and facilities beyond the traditional semesters and class times. The university-wide initiative is sponsored by the Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost. The purpose of January Term is to provide UVa students with unique opportunities: new courses that address topics of current interest, study abroad programs, undergraduate research seminars, and interdisciplinary courses. The intensive format of January Term classes encourages extensive student-faculty contact and allows students and faculty to immerse themselves in a subject. Enrollments for 2012 January Term increased 23 percent over the 2011 session.
For more information: www.virginia.edu/januaryterm
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College of William and Mary - Incubator Management
The heart of the new management model at the William and Mary Technology and Business Center (TBC) is collaboration among regional and public entities. William and Mary now manages the James City County Business and Technology Incubator. The TBC developed an innovative marketing strategy to attract branches of international companies, companies moving into the area, technology-based companies, and companies linked to faculty, student and W&M technologies. The mentoring program connects clients to faculty and students, particularly in the new Entrepreneurship Center in the School of Business. Students have the opportunity to complete studies for and serve internships with the clients. The Technology and Business Center receives $70,000 per year from James City County to manage the Incubator. The number of clients in the Incubator expanded from one in 2010 to six in 2011. Faculty and students are actively engaged with client companies.
For more information: http://www.wm.edu/offices/economicdevelopment/newsstoryfeatures/williamsburg-business-transformation-series.php
George Washington University - Second Bachelor of Science in Nursing
In alignment with Governor McDonnell's goal of increasing degrees in high-demand areas such as healthcare, The George Washington University School of Nursing developed a program that allows students who already have a bachelor's degree in another field to pursue a Bachelor's degree in Nursing in an expedited manner. The 15-month program is offered at GW's Virginia Science and Technology Campus in Ashburn. Enrollment and growth has been steadily increasing, with 17 students graduated in the first cohort, 38 students graduating in the second cohort, 70 students projected to graduate in the third cohort, and 108 students projected to graduate in the fourth cohort.
For more information visit: http://nursing.gwumc.edu/academicsadmissions/bachelorofscienceinnursingprogram
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Virginia Community College System - Valley Proteins Fellows Program
The Virginia Foundation for Community College Education introduced the Valley Proteins Fellows Program in January 2011 with the goal of increasing retention and graduation rates of students with outstanding promise. This public-private initiative was designed to recognize high-achieving, second-year community college students who have unmet financial need and provide them with funding for full tuition and a unique leadership curriculum. This program addresses two of the goals outlined in the TJ 21 legislation: Increased enrollment of Virginia students, including underrepresented populations, and increased degree completion in a timely or expedited manner. Ten Fellows were selected for the 2011-12 academic year based on their strong academic records, leadership potential, and commitment to community service. In addition to awarding each Fellow $5,000 for tuition, books, fees, and supplies, the program provides the students with opportunities to share in cultural and educational experiences and meet with successful business and government leaders from across the commonwealth. Without this scholarship, mentoring and support, almost all of the Fellows would be unable to continue in college, due to family circumstances or other financial challenges. This inaugural class of Fellows encourages and inspires each other to continue pursuing their educational goals and serving their community.
For more information: http://www.vccs.edu/Foundation/Scholarships.aspx
Radford University - The Scholar-Citizen Initiative
Radford University is responding to one of the key goals of TJ21 by improving the retention and graduation rates of all students with a Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) called "The Scholar-Citizen Initiative." This initiative focuses on experiences that have proved successful in the area of retention. Students may engage in a number of activities including: mentor relationships with faculty members; service learning, internships and/or study abroad experiences; interdisciplinary discussions of current issues that matter to students; and programs that foster leadership and communication skills.
For more information: http://www.radford.edu/content/qep/home.html
Virginia Military Institute - Resource Sharing for Increased Engineering Degrees
Virginia Military Institute is partnering with the engineering departments of Virginia Commonwealth University and Virginia Tech to share laboratory facilities, internships, and research opportunities. One example is a summer internship program for rising seniors that coordinates research with VCU and VMI faculty. The program has been so successful there are already plans to expand the program to involve more departments such as Physics and Chemical Engineering. There are also graduate-level partnerships that leverage the engineering facilities and faculty in the same manner.
For more information: http://www.vmi.edu/Content.aspx?id=10737420331
University of Richmond - Summer Research
Through sponsored summer research opportunities, University of Richmond undergraduates are contributing to the body of knowledge while receiving academic experience normally available only in graduate school. During the summer of 2011, more than 200 students worked with faculty members on research and creative arts projects and 170 in the sciences. Some examples: four mathematics students published "Shared Autocorrelation Properties of Sequences" in the journal IEEE Transactions on Information Theory; seven students and their professor published "Sensing the Heat Stress by Mammalian Cells" in BMC Biophysics; and two students published "Cosmic Microwave Background Constraints on Cosmological Models with Large-Scale Isotropy Breaking" in Physical Review.
For more information: http://as.richmond.edu/student-research/index.html