Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, October 13, 1995 TAG: 9510130044
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-8 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Because if Virginia is to prosper in the knowledge-based economy of the 21st century, it must make higher education as available, with as much quality, in as cost-efficient a manner, to as many who can benefit from it, as possible.
That's why Republican Gov. George Allen's appointees to the State Council of Higher Education are correct in supporting - and holdover appointees of previous, Democratic administrations mistaken in resisting - an increase from $1,500 to $2,000 in the per-student annual grant.
Opponents cited fears that the TAG boost would come at the expense of Virginia's public colleges and universities. But properly managed, a strengthened TAG program should help, not harm, the finances of higher education's public sector.
Over the next few years, Virginia faces the prospect of college-enrollment increases totaling in the thousands. The private colleges have as many as 7,000 spaces that could meet some of that need - without the capital expansion that otherwise would be required at public institutions. And at $2,000 per student, a TAG grant is still cheaper than the average $3,500 per-student state subsidy at Virginia's public institutions.
No question, the latter figure reflects a precipitous and perilous drop in state support for its own institutions. Higher education should have higher claim on the resources of state government.
But far from being an either-or situation, a strengthened TAG program and better funding of public institutions should be mutually reinforcing. The more Virginians who can be educated for lower public cost at private colleges, the more public money per student should be available for the state's own colleges and universities.
by CNB