Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, January 13, 1993 TAG: 9301130167
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A9 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
FITZPATRICK: NEW SCHOOL NOT WORTH HURTING TECH
Roanoke Vice Mayor Beverly Fitzpatrick said Tuesday he is worried that talk of a public four-year college in the Roanoke Valley could undermine the city's ties with Virginia Tech.Although the odds appear remote that the valley could get a state-supported, baccalaureate degree-granting college, Fitzpatrick said the proposal could nevertheless send the wrong message to Virginia Tech.
"We are trying to send the message to Tech that `you are our university,' " he said.
"We are trying strengthen our relations with Tech, and we don't want to do anything to hamper that."
Fitzpatrick said it was ironic that the idea of a public four-year school arose again on the day that the city announced that $5 million had been raised to help Virginia Tech reopen the Hotel Roanoke.
Total Action Against Poverty wants Roanoke Valley localities to work together to seek a public four-year college in the valley.
Cabell Brand, president of TAP's board of directors, said Tuesday that he doesn't think the proposed school would be a competitor or duplicate the facilities of Virginia Tech or other state colleges and universities.
Brand said he envisions the school as a cooperative venture that might include Virginia Tech and Virginia Western Community College, as well as Hollins College and Roanoke College, two private schools.
"There are all kinds of alternatives that could be considered," Brand said. He doesn't think additional buildings and physical facilities or a separate campus would be needed. "It could fit into Tech's new link with Roanoke and could work with other schools," Brand said. It could be an expansion of the Roanoke Valley Graduate Education Center, a cooperative program by several schools, he said.
But Larry Hincker, director of university relations for Virginia Tech, said Tuesday that it's too early to say what position Tech might take on the idea.
"We don't have a position until we know more about it," Hincker said. "It's something we could talk about if the valley leaders want to."
Tech is 45 minutes from Roanoke. It might be less expensive to reduce the travel time between them than to duplicate facilities, Hincker said.
Fitzpatrick said the proposed "smart" highway between Tech and Roanoke would do that.
"My hope is that we will have some kind of transit system that would make it easy and quick for people to get to Tech and back," he said.
Because of the state's financial woes and the location of four state college and universities within 100 miles of Roanoke, some city officials think it is unlikely the state would approve a new four-year college.
The state has vetoed a proposal by Virginia Tech and the University of Virginia to build a new college in Northern Virginia.
"I think a new school would be out of reach, considering the state's finances and the needs of the colleges and universities," said Roanoke Councilman Delvis "Mac" McCadden.
But McCadden said it might be more realistic to seek a a joint arrangement with the other schools to offer a public four-year curriculum.
Brand told City Council on Monday night that a baccalaureate degree-granting college is needed so that economically disadvantaged people have easy access to the broadest range of education and training.
He said many young people in the valley don't have the money to pay the tuition to attend Hollins College or Roanoke College. Others don't have transportation to commute to Tech, he said.
He urged council to join with the Roanoke County Board of Supervisors and Salem City Council to create a study commission to investigate and promote creation of a four-year institution in the valley.
Council took no immediate action on the request.
Fuzzy Minnix, chairman of the county supervisors, said Tuesday he likes Brand's proposal.
Minnix said rising enrollments have caused overcrowding at some state colleges and universities.
A four-year school in the Roanoke Valley might help ease the space squeeze at other schools, he said.
"This would allow some kids to stay at home and go to school," Minnix said.
Virginia Tech is rejecting applications by many youngsters who want to enroll there, he said.
Salem Mayor Jim Taliaferro could not be reached for comment.
The proposal for a four-year school is an outgrowth of the Poverty Strategy Task Force's recommendations for reducing poverty.
The idea of a four-year college in the valley has been discussed intermittently in recent years.
Roanoke is the largest metropolitan area in Virginia without a public four-year college or university.
Lawrence Hamlar, a Roanoke businessman and member of TAP's Poverty Strategy Task Force, said he thinks a four-year college could be developed in conjunction with Virginia Western Community College.
"There are many people who can't get a bachelor's degree because they can't afford to pay all of the costs. If they could stay at home, they could afford it," Hamlar said.