
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, September 15, 1994                   TAG: 9409150062
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: RICHMOND                                LENGTH: Short

OFFICIALS PREDICT ENROLLMENT RISE

Enrollment at Virginia's colleges and universities will increase by 80,000 over the next decade with part-time and older students swelling the ranks, a legislative commission was told Wednesday.

State education officials said the enrollment growth will put more pressure on a public college system already known for its high tuition and low level of state funding.

``We're going to have to have more state support,'' said Hugh L. Patterson, chairman of the State Council of Higher Education. ``People are finding out that they can't afford the luxury of these institutions.''

He spoke to the Commission on the Future of Higher Education, which includes legislators who will begin deciding next week whether to abolish parole and spend $1 billion over the next 10 years on prison construction.

Gov. George Allen wants to pay for much of that construction with a general obligation bond issue that would require voter approval.

The voters approved a $613 million general obligation bond issue two years ago, with much of the money going for construction on college campuses.

That bond issue will provide space for 40,000 more students at state colleges and universities, said Gordon Davies, director of the higher education council.

More students will be accommodated at new facilities planned by George Mason University, James Madison University, Radford University and other schools.

by CNB