Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, September 28, 1994 TAG: 9409280047
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: MICHAEL STOWE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
"We believe this indicates that the governor and others in state government also will not be satisfied with Virginia's ranking in the bottom one-fifth of the nation in per-student support for higher education," Tech's president said.
Rebutting criticism that his plan to abolish parole would come at education's expense, Allen issued a statement over the weekend pledging his support for higher education.
"Our commitment to all Virginia parents and students to hold tuition increases to the rate of inflation is unwavering," Allen said.
Earlier, Allen had sent college administrators reeling when he ordered all state agencies, including colleges and universities, to prepare plans to cut 2 percent, 4 percent and 6 percent of their budgets. The state's colleges have lost $413 million in state funding since 1990.
The General Assembly also passed a law this year requiring all state colleges and universities to develop restructuring plans to increase their efficiency. Allen says that his budget-reduction proposals will be imposed only at colleges and universities that did not submit a satisfactory restructuring plan.
State Secretary of Education Beverly Sgro, one of the featured speakers at a public hearing Monday night in Roanoke to discuss parole reform, told the crowd that she had reviewed many of the restructuring plans and liked what she saw.
"My belief is that all of the institutions are meeting that goal," she said. "There will be no across-the-board cuts for education."
Sgro said she also believes Virginia can implement Allen's parole reform plan without hurting education.
by CNB