THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Thursday, September 15, 1994           TAG: 9409150505
SECTION: LOCAL                    PAGE: B4   EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS 
DATELINE: RICHMOND                           LENGTH: Short :   32 lines

STATE COLLEGES MUST EXPAND, LEGISLATORS TOLD

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.

KEYWORDS: COLLEGE UNIVERSITY VIRGINIA by CNB