Showing posts with label State Council of Higher Education for Virginia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label State Council of Higher Education for Virginia. Show all posts

Wednesday, September 24, 2014

Governor McAuliffe Announces Federal Grants to Help 6,000 Students Gain Access to Higher Education

English: The United States Department of Educa...
English: The United States Department of Education headquarters located in Washington, D.C. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
RICHMOND — Today Governor McAuliffe announced that Virginia is one of just ten states awarded federal funds through the Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) grant from the U.S. Department of Education.  

“Expanding access to post-secondary education in every corner of the Commonwealth is key to building a new Virginia economy,” said Governor McAuliffe. “These grants will help my administration work with schools and communities to prepare more low-income students to get the skills and training they need to succeed in the 21st Century economy.”

The State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) will administer the $22 million grant over the next seven years in an effort to increase preparation and enrollment for post-secondary education. State GEAR UP grants are designed to increase college attendance and completion by raising low-income student awareness of college and financial aid options, increasing their participation in academically challenging courses and supporting them through the college admissions process. Successful GEAR UP students also receive a scholarship to support their post-secondary pursuits.

GEAR UP Virginia Programming will begin serving nearly 6,000 seventh grade students in 16 school districts this year. The program will follow this group of students through high school and into their first year of college.

Through partnerships with school districts, colleges, non-profits, and businesses, the project will provide a comprehensive set of services to include tutoring, test preparation, summer bridge programs, college tours and study skills development. In addition, the GEAR UP Virginia grants will offer support services to 300 homeless youth in a pilot initiative to offer turning point services to students who find themselves in this situation during their senior year.

“Greater access to continued education after high school is crucial to a successful citizenry and workforce,” said SCHEV Director Peter Blake.“A program like GEAR UP with a track record of success is a perfect match with SCHEV’s goals.”    

SCHEV is the Commonwealth’s coordinating body for Virginia’s system of higher education. The agency provides policy guidance and budget recommendations to the Governor and General Assembly, and is a resource for information on higher education issues.


Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Governor Mcauliffe Statement on In-State Tuition for Virginia DREAMers

U.S. Department of Homeland Security Official ...
U.S. Department of Homeland Security Official Seal Websafe Colors (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Governor Terry McAuliffe released the following statement today following Attorney General Mark Herring’s announcement that Virginia law makes students with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) status, otherwise known as DREAMers, eligible for in-state tuition at Virginia public community colleges and universities:

“As I said throughout my campaign, I believe that Virginia children who were brought here at a young age, grew up here, and have stayed out of trouble, should absolutely have access to the same educational opportunities as everyone else. To grow a 21st Century economy, Virginia needs to be open and welcoming to all who call our Commonwealth home, and I am encouraged to see progress being made in this area during my administration.

“I fully support the Attorney General’s opinion that those students who have been approved by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals qualify for in-state tuition, and I am committed to ensuring that this becomes a reality during my administration. I will work diligently with SCHEV, VCCS, and college and university presidents to further review this policy and make sure that all Virginia students have access to our quality education system.”
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Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Governor McDonnell Announces Virginia College Application Week

English: The state seal of Virginia. Српски / ...
English: The state seal of Virginia. Српски / Srpski: Застава америчке савезне државе Вирџиније. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Declares November 18-22 Virginia College Application Week

RICHMOND – Governor Bob McDonnell today announced Virginia College Application Week (VCAW) at 32 Virginia high schools and proclaimed November 18-22 College Application Week in the Commonwealth. This initiative is designed to provide graduating high school seniors with information and resources about the college admissions process and encourages students to apply to at least one higher education institution, during the week. Virginia College Application Week is co-sponsored with the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) and the Council of Independent Colleges in Virginia.

“By ensuring that we have the educated workforce needed to fill the top jobs of the 21st Century, we better prepare ourselves to compete in an ever-changing global economy,” said Governor Bob McDonnell.  “The college application process is a critical first step in this process.” 

VCAW invites all students to learn about the variety of higher education offerings across the Commonwealth and offers hands-on support to the Class of 2014 at the participating schools to apply to Virginia's world-class higher education institutions. The initiative will help support the Commonwealth’s goal of awarding 100,000 additional undergraduate degrees to Virginians over the next 15 years.

“Completion of a post-secondary degree first begins with the submission of an application.  I’m pleased to again support this initiative which will encourage high school seniors to be hands-on about their future,” said Secretary of Education Laura Fornash.

Students and counselors have access to a website created specifically for the select VCAW participants to explore, prepare and apply to college. Each site must allow all eligible seniors an opportunity, during the school day, to apply to college with the support of the administration, volunteers, and college and university representatives. The 32 high school sites receive college promotional materials, application fee waivers, event fliers and informational posters and brochures to help carry out this new annual initiative and remove barriers to accessing higher education. Support is funded through state funds and the U.S. Department of Education College Access Challenge Grant, administered by SCHEV.

“The great thing about this particular effort is that it shows students exactly how to fill out a college application,” said SCHEV Director Peter Blake. “That’s extremely important for students who may be qualified to attend college but intimidated by the application process.”

College Application Week first began as "College Application Day," a pilot program of GEAR UP North Carolina in 2005. Since then it has evolved into statewide initiatives coordinated in over 24 states across the nation and the District of Columbia. Virginia joined the effort in 2012 with a pilot event servicing 16 high schools. This year’s event doubles high school site participation and seeks to support almost 7,000 of Virginia’s high school Class of 2014.

The Governor's College Application Week proclamation can be found here.

The 32 participating high schools include:



High School
School Division
1
Achievable Dream Middle/High School
Newport News City
2
Armstrong High School
Richmond City
Brunswick High School
Brunswick County
Central High School
Lunenburg County
5
Denbigh High School
Newport News City
6
Eastern Montgomery High School
Montgomery County
7
Franklin High School
Franklin City
Freedom High School
Prince William County
9
Galax High School
Galax City
10 
Galileo Magnet High School
Danville City
11
Gar-Field High School
Prince William County
12 
George Washington High School
Danville City
13
George Wythe High School
Richmond City
14
Greensville County High School
Greensville County
15 
Hampton High School
Hampton City
16
Harrisonburg High School
Harrisonburg City
17 
Heritage High School (Lynchburg)
Lynchburg City
18
Heritage High School (Newport News)
Newport News City
19
Hopewell High School
Hopewell City
20
Highland Springs High School
Henrico County
21
Huguenot High School
Richmond City
22
I.C. Norcom High School
Portsmouth City
23
John Marshall High School
Richmond City
24
Martinsville High School
Martinsville City
25
Nottoway High School
Nottoway County
26
Petersburg High School
Petersburg City
27
Phoebus High School
Hampton City
28
Prince Edward County High School
Prince Edward County
29
Sussex Central High School
Sussex County
30
Twin Valley High School
Buchanan County
31
Washington and Lee High School
Westmoreland County
32
Woodrow Wilson High School
Portsmouth  City


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