Deeds pledges hike in college funding

Democratic gubernatorial candidate R. Creigh Deeds, speaking Wednesday at the University of Virginia, said he hopes to dramatically increase state funding for higher education.

His plan to reinvigorate Virginia’s higher education includes tuition stabilization. Deeds tied tuition increases in Virginia’s public universities to declining support from the General Assembly.

“That money has to come from somewhere, so where it comes from is the tuition payer,” he said.

Deeds proposed that for every $5 the General Assembly puts into its rainy day fund, it put $1 into a tuition stabilization fund.

He praised states such as North Carolina, which he says allows the North Carolina legislature to set much tighter enrollment caps on out-of-state students.

But he wasn’t willing to say whether he’d support a tighter cap in Virginia.

“We can’t begin that discussion until we’re in a different position” regarding the funding of higher education, Deeds said.

Deeds also wants to create a new service scholarship called Virginia Forward.

In exchange for two years of public service, Deeds said, students graduating from Virginia’s public high schools with at least a B average and attending the state’s public colleges could have half of their tuition tab picked up by the state.

The public service could be in a variety of fields, including nursing, policing and teaching.

Deeds also called for increased funding for needs-based scholarships, student loans and tuition-assistance grants for Virginia students at private in-state institutions.

Deeds said he hopes to fund the initial steps of his program by finding efficiencies in state government and improving the way the state collects on debts owed to it.

He said improving education — paired with improved transportation infrastructure — would boost the state’s economy.

“That’s a short-term thing that’s going to create long-term benefits,” he said.

Deeds said he also wants to create 70,000 new degrees over the next decade. He said he’d start expansion efforts with the state’s community college system.

“We’re not going to be able to have opportunity in every corner of the Commonwealth of Virginia if we don’t have the smartest work force in the world,” Deeds said.

He also said that the extra 70,000 degrees would merely keep up with market demand.

Deeds’ opponent, Republican Bob McDonnell, has also laid out a plan for higher education. His plan calls for the creation of 100,000 new degrees over the next 15 years, with an emphasis on practical and science-related training.

Deeds said the purpose of the state’s higher-education system is to allow everyone to live the American dream.

“State government cannot do everything, but there are some things that it has to do,” he said.

His speech was generally well-received by the small group of students who came to watch Deeds.

“I liked how he mentioned very specific things,” said Megan Durkee, a fourth-year student from West Chester, Pa., and president of the University Democrats.

Pinar Smith, a third-year student from Mecklenburg County, said she thought the new proposed Virginia Forward scholarship would be both a financial and a psychological boon for high-school students.

“They’ll know that they’re actually working toward something that will help out their family financially very directly,” she said. 

The election is Nov. 3.