Initiative Seeks Funding For Colleges

RICHMOND, Va. - Virginia business leaders and college presidents are teaming up to seek more funding for the state's public higher-education system.

The Grow By Degrees effort was launched Monday by the Virginia Business Higher Education Council. The initiative aims to promote goals such as awarding 70,000 more associate's, bachelor's, and graduate degrees at state institutions by 2020 so that 50 percent of Virginians have college degrees; concentrating new degrees in high-demand areas such as science, technology, engineering and mathematics; and making college more affordable.

Members of the coalition hope to work with the General Assembly and other groups to come up with new higher-education policies and funding that they hope ultimately will help build a more qualified work force, create jobs and grow Virginia's economy.