Seven Hills Strategy Group Senior Advisor Dennis Treacy recently co-authored an editorial in the Richmond Times-Dispatch detailing the confidence that Virginians feel in our state’s higher education. A past Rector of the Virginia Tech board of visitors, Dennis chairs the Virginia Business Higher Education Council (VBHEC) that commissioned the public opinion survey asking Virginians about the importance and impact of our higher education institutions. Founded in 1994, VBHEC is a nonprofit and nonpartisan coalition that aims to enhance economic opportunity and prosperity by strengthening access to and performance within Virginia’s public colleges, universities, and community colleges.
The VBHEC survey found remarkably strong support for Virginia higher education, with about 80 percent of respondents agreeing that college is still “a good value” and more than 90 percent supporting continued investment in our colleges in order to further Virginia’s competitive advantage.
RTD subscribers may read in full here. Additional detail is available on VBHEC’s site here.
Commentary: Is college worth it? Virginians certainly think so
DENNIS TREACY, NANCY AGEE, GEORGE MARTIN AND TODD STOTTLEMYER
People seem to disagree passionately about everything these days. But we found a big exception.
In a newly released public opinion survey conducted for the Virginia Business Higher Education Council — a nonprofit, nonpartisan partnership that it’s our privilege to lead — more than 90% of Virginians agreed on this: “The most important investment our state can make is to ensure that every Virginia resident is able to achieve the highest level of education that suits their aspirations and abilities, whether that is a skilled trade certificate, an associate’s or bachelor’s degree, or a graduate or professional degree.”
The survey, conducted by two highly credible national pollsters — a Democratic firm and a Republican firm, both with extensive Virginia experience — found some other powerful points of agreement:
• Virginians are proud of our top-ranked higher education system. More than 80% in each party say that our universities, colleges and community colleges are a “valuable public asset of the Commonwealth of Virginia, are well run, and are a sound place to invest public dollars.”
• More than 90% in each party say it is important to invest in our colleges so our state preserves the competitive advantage these schools provide in national rankings like CNBC’s “Top State for Business” award.
• And, with economic impact studies showing that every $1 that Virginia invests in our public higher education system produces $25 of economic output and returns nearly $2 back to the state treasury, nearly 3 out of 4 Virginians say they are more likely to vote for a candidate for public office who considers higher education “one of the best investments Virginia can make.”
Recently, The Times-Dispatch editorial page posed a question that is hotly debated across the country these days: “Is college worth it?” Virginians seem to have made up their minds on the answer. In our survey, 82% of Virginians — significantly higher than the national percentage found in a recent Gallup poll — expressed confidence in higher education in Virginia. Roughly 80% of Virginians said a college education is “still a good value.”
As our universities, colleges and community colleges hold graduations this month, with students looking to their job opportunities and parents reflecting on the value of their education investment, it is worth pausing to consider why Virginians are so positive about higher education compared to their counterparts in other states.
Part of it is reputation: Virginia colleges routinely are ranked at or near the top nationally by respected independent organizations.
Part of it is performance: Virginia colleges consistently produce some of the highest graduation rates in the country despite receiving less state support per student than neighboring states and systems of similar size.
Part of it is impact: In addition to the statewide return on investment described above, the SmartAsset financial website repeatedly rated the return on investment for Virginia’s college graduates among the nation’s highest.
No doubt the biggest part is experience: Virginians have seen firsthand what our higher education institutions have done for them and their careers, and they see every day what being the top state for talent does to draw business investment into our state and create jobs for Virginians.
Is there more to be done? You bet there is.
The state’s audit agency, JLARC, last year reported that recent state investments in higher education — a bipartisan priority — had helped moderate and even lower tuition costs for students and parents. That is good news, and we need more of it. When our leaders make higher education a funding priority, more Virginians can afford to access the degrees and nondegree credentials that will empower them to lead self-sufficient, fulfilling lives.
We also need to continue the recent emphasis on paid internships and talent pathways so that more students stay in Virginia for full-time employment after graduation, providing the highly skilled workforce that Virginia businesses need so they can grow and create more jobs.
Candidates for office this year who emphasize these two priorities will have the people of Virginia cheering them on. Our survey shows that large majorities in both parties strongly support state investments to enhance college affordability, expand internship opportunities, and ensure that our students are well-prepared to enter and succeed in a dynamic and rapidly changing workplace.
The message is clear: Our top-ranked higher education system is an economic driver for our state and an opportunity-maker for our young people. We in the business community are very grateful to our elected leaders in both parties for prioritizing higher education investments that empower more students to move from learning to earning.
Dennis Treacy is VBHEC’s chair, a senior adviser at Seven Hills Strategy Group and former rector of the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors. Contact Treacy at dtreacy@sevenhillsstrategy.com.
Nancy Howell Agee is VBHEC’s vice chair, CEO emeritus of Carilion Clinic and chair of the Virginia Growth and Opportunity (GO Virginia) Board. Contact Agee at nhagee@carilionclinic.org.
Todd Stottlemyer is VBHEC’s treasurer, CEO of Acentra Health and former rector of the College of William & Mary Board of Visitors. Contact Stottlemyer at todd.stottlemyer@acentra.com.
George Keith Martin is VBHEC’s secretary, former managing partner of McGuireWoods’ Richmond office and rector emeritus of the University of Virginia Board of Visitors. Contact Martin at gmartin@mcguirewoods.com.
