As we advance through the semester, we're reminded of the importance of
accessibility and affordability for our students enrolled at Virginia
Wesleyan. These are twin themes I have often stressed in my
communications, and one of the most important avenues to these goals is
the Commonwealth of Virginia Tuition Assistance Grant (TAG) program.
This
vital program is a needed and beneficial way for students across the
Commonwealth of Virginia—including those enrolled at Virginia
Wesleyan—to afford their educations at private colleges and
universities. Although we know that generous institutional aid through
scholarships helps to offset cost of attendance, the TAG program has,
since 1972, provided additional, critical financial support.
According
to the Council of Independent Colleges in Virginia (CICV),
approximately 23,000 Virginia residents will receive non-need- based
tuition grants of $3,200 (undergraduate) and $1,600 (graduate students
in health professions) during 2016-17.
At Virginia Wesleyan, 840
students have received over $1,341,000 in TAG support for the fall
term. By spring, we’ll have received a projected $2,682,720 from the
Virginia TAG program. That's a significant percentage of our students,
and an essential investment in their future.
As SCHEV, the State
Council of Higher Education for Virginia, finalizes budget
recommendations for TAG going forward, the Council has been asked to
support funding which would provide a $3,400 TAG award in 2017-18—a
modest increase. Just last week I sent a series of letters to several
Council members encouraging SCHEV to include additional funding in its
recommendation to mitigate SCHEV’s projected shortfall of $4 million for
the next biennium.
Clearly the TAG program is, and should remain, a valued component of students' financial-aid opportunities.
To learn more about this essential program and how you can take action, visit www.cicv.org. We are grateful on our students’ behalf for this important investment in their future success.
