Contact: Kathleen Kincheloe(804) 786-2323
KathleenKincheloe@schev.edu

NEWS RELEASE

RICHMOND — The State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) is responsible for the approval of new programs at the Commonwealth’s public colleges and universities. During this process the Council reviews a number of issues related to proposed academic programs, including market demand, program duplication, and resource needs, before making a decision.

SCHEV has completed its program review of Virginia Commonwealth University’s request to initiate a Ph.D. degree program in Neuroscience and will take action on that program on Tuesday, March 16. The Council will also consider proposals from George Mason University for a master’s of science in Health and Medical Policy and from Virginia Tech for a master’s of fine arts in Creative Technologies.

These actions will be part of SCHEV’s regular meeting on March 16 from 8:00 a.m. to noon in the Torgersen Board Room on the second floor of Torgersen Hall at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in Blacksburg. Following remarks from Virginia Tech President Charles Steger, the Council will receive an update on 2010 General Assembly budget actions and legislation, private and out-of-state postsecondary education regulation, and the program viability process.

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 Virginia colleges and universities on higher education issues. Agenda materials for the SCHEV meeting are available at http://www.schev.edu.

For more information, contact Kathleen Kincheloe, Assistant Director of Communications, at KathleenKincheloe@schev.edu or (804) 786-2323.

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