Favola Seeks Study to Potentially Add Degrees at Community Colleges
Sun Gazette (1/31/12)
State Sen. Barbara Favola (D-31st) is patroning legislation that would have the State Council for Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) study the feasibility of expanding the degree-granting authority of community colleges across the commonwealth, especially in subject areas that are seen in most need and in parts of the commonwealth that are not served by four-year institutions.

Delegates debate bill to streamline diplomas
News & Advance (2/01/12)
Some Republican members of the General Assembly cited problems Tuesday as they debated a bill to reshape high school diplomas and direct most students toward either college or technical careers.

Virginia legislators seek stronger laws on reporting child abuse
Virginian-Pilot (2/02/12)
Legislators have filed a dozen bills seeking to strengthen Virginia's child abuse reporting laws in the wake of last fall's scandal at Penn State.

VCU studying Mideast cyber-security program
Richmond Times-Dispatch (2/01/12)
Virginia Commonwealth University has partnered with an institution in the United Arab Emirates to study the feasibility of establishing an information security academic program in the Middle East.

No Money Down!
Inside Higher Ed (2/02/12)
Under the students’ plan, called the UC Student Investment Proposal, students in the system would pay no upfront costs for their education but would agree to pay 5 percent of their income to the system for 20 years after graduating and entering the workforce.

Baby boomers hit the books at community colleges
Tennessean (2/02/12)
Community colleges here and nationwide are seeing a new wave of enrollment from baby boomers — up 6 percent from 2007 and more than 12 percent in seven years, American Association of Community Colleges data show.

State's colleges bracing for war on costs
Delaware Online (2/02/12)
This time of year, college costs occupy many people's minds. From high school seniors dealing with application deadlines, to current college students wondering what the next tuition spike will be, to the administrators of the state's public institutions heading to Dover during the next week to ask for more money at budget hearings in Legislative Hall.

Canadian 2-year colleges show path to jobs
Washington Post (1/29/12)
At the University of Manitoba, Angela Conrad felt it was taking forever to satisfy degree requirements with courses in women’s studies, Greek mythology and other subjects she considered impractical.