Contact:
Bob Spieldenner
bobspieldenner@schev.edu
(804) 718-9443 (cell)   

The State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV), in collaboration with the Virginia Talent + Opportunity Partnership  (V-TOP), will allocate over $3.9 million in grants to 20 institutions including the Virginia Community College System. These funds will support the expansion of paid internships and work-based learning opportunities for students, enhancing their career readiness and academic growth.

The Impact Grants are designed to strengthen collaborations between higher education institutions and Virginia employers, encouraging innovative approaches to workforce development. These grants, made possible through the Commonwealth Innovative Internship Fund, are offered in three categories: Vision, Capacity-Building and Scaling.

"Internships and work-based learning provide students with the confidence and practical skills to thrive in a competitive workforce," said Scott Fleming, SCHEV director. "The Impact Grants reinforce our commitment to supporting Virginia's higher education institutions by integrating internships into their strategic priorities and fostering meaningful partnerships with employers across the Commonwealth."

Vision Grant Awardees

Roanoke College and Virginia Wesleyan University each will receive a one-year Vision Grant of $25,000. The purpose of the Vision Grants is to assist institutions in establishing a campus-wide task force, conducting strategic planning, and determining institutional priorities for campus-wide initiatives that will support future internships and work-based learning opportunities for students.

Capacity-Building Grant Awardees

Under the Capacity-Building Grants, the following institutions will each receive a one-year grant of up to $150,000 to enhance program infrastructure, improve institutional tracking mechanisms, strengthen employer partnerships that align with regional and state workforce programs and hire key personnel or develop a centralized hub focused on internship and work-based learning activities: Christopher Newport University, James Madison University, Longwood University, Marymount University, Norfolk State University, Old Dominion University, Radford University, Richard Bland College, University of Mary Washington, University of Virginia's College at Wise, Virginia Military Institute, Virginia State University, Virginia Tech and William & Mary.

Scaling Grant Awardees

George Mason University, University of Virginia and Virginia Commonwealth University will each receive a two-year grant of up to $250,000. Scaling grants will support institutions in expanding existing programs, particularly experiential programs that can accommodate a higher volume of students and prioritize high-demand fields, such as healthcare and information technology in Virginia.

Community College Award

The Virginia Community College System will receive $1.1 million to support the establishment of a system-wide effort to improve internships and work-based learning on community college campuses. In addition, Patrick and Henry Community College and Tidewater Community College will receive one-year capacity-building grants of up to $150,000 to enhance their existing efforts.

Since its inception, V-TOP has aimed to provide resources that connect higher education institutions with industries to offer high-impact work-based learning opportunities, preparing students for the workforce.

V-TOP is administered by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia in partnership with the Virginia Chamber of Commerce Foundation and the Virginia Business Higher Education Council. It is funded by the General Assembly's Commonwealth Innovative Internship Fund and Program.

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