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

The State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) adopted Developing Tomorrow’s Talent: The Virginia Plan for Higher Education, a comprehensive statewide strategy designed to position the Commonwealth as the nation’s leading state for talent by ensuring students are ready, institutions are responsive and higher education is relevant.

The plan responds to the pressing challenges facing Virginia including talent outmigration, pandemic-era learning loss, declining confidence in institutions, socio-political climate, demographic shifts, affordability concerns and rapid technological disruption driven by artificial intelligence. These trends, combined with escalating workforce demands, underscore the need for a coordinated higher education strategy.

“Virginia’s economic future depends on our talent,” said SCHEV Executive Director, Scott Fleming. “This plan charts the path to developing and retaining that talent—ensuring every Virginian has access to educational pathways that lead to opportunity, economic mobility and civic leadership.”

Three Goals: READY • RESPONSIVE • RELEVANT

At the core of the plan is a framework built around higher education’s role in talent development to include student preparation, institutional responsiveness and the enduring value of higher education.

READY -- Preparing Students to Learn, Work, Contribute and Lead
The Plan calls for stronger collaboration across K–12, higher education and employers to help students build academic foundations, workforce skills, civic knowledge and leadership competencies. Key readiness strategies include:

• Establish formal partnerships, collaboration and commitments to align high school exit and college entry standards and enhance workforce readiness.
• Expand internships, apprenticeships and certifications in high-demand fields.
• Enhance civic knowledge, civil discourse and service-learning integration into the college experience.

RESPONSIVE -- Aligning Institutions to the Needs of Students, Industry and Virginia
Virginia’s colleges and universities will be encouraged to adopt agile strategies that reflect evolving economic, technological and societal needs. Key responsiveness strategies include:

• Expand mental health services and essential student supports.
• Foster sustainable industry partnerships to co-develop curriculum, reskilling and credentialing programs.
• Engage non-traditional learners, including military-affiliated, incarcerated and adult students.
• Strengthen innovation ecosystems that translate university research into startups, commercialization and economic development.

RELEVANT -- Demonstrating the Value of Higher Education to Virginians
The plan aims to solidify public confidence in higher education and clearly communicate its pertinence and value. Key strategies to demonstrate higher education’s relevance include:

• Provide earlier and clearer financial aid and cost transparency.
• Promote non-traditional and accelerated pathways, such as credit for prior learning, stackable credentials and three-year degree models.
• Enhance transparency and public access to college outcomes and return on investment, including graduate employment rates.
• Implement a statewide communication campaign emphasizing the value – and opportunities – of Virginia higher education.

A Data-Driven Vision: Becoming the Top State for Talent

SCHEV will assess progress using measurable outcomes tied to talent development, institutional effectiveness and student success. Central to this vision is a north star metric: increasing the share of Virginia workers holding “credentials of value,” credentials that lead to meaningful career and economic mobility.

The plan’s targets include:

• Increase college participation and retention.
• Reduce time to degree and closing completion gaps across institution types and income levels.
• Expand pathways into high-growth industries.
• Increase graduate employment across all credential levels.

Broad Stakeholder Engagement

The plan reflects feedback from more than 1,000 stakeholders, including students, faculty, institutional leaders, employers and policymakers, as well as K-12 parents, teachers and administrators. Input was gathered through surveys, regional public forums and targeted stakeholder sessions.

“The Virginia Plan is both a roadmap and a call to action,” said SCHEV Council Chair, Gen. John Jumper. “It represents a shared commitment to cultivating talent, advancing leadership development, expanding opportunity and strengthening Virginia’s economic competitiveness. This plan calls on institutions, employers and communities to be active partners in sustaining Virginia’s reputation for excellence in higher education.”

Required by Code

The Code of Virginia vests the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia with responsibility to develop a statewide strategic plan that reflects statutory goals for higher education in the Commonwealth, identifies a coordinated approach to such state and regional goals, and emphasizes the future needs for higher education in Virginia. The plan goes into effect January 1, 2026, and will be in place until 2032.

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About SCHEV

The State Council of Higher Education for Virginia is the Commonwealth’s coordinating body for higher education. SCHEV develops statewide policy, conducts research and data reporting, administers financial aid and provides strategic guidance to enhance access, affordability, quality and accountability across Virginia’s postsecondary institutions.