Businessman Mark Warner, the 2001 Democratic Virginia gubernatorial candidate, recently unveiled his higher education plan, which would create a "Commonwealth Scholar" program for high school students who earn a "B" average and are in the top 20 percent of their graduating class.
The scholar program would provide state tuition grants to cover eligible students' unmet financial needs at Virginia's public colleges, universities, community colleges or vocational institutions.
Students in the scholar program would be eligible for the grant for five years, as long as they maintain a "B" average in college.
"This plan says that if you work hard, meet high standards, and still need help - then the state will invest in you and your future," Warner said in a press release.
The Republican Party has criticized Warner's plan because of its similarity to Republican Gov. James S. Gilmore III's proposed higher education plan.
"The Commonwealth Program is a mirror image of the New Century Scholar program," said YooRee Oh, deputy press secretary for Republican gubernatorial candidate Mark Earley. "Mark Warner is fond of other people's ideas."
The New Century Scholar Program was included in Gilmore's budget, which the General Assembly failed to pass earlier this year.
Earley has not unvieled his entire plan for higher education, but Oh said he will be releasing it soon.
According to a press release from the Earley campaign, the higher education proposal will include the introduction of a bond package that will invest $1 billion in capital projects at Virginia's colleges and universities.
Warner's higher education plan also includes a proposal to invest 2 percent of the commonwealth's annual general fund revenue to support capital costs, such as fixing buildings on Virginia campuses. The proposal would generate an average investment of about $250 million a year - $1 billion over the entire four year term - for facilities.
Another aspect of Warner's plan is a proposed "recommendation commission." Members of the commission would recommend potential nominees for boards of visitors' appointments at colleges and universities in Virginia, making the process less politicized, Elleithee said.
The final aspect of Warner's plan is to convene a group of professionals from Virginia schools and the business community to find ways to reduce bureaucracy and increase entreprenuership at Virginia's higher educational institutions.
"For too long, the Virginia state government has failed to work as a partner with Virginia campuses," Warner said. "It's time to create a new cooperative relationship that promotes innovation and empowers colleges, universities and community colleges to meet Virginia's changing intellectual and economic needs"
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