The Restructured Higher Education Financial and Administrative Operations Act passed the Virginia House of Delegates Monday, and an identical bill passed the Virginia Senate yesterday in a block vote with no discussion, bringing the University one step closer to a new vision of higher education.
The act, previously known as the charter proposal, has gone through significant changes since it was first introduced last year.
Both houses have opportunities to amend the act before their session closes later this month. The bill then will go to Gov. Mark R. Warner for his signature or veto. The governor also has the ability to introduce amendments to the bill.
Del. Chap Petersen, D-Fairfax, said the restructuring proposal would allow the University to be more entrepreneurial and more responsible in its spending. Petersen, who voted for the bill, said tuition is constantly on the rise and a long-term solution is necessary.
"Under the old system, we've had double-digit tuition increases over the past three years," Petersen said. "Do they like that system? I don't like it."
Del. Robert Brink, D-Arlington, said the legislative and executive branches historically have not supported state universities sufficiently. Brink, who voted for the bill, said the proposal is an admission of the state government's failure but that the governor's office has been collaborating on the effort.
"I think that we're going to be looking at a relationship between universities and the state government a lot more in the future," Brink said.
Del. Mitch Van Yahres, D-Charlottesville, voted against the bill.
"I think it's an indication that the state is not willing to carry its fair share of higher education expenditures," he said.
He added that he would like to see faculty and staff representation on the Board of Visitors, which will be controlling more of the University's finances under the proposed system.
Del. John Cosgrove, R-Chesapeake, said although the bill had improved significantly, tuition increases are still a major concern.
"The reason that I voted against the bill was that I think it's a huge change in public policy," Cosgrove said. "I would have liked to see more of a phased-in approach."
Staff Union President Jan Cornell said she hopes Warner will include an amendment in the bill to eliminate the two-tiered system of labor. She added that maintaining quality healthcare for University faculty and staff members and ensuring benefits is a significant concern for the union.
"If the charter passes without the amendment, old employees and new employees will have different benefits and different pay," Cornell said.
Cornell added that while she thinks the legislation has improved since December, she still is dissatisfied with the lack of staff representation on the Board of Visitors.
"The legislators were far more receptive to me than U.Va. has ever been," Cornell said.
Graduate Labor Union President Ethan Sribnick said while the shape of the higher education act has improved since its introduction, more members of the University community should be aware that the changes could affect them.
"One group doesn't really know what's going on," Sribnick said. "The second group is people who are in support of the legislation because they feel that it will be good for graduate students. The third group doesn't want funding for graduate students to come out of cuts in salary and benefits from classified staff."
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