Grow By Degrees

Can Virginia lead the way in shaping a future of opportunity and prosperity in the knowledge-based global economy? We believe it can—and must.

Grow By Degrees, a campaign of the Virginia Business Higher Education Council (VBHEC), aims to fuel Virginia's strong recovery and sustained economic growth through high-impact investments and innovations in our public colleges, universities, and community colleges.

Our 2020 Vision promises a prosperous, entrepreneurial Virginia that ranks among the top states and countries in educational attainment and personal income. Access to an affordable, high-quality college degree is increasingly a prerequisite for success in the fast-changing, high-tech economy. Virginians who earn college, university, or community college degrees enjoy substantially greater opportunities for good jobs, rewarding careers, high incomes, and positive contributions to the community.

Investing in our public colleges, universities, and community colleges—especially in high-quality degree and certificate programs that prepare Virginians for high-demand jobs in the emerging economy—will produce enormous economic benefits for our Commonwealth. That’s why our 7 Policy Priorities appear prominently in the economic recovery/growth plans of forward-looking leaders in both political parties.

They all know there’s only one sure way to make jobs and incomes grow in Virginia—by degrees!

The Grow By Degrees Coalition includes civic-minded organizations and individuals with a wide variety of perspectives and backgrounds. All share a conviction that Virginians, regardless of income, should have access to the broader economic horizons opened by a college education. All share a belief that only a sustained program of investment and innovation in higher education—embodied in state law and in the business plans of our educational institutions—will make Virginia a national and international leader in attracting new business investment, research grants, and excellent job opportunities in the new economy. 

To help prepare a world-class workforce, attract top jobs, and propel Virginia’s economic expansion, Grow By Degrees advocates higher education funding and reforms centered around these 7 Policy Priorities:

  1. 70,000 More Degrees
  2. Science & Technology
  3. Cost-Saving Innovation
  4. Employable Work Skills
  5. Research Partnerships
  6. Regional Development
  7. Affordable Access

Click here to join us and let us know how you will help Virginia Grow By Degrees.

Join the Grow By Degrees Coalition

McDonnell Highlights Importance of Higher Ed in Inaugural Address

January, 19, 2010

The Washington Examiner

"And let us recognize that a high school degree is no longer the finish line in a global economy. We must create affordable new pathways to earning a college degree and make a commitment to confer 100,000 additional degrees over the next 15 years. We must make our community colleges national leaders in workforce development and career training.These are investments that will pay individual and societal dividends for many years to come."

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College: Degrees of Success

December, 21, 2009

Richmond Times-Dispatch

"According to the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service at UVa, every dollar invested in the commonwealth's colleges and universities creates more than $13 in economic activity -- and $1.39 in state tax revenue. Few -- if any -- government expenditures result in a 40 percent return on investment. The institute estimates that an additional 70,000 college degrees awarded by 2020 would create $16 billion in increased personal income for Virginians, and an additional $1.9 billion in state revenue. In the not-so-long-run, higher education more than pays for itself."

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Bolstering college access

November, 17, 2009

Virginia Tech Magazine

"There is clear evidence of the links between advanced education and a state or nation's economic competitiveness and between knowledge creation--the very product of research universities--and job or company creation. The best jobs go to the best workers. And those workers gravitate to colleges or communities built on innovation or advanced research. Today's challenges in energy, health care, life sciences, and the environment can be met only with qualified human capital. This is America's competitiveness edge."

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The Virginia Summit on Economic
Competitiveness & Higher Education


Thursday, October 1, 2009
Greater Richmond Convention Center
403 North 3rd Street
8 a.m., Registration
8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m., Program

Continental breakfast & lunch included.
Admission is complimentary, but seating is limited.

  • Remarks by Senator Creigh Deeds & Former Attorney General Bob McDonnell candidates for Governor
  • Report on Economic Impact of Virginia’s Public Colleges
  • Panel Discussions featuring Business and Political Leaders

By invitation only. Limited seating available. RSVP by September 23, at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or Missy Neff at 804.775.1908.

Download PDF of invitation.

 

Press Conference
Monday, June 22
8:30 a.m.
Taubman Museum of Art
110 Salem Ave, SE
Roanoke, VA 24011

Press Conference
Monday, June 22
1:00 p.m.
Town Point Club
101 W. Main Street
Suite 300
Norfolk, VA 23510

Press Conference
Monday, June 22
3:30 p.m.
Virginia Bio-Technology Research Park
800 E. Leigh Street
Richmond, VA 23219