As legislation requiring public comment periods before tuition hikes at Virginia's public colleges and universities continues to make its way through the Virginia General Assembly, Partners' efforts to build a coalition of support behind the proposal was highlighted in the Virginia Mercury today!
Earlier in this year’s session of the Virginia General Assembly, public comment legislation carried by Senator Chap Petersen (D-Fairfax) and Delegate Jason Miyares (R-Virginia Beach) passed unanimously out of the Virginia Senate and House of Delegates, respectively, and will now be heard in the opposite chamber.
“This year, a coalition of groups like the Virginia Coalition for Open Government, Virginia Parent Teacher Association, the Virginia Education Association and Partners for College Affordability and Public Trust wrote a letter to lawmakers calling for public comment before tuition changes.
“’Concerns about skyrocketing rates for tuition and fees aren’t isolated to one campus or another,’ said James Toscano, president of Partners for College Affordability and Public Trust. ‘And college trustees who set them need to hear firsthand what the public thinks beyond getting briefings and handouts from college officials.’”