On behalf of the nearly 10,000 currently serving Virginia National Guard Soldiers, Airmen, and their Families, our retirees and alumni, we urge you to support this bill. Virginia National Guard personnel reside in nearly every zip code, in every county, and in every community across our great Commonwealth. In essence, House Bill 1595 aims to eliminate barriers hindering the effective implementation of the Virginia National Guard’s State Tuition Assistance Program. One major impediment faced by National Guard personnel is the requirement for the Commonwealth to issue grants before the start of the semester. Currently, Soldiers and Airmen are burdened with meeting initial financial obligations, leading to the need for reimbursement through the state and, in many cases, reliance on student loans. Unfortunately, the STAP falls short in addressing the accruing interest on these loans, placing an unjust financial burden on our dedicated service members. This highlights the urgent need for a more comprehensive and supportive financial framework. Furthermore, the bill addresses academic performance by shifting the focus from individual course grades to overall achievement. The existing program's requirement of a minimum grade of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale for each course poses challenges for students facing unexpected circumstances, such as sudden mobilization or changing majors. Streamlining the code to prioritize overall academic performance ensures that the STAP adapts to unforeseen circumstances, promoting a more compassionate and adaptable approach to supporting students in their academic journey. Your support for House Bill 1595 will significantly contribute to the well-being of our National Guard members and fortify the foundation of higher education institutions in our state. We kindly urge you to champion this bill, ensuring that our Virginia National Guard Soldiers and Airmen receive the support they rightfully deserve.

School Counseling and Psychology should be released from CAEP requirements.

We are writing on behalf of the Virginia Association of Colleges and Teacher Educators (VACTE) to express our strong support for HB 1674, sponsored by Delegate Amy Laufer (District 55). VACTE represents the 36 educator preparation programs across Virginia, including faculty, staff, deans, and administrators within both public and private institutions of higher education. Our membership’s programs span a diverse array of education disciplines, including school psychologists and school counselors. The current Virginia code designates the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) as the sole accrediting body for educator preparation programs. While this policy works well for many fields, it creates a unique challenge for school psychology and school counseling programs. These programs are required to meet the accreditation standards of both CAEP and their respective specialized accrediting bodies, such as the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP), the American Psychological Association (APA), and the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). These specialized accrediting organizations develop rigorous, field-specific standards to ensure the quality of training for school psychologists and counselors. However, the dual accreditation process adds redundancy, complexity, and significant administrative burden. Faculty and staff are stretched thin, focusing on compliance with two separate sets of accreditation standards, rather than on the core mission of educating and training highly qualified professionals. HB 1674 would eliminate this dual accreditation requirement, aligning Virginia's policy with CAEP policy, which allows states to waive CAEP accreditation for specific programs if those programs are accredited by specialized accrediting bodies. Virginia is the exception to the rule and frequently mentioned when CAEP trains new accreditation site reviewers. The bill would provide the flexibility needed to ensure that school psychology and counseling programs in Virginia can focus on the standards that best serve their fields, reducing unnecessary duplication and streamlining the accreditation process. This change would not compromise the quality or rigor of these programs. On the contrary, it would allow faculty and staff to dedicate more time and resources to training the next generation of school counselors and school psychologists, who are in critical demand in our schools. Over the past three years, Virginia has averaged 100 unfilled school psychologist positions and 150 school counseling positions, highlighting the urgency of addressing this workforce gap. HB 1674 would directly benefit 17 school counseling programs and 5 school psychology programs in Virginia. By reducing bureaucratic hurdles, we can increase the efficiency of these programs and enhance the quality of education they provide, ultimately strengthening Virginia’s P-12 schools. Sincerely, VACTE Executive Board

I strongly support enhancing faculty and staff representation in the governance of our public institutions of higher education.

I am writing to express my support of HB 1621. We of course appreciate the role of BOVs and the service they provide. However, as the primary groups on the front lines with our students, it is crucial that the voice of the faculty and staff of our state institutions of higher learning are also heard when important decisions are being deliberated. Talking points to create a unique message: Faculty and staff should be represented on all Boards of Visitors - this is a common-sense measure to improve the governing of our public universities by leaning into the expertise of the people who know their universities best. Staff and faculty should choose their own representatives without pressure from BOVs or other outside forces. It's always important that faculty and staff voices are heard as the decisions from the board directly affect us.

Dear Virginia Representatives, I am writing to express my strong support for HB 1621, a bill that would ensure all public institutions of higher education include faculty and staff representatives in advisory positions on their Boards of Visitors (BOV). While we deeply value the critical role BOVs play and the dedicated service they provide to our institutions, it is essential to include the perspectives of faculty and staff. These are the individuals who work directly with students and possess a deep understanding of the daily realities, challenges, and opportunities on our campuses. Their voices and expertise would provide invaluable insights, helping to align institutional policies with the genuine needs of the university community. HB 1621 is a common-sense measure that would: • Guarantee faculty and staff representation on all Boards of Visitors, ensuring governance benefits from the expertise of those who know their institutions best. • Empower faculty and staff to choose their representatives through a fair and independent process determined by their peers, free from external pressures or influence. • Strengthen communication channels between administration, BOVs, and the broader campus community, fostering transparency and trust. As someone who has served as Faculty Senate President at Reynolds Community College and Vice-Chair of the Virginia Community College System’s Chancellor’s Faculty Advisory Committee, I have seen firsthand how vital it is to include diverse perspectives in decision-making processes. Faculty and staff representatives ensure that institutional policies reflect the lived experiences and professional insights of those directly supporting student success. I urge you to support HB 1621 and join the effort to enhance transparency, collaboration, and inclusivity in the governance of our public universities. By passing this bill, we can strengthen our institutions and better serve our students, faculty, staff, and communities. Thank you for your time and consideration. Sincerely, Dirk Burruss Professor, Information Systems Technology Reynolds Community College Vice-Chair, Chancellor’s Faculty Advisory Committee

I support HB1621! Both faculty and staff must have an advisory role on the boards of visitors of their institutions. Faculty and staff should also elect their representatives. Thank you!

Yes - The State Board for Community Colleges, the board of visitors of each baccalaureate public institution of higher education, and each local community college board to appoint a nonvoting, advisory faculty representative to its respective board. Under current law, such an appointment is permissive. The bill also requires the board of visitors of each baccalaureate public institution of higher education and each local community college board to appoint a nonvoting, advisory staff representative to its respective board. The bill requires such advisory faculty and staff representatives to be elected by the faculty and staff of the institution, respectively, in the manner that such faculty and staff members deem appropriate. Current law requires the advisory faculty representative to be chosen from individuals elected by the faculty or the institution's faculty senate or its equivalent. The bill also clarifies that any vacancy of such an advisory representative shall be filled in the same manner as the original selection, whether the vacancy occurs by expiration of a term or otherwise.

It is vitally important for faculty and staff, those who work most directly with the students that college policies will impact, have an intentional voice and seat at the table where collegee and university decisions are being made!! As a graduate of two of Virginia's public universities--Virginia Tech and Virginia State-- and current faculty at a Reynolds Community College, I have first hand experience managing the results of other's people's decisions that caused unintentional consequences to my life and livelihood. Having teaching faculty and staff, trusted individuals chosen by a community of their similarly invested peers, bring their insights into the decision making process could have led to nuanced adjustments that could make crucial differences in outcome and effect. For these reasons and others, I am in strong support of House Bill 1621.

I support HB 1621

I am writing to express my support of HB 1621. We of course appreciate the role of BOVs and the service they provide. However, as the primary groups on the front lines with our students, it is crucial that the voice of the faculty and staff of our state institutions of higher learning are also heard when important decisions are being deliberated. Faculty and staff should be represented on all Boards of Visitors - this is a common-sense measure to improve the governing of our public universities by leaning into the expertise of the people who know their universities best. Staff and faculty should choose their own representatives without pressure from BOVs or other outside forces.

I am writing to express my support of HB 1621. I understand and value the service of our BOVs. However, members of the faculty and staff interact directly with students on a daily basis. We have our thumb on the pulse of most of the activities directly impacting students. It makes sense that we represent them by participating in the proceedings of BOVs. It is vital that our voice is heard on their behalf.

This law would mostly codify existing policies - it's not doing anything unusual or objectionable. The people who make our universities run should be at the table where decisions are made - I have watched multiple Boards of Visitors meetings in which questions were not asked and issues were not addressed in ways that negatively impacted the institution's ability to successfully implement policies and priorities because workers' voices were not at the table. This is particularly true of staff, who outnumber faculty yet have no representation on BoVs at most institutions. It is crucial that faculty and staff are allowed to select their own representatives to maximize the impact that these representatives can have.

HB 1621 would enable elected members of faculty and staff at public institutions to represent their respective colleagues in advisory positions on the Board of Visitors. This bill would provide a direct channel of communication between faculty and staff and the Board of Visitors through their appointed representatives.

Currently there is no guarantee of representation on university boards for university staff members. HB1621 addresses this by the establishment of elected (nonvoting) faculty and staff representatives on university Boards of Visitors. This is a welcome remedy which would guarantee university workers like myself a representative who could speak as a member of the university's highest governing body. University faculty and staff are the closest and best informed as to the actual conditions in the classroom and on the ground in terms of the day-to-day operations of the university. Passing this bill and it becoming law would not only benefit university workers, but also the boards themselves, the public, and the students, who would ultimately receive a more accurate picture of the real conditions and concerns at our universities, and more effectively work to address them. I encourage all committee members to vote YES on HB1621.

HB 1621 would assure that all public institutions include a faculty representative and a staff representative in advisory positions on the Board of Visitors, and importantly that these advisory faculty and staff representatives be elected by the faculty and staff of the institution, respectively, in the manner that such faculty and staff members deem appropriate. This bill would assure that faculty have a clear channel of communication to both administration and the BOV through an authentic representative of the faculty selected by the appropriate faculty body. I have been the faculty representative to the VCU Board of Visitors since August 2023. In my role, I have had the opportunity to share my faculty experiences and insights with the members of the BOV when critically important issues that impact faculty, staff, and students are being discussed. I think the fact that I have been able to do this has made a difference. I truly believe that all institutions of higher education should have faculty and staff in an advisory role on the Board of Visitors so that they can represent their constituents and have their voices be heard.

Mental Health Virginia strongly supports improving the process for students with a disability to receive the support they are entitled to when navigating the higher education experience. We hear complaints from state university faculty that they have no information that a student in their class has an IEP, and the student is not aware of the process and what rights and services they are entitled to. This is important to ensure every young person has the tools they need to succeed.

My is Andrew K. Stith from Hampton, Virginia. I am here to speak on my personal story or summary on how an unknown, never tested, never let my mother know about that all learning difficulties that I had found in my Jr. year in college while following me in the military to present day life. With hard work, failing courses, taking harsh criticism and people told me that I would not be anything as well make it in college, I completed schools and never quit, drop out of school, went to jail, and still striving to be better day by day. Also, I would like to have some bill to law to give and make sure that all birth medical records and school records should be given to all parents and guardians to pass down to each child and the State of Virginia should have a depository these records for the individual have a chance to to obtain until death. The reason that I am proposing this because the individual should not have go through a treasure hunt to get answers for each individuals owns health, family historical reasons and the hospital and/or the establishment is no long there. I plan writing a story, would like to work with city, state and federal governments and importantly, I would the State of Virginia to work hard and quickly to pass the TBI Bill (Traumatic Brain Injuries) for people who suffer on a daily basis. This covers past, present and future military servicemembers, born and had birth defects, accidents, athletes, and other reasons that has not been stated here. Thank you, Andrew K. Stith

Please Vote YES for HB1805 which would improve transition from High School to Higher Education for students with an IEP. This transition is difficult and students often experience significant variation in the quality and detail of IEP transition plans. This proposal of standardization can reduce disparities, ensuring all students receive equitable preparation for their next steps in life. Please vote Yes for HB1805.

Chairwoman Sewell and Members of the Subcommittee, My name is Jen Ocean. I am the Vice President of Training Operations and Client Engagement with Sprightbulb, a small business based in Arlington, Virginia that provides Agile training in the Commonwealth and to virtual students around the globe. I write today to urge you to support the passage of HB1995, which would exempt training organizations like Sprightbulb from the unnecessary regulatory oversight of the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV). At Sprightbulb, we deliver specialized non-degree professional development programs designed to prepare students for project management certifications within their careers, including credentials overseen by nationally recognized certifying organizations like the Scrum Alliance and Kanban University. Our training content, course duration (one to three days), and delivery methods are carefully aligned with the standards of the certifying bodies. Yet, the current requirement for SCHEV oversight on these types of programs creates significant, excessive administrative burdens for our small business. HB1995 would remove the need for this oversight, enabling us to allocate more time and resources toward delivering high-quality training to our students. Since 2020, SCHEV compliance has collectively cost our business more than $24,000 in fees and hundreds of hours of labor. These expenses reflect only the costs for maintaining our SCHEV certification to operate, updating our programs and faculty information, and complying with changes to our physical training locations. These regulations have also dramatically increased the cost of doing business during a tumultuous period for professional development training. Virginia education code mandates that private postsecondary institutions of higher education collect and maintain enrollment agreements for all students, costing us thousands of dollars annually for digital contracting services to manage these agreements. We are also required to ensure students have access to a library of resources, akin to the services available at a university. We have a digital library to accommodate this, but the cost of maintaining this digital library is thousands of dollars annually. As a small business, managing these regulations diverts critical time and resources away from course development and delivery. Exempting postsecondary institutions focused on project management training courses will help ensure Sprightbulb, and other similar small businesses, have more focus on providing accessible, relevant, and sustainable training to Virginia’s workforce without being encumbered by regulatory requirements. This bill is not only a positive step for Sprightbulb and other project management training providers but also for the students we serve, who will benefit from streamlined access to essential career development opportunities. Lastly, it will help ensure a more sustainable future operating in the Commonwealth. Thank you, Madam Chair, and committee members, for your time and consideration. I urge you to support HB1995 and help improve workforce development opportunities in Virginia. Jen Ocean Vice President, Training Operations and Client Engagement Sprightbulb