The Council of Independent Colleges in Virginia provides a voice for Virginia’s independent higher education community and advocates on behalf of our schools, their students, and their families at the Virginia General Assembly, in Congress, and before agencies, boards, and commissions. We support Virginia private colleges by advocating public policy positions and monitoring legislation impacting the independent higher education community.
CICV is proud to have played an instrumental role in starting Virginia’s Tuition Assistance Grant (VTAG) program, which provides annual grants to Virginia residents who are full-time students at an eligible private college or university. Every year, CICV organizes a student advocacy day at the Virginia General Assembly, where supporters can meet with, thank, and advocate in front of legislators for VTAG funding.
At both the state and federal levels, CICV also monitors legislative and regulatory actions that directly or indirectly affect Virginia private colleges. Where appropriate, CICV disussed such issues with relevant legislative and administration stakeholders and seeks the passage of legislation that benefits its institutions and students. CICV also maintains a close working relationship with various administrative agencies that regulate and interact with higher education in Virginia.
Get Involved
In addition to our efforts, there are also many opportunities available for students at Virginia private colleges to gain state government exposure and experience:
- Governor’s Fellows Program
- Virginia Management Fellows Program
- Virginia Capital Semester Program
- Commonwealth of Virginia Internship Program
- Sorensen Institute College Leaders Program
- Virginia Business Higher Education Council’s Growth4VA Initiative
State-Level Resources
Below are some useful resources at the state-level:
- Legislative Information System
LIS will allow you to view budget information, find legislation before the General Assembly, search the Code of Virginia, view meetings, and more. - Virginia General Assembly
The General Assembly website will allow you to discover additional information about the state legislature, including committee information, meetings, and member contact information. - Governor of Virginia
- Lieutenant Governor
- Attorney General
- State Council of Higher Education for Virginia
- Commonwealth of Virginia
National-Level Resources
Below are some useful resources at the federal level:
- The White House
- United States House of Representatives
- National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU)
CICV is an active member of the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU) and works closely with NAICU on matters relating to federal legislation and funding of programs of importance to independent colleges. - United States Department of Education