US Laws, Codes, Statutes & Cases

§18B-1A-1. Purpose of article; legislative findings and intent.
Purpose. -- The purpose of this article is to establish a compact with higher education for the future of West Virginia. The Legislature recognizes both the progress achieved thus far through the higher education strategic planning process established pursuant to section one-c, article one of this chapter, and the shortfalls. West Virginia long has recognized the value of education and, on a per capita income basis, invests more to support education than most other states. Based on its findings, the Legislature recognizes that because of a combination of state and national demographic and economic factors and emerging changes in higher education delivery systems, it is in the best interests of both the state and the state's higher education system to begin a process that will strengthen their capacity, over the long term, to provide the services of higher education so valued by the citizens of the state and so essential to the state's economic vitality. The compact with higher education for the future of West Virginia is intended to encourage continued progress toward achieving the state's goals for higher education and to provide incentives for change. The changes include strengthening the capacity of the higher education system and institutions to serve regional and state needs and responding to the challenges of growing national and global competition in higher education delivery systems. It is the intent of the Legislature that legislative appropriations for higher education for fiscal year two thousand two and thereafter will be made in accordance with this article and the strategies, policies, timelines and benchmarks for accomplishing the goals of the compact over a six-year period: Provided, That nothing in this article requires any specific level of appropriation by the Legislature.