University of Virginia Library

Urgent Need

President Russell of Virginia State College, a
predominantly Black college, said there was an
urgent need to broaden educational
opportunities for the "disenchanted,
disadvantaged and disinherited."

He said community colleges have answered
some of the needs ignored by traditional forms
of higher education, but that even newer
approaches are needed if Virginians are to be
educated to do something and be contributors
to the Commonwealth.

Mr. Russell noted that other college
presidents had indicated their budgets were
realistic. "My budget," he said, "is not
realistic-not at all-because it is not enough. We
can't do all that needs to be done with what is
asked for because we have 100 years to catch
up."

Harold Hopper, president of Virginia
Western Community College, stressed the
contribution community colleges have made in
their five years of existence in Virginia. "But
their need was so great most are crowded,
several critically so," he stated.

Mr. Hopper reported that "of the 35,500
students taking credit courses in community
colleges throughout the state, 75 per cent are in
career programs equipping them to step into
good paying jobs in the commonwealth."