In collaboration with the Council of Independent Colleges in Virginia (CICV), Randolph-Macon College is advocating for enhanced financial aid for its students through the Virginia Tuition Assistance Grant (VTAG) program. Randolph-Macon is encouraging students, alumni, and families to engage with this important advocacy effort.

Over the past five decades, VTAG has made higher education more accessible to over 200,000 Virginians; for many this is the deciding factor in their ability to afford a college education. VTAG funding currently accounts for less than 4% of Virginia’s higher education budget, despite private colleges and universities, including RMC, awarding one-third of Virginia’s bachelor’s degrees each year.

Currently, students from Virginia, attending a private college or university receive $5,000 a year through this critical state funding. In alignment with CICV, Randolph-Macon is working to increase the grant to $6,000 per year in the upcoming budget cycle. This includes both undergraduates and graduate students, particularly those pursuing careers in the field of health. Furthermore, CICV is championing a 100% VTAG award for full-time online students, recognizing the evolving landscape of higher education.

The budget proposal for the next two fiscal years, commencing on July 1, 2024, will be introduced by Governor Glenn Youngkin later this year. This proposal will also include suggestions for amendments to the final six months of the current budget cycle, which concludes on July 30, 2024. Students, alumni, faculty and staff, and families are encouraged to write to Governor Youngkin, expressing their gratitude for the TAG program’s impact on their lives and careers. They are also asked to encourage the Governor to allocate $6,000 for all categories of TAG awards.

The college believes that collective voices from across the Commonwealth can wield significant influence and make a positive change.

Add your voice here before October 20: https://bit.ly/ThanksforTAG23