The House of Delegates rightfully tabled four bills last week that would have mandated Virginia universities to cap out-of-state enrollment. These bills cycle through the system each year supported by delegates who are pressured by parents from densely populated areas. Many students from these areas, though often well-qualified, are face with stiff competition from out-of-state students for admission into certain state universities. If passed, such bills could damage the University's academic reputation and adversely affect a key source of revenue.
Del. Timothy Hugo, R-Fairfax County, one of several lawmakers spearheading this movement, cited anecdotes about students with 4.0 grade point averages who were denied admission to Virginia's public colleges. Hugo is vying for a 75 percent in-state student requirement - in the University's case, a 6.5 percent increase from the class of 2013's enrollment. "What I am seeing is the University of New Jersey, Charlottesville campus and the University of New York, Williamsburg campus," Del. Hugo said. His stance highlights tension arising in Northern Virginia, as competition for admission to state schools, such as the University, has become fierce.
Though certain state delegates are attempting to satisfy their constituents' interests, they must approach this problem from an administrative outlook. A number of University officials and faculty members have expressed opposition to such proposals. "Out-of-state students have, on average, the highest board scores and they greatly enrich the in-state students' peer education," Prof. Larry Sabato said. Geographic diversity exposes students to others from different backgrounds, helping to enrich their experiences at the University. And as Sabato emphasized, these non-Virginians are often higher-quality applicants who increase the University's prestige. This, in turn, attracts better faculty, more research funding and generally higher-caliber students.
Though the impact such legislation could have on the University's reputation is not easily quantifiable, the budget repercussions would be indisputable. Out-of-state students essentially subsidize the tuition costs of in-state students, as non-Virginians pay significantly more for the same education. "Thirty-one percent of out-of-state undergraduates account for 63 percent of the school's tuition revenue," University Spokesperson Carol Wood said. The numbers are highly disproportionate and to decrease the ratio of out-of-state students would be irresponsible unless the state agreed to cover the lost revenue. Given the latest rounds of budget cuts, however, this outcome seems unlikely. Moreover, some representatives indicated
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