Former Speaker of the House Kirk Cox returns to Capitol Square in a new role for the old purpose of linking higher education advances with the needs of Virginia’s business community.
Cox, who resigned from politics in the House of Representatives for 32 years and failed to appoint a Republican governor last year, became chairman of the Virginia Business Higher Education Council on July 1, following the retirement of longtime leader Donald J. Finley. I will take office. ..
The council has become an influential partner of politicians and business leaders over the last 25 years under Finley, Secretary of Education under Governor Gerald Baliles and involved in state higher education policy for over 50 years. became.
“As chairman of VBHEC since its inception, Don Finley has provided extraordinary dedication, foresight, energy and elegance,” said Council Chairman Dennis Tracy this week. “His work has improved the lives of all Virginias who serve or benefit from our top-ranked public higher education system.”
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Cox should easily harmonize with the council-leading a series of major legislative initiatives to boost universities in Virginia and expanding degree and qualification programs to meet the needs of a rapidly changing workforce. Retired high school government teachers who encouraged that, but can also mitigate tuition increases to make higher education affordable.
“This is where the business world has long wanted to go,” he said in an interview Thursday.
Cox, 64, will sponsor only one law in 2019 during his term as a speaker, and will focus on obtaining a bachelor’s degree in a field that requires skilled business talent. Created an “Individual Performance Contract” for.
The law also backed an innovative internship fund, now known as the Virginia Talent + Opportunity Partnership.
The partnership will receive $ 13 million as part of the newly adopted $ 33 million program package of state budgets to focus on the role of higher education in labor development. “This is a really good way to get the program started right away,” Cox said.
The budget includes about $ 1 billion in new funding for the university. This includes an annual tuition increase of less than 3%, increased financial support for poor students, and a 10% state salary increase for university faculty and staff. 2 years.
These investments invested 800 million in a new state investment in higher education last fall to increase access for students to college and create opportunities to develop skills suitable for their careers in higher education. Consistent with the Growth4VA initiative of the Business Council, which has invested $ 80 million. -Demand field.
“This should be a big step forward for access to the university,” Finley said in an interview Thursday.
“We are very happy with our budget,” he added.
Finley is also pleased to choose Cox as his successor.
“For the last 10 to 15 years, he has been a champion of higher education,” Finley said. “He’s a great discovery for the organization. He has a much more up-to-date relationship.”
Among those relationships is Macola Abdullah, president of Virginia State University in the former House district of Cox, chairman of the presidential council of the state’s higher education institution, and a member of the board of business council. There is.
“Former Chair Cox has devoted his life to education and public services,” Abdullah said in a statement. “His personal leadership in key legislative and budgetary measures over a decade is his deep commitment to higher education and preparing all young people in Virginia to have excellent employment opportunities and a fulfilling life. Is shown. “
“Personally, I’ve long been grateful for Kirk Cox’s dedication, positive spirit, and collaborative approach to his educational mission,” he added. “He has been a representative of Virginia State University for many years. I worked closely with him to bring additional resources to the campus and make the university affordable for students. “
For Cox, it was a relatively short retirement from public life, but he is enthusiastic about the mission of the Business Council.
“I love policy,” he said. “I really wanted something policy-oriented.”
mmartz@timesdispatch.com
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