About Virginia Private Colleges

• Government relations. We serve as the voice of Virginia’s independent higher education community before state agencies and legislators and coordinate government relations activities for our members. We were instrumental in starting Virginia's Tuition Assistance Grant (VTAG) program. We manage the advocacy of Virginia's independent colleges for increased funding for VTAG and other programs assisting students at independent colleges.
  
  
• Collaboration. We work with members and business partners to leverage collaborative opportunities that help campuses control operating costs and improve efficiency. Projects range from consortium purchasing agreements among member colleges to facilitating the state-wide Virginia Private College Week in July and the Virginia Private College Guidance Counselor Tour the fall. Our Health Benefits Consortium was launched about nine years ago and is designed to provide quality and affordable health care for employees of our colleges.
  
  In 2018, a 403(b) Multiple-Employer Plan (MEP) retirement plan was launched. The MEP is a single retirement plan with multiple "adopting employers". Fifteen schools currently are slated to join the MEP which will provide numerous benefits, including: robust employee education and advising that will help employees meet their retirement goals, constant monitoring of the investment options and fees charged, reduction of each college's administrative burden, fiduciary liability and cost to manage their retirement plan, and flexibility for each college to tailor the plan to accommodate their school's needs.
  
  
• Research. Our staff works with member institutions, the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV), the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU), and national organizations to provide data analysis and higher education research services to advance and promote the role independent higher education plays in Virginia.
  
  
• Public Relations. We work closely with its members and the media to provide information and materials that highlight the contributions of the private colleges to the Commonwealth of Virginia.