About the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV)

The State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) serves as the Commonwealth’s coordinating agency for higher education. Established in 1956, its mission is to promote a strong, efficient, and coordinated higher education system through statewide planning, policy development, and research-driven decision-making. SCHEV works to ensure academic quality, operational efficiency, and collaboration across Virginia’s colleges and universities, while also advising on budgets, enrollment, financial aid, and legislative issues.

The Council is composed of 13 members (12 citizen appointees confirmed by the General Assembly and one ex officio member from the Virginia Economic Development Partnership), supported by about 100 staff across seven units. SCHEV oversees academic program approvals, including new degrees, certificates, organizational changes, and program closures, as well as budget recommendations, data collection, and board development. The Council meets six times annually (January, March, May, July, September, and October), with formal submission windows for institutional actions in March and July.