SCHEV -The Agency

As the coordinating board for the Commonwealth's system of colleges and universities, the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia organized to maximize the Council's efforts in the development of sound higher education policies, administration of various education programs, and the promotion of Virginia's entire higher education system. The following is an overview of the staff organization.

Executive Director

LAVISTA, Daniel— Executive Director

The Executive Director is charged with the day-to-day management of the state government agency. The Executive Director is responsible for working with the Council and directing staff to carry out its many statutory duties, consistent with SCHEV's mission, guiding principles and strategic plan. In addition, the Executive Director speaks on behalf of the Council to various constituent groups across the state and throughout the nation on a myriad of higher education issues. By statute, the Executive Director serves on many important boards. They are: the Virginia College Building Authority; the Commission to Review, Study, and Reform Educational Leadership; the Center for Innovative Technology Board of Directors; the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center; and the Virginia Environmental Education Commission, as well as ex officio on the Virginia Research and Technology Advisory Commission (VRTAC).

Academic Affairs & Planning

DEFILIPPO, Joseph - Academic Affairs & Planning Director

The Academic Affairs and Planning section provides statewide leadership and coordination via collaborative policy development and administration in academic areas of public higher education such as degree programs (proposal review and productivity/viability analysis), assessment (student learning/competency and institutional effectiveness), organizational changes and changes to statements of mission, and transfer and articulation. These ongoing activities converge in the section’s responsibility to lead the development of Virginia’s four-year systemwide strategic plan for higher education and to report agency and institutional progress toward and results of this plan to the Governor and the General Assembly. This section also carries out SCHEV’s responsibilities regarding the certification of private and/or out-of-state post-secondary institutions, as well as the administration of various federal grants, such as GEAR-UP (a student access initiative) and the No Child Left Behind Act (a teacher quality initiative).

Finance Policy

HIX, R. Dan — Finance Policy Director

This section provides analysis of the operating and capital budgets of Virginia's public institutions of higher education, provides estimates of non-general fund revenues, and recommends system wide funding policies. The Finance Policy Section provides analysis to the Council, the Governor, and the General Assembly regarding proposed funding and other fiscally related policies. This section also is responsible for helping to develop policy initiatives related to funding and tuition, among others.

Policy Research and Data Warehousing

MASSA, Tod — Policy Research and Data Warehousing Director

This section collects and maintains research data related to admissions, enrollment, graduation, faculty salaries, facilities utilization, and research activities from all the public and private colleges and universities in Virginia. The Policy Research and Data Warehousing Section is leading the development and implementation of new Reports of Institutional Effectiveness. This section coordinates the preparation and submission of IPEDS surveys to the federal government and provides or responds to requests for data summaries from various constituents. This section also produces statistical overviews of Virginia's public colleges and universities and Virginia's entire higher education system, conducts analyses, and participates in assessment efforts.

Communications and Government Relations

NELSON, Kirsten — Communications & Government Relations Director

This section develops and provides communications services for the agency and Virginia higher education through media, government, and public relations. The Communications and Government Relations Section initiates distribution of and responds to requests for information about the agency, its activities, and Virginia's system of public and private colleges and universities. This section also is responsible for coordinating the agency's legislative efforts, developing and maintaining its Internet website, and producing other electronic and print publications, among other projects.