2026 SESSION
ENROLLED
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 159
Commending the Virginia Community College System.
Agreed to by the House of Delegates, March 2, 2026
Agreed to by the Senate, March 5, 2026
WHEREAS, for 60 years, the Virginia Community College System has expanded access to education and empowered Virginians with the skills they need to support their families and uplift their communities; and
WHEREAS, the Virginia Community College System was established in 1966 with two colleges, Virginia Western Community College and Northern Virginia Community College, serving 7,500 students; and
WHEREAS, the Virginia Community College System has grown to encompass 23 colleges in every region of the Commonwealth serving 230,000 students annually, which represents 46 percent of all public undergraduate enrollment in the Commonwealth; and
WHEREAS, the Virginia Community College System supports students from a wide range of ages and backgrounds, from high school students in dual enrollment programs to individuals pursuing a two-year degree or building a foundation for a four-year degree, as well as lifelong learners; and
WHEREAS, the Virginia Community College System students have achieved success in a wide range of career fields, and 81 percent of graduates stay in Virginia and continue to play a role in the Commonwealth's vibrant economy; and