Jesse E. Vaughan

The board meeting covered several key topics, including updates on the interim presidential search and the Virginia Plan for Higher Education 2026-2032. The Campus Master Plan was reviewed, focusing on building conditions, facility needs, and future campus development. Additionally, the Board discussed the 'Debt-Free RBC' initiative and the 2028 Strategic Plan, which prioritizes student success and regional development. Action items included the approval of several resolutions regarding strategic goals, the Fiscal Year 2026 Internal Audit Plan, the Campus Facilities Master Plan, honorary degree conferrals, and Level II authorization advocacy. The meeting also addressed personnel matters in a closed session, resulting in the election of an Interim President.

The RBC Health Zone Initiative is structured around five core pillars aimed at improving community health and well-being. These pillars encompass education through seminars and workshops, navigation to enhance access to health services and green spaces, prevention via screenings and vaccinations, wellness with a focus on nutrition, physical fitness, and mental health resources, and workforce development offering training and guidance in health careers.

The document outlines the vision, strategic direction, and implementation plan for the Virtual School of Technical and Professional Studies, a collaborative initiative between Virginia State University and Richard Bland College. The plan is guided by principles of being equitable, affordable, and transformative, aiming to close access and completion gaps, lower student costs, and expand prosperity. It focuses on serving adult learners, degree completers, career changers, and military personnel by offering flexible, non-traditional credentials, such as certificates and micro-credentials, alongside traditional degrees. All offerings are aligned with 21st-century technical job market demands. The plan details a phased implementation roadmap covering design and readiness, offering development, virtual school launch, and sustained growth.

This report outlines the future state vision for Richard Bland College, positioning it as a lifelong education and career advisor for diverse enrollees. The vision emphasizes three primary student pathways: strengthening traditional high school partnerships, engaging the virtual high school market, and developing bachelor's programs and professional credentialing, with a particular focus on the transformative potential of the latter. Key operational areas for achieving this vision include strategic programming, faculty alignment, staffing optimization, and fostering partnerships to support students throughout their academic and career lifecycles.

This document outlines a future-state vision for Richard Bland College, developed in collaboration with Huron, to enhance its high-touch education model. The plan focuses on three key opportunities: strengthening traditional high school partnerships, tapping into the virtual high school market, and establishing bachelor's programs and professional credentialing aligned with high-growth '21st Century Technical Jobs' projected through 2030. The overarching goal is for RBC to become a nimble institution and a 'lifelong education and career advisor' that serves a diverse student body in achieving academic and career goals.