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To quote Jefferson, "We wish to establish...a University on a plan so broad and liberal and modern, as to be worth patronizing with the public support, and be a temptation to the youth of other States to come and drink of the cup of knowledge and fraternize with us."
In an effort to continue championing Thomas Jefferson's dream of making UVa not only a university for Virginia but for the entire nation, President Casteen & the Board of Visitors want to ensure that The University of Virginia will not be cost-prohibitive for any admitted student, Virginian or non-Virginian. As we all know, the cost of higher education across the country seems to be spiraling out of control, both private & public, and for both in-state & out-of-state students.
The money UVa is using to cover its students' needs is coming out of its endowment & foundations. (Fortunately, UVa is wealthy enough to do this.) Considering that the Commonwealth of Virginia is only providing a shameful 8% of UVa's operating budget, UVa has had to take its future into its own hands. Luckily, UVa alums are loyal, successful, and generous. In fact, money from alumni donations and UVa's endowment exceeds the money dolled out by the state every year. Truth be told, the funding that Virginia gives UVa is nowhere close to what it provided 15 years ago. That's why UVa has embarked on the largest college capital campaign to date - $3 billion.
I think it's honorable that UVa is committed to offering its students an excellent and affordable education eventhough the state of Virginia is unwilling to pay for it.
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