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In response to a legislative resolution, the State Council established a Student Financial Aid Study Advisory Committee composed of public and private college representatives and outside consultants to develop a comprehensive study of student financial aid programs in higher education in Virginia. This study makes available for the first time an inventory of financial aid currently available to students in Virginia colleges and universities. Divided into 4 parts, the study provides: 1) an evaluation of present student financial aid policies and practices; 2) a discussion of financial aid philosophy; 3) an evaluation of the adequacy of existing aid programs; and 4) a proposal for broadening financial support to meet present and projected student financial aid needs. The conclusion is that Virginia faces a major challenge if it is to keep pace with other states in providing opportunities to attend college and if it is to meet the future need for a well-trained labor force. Tables and a bibliography are included. (DS)

A resolution of the General Assembly of Virginia directed the State Council of Higher Education to study the volume and characteristics of freshman applicants and enrollees in the state-controlled institutions of higher education for the fall terms of 1966 and 1967. This document, consisting mainly of 203 tables, contains the results of this study, which examined students in the 14 four-year and 14 two-year state-controlled institutions. The study indicates that the freshman year performance of the Fall 1966 enrollees are markedly similar in most respects to the performance of the Fall 1967 enrollees, although the percentage of academic failures was slightly lower in 1967. The percentage of student withdrawals from the 2-year institutions decreased noticeably during the second year, while the percentage of withdrawals from the 4-year institutions remained constant during the sophomore year. A combination of SAT scores and the secondary school record seems to be the best predictor of academic success in most of the institutions, although the secondary school record is the best single predictor. Student-initiated withdrawals, comprising almost 90% of all withdrawals, constitute a major concern, and future Council studies will continue to give special attention to this factor because of its relevance to the planning for higher education in Virginia. (DS)