April 26, 2005—“We are losing 30 percent of our workforce before they get out of high school,” said Belle Wheelan, Virginia Secretary of Education and keynote speaker at the first Loudoun County Higher Education Futures Summit. “What does that say about the potential of our workforce?” She answered, “It means we are in trouble.”

The summit, sponsored by the Loudoun County Economic Development Commission Education and Workforce Committee, provided a forum for leaders in higher education, state and local government, and business and industry to discuss education strategies that will meet the rapidly changing workforce needs of Loudoun County and the greater Northern Virginia region.

Ten institutions of higher education who have invested in Loudoun County were invited to participate, including George Mason University, The George Washington University, the Graduate School of Islamic & Social Studies, the Marion DuPont Scott Equine Medical Center (Virginia Tech), Marymount University, Northern Virginia Community College, Old Dominion University, Patrick Henry College, Shenandoah University, and Strayer University.

A panel discussion, moderated by Edgar B. Hatrick, Superintendent of Loudoun County Public Schools, featured seven educational leaders who responded to prepared questions from Hatrick as well as questions from the audience. Panelists were:

• John P. Broderick, Vice Provost for Academic Affairs,
  Old Dominion University
• Tracy Fitzsimmons, Vice President for Academic Affairs,
  Shenandoah University
• Donald R. Lehman, Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs, George Washington University
• Loretta Siegley, Vice President for Academic Affairs,
  Marymount University
• Peter N. Stearns, Provost,
  George Mason University
• Robert G. Templin, Jr., President,
  Northern Virginia Community College
• Belle Wheelan, Secretary of Education,
  Commonwealth of Virginia

Some of the ideas emanating from the discussion included:

• Creating additional partnerships between business and colleges and universities
• Finding more effective ways to teach students the customer service skills businesses need
• Expanding the use of dual enrollment between high school and colleges to eliminate curriculum redundancies and ease overcrowded classrooms
• Fulfilling shortages of workers in key fields such as nursing
• Building an academic village in Loudoun, similar to those operated by the state in Richmond and Roanoke, with different universities sharing space

The summit was organized by Mary Gayle R. Holden, chair of the Education and Workforce Committee, and Paula D. Harper, executive director of Program Development and Management for The GW Virginia Campus and co-chair of the Education & Workforce Committee.