The Martinsville Bulletin reports that a 10-person commission comprising businessmen, educators and more will likely begin meetings this month to determine the future of the New College Institute (NCI), founded in 2006 in Martinsville. Steering the committee? None other than UVA President John Casteen, who will retire from his post on August 1. Casteen will co-chair the committee with fellow university president retiree Eugene Trani, who served 20 years as president of Virginia Commonwealth University.
NCI was established to serve the higher education needs of students in southern Virginia who are not within close range of other state universities. The commission will provide a report to the State Council of Higher Education, which will decide among other things whether NCI becomes an extension of another public university.
Casteen, who was recently named the speaker for UVA’s May 23 commencement activities, has plenty on his plate for the coming months. He will join the boards of directors for the Virginia Foundation for Community College Education as well as Altria Group, the parent company of Philip Morris. NCI currently offers several degrees and licensure programs through partnerships with UVA.
