In November 2003, the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV), Educational Credit Management Corporation (ECMC), and the Virginia Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (VASFAA) joined forces to host an awareness summit. The purpose of the awareness summit was to bring all of Virginia’s college access groups together to brainstorm about the problems, challenges and potential in accessibility to higher education.  One major outcome of the awareness summit was the expressed desire to create a statewide college access network.

VirginiaCAN was born.

An organizing committee worked diligently for two years to create the Virginia College Access Network (VirginiaCAN). On July 20, 2006, VirginiaCAN was officially incorporated by the Commonwealth of Virginia.

The maturation of VirginiaCAN continues with a focus on continuing professional development. Additionally, VirginiaCAN informs and advises legislators, policymakers, regulators, and key access supporters. We bring together college-access organizations around the state, harnessing and amplifying the power of them all. We advocate in communities across the Commonwealth to create, organize, and develop college access programs and initiatives.

Former VirginiaCAN Board Members:

Jan Smith - ECMC

Scott Kemp - SCHEV

Libby Dutton - VA 529

Tierney Jackson - SCHEV

Sarah Bazemore - VDOE

Joy Pugh - Virginia College Advising Corps

Paula Craw - ECMC

Paula Fisher Robinson - SCHEV-Access

Mary Morris - VA 529

Cheryl Lynn Jones - Access College Foundation

Elizabeth Heggie - GRASP

Eric Hairston - School Counseling

Lee Andes - SCHEV

Barry Simmons

Tom Morehouse

Lisa Smith