The New College Institute (NCI) will officially transition to the West Piedmont Higher Education Center. The new name more accurately reflects the organization’s mission as a state-run higher education center operating within the West Piedmont region.
The announcement was made after Gov. Abigail Spanberger signed House Bill 430 (HB430) and Senate Bill 299 (SB299), introduced respectively by Del. Destiny LeVere Bolling and Sen. Kannan Srinivasan, both members of NCI’s Board of Directors. The signing will also update and expand the organization’s governance structure to strengthen statewide partnerships and regional collaboration.
“These updates position the West Piedmont Higher Education Center to deepen collaboration across Virginia’s education and workforce systems,” said Joe Sumner, executive director of NCI. “The expanded board brings together leaders who represent every level of the talent pipeline, from K–12 through higher education and industry.”
Under HB430/SB299, the Board of Directors grows from 15 to 20 members, broadening representation to ensure stronger alignment across Virginia’s education and workforce systems. These changes also better align NCI with its sister higher education centers serving rural regions elsewhere in the Commonwealth.
“The transition from New College Institute to the West Piedmont Higher Education Center represents an exciting new chapter for our region,” states Eric Jones, Chairman of NCI’s Board of Directors. “This change reflects both who we are and where we are going—expanding access to education, strengthening workforce development, and deepening our partnerships across the West Piedmont region.”
The updated board structure will include representation from multiple sectors:
*State higher education leadership: The Executive Director of the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) and the Chancellor of the Virginia Community College System (VCCS).
*Public higher education partners: The presidents (or designees) of George Mason University, Longwood University, Radford University, Virginia Tech, and Virginia State University. The President of Patrick & Henry Community College (or their designee) will serve as ex officio without voting privileges.
*Legislative representation: Three members of the Virginia House of Delegates (appointed by the Speaker of the House) and two members of the Senate of Virginia (appointed by the Senate Rules Committee).
*West Piedmont public education and workforce leaders: A public school superintendent and public school teacher, as well as three business and industry leaders from the West Piedmont region (appointed by the Governor). The Governor can also appoint two at-large members.
“With an enhanced Board of Directors that brings together leaders from higher education, K-12, and industry, we are better positioned to align our programs with the needs of students and employers alike,” said Jones. “This evolution builds on our strong foundation while positioning the center to drive economic growth and opportunity throughout the region for years to come.”
NCI will work closely with its Board of Directors and partners to support a smooth transition to the new name and updated governance structure, effective July 1.
