Richard Bland wins total autonomy from William & Mary

Richard Bland College is one step closer to total autonomy, the Progress-Index reported.

The public two-year college in Virginia, established in 1960 as an extension campus of William & Mary, has always been governed by its parent institution’s Board of Visitors. Now both houses of the State Legislature have passed a bill that establishes an independent, nine-member Board of Visitors for Richard Bland—a longtime goal of the college’s administrators.

The legislation now awaits Governor Glenn Youngkin’s signature.

“Governor Youngkin has demonstrated his commitment to growth and prosperity in Petersburg, and his support of RBC’s independence will add to that legacy,” said Richard Bland president Debbie Sydow.

While the college has always operated independently of William & Mary, efforts to set up its own board have been ongoing for over a decade.

Sydow called the new legislation “momentous, especially as RBC is poised to deepen and expand its strategic partnerships.”