VMI executive committee approves submission of six-year plan, seeks state funding for operations including aquatic center staffing and fitness initiative

The Virginia Military Institute Board of Visitors executive committee voted to approve the institute’s draft six-year plan and the associated general fund requests, and authorized the acting superintendent to make final technical edits and submit the plan to state officials.

The committee approved the motion by voice vote during its meeting; the proposal authorizes submission of the draft by the July 3 deadline and signals VMI’s top priorities for state funding, including operational support for the recently built aquatic center, a unified amendment to continue a state-funded program labeled in the plan as VMS DEP, and a new “forging fit leaders” fitness and nutrition initiative for cadets.

The vote sends VMI’s draft to state reviewers as required by the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2011 and the state planning process described in the institute’s presentation. Committee members were briefed on the plan’s structure, the template’s data and narrative requirements, and a timeline that includes a Richmond presentation in August, feedback in September and a final submission to state reviewers on Dec. 1.

General Clark, the presenter for the plan briefing, told the committee the six-year submittal pairs a two‑year operating request with a longer-term financial outlook and must align with…