SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 41 AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE (Proposed by the Senate Committee on Rules on February 8, 2008) (Patron Prior to Substitute—Senator McEachin) Designating July 1, 2008, as Virginia Commonwealth University Day in the Commonwealth, on the 40th anniversary of the university.

WHEREAS, Virginia Commonwealth University will celebrate its 40th anniversary in 2008 and is commended for its commitment to provide quality higher education and exemplary programs and services to the citizens of Virginia; and

WHEREAS, the Medical College of Virginia was established in 1838 as the medical department of Hampden-Sydney College, and the Richmond Professional Institute was established in 1917 as the Richmond School of Social Work and Public Health; and

WHEREAS, the 1968 merger of the Medical College of Virginia and Richmond Professional Institute created Virginia Commonwealth University, now the Commonwealth’s largest public university with nearly 32,000 students; and

WHEREAS, Virginia Commonwealth University was instrumental in starting the Virginia BioTechnology Research Park with more than 1.2 million square feet of research space and employing more than 2,000 scientists, researchers, engineers, and technicians in fields that include drug development, medical diagnostics, biomedical engineering, forensics, and environmental analysis; and

WHEREAS, Virginia Commonwealth University offers 196 degree and certificate programs through its 15 schools and one college, with 21 graduate programs being nationally ranked; and

WHEREAS, Virginia Commonwealth University has expanded its campus regionally with a campus at INOVA Hospital in Fairfax and collaborations in Southwest Virginia, as well as internationally with a campus in Qatar and 15 international partnerships with universities in the Middle East, Europe, Africa, and Asia; and

WHEREAS, Virginia Commonwealth University is recognized as a leader in teaching, research, public service, and patient care for the City of Richmond, the Commonwealth of Virginia, and the United States; and

WHEREAS, Virginia Commonwealth University values the importance of remembering its rich educational heritage, while seizing the opportunities of the present and preparing for the challenges of the future; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly designate July 1, 2008, as Virginia Commonwealth University Day in the Commonwealth, on the 40th anniversary of the university, in recognition of the university's continual efforts to provide exceptional services in the area of higher education and health care; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate post the designation of this day on the General Assembly's website.

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 41 Offered January 9, 2008 Prefiled January 7, 2008 Designating July 1, in 2008 and in each succeeding year, as Virginia Commonwealth University Day in Virginia. ---------- Patron-- McEachin ---------- Referred to Committee on Rules ----------

WHEREAS, Virginia Commonwealth University will celebrate its 40th anniversary in 2008 and is commended for its commitment to provide quality higher education and exemplary programs and services to the citizens of Virginia; and

WHEREAS, the Medical College of Virginia was established in 1838 as the medical department of Hampden-Sydney College, and the Richmond Professional Institute was established in 1917 as the Richmond School of Social Work and Public Health; and

WHEREAS, the 1968 merger of the Medical College of Virginia and Richmond Professional Institute created Virginia Commonwealth University, now the Commonwealth’s largest public university with nearly 32,000 students; and

WHEREAS, Virginia Commonwealth University was instrumental in starting the Virginia BioTechnology Research Park with more than 12 million square feet of research space and employing more than 2,000 scientists, researchers, engineers, and technicians in fields that include drug development, medical diagnostics, biomedical engineering, forensics, and environmental analysis; and

WHEREAS, Virginia Commonwealth University offers 196 degree and certificate programs through its 15 schools and one college, with 21 graduate programs being nationally ranked; and

WHEREAS, Virginia Commonwealth University has expanded its campus regionally with a campus at INOVA Hospital in Fairfax and collaborations in Southwest Virginia, as well as internationally with a campus in Qatar and 15 international partnerships with universities in the Middle East, Europe, Africa, and Asia; and

WHEREAS, Virginia Commonwealth University is recognized as a leader in teaching, research, public service, and patient care for the City of Richmond, the Commonwealth of Virginia, and the United States; and

WHEREAS, Virginia Commonwealth University values the importance of remembering its rich educational heritage, while seizing the opportunities of the present and preparing for the challenges of the future; now therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly designate July 1, in 2008 and each succeeding year, as Virginia Commonwealth University Day in the Commonwealth in recognition of the university's continual efforts to provide exceptional services in the area of higher education and health care; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate post the designation of this day on the General Assembly's website.