Memorandum of Understanding between SCHEV and the Virginia Economic Development Partnership (June 30, 2025)
Summary
This June 30, 2025 memorandum from Scott Fleming, Director of the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV), to the chairs of the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee and the House Appropriations Committee transmits a memorandum of understanding between SCHEV and the Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP) regarding the Innovative Internship Program, also called V-TOP. The memorandum of understanding states that the Program was established in 2019, that SCHEV currently administers the Program, and that the 2025 Acts direct VEDP to support the employer-facing activities of the Program. It also states that SCHEV and VEDP shall develop a comprehensive plan on coordination, communication and facilitation of the student-focused and employer-focused aspects of the program.
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“Memorandum of Understanding between SCHEV and the Virginia Economic Development Partnership (June 30, 2025).”
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COMMONWEALTH of VIRGINIA
A. Scott Fleming STATE COUNCIL OF HIGHER EDUCATION FOR VIRGINIA (804) 225-2600
Director James Monroe Building, 101 North Fourteenth Street, Richmond, VA 23219 www.schev.edu
To: The Honorable L. Louise Lucas, Chair, Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee
The Honorable Luke E. Torian, Chair, House Appropriations Committee
From: Scott Fleming, Director, State Council of Higher Education for Virginia
Date: June 30, 2025
Subject: Memorandum of Understanding between the State Council of Higher Education for
Virginia (SCHEV) and the Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP).
Pursuant to the requirements set forth at § 23.1-903.4 of the Code of Virginia and Items 113 (T)
and 132 (I) of Chapter 725 of the 2025 Virginia Acts of Assembly (“the 2025 Acts”), and to
commit to actions regarding the Program on an ongoing basis, please find attached a
memorandum of understanding between SCHEV and VEDP regarding the Innovative Internship
Program (more commonly referred to as the Virginia Talent and Opportunity Partnership, or V-
TOP).
Please let me know if you have questions or we can provide further assistance.
Sincerely,
Scott Fleming
cc: Ms. April Kees, Staff Director, Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee
Ms. Wendy Kang, Legislative Fiscal Analyst for K-12 and Higher Education, Senate
Finance and Appropriations Committee
Ms. Anne Oman, Staff Director, House Appropriations Committee
Mr. Tony Maggio, Legislative Fiscal Analyst for Capital Outlay and Higher Education,
House Appropriations Committee
General John Jumper, Chair, State Council of Higher Education for Virginia
Jason El Koubi, President and Chief Executive Officer, Virginia Economic Development
Partnership
Enclosure
Advancing Virginia Through Higher Education
Innovative Internship Fund
Memorandum of Understanding
This Memorandum of Understanding (“the Memorandum”), effective June 30, 2025, is
entered into by and between the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (“SCHEV”),
an agency of the Commonwealth of Virginia, and the Virginia Economic Development
Partnership Authority (“VEDP”), a political subdivision of the Commonwealth.
Purpose
The purpose of this Memorandum is to memorialize the partnership between SCHEV and VEDP
in administering and implementing the Innovative Internship Program (the “Program”)
requirements set forth at § 23.1-903.4 of the Code of Virginia and Items 113 (T) and 132 (I) of
Chapter 725 of the 2025 Virginia Acts of Assembly (“the 2025 Acts”), and to commit to actions
regarding the Program on an ongoing basis.
Overview
The Program was established in 2019 and has been subsequently amended and expanded.
SCHEV currently administers the Innovative Internship Program. The 2025 Acts direct VEDP to
support the employer-facing activities of the Program. The funding is designed to expand paid or
credit-bearing student internship and other work-based learning opportunities in collaboration
with Virginia employers. In furtherance of this support and collaboration, the 2025 Acts direct
SCHEV and VEDP to enter into a Memorandum to transition employer-focused outreach and
engagement to VEDP.
Development of Comprehensive Plan
SCHEV and VEDP shall develop a comprehensive plan (“the Plan”) regarding the coordination,
communication, and facilitation regarding the student-focused and employer-focused aspects of
the program. The Plan shall be developed in consultation with business, industry, education, and
workforce development partners, and shall be completed no later than October 1, 2025. The Plan
shall include at a minimum: (i) a clear communications strategy between SCHEV, VEDP, and
other relevant parties in administering the Program, including frequency of coordination, primary
points of contact, and information-sharing protocols; (ii) the collaborative development of
baselines, metrics, outcomes, and goals, including how data regarding the program will be
collected, for both the student-focused and employer-focused aspects of the Program to ensure
the commonality and compatibility of SCHEV and VEDP’s efforts; (iii) the development of clear
business practices, processes, procedures, and expectations in the administration of the Program;
(iv) the establishment of a working group as set forth in the 2025 Acts; (v) a strategy to
coordinate regional collaborative activity among the Parties; and (vi) any other items deemed
relevant by SCHEV and VEDP.
Immediate Commitments
In order to ensure the continuity of the existing Program while developing and implementing the
Plan, SCHEV commits to:
1. Continue to fund the existing regional collaborative grants until October 31, 2025, while
coordinating with VEDP on regional convenings, employer outreach and iQuasar
referrals; and
2. Continue to fund and execute the existing contract with iQuasar LLC until November 30,
2025.
Both Parties commit to:
1. Developing the Comprehensive Plan by the date specified; and
2. Cooperating to manage stakeholder engagement with existing advisory groups or relevant
organizations; and
3. Coordinating all stakeholder communications to ensure unified messaging and avoid
conflicting or duplicative outreach, with joint development and, where appropriate, joint
issuance of public-facing communications.
Counterparts
This Memorandum may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed
an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Memorandum as of the
date first written above.
State Council of Higher Education for
Virginia
By
Name: A. Scott Fleming
Title: Director
June 30, 2025
Date: _________________________
Virginia Economic Development
Partnership Authority
By
Name: Megan Healy
Title: SVP, Talent and Workforce
Date: June 27, 2025
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