Proposed Legislation Seeks to Transfer VMI Governance to Virginia State University

A newly introduced bill in the Virginia House of Delegates proposes a major change to the governance of the Virginia Military Institute (VMI), one of the state’s oldest and most prominent public institutions. House Bill 1374, introduced by Delegate Michael B. Feggans, would repeal VMI’s independent board of visitors and place the school under the management and oversight of the board of visitors of Virginia State University (VSU).

The bill, now in committee, would amend several sections of the Code of Virginia and establish a new structure under Chapter 27, detailing VMI’s continued operation as a military undergraduate institution, but under the direction of VSU.

A Historic Shift in Governance

If passed, HB1374 would formally dissolve VMI’s independent governance structure, which has existed since its founding in 1839, and assign all administrative, academic, financial, and legal authority to the VSU board. It would also transfer all contracts, property, and ongoing obligations of VMI to VSU.

The proposed legislation specifies that VMI would remain a distinct institution with its own name, military culture, and mission. The new governance structure emphasizes the continuation of its strict honor code, academic rigor, and mandatory ROTC participation for all cadets. The bill also reiterates a commitment to addressing issues of sexual violence and improving policies to prevent such conduct within the institute.

Continued Military Focus

Under the new structure, VMI would still operate as a standalone, undergraduate-only institution with its own corps of cadets and leadership. The superintendent, faculty, and staff would report to the board of visitors of VSU, but day-to-day operations and academic programs would remain unique to the VMI campus.

The bill outlines admissions policies, financial aid for state cadets and Virginia National Guard scholarship cadets, and continues the institute’s authority to confer degrees. It maintains VMI’s traditions such as cadet military corps duties, control of the institute’s arsenal, and participation in statewide education and service programs.

Reaction and Context

Delegate Feggans did not immediately comment on the bill’s rationale. However, the move follows years of public scrutiny and debate surrounding VMI’s leadership, accountability practices, and treatment of students. In recent years, the institution has faced investigations and public pressure to reform policies regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion, as well as handling of misconduct allegations.

Supporters of the bill may argue that oversight by VSU, Virginia’s first fully state-supported historically Black university, could lead to greater accountability, transparency, and modernization. Critics, however, are likely to view the bill as an unprecedented overhaul of an institution with nearly two centuries of autonomous tradition.

Delegate Delores Oats issued this statement: “I stand firmly with the Virginia Military Institute (VMI), a historic and prestigious institution that has shaped leaders through discipline, honor, and service for nearly two centuries. Efforts by Democrats in the General Assembly to dissolve VMI by removing its independent governance undermine an institution that has long served the Commonwealth with distinction. VMI’s legacy is one of duty, sacrifice, and excellence, and it deserves to be strengthened, not dismantled. I will continue to support and defend VMI and the values it represents.”

What’s Next

As the bill moves through the legislative process, it will serve as a political and cultural litmus test for the Commonwealth. At stake is not only the future governance of one of Virginia’s most storied institutions, but also how the state defines accountability, tradition, and equity in its public colleges. Whether embraced as long-overdue reform or challenged as government overreach, HB1374 will continue to spark debate—both within the walls of the Capitol and across the broader Virginia community.

About VMI
Founded in 1839, the Virginia Military Institute is the nation’s first state-supported military college and has operated for nearly two centuries as a distinctive undergraduate institution focused on leadership, discipline, and service. VMI cadets have served in every U.S. conflict since the Mexican War, including the Civil War—most notably at the Battle of New Market in 1864, the only instance in American history in which an entire student body fought as a military unit. Over time, the Institute has expanded its academic programs and diversified its Corps of Cadets, admitting African American cadets in 1972 and women in 1997. With alumni including General George C. Marshall and generations of military and civic leaders, VMI remains closely tied to Virginia’s history and its tradition of producing “citizen-soldiers” for the Commonwealth and the nation.

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