By MATT CHITTUM
ROANOKE TIMES

The program was created as a women's alternative to all-male Virginia Military Institute. But VMI began enrolling women in August.

Like just about everybody else, the Virginia Women's Institute for Leadership at Mary Baldwin College got its Christmas wish from Gov. George Allen.

In the budget he presented Friday to the General Assembly, Allen included nearly $1 million for tuition subsidies and military needs for the 3-year-old program for next year, and slightly more for the following year.

"This is pretty much what we expected," said Mary Baldwin spokeswoman Crista Cabe. If the appropriation survives the General Assembly budget process, it means students who cannot afford Mary Baldwin's $19,000 tuition without the state subsidy can stay in the program.

Gov.-elect Jim Gilmore has said he supports continued funding of VWIL.

The program was founded in 1995, in part with the hope of providing a separate but equal alternative to Virginia Military Institute, which was in the midst of a court battle to keep its all-male status.

That year, the state kicked in $272,436 in tuition subsidies - each in-state student in VWIL receives about $7,400 to underwrite part of her tuition - and $79,800 for the uniquely military aspects of the program. The U.S. Supreme Court has since ruled VWIL did not provide an equal opportunity for women seeking a VMI-like education, and VMI enrolled its first women in August.

Some wondered whether the state would continue to fund VWIL. Others, such as the American Civil Liberties Union, consider VWIL a state-supported single-sex program - as VMI was - and therefore unconstitutional. The attorney general's office disagrees, and apparently so does Allen. The appropriation for VWIL has grown with its enrollment. Cabe said the college expects about 100 of the 125 or so students expected to enroll next year to be eligible for the subsidy. The appropriation in the governor's budget for next year includes $709,080 in tuition subsidies and $250,000 for military needs.

Mary Baldwin President Cynthia Tyson has said Mary Baldwin will continue to fund VWIL even if the state money is not approved. Cabe said other financial aid is available to the students should the subsidy fall through, though it may not be in the same amount.