Title 23.1. Institutions of Higher Education; Other Educational and Cultural Institutions
Chapter 6. Financial Assistance
§ 23.1-636. Virginia Commonwealth Award; definitions; Council to adopt regulations.
A. As used in this article:
"Census date" means the point at which a student's credit hour enrollment is locked for financial aid purposes and financial aid for the term is adjusted to reflect the official number of attempted credit hours.
"Eligible program" means a Title IV-eligible curriculum of courses in a certificate of undergraduate study, diploma, or degree program offered at the undergraduate, graduate, or first professional level by a public institution of higher education in the Commonwealth.
"Financial need" means any positive difference between a student's cost of attendance and the student aid index for such student.
"Graduate student" means a student enrolled in an eligible master's, doctoral, or first professional degree program.
"Satisfactory academic progress" means acceptable progress, as defined by the institution, toward completion of an eligible program for the purposes of eligibility for federal student financial aid pursuant to applicable federal law and regulations.
"Undergraduate student" means a student enrolled in an eligible program leading to a certificate of undergraduate study, diploma, associate's degree, or bachelor's degree.
B. The Virginia Commonwealth Award is created to provide financial assistance in the form of grants to eligible students for the costs of attending a public institution of higher education. Funds may be paid to any public institution of higher education on behalf of students who have been awarded grants pursuant to §§ 23.1-638 and 23.1-638.1.
C. The Council shall adopt regulations for the implementation of the provisions of this article.
1992, c. 879, § 23-38.53:4; 1994, c. 789; 2016, c. 588; 2026, cc. 272, 273.
