Virginia Law

A. Members appointed by the Governor to the governing boards of public institutions of higher education shall serve for terms of four years. Vacancies occurring other than by expiration of a term shall be filled for the unexpired term. No member appointed by the Governor to such a governing board shall serve for more than two consecutive four-year terms; however, a member appointed by the Governor to serve an unexpired term is eligible to serve two consecutive four-year terms immediately succeeding such unexpired term. Except as otherwise provided in § 23.1-2601, all appointments are subject to confirmation by the General Assembly. Members appointed by the Governor to the governing board of a public institution of higher education shall continue to hold office until their successors have been appointed and qualified. Ex officio members shall serve a term coincident with their term of office.

B. No member appointed by the Governor to the governing board of a public institution of higher education who has served two consecutive four-year terms on such board is eligible to serve on the same board until at least four years have passed since the end of his second consecutive four-year term.

C. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection E or any other provision of law, the Governor may remove from office for malfeasance, misfeasance, incompetence, or gross neglect of duty any member of the board of any public institution of higher education and fill the vacancy resulting from the removal.

D. The Governor shall set forth in a written public statement his reasons for removing any member pursuant to subsection C at the time the removal occurs. The Governor is the sole judge of the sufficiency of the cause for removal as set forth in subsection C.

E. If any member of the governing board of a public institution of higher education fails to attend (i) the meetings of the board for one year without sufficient cause, as determined by a majority vote of the board, or (ii) the educational programs required by § 23.1-1304 in his first two years of membership without sufficient cause, as determined by a majority vote of the board, the remaining members of the board shall record such failure in the minutes at its next meeting and notify the Governor, and the office of such member shall be vacated. No member of the board of visitors of a baccalaureate public institution of higher education or the State Board for Community Colleges who fails to attend the educational programs required by § 23.1-1304 during his first four-year term is eligible for reappointment to such board.

F. The governing board of each public institution of higher education shall adopt in its bylaws policies (i) for removing members pursuant to subsection E and (ii) referencing the Governor's power to remove members described in subsection C.

G. The governing board of each public institution of higher education and each local community college board may appoint one or more nonvoting, advisory faculty representatives to its respective board. In the case of local community college boards and boards of visitors, such representatives shall be chosen from individuals elected by the faculty or the institution's faculty senate or its equivalent. In the case of the State Board, such representatives shall be chosen from individuals elected by the Chancellor's Faculty Advisory Committee. Such representatives shall be appointed to serve (i) at least one term of at least 12 months, which shall be coterminous with the institution's fiscal year or (ii) for such terms as may be mutually agreed to by the State Board and the Chancellor's Faculty Advisory Committee, or by the local community college board or the board of visitors, and the institution's faculty senate or its equivalent.

H. The board of visitors of any baccalaureate public institution of higher education shall appoint one or more students as nonvoting, advisory representatives. Such representatives shall be appointed under such circumstances and serve for such terms as the board of visitors of the institution shall prescribe.

I. Nothing in subsections G and H shall prohibit the governing board of any public institution of higher education or any local community college board from excluding such nonvoting, advisory faculty or student representatives from discussions of faculty grievances, faculty or staff disciplinary matters or salaries, or any other matter.

J. The president or any one of the vice presidents of the board of visitors of Virginia Military Institute, the chairman or the vice-chairman of the State Board, and the rector or vice-rector of the governing board of each other public institution of higher education shall be a resident of the Commonwealth.

K. No baccalaureate public institution of higher education shall employ an individual appointed by the Governor to the board of visitors of such institution within two years of the expiration of his term. Such prohibition shall not apply to the employment of an individual to serve as an institution president or, in the case of Virginia Military Institute, the Superintendent.

Code 1919, §§ 807, 835, 859, 935, §§ 23-41, 23-70, 23-72, 23-93, 23-95, 23-115, 23-117; 1924, p. 145; 1930, pp. 80, 81, 739; 1936, p. 262; 1938, p. 443; 1944, pp. 344, 345, 399, 400, 401; 1945, pp. 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 55; 1946, cc. 414, 415; 1952, c. 213; 1954, c. 343; 1960, cc. 180, 187; 1962, c. 69, §§ 23-49.14, 23-49.16; 1964, cc. 48, 50, 70, 97, 159 §§ 23-155.4, 23-164.3, 23-164.5, 23-165.4, 23-165.5, 23-185, 23-187; 1966, cc. 14, 18, 679, § 23-216; 1968, cc. 93, 532, 719, §§ 23-50.6, 23-174.4; 1970, cc. 601, 624; 1972, cc. 51, 136, 550, 861, §§ 23-91.26, 23-91.28, 23-91.36, 23-91.38; 1973, c. 55; 1974, cc. 29, 317; 1975, c. 484; 1976, cc. 21, 25 §§ 23-49.25, 23-49.26; 1977, c. 670; 1978, cc. 376, 453; 1979, cc. 17, 147, 623; 1980, cc. 100, 559, 625, 648; 1981, c. 225; 1982, c. 356, § 23-9.2:5; 1983, c. 148; 1984, c. 772; 1989, c. 107; 1989, Sp. Sess., c. 5; 1991, c. 96; 1992, cc. 53, 103; 1993, c. 697; 1995, c. 40; 1999, cc. 752, 1013; 2000, cc. 699, 715, 844; 2002, c. 158, 257; 2003, c. 802; 2004, cc. 499, 519, 695, § 23-9.2:4.1; 2005, c. 12; 2007, cc. 471, 727; 2008, cc. 55, 155, 399, 465, 477; 2012, c. 599; 2014, cc. 190, 597; 2015, c. 560, § 23-2.06; 2016, cc. 473, 588; 2017, cc. 314, 764, 766; 2019, c. 373.

A. The board of visitors of each baccalaureate public institution of higher education or its designee may:

1. Make regulations and policies concerning the institution;

2. Manage the funds of the institution and approve an annual budget;

3. Appoint the chief executive officer of the institution;

4. Appoint professors and fix their salaries; and

5. Fix the rates charged to students for tuition, mandatory fees, and other necessary charges.

B. The governing board of each public institution of higher education or its designee may:

1. In addition to the powers set forth in Restructured Higher Education Financial and Administrative Operations Act (§ 23.1-1000 et seq.), lease or sell and convey its interest in any real property that it has acquired by purchase, will, or deed of gift, subject to the prior approval of the Governor and any terms and conditions of the will or deed of gift, if applicable. The proceeds shall be held, used, and administered in the same manner as all other gifts and bequests;

2. Grant easements for roads, streets, sewers, waterlines, electric and other utility lines, or other purposes on any property owned by the institution;

3. Adopt regulations or institution policies for parking and traffic on property owned, leased, maintained, or controlled by the institution;

4. Adopt regulations or institution policies for the employment and dismissal of professors, teachers, instructors, and other employees;

5. Adopt regulations or institution policies for the acceptance and assistance of students in addition to the regulations or institution policies required pursuant to § 23.1-1303;

6. Adopt regulations or institution policies for the conduct of students in attendance and for the rescission or restriction of financial aid, suspension, and dismissal of students who fail or refuse to abide by such regulations or policies;

7. Establish programs, in cooperation with the Council and the Office of the Attorney General, to promote (i) student compliance with state laws on the use of alcoholic beverages and (ii) the awareness and prevention of sexual crimes committed upon students;

8. Establish guidelines for the initiation or induction of students into any social fraternity or sorority in accordance with the prohibition against hazing as defined in § 18.2-56;

9. Assign any interest it possesses in intellectual property or in materials in which the institution claims an interest, provided such assignment is in accordance with the terms of the institution's intellectual property policies adopted pursuant to § 23.1-1303. The Governor's prior written approval is required for transfers of such property (i) developed wholly or predominantly through the use of state general funds, exclusive of capital assets and (ii)(a) developed by an employee of the institution acting within the scope of his assigned duties or (b) for which such transfer is made to an entity other than (1) the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Investment Authority, (2) an entity whose purpose is to manage intellectual properties on behalf of nonprofit organizations, colleges, and universities, or (3) an entity whose purpose is to benefit the respective institutions. The Governor may attach conditions to these transfers as he deems necessary. In the event the Governor does not approve such transfer, the materials shall remain the property of the respective institutions and may be used and developed in any manner permitted by law;

10. Conduct closed meetings pursuant to §§ 2.2-3711 and 2.2-3712 and conduct business through electronic communication means pursuant to § 2.2-3708.3; and

11. Adopt a resolution to require the governing body of a locality that is contiguous to the institution to enforce state statutes and local ordinances with respect to offenses occurring on the property of the institution. Upon receipt of such resolution, the governing body of such locality shall enforce statutes and local ordinances with respect to offenses occurring on the property of the institution.

Code 1919, §§ 811, 837, 842, 864, 865, 935, 936, 951, §§ 23-76, 23-99, 23-103, 23-122, 23-124, 23-128, 23-167; 1922, p. 319; 1924, pp. 143, 144, 164, 208; 1930, p. 768; 1936, p. 522, § 23-77.1; 1938, pp. 442, 444; Michie Code 1942, § 938a; 1944, p. 402; 1945, p. 52; 1954, cc. 92, 185, 296 §§ 23-4.1, 23-77.2; 1956, cc. 12, 689; 1960, c. 180, §§ 23-44, 23-45; 1962, c. 69, §§ 23-49.17, 23-49.18; 1964, cc. 50, 70, 159, §§ 23-155.7, 23-155.8, 23-164.6, 23-164.7, 23-165.6, 23-165.7, 23-188, 23-189; 1966, cc. 18, 313, § 23-49.21; 1968, cc. 93, 532, 545, 993, §§ 23-50.8, 23-50.10, 23-50.11, 23-50.13, 23-174.6; 1970, cc. 98, 166; 1972, cc. 550, 861, §§ 23-91.29, 23-91.30, 23-91.33, 23-91.40, 23-91.41, 23-91.44; 1974, c. 317; 1976, c. 21, §§ 23-49.28, 23-49.29, 23-49.32; 1977, cc. 296, 319; 1978, c. 376; 1979, cc. 136, 145, 146, 147; 1980, c. 100; 1986, c. 358, § 23-4.4; 1990, c. 106; 1992, c. 103; 1996, cc. 905, 1046; 2002, cc. 158, 257, 368; 2003, c. 708; 2004, cc. 176, 195; 2006, cc. 77, 899; 2009, cc. 325, 810; 2013, c. 577, § 23-2.01; 2015, cc. 579, 580; 2016, c. 588; 2018, c. 55; 2022, c. 597.

Repealed by Acts 2020, c. 490, cl. 2.

A. The governing board of each public institution of higher education may establish a compensation plan designed to provide incentives for voluntary early retirement of teaching and research staff employed in nonclassified, faculty positions. Participation in such compensation plan is voluntary for eligible employees and no employee shall be penalized in any way for not participating.

B. In order to qualify for participation in such compensation plan, an eligible faculty employee shall (i) be at least 60 years old; (ii) have completed at least 10 years of full-time service at the institution offering the plan; (iii) have been awarded tenure or have a contractual right to continued employment; (iv) agree to withdraw from active membership in the Virginia Retirement System; and (v) comply with any additional criteria established by the governing board of the institution.

C. Any compensation plan established pursuant to this section shall include the institutional needs and objectives to be served, the kind of incentives to be offered, the sources of available funding for implementation, and any additional qualifications required of eligible faculty employees established by the governing board. Any such compensation plan shall explicitly reserve to the governing board the authority to modify, amend, or repeal the plan. However, no such amendment, modification, or repeal is effective as to any individual who retires under the plan prior to the effective date of the amendment, modification, or repeal.

D. The cash payments offered under any such compensation plan shall not exceed 150 percent of the employee's base annual salary reflected in the Personnel Management Information System at the time of election to participate. Any such payment shall be allocated over at least two years. Such compensation may include payment of insurance benefits by the institution until the participant reaches the age of 65. The total cost in any fiscal year for any compensation plan established under this section shall not exceed one percent of the institution's corresponding fiscal year state general fund appropriation for faculty salaries and associated benefits.

E. The Governor may establish, with the assistance of the Council, uniform criteria for such compensation plans. Prior to the adoption, modification, amendment, or repeal of any such compensation plan, the governing board shall obtain the Governor's approval. The Governor shall provide a copy of each approved plan to the Chairmen of the House Committee on Appropriations and the Senate Committee on Finance and Appropriations. All compensation plans shall be reviewed for legal sufficiency by the Office of the Attorney General prior to adoption, modification, amendment, or repeal.

F. The Administrative Process Act (§ 2.2-4000 et seq.) does not apply to the establishment of such compensation plans or any implementing regulations or criteria.

1988, c. 246, § 23-9.2:3.1; 2005, c. 633; 2016, c. 588.

A. For purposes of this section, "intellectual property" means (i) a potentially patentable machine, article of manufacture, composition of matter, process, or improvement in any of those; (ii) an issued patent; (iii) a legal right that inheres in a patent; or (iv) anything that is copyrightable.

B. The governing board of each public institution of higher education shall:

1. Adopt and post conspicuously on its website bylaws for its own governance, including provisions that (i) establish the requirement of transparency, to the extent required by law, in all board actions; (ii) describe the board's obligations under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (§ 2.2-3700 et seq.), as set forth in subdivision B 10 of § 23.1-1301, including the requirements that (a) the board record minutes of each open meeting and post the minutes on the board's website, in accordance with subsection I of § 2.2-3707 and § 2.2-3707.1, (b) discussions and actions on any topic not specifically exempted by § 2.2-3711 be held in an open meeting, (c) the board give public notice of all meetings, in accordance with subsection D of § 2.2-3707, and (d) any action taken in a closed meeting be approved in an open meeting before it can have any force or effect, in accordance with subsection B of § 2.2-3711; and (iii) require that the board invite the Attorney General's appointee or representative to all meetings of the board, executive committee, and board committees;

2. Establish and maintain on the institution's website (i) a listing of all board members, including the name of the Governor who made each appointment and the date of each appointment; (ii) a listing of all committees created by the board and the membership of each committee; (iii) a schedule of all upcoming meetings of the full board and its committees and instructions for the public to access such meetings; (iv) an archive of agendas and supporting materials for each meeting of the governing board and its committees that was held; and (v) an email address or email addresses that allow board members to receive public communications pertaining to board business;

3. Establish regulations or institution policies for the acceptance and assistance of students that include provisions (i) that specify that individuals who have knowingly and willfully failed to meet the federal requirement to register for the selective service are not eligible to receive any state direct student assistance, (ii) that specify that the accreditation status of a public high school in the Commonwealth shall not be considered in making admissions determinations for students who have earned a diploma pursuant to the requirements established by the Board of Education, and (iii) relating to the admission of certain graduates of comprehensive community colleges as set forth in § 23.1-907;

4. Assist the Council in enforcing the provisions relating to eligibility for financial aid;

5. Notwithstanding any other provision of state law, establish policies and procedures requiring the notification of the parent of a dependent student when such student receives mental health treatment at the institution's student health or counseling center and such treatment becomes part of the student's educational record in accordance with the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (42 U.S.C. § 1320d et seq.) and may be disclosed without prior consent as authorized by the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (20 U.S.C. § 1232g) and related regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 99). Such notification shall only be required if it is determined that there exists a substantial likelihood that, as a result of mental illness the student will, in the near future, (i) cause serious physical harm to himself or others as evidenced by recent behavior or any other relevant information or (ii) suffer serious harm due to his lack of capacity to protect himself from harm or to provide for his basic human needs. However, notification may be withheld if any person licensed to diagnose and treat mental, emotional, or behavioral disorders by a health regulatory board within the Department of Health Professions who is treating the student has made a part of the student's record a written statement that, in the exercise of his professional judgment, the notification would be reasonably likely to cause substantial harm to the student or another person. No public institution of higher education or employee of a public institution of higher education making a disclosure pursuant to this subsection is civilly liable for any harm resulting from such disclosure unless such disclosure constitutes gross negligence or willful misconduct by the institution or its employees;

6. Establish policies and procedures requiring the release of the educational record of a dependent student, as defined by the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (20 U.S.C. § 1232g), to a parent at his request;

7. Establish programs to seek to ensure that all graduates have the technology skills necessary to compete in the twenty-first century and that all students matriculating in teacher-training programs receive instruction in the effective use of educational technology;

8. Establish policies for the discipline of students who participate in varsity intercollegiate athletics, including a provision requiring an annual report by the administration of the institution to the governing board regarding enforcement actions taken pursuant to such policies;

9. In addition to all meetings prescribed in Chapters 14 (§ 23.1-1400 et seq.) through 29 (§ 23.1-2900 et seq.), meet with the chief executive officer of the institution at least once annually, in a closed meeting pursuant to subdivision A 1 of § 2.2-3711 and deliver an evaluation of the chief executive officer's performance. Any change to the chief executive officer's employment contract during any such meeting or any other meeting of the board shall be made only by a vote of the majority of the board's members;

10. If human research, as defined in § 32.1-162.16, is conducted at the institution, adopt regulations pursuant to the Administrative Process Act (§ 2.2-4000 et seq.) to effectuate the provisions of Chapter 5.1 (§ 32.1-162.16 et seq.) of Title 32.1 for human research. Such regulations shall require the human research committee to submit to the Governor, the General Assembly, and the chief executive officer of the institution or his designee at least annually a report on the human research projects reviewed and approved by the committee and require the committee to report any significant deviations from approved proposals;

11. Submit and make publicly available on the institution's website the annual financial statements for the fiscal year ending the preceding June 30 and the accounts and status of any ongoing capital projects to the Auditor of Public Accounts for the audit of such statements pursuant to § 30-133;

12. No later than December 1 of each year, report to the Council and make publicly available on the institution's website (i) the value of investments as reflected on the Statement of Net Position as of June 30 of the previous fiscal year, excluding any funds derived from endowment donations, endowment income, or other private philanthropy; (ii) the cash earnings on such balances in the previous fiscal year; and (iii) the use of the cash earnings on such balances. In the event that the commitment of any such investment earnings spans more than one fiscal year, the report shall reflect the commitments made in each future fiscal year. The reports of the Boards of Visitors of Virginia Commonwealth University and the University of Virginia shall exclude the value of and earnings on any investments held by the Virginia Commonwealth University Health System Authority and the University of Virginia Medical Center, respectively. As used in this subdivision, "investments" includes all short-term, long-term, liquid, and illiquid Statement of Net Position accounts, and subaccounts thereof, in which moneys have been invested in securities;

13. Submit to the General Assembly and the Governor and make publicly available on the institution's website an annual executive summary of its interim activity and work no later than the first day of each regular session of the General Assembly. The executive summary shall be submitted as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents and reports and shall be posted on the General Assembly's website;

14. Make available to any interested party upon request a copy of the portion of the most recent report of the Uniform Crime Reporting Section of the Department of State Police entitled "Crime in Virginia" pertaining to institutions of higher education;

15. Adopt policies or institution regulations regarding the ownership, protection, assignment, and use of intellectual property and provide a copy of such policies or institution regulations to the Governor and the Joint Commission on Technology and Science. All employees, including student employees, of public institutions of higher education are bound by the intellectual property policies or institution regulations of the institution employing them;

16. Adopt policies that are supportive of the intellectual property rights of matriculated students who are not employed by such institution; and

17. Solicit the input of representatives of the institution's faculty senate or its equivalent (i) at least twice per academic year on topics of general interest to the faculty and (ii) in advance of decisions to be made on the search for the institution's new chief executive officer.

Code 1919, § 837, § 23-99; 1970, c. 197, § 23-9.2:3; 1972, c. 861, § 23-91.40; 1984, c. 734, § 23-1.01; 1985, cc. 146, 520; 1986, c. 358, § 23-4.3; 1987, c. 109; 1990, c. 646, § 23-9.1:1; 1992, cc. 603, 630, § 23-9.2:3.3; 1997, c. 827; 1998, cc. 39, 362, 483, 784; 2001, cc. 664, 673; 2004, cc. 176, 195, 650; 2005, cc. 633, 818; 2006, cc. 77, 121, 899; 2008, cc. 441, 495; 2012, cc. 448, 658, 716; 2013, c. 577, §§ 23-2.02, 23-2.03, 23-2.05; 2014, c. 557, § 23-2.5; 2016, cc. 441, 588; 2017, cc. 314, 320, 616; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 447; 2023, c. 536.

A. From such funds as are appropriated for such purpose, the Council shall develop, in consultation with public institutions of higher education and members of their governing boards, and annually deliver educational programs for the governing boards of such institutions. New members of such governing boards shall participate, at least once during their first two years of membership, in the programs, which shall be designed to address the role, duties, and responsibilities of the governing boards and may include in-service programs on current issues in higher education. In developing such programs, the Council may consider similar educational programs for institutional governing boards in other states. In addition, the Council shall develop educational materials for board members with more than two years of service on the governing board. Each such board member shall participate in further training on board governance at least once every two years, and the Council shall develop criteria by which such board members shall demonstrate compliance with this requirement.

B. Educational programs for the governing boards of public institutions of higher education shall include presentations relating to:

1. Board members' primary duty to the citizens of the Commonwealth;

2. Governing board committee structure and function;

3. The duties of the executive committee set forth in § 23.1-1306;

4. Professional accounting and reporting standards;

5. Methods for meeting the statutory, regulatory, and fiduciary obligations of the board;

6. The requirements of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (§ 2.2-3700 et seq.), developed and delivered in conjunction with the Freedom of Information Advisory Council;

7. Institutional ethics and conflicts of interest;

8. Creating and implementing regulations and institution policies;

9. Business operations, administration, budgeting, financing, financial reporting, and financial reserves, including a segment on endowment management;

10. Fixing student tuition, mandatory fees, and other necessary charges, including a review of student debt trends;

11. Overseeing planning, construction, maintenance, expansion, and renovation projects that affect the institution's consolidated infrastructure, physical facilities, and natural environment, including its lands, improvements, and capital equipment;

12. Workforce planning, strategy, and investment;

13. Institutional advancement, including philanthropic giving, fundraising initiatives, alumni programming, communications and media, government and public relations, and community affairs;

14. Student welfare issues, including academic studies; curriculum; residence life; student governance and activities; and the general physical and psychological well-being of undergraduate and graduate students;

15. Current national and state issues in higher education;

16. Future national and state issues in higher education;

17. Relations between the governing board and the chief executive officer of the institution, including perspectives from chief executive officers of public institutions of higher education;

18. Best practices for board governance, including perspectives from current board members; and

19. Any other topics that the Council, public institutions of higher education, and members of their governing boards deem necessary or appropriate.

C. The Council shall submit to the General Assembly and the Governor an annual executive summary of the interim activity and work of the Council pursuant to this section no later than the first day of each regular session of the General Assembly. The executive summary shall be submitted as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents and reports and shall be posted on the General Assembly's website.

1996, cc. 868, 992, § 23-9.14:1; 2013, c. 577; 2014, c. 644; 2016, c. 588; 2019, cc. 642, 643; 2020, cc. 155, 156.

The governing board of each public institution of higher education shall establish a policy for the acceptance of terms and conditions associated with any donation, gift, or other private philanthropic support. Each such policy shall include an administrative process for reviewing, accepting, and documenting terms and conditions associated with (i) gifts that direct academic decision-making and (ii) gifts of $1,000,000 or more that impose a new obligation on the institution of higher education, excluding gifts for scholarships or other financial aid. Each public institution of higher education shall retain documentation of such terms and conditions in compliance with the Virginia Public Records Act (§ 42.1-76 et seq.) and such documentation shall be subject to the provisions of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (§ 2.2-3700 et seq.).

2020, c. 691.

No governing board shall refer a student account to collections for nonpayment before such referral is required by the provisions of § 2.2-4806. This section shall not apply to public institutions of higher education that have entered into management agreements with the Commonwealth pursuant to the Restructured Higher Education Financial and Administrative Operations Act (§ 23.1-1000 et seq.).

1970, c. 197, § 23-9.2:3; 1985, c. 520; 1987, c. 109; 1992, c. 630; 1997, c. 827; 1998, cc. 39, 362, 483, 784; 2001, cc. 664, 673; 2005, c. 818; 2006, c. 121; 2008, cc. 441, 495; 2012, cc. 448, 658, 716; 2016, c. 588; 2017, c. 314.

The executive committee of the governing board of each public institution of higher education shall (i) organize the working processes of the board; (ii) recommend best practices for board governance; (iii) develop and recommend to the board a statement of governance setting out the board's role; (iv) periodically review the board's bylaws and recommend amendments; (v) provide advice to the board on committee structure, appointments, and meetings; (vi) develop an orientation and continuing education process for board members that includes training on the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (§ 2.2-3700 et seq.); (vii) create, monitor, oversee, and review compliance with a code of ethics for board members; and (viii) develop a set of qualifications and competencies for membership on the board for approval by the board and recommendation to the Governor.

2013, c. 577, § 23-2.04; 2016, c. 588.

Members of the governing board of each public institution of higher education shall be reimbursed for all reasonable and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties. Funding for the expenses of the members shall be provided by the institution.

Code 1919, §§ 814, 864, 988, §§ 23-3, 23-79, 23-122; 1924, p. 143; 1970, c. 98; 2016, c. 588.

A. No employee of a public institution of higher education shall demand or receive any payment, loan, subscription, advance, deposit of money, services, or anything, present or promised, as an inducement for requiring students to purchase a specific textbook required for coursework or instruction. However, such employee may receive (i) sample copies, instructor's copies, or instructional material not to be sold and (ii) royalties or other compensation from sales of textbooks that include such instructor's own writing or work.

B. The governing board of each public institution of higher education shall implement procedures for making available to students in a central location and in a standard format on the relevant institutional website listings of textbooks required or assigned for particular courses at the institution. The lists of those required or assigned textbooks for each particular course shall include the International Standard Book Number (ISBN) along with other relevant information.

C. Public institutions of higher education maintaining a bookstore supported by auxiliary services or operated by a private contractor shall post the listing of such textbooks when the relevant instructor or academic department identifies the required textbooks for order and subsequent student purchase.

D. The governing board of each public institution of higher education shall implement policies, procedures, and guidelines that encourage efforts to minimize the cost of textbooks for students while maintaining the quality of education and academic freedom. The guidelines shall ensure that:

1. Faculty textbook adoptions are made with sufficient lead time to university-managed or contract-managed bookstores so as to confirm availability of the requested materials and, when possible, ensure maximum availability of used textbooks;

2. In the textbook adoption process, the intent to use all items ordered, particularly each individual item sold as part of a bundled package, is affirmatively confirmed by the faculty member before the adoption is finalized. If the faculty member does not intend to use each item in the bundled package, he shall notify the bookstore, and the bookstore shall order the individualized items when their procurement is cost effective for both the institution and students and such items are made available by the publisher;

3. Faculty members affirmatively acknowledge the bookstore's quoted retail price of textbooks selected for use in each course;

4. Faculty members are encouraged to limit their use of new edition textbooks when previous editions do not significantly differ in a substantive way as determined by the appropriate faculty member; and

5. Provisions address the availability of required textbooks to students otherwise unable to afford the cost.

E. The governing board of each public institution of higher education shall implement guidelines for the adoption and use of low-cost and no-cost open educational resources in courses offered at such institution. Such guidelines may include provisions for low-cost commercially published materials.

F. The registrar or another appropriate employee of each public institution of higher education shall identify conspicuously in the online course catalogue or registration system, as soon as practicable after the necessary information becomes available, each course for which the instructor exclusively uses no-cost course materials or low-cost course materials.

G. No funds provided for financial aid from university bookstore revenue shall be counted in the calculation for state appropriations for student financial aid.

2005, c. 530, § 23-4.3:1; 2006, c. 561; 2016, c. 588; 2018, c. 752; 2019, c. 590.

A. As used in this section:

"Athletics revenue" means the total revenue received by an institution that is generated by any of the institution's intercollegiate athletics programs. "Athletics revenue" includes contributions; game guarantees; income received from endowments and investments; income received from the sale of food, game programs, novelties, and other concessions at an intercollegiate athletics contest; income received from intercollegiate athletics conferences for participation in bowl games, tournaments, and other intercollegiate athletics contests; income received from the provision of parking at intercollegiate athletics contests or other events associated with intercollegiate athletics; rights and licensing; school funds; student fees; support from third parties guaranteed by the institution, such as income received from athletics camps, income received from television, and housing allowances; and all other income from any other source generated by the institution's intercollegiate athletics programs.

"Contributions" means any income received directly from individuals, corporations, associations, foundations, clubs, or other donors for the operation of an institution's intercollegiate athletics programs. "Contributions" includes amounts paid in excess of the face value of an admissions ticket to an intercollegiate athletics contest or any other event associated with intercollegiate athletics; cash; marketable securities; income generated from preferential seating arrangements at intercollegiate athletics contests or other events associated with intercollegiate athletics; and in-kind contributions such as cars provided to an intercollegiate athletics program by car dealers at no cost and apparel and sports drink products provided to intercollegiate athletes and coaches at no cost.

"Generated revenue" means all athletics revenue with the exception of the subsidy.

"Institution" means a baccalaureate public institution of higher education.

"Intercollegiate athletics program" means any athletics program for a particular sport that is operated by an institution and governed by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).

"Rights and licensing" includes income from radio and television broadcasts; Internet and e-commerce rights resulting from institution-negotiated contracts; revenue-sharing agreements with the NCAA or an intercollegiate athletics conference; licensing; the sale of advertisements, trademarks, or royalties; corporate sponsorships; and the value of in-kind contributions of products and services provided to an intercollegiate athletics program at no cost as part of such corporate sponsorship, such as equipment, apparel, isotonic sports drinks, other sports drink products, or water.

"School funds" means the direct and indirect financial support provided by the institution to any of its intercollegiate athletics programs. "School funds" includes state funds, tuition, tuition waivers, federal work awards for student athletes, administrative costs, facilities and grounds maintenance, security, risk management, utilities, and depreciation and debt services.

"Student fees" means any fees assessed by an institution against a student that are used to support any of the institution's intercollegiate athletics programs.

"Subsidy" means the sum of school funds and student fees.

"Subsidy percentage" means the subsidy divided by the athletics revenue, provided that revenues allocated to (i) support spirit groups associated with any intercollegiate athletics program, (ii) meet any indirect cost policy requirements, or (iii) debt service for previously approved intercollegiate athletics capital outlay projects may be excluded from the subsidy for the purposes of such calculation.

"Ticket sales" means the sale of the right to gain admission to an intercollegiate athletics contest or any other event associated with intercollegiate athletics. "Ticket sales" includes sums received from any associated shipping and handling charges and includes sales to the public, faculty, and students. "Ticket sales" does not include (i) amounts paid in excess of the face value of an admissions ticket to an intercollegiate athletics contest or any other event associated with intercollegiate athletics such as preferential seating arrangements or (ii) pass-through sales transactions such as sales for admission tickets to bowl games and conference and national tournaments.

B. The Auditor of Public Accounts, in collaboration with the Council, State Comptroller, Department of Planning and Budget, and each institution, shall develop and implement a standardized reporting format for each institution to annually report its intercollegiate athletics revenue and expenses to the Auditor of Public Accounts that shall include treatment of student fees and classification of specific intercollegiate athletics programs and shall require expenses for spirit groups, indirect cost policy requirements, and debt service for previously approved intercollegiate athletics capital outlay projects and other intercollegiate athletics capital outlay projects to be reported on separate lines.

C. The subsidy percentage shall not exceed:

1. 20 percent for NCAA Division I-A institutions affiliated with the Atlantic Coast Conference, Big Ten Conference, Big 12 Conference, Pac-12 Conference, or Southeastern Conference;

2. 55 percent for NCAA Division I-A institutions affiliated with conferences other than the Atlantic Coast Conference, Big Ten Conference, Big 12 Conference, Pac-12 Conference, or Southeastern Conference;

3. 70 percent for NCAA Division I-AA institutions;

4. 78 percent for NCAA Division I-AAA institutions;

5. 81 percent for NCAA Division II institutions that operate intercollegiate football programs;

6. 85 percent for NCAA Division II institutions that do not operate intercollegiate football programs;

7. 89 percent for NCAA Division III institutions that operate intercollegiate football programs; and

8. 92 percent for NCAA Division III institutions that do not operate intercollegiate football programs.

D. Each fiscal year, any percentage increase in the subsidy at an institution that complies with subsection C shall be matched by a like percentage increase in generated revenue, except that each such institution shall utilize a rolling average of the change in generated revenue and student fees over the immediately preceding five years for the purposes of such calculation.

E. When necessary, each institution shall submit to the Governor and the General Assembly for approval a plan that reduces the subsidy in accordance with targets outlined in the plan over a five-year period until the subsidy percentage complies with the requirements of subsection C.

F. The Auditor of Public Accounts shall annually review each institution's progress towards meeting the requirements of each plan approved pursuant to subsection E as part of his annual audit pursuant to § 30-133.

G. Failure to meet the progress requirements of each plan approved pursuant to subsection E for one year, as determined by the Auditor of Public Accounts, shall result in such reduction of the financial and administrative operations authority granted to the institution pursuant to the Restructured Higher Education Financial and Administrative Operations Act (§ 23.1-1000 et seq.) as the Governor or General Assembly determines.

H. Failure to meet the progress requirements of each plan approved pursuant to subsection E for two consecutive years, as determined by the Auditor of Public Accounts, shall result in revocation of all financial and administrative operations authority granted to the institution pursuant to the Restructured Higher Education Financial and Administrative Operations Act (§ 23.1-1000 et seq.).

I. The board of visitors of any institution that seeks to add a major intercollegiate athletics program such as football or basketball or change the division level of any of its existing intercollegiate athletics programs shall first submit to the Intercollegiate Athletics Review Commission (Commission) established pursuant to Chapter 57 (§ 30-359 et seq.) of Title 30 a plan and recommendations for financing the addition or change. The institution shall not in any way undertake any such addition or agree or commit to any such change until it has received the findings and recommendations of the Commission pursuant to § 30-360. Any such addition or change is subject to the approval of the General Assembly expressed in the general appropriation act. The board of visitors of any institution that adds a non-major intercollegiate athletics program shall report such decision within 15 days of the board's action.

2015, c. 704, § 23-1.2; 2016, c. 588.

All real estate and personal property standing in the name of any predecessor institution of a baccalaureate public institution of higher education shall be transferred to, known and taken as standing in the name of, and controlled by the board of visitors of such public institution of higher education. All such real estate and personal property is the property of the Commonwealth.

Code 1919, § 936; 1960, c. 180, § 23-40; 1962, cc. 69, 610, § 23-49.13; 1964, cc. 50, 70, 97, 159, §§ 23-155.3, 23-164.2, 23-165.3, 23-184; 1966, c. 18; 1968, c. 532, § 23-174.3; 1972, cc. 550, 861, §§ 23-91.25, 23-91.35; 1974, c. 317; 1976, c. 21, § 23-49.24; 1977, cc. 168, 296, 319; 1992, c. 103; 1979, cc. 136, 145, 146, 147, 294; 2002, cc. 158, 257; 2004, cc. 176, 195; 2016, c. 588.