Virginia Law

A. The board of visitors of Richard Bland College (the board) is a corporation under the name and style of "The Rector and Visitors of Richard Bland College" and has, in addition to its other powers, all the corporate powers given to corporations by the provisions of Title 13.1 except those powers that are confined to corporations created pursuant to Title 13.1. The board shall at all times be under the control of the General Assembly.

B. The institution shall be known as Richard Bland College (the College).

2025, c. 607.

The board shall consist of nine members appointed by the Governor.

2025, c. 607.

A. The board shall meet at the College at least once a year and at such other times as it determines. Special meetings of the board may be called by the rector or any three members. The secretary shall provide notice of any special meeting to each member.

B. A majority of members shall constitute a quorum.

C. At the first meeting after July 1 in every even-numbered year, the board shall elect from its membership a rector to preside at its meetings, a vice-rector to preside at its meetings in the absence of the rector, and a secretary to preside at its meetings in the absence of the rector and vice-rector.

D. The board may appoint a pro tempore officer to preside at its meetings in the absence of the rector, vice-rector, and secretary.

E. Vacancies in the offices of rector, vice-rector, and secretary may be filled by the board for the unexpired term.

F. At every regular annual meeting of the board, the board may appoint an executive committee for the transaction of business in the recess of the board, to serve for a period of one year or until the next regular annual meeting.

2025, c. 607.

A. The board shall (i) appoint all teachers and fix their salaries, (ii) provide for the employment of other personnel as required, and (iii) generally direct the affairs of the College.

B. The board may confer degrees and, subject to the provisions of § 23.1-303, approve new academic programs and discontinue academic programs offered by the College.

C. All property, property rights, duties, contracts, and agreements of the College are vested in the board. The board shall care for and preserve all property belonging to the College.

D. The board shall (i) make regulations and policies as it deems appropriate for the College; (ii) manage the funds of the College and approve the annual budget; (iii) appoint, remove, and define the responsibilities for the chief executive officer of the College; and (iv) fix the rates charged to students for tuition, mandatory fees, and other necessary charges.

2025, c. 607.

The board shall direct the development and focus of the College's curriculum on preparing students for academic and career success, including dual enrollment students, students seeking an associate degree, and students seeking job-relevant skills and credentials. In furtherance of such efforts, the board may:

1. Broker agreements between and among educational, industry, and nonprofit partners and establish collaborative, innovative partnership agreements with local school divisions, public and private institutions of higher education, economic development agencies, employers, philanthropic organizations, veterans organizations, public agencies, and such other partners as necessary to strengthen and streamline educational pathways from high school to work-based learning and associate, baccalaureate, and advanced degrees that prepare students, including nontraditional students, for continuing education and entry into high-demand fields in the Commonwealth, including careers in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and health care (STEM-H);

2. Pilot and implement innovative educational approaches and technologies and promote the development, delivery, and ongoing assessment of innovative, cost-effective degree programs and stackable credentials, including industry-recognized, competency-based credentials that are aligned with and responsive to the educational and workforce development needs of traditional and nontraditional students, including veterans and military personnel, and that advance the economic development needs of employers and industries throughout the Commonwealth; and

3. Identify and implement new strategies to support economic and community development in the Commonwealth and to expand opportunities for traditional and nontraditional students, including veterans and military personnel, to prepare for careers in high-demand fields.

2025, c. 607.