Authority: College Scholarship Assistance Program: Title 23, Chapter 4.4, Code of Virginia; Tuition Assistance Grant Program: Title 23, Chapter 4.1, Code of Virginia, Regional Grants and Contracts: Discretionary Inclusion; Undergraduate and Graduate Assistance: Discretionary Inclusion; § 23-38.19:1; § 23-31.1; and § 23-7.4:1.

A. Appropriations in this Item are subject to the conditions specified in paragraphs B, C, D, E, F and G hereof.

B. Those private institutions which participate in the programs provided by the appropriations in this Item shall, upon request by the State Council of Higher Education, submit financial and other information which the Council deems appropriate.

C.1. Out of the amounts for Scholarships the following sums shall be made available for:

a.1) College Scholarship Assistance Program, $4,413,750 from the general fund and $1,718,972 in federal funds the first year and $4,413,750 from the general fund and $1,718,972 in federal funds the second year.

2) Any general fund amounts designated for the College Scholarship Assistance Program not required for federal maintenance of effort dollars shall be used for Virginia's discretionary financial aid program.  Allocations of the discretionary financial aid funds shall be based on the need-based model approved by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia.

b. Tuition Assistance Grant Program, $60,025,933 the first year and $60,131,933 $58,031,933 the second year from the general fund is designated for full-time undergraduate and graduate students.

c. Virginia Space Grant Consortium Scholarships, $170,000 the first year and $170,000 the second year from the general fund.

d. Optometry scholarships, $26,640 the first year, and $26,640 the second year from the general fund.  The State Council of Higher Education shall determine if the number of contract slots with schools and colleges of optometry meets the State's optometric needs.  Additionally, the State Council of Higher Education shall determine the cost effectiveness and benefits of contracting directly with schools and colleges of optometry for slots for Virginia students rather than contracting through the Southern Regional Educational Board.

2. No amount, or part of an amount, listed for any program specified in paragraph C 1 above shall be expended for any other program in this appropriation except for the amounts identified in C 1 a2).

D. College Scholarship Assistance Program payments to students out of this appropriation shall not exceed $5,000 each year per undergraduate and graduate student.

E. Tuition Assistance Grant Program

1. Payments to students out of this appropriation shall not exceed $3,200 for qualified undergraduate students and $2,200 for qualified graduate and medical students attending not-for-profit, independent institutions in accordance with §§ 23-38.12 through 23-38.19, Code of Virginia.

2. Any appropriations in the Tuition Assistance Grant Program which are unexpended at the close of business on June 30, 2008, and June 30, 2009, shall be reappropriated for use in the program in the following year.

3. The private institutions which participate in this program shall, during the spring semester previous to the commencement of a new academic year or as soon as a student is admitted for that year, whichever is later, notify their enrolled and newly admitted Virginia students about the availability of tuition assistance awards under the program.  The information provided to students and their parents must include information about the eligibility requirements, the application procedures, and the fact that the amount of the award is an estimate and is not guaranteed.  The number of students applying for participation and the funds appropriated for the program determine the amount of the award.  Conditions for reduction of award amount and award eligibility are described in this Item and in the regulations issued by the State Council of Higher Education.  The institutions shall certify to the Council that such notification has been completed and shall indicate the method by which it was carried out.

4. Institutions participating in this program must submit annually to the Council copies of audited financial statements.

5. To be eligible for a fall or full-year award out of this appropriation, a student's application must have been received by a participating independent college or by the State Council of Higher Education by July 31.  Returning students who received the award in the previous year will be prioritized with the July 31 award.  Applications for a fall or full-year award received after July 31 but no later than September 14 will be held for consideration if funds are available after July 31 and returning student awards have been made.  Applications for spring semester only awards must be received by December 1 and will be considered only if funds remain available.

6. Students at the Virginia Women's Institute for Leadership at Mary Baldwin College are not eligible for Tuition Assistance Grants.

7. No limitations shall be placed on the award of Tuition Assistance Grants other than those set forth herein or in the Code of Virginia.

8. All eligible institutions not previously approved by the State Council of Higher Education to participate in the Tuition Assistance Grant Program shall have received accreditation by a nationally recognized regional accrediting agency, prior to participation in the program or by the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation of the American Osteopathic Association in the case of freestanding institutions of higher education that offer the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) as the sole degree program.

9. Payments to undergraduate students shall be greater than payments to graduate and medical students and shall be based on a differential established by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia.

10. The Tuition Assistance Program is reduced by $2,100,000 from the general fund the second year to begin a phase out of the awards for graduate students.  Beginning  July 1, 2009, no new awards shall be provided to new graduate students.  The State Council of Higher Education for Virginia shall track the remaining graduate students and will stop making any graduate student awards once the last student completes their program.  The State Council of Higher Education for Virginia shall notify the Department of Planning and Budget when this occurs.     

F.1. Regional Grants and Contracts: Out of this appropriation, $170,000 the first year and $170,000 the second year from the general fund is designated to support Virginia's participation in the Southern Regional Education Board initiative to increase the number of minority doctoral graduates.

2. The amounts listed in paragraph 1 shall be expended in accordance with the agreements between the Commonwealth of Virginia and the Southern Regional Education Board. 

G.1. Out of this appropriation, $1,000,000 the first year and $1,000,000 the second year from the general fund is designated for the Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents program, § 23-7.4:1, Code of Virginia, to provide up to a $1,500 annual stipend to offset the costs of room, board, books and supplies for qualified survivors and dependents of military service members.

2. The amount of the stipend is an estimate depending on the number of students eligible under § 23-7.4:1, Code of Virginia.  Changes that increase or decrease the grant amount shall be determined by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia.

3. The Director, State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, shall allocate these funds to public institutions of higher education on behalf of students qualifying under this provision.

4. Each institution of higher education shall report the number of recipients for this program to the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia by April 1 of each year.  The State Council of Higher Education for Virginia shall report this information to the Chairmen of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees by May 15 of each year.

5. The Department of Veterans Services shall consult with the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia prior to the dissemination of any information related to the financial benefits provided under this program.

6. Any appropriations in the Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Fund which are unexpended at the close of business on June 30, 2008, and June 30, 2009, shall be reappropriated for use in the program in the following year.