Authority: §§ 23-9.3, 23-9.6:1, 23-20, 23-38.13.

A. 1. It is the intent of the General Assembly to provide general fund support to contract at a level equivalent to the Tuition Assistance Grant undergraduate award with Mary Baldwin College for Virginia women resident students to participate in the Virginia Women's Institute for Leadership at Mary Baldwin College.

2. The amounts included in this Item are $307,899 from the general fund the first year and $307,899 the second year from the general fund for the programmatic administration of this program.

3. General fund appropriations provided under this contract include financial incentive for the participating students at Mary Baldwin College in the Virginia Women's Institute for Leadership Program. Students receiving this financial incentive will not be eligible for Tuition Assistance Grants.

4. By September 1 of each year, Mary Baldwin College shall report to the Chairmen of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees, the Director, State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, and the Director, Department of Planning and Budget, on the number of students participating in the Virginia Women's Leadership Program, the number of in-state and out-of-state students receiving awards, the amount of the awards, the number of students graduating, and the number of students receiving commissions in the military.

B. In discharging the responsibilities specified in § 23-272 D, Code of Virginia, the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia shall provide exemptions to individual proprietorships, associations, co-partnerships or corporations which are now or in the future will be using the words "college" or "university" in their training programs solely for their employees or customers, which do not offer degree-granting programs, and whose name includes the word "college" or "university" in a context from which it clearly appears that such entity is not an educational institution.

C. Out of the appropriation for Higher Education Coordination and Review, $8,254,013 the first year and $8,315,064 the second year from the general fund is provided for continuation of the Virtual Library of Virginia. Funding for the Virtual Library of Virginia is provided for the benefit of students and faculty at the Commonwealth's public institutions of higher education and participating nonprofit, independent private colleges and universities. Out of this amount, $396,785 the first year and $396,785 the second year is earmarked to allow the participation of nonprofit, independent private colleges and universities.

D. Out of this appropriation, $950,366 and eight positions the first year and $950,366 and eight positions the second year from nongeneral funds is provided to support higher education coordination and review services, including expenses incurred in the regulation and oversight of the private and out-of-state postsecondary institutions and proprietary schools operating in Virginia. These funds will be generated through fee schedules developed pursuant to § 23-276.9, Code of Virginia. Out of this amount, $190,000 the first year and $190,000 the second year from nongeneral funds is designated to administration of the Student Tuition Guarantee Fund.

E. The State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, in consultation with the House Appropriations Committee, the Senate Finance Committee, the Department of General Services, and the Department of Planning and Budget, shall develop a six-year capital outlay plan for higher education institutions including affiliated entities. As a part of this plan SCHEV shall consider (i) current funding mechanisms for capital projects and improvements at the Commonwealth's institutions of higher education, including general obligation bonds and other viable funding methods; (ii) mechanisms to assist private institutions of higher education in the Commonwealth with their capital needs.

F. The Executive Director, State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, may appoint an advisory committee to assist the council with technology-enriched learning initiatives. The advisory committee may assist the council in (i) developing innovative, cost-effective, technology-enriched teaching and learning initiatives, including distance and distributed learning initiatives; (ii) improving cooperation among and between the public and private institutions of higher education in the Commonwealth; (iii) improving efficiency and expand the availability of technology-enriched courses; and (iv) facilitating the sharing of research and experience to improve student learning.

G. The State Council of Higher Education for Virginia shall include Eastern Virginia Medical School in any calculations used to determine the funding requirements for state medical schools.

H. In addition to the reviews conducted under §§ 23-9.6:1.01 and 23-38.87:17, Code of Virginia, the State Council of Higher Education shall evaluate the progress of individual initiatives funded in this Act as part of the incentive funding provided to colleges and universities with regard to improvements in retention, graduation, degree production and other criteria the Council deems appropriate.

I. Out of this appropriation, $160,295 the first year and $160,295 the second year from the general fund is designated to support research and analysis and the enhancement of consumer information regarding higher education.

J. Out of this appropriation, $300,000 the first year and $300,000 the second year from the general fund is designated to support initiatives related to the statewide plan for higher education and to help implement the recommendations of the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission's series of higher education reports.

K. 1. Out of this appropriation, $100,000 the first year from the general fund is designated to design a pilot program to create a regional center for the investigation of incidents of sexual and gender-based violence similar to the multi-disciplinary approach used in child advocacy centers. The pilot program shall include a partnership between higher education, law enforcement, and state government where criminal incidents of sexual and gender-based violence could be reported directly to the center for independent and neutral investigation. The center would be staffed with trauma-informed investigators who would coordinate with both colleges and universities and law enforcement to carry out the investigative responsibilities outlined by Title IX and the Violence Against Women Act. The program design shall include start-up and operational costs, staffing needs, sample memorandum of understanding between higher education institutions, law enforcement and Commonwealth's attorneys' offices, any legislative requirements, and a model for long-term shared financial support. The center's scope would apply only to allegations of criminal behavior.

2. The State Council shall communicate the pilot design to the Secretaries of Education and Public Safety and Homeland Security and to the Chairs of the House Appropriations and Education and Senate Finance and Education and Health Committees by August 1, 2017.

L. Out of this appropriation, $1,300,000 the first year and three positions and $1,300,000 the second year and three positions from the general fund is designated to offset expiring federal funds and enhance the Virginia Longitudinal Data System.

M. Out of this appropriation, $30,000 the first year from the general fund is designated for initiatives that reduce the cost of a degree for students. The funds shall be awarded on a competitive basis to institutions that submit plans for degree programs that feature open educational resources and low or no costs for textbooks. The State Council of Higher Education for Virginia will develop criteria for eligibility, including the types of degree programs that should be targeted, timeline for implementation, and any requirements related to the institutional process for developing such programs.

N. Out of this appropriation, $50,000 the first year from the general fund is designated for initiatives that utilize technology to more efficiently provide student learning opportunities and enhance student success. The funds shall be awarded on a competitive basis to institutions that submit plans for the development of innovative technology-enhanced introductory courses that expand learning opportunities, reduce course costs, and free up faculty to teach upper level courses. The State Council of Higher Education for Virginia will develop criteria for eligibility, including the types of courses that should be targeted, timeline for implementation, and any requirements related to the institutional process for developing such courses. Proposals that involve collaboration among all faculty within an academic department will receive preference.

O. Out of this appropriation, $2,500,000 the first year and $2,500,000 the second year from the general fund is designated for an innovation fund to stimulate collaboration among public school divisions, community colleges, and universities to create and expand affordable student pathways. Grants will be awarded on a competitive basis, with eligibility criteria determined by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia.

P. Out of this appropriation, $562,000 the first year and three positions and $562,000 the second year and three positions from the general fund and $426,000 the first year and $329,000 the second year from nongeneral funds is designated to hire staff to establish the Commonwealth Advanced Data Analytics Alliance (CADAA). The mission of the Alliance is to create a conducive environment for teaching, innovation, research and job creation surrounding data analytics in Virginia.

Q. Out of this appropriation, $1,000,000 the first year and $1,000,000 the second year from the general fund is designated to support the expansion of the number of public four-year higher education institutions receiving one of several federal designations for cyber security centers of excellence. The State Council of Higher Education for Virginia will develop criteria for eligibility under this program, with a requirement for matching funds from any institution receiving funding.

R. Out of this appropriation, $250,000 and three positions the first year and $300,000 and three positions the second year from the general fund is designated to assist the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia in addressing the responsibilities placed on the agency.