Authority: Title 2323.1, Chapter 6.123, Code of Virginia.

A. This Item includes general and nongeneral fund appropriations to support institutional initiatives that help meet statewide goals described in the Restructured Higher Education Financial and Administrative Operations Act of 2005 (Chapters 933 and 945, 2005 Acts of Assembly).

B.1. Out of this appropriation, $4,336,607 the first year and $4,336,607 the second year from the general fund is provided for the operation of the Family Practice Residency Program and Family Practice medical student programs. This appropriation for Family Practice programs, whether ultimately implemented by contract, agreement or other means, is considered to be a grant.

2. The university shall report by July 1 annually to the Department of Planning and Budget an operating plan for the Family Practice Residency Program.

3. The university, in cooperation with the University of Virginia, shall establish elective Family Practice Medicine experiences in Southwest Virginia for both students and residents.

4. In the event the Governor imposes across-the-board general fund reductions, pursuant to his executive authority in § 4-1.02 of this act, the general fund appropriation for the Family Practice programs shall be exempt from any reductions, provided the general fund appropriation for the family practice program is excluded from the total general fund appropriation for Virginia Commonwealth University for purposes of determining the University's portion of the statewide general fund reduction requirement.

C. Out of this appropriation, an amount estimated at $332,140 the first year and $332,140 the second year from the general fund and $168,533 the first year and $168,533 the second year from nongeneral funds are designated for the educational telecommunications project to provide graduate engineering education. For supplemental budget requests, the participating institutions and centers jointly shall submit a report in support of such requests to the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia for review and recommendation to the Governor and General Assembly.

D.1. Out of this appropriation, not less than $386,685 the first year and not less than $386,685 the second year from the general fund is designated for the Virginia Center on Aging. This includes $319,750 the first year and $319,750 the second year for the Alzheimer's and Related Diseases Research Award Fund.

2. Out of this appropriation, $253,244 the first year and $253,244 the second year from the general fund and $356,250 the first year and $356,250 the second year from nongeneral funds are designated for the operation of the Virginia Geriatric Education Center and the Geriatric Academic Career Awards Program, both to be administered by the Virginia Center on Aging.

E. All costs for maintenance and operation of the physical plant of the School of Engineering, Phase I and future renovations, repairs, and improvements as they become necessary shall be financed from nongeneral funds.

F. Out of this appropriation, $300,000 the first year and $300,000 the second year from the general fund is designated for support of the Council on Economic Education.

G. Out of this appropriation, $32,753 the first year and $32,753 the second year from the general fund is designated for support of the Education Policy Institute.

H.1. Notwithstanding any other provisions of law, Virginia Commonwealth University is authorized to remit tuition and fees for merit scholarships for students of high academic achievement subject to the following limitations and restrictions:

2. The number of such scholarships annually awarded to undergraduate Virginia students shall not exceed 20 percent of the fall headcount enrollment of Virginia students in undergraduate studies in the institution from the preceding academic year. The total value of such merit scholarships annually awarded shall not exceed in any year the amount arrived at by multiplying the applicable figure for undergraduate tuition and required fees by 20 percent of the headcount enrollment of Virginia students in undergraduate studies in the institution for the fall semester from the preceding academic year.

3. The number of such scholarships annually awarded to undergraduate non-Virginia students shall not exceed 20 percent of the fall headcount enrollment of non-Virginia students in undergraduate studies in the institution from the preceding academic year. The total value of such merit scholarships annually awarded shall not exceed in any year the amount arrived at by multiplying the applicable figure for undergraduate tuition and required fees by 20 percent of the fall headcount enrollment of non-Virginia students in undergraduate studies in the institution during the preceding academic year.

4. A scholarship awarded under this program shall entitle the holder to receive an annual remission of an amount not to exceed the cost of tuition and required fees to be paid by the student.

I. Out of this appropriation, $252,595 the first year and $252,595 the second year from the general fund is provided for the Medical College of Virginia Palliative Care Partnership.

J. As Virginia's public colleges and universities approach full funding of the base adequacy guidelines and as the General Assembly strives to fully fund the general fund share of the base adequacy guidelines, these funds are provided with the intent that, in exercising their authority to set tuition and fees, the Board of Visitors shall take into consideration the impact of escalating college costs for Virginia students and families. In accordance with the cost-sharing goals set forth in § 4-2.01 b. of this act, the Board of Visitors is encouraged to limit increases on tuition and mandatory educational and general fees for in-state, undergraduate students to the extent possible.

K. Out of this appropriation, $500,000 the first year and $500,000 the second year from the general fund is designated for the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Pharmacy to support the Center for Compounding Practice and Research. The allocation will serve to support any costs associated with creating the Center including facility-related expenses as well as the purchase of the compounding equipment necessary for this state of the art teaching and research facility and will be leveraged as a matching gift with private funds. The Center will train Pharm.D. students to meet technical compounding demands, provide continuing education to registered pharmacists and conduct ongoing research on compounded medications.

L. The appropriation for the fund source Higher Education Operating in this Item shall be considered a sum sufficient appropriation, which is an estimate of the amount of revenues to be collected for the educational and general program under the terms of the management agreement between Virginia Commonwealth University and the Commonwealth, as set forth in Chapters 594 and 616, of the 2008 Acts of Assembly.

M. Out of this appropriation, $4,370,112 the first year and $6,374,371 the second year from the general fund is designated to support the goals of access, affordability, quality and increased degrees. Given the increased investment from the general fund during this biennium, it is the expression of the General Assembly that the institution seek to minimize tuition and fee increases for in-state undergraduate students. This language shall be in effect for the 2016-2018 biennium only. The Board of Visitors shall set the tuition rates for the institution, and forward their action to the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia within three business days of such action. The Council shall analyze the Board's actions and report such analysis to the Chairmen of House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees within three business days of receipt, at which point, the Board's action shall be final. The Director of the Council shall report the final Board actions to the Chairmen by August 1, 2016 and August 1, 2017.

N. Out of this appropriation, $25,000 the first year and $180,000 the second year from the general fund is designated to support a substance abuse fellowship program at the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine.

O. Out of this appropriation, $125,000 each year from the general fund is designated to support a partnership between Virginia Commonwealth University and the Virginia Repertory Theatre at the historic November Theatre (formally known as the Empire Theatre).

P. Out of this appropriation, $250,000 each year from the general fund is designated for the Commonwealth Center for Advanced Logistics to serve as state matching funds for industry research and membership fees.

Q. Out of this appropriation, $125,000 each year from the general fund is designated for the Commonwealth Center for Advanced Logistics to support the traffic optimization modeling and simulation project at the Port of Virginia to improve port operations.

R. Pursuant to § 4-1.02 d. 6.a) of this act and notwithstanding any other provision of law, appropriation reductions in the amount of $9,603,574 in the second year from the general fund for Virginia Commonwealth University specified in this Item may be distributed to programs within Educational and General Programs, grantees, or among programs other than Educational and General Programs, except Higher Education Student Financial Assistance.