Authority: Title 2323.1, Chapter 1629, 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. It is the objective of the Commonwealth that a standard of 70 percent full-time faculty be established for the Virginia Community College System. Consistent with higher education funding guidelines, it is expected that the Virginia Community College System will utilize the funds provided for base operating support to achieve this objective. In addition, the first priority for new funding provided to the community college system shall be for operating support at individual community colleges. Thirty days prior to the beginning of each fiscal year, the Virginia Community College System shall report to the Chairmen of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees on the allocation of all new general funds and nongeneral funds in this item and any cost recovery plans between the individual community colleges and the system office.

C. It is the intent of the General Assembly that funds available to the Virginia Community College System be reallocated to accommodate changes in enrollment and other cost factors at each of the community colleges.

D. Tuition and fee revenues from out-of-state students taking distance education courses through the Virginia Community College System must exceed all direct and indirect costs of providing instruction to those students. Tuition and fee rates to meet this requirement shall be established by the State Board for Community Colleges.

E. Out of this appropriation, amounts for the following special programs are designated: at J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College, the Program for the Deaf, $64,547 and four positions the first year and $64,547 and four positions the second year from the general fund and the Program for the Intellectually Disabled, $91,004 and four positions the first year and $91,004 and four positions the second year from the general fund; and, at New River Community College, the Program for the Deaf, $78,328 and four positions the first year and $78,328 and four positions the second year from the general fund, and the Program for the Intellectually Disabled, $69,682 and 4.5 positions the first year and $69,682 and 4.5 positions the second year from the general fund; and, at Danville Community College, the Program for the Deaf, $26,001 and one position the first year and $26,001 and one position the second year from the general fund.

F. Out of this appropriation, $39,001 the first year and $39,001 the second year from the general fund is designated to support the Southwest Virginia Telecommunications Network.

G. Out of this appropriation, $261,370 and four positions the first year and $261,370 and four positions the second year from the general fund is provided to support Virginia Western Community College's participation in the Roanoke Higher Education Center and the Botetourt County Education and Training Center at Greenfield.

H. Out of this appropriation, $130,005 the first year and $130,005 the second year from the general fund is designated to support the Southwestern Virginia Advanced Manufacturing Technology Center at Wytheville Community College.

I.1. Out of this appropriation, $345,000 the first year and $345,000 the second year from the general fund is provided for the annual lease or rental costs of space in the Botetourt County Education and Training Center at Greenfield.

2. The general fund amounts provided for in this paragraph for workforce training, retraining, programming, and community education facilities at the Botetourt County Education and Training Center shall be matched by local or private sources in a ratio of two-thirds state funds to at least one-third local or private funds, as approved by the State Board for Community Colleges.

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, $191,884 the first year and $191,884 the second year from the general fund shall be provided to Northern Virginia Community College to support public-private sector partnerships in order to maximize the number of newly licensed nurses and increase the supply of nursing faculty.

L. Out of this appropriation, $489,000 the first year and $489,000 the second year from the general fund is designated for Northern Virginia Community College to implement the SySTEMic Solutions initiative which will enable expansion of dual enrollment courses with a STEM focus in all Northern Virginia school districts; opportunities to earn industry-aligned certifications; professional development opportunities for STEM teachers; part-time employment and internship opportunities for students in STEM programs; hands-on SOL-based science lessons at the elementary level with industry input and support; and collaborative robotics programs between the community college and K-12 schools. It is expected that an equal amount of private funds will be generated as a match for the state support.

M. It is the intent of the General Assembly that 100 percent of the general funds contained in this amendment be allocated to the individual community colleges. As required in paragraph B of this item, the Virginia Community College System shall report to the Chairmen of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees by July 1 of each year, on the allocation of these funds, as well as the allocation of all general and nongeneral funds contained in this item by individual community colleges for fiscal years 2017 and 2018.

N. Out of this appropriation, $19,560 the first year and $19,560 the second year from the general fund shall be provided to Southside Virginia Community College. Out of this amount, $7,824 each year from the general fund shall be provided to the Estes Community Center in Chase City, $7,824 each year from the general fund shall be provided to the Lake Country Advanced Knowledge Center in South Hill, and $3,912 the first year and $3,912 the second year from the general fund shall be provided to the Clarksville Enrichment Complex.

O. Out of this appropriation, $115,130 the first year and $115,130 the second year from the general fund is provided for the Mecklenburg County Job Retraining Center.

P. Out of this appropriation, $255,000 the first year and $255,000 the second year from the general fund and $163,000 the first year and $163,000 the second year from nongeneral funds is designated for the operation of the Amherst Center of Central Virginia Community College. Central Virginia Community College shall report annually to the Chairmen of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees on the number of students enrolled, the programs provided with number of students served and the number of degrees and certificates awarded by program.

Q. Out of this appropriation, $200,000 each year from the general fund is designated for Lord Fairfax Community College. Of this amount $100,000 each year is designated to expand the career and technical education programs at the Middletown Campus and $100,000 each year is designated for workforce training programs at the Fauquier Campus. The programs will be designed in collaboration with regional employers and high schools.

R. Out of this appropriation, $1,100,000 and seven positions the first year and $1,100,000 and seven positions the second year from the general fund is designated for the establishment of a veterans resource center on the campus of each of the seven comprehensive community colleges with the highest number of enrolled students who are veterans to provide access to federal and state veterans resources, to serve as a quiet place for veterans to study, to enable veterans to connect to other veterans, to help veterans renew the bonds of military service, and to be the central hub for all activities on campus related to veterans. The Virginia Community College System, in consultation with the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, shall determine, no later than August 1, 2016, the seven comprehensive community colleges with the highest number of enrolled students who are veterans.

S. Out of this appropriation, $250,000 and nine positions the first year and $250,000 and nine positions the second year from the general fund is designated to support the Rural Horseshoe Initiative.

T. Out of this appropriation, $6,249,681 the first year and $9,115,967 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.

U. Pursuant to § 4-1.02 d. 6.a) of this act and notwithstanding any other provision of law, appropriation reductions in the amount of $19,716,711 in the second year from the general fund for the Virginia Community College System 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.