Authority: Title 23 23.1, Chapter 1126, 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. Out of this appropriation shall be expended an amount estimated at $869,882 the first year and $869,882 the second year from the general fund and $436,357 the first year and $436,357 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.

C. Out of this appropriation, $301,219 the first year and $301,219 the second year from the general fund is designated to support the Marion duPont Scott Equine Center of the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine.

D. Out of this appropriation, $225,588 the first year and $225,588 the second year from the general fund is designated to support tobacco research for medicinal purposes and field tests at sites in Blackstone and Abingdon.

E. 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.

F. 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 Polytechnic Institute and State University and the Commonwealth, as set forth in Chapters 933 and 943, of the 2006 Acts of Assembly.

G. Out of this appropriation, $288,000 the first year and $288,000 the second year from the general fund is designated to develop a STEM Industry Internship program in partnership with the Virginia Space Grant Consortium, Virginia Regional Technology Councils and industry. The program will provide 75 undergraduate students across the Commonwealth an opportunity to centrally apply for real world work experience and provide Virginia's industries with access to qualified interns. Virginia Tech will partner with the Virginia Space Grant Consortium and work with Virginia's Regional Technology Councils who will serve as the program's conduit to industry, advertising the program and linking with interested industry partners.

H. The 4-VA, a public-private partnership among George Mason University, James Madison University, the University of Virginia, Virginia Tech, Old Dominion University, and CISCO Systems, Inc., utilizes emerging technologies to promote collaboration and resource sharing to increase access, reduce time to graduation and reduce unit cost while maintaining and enhancing quality. Instructional talent across the five institutions is leveraged in the delivery of programs in foreign languages, science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The 4-VA Management Board can expand this partnership to additional institutions as appropriate to meet the goals of the 4-VA initiative. It is expected that funding will be pooled by the management board as required to support continuing efforts of the 4-VA priorities and projects.

I. Out of this appropriation, $5,133,251 the first year and $7,487,508 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

J. Out of this appropriation, $2,000,000 the first year and $2,000,000 the second year from the general fund is designated to support a cyber range platform to be used for cyber security training by students in Virginia's public high schools, community colleges, and four-year institutions. Virginia Tech shall form a consortium among participating institutions, and shall serve as the coordinating entity for use of the platform. The consortium should initially include all Virginia public institutions with a certification of academic excellence from the federal government.

K. Pursuant to § 4-1.02 d. 6.a) of this act and notwithstanding any other provision of law, appropriation reductions in the amount of $8,588,385 in the second year from the general fund for Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State 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.