Authority: Title 23.1, Chapter 22, Article 2, 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. The software engineering curriculum being established to insure success of recent economic development projects in Southwest Virginia, shall be considered on its merits by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia and shall not be dependent on funding by the Commonwealth.

C. 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.

D. Out of this appropriation, $233,358 the first year and $233,358 the second year from the general fund and $138,577 the first year and $138,577 the second year from nongeneral funds are designated to facilitate the technical training programs for the Northrop Grumman state backup data center.

E. Out of this appropriation, $720,880 the first year and $715,580 the second year from the general fund is designated to support debt service costs under the Master Equipment Lease Program (MELP) to upgrade the university's information technology network and security systems. In addition to these amounts, $172,000 the first year and $116,489 the second year from the general fund is designated to support training and software costs.

F. Out of this appropriation, $1,750,000 the second year from the general fund is designated to enhance academic programs at the College.

G. 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 the University of Virginia and the Commonwealth, as set forth in Chapters 933 and 943, of the 2006 Acts of Assembly.

H. The Director, Department of Planning and Budget is authorized, upon request of the Chancellor, University of Virginia's College at Wise, to move up to $2,000,000 of general fund appropriation from the second year to the first year.

I. The University of Virginia's College at Wise, Norfolk State University, and Virginia State University, shall develop a framework and funding recommendations associated with enhancing access to undergraduate education for students with high financial needs. The institutions shall submit a single report on their findings and recommendations by September 1, 2019, to the Secretary of Finance, Secretary of Education, Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, the Chairmen of the Senate Finance Committee, and the Director, Department of Planning and Budget.