Authority: Title 23, Chapter 11, 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 from the general fund and $436,357 from nongeneral funds the first year and $869,882 from the general fund and $436,357 from nongeneral funds the second year for the educational telecommunications project to provide graduate engineering education, subject to a plan approved by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia.

C. Out of this appropriation, $161,761 from the general fund and $250,813 from nongeneral funds the first year and $161,761 from the general fund and $250,813 from nongeneral funds the second year is designated to support the Educational and General portion of the debt service for the coal-fired facility, as approved in Item D-6.1, Chapter 459, Acts of Assembly of 1991.

D. Out of this appropriation, $450,000 the first year and $450,000 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.

E. Out of this appropriation, $141,750 and one position the first year and $141,750 and one position the second year from the general fund is designated for the Virginia Center for Coal and Energy Research.

F. Out of this appropriation, $15,000 the first year and $15,000 the second year from the general fund is designated to support continuing education activities at the Reynolds Homestead.

G. Out of this appropriation, $84,375 the first year and $84,375 the second year from the general fund is designated to support the research activities of the Virginia Water Resources Center.

H. Out of this appropriation, $337,013 the first year and $337,013 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.

I. 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.

J. 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.