Authority: Title 23, Chapter 9.1, Code of Virginia.
A. This Item includes general and nongeneral fund appropriations to support institutional initiatives that help meet statewide goals as 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, an amount estimated at $289,614 from the general fund and $124,120 from nongeneral funds the first year and $289,614 from the general fund and $124,120 from nongeneral funds the second year is designated 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, $459,125 the first year and $459,125 the second year from the general fund is designated for the Institute for Conflict Analysis
D. Out of this appropriation, $810,000 the first year and $810,000 the second year from the general fund is designated for the George Mason University School of Law. This appropriation includes funding for the National Center for Technology and the Law within the School of Law, instructional programs within the proposed Juris Master program, and expansion of School of Law activities.
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. Out of this appropriation, $202,456 the second year from the general fund is provided to increase the average salary of nursing faculty by 10 percent, effective November 25, 2007. This additional funding will help to attract and retain nursing faculty that are needed to address a shortage of nurses in the Commonwealth.