Authority: Title 23, Chapter 11, Code ofVirginia.

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.  The participating institutions and centers shall jointly submit an annual report and operating plan to the State Council of Higher Education for Virginiain support of these funded activities.

C. Out of this appropriation, $128,903 the first year and $128,903 the second year from the general fund and $250,813 the first year and $250,813 the second year from nongeneral funds are 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, $358,594 the first year and $358,594 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, $112,956 and one position the first year and $112,956 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, $11,953 the first year and $11,953 the second year from the general fund is designated to support continuing education activities at the Reynolds Homestead.

G. Out of this appropriation, $67,236 the first year and $67,236 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, $268,557 the first year and $268,557 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.

K. Out of this appropriation, $5,108,229 the first year and $5,108,229 the second year from the general fund is to support the institution's approved six-year plan, consistent with the objectives of the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2011.

L. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University shall reallocate the equivalent of three percent the first year and the equivalent of five percent the second year of its FY 2012 educational and general fund appropriation, to programs and strategies that serve to advance the objectives of the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2011.  The amounts to be reallocated for this purpose, estimated at $4,847,100 the first year and $8,080,252 the second year, shall remain unallotted until Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University submits a plan for the use of the funding and receives approval from the Secretary of Education.  Specific programs and strategies for this reallocation shall be identified and progress toward achievement of these objectives shall be documented within the institution's six-year plan submission prior to the release of these funds.