Authority: Title 23, Chapter 5, 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. 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.

C. 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 College of William and Mary and the Commonwealth, as set forth in Chapters 933 and 943 of the 2006 Acts of Assembly.

D. Out of this appropriation, $193,080 the first year and $193,080 the second year from the general fund is designated to continue the increase in access for in-state undergraduate students begun in the 2011 Session.

E. Out of this appropriation, $200,000 the first year from the general fund is designated to support the planning and activities related to a potential merger or partnership with the Eastern Virginia Medical School.  On or before June 30, 2015, the College of William and Mary shall submit a status report to the Governor and Chairmen of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees regarding the feasibility of collaborations and development of new activities and programs resulting from such an effort.

F. Based on the final strategies implemented by the institution to meet its budget reductions required by Chapter 3, 2014 Special Session 1, the institution can adjust any of the amounts embedded in language under this Item to be consistent with those reduction strategies.