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, $715,580 the first year from the general fund is designated to support debt service costs for the fifth payment of a five-year lease under the Master Equipment Lease Program (MELP) to upgrade the university's information technology network and security systems. In addition to these amounts, $116,489 the first year and $116,489 the second year from the general fund is designated to support training and software costs.
E. 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.
F. Out of this appropriation, $1,000,000 each year from the general fund is designated to support affordable access for in-state undergraduate students.
G. Notwithstanding § 23.1-203(3) of the Code of Virginia, the escalation of the University of Virginia's College at Wise (the College) to offer master's level degree programs is approved. Any new master's degree program proposed by the College shall be reviewed and approved or disapproved by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia consistent with the Council's duties per § 23.1-203(5) of the Code of Virginia.