§ 23-214. Definitions.
As used in this chapter:
(a) "Comprehensive community college" means an institution of higher education which offers instruction in one or more of the following fields:
(1) Freshman and sophomore courses in arts and sciences acceptable for transfer in baccalaureate degree programs;
(2) Diversified technical curricula including programs leading to the associate degree;
(3) Career and technical education leading directly to employment;
(4) Courses in general and continuing education for adults in the above fields;
(5) Noncredit training and retraining courses and programs of varying lengths to meet the needs of business and industry in the Commonwealth.
(b) "State Board" or "Board" means the State Board for Community Colleges.
(c) "Local community college board" means the board established to act in an advisory capacity to the State Board and to perform such duties with respect to the operation of a single comprehensive community college as may be delegated to it by the State Board.
(d) "Career and technical education" means the training, or retraining, which is given in school classes (including field or laboratory work incidental thereto), under public supervision and control, exclusive of those career and technical education programs provided and administered by, or through, the public school system and is conducted as part of a program designed to fit individuals for gainful employment as semiskilled or skilled, workers or technicians in recognized occupations.
(e) "Area career and technical school" means a career or technical school used exclusively, or principally, for providing career and technical education to persons who have completed, or left, high school, or are recommended for transfer by the school last attended, and who are available for full-time study in preparation for entering the labor market, or for part-time study after entering the labor market.
(f) "System" means the Virginia Community College System.
§ 23-214.1. Meaning of statutory references to Department of Community Colleges.
Wherever the words "Virginia Community College System" are used in any law of this State, they shall mean the State Board for Community Colleges.
§ 23-215. Responsibilities of Board and System.
A. The State Board for Community Colleges heretofore established by law is continued. The Board shall be a corporation under the style of "the State Board for Community Colleges." The State Board shall be responsible, through the exercise of the powers and performance of the duties set forth in this chapter, for the establishment, control, and administration of a statewide system of publicly supported comprehensive community colleges which shall be known as the Virginia Community College System.
B. The Virginia Community College System shall be the state agency with primary responsibility for coordinating workforce training at the postsecondary to the associate degree level, exclusive of the career and technical education programs provided through and administered by the public school system. This responsibility shall not preclude other agencies from also providing such services as appropriate, but these activities shall be coordinated with the community colleges.
C. In addition to other responsibilities of the Virginia Community College System, the community colleges shall (i) maximize noncredit course offerings made available to business and industry at a time and place that meet current and projected workforce needs and minimize the cost of noncredit offerings to business and industry to the extent feasible, (ii) deal directly with employers in designing and offering courses to meet real, current, and projected workforce training needs, and (iii) maximize the availability and use of distance learning courses addressing workforce training needs. The Virginia Community College System shall report on actions taken to meet the requirements of this subsection in its annual report to the General Assembly on workforce development activities required by the appropriation act.
§ 23-216. Number, terms and eligibility of members of Board.
(a) The State Board shall consist of fifteen members appointed by the Governor subject to confirmation by the General Assembly if in session, and if not, at its next succeeding session. The first appointments shall be four members for one year, four members for two years, four members for three years and three members for four years, and thereafter all such appointments shall be made for terms of four years each, except that appointments to fill vacancies shall be for the unexpired terms. No person shall be eligible to serve more than two consecutive four-year terms, except that a member may be appointed to a term of less than four years immediately prior to or between the four-year terms. No person shall be eligible for reappointment following two consecutive four-year terms for two years thereafter. Members shall continue to discharge their duties after their terms have expired until their successors have been appointed and have qualified.
(b) The State Board shall be composed of persons selected from the Commonwealth at large. No officer, employee, or member of the governing board of any public institution of higher education, or of any school subject to the control of the State Board, or any member of the General Assembly, or any member of the State Board of Education, shall be eligible for appointment to the Board. All members of the Board shall be deemed members at large charged with the responsibility of serving the best interests of the whole Commonwealth. No member shall act as the representative of any particular region or of any particular institution of higher education.
§ 23-217. Chairman and vice-chairman of Board; oath of members; meetings; quorum; rules and regulations.
(a) The Board shall select a chairman from its membership, and under rules adopted by itself may elect one of its members as vice-chairman.
(b) ]Repealed.[
(c) Before entering upon the discharge of his duties, each member of the Board shall take an oath that he will faithfully and honestly execute the duties of his office during his continuance therein.
(d) The Board shall meet at least four times annually, and on call of the chairman when in his opinion additional meetings are expedient or necessary.
(e) Seven members of the Board shall constitute a quorum for all purposes.
(f) The main office of the Board shall be in the City of Richmond, Virginia.
(g) The Board is empowered to promulgate necessary rules and regulations for carrying out the purposes of this chapter.
§ 23-218. Plan for comprehensive community colleges; appropriations; tuition fees and charges; grants or contributions; apprenticeships.
A. The Board is authorized and directed to prepare and administer a plan providing standards and policies for the establishment, development and administration of comprehensive community colleges under its authority. It shall determine the need for comprehensive community colleges, develop a statewide plan for their location and a time schedule for their establishment. In the development of such plan, a principal objective shall be to provide and maintain a system of comprehensive community colleges through which appropriate educational opportunities and programs to accomplish the purposes set forth in subdivision (a) of § 23-214 shall be made available throughout the Commonwealth. In providing these offerings, the Board shall recognize the need for excellence in all curricula and shall endeavor to establish and maintain standards appropriate to the various purposes the respective programs are designed to serve.
B. The Board shall have the authority to control and expend funds appropriated by law, and to fix tuition fees and charges. The Board may exercise the powers conferred by Chapter 3 (§ 23-14 et seq.) of this title as any other educational institution as defined in § 23-14.
C. The Board shall be authorized, with the approval of the Governor, to accept from any government or governmental department or agency or any public or private body or from any other source, grants or contributions of money or property which the Board may use for or in aid of any of its purposes.
D. The Board shall establish policies to coordinate apprenticeship-related instruction delivered by state and local public education agencies. The Chancellor, with the approval of the State Board for Community Colleges, shall provide for the administration and supervision of related and supplemental instruction for apprentices.
§ 23-219. Diplomas, certificates and associate degrees.
The Board shall have the right to confer diplomas, certificates and associate degrees.
§ 23-220. Local community college boards.
The State Board shall establish policies providing for the creation of a local community college board for each institution established under this chapter and the procedures and regulations under which such local boards shall operate. A local community college board as defined in § 23-214 shall be established for each college. These boards shall assist in ascertaining educational needs, enlisting community involvement and support, and shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the State Board.
§ 23-220.01. Apprenticeship program for employees of ship manufacturing and ship repair companies; fund.
A. For purposes of this section:
"Apprenticeship program" means a three-year program combining educational instruction and on-the-job training that is established for the purpose of enhancing the education and skills of shipyard workers.
"College" means the Tidewater Community College.
"Industrial applied sciences" may include applied sciences such as welding, burning, blasting, and other applied sciences.
"Shipyard worker" means any employee employed full time on a salaried or wage basis, whose tenure is not restricted as to temporary or provisional appointment, at a ship manufacturing or ship repair company located in the Commonwealth.
B. Subject to the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia's authority to approve or disapprove all new academic programs as provided in subdivision 5 of § 23-9.6:1, the college may offer a three-year program of educational instruction that incorporates instruction in industrial applied sciences. An Associate in Applied Science Degree shall be conferred on any person successfully completing such academic program. The college may coordinate such academic program with an apprenticeship program offered to shipyard workers by their employers.
C. Beginning in the calendar year that the Council approves such academic program and for calendar years thereafter, shipyard workers who are (i) domiciled residents of Virginia as described in § 23-7.4 and (ii) enrolled as full- or part-time students in such academic program, shall be eligible for scholarships for such program. Renewal of the scholarships of such shipyard workers shall be contingent upon maintaining (a) enrollment in such academic program, (b) a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 on a scale of 4.0 or its equivalent at the completion of each academic year, and (c) full-time employment as a shipyard worker.
D. Before any scholarship is awarded in accordance with the provisions of this section, the scholarship recipient shall sign a promissory note under which he agrees (i) to continue full-time employment as a shipyard worker until his graduation and (ii) upon graduation, to work continuously as a shipyard worker for the same number of years that he was the beneficiary of such scholarship. The State Council may recover the total amount of funds awarded as a scholarship, or the appropriate portion thereof, including any accrued interest, if the scholarship recipient fails to honor such requirements.
E. There is hereby created the Virginia Vocational Incentive Scholarship Program for Shipyard Workers to provide scholarships to shipyard workers enrolled at the college in such academic program.
F. From such funds as are appropriated for this purpose and from such gifts, donations, grants, bequests, and other funds as may be received on its behalf, there is hereby created in the state treasury a special nonreverting fund to be known as the Virginia Vocational Incentive Scholarship Program for Shipyard Workers Fund, hereafter referred to as "the Fund." The Fund shall be established on the books of the Comptroller. Interest earned on moneys in the Fund shall remain in the Fund and be credited to it. Any moneys remaining in the Fund, including interest thereon, at the end of each fiscal year shall not revert to the general fund but shall remain in the Fund. Funds may be paid to the college on behalf of shipyard workers who have been awarded scholarships pursuant to subsection C. Funds may also be used for the administration and implementation of such academic program and/or the apprenticeship program.
Expenditures and disbursements from the Fund shall be made by the State Treasurer on warrants issued by the Comptroller upon written request signed by the Director of the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia.
G. The Council shall promulgate regulations for the implementation of the provisions of this section and shall award scholarships to eligible students for no more than three academic years. Scholarship amounts shall not exceed full tuition and required fees relating to such academic program.
§ 23-220.1. .
Expired.
§ 23-220.2. Incentive scholarships program; Board to administer; promulgation of regulations.
There is hereby created the Community College Incentive Scholarship Program to provide incentive scholarships to eligible students attending comprehensive community colleges in Virginia. Funds may be paid to any comprehensive community college on behalf of students who have been awarded such scholarships pursuant to § 23-220.4.
§ 23-220.3. Community College Incentive Scholarship Fund created.
A. From such funds as are appropriated for this purpose and from such gifts, donations, grants, bequests, and other funds as may be received on its behalf, there is hereby created in the state treasury a special nonreverting fund to be known as the Community College Incentive Scholarship Fund, hereafter referred to as "the Fund." The Fund shall be established on the books of the Comptroller. Interest earned on moneys in the Fund shall remain in the Fund and be credited to it. Any moneys remaining in the Fund, including interest thereon, at the end of each fiscal year shall not revert to the general fund but shall remain in the Fund. Funds may be paid to any comprehensive community college on behalf of students who have been awarded scholarships pursuant to § 23-220.4. The first such scholarships shall be awarded after July 1, 1998.
Expenditures and disbursements from the Fund shall be made by the State Treasurer on warrants issued by the Comptroller upon written request signed by the State Board for Community Colleges.
B. The Board shall promulgate regulations for the implementation of the provisions of this article and shall award scholarships to eligible students meeting the criteria established pursuant to § 23-220.4.
§ 23-220.4. Eligible students; criteria for award of scholarships.
A. Only students who (i) are domiciled residents of Virginia as defined by § 23-7.4, (ii) are enrolled as second-year students on a full-time basis in a designated technical training program at a comprehensive community college in Virginia, and (iii) have a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 on a scale of 4.0 or its equivalent upon the completion of one year as a full-time student at a comprehensive community college in Virginia shall be eligible to receive such scholarships.
B. The Board, in consultation with the Virginia Economic Development Partnership, shall designate those technical training programs for which scholarships may be awarded. The selected programs shall reflect current and projected workforce training needs in the Commonwealth.
C. Scholarships awarded pursuant to this article shall provide for the payment in full of tuition and fees for enrollment for one year as a full-time, second-year student.
§ 23-221. Adherence to policies of State Council of Higher Education; extension programs.
The State Board shall adhere to the policies of the State Council of Higher Education for the coordination of higher education as required by law.
In any area served by a comprehensive community college, no institution of higher learning which conducts extension programs shall, after July 1, 1966, offer courses of study similar to those offered by a comprehensive community college, except as authorized by the State Council of Higher Education. Whenever practicable, the State Board shall provide facilities to such institutions of higher learning for conducting extension programs not in conflict with the provisions of this chapter.
§ 23-221.1. .
Repealed by Acts 1980, c. 728.
§ 23-222. Transfer of facilities, assets and programs.
(a) Effective July 1, 1967, all physical facilities, assets and programs of instruction in the fields specified in subdivision (a) of § 23-214 of the following institutions shall be transferred to and placed under the control and administration of the State Board for Community Colleges.
Eastern Shore Branch of the School of General Studies of the University of Virginia,
Lynchburg Branch of the School of General Studies of the University of Virginia,
Patrick Henry College of the University of Virginia,
Clifton Forge-Covington Branch of the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University,
Roanoke Technical Institute of the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University,
Roanoke Center of the School of General Studies of the University of Virginia, and
Wytheville Branch of the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.
Provided, however, that no such transfer shall take place with respect to any individual institution specified in the next preceding paragraph until (1) the Advisory Committee on Community Colleges certifies to the State Board and the Governor that such individual institution has demonstrated the requirements necessary for accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and (2) the Governor signifies in writing his approval of such transfer. If such certification by the Advisory Committee is not made with respect to any individual institution prior to July 1, 1967, then certification shall only be made between July one and August one of any succeeding year, and such transfer shall take place, if the Governor signifies in writing his approval of such transfer, on July one next following the date on which such certification is made.
The college or university of which any individual institution is a part shall cooperate in obtaining certification for such institution. As soon as practicable, the State Board shall request individual accreditation of the institutions specified in this section by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
Notwithstanding any provision of this subsection or any other provision of this chapter, it is further provided that by agreement between the State Board and the governing body of the college or university of which any such individual institution is a part, and with the approval of the Governor, such transfer may take place prior to July 1, 1967, or any date subsequent thereto.
(b) Effective July 1, 1966, the physical facilities, assets and programs of existing technical colleges and all assets of the existing State Board and Department of Technical Education shall be transferred to and placed under the control and administration of the State Board for Community Colleges.
(c) Effective July 1, 1966, all educational programs for post-high school age youth and adults in existing area career and technical schools under the State Board of Education shall be transferred to and placed under the control and government of the State Board for Community Colleges.
(d) All the real estate and personal property now existing and heretofore ]before July 1, 1966[ standing in the name of institutions or boards included in subsections (a) and (b) of this section shall, on the dates set forth in such subsections, be transferred to and taken as standing in the name of the State Board for Community Colleges.
(e) In effecting the transfers specified in this section, the State Board for Community Colleges shall respect any existing financial investment of local communities in these institutions by establishing policies which will insure an equitable method of financing future developments.
§ 23-223. Chancellor of Community Colleges generally.
(a) A Chancellor of Community Colleges, hereinafter sometimes called the Chancellor, shall be appointed by the State Board for Community Colleges. Any vacancy shall be filled by the Board. The Chancellor shall be the chief executive officer of the System. The Chancellor shall, without additional compensation, serve as secretary to the State Board for Community Colleges.
(b) The salary of the Chancellor shall be fixed by the Board.
(c) Before entering upon the discharge of the duties of his office, the Chancellor shall qualify by taking and subscribing the oath required of all officers of the Commonwealth.
§ 23-224. Duties of Chancellor generally.
(a) It shall be the duty of the Chancellor of Community Colleges to formulate such rules and regulations, and provide for such assistance in his office as shall be necessary for the proper performance of the duties prescribed by the provisions of this chapter.
(b) The State Board shall prescribe the duties of the Chancellor, in addition to those duties otherwise prescribed for him by law, and, in its discretion, approve the appointment by the Chancellor of such agents and employees as may be needed by the Chancellor in the exercise of the functions, duties and powers conferred and imposed by law and in order to effect a proper organization to carry out his duties.
§ 23-225. Agents and employees generally.
The functions, duties, powers and titles of the agents and employees provided for in § 23-224, their salaries and remunerations, not in excess provided therefor by law, shall be fixed by the Chancellor with the approval of the State Board and subject to the provisions of Chapter 29 (§ 2.2-2900 et seq.) of Title 2.2.
§ 23-226. Bonds of agents and System employees.
Proper bonds shall be required of all agents and employees who shall handle any funds which may come into custody of the System. The premiums on the bonds shall be paid from funds appropriated by the Commonwealth for the administration of the provisions of this chapter.
§ 23-227. Annual report.
The Chancellor shall submit an annual report to the Governor and General Assembly on or before November 1 of each year. Such report shall contain, at a minimum, the annual financial statements for the year ending the preceding June 30 and the accounts and status of any ongoing capital projects.
§ 23-228. Forms.
The Chancellor shall prescribe the forms of applications, reports, affidavits and such other forms as shall be required in the administration of the chapter.
§ 23-229. Cooperation with federal agencies; federal grants-in-aid generally.
(a) Subject to the direction of the Board, the Chancellor shall cooperate with agencies of the United States in relation to matters set forth in this chapter, and in any reasonable manner that may be necessary for the Commonwealth to qualify for and to receive grants or aid from such federal agencies.
(b) Nothing in this chapter shall preclude any other agency, board or officer of the Commonwealth from being designated as the directing or allocating agency, board or officer for the distribution of federal grants-in-aid or the performance of other duties to the extent necessary to qualify for and to receive grants-in-aid for programs and institutions under the administration of the State Board for Community Colleges.
§ 23-230. Chancellor authorized to receive grants-in-aid and gifts; payment of funds into state treasury.
The Chancellor is authorized to receive, for and on behalf of the Commonwealth and its subdivisions, from the United States and agencies thereof, and from any and all other sources, grants-in-aid and gifts, made for the purpose of providing, or to assist in providing, any career and technical, or other, education or educational programs authorized by this chapter, including expenses of administration. All such funds shall be paid into the state treasury.
§ 23-231. Enforcement of standards for personnel.
The Chancellor shall enforce the standards established by the Board for personnel employed in the administration of this chapter and remove or cause to be removed each employee who does not meet such standards.