A. Without prior Council approval, no person or other entity subject to the provisions of this chapter shall use in any manner, within the Commonwealth of Virginia, the term “college” or “university” or abbreviations or words of similar meaning in its name or in any manner in connection with its academic affairs or business or in any literature, catalog, pamphlet, or descriptive material.This subsection shall not apply to any person or other entity that (i) used the term “college” or “university” openly and conspicuously in its title within the Commonwealth prior to July 1, 1970; (ii) was granted authority to operate in Virginia by the Council between July 1, 1970, and July 1, 2002, and maintains valid authority to so operate in Virginia after July 1, 2002; (iii) was exempted from the provisions of Chapter 21 (§ 23-265 et seq.) of this title, as such law was in effect prior to July 1, 2002; or (iv) was authorized by the Council to use a name while its request for approval to enroll students is pending before the Council.

B. No person or other entity shall sell, barter, or exchange for any consideration, or attempt to sell, barter, or exchange for any consideration, any degree credit, degree, diploma, or certificate.

C. No person or other entity shall use, or attempt to use, in connection with any business, trade, profession, or occupation, any degree or certification of degree or degree credit, including, but not limited to, a transcript of coursework that he knows or has reason to know has been fraudulently issued, obtained, forged, materially altered, or purchased.

D. No person or other entity shall issue or manufacture a fraudulent academic credential.

E. No person or other entity shall physically present a fraudulent academic credential, knowing it is fraudulent, in an attempt to obtain employment, promotion, licensure, or admission to an institution of higher education.

F. No person or entity that is not an institution of higher education accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, or having the foreign equivalent of such accreditation, shall in any way represent that the person or entity is so accredited.

G. Unless exempted from the provisions of this chapter or granted approval by the Council in accordance with this chapter and relevant regulations, no person or other entity shall represent that credits earned at or granted by any institution of higher education or academic-vocational noncollege degree school may be applied for credit toward a degree.

History

Code 1950, § 23-272; 1980, c. 658; 2002, c. 178; 2004, c. 991; 2008, c. 856.