A. Any public institution of higher education may initiate the process to be governed by this subchapter by complying with the following requirements:
1. An absolute two-thirds, or more, of the institution’s governing body shall have voted in the affirmative for a resolution expressing the sense of the body that the institution is qualified to be, and should be, governed by this subchapter.
2. Following such affirmative vote by such governing body, the institution shall submit to the Governor a written request for his approval to be governed by this subchapter. A copy of such request shall be sent to the Chairmen of the House Committee on Appropriations, the House Committee on Education, the Senate Committee on Finance and the Senate Committee on Education and Health. Such written request shall provide documentation substantiating that: (i) the institution possesses the necessary administrative infrastructure, experience, and expertise to perform successfully its public educational mission as a covered institution; (ii) the institution is financially able to operate as a covered institution without jeopardizing the financial integrity and stability of the institution; (iii) the institution consistently meets the financial and administrative management standards pursuant to § 2.2-5004; and (iv) the institution’s governing body has adopted performance and accountability standards, in addition to any institutional performance benchmarks included in the general appropriation act and developed pursuant to § 23-9.6:1.01, against which its implementation of this additional authority can be measured.
B. If the Governor finds that the institution meets the criteria set forth in subdivision A 2, he shall authorize those Cabinet Secretaries he deems appropriate to enter into a management agreement, as described in § 23-38.88, with the governing body of that institution addressing such matters as that institution’s in-state undergraduate student enrollment, its financial aid requirements and capabilities, and its tuition policy for in-state undergraduate students.
C. Any such management agreement, executed by the designated Cabinet Secretaries and governing body of the institution shall be submitted by no later than November 15 of any given year to the House Committee on Appropriations, the House Committee on Education, the Senate Committee on Finance, and the Senate Committee on Education and Health. The Governor shall include a recommendation for approval of the management agreement with the public institution of higher education in “The Budget Bill” submitted pursuant to subsection A of § 2.2-1509 or in his gubernatorial amendments submitted pursuant to subsection E of § 2.2-1509 due by the December 20 that immediately follows the date of submission of the management agreement to such Committees. Following the General Assembly’s consideration of whether to approve or disapprove the management agreement as recommended, if the management agreement is approved as part of the general appropriation act, it shall become effective on the effective date of such general appropriation act.
History
2005, cc. 933, 945.
