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2002 SESSION


CHAPTER 801
An Act to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Title 23 a chapter numbered 6.3, consisting of a section numbered 23-50.16:36, relating to the establishment of a branch campus in the State of Qatar.
[H 691]
Approved April 8, 2002

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding in Title 23 a chapter number 6.3, consisting of a section numbered 23-50.16:36, as follows:

CHAPTER 6.3.
BRANCH CAMPUS IN QATAR.

§ 23-50.16:36. Establishment of a branch campus in the State of Qatar.

In recognition that global educational opportunities benefit the intellectual and economic interests of the Commonwealth, the board of visitors of the Virginia Commonwealth University is authorized to establish, operate, and govern a branch campus of Virginia Commonwealth University in the State of Qatar. The board of visitors shall have the same powers with respect to operation and governance of its branch campus in Qatar as vested in the board by the Code of Virginia with respect to Virginia Commonwealth University in Virginia, including, but not limited to, the fixing of fees and charges, the establishment of academic standards, and the conferral of degrees. In operating such branch campus, the board of visitors shall provide appropriate professional opportunities for Virginia-based faculty to teach or conduct research on the Qatar campus and educational opportunities for Virginia-based students to study or conduct research on the Qatar campus.

Nothing contained in this section shall be deemed a waiver of the sovereign immunity of the Commonwealth or of Virginia Commonwealth University.

In its operation of any branch campus established in the State of Qatar, the board of visitors and its employees shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, or sex, and shall not abridge the constitutional rights of freedom of speech and religion. Any agreement the board of visitors enters to establish, operate, or govern the branch campus in Qatar shall contain contractual assurances to the board that the branch campus shall operate without discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, or sex, and without abridging the constitutional rights of freedom of speech and religion.