Virginia State University (212)

Authority: Title 23, Chapter 13, 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.1. Out of this appropriation, $3,790,639 the first year and $3,790,639 the second year from the general fund is designated for continued enhancement of the existing Bachelor of Science academic programs in Computer Science, Manufacturing Engineering, Computer Engineering, Mass Communications and Criminal Justice, and the doctoral program in Education.

2. Out of this appropriation, $37,500 the first year and $37,500 the second year from the general fund is provided to serve in lieu of endowment income for the Eminent Scholars Program.

3. Any unexpended balances in paragraphs B.1. and B.2. in this Item at the close of business on June 30, 2012 and June 30, 2013, shall not revert to the surplus of the general fund but shall be carried forward on the books of the State Comptroller and reappropriated in the succeeding year.

C. This appropriation includes $200,000 the first year and $200,000 the second year from the general fund to increase the number of faculty with terminal degrees to at least 85 percent of the total teaching faculty.

D. Out of this appropriation, Virginia State University is authorized to use up to $600,000 the first year and $600,000 the second year from the general fund to address extremely critical deferred maintenance deficiencies in its facilities, including residence halls and dining facilities.

E. 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.

F. Out of this appropriation, $1,300,000 the first year and $1,300,000 the second year from the general fund is designated to support the Manufacturing Engineering and Logistics Technology program.

G.1. Out of this appropriation, $328,814 each year from the general fund is designated for base operating support.

2. Out of this appropriation, $962,789 each year from the general fund is designated to address the projected growth in transfer students and efforts to improve retention and graduation through enhanced advising, summer bridge programs and the VSU Cohort Program.

H.1. Out of this appropriation, $440,187 each year from the general fund is designated to achieve the goals of the six-year academic plan submitted by Virginia State University in the fall 2011.  Virginia State University shall utilize these funds to restructure the summer session and create a hybrid trimester system in order to decrease time to degree, to support faculty research initiative grants to multi-disciplinary teams and to develop a center of logistics research at Fort Lee in cooperation with the University of Virginia and Longwood University.

2. Virginia State University shall reallocate $305,385 the first year and $407,180 the second year from current educational and general program funds either to support the initiatives identified in paragraph H.1. and / or to address programs and strategies that serve to advance the objectives of the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2011.

3. Virginia State University may reallocate up to an additional 1.5 percent  from current educational and general program funds in the second year to address faculty compensation issues, operation and maintenance of new facilities or other institutional initiatives or priorities.