§18B-10-1d. Resident tuition rates for economic development participants.

(a) The term "resident" or "residency", or any other term or expression used to designate a West Virginia resident student, when used to determine the rate of tuition to be charged students attending state institutions of higher education, may be construed to include economic development participants.

(b) To meet the definition of "economic development participant" under this section, the following criteria must be met:

(1) The person or the person’s parent or legal guardian received economic development incentives to locate to West Virginia, offered pursuant to §5B-2-3b of this code; and

(2) The person files with that institution of higher education a letter of intent to establish residency in this state.

(c) An economic development participant who qualifies as a resident on the first day of the semester or term of the institution of higher education shall be eligible for resident tuition rates.

§18B-1-1.

Repealed.

Acts, 2008 Reg. Sess., Ch. 72.

§18B-1-1a. Legislative intent; findings; establishment of state goals for higher education and education; creation of partnership to achieve state goals and objectives.

(a) It is the intent of the Legislature in enacting this section to establish state goals for public higher education which benefit the citizens of the State of West Virginia.

(b) It is further the intent of the Legislature that this section be read and implemented in conjunction with the accountability system established in article one-d of this chapter and that any reference to this section in this code includes the provisions of that article.

(c) Findings. -- The Legislature finds that post-secondary education is vital to the future of West Virginia. For the state to realize its considerable potential in the 21st Century, it must have a system for the delivery of post-secondary education which is competitive in the changing national and global environment, is affordable for the state and its citizenry and has the capacity to deliver the programs and services necessary to meet regional and statewide needs.

The Legislature further finds that it is vitally important for young people entering the workforce to have the education and skills to succeed in today's high-technology, knowledge-based economy. It is equally important for working-age adults who are the majority of the current and potential workforce also to possess the requisite education and skills to compete successfully in the workplace and to have the opportunity to continue learning throughout their lives. The future of the state rests not only on how well its youth are educated, but also on how well it educates its entire population of any age.

The Legislature further finds that providing access to a high-quality and affordable post-secondary education is a state responsibility and, while states spent more than $70 billion on public higher education in two thousand six, they are not maximizing that investment. The Legislature recognizes the efforts of the National Conference of State Legislatures' Blue Ribbon Commission on Higher Education in producing a report to assist the states in higher education policymaking. According to the commission report, "Transforming Higher Education: National Imperative -- State Responsibility", the United States is losing its competitive advantage in a new, high-tech, highly mobile global economy. This lack of competitiveness is a matter of the highest urgency for federal and state policymakers and higher education is at the center of this discussion. The report further states that "higher education is both the problem and the solution" because the nation has failed to focus on how higher education energizes American competitiveness and revitalizes the states. Pursuant to these findings, the commission made some specific recommendations addressed to the states which include the following:

(1) Define clear state goals;

(2) Identify your state's strengths and weaknesses;

(3) Know your state demographic trends for the next ten to thirty years;

(4) Identify a place or structure to sustain the public policy agenda;

(5) Hold institutions accountable for their performance;

(6) Rethink funding formulas and student aid;

(7) Make a commitment to access, success and innovation;

(8) Encourage partnerships;

(9) Give special attention to adult learners; and

(10) Focus on productivity.

All of these recommendations are useful in providing policy guidance and have been given careful consideration in the development of this section and article one-d of this chapter.

(d) Establishment of state goals. -- In recognition of its importance to the citizens of West Virginia, the Legislature hereby establishes the following goals for public higher education in the state:

(1) The ultimate goal of public education is to enhance the quality of life for citizens of the State of West Virginia.

(2) The overall focus of public education is on developing and maintaining a process of lifelong learning which is as seamless as possible at all levels, encourages citizens of all ages to increase their knowledge and skills and provides ample opportunities for them to participate in public higher education.

(3) Higher education collaborates with public education and other providers to offer education opportunities:

(A) To individuals of all ages and socioeconomic backgrounds in all areas of the state; and

(B) To overcome financial barriers to participation for both traditional and nontraditional students.

(4) Higher education seeks to enhance state efforts to diversify and expand the economy by focusing available resources on programs and courses which best serve students, provide the greatest opportunity for job creation and retention and are most supportive of emerging high-technology and knowledge-based businesses and industries.

(5) Higher education creates a learning environment that is student-friendly and that encourages and assists students in the completion of degree requirements, certifications or skill sets within a reasonable period of time.

(6) The learning environment expands participation for the increasingly diverse student population and responds to the needs of the current workforce and other nontraditional students.

(7) Through the establishment of innovative curricula and assessment efforts, state institutions of higher education ensure that students graduate from nationally recognized and accredited programs and meet or exceed national and international standards for performance in their chosen fields as evidenced through placement and professional licensure examinations.

(8) Higher education promotes academic research and innovation to achieve measurable growth in West Virginia's knowledge-based economic sector.

(9) State institutions of higher education emphasize productivity and strive to exceed the performance and productivity levels of peer institutions. In return, and within the constraints of fiscal responsibility, the state seeks to invest in institutions so that they may adequately compensate faculty, classified employees and other employees at a competitive level to attract and retain high quality personnel.

(10) State institutions of higher education are committed to a shared responsibility with faculty, staff, students and their communities to provide access to the knowledge and to promote acquisition of the skills and abilities necessary to establish and maintain physical fitness and wellness.

(A) Programs that encourage healthy lifestyles are essential for the vibrancy of the institutions of higher education, for the well-being of the communities they serve and for the state as a whole.

(B) Increasing the fitness levels of adults on college and university campuses is critically important for the people of West Virginia, not only for disease prevention, but also, and perhaps most importantly, to enhance the overall quality of life.

(C) While individuals must bear the primary responsibility for their own health, it is imperative that the institutions provide appropriate education and support focused on enriching and expanding the short- and long-term views and attitudes towards physical activity, understanding the principles of wellness and their application to a healthy lifestyle, understanding what components are a necessary part of an all-around healthy lifestyle and learning how to set and achieve realistic goals aimed at establishing healthy habits for the benefit of long-term health and well-being.

(e) Education partnership to achieve state goals and objectives. -- If public institutions of higher education are to provide services that meet the needs of state citizens as outlined in this section and article one-d of this chapter, then West Virginia must create and participate in a partnership across various education organizations that recognizes the valuable contributions each member of the group can make. In addition to public education as outlined in section four, article one, chapter eighteen of this code and in addition to the State of West Virginia, key members of this partnership include the state institutions of higher education, the Council for Community and Technical College Education and the Higher Education Policy Commission.

(1) State institutions of higher education. -- The institutions are the cornerstone of efforts to provide higher education services that meet the needs of state citizens. To varying degrees, and depending upon their missions, these institutions serve the state in three major ways:

(A) Instruction. -- By providing direct instruction to students along with the student services necessary to support the instructional mission. These services have two primary goals:

(i) To produce college graduates who have the knowledge, skills and desire to make valuable contributions to society; and

(ii) To provide opportunities for citizens to engage in life-long learning to enhance their employability and their overall quality of life.

(B) Public service. -- By providing an occupational home for experts in a variety of fields and by serving as the educational home for students. In these capacities, institutions create a large and varied pool of high quality human resources capable of making valuable contributions to business and industry, local and state governments and communities. The following are examples of the types of public service that higher education institutions have to offer:

(i) Workforce development, primarily through community and technical colleges, to meet the immediate and long-term needs of employers and employees;

(ii) Technical assistance to state and local policymakers as they work to address challenges as diverse as ensuring that West Virginia's citizens receive quality health care, assisting in the development of a solid transportation infrastructure and ensuring that public school teachers have enriching professional development opportunities; and

(iii) Opportunities to learn and serve in local communities, to teach civic responsibility and to encourage civic engagement.

(C) Research. -- By conducting research at state institutions of higher education, particularly Marshall University and West Virginia University, to enhance the quality of life in West Virginia in the following ways:

(i) Targeting cutting-edge research toward solving pressing societal problems;

(ii) Promoting economic development by raising the level of education and specialization among the population; and

(iii) Creating jobs through development of new products and services.

(2) The Council for Community and Technical College Education and the Higher Education Policy Commission. -- In their role as state-level coordinating boards, the council and commission function as important partners with state policy leaders in providing higher education that meets state needs. The council and commission provide service to the state in the following ways:

(A) By developing a public policy agenda for various aspects of higher education that is aligned with state goals and objectives and the role and responsibilities of each coordinating board;

(B) By ensuring that institutional missions and goals are aligned with relevant parts of the public policy agenda and that institutions maximize the resources available to them to fulfill their missions and make reasonable progress toward meeting established state goals;

(C) By evaluating and reporting on progress in implementing the public policy agenda;

(D) By promoting system efficiencies through collaboration and cooperation across institutions and through focusing institutional missions as appropriate; and

(E) By conducting research, collecting data and providing objective recommendations to aid elected state officials in making policy decisions.

(3) State of West Virginia. -- Elected state officials represent the citizens of West Virginia and are critical partners in providing quality higher education. In this context, these state-level policymakers serve the state in the following ways:

(A) By establishing goals, objectives and priorities for higher education based on a thoughtful, systematic determination of state needs;

(B) By providing resources necessary to address state goals, objectives and priorities for higher education; and

(C) By providing incentives for and removing barriers to the achievement of state goals, objectives and priorities.

§18B-1-1b.

Repealed.

Acts, 2008 Reg. Sess., Ch. 72.

§18B-1-1c.

Repealed.

Acts, 2008 Reg. Sess., Ch. 72.

§18B-1-1d. Retirement and separation incentives.

(a) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this code to the contrary, each state institution of higher education may develop plans that offer various incentives for voluntary, early, or phased retirement of employees or voluntary separation from employment when necessary to implement programmatic changes effectively pursuant to the findings, directives, goals, and objectives of this article: Provided, That such incentives for voluntary, early, or phased retirement of employees or voluntary separation from employment must be approved by the institution’s governing board and presented to the legislative Joint Committee on Pensions and Retirement and approved before such plans are implemented by the institution.

(b) The plans may include the following provisions:

(1) Payment of a lump sum to an employee to resign or retire;

(2) Continuation of full salary to an employee for a predetermined period of time prior to the employee’s resignation or retirement and a reduction in the employee’s hours of employment during the predetermined period of time;

(3) Continuation of insurance coverage pursuant to the provisions of §5-16-1 et seq. of this code for a predetermined period;

(4) Continuation of full employer contributions to an employee’s retirement plan during a phased retirement period; and

(5) That an employee retiring pursuant to an early or phased retirement plan may begin collecting an annuity from the employee’s retirement plan prior to the statutorily designated retirement date without terminating his or her service with the institution.

(c) No incentive provided for in this section shall be granted except in furtherance of programmatic changes undertaken pursuant to the findings, directives, goals, and objectives set forth in this article.

(d) No plan proposed by an institution pursuant to this section shall be implemented without approval of the legislative joint committee on pensions and retirement.

Any costs associated with any incentive adopted or implemented in accordance with this section shall be borne entirely by the institutions and no incentive shall be granted that imposes costs on the retirement systems of the state or the Public Employees Insurance Agency unless those costs are paid entirely by the institutions.

(e) The Legislature further finds and declares that there is a compelling state interest in restricting the availability and application of these incentives to individual employees determined by the institutions to be in furtherance of the aims of this section and nothing herein shall be interpreted as granting a right or entitlement of any such incentive to any individual or group of individuals. Any employee granted incentives shall be ineligible for reemployment by the institutions during or after the negotiated period of his or her incentive concludes, including contract employment in excess of $25,000 per fiscal year.

(f) The West Virginia network for educational telecomputing may utilize the incentives contained in any plan approved by the legislative Joint Committee on Pensions and Retirement pursuant to this section.

§18B-1-1e. Public education and higher education collaboration for the preparation of students for college and other post-secondary education.

(a) Purpose. — The purpose of this section is as follows:

(1) To assist students in the planning and preparation for success in college and other post-secondary education if their education major interests require such formal education after high school;

(2) To establish the minimum expected level of knowledge, skill and competency a student must possess to be prepared fully for college and other post-secondary education at state institutions of higher education;

(3) To implement a method for communicating the minimum level of knowledge, skill and competency to students, parents, educators and counselors in the public schools, and admissions officers, advisors and faculty in the higher education institutions; and

(4) To assure that the teacher preparation programs in state institutions of higher education prepare educators to, at a minimum, deliver instruction necessary to prepare students fully for college and other post-secondary education or gainful employment consistent with the provisions of section eight, article two-e, chapter eighteen of this code.

(b) Joint rule. — On or before October 1, 1996, the higher education governing boards shall promulgate a joint rule to achieve the purposes of subsection (a) of this section. In the development of such rule, the governing boards shall consult with the state board and the jobs through education employer panel, established pursuant to section eight, article two-e, chapter eighteen of this code, and shall collaborate with the state board in the establishment of compatible practices within their separate systems.

(c) Assessment of student readiness. — To provide continuous assessment and program improvement in the preparation of high school students for success in college or other post-secondary education, the higher education governing boards shall communicate to the state board and the Legislative Oversight commission on education accountability by December 1, in each year, beginning in December, 1997, the number of graduates from the public schools in the state by high schools who were accepted in the last calendar year for enrollment at each of the state institutions of higher education within one year of graduation, and whose knowledge, skill and competency were below the minimum expected levels for full preparation as defined by the governing boards. The governing boards also shall report the areas in which the knowledge, skill and competency of the students were below the minimum expected level. The state board shall provide information to each of the high schools of the state for graduates from the high school.

(d) Nondiscrimination in admission process. —

(1) State institutions of higher education may not require a person who has obtained a diploma or other appropriate credentialing from private, nonpublic, or home schooling, and who has acceptable test results on ACT, SAT or other tests recognized by the institution of higher education which would qualify the person for admission, to submit to alternate testing as a condition of admission.

(2) A person who has obtained a diploma or other appropriate credentialing may not be rejected for admission to an institution of higher education solely because their secondary education was not accredited by the state Board of Education or any accrediting agency approved by the board.

§18B-1-2. Definitions.

The following words when used in this chapter and chapter 18C of this code have the meanings ascribed to them unless the context clearly indicates a different meaning:

“Administratively linked community and technical college” means a state institution of higher education delivering community and technical college education and programs which has maintained a contractual agreement to receive essential services from another accredited state institution of higher education prior to July 1, 2008;

“Advanced technology center” means a facility established under the direction of an independent community and technical college or the council for the purpose of implementing and delivering education and training programs for high-skill, high-performance 21st century workplaces;

“Approve” or “approval”, when used in reference to action by the commission or the council, means action in which the governance rationale of a governing board under its jurisdiction is given due consideration, and the action of the commission is to additionally establish whether the proposed institutional action is consistent with law and established policy and is an appropriate advancement of the public interest;

“Board of visitors” means the advisory board previously appointed for the West Virginia Graduate College and the advisory board previously appointed for West Virginia University Institute of Technology, which provide guidance to the Marshall University Graduate College and West Virginia University Institute of Technology, respectively;

“Broker” or “brokering” means serving as an agent on behalf of students, employers, communities, or responsibility areas to obtain education services not offered at that institution. These services include courses, degree programs, or other services contracted through an agreement with a provider of education services either in-state or out of state;

“Chancellor” means the Chancellor for Higher Education where the context refers to a function of the Higher Education Policy Commission. “Chancellor” means the Chancellor for Community and Technical College Education where the context refers to a function of the West Virginia Council for Community and Technical College Education;

“Chancellor for Community and Technical College Education” means the chief executive officer of the West Virginia Council for Community and Technical College Education employed pursuant to §18B-2B-3 of this code;

“Chancellor for Higher Education” means the chief executive officer of the Higher Education Policy Commission employed pursuant to §18B-1B-5 of this code;

“Collaboration” means entering into an agreement with one or more providers of education services in order to enhance the scope, quality, or efficiency of education services;

“Community and technical college”, in the singular or plural, means the free-standing community and technical colleges and other state institutions of higher education which deliver community and technical college education. This definition includes Blue Ridge Community and Technical College, BridgeValley Community and Technical College, Eastern West Virginia Community and Technical College, Mountwest Community and Technical College, New River Community and Technical College, Pierpont Community and Technical College, Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College, West Virginia Northern Community and Technical College, and West Virginia University at Parkersburg;

“Community and technical college education” means the programs, faculty, administration, and funding associated with the delivery of community and technical college education programs;

“Community and technical college education program” means any college-level course or program beyond the high school level provided through a public institution of higher education resulting in or which may result in a two-year associate degree award including an associate of arts, an associate of science, and an associate of applied science; certificate programs and skill sets; developmental education; continuing education; collegiate credit and noncredit workforce development programs; and transfer and baccalaureate parallel programs. All programs are under the jurisdiction of the council. Any reference to “post-secondary vocational education programs” means community and technical college education programs as defined in this subdivision;

“Confirm” or “confirmation”, when used in reference to action by the commission, means action in which substantial deference is allocated to the governing authority of a governing board under its jurisdiction and the action of the commission is to review whether the proposed institutional action is consistent with law and established policy;

“Council” means the West Virginia Council for Community and Technical College Education created by §18B-2B-1 et seq. of this code;

“Dual credit course” or “dual enrollment course” means a credit-bearing college-level course offered in a high school by a state institution of higher education for high school students in which the students are concurrently enrolled and receiving credit at the secondary level;

“Essential conditions” means those conditions which shall be met by community and technical colleges as provided in §18B-3C-3 of this code;

“Exempted schools” or “statutorily exempted schools” means West Virginia University, including West Virginia University Potomac State College and West Virginia University Institute of Technology; Marshall University; and the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine;

“Governing boards” or “boards” means the institutional boards of governors created by §18B-2A-1 of this code;

“Higher Education Policy Commission”, “policy commission” or “commission” means the commission created by §18B-1B-1 of this code;

“Independent community and technical college” means a state institution of higher education under the jurisdiction of the council, which is independently accredited, is governed by its own independent governing board, and may not be operated as a branch or off-campus location of any other state institution of higher education. This definition includes Blue Ridge Community and Technical College, BridgeValley Community and Technical College, Eastern West Virginia Community and Technical College, Mountwest Community and Technical College, New River Community and Technical College, Pierpont Community and Technical College, Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College, West Virginia Northern Community and Technical College, and West Virginia University at Parkersburg;

“Institutional operating budget” or “operating budget” means for any fiscal year an institution’s total unrestricted education and general funding from all sources, including, but not limited to, tuition and fees and legislative appropriation, and any adjustments to that funding as approved by the commission or council based on comparisons with peer institutions or to reflect consistent components of peer operating budgets;

“Rule” or “rules” means a regulation, standard, policy, or interpretation of general application and future effect;

“Sponsoring institution” means a state institution of higher education that maintained an administrative link to a community and technical college providing essential services prior to July 1, 2008. This definition includes institutions whose governing boards had under their jurisdiction a community and technical college, regional campus, or a division delivering community and technical college education and programs;

“State college and university” means Bluefield State College, Concord University, Fairmont State University, Glenville State College, Shepherd University, West Liberty University, or West Virginia State University;

“State institution of higher education” means any university, college, or community and technical college under the jurisdiction of a governing board as that term is defined in this section;

“Statewide network of independently accredited community and technical colleges” or “community and technical college network” means the state institutions of higher education under the jurisdiction of the West Virginia Council for Community and Technical College Education which are independently accredited, each governed by its own independent governing board, and each having a core mission of providing affordable access to and delivering high quality community and technical education in every region of the state; and

“Vice chancellor for administration” means the person employed in accordance with §18B-4-2 of this code. Any reference in this chapter or chapter 18C of this code to “senior administrator” means vice chancellor for administration.

§18B-1-3. Transfer of powers, duties, property, obligations, etc.

(a) All powers, duties and authorities transferred to the board of Regents pursuant to former provisions of chapter eighteen of this code and transferred to the board of Trustees and Board of Directors which were created as the governing boards pursuant to the former provisions of this chapter and all powers, duties and authorities of the board of Trustees and Board of Directors, to the extent they are in effect on June 17, 2000, are hereby transferred to the Interim Governing Board created in article one-c of this chapter and shall be exercised and performed by the Interim Governing Board until July 1, 2001, as such powers, duties and authorities may apply to the institutions under its jurisdiction.

(b) Title to all property previously transferred to or vested in the board of Trustees and the board of Directors and property vested in either of the boards separately, formerly existing under the provisions of this chapter, are hereby transferred to the Interim Governing Board created in article one-c of this chapter until July 1, 2001. Property transferred to or vested in the board of Trustees and Board of Directors shall include:

(1) All property vested in the board of Governors of West Virginia University and transferred to and vested in the West Virginia Board of Regents;

(2) All property acquired in the name of the state Board of Control or the West Virginia Board of Education and used by or for the state colleges and universities and transferred to and vested in the West Virginia Board of Regents;

(3) All property acquired in the name of the state Commission on Higher Education and transferred to and vested in the West Virginia Board of Regents; and

(4) All property acquired in the name of the board of Regents and transferred to and vested in the respective Board of Trustees and Board of Directors.

(c) Each valid agreement and obligation previously transferred to or vested in the board of Trustees and Board of Directors formerly existing under the provisions of this chapter is hereby transferred to the Interim Governing Board until July 1, 2001, as those agreements and obligations may apply to the institutions under its jurisdiction. Valid agreements and obligations transferred to the board of Trustees and Board of Directors shall include:

(1) Each valid agreement and obligation of the board of Governors of West Virginia University transferred to and deemed the agreement and obligation of the West Virginia Board of Regents;

(2) Each valid agreement and obligation of the state Board of Education with respect to the state colleges and universities transferred to and deemed the agreement and obligation of the West Virginia Board of Regents;

(3) Each valid agreement and obligation of the state Commission on Higher Education transferred to and deemed the agreement and obligation of the West Virginia Board of Regents; and

(4) Each valid agreement and obligation of the board of Regents transferred to and deemed the agreement and obligation of the respective Board of Trustees and Board of Directors.

(d) All orders, resolutions and rules adopted or promulgated by the respective Board of Trustees and Board of Directors and in effect immediately prior to July 1, 2000, are hereby transferred to the Interim Governing Board until July 1, 2001, and shall continue in effect and shall be deemed the orders, resolutions and rules of the Interim Governing Board until rescinded, revised, altered or amended by the Commission or the governing boards in the manner and to the extent authorized and permitted by law. Such orders, resolutions and rules shall include:

(1) Those adopted or promulgated by the board of Governors of West Virginia University and in effect immediately prior to July 1, 1969, unless and until rescinded, revised, altered or amended by the board of Regents in the manner and to the extent authorized and permitted by law;

(2) Those respecting state colleges and universities adopted or promulgated by the West Virginia Board of Education and in effect immediately prior to July 1, 1969, unless and until rescinded, revised, altered or amended by the board of Regents in the manner and to the extent authorized and permitted by law;

(3) Those adopted or promulgated by the state Commission on Higher Education and in effect immediately prior to July 1, 1969, unless and until rescinded, revised, altered or amended by the board of Regents in the manner and to the extent authorized and permitted by law; and

(4) Those adopted or promulgated by the board of Regents prior to July 1, 1989, unless and until rescinded, revised, altered or amended by the respective Board of Trustees or Board of Directors in the manner and to the extent authorized and permitted by law.

(e) Title to all real property transferred to or vested in the Interim Governing Board pursuant to this section of the code is hereby transferred to the Commission effective July 1, 2001. The board of Governors for each institution may request that the Commission transfer title to the board of Governors of any real property specifically identifiable with that institution or the Commission may initiate the transfer. Any such request must be made within two years of the effective date of this section and be accompanied by an adequate legal description of the property. In the case of real property that is specifically identifiable with Marshall University or West Virginia University, the Commission shall transfer title to all real property, except real property that is used jointly by institutions or for statewide programs under the jurisdiction of the Commission or the Council, to the board of Governors of Marshall University or West Virginia University, as appropriate, upon receipt of a request from the appropriate governing board accompanied by an adequate legal description of the property.

The title to any real property that is jointly utilized by institutions or for statewide programs under the jurisdiction of the Commission or the Council shall be retained by the Commission.

(f) Ownership of or title to any other property, materials, equipment or supplies obtained or purchased by the Interim Governing Board or the previous governing boards on behalf of an institution is hereby transferred to the board of Governors of that institution effective July 1, 2001.

(g) Each valid agreement and obligation previously transferred or vested in the Interim Governing Board and which was undertaken or agreed to on behalf of an institution or institutions is hereby transferred to the board of Governors of the institution or institutions for whose benefit the agreement was entered into or the obligation undertaken effective July 1, 2001.

(1) The obligations contained in revenue bonds issued by the previous governing boards under the provisions of section eight, article ten of this chapter and article twelve-b, chapter eighteen of this code are hereby transferred to the Commission and each institution shall transfer to the Commission those funds the Commission determines are necessary to pay that institution's share of bonded indebtedness.

(2) The obligations contained in revenue bonds issued on behalf of a state institution of higher education pursuant to any other section of this code is hereby transferred to the board of Governors of the institution on whose behalf the bonds were issued.

(h) All orders, resolutions, policies and rules:

(1) Adopted or promulgated by the respective Board of Trustees, Board of Directors or Interim Governing Board and in effect immediately prior to July 1, 2001, are hereby transferred to the Commission effective July 1, 2001, and continue in effect until rescinded, revised, altered, amended or transferred to the governing boards by the Commission as provided in this section and in section six of this article.

(2) Adopted or promulgated by the Commission relating solely to community and technical colleges or community and technical college education, or rules which the Council finds necessary for the exercise of its lawful powers and duties pursuant to the provisions of this chapter, may be adopted by the Council and continue in effect until rescinded, revised, altered, amended or transferred to the governing boards under the jurisdiction of the Council pursuant to section six of this article. Nothing in this section requires the initial rules of the Commission that are adopted by the Council to be promulgated again under the procedure set forth in article three-a, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code unless such rules are rescinded, revised, altered or amended.

(3) Adopted or promulgated by the Commission relating to multiple types of public institutions of higher education or community and technical college education as well as baccalaureate and post-baccalaureate education are transferred to the Council in part as follows:

(A) That portion of the rule relating solely to community and technical colleges or community and technical college education is transferred to the Council and continues in effect until rescinded, revised, altered, amended or transferred to the governing boards by the Council as provided in this section and in section six of this article;

(B) That portion of the rule relating to institutions or education other than community and technical colleges is retained by the Commission and continues in effect until rescinded, revised, altered, amended or transferred to the governing boards by the Commission as provided in this section and in section six of this article.

(i) The Commission may, in its sole discretion, transfer any rule, other than a legislative rule, to the jurisdiction of the governing boards of the institutions under its jurisdiction who may rescind, revise, alter or amend any rule so transferred pursuant to rules adopted by the Commission pursuant to section six of this article.

The Council may, in its sole discretion, transfer any rule, other than a legislative rule, to the jurisdiction of the governing boards of the institutions under its jurisdiction who may rescind, revise, alter or amend any rule so transferred pursuant to rules adopted by the Council pursuant to section six of this article.

(j) As to any title, agreement, obligation, order, resolution, rule or any other matter about which there is some uncertainty, misunderstanding or question, the matter shall be summarized in writing and sent to the Commission which shall make a determination regarding such matter within thirty days of receipt thereof.

(k) Rules or provisions of law which refer to other provisions of law which were repealed, rendered inoperative or superseded by the provisions of this section shall remain in full force and effect to such extent as may still be applicable to higher education and may be so interpreted. Such references include, but are not limited to, references to sections and prior enactments of article twenty-six, chapter eighteen of this code and code provisions relating to retirement, health insurance, grievance procedures, purchasing, student loans and savings plans. Any determination which needs to be made regarding applicability of any provision of law shall first be made by the Commission.

§18B-1-4. Prior transfer of powers, etc., to board of regents; board of regents abolished.

(a) All the powers, duties and authorities which the board of Governors of West Virginia University, previously established by article eleven of chapter eighteen of the code or by any other provisions of law, may have had immediately prior to July 1, 1969, shall be the powers, duties and authorities of the West Virginia board of regents until July 1, 1989. Until such date, all of the policies and affairs of West Virginia University shall be determined, controlled, supervised and managed by the West Virginia board of regents, who shall exercise and perform all such powers, duties and authorities.

All powers, duties and authorities which the West Virginia Board of Education may have had with respect to state colleges and universities immediately prior to July 1, 1969, shall be the powers, duties and authorities of the West Virginia board of regents until July 1, 1989 Until such date, all of the policies and affairs of the state colleges and universities shall be determined, controlled, supervised and managed by the West Virginia board of regents, who shall exercise and perform all such powers, duties and authorities: Provided, That the standards for education of teachers and teacher preparation programs at the state colleges and universities shall continue to be under the general direction and control of the West Virginia Board of Education, and the West Virginia Board of Education shall have sole authority to continue, as authorized by section six, article two, chapter eighteen of this code, to enter into agreements with county boards of education for the use of the public schools to give prospective teachers teaching experience.

All powers, duties and authorities vested in the state commission on higher education by previous provisions of chapter eighteen of this code or by any other provisions of law shall be the powers, duties and authorities of the West Virginia board of regents until July 1, 1989. Until such date, all of the powers, duties, and authorities of the state commission on higher education shall be exercised and performed by the West Virginia board of regents.

(b) The board of regents shall be abolished on July 1, 1989.

§18B-1-5.

Repealed.

Acts, 2000 Reg. Sess., Ch. 100.

§18B-1-5a

Repealed

Acts, 2017 Reg. Sess., Ch.. 122.

§18B-1-6. Rulemaking.

(a) The commission may promulgate, adopt, amend, or repeal rules, in accordance with §29A-3A-1 et seq. of this code, subject to §18B-1-3 of this code. This grant of rule-making authority does not limit, overrule, restrict, supplant, or supersede the rule-making authority provided to the exempted schools.

(b) The council may promulgate, adopt, amend, or repeal rules in accordance with §29A-3A-1 et seq. of this code, subject to §18B-1-3 of this code. This grant of rule-making power extends only to those areas over which the council has been granted specific authority and jurisdiction by law.

(c) As it relates to the authority granted to governing boards of state institutions of higher education to promulgate, adopt, amend, or repeal any rule under this code:

(1) "Rule" means any regulation, guideline, directive, standard, statement of policy, or interpretation of general application which has institution-wide effect or which affects the rights, privileges, or interests of employees, students, or citizens. Any regulation, guideline, directive, standard, statement of policy, or interpretation of general application that meets this definition is a rule for the purposes of this section.

(2) Regulations, guidelines, or policies established for individual units, divisions, departments, or schools of the institution, which deal solely with the internal management or responsibilities of a single unit, division, department, or school or with academic curricular policies that do not constitute a mission change for the institution, are excluded from this subsection, except for the requirements relating to posting.

(3) The commission shall promulgate a rule to guide the development of rules made by the governing boards, including a process for comment by the commission as appropriate, except the exempted schools, who shall each promulgate their own rules. The council shall promulgate a rule to guide the development and approval of rules made by the governing boards. The commission and council shall provide technical assistance in rulemaking as requested. The rules promulgated by the exempted schools, the commission and council shall include, but are not limited to, the following provisions which shall be included in the rule on rules adopted by each governing board of a state institution of higher education:

(A) A procedure to ensure that public notice is given and that the right of interested parties to have a fair and adequate opportunity to respond is protected, including providing for a 30 day public comment period prior to final adoption of a rule;

(B) Designation of a single location where all proposed and approved rules, guidelines, and other policy statements are posted and can be accessed by the public;

(C) A procedure to maximize Internet access to all proposed and approved rules, guidelines, and other policy statements to the extent technically and financially feasible; and

(D) Except for the exempted schools, a procedure for the governing board to follow in submitting its rules for review and comment by the commission and approval by the council, as appropriate:

(i) The governing boards shall submit rules for review and comment to the commission.

(ii) The commission shall return to the governing board its comments and suggestions within 15 business days of receiving the rule.

(iii) If a governing board receives comments or suggestions on a rule from the commission, it shall record them as part of the minute record. The rule is not effective and may not be implemented until the governing board holds a meeting and places on the meeting agenda the comments it has received from the commission.

(d) Nothing in this section requires that any rule reclassified or transferred by the commission or the council under this section be promulgated again under the procedures set out in §29A-3A-1 et seq. of this code unless the rule is amended or modified.

(e) The commission and council each shall file with the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability any rule it proposes to promulgate, adopt, amend, or repeal under the authority of this article.

(f) The governing boards shall promulgate and adopt any rule which they are required to adopt by this chapter or chapter 18C of this code no later than July 1, 2011, unless a later date is specified. On and after this date:

(1) Any rule of a governing board which meets the definition set out in subsection (c) of this section and which has not been promulgated and adopted by formal vote of the appropriate governing board is void and may not be enforced;

(2) Any authority granted by this code which inherently requires the governing board to promulgate and adopt a rule is void until the governing board complies with this section.

(g) Within 15 business days of the adoption of a rule, including repeal or amendment of an existing rule, and before the change is implemented, a governing board shall furnish a copy of each rule which it has adopted to the commission or the council, respectively, for review.

(h) Annually, by October 1, each governing board shall file with the commission or the council, as appropriate, a list of all rules that were in effect for that institution on July 1 of that year, including the most recent date on which each rule was considered and adopted, amended, or repealed by the governing board. For all rules adopted, amended, or repealed after the effective date of this section, the list shall include a statement by the chair of the governing board certifying that the governing board has complied with this section when each listed rule was promulgated and adopted.

(i) Any rule of the commission or council in effect at the time of the re-enactment of this section or approved by the Legislature during its 2017 Regular Session shall remain in effect and applicable to an institution of higher education under the jurisdiction of the commission or council until an institution exercises its authority to adopt a rule pursuant to this chapter.

(j) On or after July 1, 2024, a rule adopted pursuant to the provisions of this section may not restrict or regulate the carrying of a concealed pistol or revolver by a person who holds a current and valid license to carry a concealed deadly weapon except as expressly authorized in §18B-4-5b of this code.

§18B-1-7.

Repealed.

Acts, 2008 Reg. Sess., Ch. 87.

§18B-1-8. Student rights when institutional affiliations or governance structures change.

(a) When a conflict exists between academic program requirements at an institution to be consolidated, merged, separated from, or administratively linked to another state institution of higher education, the requirements of the institution at which the student initially enrolled prevail. A student may not be required to earn additional credits toward the degree pursued, or to take additional courses, that were not included in the program of study at the time the student declared that major at the enrolling institution.

(b) A student enrolled in an institution to be consolidated, merged, separated from, or administratively linked to another state institution of higher education shall continue to receive any state-funded student financial aid for which he or she would otherwise be eligible.

§18B-1-8a.

Repealed.

Acts, 2000 Reg. Sess., Ch. 100.

§18B-1-8b. Marshall university graduate college.

[Repealed].

§18B-1-9.

Repealed.

Acts, 2005 Reg. Sess., Ch. 86.

§18B-1-10

Repealed

Acts, 2017 Reg. Sess., Ch. .122.

§18B-1-11. Colleges and universities to provide appropriate services to meet needs of students with handicapping conditions.

Each state funded institution of higher education accepting students with handicapping conditions, such as physical, learning, or severe sensory disabilities, shall provide services in accordance with Rehabilitation Act 504 appropriate to meet the educational needs of these students. Such information shall be provided to local boards of education for information dissemination to students and parents to fulfill the goals of transition.

§18B-1A-1.

Repealed.

Acts, 2008 Reg. Sess., Ch. 72.

§18B-1A-2.

Repealed.

Acts, 2008 Reg. Sess., Ch. 72.

§18B-1A-3

Repealed

Acts, 2017 Reg. Sess., Ch.  122.

§18B-1A-4. Legislative financing goals.

(a) The Legislature recognizes that the higher education goals set forth in section one-a, article one of this chapter are of utmost importance. The Legislature further recognizes that meeting the goals may require the appropriation of funds above the current operating budgets of the institutions.

(b) It is, therefore, the desire of the Legislature to increase funding annually for higher education at a rate not less than the annual percentage increase in the overall general revenue budget.

(c) If the commission or council, or both, determines that appropriations are insufficient to fund the requirements of the institutional compacts under its jurisdiction, the commission or council first shall consider extending the length of the compacts or otherwise modifying the compacts to allow the institutions to achieve the benchmarks in the compacts. If modifications to the institutional compacts are not sufficient to allow the institutions to meet their benchmarks, the commission or council, or both, shall recommend to the Legislature methods of making the higher education system more efficient. The methods may include, but are not limited to, the following:

(1) Administrative efficiencies;

(2) Consolidation of services;

(3) Elimination of programs;

(4) Consolidating institutions; and

(5) Closing institutions.

§18B-1A-5. Financing; institutional operating budgets, additional funding.

(a) Budget request and appropriations. -- The commission and council each has the responsibility to develop a budget for the state system of higher education under its respective jurisdiction. The commission submits the budget request for higher education, including the budget request as developed by the council, to the Governor before September 1, annually. The budget requests of the commission and the council specifically shall include the amount of the institutional operating budgets, as defined in section two, article one of this chapter, required for all state institutions of higher education under their respective jurisdictions. The budget appropriation for the state systems of higher education under this chapter and other provisions of the law shall consist of separate control accounts or institutional control accounts, or some combination of such accounts, for appropriation of institutional operating budgets and other funds. The commission and council each is responsible for allocating state appropriations to supplement institutional operating budgets in accordance with this section. In addition to the institutional operating budget and incentive funding, however, the commission and council each is responsible for allocating funds that are appropriated to it for other purposes. In order to determine institutional allocations, it is the responsibility of the institutions and their respective institutional boards of Governors or advisors, as appropriate to provide to the commission or council documentation on institutional progress toward mission enhancement, preliminary peer comparison calculations, performance of increased productivity and academic quality and measurable attainment in fulfilling state priorities as set forth in this article. The documentation shall be provided to the commission or council no later than October 1, annually.

(b) Legislative funding priorities. –-

(1) The Legislature recognizes the current funding model has not moved all state institutions equitably towards comparable peer funding levels. The model has left West Virginia institutions at a competitive disadvantage to their national peers.

(2) The Legislature acknowledges that the resource allocation model used to comply with enrolled committee substitute for Senate bill no. 547, passed during the legislative session of 1995, alleviated some of the disparity that exists among state institutions' operating budgets, but left significant differences between the institutions and their national peers.

(3) The Legislature recognizes that a system of independently accredited community and technical colleges is essential to the economic vitality of the state.

(4) The Legislature places great importance on achieving the priority goals outlined in the public policy agenda and believes the state institutions of higher education should play a vital role in facilitating the attainment of these goals.

(5) The Legislature also believes it is imperative that the state make progress on narrowing the peer inequity while balancing the need for sustaining the quality of our institutions.

(6) It is the charge of the commission and council to allocate all funds appropriated in excess of the fiscal year 2001 general revenue appropriations in alignment with the legislative funding priorities listed below. The commission and council shall consider the priorities and assign a percentage of the total appropriation of new funds to each priority.

(A) Peer equity. -- Funds appropriated for this purpose increase the level of the institutional operating budget for state institutions of higher education comparable to their peer institutions. The allocation shall provide, subject to the availability of funds and legislative appropriations, for a systematic adjustment of the institutional operating budgets to move all institutions' funding in the direction of levels comparable with their peers. Institutional allocations shall be calculated as follows:

(i) A calculation shall be made of the deficiency in per student funding of each institution in comparison with the mean per student funding of the peer institutions as defined by the commission pursuant to section three of this article;

(ii) For all institutions that are deficient in comparison with peer institutions, the amounts of the deficiencies shall be totaled;

(iii) A ratio of the amount of the deficiency for an institution divided by the total amounts of deficiency for all West Virginia institutions shall be established for each institution; and

(iv) The allocation to each institution shall be calculated by multiplying the ratio by the total amount of money in the account;

(B) Independently accredited community and technical colleges development. -- Funds appropriated for this purpose will ensure a smooth transition, where required, from "component" community and technical colleges to independently accredited community and technical colleges as defined in section two, article one of this chapter. Appropriations for this purpose are to be allocated only to those institutions having approved compacts with the council that expressly include the transition of their component community colleges to independently accredited status and have demonstrated measurable progress towards this goal. By July 1, 2005, or when all required community and technical colleges are independently accredited, whichever first occurs, funds for this purpose shall be allocated to the incentives for institutional contributions to state priorities;

(C) Research challenge. -- Funds appropriated for this purpose shall assist public colleges and universities in West Virginia to compete on a national and international basis by providing incentives to increase their capacity to compete successfully for research funding. The Legislature intends for institutions to collaborate in the development and execution of research projects to the extent practicable and to target research to the needs of the state as established in the public policy agenda and linked to the future competitiveness of this state.

(i) The commission shall develop criteria for awarding grants to institutions under this account, which may include, but are not limited to, the following:

(I) Grants to be used to match externally funded, peer-reviewed research;

(II) Grants to be used to match funds for strategic institutional investments in faculty and other resources to increase research capacity;

(III) Grants to support funding for new research centers and projects that will foster economic development and workforce investment within the state. These grants shall be limited to five years and each research center or project funded shall receive a decreasing award each year and shall be required to be supported solely by external funding within five years;

(ii) The commission may establish an advisory council consisting of nationally prominent researchers and scientists, including representatives from outside the state, to assist in developing the criteria for awarding grants under this account.

(iii) For the purposes of making the distributions from this account, the commission shall establish the definition for research, research funds and any other terms as may be necessary to implement this subdivision; and

(D) Incentives for institutional contributions to state priorities. -- Funds appropriated for this purpose provide incentives to institutions which demonstrate success toward advancing the goals of the public policy agenda as set forth in section one-a, article one of this chapter and to provide incentives for mission enhancement as set forth in section two of this article.

(E) Sustained quality support. -- The commission and council shall provide additional operating funds to institutions under their respective jurisdictions with approved compacts. The commission and council shall allocate these funds on an equal percentage basis to all institutions. The commission or council may delay distribution of these funds to any institution which does not demonstrate measurable progress towards the goals provided in its compact with the commission or council.

(c) Allocations to institutional operating budgets. -- For the purposes of this subsection, the commission and council each shall establish by rule pursuant to subsection (f), section two of this article the method for measuring the progress of each institution towards meeting the benchmarks of its institutional compact.

(d) Allocation of appropriations to the institutions. -- Appropriations in this section shall be allocated to the state institutions of higher education in the following manner:

(1) Each fiscal year appropriations from the funds shall be allocated only to institutions which have:

(A) Approved compacts, pursuant to section two of this article; and

(B) Achieved their annual benchmarks for accomplishing the goals of their compacts, as approved by the commission or council.

(2) If an institution has not achieved all of its annual benchmarks, the commission or council may distribute a portion of the funds to the institution based on its progress as the commission or council determines appropriate. The commission and council each shall establish by rule, pursuant to subsection (f), section two of this article, the method for measuring the progress of each institution toward meeting the benchmarks of its institutional compact.

(e) Nothing in this section limits the appropriation or collection of fees necessary to effectuate the operation and purpose of the commission or council.

§18B-1A-6. Graduate education.

(a) Intent. -- It is the intent of the Legislature to address the need for high quality graduate education programs to be available throughout the state.

(b) Findings. -- The Legislature makes the following findings:

(1) Since West Virginia ranks below its competitor states in graduate degree production, particularly in the areas that are important to the state's competitive position in the new economy of the twenty-first century, there is a considerable need for greater access to graduate education, especially at the master's degree level;

(2) There is a significant disparity in access to part-time graduate degree programs among the different regions of the state and part-time graduate enrollments are heavily concentrated in the counties immediately surrounding Marshall University and West Virginia University;

(3) There is a particular need for increased access to graduate programs linked directly to the revitalization of the regional economies of the state; and

(4) There is a particular need for improved quality and accessibility of preservice and in-service programs for teachers in subject matter fields.

(c) In order to meet the need for graduate education, the Commission is responsible for accomplishing the following:

(1) Ensuring that West Virginia University and Marshall University assist in the expansion of access to master's degree programs throughout West Virginia. These institutions shall place a strong emphasis on collaboration with the baccalaureate colleges and community and technical colleges in each region when funds are available;

(2) Ensuring that any institution providing a master's degree program under the provisions of this section provides a meaningful, coherent program by offering courses in such a way that students, including place-bound adults, have ample opportunity to complete a degree in a reasonable period of time;

(3) Focusing on providing courses that enhance the professional skills of teachers in their subject areas;

(4) Ensuring that programs are offered in the most cost-effective manner to expand access throughout the region and the state; and

(5) Determining the graduate program needs of each region.

(d) Bluefield State College, Concord University, Fairmont State University, Glenville State College, Shepherd University, West Liberty State College and West Virginia State University shall meet the need for graduate education in their regions pursuant to this subsection and subsection (c) of this section.

(1) If an institution's proposal to offer a Master's degree receives the approval of the Commission, that Master's degree may be offered solely by the institution.

(2) If an institution does not receive the approval of the Commission for a proposal to offer a Master's degree, that institution may broker or collaborate with another higher education institution to develop a revised proposal for offering that brokered or collaborative Master's degree.

(e) There is an urgent need for master's degree programs for teachers in disciplines or subject areas, such as mathematics, science, history, literature, foreign languages and the arts. Currently, master's-level courses in education that are offered in the regions served by the state universities are primarily in areas such as guidance and counseling, administration, special education and other disciplines unrelated to teaching in subject areas. If this need is not being met in a region through the procedure established in subsection (d) of this section, then the graduate center in that region may plan a master's degree program in education focused on teaching in subject area fields in which the demand is not being met. No institution may begin a graduate program under the provisions of this section until the program has been reviewed and approved by the Commission. The Commission shall approve only those programs, as authorized by this subsection, that emphasize serving the needs of teachers and schools in the colleges' immediate regions. In determining whether a program should be approved, the Commission also shall rely upon the recommendations of the statewide task force on teacher quality provided in section eight, article fourteen of this chapter.

(f) The Commission shall review all graduate programs being offered under the provisions of this section and, using the criteria established for program startup in subsection (d) of this section, determine which programs should be discontinued.

(g) At least annually, the governing boards shall evaluate graduate programs developed pursuant to the provisions of this section and report to the Commission on the following:

(1) The number of programs being offered and the courses offered within each program;

(2) The disciplines in which programs are being offered;

(3) The locations and times at which courses are offered;

(4) The number of students enrolled in the program; and

(5) The number of students who have obtained master's degrees through each program.

The governing boards shall provide the Commission with any additional information the Commission requests in order to make a determination on the viability of a program.

(h) In developing any graduate program under the provisions of this section, institutions shall consider delivering courses at times and places convenient to adult students who are employed full time. Institutions shall place an emphasis on extended degree programs, distance learning and off-campus centers which utilize the cost-effective nature of extending existing university capacity to serve the state rather than duplicating the core university capacity and incurring the increased cost of developing master's degree programs at other institutions throughout the state.

(i) Brokering institutions shall invite proposals from other public institutions of higher education for service provision prior to contracting with other institutions: Provided, That if institutions propose providing graduate programs in service areas other than in their responsibility district, the institution seeking to establish a program shall work through the district's lead institution in providing those services.

(j) In addition to the approval required by the Commission, authorization for any institution to offer a master's degree program under the provisions of this section is subject to the formal approval processes established by the governing boards.

§18B-1A-7.

Repealed.

Acts, 2008 Reg. Sess., Ch. 87.

§18B-1A-8.

Repealed.

Acts, 2004 Reg. Sess., Ch. 92.

§18B-1B-1. Higher education policy commission established; development of public policy agenda.

There is hereby created the “Higher Education Policy Commission”, hereinafter referred to as the “commission”. It is the intent of the Legislature that the commission be responsible to provide shared services in a cost-effective manner upon request by the state colleges and universities, the council, and the community and technical colleges; undertake certain statewide and regional initiatives as specifically designated in this code, including those related to the administration of grants and scholarships and including those in conjunction with the council; to review, confirm or approve certain actions undertaken by the governing boards, as delineated in this chapter; and develop and gain consensus around the public policy agenda for higher education and other statewide issues pursuant to section one-a, article one of this chapter under the following conditions:

(a) It is the responsibility of the commission to work collaboratively with the governing boards and the council to develop and gain consensus around the public policy agenda for higher education.

(b) It is the responsibility of the council to oversee the implementation of the public policy agenda for the institutions under its jurisdiction.

(c) All matters of governance not specifically assigned to the commission or council by law are the duty and responsibility of the governing boards.

§18B-1B-2. Composition of commission; terms and qualifications of members; vacancies; eligibility for reappointment; oath of office; removal from office.

(a) The commission is comprised of nine members, all of whom are entitled to vote. The membership of the commission is as follows:

(1) The State Superintendent of Schools, ex officio;

(2) The Chair of the West Virginia Council for Community and Technical College Education, ex officio;

(3) Four at-large members who are citizens of the state, appointed by the Governor, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate; and

(4) Three at-large members who are designated as higher education representatives, appointed by the Governor, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate; for each of the higher education representatives, the Governor shall choose from recommendations made by any state college and university or exempted school and the Governor may request additional recommendations from state colleges and universities or exempted schools if in the Governor in his or her sole discretion determines that additional recommendations are necessary for appointments to the commission.

(b) Each of the at-large members appointed by the Governor shall represent the public interest and shall be committed to the legislative intent and goals set forth in state law and policy.

(c) The Governor may not appoint any person to be a member of the commission who is an officer, employee, or member of the council or an advisory board of any state college or university or exempted school; an officer or member of any political party executive committee; the holder of any other public office or public employment under the government of this state or any of its political subdivisions; an appointee or employee of any governing board; or an immediate family member of any employee under the jurisdiction of the commission, the council, or any governing board.

(d) Of the seven, at-large members appointed by the Governor:

(1) No more than four may belong to the same political party;

(2) At least three shall be appointed from each congressional district; and

(3) Effective July 1, 2008, no more than one member may serve from the same county.

(e) The at-large members appointed by the Governor serve overlapping terms of four years.

(f) The Governor shall appoint a member to fill any vacancy among the seven at-large members, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. Any member appointed to fill a vacancy serves for the unexpired term of the vacating member. The Governor shall fill the vacancy within 30 days of the occurrence of the vacancy.

(g) An at-large member appointed by the Governor may not serve more than two consecutive terms.

(h) Before exercising any authority or performing any duties as a member of the commission, each member shall qualify as such by taking and subscribing to the oath of office prescribed by section five, article IV of the Constitution of West Virginia and the certificate thereof shall be filed with the Secretary of State.

(i) A member of the commission appointed by the Governor may not be removed from office by the Governor except for official misconduct, incompetence, neglect of duty, or gross immorality and then only in the manner prescribed by law for the removal of the state elective officers by the Governor.

§18B-1B-3. Meetings and compensation.

(a) The commission shall meet as needed at the time and place specified by the call of the chairperson.

(b) The commission shall hold an annual meeting at the final, regularly scheduled meeting of each fiscal year for the purpose of electing officers. At the annual meeting, the commission shall elect from its members appointed by the Governor a chairperson and other officers as it may consider necessary or desirable. All officers are elected from the citizen appointees. The chairperson and other officers are elected for a one-year term commencing on July 1, following the annual meeting and ending on June 30 of the following year. The chairperson of the commission may serve no more than four consecutive terms as chair.

(c) Members of the commission shall be reimbursed for actual and necessary expenses incident to the performance of their duties upon presentation of an itemized sworn statement thereof. The foregoing reimbursement for actual and necessary expenses shall be paid from appropriations made by the Legislature to the commission.

(d) A majority of the members constitutes a quorum for conducting the business of the commission.

§18B-1B-4. Powers and duties of Higher Education Policy Commission.

(a) The primary responsibility of the commission is to provide shared services in a cost-effective manner upon request to the state colleges and universities, the West Virginia Council for Community and Technical College Education, and the community and technical colleges; undertake certain statewide and regional initiatives as specifically designated in this chapter, including those related to the administration of grants and scholarships and including those in conjunction with the council; to review, confirm, or approve certain actions undertaken by governing boards, as delineated in this chapter; and assist in the development of policy that will achieve the goals, objectives and priorities found in §18B-1-1a and §18B-1D-1 of this code. The commission shall exercise its authority and carry out its responsibilities in a manner that is consistent and not in conflict with the powers and duties assigned by law to the West Virginia Council for Community and Technical College Education and the powers and duties assigned to the governing boards. To that end, the commission has the following powers and duties relating to the governing boards under its jurisdiction:

(1) Develop and advance the public policy agenda pursuant to §18B-1D-1 et seq. of this code to address major challenges facing the state, including, but not limited to, the goals, objectives, and priorities established in this chapter;

(2) In conjunction with the council, propose emergency and legislative rules in accordance with §29A-3A-1 and §18B-1-6 of this code to establish a performance-based funding formula model the commission and council shall use, beginning in the fiscal year 2024 budget cycle, in developing their annual budget requests to ensure the fair and equitable distribution and use of public funds among the state’s institutions of higher education, including the statutorily and administratively exempted schools. This funding formula model shall advance the goals of the state’s postsecondary education system by emphasizing outcomes focused on student success and institutional mission achievement. The formula shall include a range of variables that shall be weighted in a manner that corresponds to each institution’s mission and provides incentives for productivity improvements consistent with the goal of strengthening the state’s economy and workforce by developing the most competitive and capable graduates in the nation. The rule shall, at a minimum:

(A) Establish a set of objective performance metrics that reflect and support the state’s higher education goals and priorities and the methodology by which those metrics shall be used in the allocation of state funds;

(B) Ensure that a portion of each institution’s base appropriation is allocated based on outcomes achieved over a defined period of time;

(C) Incentivize postsecondary program offerings that align with the state’s higher education and workforce development priorities; and

(D) Establish safeguards to ensure stability of the funding formula model including, but not limited to, providing for periodic reviews of and revision to the performance metrics and funding methodology in addition to accounting for inflation;

(3) In collaboration with the council and the governing boards:

(A) Build public consensus around and sustain attention to a long-range public policy agenda. In developing the agenda, the commission and council shall seek input from the Legislature, the Governor, the governing boards, and the State Board of Education and local school districts to create the necessary linkages to assure smooth, effective and seamless movement of students through the public education and post-secondary education systems and to ensure that the needs of public school courses and programs can be fulfilled by the graduates produced and the programs offered;

(B) Assist governing boards in carrying out their duty effectively to govern the individual institutions of higher education;

(4) Serve as a point of contact to state policymakers:

(A) The Governor for the public policy agenda; and

(B) The Legislature by maintaining a close working relationship with the legislative leadership and the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability;

(5) Upon request, provide shared services to a state institution of higher education;

(6) Administer scholarship and grant programs as provided for in this code;

(7) Establish and implement the benchmarks and performance indicators for state colleges and universities necessary to measure institutional progress in achieving state policy priorities and institutional missions pursuant to §18B-1D-7 of this code;

(8) Establish a formal process for recommending capital investment needs and for determining priorities for state colleges and universities for these investments for consideration by the Governor and the Legislature as part of the appropriation request process pursuant to §18B-19-1 et seq. of this code;

(9) Except the statutorily and administratively exempted schools, develop standards and evaluate governing board requests for capital project financing in accordance with §18B-19-1 et seq. of this code;

(10) Except the statutorily and administratively exempted schools, ensure that governing boards manage capital projects and facilities needs effectively, including review and approval of capital projects, in accordance with §18B-19-1 et seq. of this code;

(11) Acquire legal services as considered necessary, including representation of the commission, the governing boards, employees, and officers before any court or administrative body, notwithstanding any other provision of this code to the contrary. The counsel may be employed either on a salaried basis or on a reasonable fee basis. In addition, the commission may, but is not required to, call upon the Attorney General for legal assistance and representation as provided by law;

(12) Employ a chancellor, and any interim chancellor employed shall meet all criteria required of the chancellor, pursuant to §18B-1B-5 of this code;

(13) Employ other staff as necessary and appropriate to carry out the duties and responsibilities of the commission and the council, in accordance with §18B-4-1 et seq. of this code;

(14) Provide suitable offices in Kanawha County for the chancellor, vice chancellors, and other staff;

(15) Approve the total compensation package from all sources for presidents of institutions under its jurisdiction, except the statutorily exempted schools, as proposed by the governing boards. The governing boards, except the governing boards of the statutorily exempted schools, must obtain approval from the commission of the total compensation package both when institutional presidents are employed initially and afterward when any change is made in the amount of the total compensation package: Provided, That the commission shall receive notice, but need not approve or confirm, an increase in the compensation of an institutional president that is exactly in the ratio of compensation increases allocated to all institutional employees and approved by the governing board to expressly include the president;

(16) Assist and facilitate the work of the institutions to implement the policy of the state to assure that parents and students have sufficient information at the earliest possible age on which to base academic decisions about what is required for students to be successful in college, other post-secondary education and careers related, as far as possible, to results from current assessment tools in use in West Virginia;

(17) Approve and implement a uniform standard jointly with the council to determine which students shall be placed in remedial or developmental courses. The standard shall be aligned with college admission tests and assessment tools used in West Virginia and shall be applied uniformly by the governing boards. The chancellors shall develop a clear, concise explanation of the standard which they shall communicate to the State Board of Education and the state superintendent of schools;

(18) Jointly with the council and in conjunction with the West Virginia Network, support systemwide technology needs through leveraged consortium purchasing, software, database and networking support, and other services including, but not limited to, the following:

(A) Expanding distance learning and technology networks to enhance teaching and learning, and promoting access to quality educational offerings with minimum duplication of effort; and

(B) Increasing the delivery of instruction to nontraditional students, providing services to business and industry, and increasing the management capabilities of the higher education system.

(C) Notwithstanding any other provision of law or this code to the contrary, the council, commission, and governing boards are not subject to the jurisdiction of the Chief Technology Officer for any purpose;

(19) Propose rules in accordance with §29A-3A-1, et seq. and §18B-1-6 of this code to ensure that, within sound academic policy, a student may transfer and apply toward the requirements of any postsecondary credential the maximum number of credits earned at any regionally accredited in-state or out-of-state institution of higher education in a manner that minimizes the need to repeat courses or incur additional costs. This requirement applies to transfer processes for all levels of postsecondary programs delivered at community and technical colleges, baccalaureate-degree-granting institutions, and graduate-degree-granting institutions;

(20) Propose rules in accordance with §29A-3A-1, et seq. and §18B-1-6 of this code to develop a program through which a student who has gained knowledge and skills through employment, participation in education, and training at vocational schools or other education institutions, or Internet-based education programs, may demonstrate by competency-based assessment that he or she has the necessary knowledge and skills to be granted academic credit or advanced placement standing toward the requirements of an associate’s degree or a bachelor’s degree at a state institution of higher education;

(21) Seek out and attend regional, national, and international meetings and forums on education and workforce development-related topics as, in the commission’s discretion, are critical for the performance of their duties as members, for the purpose of keeping abreast of education trends and policies to aid it in developing the policies for this state to meet the established education goals, objectives, and priorities pursuant to §18B-1-1a and §18B-1D-1 et seq. of this code;

(22) Promulgate and implement a rule for governing boards and institutions to follow when considering capital projects pursuant to §18B-19-1 et seq. of this code, which rule shall provide for appropriate deference to the value judgments of governing boards and may not apply to the statutorily or administratively exempted schools;

(23) Submit to the appropriate agencies of the executive and legislative branches of state government an appropriation request that reflects recommended appropriations for the commission and the governing boards under its jurisdiction including the statutorily and administratively exempted schools. The commission shall submit as part of its appropriation request the separate recommended appropriation request it received from the council, both for the council and for the governing boards under the council’s jurisdiction. The commission annually shall submit the proposed allocations based on the funding formula model required by subdivision (a)(2) of this section;

(24) Promulgate rules allocating reimbursement of appropriations, if made available by the Legislature, to governing boards for qualifying noncapital expenditures incurred in providing services to students with physical, learning, or severe sensory disabilities;

(25) Pursuant to §29A-3A-1 et seq. and §18B-1-6 of this code, promulgate rules necessary or expedient to fulfill the purposes of this chapter and Chapter 18C of this code;

(26) Determine when a joint rule among the governing boards under its jurisdiction is necessary or required by law and, in those instances, in consultation with the governing boards under its jurisdiction, promulgate the joint rule;

(27) Promulgate and implement a rule jointly with the council whereby course credit earned at a community and technical college transfers for program credit at any other state institution of higher education and is not limited to fulfilling a general education requirement;

(28) Promulgate a rule pursuant to §18B-10-1 of this code establishing tuition and fee policy for all governing boards under the jurisdiction of the commission, except the statutorily and administratively exempted schools. The rule shall include, but is not limited to, the following:

(A) Differences among institutional missions;

(B) Strategies for promoting student access;

(C) Consideration of charges to out-of-state students; and

(D) Any other policies as the commission and council consider appropriate;

(29) Notwithstanding any other provision of this code to the contrary sell, lease, convey, or otherwise dispose of all or part of any real property that it owns, in accordance with §18B-19-1 et seq. of this code;

(30) Provide policy analysis and research focused on issues affecting institutions of higher education generally or a geographical region thereof;

(31) Develop and approve institutional mission definitions except for the statutorily and administratively exempted schools: Provided, That the commission may use funds appropriated by the Legislature for incentive funds to influence institutional behavior in ways that are consistent with public priorities, including the statutorily and administratively exempted schools;

(32) Review and approve academic programs for governing boards under its jurisdiction, except the statutorily and administratively exempted schools. The review and approval includes use of institutional missions as a template to judge the appropriateness of both new and existing programs and the authority to implement needed changes.

(A) The commission’s authority to review and approve academic programs for the statutorily and administratively exempted schools is limited to programs that are proposed to be offered at a new location not presently served by that institution: Provided, That West Virginia University and the West Virginia University Institute of Technology are subject to the commission’s authority as provided in §18B-1C-2 of this code.

(B) In reviewing and approving academic programs, the commission shall focus on the following policy concerns:

(i) New programs may not be implemented which change the institutional mission, unless the institution also receives approval for expanding the institutional mission;

(ii) New programs which require significant additional expense investments for implementation may not be implemented unless the institution demonstrates that:

(I) The expenses shall be addressed by effective reallocations of existing institutional resources; or

(II) The expenses can be legitimately spread out over future years and shall be covered by reasonably anticipated additional net revenues from new enrollments;

(iii) A new undergraduate program which is significantly similar to an existing program already in the geographic service area may not be implemented unless the institution requesting the new program demonstrates a compelling need in the service area that is not being met by the existing program: Provided, That the academic programs of the statutorily and administratively exempted schools are not to be taken into consideration except as it relates to academic programs offered at West Virginia University in Beckley and West Virginia University Institute of Technology in Beckley.

(C) The commission shall approve or disapprove proposed academic degree programs in those instances where approval is required as soon as practicable. The commission shall maintain by rule a format model by which a new program approval shall be requested by an institution. When a request for approval of a new program is submitted to the commission, the chancellor shall provide notice within two weeks as to whether the submission meets the required format, and if it does not the chancellor shall identify each specific deficiency and return the request to the institution. The institution may refile the request for approval with the commission to address any identified deficiencies. Within 30 days after the chancellor’s confirmation that the request meets the required format, the commission shall either approve or disapprove the request for the new program. The commission may not withhold approval unreasonably.

(33) Distribute funds appropriated to the commission, including incentive and performance-based funds;

(34) Administer state and federal student aid programs under the supervision of the vice chancellor for administration, including promulgation of rules necessary to administer those programs;

(35) Serve as the agent to receive and disburse public funds when a governmental entity requires designation of a statewide higher education agency for this purpose;

(36) Develop and distribute information, assessment, accountability and personnel systems for state colleges and universities, including maintaining statewide data systems that facilitate long-term planning and accurate measurement of strategic outcomes and performance indicators;

(37) Jointly with the council, promulgate and implement rules for licensing and oversight for both public and private degree-granting and nondegree-granting institutions that provide post-secondary education courses or programs in the state. The council has authority and responsibility for approval of all post-secondary courses or programs providing community and technical college education as defined in §18B-1-2 of this code;

(38) Develop, facilitate, and oversee statewide and regional projects and initiatives related to providing post-secondary education at the baccalaureate level and above such as those using funds from federal categorical programs or those using incentive and performance-based funds from any source;

(39) (A) For all governing boards under its jurisdiction, except for the statutorily exempted schools, review institutional operating budgets, review and approve capital budgets, and distribute incentive and performance-based funds.

(B) For the governing boards of the statutorily exempted schools, the commission shall distribute incentive and performance-based funds and may review and comment upon the institutional operating budgets and capital budgets. The commission’s comments, if any, shall be made part of the governing board’s minute record and shall be filed with the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability;

(40) Provide information, research, and recommendations to state colleges and universities relating to programs and vocations with employment rates greater than 90 percent within six months post-graduation; and

(41) Provide information, research, and recommendations to state colleges and universities on coordinating with the West Virginia State Board of Education about complimentary programs.

(b) In addition to the powers and duties provided in this section and any other powers and duties assigned to it by law, the commission has other powers and duties necessary or expedient to accomplish the purposes of this chapter and Chapter 18C of this code: Provided, That the provisions of this subsection do not shift management authority from the governing boards to the commission.

(c) The commission may withdraw specific powers of a governing board under its jurisdiction for a period not to exceed two years, if the commission determines that either of the following conditions exist:

(1) The commission has received information, substantiated by independent audit, of significant mismanagement or failure to carry out the powers and duties of the governing board according to state law; or

(2) Other circumstances which, in the view of the commission, severely limit the capacity of the governing board to exercise its powers or carry out its duties and responsibilities.

The commission may not withdraw specific powers for a period exceeding two years. During the withdrawal period, the commission shall take all steps necessary to reestablish sound, stable and responsible institutional governance.

(d) On or after July 1, 2024, nothing in this section authorizes the commission to restrict or regulate the carrying of a concealed pistol or revolver by a person who holds a current and valid license to carry a concealed deadly weapon except as expressly authorized in §18B-4-5b of this code.

(e) In conjunction with Workforce West Virginia and the Bureau for Family Assistance, the Higher Education Policy Commission must compile and maintain a list of those services available to assist and support individuals who are qualified to receive federal, federal-state, or state assistance and who want to obtain a degree, secure workforce training, or reenter the workforce. This document must be maintained on the Higher Education Policy Commission’s website, and any hard copy requested for this document must be supplied to the person requesting the information via first-class mail.

§18B-1B-5. Employment of Chancellor for Higher Education; office; powers and duties generally; employment of Vice Chancellors and other staff.

(a) The commission, created by §18B-1B-1 of this code, shall employ a Chancellor for Higher Education who is the Chief Executive Officer of the Commission and who serves at its will and pleasure.

(b) The commission shall set the qualifications for the position of chancellor and, when a vacancy occurs, shall conduct a thorough nationwide search for qualified candidates. A qualified candidate is one who meets at least the following criteria:

(1) Possesses an excellent academic and administrative background;

(2) Demonstrates strong communication skills;

(3) Has significant experience and an established national reputation as a professional in the field of higher education;

(4) Is free of institutional or regional biases; and

(5) Holds or retains no other administrative position within a system of higher education while employed as chancellor: Provided, That nothing contained in this subsection may preclude the Chancellor of the commission from also serving as the Chancellor Of The Council for Community and Technical College Education, as provided in §18B-2B-3 of this code.

(c) The commission shall conduct written performance evaluations of the chancellor annually and may offer the chancellor a contract not to exceed three years. At the end of each contract period, the commission shall review the evaluations and make a determination by vote of its members on continuing employment and compensation level.

(d) When filling a vacancy in the position of chancellor, the commission shall enter into an initial employment contract for one year with the candidate selected. At the end of the initial contract period, and each contract period thereafter, the commission shall review the evaluations and make a determination by vote of its members on continuing employment and compensation level for the chancellor.

 (e) The commission sets the chancellor’s salary. The salary may not exceed by more than 20 percent the average annual salary of the chief executive officers of state systems of higher education in the states that comprise the membership of the Southern Regional Education Board. Pursuant to §6B-2-5(l) of this code, the chancellor may receive only one form of salary if such person serves as the chancellor for both the higher education policy commission and the council for community and technical colleges.

(f) The commission may employ a Senior Director for Health Sciences who serves at the will and pleasure of the commission. The Senior Director for Health Sciences shall coordinate the West Virginia University School of Medicine, the Marshall University School of Medicine and the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine and also shall provide assistance to the governing boards on matters related to medical education and health sciences. The Senior Director for Health Sciences shall perform all duties assigned by the chancellor, the commission and state law. If there is a vacancy in the office of Senior Director of Health Sciences, the duties assigned to this office by law are the responsibility of the chancellor or a designee.

(g) The commission shall employ a Vice Chancellor for Administration pursuant to §18B-4-2 of this code.

(h) On behalf of the commission, the chancellor may enter into agreements with any state agency or political subdivision of the state, any state institution of higher education or any other person or entity to enlist staff assistance to implement the powers and duties assigned by the commission or by state law.

(i) The chancellor is responsible for the daily operations of the commission and has the following responsibilities relating to the commission and the governing boards under its jurisdiction:

(1) To carry out policy and program directives of the commission;

(2) To develop and submit annual reports on the implementation plan to achieve the goals and objectives set forth in §18B-1-1a and §18B-1-1d of this code, and in the compacts;

(3) To prepare and submit to the commission for its approval the proposed budget of the commission including the offices of the chancellor and the vice chancellors;

(4) To assist the governing boards in developing rules, subject to §18B-1-6 of this code. Nothing in this chapter requires the rules of the governing boards to be filed pursuant to the rule-making procedures provided in §29A-3A-1 et seq. of this code. The commission and the council, either separately or jointly as appropriate, are responsible for ensuring that any policy which is required to be uniform across the institutions is applied in a uniform manner;

(5) To consult with institutions on human relations policies and rules;

(6) To perform all other duties and responsibilities assigned by the commission or by state law.

(j) The chancellor shall be reimbursed for all actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of all assigned duties and responsibilities.

(k) The chancellor, with the commission, advises the Legislature on matters of higher education in West Virginia. The Chancellor shall work closely with the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability and with the elected leadership of the state to ensure that they are fully informed about higher education issues and that the commission fully understands the goals, objectives and priorities for higher education that the Legislature has established by law.

(l) The chancellor may design and develop for consideration by the commission new statewide or region-wide initiatives in accordance with the goals set forth in §18B-1-1a and §18B-1D-1 et seq. of this code, and the public policy agenda articulated by the commission. In those instances where the initiatives to be proposed have a direct and specific impact or connection to community and technical college education as well as to baccalaureate and graduate education, the Chancellor for Higher Education and the Chancellor for Community and Technical College Education shall design and develop the initiatives jointly for consideration by the commission and the council.

(m) To further the goals of cooperation and coordination between the commission and the State Board of Education, the chancellor serves as an ex officio, nonvoting member of the state board. The chancellor shall work closely with members of the State Board of Education and with the State Superintendent of Schools to assure that the following goals are met:

(1) Development and implementation of a seamless kindergarten-through-college system of education; and

(2) Appropriate coordination of missions and programs/

§18B-1B-6. Appointment of institutional presidents; evaluation.

(a) Appointment of institutional presidents. — Appointment of presidents of the state institutions of higher education, except the statutorily exempted schools, shall be made as follows:

(1) The initial contract term for a president may not exceed two years. At the end of the initial contract period, and subject to the provisions of subsection (c) of this section, the governing board may offer the president a contract of longer duration, but not to exceed five years.

(2) The president of a state institution of higher education serves at the will and pleasure of the appointing governing board.

(3) The governing boards of the following institutions, appoint a president: Bluefield State College, Concord University, Fairmont State University, Glenville State College, Shepherd University, West Liberty University and West Virginia State University, West Virginia University, Marshall University, and the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine.

(4) Subject to the approval of the council, the governing board of the community and technical college appoints a president for Blue Ridge Community and Technical College, Bridge Valley Community and Technical College, Eastern West Virginia Community and Technical College, Mountwest Community and Technical College, New River Community and Technical College, Pierpont Community and Technical College, Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College, West Virginia Northern Community and Technical College, and West Virginia University at Parkersburg.

(b) Other appointments. — The President of West Virginia University appoints a campus president to be the administrative head of Potomac State College of West Virginia University and a campus president to be the administrative head of West Virginia University Institute of Technology.

(c) Evaluation of presidents. —

(1) The appointing governing board shall conduct written performance evaluations of the institution’s president. Evaluations shall be done at the end of the initial contract period and in every third year of employment as president thereafter, recognizing unique characteristics of the institution and using institutional personnel including classified employees if any are employed by the institution, boards of advisors as appropriate, staff of the appropriate governing board, and persons knowledgeable in higher education matters who are not otherwise employed by a governing board. A part of the evaluation shall be a determination of the success of the institution in meeting the requirements of its institutional compact and in achieving the goals, objectives, and priorities established in §18B-1-1 et seq. and §18B-1D-1 et seq. of this code.

(2) After reviewing the evaluations, the governing board shall decide by majority vote of its members on continuing employment and the compensation level for the president in accordance with subsection (a) of this section.

(d) The legislative rules of the commission and council promulgated in accordance with §18B-1-6 and §29A-3A-1 et seq. of this code which are in effect on January 1, 2014, continue in effect unless amended or repealed. The rules provide guidance for the governing boards, but are not applicable to the statutorily exempted or the administratively exempted schools, in filling vacancies in the office of president in accordance with this chapter and shall include, but are not limited to, clarifying the powers, duties and roles of the governing boards, commission, council, and chancellors in the presidential appointment process.

§18B-1B-7. Student mental health policies; suicide prevention.

(a) Each public and private institution of higher education shall develop and implement a policy to advise students and staff on suicide prevention programs available on and off campus that includes, but is not limited to:

(1) Crisis intervention access, which includes information for suicide prevention hotlines;

(2) Mental health program access, which provides information on the availability of local mental health clinics, student health services and counseling services;

(3) Multimedia application access, which includes crisis hotline contact information, suicide warning signs, resources offered and free-of-cost applications;

(4) Student communication plans, which consist of creating outreach plans regarding educational and outreach activities on suicide prevention; and

(5) Post-intervention plans which include creating a strategic plan to communicate effectively with students, staff, and parents after the loss of a student to suicide.

(b) Each public and private institution of higher education shall provide all incoming students with information about depression and suicide prevention resources available to students. The information provided to students shall include available mental health services and other support services, including student-run organizations for individuals at risk of or affected by suicide.

(c) The information prescribed by subsection (a), subdivisions (1) through (4) of this section shall be posted on the website of each institution of higher education in this state.

(d) Any applicable free-of-cost prevention materials or programs shall be posted on the websites of the public and private institutions of higher education, the Higher Education Policy Commission, and the West Virginia Council for Community and Technical College Education.

(e) Commencing one year from the date of reenactment of this section by the 2023 regular session of the Legislature, a public or private institution of higher education that issues student identification cards shall have printed on either side of the student identification cards the information described in both subdivisions (1) and (2) of this subsection:

(1) The information for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, which can be reached by calling or texting 988;

(2) The information for the Crisis Text Line. accessible by texting HOME to 741741.

§18B-1B-8.

Repealed.

Acts, 2008 Reg. Sess., Ch. 72.

§18B-1B-9.

Repealed.

Acts, 2008 Reg. Sess., Ch. 72.

§18B-1B-10

Repealed

Acts, 2017 Reg. Sess., Ch. .122.

§18B-1B-11.

Repealed.

Acts, 2008 Reg. Sess., Ch. 87.

§18B-1B-12. Research challenge.

(a) There is established in the State Treasury a special revenue fund known as the "research challenge fund." Moneys deposited in this fund shall be administered by the Higher Education Policy Commission.

The moneys deposited in this fund shall be used to fund coal research and development projects at institutions of higher education located in this state. Research includes, but is not limited to, carbon sequestration and carbon technology research and development projects. The moneys deposited in this fund shall also be used to fund other research and development projects at institutions of higher education in this state.

(b) The policy commission shall use the recommendations of the EPSCoR state advisory council in its allocation of appropriations made to the research challenge fund and in its development of procedures for competitive application and review of proposals for funding. The research challenge is a critical component in the state's strategic plan for economic development and the contribution of higher education in the economic health of the state and the EPSCoR state advisory council is well qualified, by virtue of its research-oriented mission and membership, to advise the policy commission in the allocation of research challenge funding.

The objectives of the research challenge are to:

(1) Increase the research capacity of institutions of higher education and the competitiveness of these institutions to apply for external funding;

(2) Stimulate the development of research and research products that are directly applicable in improving the economic competitiveness of existing West Virginia industries and the development of new business and jobs in the state;

(3) Leverage limited state resources with private and federal funds to support projects and activities directly related to economic development by requiring matching funds and cooperative agreements with external partners;

(4) Increase the production of undergraduate and graduate students of programs in the sciences, technology, engineering and mathematics, with special attention to emerging disciplines such as biometrics; and

(5) Hold institutions more accountable for the success of research projects funded under this program with the expectation that state support will be phased out and the project or activity will be terminated if it is unable to generate ongoing external support.

(c) The priorities for the research challenge shall be:

(1) Research on energy generation, distribution and utilization that builds on the state's existing energy research strengths, related research products and technology transfer programs;

(2) Research, education and outreach conducted by the EPSCoR program. This federal program is recognized by the national science foundation as the state's primary entity for developing the research capacity that is so important to the state's economic and educational development;

(3) Research projects that are related to the economic development of the state and that have significant potential to attract participation and funding from industrial, federal or foundation partners;

(4) Collaborative projects between higher education and public education to improve science and mathematics education;

(5) Graduate education in science (including medical education), technology, engineering and mathematics. The allocation shall be used for the increase in doctoral students and programs at West Virginia University and Marshall university in these fields; and

(6) Recruitment of eminent scholars to strengthen research capacity and competitiveness for external funding.

(d) The policy commission shall report to the Legislative Oversight committee on educational accountability annually on the results of the projects and activities funded by the research challenge appropriation.

(e) The priorities established in subsection (c) of this section shall be reviewed biannually by the policy commission and the EPSCoR state advisory council beginning in two thousand six. The policy commission shall include any recommended adjustments in its budget request for the two thousand seven budget.

§18B-1B-13

Repealed

Acts, 2017 Reg. Sess., Ch.  122.

§18B-1C-1. Legislative findings and intent.

(a) The Legislature recognizes that:

(1) West Virginia University Institute of Technology is a vital part of higher education in West Virginia and has a rich and distinguished history of more than one hundred and twenty years of providing important educational opportunities that needs to continue;

(2) The engineering program at West Virginia University Institute of Technology plays a significant role in the continued success of the students at the institution and of the state as a whole;

(3) Facilities at West Virginia University Institute of Technology in Montgomery are in greater disrepair and in greater need of overall capital investment than are facilities at West Virginia University;

(4) In 2009, the Legislative Auditor completed a report stating that the facilities in Montgomery included a number of aging buildings with significant structural, heating, and cooling problems, and that the location of the West Virginia University Institute of Technology offered few enhancements to the quality of student life;

(5) In 2011, the Legislature commissioned a study and report seeking to revitalize the West Virginia University Institute of Technology, and the report concluded that the West Virginia Institute of Technology needed to increase its enrollment from 1,100 to 1,800 and concluded that unless the State of West Virginia, West Virginia University, or other sources could commit to “a $5 million to $7 million investment for each of the next five years, the revitalization legislation of 2011 will be seen merely as an exercise in futility;”

(6) West Virginia University has for many years deployed revenues generated from its campus in Morgantown to subsidize the operations and capital improvements needed for its campus in Montgomery;

(7) Although the state, the Higher Education Policy Commission, and West Virginia University have made investments in the operations and facilities of the West Virginia University Institute of Technology in Montgomery, the facilities in Montgomery need significant additional capital investment to be suitable to attract a sufficient number of students seeking a world-class, four-year higher education;

(8) The state lacks sufficient resources to address the issues facing the facilities and enrollment issues in Montgomery, and in recent years has reduced appropriations for all institutions of higher education;

(9) In 2014, Mountain State University decided to sell its assets, including its campus in Beckley, West Virginia and West Virginia University was offered the opportunity to negotiate for and ultimately purchased the campus in Beckley, West Virginia in the summer of 2015;

(10) To help ensure the continued viability and vitality of West Virginia University Institute of Technology, West Virginia University has proposed relocating the institution to the newly-acquired campus in Beckley, West Virginia;

(11) The Higher Education Policy Commission has approved a proposal by West Virginia University and the West Virginia University Institute of Technology to offer courses on the Beckley Campus;

(12) West Virginia University, the West Virginia University Institute of Technology, Bluefield State College, and Concord University have entered into an agreement to collaborate as equal partners to maximize course offerings, reduce program duplication, and better serve the students of southeastern West Virginia.

(13)   West Virginia University has offered economic, community development, and related assistance to the City of Montgomery, City of Smithers, the County Commission of Kanawha County, and the County Commission of Fayette County. (14) Collaboration between the engineering and engineering technology programs of West Virginia University Institute of Technology, West Virginia University, Marshall University, Bluefield State College and other private partners as appropriate would:

(A) Lead to a greater understanding and knowledge of engineering research;

(B) Lead to greater opportunities for students to engage in research; and

(C) Result in greater opportunities for participating students to find gainful employment in future research or to continue graduate level research and study.

(b) It is the intent of the Legislature that collaboration: (1) occur among West Virginia University Institute of Technology, West Virginia University, Marshall University, Concord University, Bluefield State College, and appropriate public and private entities to provide significant education opportunities to students in a manner that optimizes courses and program offerings, reduces and minimizes program duplication, and creates efficiencies in program delivery and expenses while at the same time respecting the value and independence and accreditation requirements separately of Concord University, Bluefield State College, West Virginia Institute of Technology, and West Virginia University; and (2) among West Virginia University Institute of Technology, West Virginia University, the County Commission of Kanawha County, the County Commission of Fayette County, the City of Smithers, and the City of Montgomery, should it elect to do so.

(c) It is specifically the intent of the Legislature that:

(1) The baccalaureate engineering program offered at the West Virginia University Institute of Technology be and remain a permanent component of its curriculum;

(2) Collaboration in engineering and other appropriate programs shall occur among West Virginia University Institute of Technology, West Virginia University, Marshall University, Concord University, Bluefield State College and the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine and appropriate private entities;  and

(3) The West Virginia University Board of Governors continue to monitor and take appropriate steps necessary to address faculty salary levels. In considering the issue of faculty salary levels, the board may consider the unique mission of the division and the performance expectations for faculty in meeting the goals of the institution.

§18B-1C-2. West Virginia University Institute of Technology; division of West Virginia University.

(a) West Virginia University Institute of Technology is a fully integrated division of West Virginia University. All administrative and academic units are consolidated with primary responsibility for direction and support assigned to West Virginia University. The   campus president of the West Virginia University Institute of Technology shall appoint a board of visitors and the board of visitors shall provide guidance to the division in fulfilling its mission. The chairperson of the board of visitors serves as an ex-officio, voting member of the West Virginia University Board of Governors.

(b) The fully integrated division is named West Virginia University Institute of Technology. (c) The provisions of this section do not affect the independent accreditation or continued operation of The BridgeValley Community and Technical College.   The BridgeValley Community and Technical College is an independent community and technical college administered by its own governing board under the jurisdiction and authority of the council and is subject to all applicable provisions of this chapter and chapter eighteen-c of this code.

(d) Auxiliary enterprises shall be incorporated into the West Virginia University auxiliary enterprise system. The West Virginia University Board of Governors shall determine if operations at West Virginia University Institute of Technology can be operated on a self-sufficient basis when establishing rates for auxiliary services and products.

(e) West Virginia University Institute of Technology has a strong reputation in engineering and other scientific disciplines. These programs shall be maintained, cultivated and emphasized further as its sustaining mission over the next decade.

(f) By the November 1, 2006, and annually thereafter for a period of four years, the West Virginia University Board of Governors shall prepare and submit a report to the commission and Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability on progress being made to implement the provisions of this article.

(g)West Virginia University Institute of Technology shall develop or maintain baccalaureate degree programs as a permanent component of its curriculum.

(h) Until such time as West Virginia University no longer owns assets, other than assets of  de minimis value, in Montgomery and the Upper Kanawha Valley, the university shall  continue to collaborate with the County Commission of Kanawha County, the County Commission of Fayette County, the City of Smithers and the City of Montgomery, should it elect to do so, and each entity is authorized and encouraged to enter into agreements designed to foster economic and community redevelopment for Montgomery and the Upper Kanawha Valley.

(i)  Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph a, subdivision four, subsection b, section four, article one-b of this chapter, West Virginia University and West Virginia University Institute of Technology, as it relates to providing academic programming at the Beckley campus, shall be subject to academic program review and approval of the commission pursuant to subdivision four, subsection b, section four, article one-b of this chapter, including complying with series eleven of title one hundred thirty-three of the rules of the Higher Education Policy Commission, relating to academic program review and approval, including, but not limited to, the provisions relating to offering new programming in Beckley or offering existing programming in Beckley that is already offered by West Virginia University at a location other than Beckley:  Provided, That the provisions of this subsection do not apply to the programs that the Higher Education Policy Commission approved on or before December 31, 2015, for offerings by West Virginia University at the West Virginia University Institute of Technology at the Beckley campus.

(j) Prior to seeking approval with the Chancellor or Commission as required by the provisions of subsection (i) of this section, West Virginia University or the West Virginia University Institute of Technology, as appropriate, shall offer to meet with representatives of Bluefield State College and Concord University to determine whether collaborative opportunities exist relating to the proposed offering requiring approval.

(k) The presidents of Concord University, Bluefield State College, and West Virginia Institute of Technology shall meet at least quarterly to discuss the collaborative efforts contemplated by this article and the collaborative agreement, including assessing and reviewing the progress made on collaborative efforts, or at such other times as agreed to by all of the presidents of the referenced institutions.

§18B-1C-3.

Repealed.

Acts, 2015 Reg. Sess., Ch. 53.

§18B-1D-1. Master plan repealed; accountability system continued.

(a)  The Legislature finds that:

(1) Accountability and strategic planning are valuable and necessary components of establishing and achieving goals for higher education in this state and fulfilling missions of the institutions;

(2) To be most effective and efficient, the accountability and strategic planning process should be coordinated, streamlined, and nonduplicative; and

(3) Redundant reporting requirements exist in the accountability and strategic planning process which serve to waste scarce resources and decrease efficiency.  

(b) It is the intent of the Legislature that the accountability and strategic planning process for public higher education in this state continues in a unified and comprehensive manner while utilizing the resources of the higher education systems in an economical and efficient manner.  To that end:

(1) The requirement for a statewide master plan for public higher education is repealed, and any provision of this code regarding the plan is void and of no effect;

(2) The requirements for state and institutional compacts for public higher education are repealed, and any provision of this code regarding the compacts are void and of no effect; and

(3) When collecting data from an institution, the commission and council first shall consider data generated from the unit-record student, registration, course and personnel files, the audited financial statements, and any source previously submitted formally to the commission or council from which the requested data may be obtained, so long as the data or information available through these sources reflects the most current reporting period.  

§18B-1D-2.

Repealed

Acts, 2019 Reg. Sess., Ch. 136.

§18B-1D-3.

Repealed

Acts, 2019 Reg. Sess., Ch. 136.

§18B-1D-4.

Repealed

Acts, 2019 Reg. Sess., Ch. 136.

§18B-1D-5.

Repealed

Acts, 2019 Reg. Sess., Ch. 136.

§18B-1D-6. State compacts; legislative intent; rule required; implementation plans authorized.

(a) It is the intent of the Legislature that members of the education partnership to achieve state goals and objectives engage in developing state compacts between and among themselves for the purpose of enhancing the well-being of the citizens of West Virginia. Such a compact constitutes a formal contract and focuses on the goals and objectives established pursuant to this article and section one-a, article one of this chapter. A compact is called for when achievement of specific goals or objectives requires significant collaboration and commitment of resources by more than one member of the partnership.

(b) The rules to be proposed relating to state compacts pursuant to subsection (c), section one of this article shall include, but are not limited to, the following components:

(1) A procedure to determine when a state compact is necessary or desirable;

(2) A procedure for determining the identity of parties to the compact and for establishing compact terms:

(A) Parties to the compact may be any two or more members of the education partnership to achieve state goals and objectives who are positioned to make significant contributions to meeting compact objectives; and

(B) The terms of the compact shall focus on achievement of objectives. The expected outcomes shall be stated in concrete terms that are measurable.

(3) A mechanism for negotiating agreement on compact objectives. The mechanism shall provide for negotiation and development of consensus among the parties and must be reasonable in its operation and outcomes expectations;

(4) A procedure for creating and consolidating commitment between and among parties to the compact. Most state compacts will extend over multiple years and will require that negotiation between education partners and elected state officials take into account the constraints of the political process and the limits on available resources; and

(5) A process for periodic review, assessment and reporting of progress toward meeting the compact objectives. The rule shall provide for objective analysis and reporting to the compact partners and to the elected officials of the state.

(c) In addition to authorizing the commission and the council to enter into state compacts pursuant to subsections (a) and (b) of this section, it is the intent of the Legislature to encourage them strongly to develop implementation plans together with other members of the public higher education community to achieve system and institutional goals and objectives which are consistent with and supportive of the goals and objectives established in this article and section one-a, article one of this chapter.

(1) At a minimum, each implementation plan shall contain the following elements:

(A) Identification of the goal and the objectives to be achieved;

(B) Identification of the parties to the implementation plan and a process for developing consensus among the parties;

(C) A needs assessment or other mechanism to determine current status of the proposed objectives, including a survey of available resources and other data relevant to achieving the objectives;

(D) Identification of challenges or barriers to meeting objectives;

(E) Delineation of tasks to be performed;

(F) A specific time line for meeting objectives;

(G) An evaluation process administered periodically to determine progress in meeting the objectives during the life span of the plan; and

(H) A method for determining success in achieving the objectives following the closing date established by the time line.

(2) Implementation plans are internal documents developed among members of the public higher education community and are not subject to an external approval process.

§18B-1D-7. Findings; establishment of institutional compacts; compact elements; submission date; review and approval process; rule required.

(a) The Legislature finds that West Virginia long has recognized the value of education and, on a per capita income basis, ranks very high among the states in its investment to support public education. The Legislature further finds that a combination of state and national demographic and economic factors as well as significant changes in methods of course and program delivery compel both the state and public higher education to create a process that will strengthen institutional capacity to provide the services so valued by the citizens of the state and so essential to promoting economic vitality.

(b) The commission and council each shall organize the statements of legislative goals and objectives contained in this article and §18B-1-1a of this code in a manner that facilitates the purposes therein.

(c) Assignment of geographic areas of responsibility. —

(1) The commission shall assign geographic areas of responsibility to the state institutions of higher education under its jurisdiction, except for the statutorily exempted schools. For institutions other than the statutorily exempted schools, the geographic areas of responsibility shall be assigned in such a way as to ensure that all areas of the state are provided necessary programs and services to achieve state goals and objectives. The commission and the council each shall develop data-based measures to determine the extent to which institutions, with the exception of the statutorily exempted schools, under their respective jurisdictions are providing higher education services aligned with state goals and objectives and institutional missions within their geographic areas of responsibility. This information shall be reported in the statewide data reporting system established pursuant to §18B-1D-8 of this code.

(2) The council shall assign geographic areas of responsibility to the state institutions of higher education under its jurisdiction.

(3) The geographic areas of responsibility for the state institutions of higher education known as West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine, Marshall University, and West Virginia University are statewide.

(4) Each state institution of higher education shall establish benchmarks in collaboration with the commission or council, as applicable, which include measures of programs and services by geographic area throughout the assigned geographic area of responsibility.

(d) The benchmarks shall be used to determine progress toward meeting the state’s higher education objectives. The benchmarks shall meet the following criteria:

(1) They shall be objective;

(2) They shall be directly linked to the established objectives;

(3) They shall be measured by the indicators described in subsection (e) of this section; and

(4) Where applicable, they shall be used to measure progress in geographic areas of responsibility.

(e) The rules required by §18B-1D-1(c) of this code shall include indicators which measure the degree to which the goals and objectives set forth in this article and §18B-1-1a of this code are being met by the institutions under the jurisdiction of the commission and the council, respectively.

(1) The rules pertaining to benchmarks and indicators in effect for the commission and the council on the effective date of this section remain in effect for the institutions under their respective jurisdictions until amended, modified, repealed, or replaced by the commission or the council, respectively, pursuant to the provisions of this article, §18B-1-6 of this code, and §29A-3A-1 et seq. of this code.

(2) The rules shall set forth at least the following as pertains to all state institutions of higher education, except the statutorily exempted schools:

(A) The indicators used to measure the degree to which the goals and objectives are being met;

(B) Uniform definitions for the various data elements to be used in establishing the indicators;

(C) Guidelines for the collection and reporting of data; and

(D) Sufficient detail within the benchmarks and indicators to provide the following information:

(i) Measurable evidence that the pursuits of the institution are focused on the education needs of the citizens of the state and are aligned with the objectives required pursuant to this section;

(ii) Delineation of the objectives and benchmarks for an institution so that the commission or council can precisely measure the degree to which progress is being made toward achieving the goals and objectives provided in this article and §18B-1-1a of this code: Provided, That the commission has no authority regarding the objectives and benchmarks for statutorily exempted schools; and

(iii) Identification of specific objectives that are not being met or toward which sufficient progress is not being made.

(3) In addition to any other requirement, the rule established by the council shall set forth at least the following as pertains to community and technical college education:

(A) Benchmarks and indicators which are targeted to identify the following:

(i) The degree to which progress is being made by institutions toward meeting state goals and objectives and the essential conditions for community and technical college education pursuant to §18B-3C-3 of this code;

(ii) Information and data necessary to be considered by the council in making the determination required by §18B-2C-3 of this code; and

(B) Sufficient detail within the benchmarks and indicators to provide clear evidence to support an objective determination by the council that an institution’s progress toward achieving state goals and objectives and the essential conditions for community and technical college education is so deficient that implementation of the provisions of §18B-2C-4 of this code is warranted and necessary.

§18B-1D-8. Publication of institution and system data.

(a) The purpose of the institutional and statewide data reporting system is to make information available through the official websites of the commission and council to parents, students, faculty, staff, state policymakers, and the general public on the quality and performance of public higher education.   

(b) The information provided through the reporting system shall be consistent and comparable between and among state institutions of higher education. If applicable, the information shall allow for easy comparison with higher education-related data collected and disseminated by the Southern Regional Education Board, the United States Department of Education and other education data-gathering and data-disseminating organizations upon which state policymakers frequently rely in setting policy.

(c) The rules required by this article shall provide for the collection, analysis, and dissemination of information on the performance of the state institutions of higher education, including health sciences education, in relation to the findings, goals, and objectives set forth in this article and §18B-1-1a of this code.

(1) The objective of this portion of the rule is to ensure that the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability and others identified in subsection (a) of this section are provided with full and accurate information while minimizing the institutional burden of recordkeeping and reporting.

(2) This portion of the rule shall identify various indicators of student and institutional performance that, at a minimum, must be reported annually, set forth general guidelines for the collection and reporting of data, and provide for the preparation and publication of the statewide data and reports.

The statewide annual report shall be analysis-driven, rather than simply data-driven, and shall present information in a format that can inform education policymaking. It shall outline significant trends, identify major areas of concern, and discuss progress toward meeting state and system goals and objectives. It shall be brief and concise, reporting required information in nontechnical language.

(d) The statewide data reporting system shall include the data for each separately listed, applicable indicator identified in the rule promulgated pursuant to subsection (c) of this section and the aggregate of the data for all public institutions of higher education.

(e) A statewide annual report shall be prepared using actual institutional, state, regional, and national data, as applicable and available, indicating the present performance of the individual institutions, the governing boards, and the state systems of higher education. The report shall be based upon information for the current school year or for the most recent school year for which the information is available, in which case the year shall be clearly noted.

(f) The president or chief executive officer of each state institution of higher education shall prepare and submit annually all requested data to the commission at the times established by the commission.

(g) The higher education central office staff, under the direction of the vice chancellor for administration, shall provide technical assistance to each institution and governing board in data collection and reporting and is responsible for assembling the statewide annual report from information submitted by each governing board.

(h) Current data shall be published to the statewide data reporting system prior to January 1 annually.  The statewide annual report shall be completed and disseminated with copies to the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability prior to January 1 annually, and the staff of the commission and the council shall prepare a report highlighting specifically the trends, progress toward meeting goals and objectives, and major areas of concern for public higher education, including medical education, for presentation to the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability annually at the interim meetings in January.

(i) The Vice Chancellor for Administration shall make a digital copy of the statewide annual report available to the public for download from the official websites of the commission and council.

§18B-1D-8a. Modification to reporting requirements to the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability.

(a) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this code to the contrary, the following statutorily mandated reports are not required to be prepared and submitted annually to the Legislature but this information and data previously contained therein shall be combined with other reports in a manner that reduces the cost and increases the efficacy of those reports. This includes:

(1) All personnel, classification, compensation and human resources reports set out in section four, article one-b of this chapter, section six, article two-b of this chapter and article nine-a of this chapter;

(2) All capital appropriation requests, priorities and campus and state capital development plans set out in section four, article one-b of this chapter, section six, article two-b of this chapter and article nineteen of this chapter;

(3) All academic related matters and reports including those detailing institutional reauthorization at section seven, article four of this chapter; training of institutional Boards of Governors set out in section nine, article one-d of this chapter and section one, article ten of this chapter dealing with institutional compliance with tuition and fee increases;

(4) All financial aid reports including PROMISE, HEAPS, the Higher Education Grant Program, the Nursing Scholarship Program, the Underwood-Smith Teacher Scholarship Program and others set out in chapter eighteen-c of this code.

(b) In order to create more efficiency, reporting deadlines of statutorily or rule mandated reports may be altered, as needed by the Commission without a statutory or rule-making change,: Provided, That the reports are always provided within any given calendar year.

§18B-1D-9. Commission, council, and institutional governing board training and development; training and development requirements, applicability and exceptions.

(a) The Chancellor for higher education and the chancellor for community and technical college education, as those terms are defined in §18B-1-2 of this code, or their designees, shall develop a comprehensive orientation and training program for new members of the commission, the council, and the institutional governing boards and continuing education opportunities for all ongoing members of those bodies, hereinafter referred to as "governing bodies."

(b) Training and development is required as follows:

(1) New Members: The orientation and training offered to new members of the governing bodies shall comprise six hours of instruction time and shall include, but not be limited to:

(A) Information concerning the roles of the governing bodies and their members;

(B) The state goals for higher education set forth in §18B-1-1a of this code;

(C) The higher education accountability system established in §18B-1D-1, et seq. of this code;

(D) The fiduciary duties and responsibilities of the governing bodies;

(E) Legal considerations including statutory duties, authorities, and responsibilities of the governing bodies and open records and open meetings requirements;

(F) Ethical considerations arising from membership on a governing body, including the provisions of the West Virginia Governmental Ethics Act set forth in §6B-1-1, et seq. of this code;

(G) The removal and replacement provisions of members of governing bodies as established in §6-6-5 and §6-6-6 of this code; and

(H) The circumstances under which the commission or the council, as appropriate, may withdraw specific powers from the institutional governing boards, as set forth in §18B-1B-4 and §18B-2B-6 of this code.

(2) The six hours of orientation and training provided to new members of the governing bodies may be completed in one block or broken up over the member’s first year of service: Provided, That the new governing body member completes the full six hours of training within twelve months of his or her appointment to the governing body.

(3) Ongoing members – With the exception of the ex officio members of the commission and the council and the student member of a governing board, beginning the second year of the member’s service on a governing body, each member shall complete at least four hours of training and development related to his or her duties each full fiscal year following his or her appointment.

(4) Alternate training – The chancellors may grant credit for training, professional development, or continuing education developed or delivered by an institution of higher education or a third-party training provider: Provided, That the chancellors or their designees determine that the training meets the requirements for governing body member training established by this section.

(c) Annually, by July 31, the chairs of the commission, the council, and each governing board shall certify to the chancellors the number of hours of training and development that each member of their respective governing body received during the preceding fiscal year.

(d) If the certification indicates that a member of a governing body has not completed the training and development required by this section, the appropriate chancellor shall send a notice to the affected board member and his or her governing body and to the Governor and the Secretary of State, or to the institutional appointing entity, that the member of the governing body is disqualified from continued service notwithstanding the provisions of §6-6-5 and §6-6-6 of this code. The commission or council, as appropriate, shall request the Governor or appointing entity to appoint a replacement for that governing body member.

 (e) As used in this section, "member" means all members of the commission, council and the governing boards unless a specific exception is provided in this section.

§18B-1D-10. State data sharing compact; legislative intent; findings; definitions.

(a) The intent of the Legislature in enacting this section is to direct the commission, council and State Board of Education to enter into a state compact, consistent with the provisions of section six of this article, on or before July 1, 2009, to develop and maintain a longitudinal education data system and to share educational information.

(b) The Legislature makes the following findings:

(1) Sound data collection, reporting and analysis are critical to building an education system capable of ensuring that all West Virginia students are adequately prepared for college and the global workforce. Elementary schools, middle schools, secondary schools and higher education institutions can improve instructional and educational decision-making using data that are collected and made available to them.

(2) State education policymaking benefits from partnerships between state education agencies and entities with expertise in education research. It is beneficial for West Virginia to establish systems and processes that permit qualified researchers to assist with state evaluation and research functions in a manner that is consistent with privacy protection laws.

(3) West Virginia is committed to establishing and maintaining a longitudinal student unit record data system that educators and policymakers can use to analyze and assess student progress beginning with early learning programs and continuing through post-secondary education and into employment. The commission, council and State Board of Education have designed, built and deployed some of the fundamental components of a longitudinal data system and have engaged in extensive efforts to link and use available education data effectively. Now, it is necessary to integrate and manage the various education data components in a cooperative manner to establish a data-driven, decision-making environment for this state's education system.

(4) Students will achieve improved learning outcomes because of the longitudinal data system established through the state compact mandated by this section.

(6) State use and management of education data shall be in accordance with all legal requirements protecting student privacy and shall protect personal information from intentional or accidental release to unauthorized persons and from intentional or accidental use for unauthorized purposes.

(c) Definitions:

(1) "Longitudinal data system" means a student unit record data system that links student records beginning with early learning programs and continuing through post-secondary education, entry into the workforce and beyond. The system may consist of separate student unit record systems integrated through agreement and data transfer mechanisms.

(2) "Privacy protection laws" means the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (20 U.S.C. 1232g) and any other state or federal laws relating to the confidentiality and protection of personally identifiable information.

(3) "Research organization" means a governmental entity, institution of higher education, public policy organization or other person or entity conducting educational research that meets the following conditions:

(i) Qualified to perform educational research and protect the privacy of student data;

(ii) Seeks to perform research for a noncommercial purpose authorized by privacy protection laws; and

(iii) Agrees to perform the research pursuant to a written agreement meeting the requirements of privacy protection laws and best research practices.

(d) The state data-sharing compact entered into by the commission, council and State Board of Education shall contain the following:

(1) A plan to establish and maintain a longitudinal data system that links early learning, elementary, middle and secondary school student unit records with higher education institution student unit records;

(2) A plan to establish a data warehouse that integrates data from multiple student unit record systems and supports all of the uses and functions of the longitudinal data system;

(3) A list of areas for collaborative research and a preliminary plan for conducting that research;

(4) A system for entering into data sharing arrangements with each other and with research organizations consistent with subsection (f) of this section; and

(5) A provision that allows another party to the compact to review any draft report or study generated using that party's data at least ten days before the report or study is released publicly. During that ten day period, each party shall be given the opportunity to submit comments regarding the accuracy, conclusions and recommendations of the report or study.

(e) To facilitate implementation of the requirements of this section:

(1) The commission, council and State Board of Education are authorized to disclose data to the longitudinal data system and to each other consistent with the purposes of this section;

(2) With the assistance of the state Board of Education, the commission, council and state institutions of higher education shall collect the state Board of Education's unique identifier for all students who have attended public schools in West Virginia to facilitate better matching of student unit record data.

(3) The commission, council and State Board of Education shall collect, use, maintain, disclose and share data in accordance with personal privacy laws and shall develop security measures and procedures that protect personal information from intentional or accidental release to unauthorized persons and from intentional or accidental use for unauthorized purposes.

(f) A data sharing arrangement entered into with a research organization pursuant to this section shall meet the following criteria:

(1) Permitted by and undertaken in accordance with privacy protection laws;

(2) Receives prior approval from the state Superintendent of Schools or designee, the Chancellor for Higher Education or designee, and the Chancellor for Community and Technical College Education or designee, as appropriate, if data from that entity are being utilized in the research;

(3) Prohibits the personal identification of any person by individuals other than authorized representatives of the research organization who have legitimate interests in the information;

(4) Ensures the destruction or return of the data when no longer needed for the authorized purposes under the data sharing arrangement;

(5) Performed pursuant to a written agreement with the research organization that does the following:

(A) Specifies the purpose, scope and duration of the data sharing arrangement;

(B) Requires the recipient of the data to use personally identifiable information from education records only to meet the purpose or purposes of the data sharing arrangement stated in the written agreement;

(C) Describes specific data access, use and security restrictions that the recipient will undertake; and

(D) Contains such other terms and provisions as the commission, council and State Board of Education, as appropriate, consider necessary or appropriate.

(g) As a condition of participating in state-level financial aid programs provided for in chapter eighteen-c of this code, the commission may require nonpublic institutions of higher education to provide data for the longitudinal data system and data warehouse.

§18B-1E-1

Repealed.

Acts, 2016 Reg. Sess., Ch. 123

§18B-1E-2

Repealed.

Acts, 2016 Reg. Sess., Ch. 123

§18B-1E-3

Repealed.

Acts, 2016 Reg. Sess., Ch. 123

§18B-1E-4

Repealed.

Acts, 2016 Reg. Sess., Ch. 123

§18B-1F-1. Legislative findings and purpose.

(a) The Legislature finds that economic development in West Virginia depends in part on collaborations developed between higher education and businesses and industry, particularly in the advancement of new and emerging technologies. It is in the best interests of the citizens of the state to implement programs which promote this research and contribute to the general economic welfare.

(b) The Legislature further finds that the transfer of property to the Commission to establish the West Virginia Education, Research and Technology Park created a new and unprecedented opportunity to promote research and development in the state. An efficiently managed Technology Park will encourage private sector participation in and support for research and economic development and will facilitate collaboration among the commission, the doctoral institutions and their research corporations.

(c) It is the responsibility of the commission to ensure that the day to day operations of the Technology Park are carried out effectively and efficiently in order to provide the greatest investment return to the people of West Virginia. To this end the Legislature finds that a mechanism is needed to simplify and expedite property management and purchasing of equipment, material and personal services.

(d) Therefore, the purpose of this article is to provide the commission with the authority necessary to carry out its responsibilities related to the operation of the Technology Park. The commission is authorized to enter into agreements and other contractual relationships with an affiliated corporation in order to achieve maximum efficiency in managing the Technology Park.

§18B-1F-2. Definitions.

The following words used in this article have the meanings ascribed to them in this section unless the context clearly indicates a different meaning:

(a) "Affiliated corporation" or "corporation" means a corporation which meets the essential criteria prescribed in section three of this article and whose purpose is to provide management services to the commission in carrying out the day to day operations of the Technology Park;

(b) "Agreement" means an agreement or contractual relationship entered into between the commission and an affiliated corporation pursuant to the provisions of this article;

(c) "Board of directors" means the governing body of a corporation created pursuant to section three of this article;

(d) "Doctoral institution" means Marshall University or West Virginia University;

(e) "Executive director" means the chief executive officer of an affiliated corporation employed pursuant to section five of this article;

(f) "Potential membership" means the total number of members who comprise the board of directors when all membership seats are filled;

(g) "Private sector member" means a director of an affiliated corporation who is not an employee of the commission nor of any entity bearing a direct or indirect relationship to the commission;

(h) "Research corporation" means a corporation established with respect to Marshall University or West Virginia University pursuant to section three, article twelve of this chapter; and

(i) "Technology Park" means the state-owned West Virginia Education, Research and Technology Park affiliated with the commission.

§18B-1F-3. Commission authorized to contract with corporation; corporation to meet essential criteria; corporation membership and organization; financial requirements.

(a) The commission is authorized to enter into agreements and any other contractual relationships with an affiliated corporation formed as set forth in this article.

(b) The affiliated corporation shall meet the following essential criteria:

(1) Corporation status. -- The corporation is organized as a non-profit, non-stock corporation under the general corporation laws of the state exclusively for charitable, educational or scientific purposes within the meaning of section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

(2) Corporation membership, meetings, officers. --

(A) Members of the board of directors of the affiliated corporation serve terms as prescribed in the bylaws of the corporation and are selected by the commission in consultation with the chancellor. The commission shall make all appointments to the board of directors by majority vote of its members and shall include the individual votes as a part of the minute record.

(B) Private sector members shall constitute a majority of the potential membership of the board of directors. Vacancies shall be filled in such a way that the majority status of private sector membership is maintained.

(C) By July 1, 2011, and at least biennially thereafter, the board of directors shall elect a chair from among its members.

§18B-1F-4. Powers and duties of board of directors and corporation.

(a) The primary responsibility of the corporation is to manage the day-to-day operations of the technology park through collaboration agreements with the commission. To that end, the board of directors has the following powers and duties:

(1) To employ an executive director subject to the provisions of section five of this article;

(2) To approve employment of other staff recommended by the executive director as being necessary and appropriate to carry out the purposes of this article and subject to agreements with the commission;

(3) To serve as fiscal agent and provide additional services, including, but not limited to, property management, human resources management and purchasing;

(4) To meet as a governing body. A corporation created under this article is exempt from the provisions of section three, article nine-a, chapter six of this code and from the provisions of article one, chapter twenty-nine-b of this code;

(5) To receive, purchase, hold, lease, use, sell and dispose of real and personal property of all classes, subject to the provisions of subdivision (8) of this subsection and section eight of this article;

(6) To receive from any source whatsoever grants to be expended in accomplishing the objectives of this article;

(7) To receive from any source whatsoever aid or contributions of money, property or other things of value to be held, used and applied only for the purposes for which the aid or contributions may be made;

(8) To accept and expend any gift, grant, contribution, bequest, endowment or other money for the purposes of this article. Any transfer of endowment or other assets by the commission to the corporation or by the corporation to the commission for management shall be formalized in a memorandum of agreement to assure, at a minimum, that any restrictions governing the future disposition of funds are preserved. The commission may not transfer ownership of the technology park property to the corporation;

(9) To make, amend and repeal bylaws, rules and its governing documents consistent with the provisions of this article to effectuate the purpose and scope of the corporation;

(10) To alter the purpose or scope of the corporation; and

(11) To delegate the exercise of any of its powers except for the power to approve budgets to the executive director, subject to the directions and limitations contained in its governing documents.

(b) In addition to the powers and duties provided for in this section and any other powers and duties that may be assigned to it by law or agreement, the corporation has other powers and duties necessary to accomplish the objectives of this article or as provided by law.

§18B-1F-5. Appointment of executive director; qualifications.

(a) The commission shall set the qualifications for the position of executive director and shall conduct a thorough search for qualified candidates. A qualified candidate is one who meets at least the following criteria:

(1) Possesses a broad understanding of the relationship between public and private sector research and the need for cooperation and collaboration among the commission and the research corporations;

(2) Holds at least a bachelor's degree in a field related to the duties and responsibilities of the position of executive director;

(3) Demonstrates strong communication skills and the ability to work with all types of businesses and industry, government agencies and higher education institutions; and

(4) Possesses other skills, qualifications or attributes as the commission considers appropriate or desirable.

(b) The commission shall select the executive director for the corporation and may not delegate this duty to the chancellor. The executive director may have dual appointment with the commission, but may not be a corporation director.

(1) The commission shall appoint the executive director by majority vote of its members and shall include the vote as a part of the minute record.

(2) The executive director shall inform the board of directors and the commission annually of his or her employment status with any other institution, agency or organization.

(c) The day to day operations of the corporation are under the control and supervision of the executive director. With the approval of the board of directors the executive director may employ staff as necessary to carry out the corporation's purposes as set forth in this article.

§18B-1F-6. Agreements; required provisions.

(a) The commission may enter into agreements or other contractual relationships with a corporation that meets the conditions set forth in section three of this article. Any agreement shall specify that the corporation is accountable to the commission for the efficient operations of the Technology Park.

(b) On the effective date of the agreement, the corporation becomes the fiscal agent for operations of the Technology Park on behalf of the commission pursuant to terms of the agreement.

(c) If an agreement is terminated, the funds, contributions or grants paid or held by the corporation and not encumbered or committed prior to termination shall be distributed as provided for in the agreement.

(d) If made part of the agreement, the corporation may use services of both corporation employees and personnel of the commission. The corporation may pay the costs incurred by the commission, including personnel funded on grants and contracts, fringe benefits of personnel funded on grants and contracts, administrative support costs and other costs which may require reimbursement. The corporation may include as costs any applicable overhead and fringe benefit assessments necessary to recover the costs expended by the commission, pursuant to the terms of the agreement, and the commission may be reimbursed for expenses incurred by it pursuant to the agreement.

§18B-1F-7. Audits required; financial reports; conflicts of interest.

(a) The financial statements of the corporation shall be audited annually by an independent certified public accountant or firm. Within thirty days of completion, the financial audit report shall be presented to the corporation's board of directors for approval, after which a copy of the financial audit and required statements shall be submitted to the commission.

(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this code to the contrary, any officer or employee of the commission, who is not the executive director of the corporation, may hold an appointment as a member and as an officer of the corporation board of directors.

§18B-1F-8. No waiver of sovereign immunity; not obligation of the state.

(a) Nothing contained in this article waives or abrogates in any way the sovereign immunity of the state or deprives the commission or any officer or employee of the commission of sovereign immunity.

(b) Obligations of the board of directors or the corporation do not constitute debts or obligations of the commission or the state.

§18B-1F-9. Legislative findings and intent; memorandum of agreement required; terms and conditions; reports.

(a) The Legislature finds that the Technology Park is a diversified, multi-tenant research, development and commercialization park focused on energy, chemicals and other sciences and technologies for the advancement of education and economic development in West Virginia. The areas of primary research and development include energy, chemicals and materials, and biotechnology. It is the intent of the Legislature to provide the commission with the tools needed to manage the Technology Park and facilitate the translation of state investment dollars in higher education and research into business and economic growth that will provide tangible benefits for the citizens of the state.

(b) To achieve the goals set forth in this section, it is essential that the commission include in its research and development efforts the talents and expertise available at the doctoral institutions and their research corporations. Therefore, by July 1, 2011, the commission shall enter into a memorandum of agreement with the research corporations to delineate the role each party will play in furthering the goals of research and economic development as set forth in this article. The agreement shall focus on collaboration and cooperation among the commission and the two research corporations.

(1) The agreement is not effective until all parties have agreed to the included terms and conditions.

(2) The commission shall file a report, including a copy of the completed agreement and any relevant documents, with the Joint Committee on Government and Finance and the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability by July 15, 2011.

(3) The agreement may be amended by mutual consent of the parties. Within fifteen days of the date a new agreement is signed, the commission shall file a report as provided in subdivision (2) of this subsection.

§18B-1F-10. Department of commerce to study and report relating to research and technology parks.

The West Virginia Development Office shall research, investigate and make recommendations relating to advancing research activities, economic development and job creation relating to foundations and private entities, including the I-79 Technology Park, who focus on research and job development and that receive or have received since July 1, 2012, appropriation support from the State of West Virginia. The Development Office shall submit a report of its investigation and findings to the Governor and the Legislature on or before December 31, 2017.

§18B-2-1.

Repealed.

Acts, 2005 Reg. Sess., Ch. 86.

§18B-2-2.

Repealed.

Acts, 2005 Reg. Sess., Ch. 86.

§18B-2-3.

Repealed.

Acts, 2005 Reg. Sess., Ch. 86.

§18B-2-4.

Repealed.

Acts, 1997 Reg. Sess., Ch. 85.

§18B-2-5

Repealed

Acts, 2017 Reg. Sess., Ch. . 122.

§18B-2-6. Health sciences education; legislative findings and intent.

(a) The Legislature hereby finds and declares that the higher education accountability report card for health sciences education as provided for in section eight-a, article one of this chapter shall serve as a basis for the accountability and coordination of health sciences education in this state. The Legislature further finds that the preparation of such report card would best be supervised by a vice chancellor for health sciences who is not the director of health and who has the assistance of the staff of each state institution of higher education with health sciences programs.

(b) The Legislature further finds and declares that adequate funding will be pursued to maintain the accreditation, integrity and quality of medical education and other health sciences programs in West Virginia.

§18B-2-7

Repealed

Acts, 2017 Reg. Sess., Ch. . 122.

§18B-2-8. Consortium of comprehensive child development centers; establishment and operation of a consortium of comprehensive child development centers.

(a) There is hereby established a consortium of comprehensive child development centers under the auspices of the board of trustees and under the direction and administration of the vice chancellor for health sciences. The goals of the consortium include, but are not limited to:

(1) Recommending a comprehensive diagnostic and technical support system to assist faculty and students in providing educational programs for students with disabilities;

(2) Providing a system for the comprehensive interdisciplinary diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of children and young adults with special needs and their families;

(3) Offering programs for the training of parents and families;

(4) Creating significant links between disciplines, departments, schools, colleges, universities and agencies;

(5) Providing all services (clinical, training, technical assistance and consultation) at child development centers and at strategically planned outreach sites, including institutions of higher education;

(6) Planning and implementing a statewide system of care for children with special needs and their families;

(7) Providing family-centered, community-based, culturally sensitive, coordinated care;

(8) Assuring interdisciplinary, interagency cooperation;

(9) Linking community-based health and educational services with institutions of higher education;

(10) Establishing a statewide comprehensive diagnostic support team and advisory boards at each center composed of agency representatives, physicians, education providers, center personnel, parents and others; and

(11) Facilitating significant parent and family participation, including parents as members of the statewide team and representing a majority of the membership of each center's advisory boards.

(b) Subject to appropriations by the Legislature, the board of trustees is authorized and directed to establish at least four comprehensive child development sites at existing university health science centers located at Morgantown, Charleston, Huntington and Lewisburg. Planning of at least these four centers and the establishment of advisory boards shall be completed by July 1, 1993. The board of trustees shall establish at least these four sites prior to January 1, 1994.

The board of trustees may enter into a contractual relationship with each child development center, which shall be in accordance with laws that apply to publicly funded partnerships with private, nonprofit entities and the provisions of section three, article five of this chapter.

§18B-2-9.

Repealed.

Acts, 2006 Reg. Sess., Ch. 84.

§18B-2A-1. Findings; composition of boards; terms and qualifications of members; vacancies; eligibility for reappointment.

(a) Findings. (

The Legislature finds that the State of West Virginia is served best when the membership of each governing board includes the following:

(1) The academic expertise and institutional experience of faculty members and a student of the institution governed by the board;

(2) The technical or professional expertise and institutional experience of a classified employee or, as appropriate, nonclassified employee of the institution governed by the board;

(3) An awareness and understanding of the issues facing the institution governed by the board; and

(4) The diverse perspectives that arise from a membership that is balanced in terms of gender and varied in terms of race and ethnic heritage.

(b) Boards of governors established. (

A board of governors is continued at each of the following institutions: Bluefield State College, Blue Ridge Community and Technical College, Bridgemont Community and Technical College, Concord University, Eastern West Virginia Community and Technical College, Fairmont State University, Glenville State College, Kanawha Valley Community and Technical College, Mountwest Community and Technical College, Marshall University, New River Community and Technical College, Pierpont Community and Technical College, Shepherd University, Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College, West Liberty University, West Virginia Northern Community and Technical College, the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine, West Virginia State University, West Virginia University and West Virginia University at Parkersburg.

(c) Board membership. (

(1) An appointment to fill a vacancy on the board or reappointment of a member who is eligible to serve an additional term is made in accordance with the provisions of this section.

(2) The Board of Governors for Marshall University consists of sixteen persons. The Board of Governors for West Virginia University consists of seventeen persons. The boards of governors of the other state institutions of higher education consist of twelve persons.

(3) Each board of governors includes the following members:

(A) A full-time member of the faculty with the rank of instructor or above duly elected by the faculty of the respective institution;

(B) A member of the student body in good academic standing, enrolled for college credit work and duly elected by the student body of the respective institution; and

(C) A member from the institutional classified employees duly elected by the classified employees of the respective institution or, if the respective institution does not have classified employees, a member from the institutional nonclassified employees duly elected by the nonclassified employees of the respective institution.

(4) For the Board of Governors at Marshall University, thirteen lay members appointed by the Governor, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, pursuant to this section;

(5) For the Board of Governors at West Virginia University, twelve lay members appointed by the Governor, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, pursuant to this section, and additionally:

(A) The Chairperson of the Board of Visitors of West Virginia University Institute of Technology;

(B) A full-time faculty member representing the extension service at the institution or a full-time faculty member representing the health sciences, selected by the faculty senate.

(6) For each board of governors of the other state institutions of higher education, nine lay members appointed by the Governor, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, pursuant to this section.

(A) Of the nine members appointed by the Governor, no more than five may be of the same political party. Of the thirteen members appointed by the Governor to the governing board of Marshall University, no more than eight may be of the same political party. Of the twelve members appointed by the Governor to the governing board of West Virginia University, no more than seven may be of the same political party.

(B) Of the nine members appointed by the Governor, at least five shall be residents of the state. Of the thirteen members appointed by the Governor to the governing board of Marshall University, at least eight shall be residents of the state. Of the twelve members appointed by the Governor to the governing board of West Virginia University, at least seven shall be residents of the state.

(7) In making lay appointments, the Governor shall consider the institutional mission and membership characteristics including the following:

(A) The need for individual skills, knowledge and experience relevant to governing the institution;

(B) The need for awareness and understanding of institutional problems and priorities, including those related to research, teaching and outreach;

(C) The value of gender, racial and ethnic diversity; and

(D) The value of achieving balance in gender and diversity in the racial and ethnic characteristics of the lay membership of each board.

(d) Board member terms. (

(1) The student member serves for a term of one year. Each term begins on July 1.

(2) The faculty member serves for a term of two years. Each term begins on July 1. Faculty members are eligible to succeed themselves for three additional terms, not to exceed a total of eight consecutive years.

(3) The member representing classified employees or, as appropriate, nonclassified employees serves for a term of two years. Each term begins on July 1. Members representing classified employees or, as appropriate, nonclassified employees are eligible to succeed themselves for three additional terms, not to exceed a total of eight consecutive years.

(4) The appointed lay citizen members serve terms of four years each and are eligible to succeed themselves for no more than one additional term, except that citizen members who are appointed to fill unexpired terms are eligible to succeed themselves for two full terms after completing an unexpired term.

(5) A vacancy in an unexpired term of a member shall be filled for the unexpired term within thirty days of the occurrence of the vacancy in the same manner as the original appointment or election. Except in the case of a vacancy, all elections are held and all appointments are made no later than June 30 preceding the commencement of the term. Each board of governors shall elect one of its appointed lay members to be chairperson in June of each year. A member may not serve as chairperson for more than four consecutive years.

(6) The appointed members of the boards of governors serve staggered terms of up to four years except that four of the initial appointments to the governing boards of community and technical colleges that became independent July 1, 2008, are for terms of two years and five of the initial appointments are for terms of four years.

(e) Board member eligibility, expenses. (

(1) A person is ineligible for appointment to membership on a board of governors of a state institution of higher education under the following conditions:

(A) For a baccalaureate institution or university, a person is ineligible for appointment who is an officer, employee or member of any other board of governors within this state; an employee of any institution of higher education within this state; an officer or member of any political party executive committee; the holder of any other public office or public employment under the government of this state or any of its political subdivisions; an employee of any affiliated research corporation created pursuant to article twelve of this chapter; an employee of any affiliated foundation organized and operated in support of one or more state institutions of higher education; or a member of the council or commission: Provided, That if an appointee is an employee or board member of an out-of-state higher education institution, there is no apparent conflict of interest caused by the individual serving in both capacities. This subsection does not prevent the representative from the faculty, classified employees or, as appropriate, nonclassified employees, students or the superintendent of a county board of education from being members of the governing boards.

(B) For a community and technical college, a person is ineligible for appointment who is an officer, employee or member of any other board of governors within this state; a member of a board of visitors of any public institution of higher education; an employee of any institution of higher education within this state; an officer or member of any political party executive committee; the holder of any other public office, other than an elected county office, or public employment, other than employment by the county board of education, under the government of this state or any of its political subdivisions; an employee of any affiliated research corporation created pursuant to §18B-12-1 et seq. of this code; an employee of any affiliated foundation organized and operated in support of one or more state institutions of higher education; or a member of the council or commission: Provided, That if an appointee is an employee or board member of an out-of-state higher education institution, there is no apparent conflict of interest caused by the individual serving in both capacities. This subsection does not prevent the representative from the faculty, classified employees or, as appropriate, nonclassified employees or students from being members of the governing boards.

(2) Before exercising any authority or performing any duties as a member of a governing board, each member shall qualify as such by taking and subscribing to the oath of office prescribed by section five, article IV of the Constitution of West Virginia and the certificate thereof shall be filed with the Secretary of State.

(3) A member of a governing board appointed by the Governor may not be removed from office by the Governor except for official misconduct, incompetence, neglect of duty or gross immorality and then only in the manner prescribed by law for the removal of the state elective officers by the Governor.

(4) The members of the board of governors serve without compensation, but are reimbursed for all reasonable and necessary expenses actually incurred in the performance of official duties under this article upon presentation of an itemized sworn statement of expenses.

(5) The president of the institution shall make available resources of the institution for conducting the business of its board of governors. All expenses incurred by the board of governors and the institution under this section are paid from funds allocated to the institution for that purpose.

§18B-2A-2. Meetings.

(a) The boards of Governors shall hold at least six meetings in every fiscal year, including an annual meeting each June for the purpose of electing officers.

Of the sixteen voting members of the boards of Governors of Marshall University and West Virginia University, nine shall constitute a quorum. Of the twelve voting members of the boards of Governors of the other state institutions of higher education, seven shall constitute a quorum. A majority vote of the quorum shall be necessary to pass upon matters before the institutional board of Governors.

(b) The boards of Governors may set aside time as they consider appropriate to afford administrators, faculty, students and classified staff an opportunity to discuss issues affecting these groups.

§18B-2A-3. Oversight of governing boards; promulgation of rules; data collection and dissemination.

(a) The governing boards are subject to the oversight of the commission or the council, as appropriate, except that the authority of the commission relating to the exempted schools is limited to the specific authorities granted under this chapter.

(b) The Chancellor for Higher Education and the Chancellor for Community and Technical College Education, under the supervision of their respective boards, are responsible for the coordination of policies, purposes and rules of the governing boards except the exempted schools and shall provide for and facilitate sufficient interaction among the governing boards and between the governing boards and the State Board of Education to meet the goals and objectives provided in the compacts and in section one-a, article one and article one-d of this chapter.

(c) The governing boards and the State Board of Education shall provide all information requested by the commission and the council, whether the request is made separately or jointly, in an appropriate format and in a timely manner.

(d)(1) Each governing board shall cooperate with the West Virginia Network for Educational Telecomputing (WVNET) in designing appropriate interfaces with the databases of institutions under its jurisdiction and shall grant WVNET direct access to these databases.

(2) WVNET, on behalf of the commission or council or both, shall generate reports from the data accessed for the purposes set forth in section five, article one-a and sections eight and ten, article one-d of this chapter.

(3) All data accessed or received from an institution shall be treated in a manner consistent with the privacy protections outlined in section ten, article one-d of this chapter.

§18B-2A-4. Powers and duties of governing boards generally.

Each governing board separately shall:

(a) Determine, control, supervise, and manage the financial, business, and education policies and affairs of the state institution of higher education under its jurisdiction;

(b) Develop a master plan for the institution under its jurisdiction.

(1) The ultimate responsibility for developing and updating each master plan at the institution resides with the governing board, but the ultimate responsibility for approving the final version of each master plan, including periodic updates, resides with the commission or council, as appropriate: Provided, That commission approval is not required for master plans of exempted schools.

(2) Each master plan shall include, but is not limited to, the following:

(A) A detailed demonstration of how the master plan will be used to meet the goals, objectives, and priorities of the compact;

(B) A well-developed set of goals, objectives, and priorities outlining missions, degree offerings, resource requirements, physical plant needs, personnel needs, enrollment levels, and other planning determinates and projections necessary in a plan to assure that the needs of the institution's area of responsibility for a quality system of higher education are addressed;

(C) Documentation showing how the governing board involved the commission or council, as appropriate, constituency groups, clientele of the institution, and the general public in the development of all segments of the master plan.

 (3) The plan shall be established for periods of not fewer than three nor more than five years and shall be revised periodically as necessary, including adding or deleting programs. The commission may review and comment upon the master plan of an exempted school. The commission may review, but may not approve or disapprove, additions or deletions of degree programs, except as expressly provided for in §18B-1B-4(a)(39) of this code.

(4) For the exempted schools, the master plan shall be updated at least bi-annually and include the steps taken to meet the legislatively established policies contained in §18B-1D-1 et seq. of this code and reports on each of the data elements identified in §18B-1D-1 et seq. of this code, including progress that the exempted schools are making relating to retention and graduation rates for resident students by organization and each college within the organization. The exempted schools shall provide copies of their respective master plan to the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability and the commission.

(c) Develop a 10-year campus development plan in accordance with §18B-19-1 et seq. of this code;

(d) Prescribe for the institution, under its jurisdiction, in accordance with its master plan and compact, specific functions and responsibilities to achieve the goals, objectives, and priorities established in §18B-1-1 et seq. and §18B-1D-1 et seq. of this code to meet the higher education needs of its area of responsibility and to avoid unnecessary duplication;

(e) Direct the preparation of an appropriation request for the institution under its jurisdiction, which relates directly to missions, goals and projections found in the master plan and the compact;

(f) Consider, revise, and submit for review and approval to the commission or council, as appropriate, an appropriation request on behalf of the institution under its jurisdiction, including the exempted schools;

(g) Review, at least every five years, all academic programs offered at the institution under its jurisdiction. The review shall address the viability, adequacy, and necessity of the programs in relation to established state goals, objectives and priorities, the master plan, the compact, and the education and workforce needs of its responsibility district. As a part of the review, each governing board shall require the institution under its jurisdiction to conduct periodic studies of its graduates and their employers to determine placement patterns and the effectiveness of the education experience. Where appropriate, these studies should coincide with the studies required of many academic disciplines by their accrediting bodies;

(h) Ensure that the sequence and availability of academic programs and courses offered by the institution under its jurisdiction is such that students have the maximum opportunity to complete programs in the time frame normally associated with program completion. Each governing board is responsible to see that the needs of nontraditional college-age students are appropriately addressed and, to the extent it is possible for the individual governing board to control, to assure core course work completed at the institution is transferable to any other state institution of higher education for credit with the grade earned;

(i) Subject to §18B-1B-1 et seq. of this code, approve the teacher education programs offered in the institution under its control. In order to permit graduates of teacher education programs to receive a degree from a nationally accredited program and in order to prevent expensive duplication of program accreditation, the commission may select and use one nationally recognized teacher education program accreditation standard as the appropriate standard for program evaluation;

(j) Involve faculty, students, and classified employees in institution-level planning and decision making when those groups are affected;

(k) Subject to federal law and pursuant to §18B-7-1 et seq., §18B-8-1 et seq., §18B-9-1 et seq., and §18B-9A1 et seq. of this code and to rules adopted by the commission and the council, administer a system for the management of personnel matters, including, but not limited to, discipline for employees at the institution under its jurisdiction: Provided, That any rules adopted by the commission and the council do not apply to exempted schools;

(l) Administer a system for hearing employee grievances and appeals. Notwithstanding any other provision of this code to the contrary, the procedure established in §6C-2-1 et seq. of this code is the exclusive mechanism for hearing prospective employee grievances and appeals;

(m) Solicit and use or expend voluntary support, including financial contributions and support services, for the institution under its jurisdiction;

(n) Appoint a president for the institution under its jurisdiction, subject to §18B-1B-6 of this code;

(o) Conduct written performance evaluations of the president, pursuant to §18B-1B-6 of this code;

(p) Employ all faculty and staff at the institution under its jurisdiction. The employees operate under the supervision of the president, but are employees of the governing board;

(q) Submit to the commission or council, as appropriate, any data or reports requested by the commission or council within the time frame set by the commission or council;

(r) Enter into contracts or consortium agreements with the public schools, private schools, or private industry to provide technical, vocational, college preparatory, remedial, and customized training courses at locations either on campuses of the state institutions of higher education or at off-campus locations in the institution's responsibility district. To accomplish this goal, the boards may share resources among the various groups in the community;

(s) Provide and transfer funds and property to certain corporations pursuant to §18B-12-10 of this code;

(t) Delegate, with prescribed standards and limitations, the part of its power and control over the business affairs of the institution to the president in any case where it considers the delegation necessary and prudent in order to enable the institution to function in a proper and expeditious manner and to meet the requirements of its master plan and compact. If a governing board elects to delegate any of its power and control under this subsection, it shall enter the delegation in the minutes of the meeting when the decision was made and shall notify the commission or council, as appropriate. Any delegation of power and control may be rescinded by the appropriate governing board, the commission or council, as appropriate, at any time, in whole or in part, except that the commission may not revoke delegations of authority made by the governing board of the exempted schools.

(u) Unless changed by the commission or the council, as appropriate, continue to abide by existing rules setting forth standards for accepting advanced placement credit for the institution under its jurisdiction. Individual departments at a state institution of higher education, with approval of the faculty senate, may require higher scores on the advanced placement test than scores designated by the governing board when the credit is to be used toward meeting a requirement of the core curriculum for a major in that department;

(v) Consult, cooperate, and coordinate with the State Treasurer and the State Auditor to update as necessary and maintain an efficient and cost-effective system for the financial management and expenditure of appropriated and non-appropriated revenue at the institution under its jurisdiction. The system shall ensure that properly submitted requests for payment are paid on or before the due date but, in any event, within 15 days of receipt in the State Auditor's Office;

(w) In consultation with the appropriate chancellor and the Secretary of the Department of Administration, develop, update as necessary, and maintain a plan to administer a consistent method of conducting personnel transactions, including, but not limited to, hiring, dismissal, promotions, changes in salary or compensation, and transfers at the institution under its jurisdiction. Each personnel transaction shall be accompanied by the appropriate standardized system or forms, as appropriate, which shall be submitted to the respective governing board and the Department of Administration:

(1) Not later than July 1, 2012, the Department of Administration shall make available to each governing board the option of using a standardized electronic system for these personnel transactions.

(2) The Secretary of the Department of Administration may suspend a governing board's participation in the standardized electronic system if he or she certifies to the Governor that the governing board has failed repeatedly and substantially to comply with the department's policies for administering the electronic system;

(x) Notwithstanding any other provision of this code to the contrary, transfer funds from any account specifically appropriated for its use to any corresponding line item in a general revenue account at any agency or institution under its jurisdiction as long as the transferred funds are used for the purposes appropriated;

(y) Transfer funds from appropriated special revenue accounts for capital improvements under its jurisdiction to special revenue accounts at agencies or institutions under its jurisdiction as long as the transferred funds are used for the purposes appropriated in accordance with §18B-19-1 et seq. of this code;

(z) Notwithstanding any other provision of this code to the contrary, acquire necessary legal services, including representation of the governing board, its institution, employees, and officers before any court or administrative body. The counsel may be employed either on a salaried basis or on a reasonable fee basis. In addition, the governing board may, but is not required to, call upon the Attorney General for legal assistance and representation as provided by law;

(aa) Contract and pay for disability insurance for a class or classes of employees at a state institution of higher education under its jurisdiction; and

(bb) Contract and pay for any supplemental employee benefit, at the governing board's discretion: Provided, That if such supplemental benefit program incurs institutional expense, then the board may not delegate the approval of the supplemental employee benefit program.

(cc) On or after July 1, 2024, nothing in this section authorizes a governing board to restrict or regulate the carrying of a concealed pistol or revolver by a person who holds a current and valid license to carry a concealed deadly weapon except as expressly authorized in §18B-4-5b of this code.

§18B-2A-5. Public school service program.

Each governing board shall establish and implement a policy through which college students obtain credit toward graduation for service performed in the public schools as tutors, student advisors and mentors to instill in public school students the benefits of postsecondary education attainment.

§18B-2A-6. University status for public baccalaureate institutions of higher education.

(a) The purpose of this section is to redesignate certain existing public baccalaureate institutions as universities and to provide a mechanism for other public baccalaureate institutions to become universities. The change in name is based on each institution’s ability to meet minimum standards developed and adopted by the commission.

(b) Each governing board of a public baccalaureate institution is authorized to make changes which would further its eligibility to attain university status:

(1) If the college meets the eligibility requirements established by the commission to attain university status and if the commission grants university status, then the governing board shall determine the effective date on which the public baccalaureate institution becomes a university; and

(2) On and after the effective date designated by the governing board, the baccalaureate institution shall be designated a university.

(c) Concord college, Fairmont state college, Shepherd college and West Virginia state college, having met the eligibility requirements established by the commission to attain university status, are hereby designated as universities on the effective date of this section.

(d) Glenville state college having met the eligibility requirements established by the commission to attain university status, is hereby designated as a university on the effective date of the amendment of this section.

(e) An institution may not request or seek additional state appropriations as a result of the redesignation provided for in this section. No consequences, including the need to meet future accreditation requirements in order to maintain university status, which arise as a result of designating an existing state college as a university, provide sufficient justification for an institution to request or in any way seek additional state funds.

(f) Notwithstanding any provision of this code to the contrary, Marshall university and West Virginia University are, and remain, the only research and doctoral degree-granting public institutions of higher education in this state.

§18B-2A-7. Transfer of orders, resolutions, policies and rules, obligations, etc.; division of assets and liabilities; financial audits.

(a) When a board of Governors is established for the Community and Technical College of Shepherd or New River Community and Technical College, all orders, resolutions, policies and rules adopted or promulgated by the community and technical college's sponsoring institution relating to the community and technical college or community and technical college education, or which the newly established board of Governors finds necessary for the exercise of its lawful powers and duties pursuant to the provisions of this chapter, shall continue in effect until rescinded, revised, altered or amended by the newly established board of Governors. Nothing in this section requires the initial rules or policies of the community and technical college to be promulgated again under the rule adopted by the council for community and technical college education pursuant to section six, article one of this chapter unless such rules or policies are rescinded, revised, altered or amended.

(b) Each valid agreement and obligation, undertaken or agreed to on behalf of either of the above community and technical colleges by its sponsoring institution before a board of Governors is established for the community and technical college is hereby transferred to the board of Governors of the community and technical college once established.

(c) The boards of Governors of each former sponsoring institution and community and technical college shall jointly agree on a division of all assets and liabilities between the sponsoring institution and the community and technical college. If the boards of Governors are unable to reach agreement concerning a division of assets and liabilities on or before May 1 following the date on which the board of Governors of the community and technical college is established, the boards of Governors shall submit a summary of issues in dispute to the Higher Education Policy Commission and the council for community and technical college education which shall jointly resolve all outstanding issues concerning the division of assets and liabilities.

(d) The division of all assets and liabilities between the former sponsoring institution and community and technical college shall be effective on July 1, following the date on which the board of Governors of the community and technical college is established.

(e) Any financial audit conducted for the period before the effective date of the division of assets and liabilities shall treat the community and technical college as an administratively linked institution.

§18B-2A-7a. Transfer of orders, resolutions, policies and rules, obligations, etc.

(a) Effective July 1, 2008, a governing board is established for the following state institutions of higher education pursuant to section one of this article:

(1) Marshall Community and Technical College;

(2) Pierpont Community and Technical College, formerly a division of Fairmont State University;

(3) The Community and Technical College at West Virginia University Institute of Technology;

(4) West Virginia State Community and Technical College; and

(5) West Virginia University at Parkersburg.

(b) All orders, resolutions, policies and rules adopted or promulgated by a governing board of a former administratively linked community and technical college, regional campus, or division within an accredited institution on behalf of an institution named in subsection (a) of this section relating to the community and technical college or community and technical college education, or which the newly-established board of Governors finds necessary or expedient for the exercise of its lawful powers and duties pursuant to the provisions of this chapter, shall continue in effect until rescinded, revised, altered or amended by the newly-established board of Governors. Nothing in this section requires the initial rules or policies of a community and technical college to be promulgated again under the rule adopted by the council pursuant to section six, article one of this chapter unless such rules or policies are rescinded, revised, altered or amended.

(c) Each valid agreement and obligation, undertaken or agreed to by the former sponsoring institution or governing board of a division, regional campus or administratively-linked community and technical college before July 1, 2008, on behalf of a community and technical college named in subsection (a) of this section is hereby transferred to the board of Governors of that community and technical college.

(d) Each newly established board of Governors and each appropriate institution formerly sponsoring a community and technical college shall jointly agree on a division of all assets and liabilities. If the boards of Governors are unable to reach agreement concerning a division of assets and liabilities on or before December 1, 2008, the boards of Governors shall submit a summary of issues in dispute to the commission and the council which shall jointly resolve all outstanding issues concerning the division of assets and liabilities.

(e) For purposes of generating audited financial statements for inclusion in the higher education fund and state single audits, the division of all assets and liabilities shall be effective retroactively to July 1, 2008.

(f) Any other disputes between an independent community and technical college and its former sponsoring institution, regarding their respective rights and responsibilities under this chapter of the code, which cannot be resolved by the governing boards, shall be resolved as follows:

(1) The matters in dispute shall be summarized in writing and submitted to the chancellors jointly for resolution;

(2) If the matters in dispute cannot be resolved by the chancellors within thirty days, they shall be submitted to the council and commission for resolution;

(3) If the commission and council jointly cannot reach a resolution following their first regularly scheduled meeting or within sixty days, whichever is sooner, the chairpersons of the commission and council respectively shall establish a three-person panel to hear the matters and issue a decision within thirty days:

(A) The three-person panel is comprised of one person appointed by the chairperson of the commission, one person appointed by the chairperson of the council, and one person appointed jointly by the two chairpersons.

(B) The decision rendered by the three-person panel is binding on the governing boards, commission and council, and may not be challenged in the courts of this state.

(g) Each former sponsoring institution and community and technical college shall enter into a comprehensive agreement to address the division of assets and liabilities and the allocation of revenues and expenditures between former sponsoring institutions and newly independent community and technical colleges.

(h) Absent manifest injustice as determined jointly by the council and commission, the following general principles apply to the division of assets and liabilities and allocation of revenues and expenditures between former sponsoring institutions and the newly independent community and technical colleges:

(1) For accounting purposes, the institution that assumes responsibility for any asset also shall assume responsibility for any associated liabilities.

(2) Although one institution may assume responsibility for an asset and associated liabilities for accounting purposes, both institutions shall agree on their respective responsibilities for reducing and ultimately eliminating the liability over time if the asset was originally acquired and/or is being used for the benefit of both institutions.

(A) Any agreement to allocate system and institution educational and general and auxiliary debt service payments shall be consistent with the provisions of all applicable bond covenants.

(B) Absent a controlling bond covenant or other agreement, debt service payments associated with bonded indebtedness presumptively shall be allocated based on the relative full-time equivalent student enrollment of the two institutions either as a whole or on the campus where the asset is located and may be adjusted annually to reflect enrollment changes at the two institutions.

(3) The institutions shall agree to allocate educational and general and auxiliary capital fees in excess of those needed to cover bonded indebtedness to ensure that assets of both institutions are maintained in proper repair and that the institutions assume responsibility for a reasonable share of the total costs of maintaining the facilities.

(4) The institutions shall develop a plan that ensures the financial stability of auxiliary enterprises, including, but not limited to, student housing, student centers, dining services, parking, and athletics through fiscal year 2012.

(A) If community and technical college students pay a mandatory athletics fee for the benefit of a former sponsoring institution, but receive no direct benefit from that fee, the community and technical college may phase out that fee over a five-year period.

(B) If certain community and technical college students were required to live in institution housing consistent with rules or policies in effect on the effective date of this section, the former sponsoring institution may continue to require these students to live in institution housing for at least one year.

(i) If either institution proposes to reduce the services that it provides or purchases from the other institution by more than ten percent in any one year and the reduction exceeds $200,000, the institution shall obtain the approval of both the council and the commission before doing so. In evaluating the proposal, the council and commission shall consider the following:

(1) The benefit to be obtained for the institution seeking to reduce the services it provides or purchases;

(2) The impact of the proposed reduction on the institution currently providing the services;

(3) Any additional costs that might be incurred as a result of the reduction in services; and

(4) The adequacy of the transition plan.

(j) To the extent practicable, state financial systems shall be set up for higher education institutions which participate in shared services agreements to facilitate ease of processing while ensuring that data from the two institutions are readily segregable at the state level.

§18B-2A-8. Additional powers and duties of governing boards.

(a) The governing board of a state institution of higher education is granted the additional powers and assigned the associated duties pursuant to this section previously granted and assigned to the governing boards of Marshall University and West Virginia University, ifthe commission or council, as appropriate, approves granting the powers and assigning the duties to that governing board.(b) The powers and duties that may be granted and assigned pursuant to this section are the following:(1) Sections five, six and seven, article three, chapter twelve of this code;

(2) Section two, article three of this chapter;

(3) Sections five, six and seven, article four of this chapter;

(4) Section seven, article five of this chapter; and

(5) Section six-a, article ten of this chapter.

(c) Additional powers and duties related to purchasing -- The powers and duties granted and assigned to the governing boards of Marshall University and West Virginia University by section four, article five of this chapter are extended to the governing boards of all other state institutions of higher education under the following conditions:

(1) The commission and council shall conduct a study to determine the capacity of each governing board under their respective jurisdictions to implement the additional powers and carry out the additional assigned duties related to purchasing;

(2) Based upon the findings of the study, the commission and council shall approve the governing boards under their respective jurisdictions that they determine have the capacity to exercise the powers and carry out the assigned duties pursuant to section four, article five of this chapter; and

(3) The commission and council shall report their findings together with a list of the governing boards they each have approved to the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability by December 1, 2011.

(d) The commission and council have the power and the duty to monitor participation and provide technical assistance, as requested or required, to governing boards under their respective jurisdictions and to limit or rescind exercise of the powers, in whole or in part, granted by this section to a governing board if, in the sole determination of the commission or council, as appropriate, that action is warranted.

§18B-2B-1. Legislative findings; intent; purpose.

(a) The Legislature hereby finds that:

(1) The goals, objectives and purposes contained in enrolled Senate Bill No. 653, passed during the two thousand regular legislative session, reflected the research findings available to the Legislature at the time; since then, however, additional research indicates that, while enrolled Senate Bill No. 653 moves in the appropriate direction of independent accreditation and meeting essential conditions for public community and technical colleges, the legislation does not take the final steps that are considered to be necessary by independent researchers. This position is clearly demonstrated by the recent research findings and recommendations cited below:

(A) "West Virginia: A Vision Shared! Economic Development: A Plan for West Virginia's Future", hereinafter cited in this article and article two-c of this chapter as the Market Street Report, is a research document commissioned by the West Virginia council for community and economic development to assess the economic competitiveness of the state. The report makes a number of findings and recommendations important to public community and technical college education:

(i) The state needs to adopt and implement a specific focus on technical education; in particular, it needs to move away from the traditionally isolated and limited vocational programming towards a systematic approach of teaching technical skills that employers need today;

(ii) The state needs to establish a strong technical education system that is separate from the university system and is responsive to the needs of business throughout the state;

(iii) The state needs to establish as a high-level priority the training and retraining of its working-age adults to help them acquire and maintain the competitive skills they need to succeed in today's economy; and

(iv) The state needs to emphasize the role of lifelong learning as a critical piece of its overall education and training system if the state is to make the transition to the new economy.

(B) The Report to the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability, hereinafter cited in this article and article two-c as the McClenney Report, is a study required by provisions of enrolled Senate Bill No. 653 and conducted by Dr. Kay McClenney. The research found that:

(i) The participation rate in West Virginia community and technical college education is substantially lower than will be necessary if the state is to achieve its goals for economic development and prosperity for its citizens;

(ii) The low visibility of the component community and technical colleges effectively restricts access for the West Virginians who most need encouragement to participate in post-secondary education and training;

(iii) It is not clear that the parent institutions of the component community colleges actually embrace the community college mission;

(iv) The community and technical college developmental education programs are underserving by far the evident needs of the population, especially as that service relates to nontraditional students;

(v) Adults over age twenty-five are under represented in the community and technical college student populations;

(vi) Technical education program development and enrollment are not at the levels necessary to serve the needs of the state;

(vii) Independent accreditation and the essential conditions required by enrolled Senate Bill No. 653 are necessary, but not sufficient alone to provide a strong enough tool to accomplish the state's goal to strengthen community and technical college education;

(viii) The community and technical college will not be able to operate optimally until they move out of the shadow of their "parent" institutions, with the flexibility and autonomy to establish a uniquely community college identity, culture, program mix, outreach capacity and approach to teaching and learning;

(ix) The development of stronger support mechanisms for the community and technical colleges should be an extension of the ongoing step-by-step process for achieving the goals for post secondary education in the state;

(x) Building on the foundations laid in enrolled committee substitute for Senate Bill No. 547 and enrolled Senate Bill No. 653, the Legislature should now establish the further systemic and policy supports that are needed for the community and technical college to thrive, perform and meet state goals;

(xi) Implementation will necessarily be incremental;

(xii) The consistent focus at the state level should be on the statewide mission of raising educational attainment, increasing adult literacy, promoting workforce and economic development and ensuring access to advanced education for the citizens of West Virginia;

(xiii) The solution must ensure a high degree of flexibility and autonomy at the local level, preserving the ability of community and technical colleges to respond rapidly and effectively to local needs;

(xiv) At the same time, there is serious and recognized need for statewide leadership, coordination and support for the work of the community and technical colleges and the advocacy for the public priorities that these institutions are charged to address;

and therefore

(xv) The state needs to create a community college support capacity at the state level that will bring leadership, coordination, technical support, advocacy and critical mass to a statewide network of local community and technical college campuses.

(C) The Report and Recommendations of the Implementation Board to the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission, hereinafter cited in this article and article two-c of this chapter as the Implementation Board Report, is a study required by enrolled Senate Bill No. 653 to determine the most effective and efficient method to deliver community and technical college services in the former responsibility areas of Marshall university, West Virginia state college and West Virginia University institute of technology. The Implementation Board Report states its goals and vision for community and technical college education in the advantage valley region as one of a dynamic, vital and vibrant community college network which offers:

(i) Affordable, quality training and education to students;

(ii) Represents a recognized path of choice to success in the knowledge economy for thousands of West Virginians; and

(iii) Provides West Virginia businesses with the highly skilled workforce necessary to meet their evolving needs in the global knowledge economy.

(D) In furtherance of their goals, the Implementation Board Report recommended formation of the advantage valley community college network:

(i) To enhance economic development through coordinated leadership and a delivery system for education and training initiatives;

(ii) To provide accountability through a separate compact and through independent accreditation of each of the affected community and technical colleges; and

(iii) To enhance education opportunities for the citizens of the area and assist in overcoming the barrier of accessibility in higher education.

(b) Based on the recent research cited above, the Legislature further finds that:

(1) The recommendations of the Market Street Report clearly point out the shortcomings of the state's current approach to providing post-secondary education and programs and show the consequences of failing to change appropriately;

(2) The research, findings, vision and goals set forth in the McClenney Report and the Implementation Board Report are noteworthy and, although written, in part, to address specific institutions, have broad application statewide for community and technical colleges;

(3) The research shows that:

(A) A need exists to enhance community and technical college education in West Virginia through the delivery of services that meet the goals of this chapter and that are delivered pursuant to the process for meeting the essential conditions established in section three, article three-c of this chapter;

(B) A need exists for statewide leadership, coordination and support for the work of the community and technical colleges and for advocacy for the public priorities these institutions are charged to address;

(C) Community and technical colleges need to be efficient, avoiding duplication and the burden of bureaucracy while recognizing fiscal realities;

(D) Community and technical colleges need a high degree of flexibility and local autonomy to preserve and expand their ability to respond rapidly and effectively to local or regional needs;

(E) Community and technical colleges need state-level support and leadership that recognize differences among regions of the state and among institutions and accept the reality that institutions are at different stages in their development and have different challenges and capabilities;

(F) Clear benchmarks and regular monitoring are required to assess the progress of community and technical colleges toward meeting the established goals and for meeting the essential conditions, including independent accreditation, established in this chapter;

(G) Implementation will necessarily be incremental;

(4) Certain acts to streamline accountability, to make maximum use of existing assets to meet new demands and target funding to initiatives designed to enhance and reorient existing capacity and to provide incentives for brokering and collaboration require that the role of the joint commission for vocational-technical- occupational education be reexamined.

(c) Legislative intent. -- The intent of the Legislature in enacting this article is to address the research findings cited above by reconstituting the joint commission for vocational- technical-occupational education as the West Virginia council for community and technical college education in order to reorient the mission, role and responsibilities consistent with and supportive of the mission, role and responsibilities of the commission, the goals for post-secondary education and accountability for assisting the public community and technical colleges, branches, centers, regional centers and other delivery sites with a community and technical college mission in achieving the state's public policy agenda.

(d) Purpose. -- The purpose of this article is to provide for the development of a leadership and support mechanism for the community and technical colleges, branches, centers, regional centers and other delivery sites with a community and technical college mission to assist them in meeting the essential conditions and in the step-by-step implementation process for achieving the goals for community and technical college education as provided for in article three-c of this chapter and to promote coordination and collaboration among secondary and post-secondary vocational- technical-occupational and adult basic education programs as provided for in this chapter and chapter eighteen of this code. The focus of this leadership and support mechanism is to encourage development of a statewide mission to raise education attainment, increase adult literacy, promote workforce and economic development and ensure access to secondary and post-secondary education for the citizens of the state while maintaining the local autonomy and flexibility necessary to the success of community and technical education.

§18B-2B-2. Definitions.

The following words when used in this article have the meaning hereinafter ascribed to them unless the context clearly indicates a different meaning:

(a) "Adult basic education" means adult basic skills education designed to improve the basic literacy needs of adults, including information processing skills, communication skills and computational skills, leading to a high school equivalency diploma under the jurisdiction of the state Board of Education.

(b) "Post-secondary vocational-technical-occupational education" means any course or program beyond the high school level that results in, or may result in, the awarding of a two-year associate degree, certificate or other credential from an institution under the jurisdiction of a governing board or other public or private education provider.

(c) "Secondary vocational-technical-occupational education" means any course or program at the high school level that results in, or may result in, a high school diploma or its equivalent under the jurisdiction of the state Board of Education.

(d) "Chancellor for community and technical college education" means the chief executive officer of the West Virginia council for community and technical college education employed pursuant to section three, article two-b of this chapter. Any reference in this code to the vice chancellor for community and technical college education and workforce development means the chancellor for community and technical college education.

(e) "West Virginia council for community and technical college education" or "council" means the council established pursuant to section three of this article. Any reference in this code to the joint commission for vocational-technical-occupational education means the West Virginia council for community and technical college education.

§18B-2B-3. West Virginia Council for Community and Technical College Education; supervision of chancellor; chief executive officer.

(a) There is continued the West Virginia Council for Community and Technical College Education. The council has all the powers and duties assigned by law to the joint commission for vocational--technical-occupational education prior to July 1, 2001, and all other powers and duties assigned by law.

(b) The council shall employ a chancellor for community and technical college education. The chancellor serves as chief executive officer of the council at the will and pleasure of the council. The chancellor shall be compensated at a level set by the council not to exceed eighty percent of the average annual salary of chief executive officers of the state systems of community and technical colleges in the states that comprise the membership of the Southern Regional Education Board.

(c) The council shall conduct written performance evaluations of the chancellor annually and may offer the chancellor a contract not to exceed three years. At the end of each contract period, the council shall review the evaluations and make a determination by vote of its members on continuing employment and level of compensation.

(d) When a vacancy occurs in the position of chancellor, the council shall enter into an initial employment contract for one year with the candidate selected to fill the vacancy. At the end of the initial period, and each contract period thereafter, the council shall review the evaluations and make a determination by vote of its members on continuing employment and compensation level for the chancellor.

(e) The individual who was serving as Vice Chancellor for Community and Technical College Education and Workforce Development and who became chancellor effective March 13, 2004, maintains all benefits of employment held, accrued and afforded as the Vice Chancellor for Community and Technical College Education and Workforce Development prior to March 13, 2004, These benefits include, but are not limited to, retirement benefits, continued membership in the same retirement system, insurance coverage and sick and annual leave. For the purposes of leave conversion established in section thirteen, article sixteen, chapter five of this code, the chancellor is not a new employee and the prohibition on conversion does not apply if the chancellor was eligible for leave conversion while serving as vice chancellor.

§18B-2B-4. Appointment, composition and terms of council.

(a) The council is comprised of thirteen members selected as follows:

(1) Eight members appointed by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate:

(A) One member shall be appointed from each community and technical college consortia district as established in this section.

(B) Prior to appointment, the Governor shall interview each candidate to assure that the person selected understands and is committed to achieving the goals and objectives as set forth in the institutional compacts and in section one-a, article one of this chapter. The Governor shall invite the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Delegates, the chairs of the Senate and House of Delegates committees on finance and education and such other legislative leaders as the Governor may determine to participate in interviewing potential candidates. Each member appointed to the council by the Governor shall represent the public interest and shall be committed to the legislative intent and goals set forth in section one-a, article one of this chapter.

(2) The chairperson of the West Virginia workforce investment council;

(3) The executive director of the West Virginia Development Office, or designee;

(4) The president of the West Virginia AFL-CIO, or a designee;

(5) The chair of the Higher Education Policy Commission who serves as an ex officio, nonvoting member of the council; and

(6) The assistant superintendent for technical and adult education of the state Department of Education who serves as an ex officio, nonvoting member of the council;

(b) Any appointed member shall be a citizen of the state, shall represent the public interest and shall understand and be committed to achieving the goals and objectives set forth in section one-a, article one of this chapter, the essential conditions set forth in article three-c of this chapter, and the goals for secondary and post-secondary vocational-technical- occupational and adult basic education in the state. Any appointed member shall represent the interests of the business, labor and employer communities and demonstrate knowledge of the education needs of the various regions, attainment levels and age groups within the state.

(c) The Governor may not appoint any person to be a member of the council who is an officer, employee or member of an advisory board of any state college or university, the holder of any other public office or public employment under the government of this state or any of its political subdivisions, an appointee or employee of any governing board or an immediate family member of any employee under the jurisdiction of the commission or any governing board. An individual may not serve on the council who is engaged in providing, or employed by a person or company whose primary function is to provide, workforce development services and activities.

(d) Members of the council serve for staggered terms of four years. Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision (1), subsection (a) of this section, on the effective date of this section any current member of the council maintains his or her appointment to the council and continues to serve for the remainder of the term for which originally appointed. Any additional appointment required by the provisions of said subdivision shall represent a consortia district not otherwise represented on the council.

§18B-2B-5. Meetings and compensation.

(a) The council shall meet as needed at the time and place specified at the call of the chairperson. One meeting each year shall be a public forum for the discussion of the goals and standards for workforce development, economic development and vocational education in the state.

(b) The council shall hold an annual meeting at its final, regularly scheduled meeting of each fiscal year for the purpose of electing officers. At the annual meeting, the council shall elect from its voting members a chairperson and other officers as it may consider necessary or desirable. The chairperson and other officers are elected for one-year terms commencing on July 1, following the annual meeting and ending on June 30 of the following year. The chairperson of the council may serve no more than four consecutive one-year terms as chair.

(c) Members of the council serve without compensation. Members shall be reimbursed for all reasonable and necessary expenses actually incurred in the performance of official duties under this article upon presentation of an itemized sworn statement of their expenses. An ex officio member of the council who is an employee of the state is reimbursed by the employing agency.

(d) A majority of the voting members constitutes a quorum for conducting the business of the council. All action taken by the council shall be by majority vote of the voting members present.

§18B-2B-6. Powers and duties of the council.

(a) The council is the sole agency responsible for administration of vocational-technical-occupational education and community and technical college education in the state. The council has jurisdiction and authority over the community and technical colleges and the statewide network of independently accredited community and technical colleges as a whole, including community and technical college education programs as defined in §18B-1-2 of this code.

(b) The council shall propose rules pursuant to §18B-1-6 and §29A-3A-1 et seq. of this code to implement the provisions of this section and applicable provisions of §18B-1D-1 et seq. of this code;

(1) To implement the provisions of §18B-1D-1 et seq. of this code relevant to community and technical colleges, the council may propose rules jointly with the commission, or separately, and may choose to address all components of the accountability system in a single rule or may propose additional rules to cover specific components;

(2) The rules pertaining to financing policy and benchmarks and indicators required by this section shall be filed with the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability by October 1, 2008. Nothing in this subsection requires other rules of the council to be promulgated again under the procedure set forth in §29A-3A-1 et seq. of this code unless such rules are rescinded, revised, altered, or amended; and

(3) The Legislature finds that an emergency exists and, therefore, the council shall propose an emergency rule or rules to implement the provisions of this section relating to the financing policy and benchmarks and indicators in accordance with §18B-1-6 and §29A-3A-1 et seq. of this code by October 1, 2008. The emergency rule or rules may not be implemented without prior approval of the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability.

(c) The council may relating to the authority established in subsection (a) of this section:

(1) Develop, oversee, and advance the public policy agenda for community and technical college education for the purpose of accomplishing the mandates of this section, including, but not limited to, the following:

(A) Achieving the goals and objectives established in §18B-1-1 et seq. and §18B-1D-1 et seq. of this code;

(B) Addressing the goals and objectives contained in the institutional compacts created pursuant to §18B-1D-7 of this code; and

(C) Developing and implementing the master plan described in §18B-1D-5 of this code;

(2) Propose a legislative rule pursuant to subsection (b) of this section and §29A-3A-1 et seq. of this code to develop and implement a financing policy for community and technical college education in West Virginia. The rule shall:

(A) Provide an adequate level of education and general funding for institutions pursuant to §18B-1A-5 of this code;

(B) Serve to maintain institutional assets, including, but not limited to, human and physical resources and deferred maintenance;

(C) Establish a plan for strategic funding to strengthen capacity for support of community and technical college education; and

(D) Establish a plan that measures progress and provides performance-based funding to institutions which make significant progress in the following specific areas:

(i) Achieving the objectives and priorities established in §18B-1D-1 et seq. of this code;

(ii) Serving targeted populations, especially working age adults 25 years of age and over;

(iii) Providing access to high-cost, high-demand, technical programs in every region of the state;

(iv) Increasing the percentage of functionally literate adults in every region of the state; and

(v) Providing high-quality community and technical college education services to residents of every region of the state.

(3) Create a policy leadership structure relating to community and technical college education capable of the following actions:

(A) Developing, building public consensus around, and sustaining attention to a long-range public policy agenda. In developing the agenda, the council shall seek input from the Legislature and the Governor and specifically from the State Board of Education and local school districts in order to create the necessary linkages to assure smooth, effective, and seamless movement of students through the public education and post-secondary education systems and to ensure that the needs of public school courses and programs can be fulfilled by the graduates produced and the programs offered;

(B) Ensuring that the governing boards of the institutions under the council's jurisdiction carry out their duty effectively to govern the individual institutions of higher education; and

(C) Holding each community and technical college and the statewide network of independently accredited community and technical colleges as a whole accountable for accomplishing their missions and achieving the goals and objectives established in §18B-1-1 et seq., §18B-1D-1 et seq., and §18B-3C-1 et seq. of this code;

(4) Develop for inclusion in the statewide public agenda, a plan for raising education attainment, increasing adult literacy, promoting workforce and economic development, and ensuring access to advanced education for the citizens of West Virginia;

(5) Provide statewide leadership, coordination, support, and technical assistance to the community and technical colleges and to provide a focal point for visible and effective advocacy for their work and for the public policy agendas approved by the commission and council;

(6) Review and adopt annually all institutional compacts for the community and technical colleges pursuant to the provisions of §18B-1D-7 of this code;

(7) Fulfill the mandates of the accountability system established in §18B-1D-1 et seq. of this code and report on progress in meeting established goals, objectives, and priorities to the elected leadership of the state;

(8) Propose a legislative rule pursuant to subsection (b) of this section and §29A-3A-1 et seq. of this code to establish benchmarks and indicators in accordance with the provisions of this subsection;

(9) Establish and implement the benchmarks and performance indicators necessary to measure institutional progress:

(A) In meeting state goals, objectives, and priorities established in §18B-1-1 et seq. and §18B-1D-1 et seq. of this code;

(B) In carrying out institutional missions; and

(C) In meeting the essential conditions established in §18B-3C-1 et seq. of this code;

(10) Establish a formal process for identifying needs for capital investments and for determining priorities for these investments for consideration by the Governor and the Legislature as part of the appropriation request process. Notwithstanding the language in §18B-1B-4(a)(11) of this code, the commission is not a part of the process for identifying needs for capital investments for the statewide network of independently accredited community and technical colleges;

(11) Draw upon the expertise available within the Governor's Workforce Investment Office and the West Virginia Development Office as a resource in the area of workforce development and training;

(12) Acquire necessary legal services including representation of the council, its institutions, employees, and officers before any court or administrative body, notwithstanding any other provision of this code to the contrary. The counsel may be employed either on a salaried basis or on a reasonable fee basis. In addition, the council may, but is not required to, call upon the Attorney General for legal assistance and representation as provided by law;

(13) Employ a chancellor for community and technical college education pursuant to §18B-2B-3 of this code;

(14) Employ other staff as necessary and appropriate to carry out the duties and responsibilities of the council consistent with the provisions of §18B-4-2 of this code;

(15) Employ other staff as necessary and appropriate to carry out the duties and responsibilities of the council who are employed solely by the council;

(16) Provide suitable offices in Charleston for the chancellor and other staff: Provided, That the offices may be located outside of Charleston at a technology and research center: Provided, however, That the current employees of WVNET shall not be moved from Monongalia County without legislative approval;

(17) Approve the total compensation package from all sources for presidents of community and technical colleges, as proposed by the governing boards. The governing boards must obtain approval from the council of the total compensation package both when presidents are employed initially and subsequently when any change is made in the amount of the total compensation package;

(18) Establish and implement policies and procedures to ensure that students may transfer and apply toward the requirements for a degree the maximum number of credits earned at any regionally accredited in-state or out-of-state higher education institution with as few requirements to repeat courses or to incur additional costs as is consistent with sound academic policy;

(19) Establish and implement policies and programs, jointly with the community and technical colleges, through which students who have gained knowledge and skills through employment, participation in education and training at vocational schools or other education institutions, or Internet-based education programs, may demonstrate by competency-based assessment that they have the necessary knowledge and skills to be granted academic credit or advanced placement standing toward the requirements of an associate degree or a bachelor's degree at a state institution of higher education;

(20) Seek out and attend regional and national meetings and forums on education and workforce development-related topics, as council members consider critical for the performance of their duties. The council shall keep abreast of national and regional community and technical college education trends and policies to aid members in developing the policies for this state that meet the education goals and objectives established in §18B-1-1 et seq. and §18B-1D-1 et seq. of this code;

(21) Assess community and technical colleges for the payment of expenses of the council or for the funding of statewide services, obligations, or initiatives related specifically to the provision of community and technical college education;

(22) Promulgate rules allocating reimbursement of appropriations, if made available by the Legislature, to community and technical colleges for qualifying noncapital expenditures incurred in the provision of services to students with physical, learning, or severe sensory disabilities;

(23) Assume the prior authority of the commission in examining and approving tuition and fee increase proposals submitted by community and technical college governing boards as provided in §18B-10-1 of this code;

(24) Develop and submit to the commission, a single budget for community and technical college education that reflects recommended appropriations for community and technical colleges and that meets the following conditions:

(A) Incorporates the provisions of the financing rule mandated by this section to measure and provide performance funding to institutions which achieve or make significant progress toward achieving established state objectives and priorities;

(B) Considers the progress of each institution toward meeting the essential conditions set forth in §18B-3C-3 of this code, including independent accreditation; and

(C) Considers the progress of each institution toward meeting the goals, objectives, and priorities established in §18B-1D-1 et seq. of this code and its approved institutional compact.

(25) Administer and distribute the independently accredited community and technical college development account;

(26) Establish a plan of strategic funding to strengthen capacity for support and assure delivery of high-quality community and technical college education in all regions of the state;

(27) Foster coordination among all state-level, regional and local entities providing post-secondary vocational education or workforce development, and coordinate all public institutions and entities that have a community and technical college mission;

(28) Assume the principal responsibility for oversight of those community and technical colleges seeking independent accreditation and for holding governing boards accountable for meeting the essential conditions pursuant to §18B-3C-1 et seq. of this code;

(29) Advise and consent in the appointment of the presidents of the community and technical colleges pursuant to §18B-1B-6 of this code. The role of the council in approving a president is to assure through personal interview that the person selected understands and is committed to achieving the goals and objectives established in the institutional compact and in §18B-1-1 et seq., §18B-1D-1 et seq., and §18B-3C-1 et seq. of this code;

(30) Provide a single, statewide link for current and prospective employers whose needs extend beyond one locality;

(31) Provide a mechanism capable of serving two or more institutions to facilitate joint problem-solving in areas including, but not limited to the following:

(A) Defining faculty roles and personnel policies;

(B) Delivering high-cost technical education programs across the state;

(C) Providing one-stop service for workforce training to be delivered by multiple institutions; and

(D) Providing opportunities for resource-sharing and collaborative ventures;

(32) Provide support and technical assistance to develop, coordinate, and deliver effective and efficient community and technical college education programs and services in all regions of the state;

(33) Assist the community and technical colleges in establishing and promoting links with business, industry, and labor in the geographic areas for which each community and technical college is responsible;

(34) Develop alliances among the community and technical colleges for resource sharing, joint development of courses and courseware, and sharing of expertise and staff development;

(35) Serve aggressively as an advocate for development of a seamless curriculum;

(36) Cooperate with all providers of education services in the state to remove barriers relating to a seamless system of public and higher education and to transfer and articulate between and among community and technical colleges, state colleges and universities, and public education, preschool through grade 12;

(37) Encourage the most efficient use of available resources;

(38) Coordinate with the commission in informing public school students, their parents, and teachers of the academic preparation that students need in order to be prepared adequately to succeed in their selected fields of study and career plans, including presentation of academic career fairs;

(39) Jointly with the commission, approve and implement a uniform standard, as developed by the chancellors, to determine which students shall be placed in remedial or developmental courses. The standard shall be aligned with college admission tests and assessment tools used in West Virginia and shall be applied uniformly by the governing boards throughout the public higher education system. The chancellors shall develop a clear, concise explanation of the standard which the governing boards shall communicate to the State Board of Education and the State Superintendent of Schools;

(40) Develop and implement strategies and curriculum for providing developmental education which shall be applied by any state institution of higher education providing developmental education;

(41) Develop a statewide system of community and technical college programs and services in every region of West Virginia for competency-based certification of knowledge and skills, including a statewide competency-based associate degree program;

(42) Review and approve all institutional master plans for the community and technical colleges pursuant to §18B-2A-4 of this code;

(43) Propose rules for promulgation pursuant to subsection (b) of this section and §29A-3A-1 et seq. of this code that are necessary or expedient for the effective and efficient performance of community and technical colleges in the state;

(44) In its sole discretion, transfer any rule under its jurisdiction, other than a legislative rule, to the jurisdiction of the governing boards who may rescind, revise, alter, or amend any rule transferred pursuant to rules adopted by the council and provide technical assistance to the institutions under its jurisdiction to aid them in promulgating rules;

(45) Develop for inclusion in the higher education report card, as defined in §18B-1D-8 of this code, a separate section on community and technical colleges. This section shall include, but is not limited to, evaluation of the institutions based upon the benchmarks and indicators developed in subdivision (9) of this subsection;

(46) Facilitate continuation of the Advantage Valley Community College Network under the leadership and direction of Marshall Community and Technical College;

(47) Initiate and facilitate creation of other regional networks of affiliated community and technical colleges that the council finds to be appropriate and in the best interests of the citizens to be served;

(48) Develop with the State Board of Education plans for secondary and post-secondary vocational-technical-occupational and adult basic education, including, but not limited to, the following:

(A) Policies to strengthen vocational-technical-occupational and adult basic education; and

(B) Programs and methods to assist in the improvement, modernization, and expanded delivery of vocational-technical-occupational and adult basic education programs;

(49) Distribute federal vocational education funding provided under the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Technical Education Act of 1998, PL 105-332, with an emphasis on distributing financial assistance among secondary and post-secondary vocational-technical-occupational and adult basic education programs to help meet the public policy agenda.

In distributing funds the council shall use the following guidelines:

(A) The State Board of Education shall continue to be the fiscal agent for federal vocational education funding;

(B) The percentage split between the State Board of Education and the council shall be determined by rule promulgated by the council under the provisions of §29A-3A-1 et seq. of this code. The council shall first obtain the approval of the State Board of Education before proposing a rule;

(50) Collaborate, cooperate, and interact with all secondary and post-secondary vocational-technical-occupational and adult basic education programs in the state, including the programs assisted under the federal Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Technical Education Act of 1998, PL 105-332, and the Workforce Investment Act of 1998, to promote the development of seamless curriculum and the elimination of duplicative programs;

(51) Coordinate the delivery of vocational-technical-occupational and adult basic education in a manner designed to make the most effective use of available public funds to increase accessibility for students;

(52) Analyze and report to the State Board of Education on the distribution of spending for vocational-technical-occupational and adult basic education in the state and on the availability of vocational-technical-occupational and adult basic education activities and services within the state;

(53) Promote the delivery of vocational-technical-occupational education, adult basic education, and community and technical college education programs in the state which emphasize the involvement of business, industry, and labor organizations;

(54) Promote public participation in the provision of vocational-technical-occupational education, adult basic education, and community and technical education at the local level, emphasizing programs which involve the participation of local employers and labor organizations;

(55) Promote equal access to quality vocational-technical-occupational education, adult basic education, and community and technical college education programs to handicapped and disadvantaged individuals, adults in need of training and retraining, single parents, homemakers, participants in programs designed to eliminate sexual bias and stereotyping, and criminal offenders serving in correctional institutions;

(56) Meet annually between the months of October and December with the Advisory Committee of Community and Technical College Presidents created pursuant to §18B-2B-8 of this code to discuss those matters relating to community and technical college education in which advisory committee members or the council may have an interest;

(57) Accept and expend any gift, grant, contribution, bequest, endowment, or other money for the purposes of this article;

(58) Assume the powers set out in §18B-2B-9 of this code. The rules previously promulgated by the State College System Board of Directors pursuant to that section and transferred to the commission are hereby transferred to the council and shall continue in effect until rescinded, revised, altered or amended by the council;

(59) Pursuant to the provisions of subsection (b) of this section and §29A-3A-1 et seq. of this code, promulgate a uniform joint legislative rule with the commission for the purpose of standardizing, as much as possible, the administration of personnel matters among the institutions of higher education;

(60) Determine when a joint rule among the governing boards of the community and technical colleges is necessary or required by law and, in those instances and in consultation with the governing boards, promulgate the joint rule;

(61) Promulgate a joint rule with the commission establishing tuition and fee policy for all institutions of higher education. The rule shall include, but is not limited to, the following:

(A) Comparisons with peer institutions;

(B) Differences among institutional missions;

(C) Strategies for promoting student access;

(D) Consideration of charges to out-of-state students; and

(E) Any other policies the commission and council consider appropriate;

(62) In cooperation with the West Virginia Division of Highways, study a method for increasing the signage signifying community and technical college locations along the state interstate highways, and report to the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability regarding any recommendations and required costs; and

(63) Implement a policy jointly with the commission whereby any course credit earned at a community and technical college transfers for program credit at any other state institution of higher education and is not limited to fulfilling a general education requirement.

(d) In addition to the powers and duties listed in subsections (a), (b), and (c) of this section, the council has the following general powers and duties related to its role in developing, articulating, and overseeing the implementation of the public policy agenda for community and technical colleges:

(1) Planning and policy leadership including a distinct and visible role in setting the state's policy agenda for the delivery of community and technical college education and in serving as an agent of change;

(2) Policy analysis and research focused on issues affecting the community and technical college network as a whole or a geographical region thereof;

(3) Development and implementation of each community and technical college mission definition including use of incentive and performance funds to influence institutional behavior in ways that are consistent with achieving established state goals, objectives, and priorities;

(4) Academic program review and approval for the institutions under its jurisdiction, including the use of institutional missions as a template to judge the appropriateness of both new and existing programs and the authority to implement needed changes;

(5) Development of budget and allocation of resources for institutions delivering community and technical college education, including reviewing and approving institutional operating and capital budgets, and distributing incentive and performance-based funding;

(6) Acting as the agent to receive and disburse public funds related to community and technical college education when a governmental entity requires designation of a statewide higher education agency for this purpose;

(7) Development, establishment, and implementation of information, assessment, and internal accountability systems, including maintenance of statewide data systems that facilitate long-term planning and accurate measurement of strategic outcomes and performance indicators for community and technical colleges;

(8) Jointly with the commission, development, establishment, and implementation of policies for licensing and oversight of both public and private degree-granting and nondegree-granting institutions that provide post-secondary education courses or programs;

(9) Development, implementation, and oversight of statewide and regionwide projects and initiatives related specifically to providing community and technical college education such as those using funds from federal categorical programs or those using incentive and performance-based funding from any source; and

(10) Quality assurance that intersects with all other duties of the council particularly in the areas of planning, policy analysis, program review and approval, budgeting and information, and accountability systems.

(e) The council may withdraw specific powers of a governing board under its jurisdiction for a period not to exceed two years if the council makes a determination that any of the following conditions exist:

(1) The governing board has failed for two consecutive years to develop an institutional compact as required in §18B-1D-7 of this code;

(2) The council has received information, substantiated by independent audit, of significant mismanagement or failure to carry out the powers and duties of the Board of Governors according to state law; or

(3) Other circumstances which, in the view of the council, severely limit the capacity of the Board of Governors to carry out its duties and responsibilities.

The period of withdrawal of specific powers may not exceed two years during which time the council is authorized to take steps necessary to reestablish the conditions for restoration of sound, stable and responsible institutional governance.

(f) In addition to the powers and duties provided for in subsections (a), (b), (c), and (d) of this section, and any others assigned to it by law, the council has those powers and duties necessary or expedient to accomplish the purposes of this article; and

(g) When the council and commission, each, is required to consent, cooperate, collaborate, or provide input into the actions of the other the following conditions apply:

(1) The body acting first shall convey its decision in the matter to the other body with a request for concurrence in the action;

(2) The commission or the council, as the receiving body, shall place the proposal on its agenda and shall take final action within 60 days of the date when the request for concurrence is received; and

(3) If the receiving body fails to take final action within 60 days, the original proposal stands and is binding on both the commission and the council.

(h) On or after July 1, 2024, nothing in this section provides the authority to restrict or regulate the carrying of a concealed pistol or revolver by a person who holds a current and valid license to carry a concealed deadly weapon except as expressly authorized in §18B-4-5b of this code.

§18B-2B-6A.

Repealed.

Acts, 2008 Reg. Sess., Ch. 87.

§18B-2B-7. Powers and duties of the chief executive officer.

The chancellor for community and technical college education is the chief executive officer of the council and as such may exercise the powers and duties assigned by the council. The chancellor has the following powers and duties:

(1) To serve as the principal accountability point for the council for implementation of the public policy agenda as it relates to community and technical colleges;

(2) To assume principal responsibility for directing and assisting the work of the council; and

(3) To supervise and direct staff of the council as necessary and appropriate to carry out the duties and responsibilities of this article.

(A) On the effective date of this section, all personnel employed by the commission and under the supervision of the vice chancellor for community and technical college education and workforce development on January 1, 2004, are transferred to the jurisdiction of the council and are under the direct supervision of the chancellor for community and technical college education.

(B) Prior to October 1, 2004, any such employee, including the chief executive officer of the council, may not be terminated or have his or her salary or benefit level reduced as the result of the governance reorganization set forth in this article.

(4) On behalf of the council, the chancellor may enter into agreements with any state agency or political subdivision of the state, any state higher education institution or any other person or entity to enlist staff assistance to implement the powers and duties assigned to the council by state law.

(5) The chancellor is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the council and has the following responsibilities:

(A) To carry out policy and program directives of the council;

(B) To develop and submit annual reports on the implementation plan to achieve the goals and objectives set forth in section one-a, article one of this chapter and in the institutional compacts;

(C) To prepare and submit to the council for its approval the proposed budget of the council including the office of the chancellor and necessary staff;

(D) To assist the governing boards in developing rules, subject to the provisions of section six, article one of this chapter. Nothing in this chapter requires the rules of the governing boards to be filed pursuant to the rule-making procedures provided in article three-a, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code. The chancellor is responsible for ensuring that any policy which is required to be uniform across the institutions under the jurisdiction of the council is applied in a uniform manner; and

(E) To perform all other duties and responsibilities assigned by the council or by state law.

(6) The chancellor shall be reimbursed for all actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of all assigned duties and responsibilities.

(7) The council is the primary advocate for community and technical college education and, with the chancellor, advises the Legislature on matters of community and technical college education in West Virginia. The chancellor shall work closely with the Legislative Oversight commission on education accountability and with the elected leadership of the state to ensure that they are fully informed about community and technical college education issues and that the council fully understands the goals for higher education that the Legislature has established by law.

(8) The chancellor may design and develop for consideration by the council new statewide or regional initiatives directly related to community and technical college education and in accordance with the goals set forth in section one-a, article one of this chapter and the public policy agenda.

(9) The chancellor shall work closely with members of the state Board of Education and with the State Superintendent of Schools to assure that the following goals are met:

(A) Development and implementation of a seamless kindergarten-through-college system of education; and

(B) Appropriate coordination of missions and programs. To further the goals of cooperation and coordination between the council and the state Board of Education, the chancellor serves as an ex officio, nonvoting member of the state Board of Education.

§18B-2B-8. State advisory committee of community and technical college presidents.

(a) There is continued the state advisory committee of community and technical college presidents. For the purposes of this section, the state advisory committee of community and technical college presidents is referred to as the "advisory committee".

(b) Each president of a public community and technical college, as defined in section one, article six of this chapter, is a member of the advisory committee. An administrative head of a component, branch, center, regional center or other delivery site with a community and technical college mission may be a member if considered appropriate.

(c) The chancellor serves as chair of the advisory committee. The advisory committee shall meet at least once each quarter and may meet at such other times as called by the chair or by a majority of the members.

(d) The advisory committee shall communicate to the council on matters of importance to the group. It shall meet annually between the months of October and December with the council to discuss those matters relating to community and technical college education in which advisory committee members or the council may have an interest.

(e) The chancellor shall prepare meeting minutes which shall be made available, upon request, to the public.

§18B-2B-9. Permits required for correspondence, business, occupational and trade schools; surety bonds amount and method of bonding; fees; issuance, renewal and revocation of permit; reports; rules; penalty and enforcement.

(a) The following words when used in this section have the meaning hereinafter ascribed to them unless the context clearly indicates a different meaning:

(1) “Proprietary schools that award specialized associate degrees” means institutions of higher education; and

(2) “Specialized associate degrees” means degrees awarded by such institutions pursuant to a program of not fewer than two academic years.

(b) Nothing in this section qualifies proprietary schools for additional state moneys not otherwise qualified under other provisions of this code.

(c) It is unlawful for any person representing a correspondence, business, occupational or trade school inside or outside this state, as these are defined by the council by rule promulgated in accordance with §29A-3A-1 et seq. of this code, to solicit, sell or offer to sell courses of instruction to any resident of this state for consideration or remuneration unless the school first applies for a permit, or obtains a permit, from the council in the manner and on the terms herein prescribed, except this section does not apply to private organizations which offer only tax return preparation courses. The rule previously promulgated by the state College System Board of Directors and transferred to the council by §18B-2B-6 of this code remains in effect until rescinded or amended by the council.

(1) All private training or educational institutions, schools or academies or other organizations shall apply for a permit from the council on forms provided by the council.

(2) Each initial application shall be accompanied by a nonrefundable fee of $2,000. The council also may assess an additional fee based on any additional expense required to evaluate the application.

(3) The council shall make a determination on the initial permit application within 90 days after receipt of the application and fee.

(4) An applicant for an initial permit shall show proof at the time of filing an application that adequate facilities are available and ready for occupancy and that all instructional equipment, books and supplies and personnel are in place and ready for operation. A representative of the council shall make an on-site visit to the facilities of all new applicants to confirm their readiness for operation prior to issuance of the initial permit if the facilities are located in West Virginia.

(5) A school is considered to be established under the provisions of this article on the date it first begins to operate lawfully. An established school is not required to reapply for a permit as a result of changes in governance; administration; ownership; or form of operation.

(6) After the first permit year, an annual fee of $500 is imposed on each school for each campus it operates in this state.

(d) Each application for a proprietary school that has its physical facilities in this state shall be accompanied by a penal bond, on a form to be prescribed and furnished by the council, payable to the State of West Virginia and conditioned upon the school faithfully performing all of the requirements of this section, the rules promulgated hereunder, and the permit. The penal amount of the bond, as determined by the council, may not be less than $50,000 nor more than $100,000.

(1) If the school has changed ownership within the last 10 years by transfer of ownership control to a person who is a spouse, parent, sibling, child or grandchild of the previous owner, the surety bond shall continue in the penal sum as determined by the council. The period of liability for bond coverage begins with the issuance of the permit and continues for the full term of the permit, plus any renewals thereof. The council shall release the bond upon satisfaction that the conditions thereof have been fully performed. Upon release of the bond, any cash or collateral securities deposited by the school shall be returned to the school that deposited the same.

(2) Any school which has operated in West Virginia for fewer than 10 years, excluding those schools which have changed ownership within the last 10 years as provided in subdivision (1) of this section, and any school located in another state which applies for a permit hereunder, shall provide a surety bond as determined by the council. The form of the bond shall be approved by the Chancellor and may include, at the option of the school, surety bonding, collateral bonding (including cash and securities), establishment of an escrow account, submission of a letter of credit or a combination of these methods. If collateral bonding is used, the school may elect to deposit cash or collateral securities or certificates as follows: bonds of the United States or its possessions; full faith and credit general obligations bonds of the State of West Virginia or other states and of any county, district or municipality of the State of West Virginia or other states; or certificates of deposit in a bank in this state, which certificates shall be in favor of the council. The cash deposit or market value of the securities or certificates shall be equal to or greater than the penal sum of the bond. The Chancellor shall, upon receipt of any deposit of cash, securities or certificates, promptly place the same with the Treasurer of the State of West Virginia, whose duty it is to receive and hold the deposit in the name of the state in trust for the purpose for which the deposit is made when the permit is issued. The school making the deposit is entitled, from time to time, to receive from the State Treasurer, upon the written approval of the Chancellor, the whole or any portion of any cash, securities or certificates so deposited, upon depositing with him or her in lieu thereof cash or other securities or certificates of the classes specified in this subsection having value equal to or greater than the sum of the bond.

(3) Any school may be required to increase its bond to $150,000 if either of the following conditions apply:

(A) The school’s accreditation is terminated for cause; or

(B) The school’s institutional eligibility under the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, has been terminated for cause. Expiration, nonrenewal or voluntary relinquishment of accreditation or institutional eligibility under the Higher Education Act, or failure to meet the requirements of one or more programs under the Act, are not considered to be a termination for cause.

(4) Any school may be required to increase its bond to an amount not to exceed $400,000 if, in accordance with the standards of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the school’s audited financial statements are qualified because the school’s continued financial viability as an ongoing concern is in doubt and the council determines an increased bond is reasonably necessary to protect the financial obligations legally due the students then enrolled at the institution.

(A) A school may be required to maintain the increased bonding requirements described above until all students attending classes at the date of termination either graduate or withdraw.

(B) The bond may be continuous and shall be conditioned to provide indemnification to any student suffering loss as a result of any fraud or misrepresentation used in procuring the student’s enrollment, failure of the school to meet contractual obligations, or failure of the school to meet the requirements of this section.

(C) The bond shall be given by the school itself as a blanket bond covering all of its representatives.

(5) The surety on a bond or other collateral may be released upon giving 30 days’ notice in writing to the principal on the bond and to the council and thereafter shall be relieved of liability for any breach of condition occurring after the effective date of the release. Upon 10 days’ written notice, the council shall suspend the permit when the proprietary school is no longer covered by a surety bond or other collateral as required by this section, and the suspension shall remain in effect until the school obtains another bond or establishes other collateral and posts it in the same manner and like amount as required for the initial bond.

(e) A permit is valid for one year corresponding to the effective date of the bond and may be renewed upon application, accompanied by the required fee and the surety bond as herein required. All fees collected for the issuance or renewal of a permit shall be deposited in the State Treasury to the credit of the council.

(f) The council may refuse a permit to any school if the council finds that the school engages in practices which are inconsistent with this section or with rules issued pursuant thereto.

(g) A permit issued hereunder may be suspended or revoked by the council for fraud or misrepresentation in soliciting or enrolling students, for failure of the school to fulfill its contract with one or more students who are residents of West Virginia or for violation of or failure to comply with any provision of this section or with any regulation of the council pertinent thereto.

(1) Before taking any action to suspend or revoke a school’s permit, the council shall give the school 15 days’ notice and convene a hearing, if a hearing is requested by the school.

(2) Prior to the council taking any adverse action, including refusal, suspension or revocation of a permit, the council shall give the school reasonable opportunity to take corrective measures.

(3) Any refusal, suspension or revocation of a permit, or any other adverse action against a school, shall comply with all constitutional provisions, including due process, relating to the protection of property rights.

(h) All correspondence, business, occupational or trade schools which have been issued a permit shall make annual reports to the council on forms furnished by the council and shall provide such appropriate information as the council reasonably may require. All correspondence, business, occupational or trade schools which have been issued a permit shall furnish to the council a list of its official representatives. Each school shall be issued a certificate of identification by the council for each of its official representatives.

(i) The issuance of a permit pursuant to this section does not constitute approval or accreditation of any course or school. No school, nor any representative of a school, may make any representation stating, asserting or implying that a permit issued pursuant to this section constitutes approval or accreditation by the State of West Virginia, council or any other department or agency of the state.

(j) The council may adopt rules and conduct on-site reviews to evaluate academic standards maintained by schools for the awarding of certificates, diplomas, associate degrees and specialized associate degrees.

(1) These standards may include curriculum, personnel, facilities, materials and equipment.

(2) For accredited correspondence, business, occupational and trade schools under permit on July 1, 1979, which have their physical facilities located in this state and which are accredited by the appropriate nationally recognized accrediting agency or association approved by the United States Department of Education, the accrediting agency’s standards, procedures and criteria are accepted as meeting applicable laws, standards and rules of the council.

(3) Institutions which are institutionally accredited by accrediting agencies recognized by the United States Department of Education to establish academic standards for post-secondary education may offer post-secondary educational programs leading to certificates, diplomas and associate degrees and may award certificates, diplomas and associate degrees to graduates who successfully complete required programs in accordance with the academic standards required by such accrediting agency.

(4) If a review undertaken by the council indicates there may be deficiencies in the academic standards the institution maintains in its educational programs and if such deficiencies are of such a material nature that they jeopardize continued accreditation, the council shall notify the institution. If the council and the institution are unable to agree on the deficiencies or the steps necessary to correct the deficiencies, the council shall consult with the institution’s accrediting agency regarding an academically appropriate resolution which may include a joint on-site review by the council and the accrediting agency.

(5) The council also may review the academic standards of unaccredited institutions and may require such institutions to maintain recognized academic standards that are reasonably appropriate to the nature of the institution and the training offered.

(k) The council may authorize an investigation of written student complaints alleging a violation of this section, council rules or accreditation standards and may take appropriate action based on the findings of such an investigation.

(l) All evaluations or investigations of correspondence, business, occupational and trade schools and actions resulting from such evaluations or investigations shall be made in accordance with rules promulgated by the council pursuant to §29A-3A-1 et seq. of this code.

(m) In regard to private, proprietary educational institutions operating under this section of the code, accredited by a national or regional accrediting agency or association recognized by the United States Department of Education and which provide training at a campus located in this state:

(1) Any rule or standard which is authorized by this or any section of the code or other law and which is now in effect or promulgated hereafter by the council (or other agency with jurisdiction) shall be clearly, specifically and expressly authorized by narrowly construed enabling law and shall be unenforceable and without legal effect unless authorized by an Act of the Legislature under the provisions of §29A-3A- 1 et seq. of this code.

(2) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section or other law to the contrary, the institution’s accrediting agency standards, procedures and criteria shall be accepted as the standards and rules of the council (or other agency with jurisdiction) and as meeting other law or legal requirements relating to the operation of proprietary institutions which such council or other agency has the legal authority to enforce under any section of the code or other law. Nothing in this section denies students the use of remedies that would otherwise be available under state or federal consumer laws or federal law relating to federal college financial assistance programs.

(3) Accredited institutions operating hereunder are hereby recognized as postsecondary. Academic progress is measured and reported in credit hours and all reports/documents are filed on a credit-hour basis unless the institution notifies the council that it utilizes clock hours as its unit of measurement.

(n) A representative of any school who solicits, sells or offers to sell courses of instruction to any resident of this state for consideration or remuneration unless the school first applies for a permit, or obtains a permit, is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not more than $200 per day per violation, or confined in jail not more than 60 days, or both fined and confined. No correspondence, business, occupational or trade school may maintain an action in any court of this state to recover for services rendered pursuant to a contract solicited by the school if the school did not hold a valid permit at the time the contract was signed by any of the parties thereto. The Attorney General or any county prosecuting attorney, at the request of the council or upon his or her own motion, may bring any appropriate action or proceeding in any court of competent jurisdiction for the enforcement of the provisions of this section relating to permits, bonds and sureties.

(o) In regard to institutions operating under this section, all substantive standards and procedural requirements established by the council (or the West Virginia state program review entity or other agency with jurisdiction over institutions operating hereunder) shall meet all substantive and procedural standards of due process relating to the protection of an individual citizen’s property rights as provided under the United States Constitution and shall follow the substantive standards and procedural requirements established by or under authority of this section.

§18B-2C-1. Legislative findings; intent.

(a) Legislative findings. --

(1) The Legislature hereby finds that for nearly two decades legislation has been enacted having as a principal goal creation of a strong, effective system of community and technical education capable of meeting the needs of the citizens of the state. In furtherance of that goal, the Legislature has passed the following major pieces of legislation:

(A) Enrolled Senate Bill 420, passed during the regular session of one thousand nine hundred eighty-nine, reorganized the governance structure of public higher education and created the Joint Commission for Vocational-technical-occupational Education to bridge the gap between secondary and post-secondary vocational, technical, and occupational education;

(B) Enrolled Senate Bill 377, passed during the regular session of one thousand nine hundred ninety-three, adopted goals and objectives for public post-secondary education, addressed the needs of nontraditional students, directed the institutions to include an assessment of work force development needs in their master plans and established the resource allocation model and policies to aid governing boards and institutions in meeting the established goals and objectives;

(C) Enrolled Senate Bill 547, passed during the regular session of one thousand nine hundred ninety-five, established goals and funding for faculty and staff salaries, required the governing boards to establish community and technical education with the administrative, programmatic and budgetary control necessary to respond to local needs and provided that community and technical college budgets be appropriated to a separate control account;

(D) Enrolled Senate Bill 653, passed during the regular session of two thousand, established the commission to develop a public policy agenda for higher education in conjunction with state leaders, set forth the essential conditions that must be met by each community and technical college in the state, and mandated that most component community and technical colleges move to independent accreditation.

(E) Enrolled Senate Bill 703, passed during the regular session of two thousand one, authorized the creation of a statewide community and technical college to provide leadership and technical support to the community and technical colleges to aid them in achieving independent accreditation, enhance their ability to serve the interests of the people of West Virginia, and focus attention on achieving established state goals.

(F) Enrolled House Bill 2224, passed during the regular session of two thousand three, created New River Community and Technical College of Bluefield State College as a multicampus institution from existing community and technical college components, branches and off-campus delivery sites in order to give greater cohesiveness, emphasis and priority to meeting the essential conditions pursuant to section three, article three-c of this chapter and to provide greater access to high-quality programs in the institution's expanded service district.

(G) Enrolled Senate Bill 448, passed during the regular session of two thousand four, established the West Virginia Council for Community and Technical College Education as a separate coordinating agency with authority over state community and technical colleges, branches, centers, regional centers, and other delivery sites with a community and technical college mission.

(2) The Market Street Report, the McClenney Report, and the Implementation Board Report, cited in article two-b of this chapter, each reflects recent research and indicates that, while these legislative actions cited above have helped the state to make progress in certain areas of higher education, they have not offered a complete solution to the problems of community and technical colleges.

(b) Intent. -- Therefore, the intent of the Legislature in enacting these pieces of legislation is as follows:

(1) To provide logical steps in the process of developing strong institutions capable of delivering community and technical education to meet the needs of the state. Each act may be viewed as a building block added to the foundation laid by earlier legislation;

(2) To create a mechanism whereby the council, if necessary, can assure through its own direct action that the goals established in articles one, one-d, and three-c of this chapter are met; and

(3) To authorize the council to create the West Virginia Community and Technical College to serve the interests of the people of West Virginia by advancing the public policy agenda developed pursuant to article two-b of this chapter. If the council makes a determination under the provisions of this section that it is necessary or expedient to create the statewide community and technical college, the following goals are the specific focus of the college and its governing board:

(A) To encourage development of a statewide mission that raises education attainment, increases adult literacy, promotes work force and economic development, and ensures access to post-secondary education for every region of the state;

(B) To provide oversight or governance of the community and technical colleges, branches, centers, regional centers, and other delivery sites with a community and technical college mission;

(C) To provide leadership, support and coordination; and

(D) To protect and expand the local autonomy and flexibility necessary for community and technical colleges to succeed.

§18B-2C-2. Definitions.

The following words when used in this article and article two-b of this chapter have the meaning hereinafter ascribed to them unless the context clearly indicates a different meaning:

(a) "Adult basic education" means adult basic skills education designed to improve the basic literacy needs of adults, including information processing skills, communication skills and computational skills, leading to a high school equivalency diploma, under the jurisdiction of the state Board of Education.

(b) "Governing board" means the West Virginia council for community and technical college education when acting as the governing board for the West Virginia community and technical college created pursuant to the provisions of this article.

(c) "Post-secondary vocational-technical-occupational education" means any course or program beyond the high school level that results in, or may result in, the awarding of a two-year associate degree, certificate or other credential from an institution under the jurisdiction of a governing board or other public or private education provider.

(d) "Secondary vocational-technical-occupational education" means any course or program at the high school level that results in, or may result in, a high school diploma or its equivalent, under the jurisdiction of the state Board of Education.

(e) "Vice chancellor" means the vice chancellor for community and technical college education and work force development pursuant to section five, article one-b of this chapter.

(f) "West Virginia council for community and technical college education" or "council" means the council established pursuant to section three, article two-b of this chapter.

(g) "West Virginia community and technical college" or "college" means the statewide, accredited entity created pursuant to the provisions of this article.

§18B-2C-3. Authority and duty of council to determine progress of community and technical colleges; conditions; authority to create West Virginia Community and Technical College.

(a) The council annually shall review and analyze all the state community and technical colleges, and any branches, centers, regional centers or other delivery sites with a community and technical college mission, to determine their progress toward meeting the goals, objectives, priorities, and essential conditions established in articles one, one-d and three-c of this chapter.

(b) The analysis required in subsection (a) of this section shall be based, in whole or in part, upon the findings made pursuant to the rule establishing benchmarks and indicators promulgated by the council pursuant to section six, article two-b of this chapter.

(c) Based upon their analysis in subsections (a) and (b) of this section, the council shall make a determination whether any one or more of the following conditions exists:

(1) A community and technical college required to do so has not achieved or is not making sufficient, satisfactory progress toward achieving the essential conditions, including independent accreditation;

(2) One or more of the public community and technical colleges, branches, centers, regional centers and other delivery sites with a community and technical college mission requires financial assistance or other support to meet the goals and essential conditions set forth in this chapter;

(3) It is in the best interests of the people of the state or a region within the state to have a single, accredited institution which can provide an umbrella of statewide accreditation;

(4) One or more of the state community and technical colleges, branches, centers, regional centers or other delivery sites with a community and technical college mission requests from the council the type of assistance which can best be delivered through implementation of the provisions of section four of this article. Institutional requests that may be considered by the council include, but are not limited to, assistance in seeking and/or attaining independent accreditation, in meeting the goals, priorities and essential conditions established in articles one, one-d and three-c of this chapter, or in establishing and implementing regional networks;

(5) One or more state community and technical colleges, branches, centers, regional centers or other delivery sites with a community and technical college mission has not achieved, or is not making sufficient, satisfactory progress toward achieving, the goals, objectives and essential conditions established in articles one, one-d and three-c of this chapter; and

(6) The council determines that it is in the best interests of the people of the state or a region of the state to create a statewide, independently accredited community and technical college.

(d) The council may not make a determination subject to the provisions of this section that a condition does not exist based upon a finding that the higher education entity lacks sufficient funds to make sufficient, satisfactory progress.

§18B-2C-4. Authority of council in creating West Virginia community and technical college.

(a) Subject to the provisions of subsection (c), section three of this article, if the council makes a determination that one or more of the conditions exists, then the council is authorized to create the West Virginia community and technical college.

(b) As soon as practicable after the council determines that the college should be created, the council shall notify the Governor, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Delegates and the Legislative Oversight commission on education accountability of the proposed actions. The council shall conduct a study regarding the procedures, findings and determinations considered necessary prior to any creation of the college and shall report its findings to the Legislative Oversight commission on education accountability. The council may not create the college prior to the report being received by the Legislative Oversight commission on education accountability.

(c) On or before December 1, of the year in which the college is created, the council shall certify to the Legislative Oversight commission on education accountability proposed legislation to accomplish the purposes of this article for those matters requiring statutory change.

§18B-2C-5. Transfer of powers, duties, property, obligations, etc., of prior governing boards to the governing board of West Virginia community and technical college.

If the commission determines that any of the conditions provided for in section three of this article have been met, then as to those entities to whom the conditions apply, the commission may:

(1) Designate the governing boards that shall become institutional boards of advisors and transfer governing authority of that board to the governing board of the college;

(2) Transfer as appropriate, consistent with state law, all powers, duties, property, obligations, contracts, rules, orders, resolutions or any other matters which should be transferred or vested in the governing board;

(3) Assign powers and duties to the governing board and the college as may be necessary or expedient to accomplish the purposes of this article;

(4) Create the office of president of the college; and

(5) Take such other action as necessary or expedient to accomplish the purposes of this chapter.

§18B-2C-6. Powers and duties of governing board for the West Virginia community and technical college.

(a) The council created pursuant to article two-b of this chapter is the governing board for the West Virginia community and technical college.

(b) The powers and duties of the governing board are as follows:

(1) To assist the public community and technical colleges, branches, centers, regional centers and other delivery sites with a community and technical college mission in any way practicable to meet the goals and objectives set forth in section one-a, article one of this chapter;

(2) To assist in meeting any other goals or objectives adopted by the commission as part of its public policy agenda;

(3) To accept and expend any gift, grant, contribution, bequest, endowment or other money for the purposes of this article;

(4) To exercise all the powers and duties ascribed to governing boards in section four, article two-a of this chapter; and

(5) To meet annually between the months of October and December with the advisory committee of community and technical college presidents and provosts created pursuant to section eight, article two-b of this chapter to discuss those matters relating to community and technical college education in which advisory committee members or the council may have an interest.

(c) The governing board has the following powers and duties as to all institutions:

(1) To coordinate public community and technical colleges, branches, centers, regional centers, and other delivery sites with a community and technical college mission including, but not limited to, those that are free-standing or administratively-linked to a sponsoring institution.

(2) To negotiate arrangements with individual entities who may elect to become units of the college for academic and accreditation purposes while retaining certain administrative links to a sponsoring institution;

(3) To develop the college as a statewide, accredited institution through which multiple, affiliated entities and sites may achieve accreditation;

(4) To provide directly to community and technical colleges, branches, centers, regional centers and other delivery sites with a community and technical college mission, certain support services including, but not limited to, student information systems, registration, financial and accounting systems and employee recordkeeping; and

(5) To exercise all the powers and duties assigned to the council pursuant to the provisions of article two-b of this chapter or by the commission.

(d) Subject to the supervision of the commission, the governing board has the following powers and duties as to any entity meeting the conditions of transfer pursuant to section four of this article:

(1) To govern and have direct academic and administrative responsibility for any public community and technical college, branch, center, regional center, or other delivery site with a community and technical college mission.

(2) To require the entities to seek independent accreditation through the college.

(3) To allocate state budgetary resources to the entity; and

(4) With the advice and consent of the commission, to appoint the administrative heads of institutions governed by the governing board.

§18B-2C-7. Powers and duties of vice chancellor as president of the West Virginia community and technical college.

The vice chancellor serves as the acting president of the college until such time as a president is selected as prescribed by law. As acting president, the vice chancellor has all the powers and duties assigned by law, by the commission or by the governing board. In addition, the vice chancellor shall continue to exercise all other powers and duties assigned by law or by the commission.

§18B-3-1. Legislative findings, purpose; intent; definition.

(a) The Legislature finds that an effective and efficient system of doctoral-level education is vital to providing for the economic well-being of the citizens of West Virginia and for accomplishing established state goals and objectives. As the institutions that focus on one or more of the following activities: research, masters-degree granting, doctoral-granting, medical doctoral-granting, or doctor of osteopathy doctor-granting; doctoral-granting medical doctoral-granting, or doctor of osteopathy doctor-granting public universities in the state, Marshall University, West Virginia University and the School of Osteopathic Medicine are major assets to the citizens of West Virginia and must be an integral part of any plan to strengthen and expand the economy and improve health outcomes for the citizenry.

(b) The Legislature further finds that these three institutions must compete in both a national and global environment that is rapidly changing, while they continue to provide high quality education that is both affordable and accessible and remain accountable to the people of West Virginia for the most efficient and effective use of scarce resources.

(c) The Legislature further finds that the exempted schools, under the direction of their respective governing boards, may manage operational governance of their institutions in an efficient and accountable manner and may best fulfill their public missions when their governing boards are given flexibility and autonomy sufficient to meet state goals, objectives and priorities established in this article, and in section one-a, article one and article one-d of this chapter.

(d) Therefore, the purposes of this article include, but are not limited to, the following:

(1) Enhancing the competitive position of the exempted schools in the current environment for research and medical professional development;

(2) Providing the governing boards of these institutions with operational flexibility and autonomy in certain areas, including tools to promote economic development and healthcare in West Virginia;

(3) Encouraging the development of research and medical expertise in areas directly beneficial to the state;

(4) Focusing the attention and resources of the governing boards on state goals, objectives and priorities to enhance the competitive position of the state and the economic, social, health, and cultural well-being of its citizens; and

(5) Providing additional autonomy and operational flexibility and assigning certain additional responsibilities to governing boards of other state institutions of higher education.

(e) The governing boards of the exempted schools each have the power and the obligation to perform functions, tasks and duties as prescribed by law.

(f) While the governing boards may choose to delegate powers and duties to their respective presidents pursuant to subsection(s), section four, article two-a of this chapter, ultimately, it is they who are accountable to the Legislature, the Governor and the citizens of West Virginia for meeting the established state goals, objectives and priorities set forth in this article, and in section one-a, article one and article one-d of this chapter. Therefore, grants of operational flexibility and autonomy are made directly to the governing boards and are not grants of operational flexibility and autonomy to the president of an institution.

§18B-3-2. Computer and computer equipment donation program.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this code to the contrary, the governing boards are authorized to create a program to donate surplus computers and computer-related equipment to education facilities, nonprofit organizations, juvenile detention centers, municipal and county public safety offices and other public, charitable or educational enterprises or organizations in this state.

(a) Only equipment which otherwise would be transferred to the Surplus Property Unit of the Purchasing Division may be donated;

(b) The governing boards shall keep records and accounts that clearly identify the equipment donated, the age of the equipment, the reasons for declaring it obsolete and the name of the education facility, nonprofit organization, juvenile detention center, municipal or county public safety office or other public, charitable or educational enterprise or organization to which the equipment was donated;

(c) Each governing board shall promulgate a rule in accordance with the provisions of section six, article one of this chapter to implement the donation program. The rules shall specify the procedures to be used for record keeping and shall provide for fair and impartial selection of equipment recipients.

§18B-3-3. Relationship of governing boards to the commission and the council.

(a) Relationship between the commission and the governing boards. --

(1) The commission functions as a state-level coordinating board exercising its powers and duties in relation to the governing boards as prescribed by law;

(2) The primary responsibility of the commission is to work collaboratively with the governing boards to research, develop and propose policy that will achieve the established goals, objectives, and priorities set forth in this chapter and chapter eighteen-c of this code; and

(3) The commission has specific powers and duties which include, but are not limited to, the following:

(A) Advocating for public higher education at the state level;

(B) Jointly with the council, implementing the classification and compensation system established by articles seven, eight, nine and nine-a of this chapter; and

(C) Collecting and analyzing data, researching, developing recommendations, and advising the Legislature and the Governor on broad policy initiatives, use of incentive funding, national and regional trends in higher education and issues of resource allocation involving multiple governing boards.

(b) Relationship between the council and the governing boards. -- (1) The council maintains all powers and duties assigned to it by law or rule relating to community and technical colleges as defined in section two, article one of this chapter;

(2) The council functions as a coordinating board for the institutions under its jurisdiction which make up the statewide network of independently-accredited community and technical colleges. In addition to recognizing the authority assigned by law to the council and abiding by rules duly promulgated by the council relating to the community and technical colleges, the governing boards shall exercise their authority and carry out their responsibilities in a manner that is consistent with and complementary to the powers and duties assigned by law or rule to the community and technical colleges or to the council;

(c) The governing boards shall work collaboratively with the commission, the council and their staff to provide all information requested by the commission or the council in an appropriate format and in a timely manner.

§18B-3-3a.

Repealed.

Acts, 2000 Reg. Sess., Ch. 100.

§18B-3-4. Duty of governing boards to address state priorities.

The expertise of faculty and graduate students at state institutions of higher education is important to every citizen of this state. It is the responsibility of the governing boards to channel this expertise into research and analysis that will yield measurable benefits to the citizens of West Virginia. Therefore, in addition to the goals, objectives and priorities established in section one-a, article one and article one-d of this chapter and goals established elsewhere in this code, it is the responsibility of the governing boards to concentrate attention and resources on certain specific state priorities that have a direct, positive impact on the economic, social and cultural well-being of the people of West Virginia.

(a) Priorities for Marshall University and West Virginia University in collaboration:

(1) Developing Regional Brownfield Assistance Centers pursuant to section seven, article eleven of this chapter;

(2) Performing professional development-related research and coordinating the delivery of professional development to educators in the public schools of the state pursuant to article two, chapter eighteen of this code; and

(3) Building subject matter expertise in public education finance, including mastery of the theories and concepts used in developing formulas to provide state-level financial support to public education.

(b) The Legislature may, but is not required to, make additional appropriations for the benefit of Marshall University and West Virginia University to assist them in fulfilling the purposes set forth in subsection (a) of this section.

(c) Additional priorities for governing boards:

(d) In addition to the priorities established in subsection (a) of this section, each governing board under the jurisdiction of the commission shall focus resources and attention on improving its graduation rate for full-time undergraduate students as a specific institutional priority. The graduation rate is measured as a percentage of the number of undergraduate students who obtain a degree within six years of the date of enrollment as full-time freshmen.

(1) By July 1, 2015, the governing board of each state institution of higher education under the jurisdiction of the commission, including the governing boards of Marshall University and West Virginia University, shall attain a graduation rate for full-time undergraduate students that equals or exceeds the graduation rate of its peers established pursuant to section three, article one-a of this chapter.

(2) The commission shall monitor and report annually by December 1, to the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability on the progress of the governing boards toward meeting the goals set forth in this subsection.

§18B-3-5.

Repealed.

Acts, 2005 Reg. Sess., Ch. 86.

§18B-3-6.

Repealed.

Acts, 2000 Reg. Sess., Ch. 100.

§18B-3-7.

Repealed.

Acts, 2005 Reg. Sess., Ch. 86.

§18B-3A-1.

Repealed.

Acts, 2001 Reg. Sess., Ch. 110.

§18B-3B-1. Legislative findings and intent.

(a) The Legislature makes the following findings:

(1) Evidence from national studies shows clearly that the need to increase the number of Americans who hold post-secondary credentials has reached a critical point. According to Complete College America, the United States has fallen from its long-held position as first among the nations and now ranks tenth in the percentage of young adults with a college degree. Even more discouraging is the statistic which shows that, for the first time in national history, the current generation of college-age Americans will be less educated than their parents' generation.

(2) In West Virginia, the large numbers of high school students who are uninterested and/or unprepared for college can be attributed to three primary factors:

(A) Lack of alignment in courses between public education and public colleges and universities;

(B) Lack of clear career pathways presented to students early enough to help them choose and follow an articulated path from high school through post-secondary education; and

(C) Lack of knowledge among students and parents about financial aid opportunities that can help them and their families defray the cost of attending college.

(3) Sixty-three percent of jobs now available or to become available in the near future require post-secondary education. This statistic is particularly relevant for community and technical college students, but even for students who choose to pursue a four-year degree, it is critical that they be clearly focused on career goals in order to succeed.

(4) Currently, a severe gap exists between the demands for technically skilled workers in West Virginia and the aspirations and programmatic focus of many of our students. Nearly thirty percent of the state's high school students have failed to enroll in either the pre-baccalaureate professional pathway or the career and technical education skilled pathway. Most of these individuals could be better served in a focused program of study that begins in the public schools and makes a seamless transition to the post-secondary level in the state community and technical colleges.

(5) The best way to promote this focus on career goals among our students is through implementation of career pathways. This is an integrated collection of programs and services intended to develop students' core academic, technical and employability skills; provide them with continuous education and training; and place them in high-demand, high-opportunity jobs.

(6) In West Virginia, preparing students to achieve higher levels of education is a responsibility shared among the state agencies responsible for providing education and workforce development training. Since increasing the education level of state citizens enhances West Virginia's economic future and the general well-being of its citizens, providing additional opportunities to earn a college credential is the responsibility of all public secondary education and state institutions of higher education.

(b) It is the intent of the Legislature to encompass the entire public higher education system to remove those obstacles that block these pathways to college completion and to direct agencies and institutions to collaborate and cooperate to deliver needed services. Therefore, the object of this article is two-fold:

(1) To set forth a viable collaborative model that public community and technical colleges and public school career centers shall adopt to increase the number of West Virginians with a college credential; and

(2) To maximize existing resources and capacity to train the work force in West Virginia by encouraging the most efficient expenditure of available dollars.

§18B-3B-2. Collaborative degree completion program established; program applicability and objectives.

(a) The Collaborative Degree Completion Program is hereby established as a collaborative partnership which includes the following:

(1) The public school career and technical centers which includes state technology centers, technical centers, career centers and career/technical centers; and

(2) The state community and technical colleges.

(b) The program shall meet the following objectives:

(1) Increasing the number of West Virginians who hold a college credential and providing opportunities for a larger number of adults to earn that credential;

(2) Increasing the education and technical skill levels of the state's work force; and

(3) Delivering post-secondary technical education in the most effective and cost efficient manner by maximizing the available resources of career centers and community and technical colleges.

(c) The program shall be adopted by each community and technical college/career and technical education consortia planning district. Each district shall assess the needs of its employers, institutions and centers and may adapt the basic model to fit the needs of the area to be served; however, each model shall include the following basic strategies to meet the objectives established in this article:

(1) Identify post-secondary adult career-technical education programs offered by the public school career centers that are to be evaluated for delivery as a Certificate of Applied Science or an Associate of Applied Science Degree;

(2) Ensure that all collaborative programs meet the conditions of the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Schools and Colleges which is the accrediting body for state community and technical colleges;

(3) Ensure that all collaborative programs meet the academic standards of the participating college; and

(4) Provide for the collaborative program to remain onsite at the career and technical center if participating agencies determine that site to be the best location for achieving program objectives.

§18B-3B-3. Powers and duties of agencies participating in collaborative degree completion program.

Members of each community and technical college/career and technical education consortia planning district shall enter into an agreement that delineates the division of responsibilities among the facilitating community and technical college pursuant to section four, article three-c of this chapter and the career and technical centers, including activities for which these entities are jointly responsible.

(a) The following activities are the responsibility of the facilitating community and technical college in each consortia planning district:

(1) Approve all curricula course and/or programs through the college's approval process;

(2) Maintain authority over the curriculum as required by the college's accrediting agency;

(3) Deliver all program general education courses;

(4) Award the appropriate degree;

(5) Employ all general education faculty and approve the employment of all technical program faculty;

(6) Enroll students through the college's admission and registration process and administer student financial aid, including coordinating and administering veterans' education benefits;

(7) Charge and collect the college's tuition and fees; and

(8) Pay the career and technical center for technical faculty time.

(b) The following activities are the responsibility of each career and technical center within the consortium planning district:

(1) Deliver the majority of the technical content courses;

(2) Maintain equipment and laboratories and provide adequate instructional space if the program is delivered onsite at the career and technical center; and

(3) Employ technical content faculty, if needed. If participants choose, these faculty members may be provided by the facilitating community and technical college.

(c) The following activities are the joint responsibility of the facilitating community and technical college and each career and technical center in the consortium planning district:

(1) Maintain programmatic accreditation, if required;

(2) Maintain student transcripts at both the community and technical college and the career and technical center. The college transcript is the official transcript of record;

(3) Determine admission standards and student acceptance into the programs;

(4) Market the program and share the cost of marketing as determined in the consortia agreement;

(5) Develop and implement a program of cross counseling in which counselors from secondary and post-secondary career and technical centers and state community and technical colleges meet with students and their parents, beginning in the eighth grade to answer their education and career-related questions, to serve as a source of support through high school graduation and to provide specific, targeted information on career pathways and financial aid opportunities; and

(6) Determine the feasibility of collaboratively developing and implementing post-secondary-level programs to extend high school programs that currently are terminal.

§18B-3C-1. Legislative findings.

(a) The Legislature makes the following findings related to state community and technical colleges:

(1) Community and technical colleges are a distinctively American invention. They fill a critical gap between public secondary education and the baccalaureate institutions and universities and they provide a connection between adult basic education and higher education. Their overriding mission is to provide affordable access to postsecondary education and to provide this education and related services to people who otherwise might not have enrolled in a college or university. They provide access to students who live in geographic proximity and who seek low-cost postsecondary education.

(2) As the state's primary provider of workforce education and training, community and technical colleges located in every region of West Virginia are essential to a statewide strategy to prepare students for high-demand, high-wage jobs, workforce development necessary to diversify and grow the state's economy, and further postsecondary education and life long learning.

(3) The mission of state community and technical colleges is to provide comprehensive education services that combine the critical functions of career-technical education and work force development, non-credit industry training, transfer education, developmental education and continuing education.

(4) While the student population of state community and technical colleges is now evenly divided between those who are under age twenty-five and adults who are twenty-five and older, the number in both categories who earn a degree or industry-recognized certificate within six years remains low. The declining numbers of high school graduates in the state makes it imperative for the community and technical college system to focus on increasing the numbers of adults who enroll and who complete programs to earn a degree or industry-recognized certificate within six years.

(b) In carrying out their mission, the governing boards of the community and technical colleges shall collaborate with public high schools and career and technical centers to deliver services effectively and efficiently in the locations where they are needed most.

§18B-3C-2. Legislative intent.

The following comprise the intent of the Legislature in enacting this article:

(a) To establish community and technical college education that is well articulated with the public schools, the career and technical education centers and other state institutions of higher education; that encourages traditional and nontraditional students and adult learners to pursue a lifetime of learning; that serves as an instrument of economic development; and that has the independence and flexibility to respond quickly to changing needs of citizens and employers in the state;

(b) To establish community and technical college/career and technical education consortia districts for each of the community and technical colleges in order to ensure that the full range of community and technical college education programs and services is provided in all areas of the state, including the implementation of seamless programs of study as exemplified by West Virginia EDGE, established in article thirteen, chapter eighteen of this code and the Collaborative Degree Completion Program, established in article three-b of this chapter;

(c) To define the full range of programs and services that each community and technical college has the responsibility to provide; and

(d) To establish other policies and procedures necessary to ensure that the needs of West Virginia, its people and its businesses are met for the programs and services that can be provided through a comprehensive system of community and technical colleges.

§18B-3C-3. Essential conditions for community and technical college programs and services.

The Legislature hereby establishes the following essential conditions for community and technical college programs and services:

(a) Independent accreditation by the higher learning commission of the north central association of colleges and schools (NCA), by July 1, 2005, reflecting external validation that academic programs, services, faculty, governance, financing and other policies are aligned with the community and technical college mission of the institution. An institution meets this requirement if on such date the council determines that the institution is on target to meet independent accreditation status. A community and technical college continues to share the accreditation of the sponsoring institution until such time as independent accreditation is achieved;

(b) A full range of community and technical college services offered as specified in section six of this article;

(c) Programmatic approval consistent with the provisions of section nine of this article;

(d) A fee structure competitive with its peer institutions;

(e) Basic services, some of which may be obtained under contract with existing institutions in the region. These basic services shall include, but are not limited to, the following:

(1) Student services, including, but not limited to, advising, academic counseling, financial aid and provision of the first line of academic mentoring and mediation;

(2) Instructional support services;

(3) Access to information and library services;

(4) Physical space in which courses can be offered;

(5) Access to necessary technology for students, faculty and mentors;

(6) Monitoring and assessment; and

(7) Administrative services, including, but not limited to, registration, fee collection and bookstore and other services for the distribution of learning materials;

(f) A president who is the chief executive officer of the community and technical college appointed and serving pursuant to the terms of section six, article one-b of this chapter. The president reports directly to the institutional board of Governors. It is the responsibility of the board of Governors to provide sufficient time at each meeting for the president to discuss issues relevant to the mission of the community and technical college;

(g) An institutional board of Governors or an institutional board of advisors appointed and serving as required by law;

(h) A full-time core faculty, complemented by persons engaged through contract or other arrangements, including:

(1) College and university faculty, to teach community college courses; and

(2) Qualified business, industry and labor persons engaged as adjunct faculty in technical areas;

(i) A faculty personnel policy, formally established to be separate and distinct from that of other institutions, which includes, but is not limited to, appointment, promotion, workload and, if appropriate, tenure pursuant to section nine of this article. These policies shall be appropriate for the community and technical college mission and may not be linked to the policies of any other institution;

(j) Community and technical colleges designed and operating as open-provider centers with the authority and flexibility to draw on the resources of the best and most appropriate provider to ensure that community and technical college services are available and delivered in the region in a highly responsive manner. A community and technical college may contract with other institutions and providers as necessary to obtain the academic programs and resources to complement those available through a sponsoring college, where applicable, in order to meet the region's needs;

(k) Separately identified state funding allocations for each of the community and technical colleges.

(l) Full budgetary authority for the president of the institution, subject to accountability to its governing board, including authority to retain all tuition and fees generated by the community and technical college for use to carry out its mission.

§18B-3C-4. Community and technical college/career and technical education consortia planning districts.

(a) Unless otherwise designated, the presidents of the community and technical colleges facilitate formation of community and technical college/career and technical education consortia in the state. Each consortium includes representatives of community and technical colleges, public career and technical education centers and state baccalaureate institutions offering associate degrees. The consortium is responsible for carrying out the following actions:

(1) Completing a comprehensive assessment of the district to determine what education and training programs are necessary to meet the short- and long-term workforce development needs of the district and to identify the high-demand, high-wage occupations within the service district and develop programs of study, based on the findings, that consist of a curriculum of courses leading to an industry-recognized credential, a certificate of applied science degree or an associate degree;

(2) Coordinating efforts with regional labor market information systems to identify the ongoing needs of business and industry, both current and projected, and to provide information to assist in an informed program of planning and decision-making. The priority of each consortium is to identify the high-demand, high-wage occupations within the service district and, in conjunction with the public schools, develop integrated secondary and post-secondary programs of study that lead to an industry-recognized credential, a certificate of applied science degree or an associate degree;

(3) Developing integrated secondary and post-secondary programs of study that lead to an industry-recognized credential, a certificate of applied science degree or an associate degree to satisfy a workforce need as determined by the Department of Commerce. The Department of Commerce shall on occasion, but at least annually, provide written notification to the State Board of Education and the West Virginia Council for Community and Technical College Education a determination of areas of workforce need;

(4) Increasing the integration of secondary and post-secondary curriculum and programs that are targeted to meet regional and state labor market needs, including implementing seamless programs of study, including West Virginia EDGE, Advanced Career Education, Registered Apprenticeships and any program that allows students to earn college credit while they are still in high school;

  (5) Ensuring that the programs of study include coherent and rigorous content aligned with challenging academic standards and relevant career and technical education content. The programs shall provide for student movement through a coordinated, nonduplicative progression of courses that align secondary education with community and technical college education to prepare students to succeed at the community and technical college level and in high-wage, high-demand occupations;

(6) Planning and developing a unified effort between the community and technical colleges and public career and technical education to meet the documented workforce development needs of the district and state through individual and cooperative programs; shared facilities, faculty, staff, equipment and other resources; and the development and use of distance learning and other education technologies;

(7) Collaborating and developing jointly the collaborative programming for adults between the community and technical colleges and the public career and technical centers. The focus of these collaborative efforts is the development of advanced skill programming that builds on the secondary curriculum and allows career and technical education graduates to acquire more in-depth preparation in their occupational area of interest;

(8) As a consortium, regularly reviewing and revising curricula to ensure that the work force needs are met; developing new programs and phasing out or modifying existing programs, as appropriate, to meet such needs; and streamlining procedures for designing and implementing customized training programs;

(9) Planning and implementing integrated professional development activities for secondary and post-secondary faculty, staff and administrators;

(10) Ensuring that program graduates have attained the competencies required for successful employment through the involvement of business, industry and labor in establishing student credentialing;

(11) Assessing student knowledge and skills which may be gained from multiple sources so that students gain credit toward program completion and advance more rapidly without repeating course work in which they already possess competency;

(12) Cooperating with workforce investment boards to establish one-stop-shop career centers with integrated employment and training and labor market information systems that enable job seekers to assess their skills, identify and secure needed education training, and secure employment, and that allow employers to locate available workers;

(13) Increasing the integration of adult literacy, adult basic education, federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act and community and technical college programs and services to expedite the transition of adults from welfare to gainful employment, including cooperating with the State Department of Education to provide adult basic education programs on each community and technical college campus in the state where developmental education services are provided; and

(14) Establishing a single point of contact for employers and potential employers to access education and training programs throughout the district.

(b) The community and technical college education consortium shall cooperate with the regional workforce investment board in the district and shall participate in any development or amendment to the regional workforce investment plan.

(c) To carry out the provisions of this section, community and technical college/career and technical education consortia planning districts are established and defined as follows:

(1) Northern Panhandle District includes Hancock, Brooke, Ohio, Marshall and Wetzel counties.

(A) The facilitating institution is West Virginia Northern Community and Technical College.

(B) Participating institutions include West Virginia Northern Community and Technical College; John Marshall High School; Cameron High School; John D. Rockefeller IV Career Center; and other public career and technical centers offering post-secondary programs.

(2) North Central West Virginia District includes Monongalia, Marion, Preston, Taylor, Barbour, Randolph, Doddridge, Harrison, Braxton, Lewis, Calhoun, Gilmer and Upshur counties.

(A) The facilitating institution is Pierpont Community and Technical College.

(B) Participating institutions include Pierpont Community and Technical College; Glenville State College; Randolph County Technical Center; Monongalia County Technical Education Center; United Technical Center; Marion County Technical Center; Fred W. Eberle Technical Center; Calhoun Gilmer Career Center; Taylor County Technical Center; and other public career and technical centers offering post-secondary programs.

(3) Mid-Ohio Valley District includes Tyler, Pleasants, Ritchie, Wood, Wirt, Jackson and Roane counties.

(A) The facilitating institution is West Virginia University at Parkersburg.

(B) Participating institutions include West Virginia University at Parkersburg; Roane-Jackson Technical Center; Wood County Technical Center; Mid-Ohio Valley Technical Institute and other public career and technical centers offering post-secondary programs.

(4) Potomac Highlands District includes Tucker, Pendleton, Grant, Hardy, Mineral and Hampshire counties.

(A) The facilitating institution is Eastern West Virginia Community and Technical College.

(B) Participating institutions include Eastern West Virginia Community and Technical College; South Branch Career and Technical Center; Mineral County Technical Center; and other public career and technical centers offering post-secondary programs.

(5) Shenandoah Valley District includes Berkeley, Jefferson and Morgan counties.

(A) The facilitating institution is Blue Ridge Community and Technical College.

(B) Participating institutions include Blue Ridge Community and Technical College; James Rumsey Technical Institute; and other public career and technical centers offering post-secondary programs.

(6) Advantage Valley District includes Fayette, Kanawha, Clay, Putnam, Cabell, Mason and Wayne counties.

(A) The facilitating institution for Cabell, Mason and Wayne counties is Mountwest Community and Technical College. The facilitating institution for Clay, Fayette, Kanawha and Putnam counties is BridgeValley Community and Technical College.

(B) Participating institutions include Mountwest Community and Technical College; BridgeValley Community and Technical College; Carver Career and Technical Education Center; Garnet Career Center; Ben Franklin Career and Technical Center; Putnam Career and Technical Center; Cabell County Career-Technology Center; Mason County Career Center; and other public career and technical centers offering post-secondary programs.

(7) Southern Mountains District includes Lincoln, Boone, Logan, Mingo, Wyoming and McDowell counties.

(A) The facilitating institution is Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College.

(B) Participating institutions include Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College; Boone County Career and Technical Center; Wyoming County Career and Technical Center; Ralph R. Willis Career and Technical Center; McDowell County Career and Technology Center; Mingo Extended Learning Center; and other public career and technical centers offering post-secondary programs.

(8) Southeastern District includes Raleigh, Summers, Fayette, Nicholas, Webster, Pocahontas, Greenbrier, Monroe and Mercer counties.

(A) The facilitating institution is New River Community and Technical College.

(B) Participating institutions include New River Community and Technical College; BridgeValley Community and Technical College; Bluefield State College; Academy of Careers and Technology; Fayette Institute of Technology; Summers County High School; Monroe County Technical Center; Mercer County Technical Education Center; Nicholas County Career and Technical Center; and other public career and technical centers offering post-secondary programs.

(9) Cochairs preside over each consortium as follows:

(A) The president of the facilitating community and technical college, or his or her designee; and

(B) A career and technical education center administrator, or his or her designee, representing one of the participating institutions and selected by the consortium administrative leaders.

(d) In the role of the facilitating institution of the consortium, the college:

(1) Communicates to the council and state board;

(2) Facilitates the delivery of comprehensive community and technical college education in the region, which includes the seven areas of comprehensive community and technical college education delivery as required by §18B-3C-6 of this code;

(3) Facilitates development of a statement of commitment signed by all participating institutions in the region setting forth how community and technical college education will be delivered; and

(4) Submits annually the Carl D. Perkins local planning guide to the council and the state board.

(e) The state board and council shall jointly promulgate guidelines for the administration of this section. The guidelines shall be affirmatively adopted by both the board and the council. At a minimum, such guidelines shall provide for the following:

(1) Participating institutions are not subordinate to the facilitating institution but shall sign the statement of commitment to participate.

(2) Integrated secondary and post-secondary programs of study that lead to an industry-recognized credential, a certificate of applied science degree or an associate degree shall be reduced to written partnership agreements;

(3) The programs of study must meet the requirements of the accrediting entity for the community and technical college awarding the associate degrees;

(4) That partnership agreements must be approved by the State Superintendent of Schools and the Chancellor for the Council for Community and Technical College Education; and

(5) Any other provisions necessary to effectuate the purposes of this section.

(f) The State Superintendent of Schools and the Chancellor for the Council for Community and Technical College Education are responsible for annually evaluating the progress made in meeting the goals for each consortium through the development and collection of performance indicator data.

(g) The State Superintendent of Schools and the Chancellor for the Council for Community and Technical College Education shall annually report to the Governor and the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability on the implementation of this section.

§18B-3C-5. Appointment of community and technical college presidents.

(a) The administrative head of a community and technical college is the president who is chosen pursuant to the terms of section six, article one-b of this chapter.

(b) Any individual employed as provost, president, or divisional administrative head of a community and technical college on June 30, 2008, which institution becomes independent on the effective date of this section, continues as the administrative head of the institution and becomes the community and technical college president on July 1, 2008, subject to the provisions of section six, article one-b of this chapter.

§18B-3C-6. Community and technical college programs.

(a) The mission of each community and technical college includes the following programs which may be offered on or off campus, at the work site, in the public schools and at other locations and at times that are convenient for the intended population:

(1) Career and technical education skill sets, certificates, associate of applied science and selected associate of science degree programs for students seeking immediate employment, individual entrepreneurship skills, occupational development, skill enhancement and career mobility;

(2) Transfer education associate of arts and associate of science degree programs for students whose education goal is to transfer into a baccalaureate degree program;

(3) Developmental/remedial education courses, literacy education, tutorials, skills development labs and other services for students who need to improve their skills in mathematics, English, reading, study skills, computers and other basic skill areas;

(4) Workforce training and retraining and contract education with business and industry to train or retrain employees;

(5) Continuing development assistance and education credit and noncredit courses for professional and self-development, certification and licensure and literacy training;

(6) Community service workshops, lectures, seminars, clinics, concerts, theatrical performances and other noncredit activities to meet the cultural, civic and personal interests and needs of the community; and

(7) Cooperative arrangements with the public school system for the seamless progression of students through programs of study which are calculated to begin at the secondary level and conclude at the community and technical college level.

(b) All administrative, programmatic and budgetary control over community and technical college education within the institution is vested in the president, subject to rules adopted by the council. The president with the institutional board of Governors or institutional board of advisors, as appropriate, is responsible for the regular review, revision, elimination and establishment of programs within the institution to assure that the needs of the community and technical college consortia district are met. It is the intent of the Legislature that the program review and approval process for community and technical college education be separate and distinct from baccalaureate education and subject to the provisions of section nine of this article.

(c) Independently accredited community and technical colleges shall serve as higher education centers for their regions by brokering with colleges, universities and other providers, in state and out of state, to ensure the coordinated access of students, employers and other clients to needed programs and services.

§18B-3C-7. Blue Ridge Community and Technical College.

The Community and Technical College of Shepherd is hereafter named "Blue Ridge Community and Technical College". Any reference in this code to the Community and Technical College of Shepherd means Blue Ridge Community and Technical College.

§18B-3C-7a. Bridgemont Community and Technical College; Kanawha Valley Community and Technical College; Mountwest Community and Technical College.

(a) The Community and Technical College at West Virginia University Institute of Technology is hereafter named "Bridgemont Community and Technical College". Any reference in this code to the Community and Technical College at West Virginia University Institute of Technology means Bridgemont Community and Technical College.

(b) Marshall Community and Technical College is hereafter named "Mountwest Community and Technical College". Any reference in this code to Marshall Community and Technical College means Mountwest Community and Technical College.

(c) West Virginia State Community and Technical College is hereafter named "Kanawha Valley Community and Technical College". Any reference in this code to West Virginia State Community and Technical College means Kanawha Valley Community and Technical College.

§18B-3C-8. Legislative findings and intent; statewide network of independently accredited community and technical colleges; operations and administration.

(a) Legislative findings. --

(1) The Legislature has enacted legislation, beginning with Enrolled Senate Bill No. 653, passed during the two thousand regular session, and continuing with Enrolled Senate Bill No. 703, passed during the two thousand one regular session, Enrolled House Bill No. 2224, passed during the two thousand three regular session, and Enrolled Senate Bill No. 448, passed during the two thousand four regular session, the purpose of which is to strengthen the state's community and technical colleges, clarify their core mission and establish essential conditions to be met, and ensure the most effective delivery of services to business, industry, and West Virginia citizens in every region of the state.

(2) The primary goal of the Legislature is to create a statewide network of independently accredited community and technical colleges that focuses on technical education, work force training, and lifelong learning for the Twenty-first Century, consistent with the goals, objectives, priorities and essential conditions established in articles one, one-d and three-c of this chapter.

(3) A necessary precedent to accomplishing the legislative goal is to change the way that leaders at all levels of education, including institutional governing boards, view community and technical colleges. Specifically, that the mission of community and technical colleges is different from that of traditional four-year colleges in what they seek to accomplish and how they can achieve it effectively and that the state can not compete successfully in today's information-driven, technology-based economy if community and technical colleges continue to be viewed as add-ons or afterthoughts attached to the baccalaureate institutions.

(b) Legislative intent. --

(1) Therefore, it is the intent of the Legislature that the statewide network of independently-accredited community and technical colleges as a whole and each independent community and technical college individually provide the following types of services as part of the core institutional mission:

 (A) Career and technical education certificate, associate of applied science, and selected associate of science degree programs for students seeking immediate employment, individual entrepreneurship skills, occupational development, skill enhancement and career mobility;

(B) Transfer education associate of arts and associate of science degree programs for students whose educational goal is to transfer into a baccalaureate degree program with particular emphasis on reaching beyond traditional college-age students to unserved or underserved adult populations;

(C) Developmental/remedial education courses, tutorials, skills development labs, and other services for students who need to improve their skills in mathematics, English, reading, study skills, computers and other basic skill areas;

(D) Work force development education contracted with business and industry to train or retrain employees;

(E) Continuing development assistance and education credit and noncredit courses for professional and self-development, certification and licensure, and literacy training; and

(F) Community service workshops, lectures, seminars, clinics, concerts, theatrical performances and other noncredit activities to meet the cultural, civic and personal interests and needs of the community the institution serves.

(2) It is further the intent of the Legislature that each community and technical college focus special attention on programmatic delivery of their core mission services to unserved and underserved populations to achieve established state objectives. These include the following as highest priorities:

(A) Increasing the number of adults age twenty-five and above who participate in post-secondary education;

(B) Developing technical programs that meet the documented occupational needs of West Virginia's employers;

(C) Providing work force development programs by implementing the Adult Career Pathways Model, which provides opportunities for the following:

(I) Adults to earn certifications through the completion of skill-sets;

(ii) Ordered progression from skill-sets and certifications to one-year certificate programs and progression from one-year certificate degrees to Associate of Applied Science Degree programs, and

(iii) Students to exit at any stage of completion in order to enter employment with the option of continuing the pathway progression at a later time and/or on a part-time basis.

(D) Offering programs in various time frames other than the traditional semester delivery model and at different locations, including work sites, convenient to working adults;

(E) Providing technical programs in modules or "chunks", defined in competencies required for employment, and tied to certification and licensing requirements.

(F) Entering into collaborative programs that recognize high-quality training programs provided through labor unions, registered apprenticeships, and industry-sponsored training programs with the goal of enabling more adults to earn a college credential;

(G) Developing innovative approaches to improve the basic and functional literacy rates of West Virginians in all regions of the state;

(H) Developing "bridge programs" for disadvantaged youth and adults to enable them to acquire the skills necessary to be successful in education and training programs that lead to high-skills, high-wage jobs; and

(I) Providing access to post-secondary education through the delivery of developmental education for those individuals academically under-prepared for college-level work.

(c) In fulfillment of the purposes and intent defined in subsections (a) and (b) of this section, there is continued a statewide network of independently accredited community and technical colleges serving every region of the state. Each free-standing and independent community and technical college is strongly encouraged to serve as a higher education center for its region by brokering with other colleges, universities and providers, in-state and out-of-state, both public and private, to afford the most coordinated access to needed programs and services by students, employers and other clients, to achieve the goals, objectives, and essential conditions established in articles one, one-d, and three-c of this chapter, and to ensure the most efficient use of scarce resources.

(d) Statewide network of independently accredited community and technical colleges. --

(1) By July 1, 2009, each governing board of a community and technical college which became independent on July 1, 2008, shall make a determination by majority vote of the board whether to keep the current name for its respective institution or to select a new name. If a governing board chooses to select a new name, any reference in this code to that institution by a name in use prior to July 1, 2009, means the institution under the name designated by its board of governors.

(2) The statewide network of independently accredited community and technical colleges is comprised of the following independent state institutions of higher education under the jurisdiction of the council:

(A) Blue Ridge Community and Technical College. --

Blue Ridge Community and Technical College is an independently accredited state institution of higher education. The president and the governing board of the community and technical college are responsible for maintaining independent accreditation and adhering to the essential conditions pursuant to section three of this article.

(B) Bridgemont Community and Technical College. --

(i) Bridgemont Community and Technical College is an independently accredited state institution of higher education which may maintain an association with West Virginia University Institute of Technology, a division of West Virginia University, or directly with West Virginia University, subject to the provisions of section twelve of this article. The president and the governing board of the community and technical college are responsible for maintaining independent accreditation and adhering to the essential conditions pursuant to section three of this article.

(ii) West Virginia University Institute of Technology may continue associate degree programs in areas of particular institutional strength which are closely articulated to its baccalaureate programs and missions or which are of a high-cost nature and can best be provided in direct coordination with a baccalaureate institution. Any such program shall be delivered under the authority of the council and through contract with the community and technical college. The terms of the contract shall be negotiated between the governing boards of the community and technical college and West Virginia University Institute of Technology or directly with West Virginia University, as appropriate. The final contract may not be implemented until approved by the council except that any contract between the community and technical college and West Virginia University Institute of Technology or West Virginia University related to program delivery under the terms of this section in effect on July 1, 2008, shall continue in effect until July 1, 2009, unless amended or revoked before that date by mutual agreement of the contract parties with approval by the council. Such a program shall be evaluated according to the benchmarks and indicators for community and technical college education developed by the council. If the council determines that the program is making insufficient progress toward accomplishing the benchmarks, the program shall thereafter be delivered by the community and technical college.

(iii) Dual credit course delivery agreements. --

(I) Nothing in this article alters or abrogates any agreement in place on the effective date of this section between West Virginia University Institute of Technology and Bridgemont Community and Technical College relating to delivery of dual credit courses as defined in section two, article one of this chapter;

(II) The community and technical college may deliver technical courses that are part of a certificate or associate degree program as early entrance or dual credit courses for high school students; and

(III) Subject to an agreement between the baccalaureate institution and the community and technical college, the latter may deliver early entrance and dual credit courses as defined in section two, article one of this chapter to students in high schools which are not served by the baccalaureate institution.

(C) Eastern West Virginia Community and Technical College. --

Eastern West Virginia Community and Technical College is a free-standing state institution of higher education seeking independent accreditation. The president and the governing board of Eastern Community and Technical College are responsible for achieving independent accreditation and adhering to the essential conditions pursuant to section three of this article.

(D) Mountwest Community and Technical College. --

(i) Mountwest Community and Technical College is an independently accredited state institution of higher education which may maintain an association with Marshall University subject to the provisions of section twelve of this article. The president and the governing board of the community and technical college are responsible for maintaining independent accreditation and adhering to the essential conditions pursuant to section three of this article.

(ii) Marshall University may continue associate degree programs in areas of particular institutional strength which are closely articulated to its baccalaureate programs and missions or which are of a high-cost nature and can best be provided in direct coordination with a baccalaureate institution. Any such program shall be delivered under the authority of the council and through contract with Mountwest Community and Technical College. The terms of the contract shall be negotiated between the governing boards of the community and technical college and Marshall University. The final contract may not be implemented until approved by the council except that any contract between the community and technical college and Marshall University related to program delivery under the terms of this section in effect on July 1, 2008, shall continue in effect until July 1, 2009, unless amended or revoked before that date by mutual agreement of the contract parties with approval by the council. Such a program shall be evaluated according to the benchmarks and indicators for community and technical college education developed by the council. If the council determines that the program is making insufficient progress toward accomplishing the benchmarks, the program shall thereafter be delivered by Mountwest Community and Technical College.

(iii) Dual credit course delivery agreements. --

(I) Nothing in this article alters or abrogates any agreement in place on the effective date of this section between Marshall University and Mountwest Community and Technical College relating to delivery of dual credit courses as defined in section two, article one of this chapter;

(II) The community and technical college may deliver technical courses that are part of a certificate or associate degree program as early entrance or dual credit courses for high school students; and

(III) Subject to an agreement between the baccalaureate institution and the community and technical college, the latter may deliver early entrance and dual credit courses as defined in section two, article one of this chapter to students in high schools which are not served by the baccalaureate institution.

(E) New River Community and Technical College. --

(i) New River Community and Technical College is an independently accredited state institution of higher education which may maintain an association with Bluefield State College subject to the provisions of section twelve of this article. The community and technical college is headquartered in or near Beckley and incorporates the campuses of Greenbrier Community College Center of New River Community and Technical College and Nicholas Community College Center of New River Community and Technical College.

(ii) The president and the governing board of New River Community and Technical College are responsible for maintaining independent accreditation and adhering to the essential conditions pursuant to section three of this article.

(iii) Bluefield State College may continue associate degree programs in areas of particular institutional strength which are closely articulated to its baccalaureate programs and missions or which are of a high-cost nature and can best be provided through direct coordination with a baccalaureate institution. Any such program shall be delivered under the authority of the council and through contract with the community and technical college. The terms of the contract shall be negotiated between the governing boards of the community and technical college and Bluefield State College. The final contract may not be implemented until approved by the council except that any contract between the community and technical college and Bluefield State College related to program delivery under the terms of this section in effect on July 1, 2008, shall continue in effect until July 1, 2009, unless amended or revoked before that date by mutual agreement of the contract parties with approval by the council. Such a program shall be evaluated according to the benchmarks and indicators for community and technical college education developed by the council. If the council determines that the program is making insufficient progress toward accomplishing the benchmarks, the program shall thereafter be delivered by New River Community and Technical College.

(iv) Bluefield State College may continue the associate of science degree in nursing which is an existing nationally accredited associate degree program in an area of particular institutional strength and which is closely articulated to the baccalaureate program and mission. The program is of a high-cost nature and can best be provided through direct administration by a baccalaureate institution. This program may not be transferred to New River Community and Technical College or any other community and technical college as long as the program maintains national accreditation and is seamlessly coordinated into the baccalaureate program at the institution.

(v) New River Community and Technical College participates in the planning and development of a unified effort involving multiple providers to meet the documented education and work force development needs in the region. Nothing in this subdivision prohibits or limits any existing, or the continuation of any existing, affiliation between Mountain State University, West Virginia University Institute of Technology and West Virginia University. The objective is to assure students and employers in the area that there is coordination and efficient use of resources among the separate programs and facilities, existing and planned, in the Beckley area.

(F) Pierpont Community and Technical College. --

(i) Pierpont Community and Technical College is an independent state institution of higher education seeking independent accreditation. The president and the governing board of Pierpont Community and Technical College, assisted by the president and governing board of Fairmont State University, are responsible for the community and technical college achieving independent accreditation and adhering to the essential conditions pursuant to sections three and thirteen of this article.

(ii) Fairmont State University may continue associate degree programs in areas of particular institutional strength which are closely articulated to their baccalaureate programs and missions or which are of a high-cost nature and can best be provided in direct coordination with a baccalaureate institution. Any such program shall be delivered under the authority of the council and through contract with the community and technical college. The terms of the contract shall be negotiated between the council and the governing board of Fairmont State University. The final contract may not be implemented until approved by the council except that any contract between the community and technical college and Fairmont State University related to program delivery under the terms of this section in effect on July 1, 2008, shall continue in effect until July 1, 2009, unless amended or revoked before that date by mutual agreement of the contract parties with approval by the council. Such a program shall be evaluated according to the benchmarks and indicators for community and technical college education developed by the council. Such a program shall be evaluated according to the benchmarks and indicators for community and technical college education developed by the council. If the council determines that the program is making insufficient progress toward accomplishing the benchmarks, the program shall thereafter be delivered by the community and technical college.

(iii) Dual credit course delivery agreements. --

(I) Nothing in this article alters or abrogates any agreement in place on the effective date of this section between Fairmont State University and Pierpont Community and Technical College relating to delivery of dual credit courses as defined in section two, article one of this chapter;

(II) The community and technical college may deliver technical courses that are part of a certificate or associate degree program as early entrance or dual credit courses for high school students; and

(III) Subject to an agreement between the baccalaureate institution and the community and technical college, the latter may deliver early entrance and dual credit courses as defined in section two, article one of this chapter to students in high schools which are not served by the baccalaureate institution.

(G) Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College. -- Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College is an independently-accredited, free-standing state institution of higher education. The president and the governing board of Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College are responsible for maintaining independent accreditation and adhering to the essential conditions pursuant to section three of this article.

(H) West Virginia Northern Community and Technical College. -- West Virginia Northern Community and Technical College is an independently-accredited, free-standing state institution of higher education. The president and the governing board of the community and technical college are responsible for maintaining independent accreditation and adhering to the essential conditions pursuant to section three of this article.

(I) Kanawha Valley Community and Technical College. --

(i) Kanawha Valley State Community and Technical College is an independently accredited state institution of higher education which may maintain an association with West Virginia State University subject to the provisions of section twelve of this article. The president and the governing board of the community and technical college are responsible for maintaining independent accreditation and adhering to the essential conditions pursuant to section three of this article.

(ii) West Virginia State University may continue associate degree programs in areas of particular institutional strength which are closely articulated to its baccalaureate programs and missions or which are of a high-cost nature and can best be provided in direct coordination with a baccalaureate institution. Any such program shall be delivered under the authority of the council and through contract with the community and technical college. The terms of the contract shall be negotiated between the governing boards of the community and technical college and West Virginia State University. The final contract may not be implemented until approved by the council except that any contract between the community and technical college and West Virginia State University related to program delivery under the terms of this section in effect on July 1, 2008, shall continue in effect until July 1, 2009, unless amended or revoked before that date by mutual agreement of the contract parties with approval by the council. Such a program shall be evaluated according to the benchmarks and indicators for community and technical college education developed by the council. If the council determines that the program is making insufficient progress toward accomplishing the benchmarks, the program shall thereafter be delivered by the community and technical college.

(iii) Dual credit course delivery agreements. --

(I) Nothing in this article alters or abrogates any agreement in place on the effective date of this section between West Virginia State University and Kanawha Valley Community and Technical College relating to delivery of dual credit courses as defined in section two, article one of this chapter;

(II) The community and technical college may deliver technical courses that are part of a certificate or associate degree program as early entrance or dual credit courses for high school students; and

(III) Subject to an agreement between the baccalaureate institution and the community and technical college, the latter may deliver early entrance and dual credit courses as defined in section two, article one of this chapter to students in high schools which are not served by the baccalaureate institution.

(J) West Virginia University at Parkersburg. --

(i) West Virginia University at Parkersburg is an independently accredited state institution of higher education which may maintain an association with West Virginia University subject to the provisions of section twelve of this article. The president and the governing board of the community and technical college are responsible for maintaining independent accreditation and adhering to the essential conditions pursuant to section three of this article.

(ii) Any contract between the community and technical college and West Virginia University related to program delivery under the authority of the council or related to delivery of baccalaureate programs, in effect on July 1, 2008, shall continue in effect unless amended or revoked by mutual agreement of the contract parties with approval by the council.

(iii) In recognition of the unique and essential part West Virginia University at Parkersburg plays in providing education services in its region, the community and technical college may continue delivering baccalaureate degree programs offered at the institution on the effective date of this section, may implement additional baccalaureate programs with the approval of the commission and is strongly encouraged:

(I) To continue and expand its role as a higher education center pursuant to subsection (c) of this section;

(II) To broker from West Virginia University and other higher education institutions, as appropriate, additional baccalaureate level degree programs the community and technical college determines are needed in its service region; and

(III) Any baccalaureate degree programs offered at the community and technical college shall be delivered under the authority of the commission. The program shall be evaluated according to the benchmarks and indicators for baccalaureate education developed by the commission.

§18B-3C-9. Increasing flexibility for community and technical colleges.

(a) Notwithstanding any rules or procedures of the governing boards to the contrary, the community and technical colleges have the authority and the duty to:

(1) Incorporate the most effective and efficient use of technology in accessing and delivering courses and programs in order to make the best use of available resources and to control costs;

(2) Incorporate a model to offer occupational program curricula in smaller modules to accommodate specific student and employer needs and to gain sufficient flexibility in formatting courses;

(3) Serve as a facilitator for education programs from outside delivery sources to meet the needs of the residents and employers of the district; and

(4) Employ faculty in the most effective manner to serve the core mission of the community and technical college.

(A) To that end, the freestanding community and technical colleges may employ faculty for an indefinite period without a grant of tenure and shall work toward a staffing goal of no more than twenty percent of the faculty holding tenure or being tenuretrack employees. Tenured faculty employed by the freestanding community and technical colleges before July 1, 1999, are not affected by this provision.

(B) All community and technical colleges, other than those set forth in paragraph (A) of this subdivision, may employ faculty for an indefinite period without a grant of tenure. The immediate goal is to use this provision as a tool to assist the community and technical colleges in meeting the essential conditions provided for in section three of this article and in gaining independent accreditation status. The ultimate goal is to provide the flexibility community and technical colleges need to meet the needs of the state by working toward having no more than twenty percent of the core faculty holding tenure or being tenuretrack employees. Tenured faculty employed by community and technical colleges other than freestanding community and technical colleges on June 30, 2000, may not be affected by this provision. Tenure may not be denied to a faculty member solely as a result of change in employing institution necessitated by the change to independently accredited community and technical colleges.

(b) The governing boards shall adopt a model of program approval for the community and technical colleges that permits occupational programs to be customized to meet needs without requiring approval by any governing board or other agency of government. The model shall incorporate a post-audit review of such programs on a three-year cycle to determine the effectiveness of the programs in meeting district needs.

(c) The council shall promulgate rules to implement the provisions of this section and shall file these rules for review and approval with the chancellor no later than December 1, 2004.

§18B-3C-10. Freestanding community and technical colleges; tuition and fees.

(a) Each governing board may fix tuition and establish and set such other fees to be charged students at its community and technical college as it considers appropriate, subject to the provisions of this subsection and article ten of this chapter.

(1) The governing board, in consultation with the council, also may establish special fees for such purposes as, including, but not limited to, health services, student activities, student recreation, athletics or any other extracurricular purposes. The council shall determine which fees, if any, do not apply to the entire student population and to which students such fees do not apply. Such special fees may be used only for the purposes for which collected.

(2) A community and technical college may contract with any other state institution of higher education for the participation of its students in programs, activities or services of the other institution and for the use of such fees collected.

(b) All tuition and fee charges in the total aggregate shall comply with the terms of the institution's compact approved by the council, based on peer comparisons or cost of instruction as set forth in the goals for post-secondary education pursuant to section one-a, article one of this chapter.

§18B-3C-11. Shared facilities and resources; memoranda of agreements; and joint administrative boards.

(a) To the maximum extent feasible, community and technical colleges shall be developed as multisite institutions utilizing existing facilities, including cooperative use of existing vocational education institutes and centers, offering services on the campuses of existing baccalaureate and graduate institutions, at work sites in collaboration with employers and other appropriate venues. Subject to the limitation of subdivision (13), subsection (a), section four, article one-b of this chapter, new public capital investment in physical facilities shall be kept to a minimum. All community and technical colleges shall have missions encompassing the full range of services and programs.

(b) The governing boards may accept federal grants and funds from county boards of education, other local governmental bodies, corporations or persons. The governing boards may enter into memoranda of understanding agreements with such governmental bodies, corporations or persons for the use or acceptance of local facilities and for the acceptance of grants or contributions toward the cost of the acquisition or construction of such facilities. Such local governmental bodies may convey capital improvements, or lease the same without monetary consideration, to the governing boards for the use by the community and technical college and the governing boards may accept such facilities, or the use or lease thereof, and grants or contributions for such purposes from such governmental bodies, the federal government or any corporation or person. In addition, the various education agencies shall establish cooperative relationships to utilize existing community and technical colleges and programs, public school vocational centers and other existing facilities to serve the identified needs within the community and technical college district.

(c) To facilitate the administration, operation and financing of programs in shared facilities of any institution of public higher education and a county board or boards of education, the affected president and county board or boards of education may appoint a joint administrative board consisting of such membership and possessing such delegated authorities as the respective boards consider necessary and prudent for the operation of such shared facilities. Such joint administrative boards, as an example, may consist of five members appointed as follows: The county board of education appoints two members; the president appoints two members; and one at-large member, who shall chair the joint administrative board, is appointed by mutual agreement of the board and the president. When two or more county boards of education are participating in such shared program, such county board appointments would be made by mutual agreement of each of the participating county boards. Members would serve for staggered terms of three years. With respect to initial appointments, one member appointed by the county board or boards of education and one member appointed by the governing board would serve for one year, one member appointed by the county board or boards of education and one member appointed by the governing board would serve for two years and the at-large member would serve for three years. Subsequent appointments should be for three years. A member would not serve more than two consecutive terms. Members would be reimbursed for reasonable and necessary expenses actually incurred in the performance of their duties as board members from funds allocated to the shared facility, except that members who are employed by a Board of Education, governing board or state institution of higher education would be reimbursed by their employer.

§18B-3C-12. Relationship between independent community and technical colleges and former sponsoring institutions.

(a) Intent and purposes. --

(1) It is the intent of the Legislature to establish community and technical colleges in every region of the state that meet the essential conditions of section three of this article and focus on achieving established state goals and objectives.

(2) This section defines the relationship between a community and technical college which was administratively linked to a sponsoring institution prior to July 1, 2008.

(b) Where an independent community and technical college was linked administratively to a sponsoring state college or university, or was designated as a regional campus or a division of another accredited state institution of higher education, prior to July 1, 2008 the following conditions apply:

(1) The community and technical college shall be accredited separately from the former sponsoring institution;

(2) All state funding allocations for the community and technical college shall be transferred directly to the community and technical college.

(3) The former sponsoring institution and the community and technical college shall agree to the fees the former sponsoring institution may charge for administrative overhead costs.

(A) The fee schedule model agreed to by the institutions shall delineate services to be provided and the fees to be charged to the community and technical colleges for the services;

(B) The fee schedule shall be based upon the reasonable and customary fee for any service, shall bear a rational relationship to the cost of providing the service.

(C) Any contract between a community and technical college and its former sponsoring institution related to provision of services pursuant to subsection (c) of this section in effect on July 1, 2008, shall continue in effect until July 1, 2009, unless amended or revoked before that date by mutual agreement of the contracting parties.

(D) The former sponsoring institution shall continue to provide services pursuant to subsection (c) of this section as the governing board of the community and technical college considers appropriate under a negotiated contractual arrangement until July 1, 2011 or the governing boards of both institutions mutually agree to end the contract arrangement.

(4) An independent community and technical college and the institution from which it obtains services may customize the fee schedule model to fit their needs.

(5) Policies shall be formally established to ensure the separation of academic and faculty personnel policies of the community and technical college from those of the former sponsoring institution. These policies include, but are not limited to, appointment, promotion, workload and, if appropriate, tenure; and

(c) The former sponsoring institution which was administratively linked to a community and technical college prior to July 1, 2008, shall provide the following services subject to the provisions of subsection (b) of this section:

(1) Personnel management;

(2) Recordkeeping;

(3) Payroll;

(4) Accounting;

(5) Legal services;

(6) Registration;

(7) Student aid;

(8) Student records; and

(9) Any other services determined to be necessary and appropriate by the board of Governors of the former sponsoring institution and the board of Governors of the community and technical college.

(d) Any disputes between an independent community and technical college and its former sponsoring institution, regarding their respective rights and responsibilities under this chapter of the code, which cannot be resolved by the governing boards, shall

be resolved as follows:

(1) The matters in dispute shall be summarized in writing and submitted to the chancellors jointly for resolution;

(2) If the matters in dispute cannot be resolved by the chancellors within thirty days, they shall be submitted to the council and commission for resolution;

(3) If the commission and council jointly cannot reach a resolution following their first regularly scheduled meeting or within sixty days, whichever is sooner, the chairpersons of the commission and council respectively shall establish a three-person panel to hear the matters and issue a decision within thirty days:

(A) The three-person panel is comprised of one person appointed by the chairperson of the commission, one person appointed by the chairperson of the council, and one person appointed jointly by the two chairpersons.

(B) The decision rendered by the three-person panel is binding on the governing boards, commission and council, and may not be challenged in the courts of this state.

(e) The governing board of the community and technical college and the council are responsible for the development of the community and technical college and for compliance with the essential conditions, all as required by this article.

(f) The president of the community and technical college has such responsibilities, powers and duties in the development of the community and technical college and in compliance with the essential conditions, as directed by the governing board or as are necessary for the proper implementation of the provisions of this act.

(g) Notwithstanding any other provision of this code to the contrary, the commission shall take necessary steps to ensure that institutional bonded indebtedness is secure and that each community and technical college assumes its fair share of any institutional debt acquired while it was part of the baccalaureate institution.

(h) The community and technical college is encouraged to secure academic services from the former sponsoring institution when it is in their best interests and beneficial to the students to be served. In determining whether or not to secure services from the former sponsoring institution, the community and technical college shall consider the following:

(1) The cost of the academic services;

(2) The quality of the academic services;

(3) The availability, both as to time and place, of the academic services; and

(4) Such other considerations as the community and technical college finds appropriate taking into account the best interests of the students to be served, the community and technical college, and the former sponsoring institution. Nothing in this article prohibits any state institution of higher education from purchasing or brokering remedial or developmental courses from a community and technical college.

§18B-3C-13. Legislative intent; Pierpont Community and Technical College established as independent state institution of higher education; governing board; institutional organization, structure, accreditation status.

(a) The intent of the Legislature in enacting this section is to provide for the most effective education delivery system for community and technical education programs to the entire region to be served by Pierpont Community and Technical College and to focus the institutional mission on achieving state goals, objectives, priorities, and essential conditions as established in articles one, one-d, and three-c of this chapter.

(b) Pierpont Community and Technical College is established as an independent state institution of higher education. Any reference in this code to Fairmont State Community and Technical College or to Pierpont Community and Technical College, a division of Fairmont State University, means the independent state institution of higher education known as Pierpont Community and Technical College.

(c) Effective July 1, 2008, the board of advisors for Pierpont Community and Technical College is the governing board for that institution subject to the provisions of article two-a of this chapter. The administrative head of Pierpont Community and Technical College on June 30, 2008, is the president of the independent community and technical college subject to the provisions of section five of this article.

(d) In the delivery of community and technical college education and programs, Pierpont Community and Technical College shall adhere to all provisions set forth in this code and rules promulgated by the council for the delivery of education and programs, including, but not limited to, council review and approval of academic programs, institutional compacts, master plans and tuition and fee rates, including capital fees.

(e) Pierpont Community and Technical College shall pursue independent accreditation status and the board of Governors of the community and technical college shall provide through contractual arrangement for the administration and operation of Pierpont Community and Technical College by Fairmont State University while the community and technical college seeks appropriate independent accreditation. The contractual arrangement may not be implemented until approved by the council and shall include provisions to ensure that the programs offered at Pierpont Community and Technical College are accredited while independent accreditation is being sought. Fairmont State University shall continue to provide services to the community and technical college which the community and technical college or the council considers necessary or expedient in carrying out its mission under the terms of an agreement between the two institutions pursuant to the provisions of section twelve of this article.

(f) The council has the authority and the duty to take all steps necessary to assure that the institution acquires independent accreditation status as quickly as possible. If the community and technical college fails to achieve independent accreditation by July 1, 2011, the council shall sever any contractual agreement between Pierpont Community and Technical College and Fairmont State University and assign the responsibility for achieving independent accreditation to another state institution of higher education.

§18B-3C-14. Findings; intent; advanced technology centers established; administration; boards of advisors.

(a) Findings. --

(1) The Legislature finds that ninety percent of the high-demand, high-wage new economy occupations require education and training beyond high school. Technology has permeated every industry requiring higher skill levels for technician-level occupations. Technician skills, learning capacities and adaptability to changing technologies affect the viability both of individual employers and entire industries. Unless West Virginia takes immediate steps to produce additional skilled workers to replace the aging and retiring work force, the state faces a critical shortage of technician-level workers which it must have to ensure economic growth. State employers must have access to a technically proficient work force able to keep pace with the changing nature of occupations in the global economy and educating and training this technician-level work force is a vital component in the state's plan for economic development.

(2) The Legislature further finds that establishment of advanced technology centers will increase the capacity of West Virginia's community and technical colleges to deliver state-of-the-art technical education and training. The centers will serve as models for the most effective delivery of technician-level education and training with the potential to develop programs of excellence that attract participants from outside the state adding to their value as an economic stimulus. The centers serve as catalysts for state and regional economic development by educating and training a highly skilled technical work force capable of meeting both the current and emerging needs of West Virginia employers.

(b) Legislative intent. --

(1) It is the intent of the Legislature to establish advanced technology centers to provide advanced instruction capable of meeting the current and future demands of occupations requiring technical skills including the following:

(A) Addressing skills sets needed for emerging and high technology businesses and industries which are of vital importance to expanding the economy of the state;

(B) Training and retraining personnel for West Virginia's new and existing business and industries;

(C) Providing instruction in strategic technical program areas that advances the economic development initiatives of the state and regions within the state by providing access to a skilled work force for companies expanding or locating in West Virginia;

(D) Providing a setting for collaboration in the delivery of technical programs among community and technical colleges, secondary career-technical education and baccalaureate institutions;

(E) Invigorating teaching by providing models for program delivery that can be shared and replicated at all state community and technical colleges; and

(F) Developing student interest in pursuing technical occupations through exposure to advanced technologies.

(2) It is further the intent of the Legislature that programming offered by the centers be driven by the needs of state and local employers and economic development considerations. Centers shall be constructed with the flexibility to accommodate various programs simultaneously and to react quickly to adjust programming as employer and economic development demands change. They are furnished with state-of-the-art equipment conducive to delivering advanced technology programs and to providing students with real-world experiences that reflect industry standards. Education and training at the centers includes delivery of credit and noncredit instruction, seminars, skill sets, industry recognized certifications, certificates and associate degree programs. Curricula is designed in modular and other innovative formats allowing for open entry and open exit, compressed time frames, skill upgrades, and easy transfer from career-technical centers and other education providers. Centers shall embrace and promote collaborative programming among community and technical colleges and other providers of education and training programs and serve as receiving sites for programs to be delivered by community and technical colleges utilizing distance education, simulation and other collaborative, innovative approaches to increase the capacity of the community and technical college network to deliver technical education.

(c) Boards of Advisors. --

(1) There is hereby established a board of advisors for each advanced technology center in the state specifically to provide advice, assistance and programmatic oversight to the president of the community and technical college, director of the center, and others involved in its operation in areas relevant to program delivery and general operation of the center. In order to be successful, each center must act assertively to develop collaborative partnerships with employers, community and technical colleges in its service region, and local economic development entities. It is the responsibility of the board of advisors to promote this vital participation.

(A) For a center which has a single participating community and technical college in its service region, the board of Governors of the institution is designated as the board of advisors for the center.

(B) For a center which has more than one participating community and technical college in its service region, the board of advisors consists of eleven members, of which a minimum of seven shall represent employers located in the region served by the center.

(i) The advisory board provides guidance to all governing boards and consists of the following members:

(I) Two members from the board of Governors of each participating community and technical college which is located in the center's service region, appointed by the board of Governors of each institution.

(II) One member representing regional economic development entities, appointed by the council, with advice from the governing boards of the appropriate community and technical colleges; and

(III) Sufficient at-large members appointed by the council, with advice from the governing boards of the appropriate community and technical colleges, to fill the remaining seats equal to a membership of eleven.

(ii) Members of an advisory board serve staggered terms of up to four years beginning on September 1, 2008, except that five of the initial appointments to an advisory board are for terms of two years and six of the initial appointments are for terms of four years. Each member who qualifies under the provisions of this section may serve for no more than one additional term. The council shall fill a vacancy in an unexpired term of a member for the unexpired term within thirty days of the occurrence of the vacancy in the same manner as the original appointment.

(iii) The chancellor for community and technical college education shall call the first meeting of the board of advisors and shall serve as chairperson until a permanent chairperson is elected.

(iv) The president of each community and technical college located in the center's service region shall make resources available for conducting the business of the center's board of advisors. The presidents of the institutions shall work collaboratively to provide support for conducting board business.

(2) Each board of advisors, including each board of Governors when sitting as a board of advisors, shall hold at least one regular meeting during each quarter of the fiscal year including an annual meeting in June for the purpose of electing a chairperson and other officers as the board considers appropriate.

(A) Additional meetings may be held at the call of the chairperson or upon written request of five or more members of the advisory board.

(B) Officers serve a term of one year beginning on July 1, and ending on June 30, except for the fiscal year beginning on July 1, 2008, terms begin on September 1, 2008 and end on June 30, 2009.

(C) One of the members representing employers shall be elected to serve as chairperson at the annual meeting in June except, for the fiscal year beginning on July 1, 2008, the chairperson and other officers shall be elected in September, 2008, and their terms shall expire on June 30, 2009. A member may not serve as chairperson for more than two consecutive terms.

§18B-3C-15. Transition oversight.

(a) The Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability is charged with responsibility to monitor and oversee implementation of the policy changes required by this act.

(b) The responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

(1) Reviewing the overall progress of the council, the commission and state institutions of higher education in implementing the provisions of this act;

(2) Monitoring the development of the rules related to financing policy and benchmarks and indicators pursuant to section six, article two-b of this chapter;

(3) Monitoring the development of the statewide master plan for community and technical college education and the institutional compacts pursuant to sections five and seven, article one-d of this chapter;

(4) Monitoring the development of the council's state compact pursuant to section six, article one-d of this chapter; and

(5) Monitoring the changes in institutional relationships including development or changes in contractual arrangements for services pursuant to section twelve of this article and delivery of dual credit and baccalaureate-level courses;

(c) The provisions of this section expire June 30, 2009.

§18B-3D-1. Legislative findings and intent.

(a) The Legislature finds that a recent statewide study of the workforce training needs of employers throughout the state provided a clear message from the business community:

(1) The needs of employers are rapidly changing and training providers must be more responsive or the state economy will suffer;

(2) Information specific to West Virginia, once again emphasizes the critical link between education and economic development that empowering youth and adults with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed in the competitive work world also results in a workforce which enables businesses and communities to prosper;

(3) Although employers are generally satisfied with the quality of the West Virginia workforce and the study provides additional support that the measures adopted in the Jobs Through Education Act will bring continued improvement, workforce needs are not static, critical skill shortages currently exist, and the establishment of a workforce development system that responds more quickly to the evolving skill requirements of employers is needed.

(b) The Legislature further finds that a study of community and technical education in West Virginia performed by the national center for higher education management systems called attention to problems in providing needed workforce education and found that there is a need to:

(1) Jump-start development of community and technical college and post-secondary workforce development initiatives;

(2) Provide incentives for existing public post-secondary providers to respond jointly to both short and long-term needs of employers and other clients;

(3) Provide funding for explicit incentives for partnerships between employers and public post-secondary institutions to develop comprehensive community and technical college and workforce development services; and

(4) Allocate funds competitively on the basis of proposals submitted by providers.

(c) It is further the intent of the Legislature that the granting of funds under this article will promote the development of comprehensive community and technical colleges as set forth in article three-c of this chapter.

(d) It is the intent of the Legislature through the grant of funds under this article to provide limited seed money to address some of the specific areas where improvement is needed, including, but not limited to:

(1) Improving employer awareness and access to services available through the state's education institutions;

(2) Providing designated professionals and resources to support workforce education through the state's education institutions;

 (3) Increasing the capacity of the state's education institutions to respond rapidly to employer needs for workforce education and training on an on-going basis through the development of a client-focused, visible point of contact for program development and delivery, service referral and needs assessment, such as a workforce development center; and

 (4) Maximizing the use of available resources for workforce education and training through partnerships with public vocational, technical and adult education centers and private training providers.

(e) It is further the intent of the Legislature that consideration and partnering opportunities be given to small businesses on an equal basis with larger businesses for the purposes of this article and that the seed money will assist providers in becoming self-sustaining through partnerships with business and industry which will include cost-sharing initiatives and fees charged for the use of services.

(f) The Legislature intends that grants of funds made under the provisions of this article will be competitive among applicants who meet all of the criteria established in this article and such other criteria as may be specified by the Development Office. Subject to the availability of funds, more than one competition may be held during the same fiscal year and the dollar range of awards granted in successive competitions shall be prorated based on the number of months remaining in the fiscal year. Subject to annual review and justification, it is the intent of the Legislature to renew grant awards made under this article each year for not more than five years following the initial grant award.

§18B-3D-2. Workforce Development Initiative Program continued; purpose; program administration; rule required.

(a) The Workforce Development Initiative Program is continued under the supervision of the council. The purpose of the program is to administer and oversee grants to community and technical colleges to implement the provisions of this article in accordance with legislative intent.

(b) It is the responsibility of the council to administer the state fund for community and technical college and workforce development, including setting criteria for grant applications, receiving applications for grants, making determinations on distribution of funds, and evaluating the performance of workforce development initiatives.

(c) The chancellor, under the direction of the council, shall review and approve the expenditure of all grant funds, including development of application criteria, the review and selection of applicants for funding, and the annual review and justification of applicants for grant renewal.

 (1) When determining which grant proposals will be funded, the council shall give special consideration to proposals by community and technical colleges that involve businesses with fewer than fifty employees.

 (2) The council shall weigh each proposal to avoid awarding grants which will have the ultimate effect of providing unfair advantage to employers new to the state who will be in direct competition with established local businesses.

(d) The council may allocate a reasonable amount, not to exceed five percent up to a maximum of $50,000 of the funds available for grants on an annual basis, for general program administration.

(e) Moneys appropriated or otherwise available for the Workforce Development Initiative Program shall be allocated by line item to an appropriate account. Any moneys remaining in the fund at the close of a fiscal year are carried forward for use in the next fiscal year.

(f) Nothing in this article requires a specific level of appropriation by the Legislature.

§18B-3D-3. Mission of the Workforce Development Initiative Program.

(a) The statewide mission of the Workforce Development Initiative Program is to develop a strategy to strengthen the quality of the state's workforce by linking the existing post-secondary education capacity to the needs of business, industry and other employers. Available funding will be used to provide explicit incentives for partnerships between employers and community and technical colleges to develop comprehensive workforce development services. Funds will be granted on the basis of proposals developed according to criteria established by the council.

(b) The mission of any community and technical college accepting a workforce development initiative grant is to:

(1) Become client-focused and develop programs that meet documented employer needs;

(2) Involve and collaborate with employers in the development of programs;

(3) Develop customized training programs that provide for the changing needs of employers and that are offered at flexible times and locations to accommodate employer scheduling;

(4) Develop partnerships with other public and private providers, including small business development centers and vocational, technical and adult education centers, and, with business and labor, to fulfill the workforce development needs of the service area;

(5) Establish cooperative arrangements with the public school system for the seamless progression of students through programs of study that begin at the secondary level and conclude at the community and technical college level, particularly with respect to career and technical education certificates, associate of applied science and selected associate of science degree programs for students seeking immediate employment, individual entrepreneurship skills, occupational development, skill enhancement and career mobility; and

(6) Assist in the on-going assessment of the workforce development needs of the service area.

§18B-3D-4. Grant application procedures.

(a) In order to participate in the workforce development initiative grant program, a community and technical college shall meet the following conditions:

(1) Participate in a community and technical college consortia planning district as required by article three-c of this chapter. Consortia representatives participate in the development of and approve applications for funding grants under the provisions of this article and approve the workforce development initiative budget;

(2) Develop, as a component of its institutional compact, a plan to achieve measurable improvements in the quality of the workforce within its service area over the period covered by the compact. The plan is developed in partnership with employers, local vocational schools and other workforce education providers; and

(3) Establish a special revolving fund under the jurisdiction of the community and technical college dedicated solely to workforce development initiatives for the purposes provided in this article. Any fees or revenues generated from workforce development initiatives funded by a competitive grant are deposited into this fund.

(b) To be eligible to receive a workforce development initiative grant, a community and technical college shall provide at least the following information in its application:

(1) Identification of the specific business or business sector training needs that will be met if a workforce development initiative grant is received;

(2) A commitment from the private or public sector partner or partners to provide a match of $1, cash and in-kind, for each dollar of state grant money received: Provided, That the commitment required by this subdivision may be provided by a public sector partner using state or federal dollars to provide the required match if funding for this initiative in the fiscal year exceeds $650,000 in which case, one-half the amount exceeding $650,000 may be granted using a public sector match;

(3) An agreement to share with other community and technical colleges any curricula developed using funds from a workforce development initiative grant;

(4) A specific plan showing how the community and technical college will collaborate with local post-secondary vocational institutions to maximize the use of existing facilities, personnel and equipment; and

(5) An acknowledgment that acceptance of a grant under the provisions of this article commits the community and technical college and its consortia committee to such terms, conditions and deliverables as specified by the council in the request for applications, including, but not limited to, the measures by which the performance of the workforce development initiative will be evaluated.

(c) Applications submitted by community and technical colleges may be awarded funds for programs which meet the requirements of this article that are operated on a collaborative basis at facilities under the jurisdiction of the public schools and utilized by both secondary and post-secondary students.

§18B-3D-5. Legislative and emergency rules.

(a) The council shall propose a legislative rule pursuant to article three-a, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code to implement the provisions of this article and shall file the rule with the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability no later than October 1, 2011.

(b) The Legislature finds that an emergency exists and, therefore, the council shall propose an emergency rule to implement the provisions of this article in accordance with section six, article one of this chapter and article three-a, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code by October 1, 2011.

(c) Any rule promulgated by the council pursuant to previous enactments of this section and in effect on the effective date of the amendment and reenactment of this section in the year 2011 remains in effect until amended, modified, repealed or replaced by the council.

§18B-3D-6. Learn and Earn Cooperative Education Program established.

(a) Legislative findings.

(1) The Legislature finds that many West Virginians cannot enroll full-time in a community and technical college technical program because circumstances require them to maintain full-time employment. It is critically important that technical programs leading to high-wage occupations be more accessible and affordable for all West Virginians.

(2) The Legislature further finds that cooperative education programs are successful in providing access to these technical programs while providing students enrolled full-time in a community and technical college with the financial benefits they need to continue their education. These cooperative education programs provide opportunities for students to work with West Virginia companies while in college, thus increasing the likelihood that they will complete the program, find gainful employment and choose to remain in West Virginia upon graduation. They provide students with hands-on, real world work experience with a salary while they complete a technical program of study and, at the same time, provide employers with a cost-effective tool for recruiting and training.

(b) The purpose of this section is to establish a cooperative education program, under the jurisdiction of the council, as a component of the Workforce Development Initiative Program established pursuant to this article. The program shall be known and may be cited as the "Learn and Earn Program."

(c) The program requires a dollar-for-dollar cash match from participating employers or groups of employers from which the student receives a salary from the employer or employers while participating in the program. Participants may not substitute a match in-kind for the cash match required by this section.

(d) An institution is eligible to apply for a program grant in cooperation with one or more employer partners if it meets the definition of a community and technical college provided in §18B-1-2 of this code: Provided, That, as a pilot program beginning at the start of the 2023-2024 academic year and concluding at the end of the 2025-2026 academic year, Potomac State College of West Virginia University is eligible to participate in the "Learn and Earn Program" established by this section in accordance with the rules promulgated pursuant to §18B-3D-5 of this code. At the conclusion of the pilot program, the council shall determine whether Potomac State College of West Virginia University has achieved sufficient results to continue to participate in the Learn and Earn program. The council shall define the application process in the rules required in section five of this article.

(e) The council may expend funds available through the Workforce Development Initiative program to implement the provisions of this section.

§18B-3E-1. Legislative findings and intent.

(a) The Legislature finds that the potomac highlands is an area of the state that is underserved for higher education and that deserves more convenient access to higher education opportunities, including work force development opportunities.

(b) It is the intent of the Legislature in establishing eastern West Virginia community and technical college to focus on the advantages available to the potomac highlands and to the state by providing quality community and technical college education.

 (c) It is further the intent of the Legislature that eastern West Virginia community and technical college shall serve as a delivery platform for higher education in the potomac highlands while the study required by section seven, article three of this chapter is being conducted. The final organizational structure of the institution should reflect the results of the study.

(d) In order to satisfy the growing needs of the potomac highlands for access to quality higher education programs, the community and technical college shall meet the critical two-fold core mission which is to deliver work force development programs that meet the needs of employers and to increase the college participation rate of all the residents of the district. Establishment of this college is intended to provide an opportunity to implement more effective education delivery systems, organizational structures, and management and to result in finding the best model for delivery of high quality community and technical college education.

§18B-3E-2. Establishment and operation of Eastern West Virginia Community and Technical College; authority and duty to purchase property, expend appropriations and conduct programs.

(a) The board of directors shall establish, operate and maintain as a state institution of higher education and as a part of the state college system of West Virginia, the freestanding community and technical college, known as "Eastern West Virginia Community and Technical College", located in Hardy County. The title to all real property, facilities and equipment of Eastern West Virginia Community and Technical College is and remains vested in the board of directors.

(b) The board of directors shall employ a president and such staff and faculty as determined appropriate for the institution; appoint a board of advisors consistent with section one, article six of this chapter; and exercise general determination, control, supervision and management of the financial, business and education policies and affairs of the community and technical college.

(c) Subject to the intent of the Legislature as stated in section one of this article, Eastern West Virginia Community and Technical College may offer such curricula, programs, courses and services and confer such degrees as is approved by the board of directors. The board of directors shall fix tuition and establish and set other fees to be charged students as it considers appropriate, including establishing special fees for specific purposes. Special fees shall be paid into special funds and may be used only for the purposes for which the fees were collected.

(d) The board of directors shall expend from the appropriations allocated for Eastern West Virginia Community and Technical College such funds as are necessary to operate and conduct programs, to acquire clear title to any real property and to make necessary capital improvements. The title to all property purchased for the use of Eastern West Virginia Community and Technical College is vested in the board of directors.

(e) The board of directors may enter into contracts on behalf of Eastern West Virginia Community and Technical College with public and private education institutions, agencies, boards, government agencies, corporations, partnerships and individuals to perform instructional or other services.

(f) The board of directors shall make any necessary reports to the Legislative Oversight commission on education accountability for the phased implementation of this section.

(g) Eastern West Virginia Community and Technical College shall prepare and submit strategic plans in accordance with the provisions of section one-c, article one of this chapter.

(h) The board of directors may provide through contractual arrangement for the administration and operation of Eastern West Virginia Community and Technical College by other state institutions of higher education until such time as the community and technical college attains appropriate independent accreditation. Any contractual arrangement shall ensure that the programs offered at Eastern West Virginia Community and Technical College are accredited while independent accreditation is being sought.

(i) Notwithstanding the provisions of section three-a of this article, the community and technical college district of Eastern West Virginia Community and Technical College, for the purposes of initial implementation, is comprised as follows: Grant, Hardy, Hampshire, Pendleton and Tucker counties.

§18B-3F-1. Legislative findings.

(a) The Legislature finds that while certain areas of the state currently lack a sufficient population or employer base to support an independent community and technical college, it is vital to the citizens and businesses of these areas to have access to comprehensive, high-quality community and technical education programs and services that are well articulated with the public schools, baccalaureate institutions and other community and technical colleges; that make the most efficient and effective use of facilities, faculty, staff, equipment and other available resources; that encourage students of all ages, ability levels and economic circumstances to pursue a lifetime of learning; that serve as engines of economic development; and that have the ability to adapt quickly to changing needs for workforce training.

(b) The Legislature further finds that a critical need exists to enhance the role of technical education in every area of the state; to encourage and strengthen collaborative and cooperative relationships between and among institutions in order to provide the highest quality programs and services most effectively; and to make the most efficient use of scarce resources while avoiding, to the extent practicable, duplication of administrative and programmatic costs. Establishment of multicampus institutions provides an excellent opportunity to implement more effective and efficient systems of program delivery and to explore alternative organizational and management structures best suited to serving the needs of students, employers and the citizens of a geographic region. Reorganization offers an efficient and effective method to provide high-quality, comprehensive community and technical education in an area where two institutions serve the same community and technical college district or population center. Creating a consolidated multicampus institution will enhance the delivery of comprehensive community and technical college education to that entire geographical region.

§18B-3F-2. Definitions.

(a) General. – For the purposes of this article, terms have the meaning ascribed to them in section two, article one of this chapter, unless the context in which the term is used clearly requires a different meaning or a specific definition is provided in this section.

(b) Definitions. –

(1) "Administrative planning committee" or "planning committee" means the advisory group established pursuant to section seven of this article to advise the governing board of the reorganized multicampus community and technical college and to serve as liaison to the council.

(2) "Affected institution" means a community and technical college which is included in a reorganization.

(3) "Chancellor" means the chief executive officer of the council appointed pursuant to section three, article two-b of this chapter.

(4) "Consolidated institution" means a community and technical college formed by joining together one or more institutions to create a new multicampus college or integrating two or more institutions into an existing institution to form one multicampus college. An institution that is included in a consolidation or integrated into an existing institution ceases to exist as an independent institution of higher education.

(5) "Institution" means any community and technical college under the jurisdiction of the council.

(6) "Multicampus institution" means a college that has more than one campus as defined and approved by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Schools and Colleges. In the case of the consolidation of Bridgemont Community and Technical College and Kanawha Valley Community and Technical College, "multicampus institution" means the consolidated institution comprised of existing campuses in Montgomery and South Charleston and any other campuses that may be established in the future, in accordance with the Higher Learning Commission standards of accreditation.

(7) "Institutional reorganization" or "reorganization" means the process of combining institutions to form a consolidated community and technical college or integrating one institution into another.

(8) "Strategic reorganization plan" or "plan" means the document developed in accordance with section eight of this article consisting of strategies, procedures and guidelines to be used in implementing an institutional reorganization.

§18B-3F-3. Appointment of institutional board of governors.

(a) Effective June 30, 2013, Bridgemont Community and Technical College and Kanawha Valley Community and Technical College become one independent, multicampus community and technical college administered by its own governing board under the jurisdiction and authority of the council and subject to all applicable provisions of this chapter and chapter eighteen-c of this code, and to continued fulfillment of institutional accreditation requirements. The boards of governors of Bridgemont Community and Technical College and Kanawha Valley Community and Technical College are abolished on June 30, 2013.

(1) The consolidated institution is comprised of existing campuses in Montgomery and South Charleston and any other campuses that may be established in the future, in accordance with the Higher Learning Commission standards of accreditation.

(2) The board of governors of the consolidated institution shall develop, implement and complete the reorganization by July 1, 2014.

(3) Beginning on July 1, 2013, and thereafter, any reference in this code to Bridgemont Community and Technical College or Kanawha Valley Community and Technical College means the multicampus institution created pursuant to this article.

(b) Initial appointments to the board of governors of the reorganized institution are made pursuant to the provisions of section one, article two-a of this chapter, except as follows:

(1) As soon after the effective date of this article as practicable, but before July 1, 2013, the Governor shall select lay citizen members of the board of governors for the consolidated institution from the former lay citizen members of each of the boards of governors of the affected institutions. The Governor shall appoint an equal number of lay citizen members from each of the boards of the affected institutions. One such member serves a one-year term only, after which that membership position is not reappointed.

(2) One of the initial appointments is for a term of one year, four of the initial appointments are for terms of four years and five of the initial appointments are for terms of three years.

(3) Until June 30, 2014, all of the constituent members of the boards of governors of the affected institutions representing faculty, classified employees and students serve as members on the board of governors of the reorganized institution. Beginning July 1, 2014, the constituent members of the reorganized institution are appointed according to the provisions of section one, article two-a of this chapter.

(c) At the end of each initial term, and thereafter, an appointment to the board of governors of the consolidated institution, either to fill a vacancy or to reappoint a member who is eligible to serve an additional term, shall be made in accordance with section one, article two-a of this chapter.

(d) The chancellor shall call the first meeting of the board of governors as soon after June 30, 2013, as feasible, at which time the members shall elect a chairperson and other officers pursuant to article two-a of this chapter. Thereafter, the board shall hold an annual meeting in June of each year for the purpose of electing officers.

§18B-3F-4. Powers and duties of board of governors.

(a) The actions of the board of governors appointed pursuant to section three of this article are subject to the terms and conditions prescribed in article two-a of this chapter. The board has all the powers and duties provided in section four, article two-a of this chapter.

(b) The programs of the consolidated institution are operated under the rules and procedures of the institution's board of governors, which, initially, shall adopt rules from one or both of the affected institutions until the time when new or revised rules are proposed and approved pursuant to section six, article one of this chapter.

(1) The administrative planning committee shall make recommendations to the board of governors regarding which of the rules of the affected institutions should be adopted.

(2) Nothing in this section requires the initial rules of the board of governors to be promulgated again under the rule adopted by the Council for Community and Technical College Education pursuant to section six, article one of this chapter unless the rules are rescinded, revised, amended or otherwise altered.

(c) It is the duty of the board of governors of the consolidated institution to adopt rules and procedures that authorize, support and encourage the consolidated institution to fulfill its core mission. It is further the specific duty of the board of governors to facilitate delivery of a comprehensive program of community and technical college education in all the counties that are served by the multicampus consolidated institution. To that end, the board shall expend from the appropriations allocated to the affected institutions such funds as are necessary or expedient to operate and conduct programs, to acquire clear title to any real property and to make necessary capital improvements.

(d) In addition to the powers and duties set forth in this section and in article two-a of this chapter, the board of governors shall perform the following duties:

(1) Choose a name for the consolidated multicampus institution from the recommendations submitted by the administrative planning committee pursuant to section seven of this article.

(2) Choose the president of one of the affected institutions to serve as president of the consolidated institution pursuant to section five of this article;

(3) Determine which positions of the affected institutions are to be abolished and notify employees as required by section nine of this article; and

(4) Serve as the designated board of advisors for the Advantage Valley Advanced Technology Center created by section fourteen, article three-c of this chapter.

§18B-3F-5. Appointment of institutional president; other officers.

(a) The board of governors shall designate the president of one of the affected institutions to serve as president of the consolidated multicampus institution. The other president shall serve as provost or chief executive officer of his or her respective campus. The salary and benefits of an individual who is serving as an institutional president at the time of a reorganization may not be reduced solely as a result of the reorganization. Provosts and chief executive officers report directly to the president of the consolidated institution.

(b) After the initial contract period ends or at the expiration of a president's current contract, the board of governors of the consolidated multicampus institution shall appoint and evaluate the president in accordance with section six, article one-b of this chapter.

§18B-3F-6. Budget; transfer of financial assets, property, liability, orders, policies, procedures, etc.

When a consolidated institution is formed:

(1) The operating budget of each affected institution is integrated under the authority and jurisdiction of the board of governors of the consolidated institution.

(2) All financial assets, including state fund balances, and liabilities are transferred from the authority of the board of governors of each affected institution to the authority of the board of governors of the consolidated institution.

(3) Any capital debt service payment formerly the responsibility of an affected institution or the affected institution's share of any capital debt service payment of its former sponsoring institution continues in the required amount and is the responsibility of the board of governors of the consolidated institution.

(4) The titles to all real property, facilities and equipment of, as well as each valid agreement and obligation undertaken by, the affected institutions are transferred to the board of governors of the consolidated institution, which shall exercise general determination, control, supervision and management of the financial, business and education policies and affairs of the consolidated multicampus institution.

(5) The title to all property purchased for the use of an affected institution is vested in the board of governors of the consolidated multicampus institution.

§18B-3F-7. Administrative planning committee; purpose; membership; duties; termination.

(a) On the effective date of this article, or as soon thereafter as practicable, the council shall establish an administrative planning committee to advise in the reorganization of Bridgemont and Kanawha Valley Community and Technical Colleges.

(b) Membership. – The administrative planning committee consists of the following members:

(1) The president of each affected institution;

(2) The chair of the board of governors of each affected institution;

(3) The chair of the council;

(4) The vice chancellor for administration, appointed pursuant to section two, article four of this chapter, or a designee; and

(5) The chancellor, who chairs the planning committee.

(c) The administrative planning committee serves in an advisory capacity to the board of governors in developing the strategic reorganization plan and serves as liaison to the council during the reorganization period.

(d) The administrative planning committee shall submit to the board of governors a list of at least three names from which the board shall choose a name for the consolidated, multicampus community and technical college at their first meeting as soon after June 30, 2013, as feasible.

(e) The planning committee shall report to the council at least quarterly, or more often if requested, on development of the strategic reorganization plan and the progress of the board of governors in implementing the reorganization.

(f) The administrative planning committee is created specifically to assist in the reorganization of Bridgemont and Kanawha Valley Community and Technical Colleges and ceases to exist on July 1, 2014, or on the date when the council determines the reorganization has been completed, whichever occurs first.

§18B-3F-8. Strategic reorganization plan.

(a) The board of governors, with the advice of the administrative planning committee, shall develop a strategic reorganization plan for Bridgemont and Kanawha Valley Community and Technical Colleges, including all campuses and instruction sites of each institution. The board of governors shall develop, implement and complete the reorganization by July 1, 2014.

(b) The reorganization plan includes, but is not limited to, the following elements:

(1) A timeline showing specific steps for completing the reorganization by July 1, 2014;

(2) A procedure to assure that all employees of the affected institutions are notified of their employment status pursuant to section nine of this article;

(3) A statement of assurance showing specific steps to be taken to safeguard the rights, privileges and benefits of faculty, classified employees and nonclassified employees of the affected institutions including provisions for fulfilling contracts and protecting earned benefits;

(4) A description of the instructional benefits expected from the reorganization including a detailed explanation of enhancements to academic program offerings, workforce development programs for employers and services to students;

(5) A description of the fiscal benefits expected from the reorganization including a detailed explanation of management efficiencies, enhanced leadership skills, better coordination of instruction and student support services and efficiencies in expenditures per full-time equivalent student;

(6) A statement of assurance that student access to high- quality education programming will be enhanced and/or maintained; and

(7) A strategy to secure regional accreditation of the reorganized institution by July 1, 2014.

§18B-3F-9. Rights and benefits of employees of affected institutions; positions to be abolished; notice of employment status by certain date required.

(a) When a consolidated institution is formed, the faculty, classified employees and nonclassified employees of the affected institutions become the faculty, classified employees and nonclassified employees of the consolidated institution, subject to the provisions of this article.

(b) By December 31, 2013, the board of governors of the consolidated institution, in consultation with the president, shall determine which, if any, positions existing at the affected institutions on the effective date of this article are to be abolished.

(1) In the case of positions which the board chooses to retain, but which exist at both affected institutions, when there is an overlap of duties and responsibilities of employees who occupy those positions, the board of governors, in consultation with the president, shall determine which position or positions shall be abolished.

(2) A classified employee who holds a position scheduled to be abolished is afforded all rights and benefits provided by this article and by section three, article seven of this chapter.

(c) Official notification to employees. –

(1) The president shall provide official notice of employment status to each classified employee, faculty member and nonclassified employee of the affected institutions not later than thirty days after the board's decision. For an employee whose position is to be abolished, the official notice shall specify his or her date of termination. The termination date shall be within three to six months following the date of official notification.

(2) Any person who was employed full time by an affected institution on the effective date of this article and whose employment continues in any capacity with the board of governors of the consolidated institution is considered to have no break in service for calculation of years of service, seniority, participation in health and retirement plans or continued employment by the state.

(3) The board of governors, created pursuant to this article, is an organization as defined in section two, article nine-a of this chapter and is subject to all the terms and conditions that apply to higher education organizations as provided in this chapter and chapter eighteen-c of this code. Specifically, the board is subject to section three, article seven of this chapter when making reductions in force of classified employees.

§18B-3F-10. Transfer of students.

When a consolidated institution is formed, the students of the affected institutions become the students of the consolidated institution, subject to the provisions of section eight, article one of this chapter.

§18B-4-1. Employment of chancellors; designation of staff; offices.

(a) The council and commission each shall employ a chancellor to assist in the performance of their respective duties and responsibilities subject to the following conditions:

(1) Each chancellor serves at the will and pleasure of the hiring body.

(2) Neither chancellor may hold or retain any other administrative position within the system of higher education while employed as chancellor.

(3) Each chancellor shall carry out the directives of the body by whom employed and shall collaborate with that body in developing policy options.

(4) The commission is responsible to the council and the Chancellor for Community and Technical College Education for providing services in areas essential to exercising the powers and duties assigned to the council by law. The commission may not charge the council any fee for the provision of these essential services. The service areas include, but are not limited to, legal services, research, technology, computing, finance and facilities, academic affairs, telecommunications, human resources, student services and any other general areas the council considers to be essential to the exercise of its legal authority. The services are provided under the general supervision of the Vice Chancellor for Administration.

(5) For the purpose of developing or evaluating policy options, the chancellors may request the assistance of the presidents and staff employed by the governing boards under their respective jurisdictions.

(b) In addition to the staff positions designated in subdivision (4), subsection (a) of this section, and section five, article one-b of this chapter, the Vice Chancellor for Administration, employed pursuant to section two of this article, serves the offices of the chancellors to discharge jointly the duties and responsibilities of the council and commission.

(c) Suitable offices for the Vice Chancellor of Administration and other staff shall be provided in Kanawha County.

§18B-4-2. Employment of vice chancellor for administration; office; powers and duties generally.

(a) By and with the advice and consent of the council, the commission shall employ a vice chancellor for administration who may not be dismissed without the consent of the council:

(1) The individual serving as vice chancellor for administration on the effective date of this section may continue to serve on an interim basis until the commission and the council have agreed, jointly, on a candidate to fill the position;

(2) The interim vice chancellor for administration may be considered as a candidate for the position;

(3) The position shall be filled on a permanent basis no later than October 1, 2004; and

(4) Any vacancy occurring in this position shall be filled pursuant to the requirements of this section.

(b) Any reference in this chapter or chapter eighteen-c of this code to the senior administrator means the vice chancellor for administration.

(c) The vice chancellor for administration has a ministerial duty, in consultation with and under direction of the chancellors, to perform such functions, tasks and duties as may be necessary to carry out the policy directives of the council and commission and such other duties as may be prescribed by law.

(d) The vice chancellor for administration shall supervise such professional, administrative, clerical and other employees as may be necessary to these duties and shall delineate staff responsibilities as considered desirable and appropriate. It is the responsibility of the vice chancellor for administration, within the parameters of the total resources available, to supervise and direct the staff in such a way that the staff and resource needs of the council, the commission and the offices of the chancellors are met.

(e) Any employee of the commission or the council whose job duties meet criteria listed in the system of job classifications as stated in article nine of this chapter is accorded the job title, compensation and rights established in the article as well as all other rights and privileges accorded classified employees by the provisions of this code.

(f) The office of the vice chancellor for administration and all personnel, except for the chancellor for community and technical college education and staff transferred to the jurisdiction of the council pursuant to subsection (a), section seven, article two-b of this chapter, who are employed on January 1, 2004, within the higher education central office and the West Virginia network for educational telecomputing remain under the jurisdiction of the commission. Prior to October 1, 2004, any such employee may not be terminated or have his or her salary and benefit levels reduced as the result of the higher education reorganization that occurs on the effective date of this section.

(g) The vice chancellor for administration shall follow state and national education trends and gather data on higher education needs.

(h) The vice chancellor for administration, in accordance with established guidelines and in consultation with and under the direction of the chancellors, shall administer, oversee or monitor all state and federal student assistance and support programs administered on the state level, including those provided for in chapter eighteen-c of this code.

(i) The vice chancellor for administration has a fiduciary responsibility to administer the tuition and registration fee capital improvement revenue bond accounts of the governing boards.

(j) The vice chancellor for administration shall administer the purchasing system or systems of the council and commission, the offices of the chancellors and the governing boards. By mutual agreement, the commission and the council may delegate authority for the purchasing systems or portions thereof to the institution presidents.

(k) The vice chancellor for administration is responsible for the management of the West Virginia network for educational telecomputing (WVNET). The vice chancellor for administration shall establish a computer advisory board, which shall be representative of higher education and other users of the West Virginia network for educational telecomputing as the commission and council determine appropriate. It is the responsibility of the computer advisory board to recommend to the commission and the council policies for a statewide shared computer system.

(l) The central office, under the direction of the vice chancellor for administration, shall provide necessary staff support to the commission, the council and offices of the chancellors.

(m) The vice chancellor for administration may administer any program or service authorized or required to be performed by the board of trustees or the board of directors on June 30, 2000, and not specifically assigned to another agency. In addition, the vice chancellor for administration may administer any program or service authorized or required to be performed by the commission, council or chancellors, but not assigned specifically to the commission, council or chancellors. Any such program or service may include, but is not limited to, telecommunications activities and other programs and services provided for under grants and contracts from federal and other external funding sources.

§18B-4-2a. Development of benefit programs; assistance to organizations.

The chancellor or a qualified designee shall:

(1) Chair the Job Classification Committee and the Compensation Planning and Review Committee established by sections four and five, article nine-a of this chapter;

(2) Assume responsibility for coordinating retirement benefits programs for all employees, including designing these programs, and for supporting each higher education organization in implementing the programs;

(3) Assist, as requested by an organization, organizations with classification and/or compensation programs for faculty and/or nonclassified employees, including, as appropriate, design and implementation of the programs; and

(4) As requested by organizations, assist with carrying out the following duties related to training and development:

(A) Analyzing and determining training needs of organization employees and formulating and developing plans, procedures and programs to meet specific training needs and problems.

(B) Developing, constructing, maintaining and revising training manuals and training aids or supervising development of these materials by outside suppliers;

(C) Planning, conducting and coordinating management inventories, appraisals, placement, counseling and training;

(D) Coordinating participation by all employees in training programs developed internally or provided by outside contractors; and

(E) Administering and analyzing annual training and development needs surveys. The survey may coincide with the completion of the annual performance review process.

§18B-4-3. Authority to participate in reciprocal regional and interstate higher educational agreements.

In order to provide higher educational opportunities at minimum cost to students and the state, the governing boards, on behalf of the State of West Virginia, are authorized and empowered to participate in the Southern Regional Education Board interstate agreement, namely the Academic Common Market, and in such other regional and interstate agreements determined to be mutually beneficial to the citizens of the participating states and which provide an opportunity for qualified nonresident students to enroll in selected programs and curricula on a resident tuition and fee charge basis. Each governing board is specifically authorized to waive the collection of nonresident tuition and fee charges for students from other states enrolled in programs and curricula under the jurisdiction of and approved by the governing board as a part of a regional or interstate agreement.

§18B-4-4. State agency for participation in federal and private grants to higher education; related powers and duties.

The governing boards, on behalf of the State of West Virginia, are authorized and empowered to apply for, to accept and administer and expend for the purpose or purposes designated, any funds which now are, or may be made, available to the governing boards or to any institution under their jurisdiction from federal or private grants, appropriations, allocations and programs.

The governing boards have the power:

(1) To receive and disburse funds appropriated by the federal government for the construction, equipment, and improvement of academic facilities of institutions of higher education as required by the federal Higher Education Facilities Act of 1963, and any and all subsequent acts of Congress relating to the same subject;

(2) To apply for, receive, and administer, subject to any applicable regulations or laws of the federal government or any agency thereof, any federal grants, appropriations, allocations, and programs for the development of academic facilities on behalf of the State of West Virginia, or any institution of higher education, public or private, within the state;

(3) To develop, alter, amend, and submit to the federal government state plans for participation in federal grants, appropriations, allocations, and programs for the development of academic facilities and to formulate rules, criteria, methods, forms, procedures, and to do all other things which may be necessary to make possible the participation of the state in such federal grants, appropriations, allocations, and programs for the development of academic facilities;

(4) To hold hearings, and render decisions as to the priority assigned to any project, or as to any other matter or determination affecting any applicant for federal grants, appropriations, allocations and programs for the development of academic facilities;

(5) To hire personnel, purchase materials, make studies and reports, enter into contracts, and do all other things necessary to accomplish the duties as set forth in this section within the limits of the funds available.

§18B-4-5. Campus police officers; appointment; qualifications; authority; compensation and removal; law enforcement grants.

(a) The governing boards may appoint qualified individuals to serve as campus police officers upon any premises owned or leased by the State of West Virginia and under the jurisdiction of the governing boards, subject to the conditions and restrictions established in this section.

(1) A person who previously was qualified for employment as a law-enforcement officer for an agency or political subdivision of any state is considered qualified for appointment as a campus police officer.

(2) Before performing duties as a campus police officer in any county, a person shall qualify as is required of county police officers by:

(A) Taking and filing an oath of office as required by §6-1-1 et seq. of this code; and

(B) Posting an official bond as required by §6-2-1 et seq. of this code.

(b) A campus police officer may carry a gun and any other dangerous weapon while on duty if the officer fulfills the certification requirement for law-enforcement officers under §30-29-5 of this code or meets the requirements of subsection (a) of this section.

(c) It is the duty of a campus police officer to preserve law and order:

(1) On the premises under the jurisdiction of the governing board; and

(2) On any street, road, or thoroughfare, except controlled access and open country highways, immediately adjacent to or passing through premises, to which the officer is assigned by the president of the institution.

(A) For the purpose of this subdivision, the campus police officer is a law-enforcement officer pursuant to the provisions of §30-29-1 et seq. of this code;

(B) The officer has and may exercise all the powers and authority of a law-enforcement officer as to offenses committed within the area assigned;

(C) The officer is subject to all the requirements and responsibilities of a law-enforcement officer;

(D) Authority assigned pursuant to this subdivision does not supersede in any way the authority or duty of other law-enforcement officers to preserve law and order on such premises;

(E) Campus police officers may assist a local law-enforcement agency on public highways. The assistance may be provided to control traffic in and around premises owned by the state when:

(i) Traffic is generated as a result of athletic or other activities conducted or sponsored by the institution; and

(ii) The assistance has been requested by the local law-enforcement agency; and

(F) Campus police officers may assist a local law-enforcement agency in any location under the agency’s jurisdiction at the request of the agency.

(d) The salary of a campus police officer is paid by the employing governing board. A state institution may furnish each campus police officer with a firearm and an official uniform to be worn while on duty. The institution shall furnish and require each officer while on duty to wear a shield with an appropriate inscription and to carry credentials certifying the person’s identity and authority as a campus police officer.

(e) A governing board may at its pleasure revoke the authority of any campus police officer and such officers serve at the will and pleasure of the governing board. The president of the state institution shall report the termination of employment of a campus police officer by filing a notice to that effect in the office of the clerk of each county in which the campus police officer’s oath of office was filed.

(f) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this code to the contrary, and for purposes of enhancing the ability of campus police officers to perform their duties, a governing board may apply for and receive any public or private grant or other financial award that is available to other law-enforcement agencies in the state.

§18B-4-5a. Crimes committed on campus of institutions of higher education.

(a) The president or a designee of each state institution of higher education shall on a regular and timely basis provide information to the public concerning alleged crimes occurring on the institution's property which have been reported to a campus police officer or any other officer of the institution.

(1) A crime is considered reported when:

(A) A campus police officer or other officer of the institution determines that the report is credible;

(B) The report is submitted in writing and attested to by the victim on forms at the institution for such purpose; or

(C) The institution is notified by a law-enforcement agency of the reporting of a crime alleged to have occurred on the institution's property.

(2) Such reports are referred within twenty-four hours to the appropriate law-enforcement agencies, as defined in section one, article twenty-nine, chapter thirty of this code, for further investigation.

(b) For the state institutions of higher education under the jurisdiction of the Governing Board of Marshall University and for the state institution of higher education known as West Virginia University only, the campus police shall investigate a crime within their respective jurisdictions for up to thirty days if the county prosecuting attorney does not reassign the case to another agency sooner.

(c) The information required to be made available to the public regarding the crime report shall be available within ten days of the report. The information shall include the nature of the criminal offense, the date of the offense, the general location of the offense (such as a designation of a specific building or area of the campus) and the time of day when the offense occurred.

(1) This subsection does not require the release of any information which may disclose the identity of the victim.

(2) The institution shall withhold the information required to be made available to the public for a longer period upon certification of investigative need that the information be withheld from the public.

(A) The certification shall be filed by an officer of one of the investigating law-enforcement agencies with the president of the institution or the designee to whom the duties required by this section have been delegated.

(B) The required information may not be withheld after an arrest has been made in connection with the crime report.

(d) For purposes of this section, "crime" is defined as those offenses required to be reported under the federal Crime Awareness and Campus Security Act of 1990, as amended. "Crime" includes murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, motor vehicle theft and arrests for liquor, drug or weapons laws violations.

(e) The Council and Commission shall provide crime reporting forms to institutions under their respective jurisdictions and promulgate a rule pursuant to the provisions of article three-a, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code as necessary to implement this section.

§18B-4-6. Regulation of parking, speed flow of traffic on campus roads and driveways; civil and criminal penalties; disposition of revenue.

(a) Notwithstanding any other motor vehicle or traffic law or regulation to the contrary, a governing board may regulate and control at any state institution under its jurisdiction the speed, flow and parking of vehicles on campus roads, driveways and parking facilities or areas.

(1) Rules for this purpose shall be promulgated by the governing boards in the manner prescribed in section six, article one of this chapter.

(2) When so promulgated, the rules have the force and effect of law.

(3) The governing board shall post in a conspicuous location in each parking facility or area, a summary of the rules governing the use of the facility or area including, but not limited to, the availability of temporary parking permits and where these permits may be obtained and the penalties which may be imposed for violations of the rules.

(4) The governing board shall post in a conspicuous location along each campus road and driveway notice signs pertaining to the speed of vehicles, spaces available for parking, directional flow of traffic and penalties which may be imposed for violations of the rules.

(b) Any person parking or operating a vehicle in violation of the rules shall be issued a citation:

(1) Describing the offense charged; and

(2) Ordering an appearance:

(A) Within ten days, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and holidays observed by the state institution, before a designated official of the institution;

(B) Before a magistrate located in the county if the person cited fails to appear within the ten days; or

(C) Before the judge of the municipal court, if the state institution is located within a municipality having such an official and the person cited fails to appear within the ten days.

(c) The designated official of the state institution has exclusive jurisdiction of the offense during the ten-day period until the citation is forwarded to a magistrate. For the state institutions of higher education under the jurisdiction of the governing board of Marshall University and for the state institution of higher education known as West Virginia University only, the designated official of the institution has exclusive jurisdiction of the offense for thirty days following the violation. After thirty days the official shall forward the citation to a magistrate. Any person cited may plead no contest to the offense and, by so pleading, is subject to a civil penalty to be determined uniformly by the designated official and commensurate with the severity of the offense. For the state institutions under the jurisdiction of the governing board of Marshall University and for the state institution of higher education known as West Virginia University only, the amount imposed may not exceed $20. For all other institutions the amount may not exceed $10, for each offense as partial reimbursement to the state institution of higher education for the cost of regulating traffic and parking. In the case of the state institutions under the jurisdiction of the governing board of Marshall University and in the case of the state institution of higher education known as West Virginia University only, the designated official shall determine the penalty uniformly, commensurate with the severity of the offense, and may apply academic restrictions in lieu of requiring a student to appear in court and receive penalties otherwise provided in this section. Moneys derived from civil penalties imposed in this subsection shall be deposited in the institution's auxiliary and auxiliary capital fees fund.

(d) Upon expiration of the ten-day or thirty-day period, as applicable, or upon a pleading of not guilty before the designated official of the state institution within the applicable period, the magistrate or judge of the municipal court has jurisdiction of the offense. Any person cited under this section, upon a finding of guilty by the magistrate or municipal judge, is subject to a fine for each offense by the state institutions under the jurisdiction of the governing board of Marshall University and for the state institution of higher education known as West Virginia University only, of up to $40, and at all other state institutions not less than $10 nor more than $20, the amount to be commensurate with the severity of the offense.

(e) Each designated official of a state institution presiding over a case under this section shall keep a record of every citation which alleges a violation of the provisions, or the rules promulgated in accordance with this section, and shall keep a record of every official action in reference to the citation including, but not limited to, a record of every plea of no contest, conviction or acquittal, of the offense charged, and the amount of the fine or civil penalty resulting from each citation.

(f) Whenever a vehicle is parked on any state institution campus road, driveway or parking facility or area in a manner which violates posted rules and substantially impedes the flow of traffic or endangers the health and safety, in addition to issuing a citation and any procedures set forth in this section, the institution may remove the vehicle, by towing or otherwise, to an area owned by the institution or areas designated for this purpose. The vehicle, having been towed to the designated area or areas, may be rendered immovable by use of locking wheel blocks or other device not damaging to the vehicle. The state institution of higher education shall maintain any vehicle towed in the same condition as it was immediately prior to being towed, but is not liable for any damage to a vehicle towed to, or kept in, a designated area pursuant to this section. The state institution of higher education shall pay for the cost of removing the vehicle and has a right to reimbursement from the owner for this cost and for the reasonable cost of keeping the vehicle in the designated area. Until payment of these costs, the state institution of higher education may retain possession of the vehicle and the institution shall have a lien on the vehicle for the amount due. The state institution of higher education may enforce this lien in the manner provided in section fourteen, article eleven, chapter thirty-eight of this code for the enforcement of other liens. For the state institutions of higher education under the jurisdiction of the governing board of Marshall University and for the state institution of higher education known as West Virginia University only, this subsection also apply when a vehicle is subject to three or more unpaid citations.

(g) If, at any time, Mountwest Community and Technical College ceases to share a physical campus location with Marshall University, it may not be included as an institution under the jurisdiction of the governing board of Marshall University for the purposes of subsections (c), (d) and (f) of this section.

§18B-4-7. Accreditation of institutions of higher education; standards for degrees.

(a) The council shall make rules for the accreditation of community and technical colleges in this state and shall determine the minimum standards for conferring degrees. The commission shall make rules for the accreditation of colleges in this state except the governing boards of the exempted schools shall make rules for their respective institutions, and each shall determine the minimum standards for conferring degrees. The governing boards of the exempted schools shall promulgate rules pursuant to the provisions of §18B-1-6 of this code for the accreditation of their respective institutions.

(1) The council, commission, and governing boards of the exempted schools shall regularly update their rules regarding accreditation to conform with changes by, and to take advantage of new flexibilities and data sources made available by, the United States Department of Education and by the United States Congress.

(2) By December 31, 2023, the council, commission, and governing boards must promulgate rules that permit institutions to choose to pursue institutional accreditation with any accreditor recognized by the United States Department of Education.

(b) An institution of higher education may not confer a degree on any basis of work or merit below the minimum standards prescribed by the council or commission.

(c) With the approval of the commission and subject to subsections (e), (f), and (g) of this section, governing boards of institutions which currently offer substantial undergraduate course offerings and a master’s degree in a discipline are authorized to grant baccalaureate degrees in that discipline.

(d) Except as otherwise provided in this section, a charter or other instrument containing the right to confer degrees of higher education status may not be granted by the State of West Virginia to an institution, association, or organization within the state, nor may a degree be awarded, until the condition of conferring the degree first has been approved in writing by the council or commission, as appropriate, or by the institution’s governing board in the case of the exempted schools.

(e) To retain the authority to confer degrees pursuant to this section, each institution shall provide annually to the commission or council, as requested, all information the commission or council considers necessary to assess the performance of the institution and to determine whether the institution continues to meet the minimum standards for conferring degrees. This information includes, but is not limited to, the following data:

(1) All information current and future federal or state laws and regulations require the institution to report to the public, to students, to employees, or to federal or state agencies;

(2) Other consumer information the commission or council considers necessary, including, but not limited to, graduation and retention rates, transfers, post-graduation placements, loan defaults, and numbers and types of student complaints;

(3) A detailed explanation of financial operations including, but not limited to, policies, formulas and procedures related to calculation, payment and refund for all tuition and fees; and

(4) An assessment of the adequacy of the institution’s curriculum, personnel, facilities, materials, and equipment to meet the minimum standards for conferring degrees.

(f) The commission and council may conduct on-site reviews to evaluate an institution’s academic standards, may conduct financial audits, or may require the institution to perform these audits and provide detailed data to the commission or council.

(g) The commission or council shall revoke an institution’s authority to confer degrees when the institution’s governing body, chief executive officer, or both, have done any one or more of the following:

(1) Failed to maintain the minimum standards for conferring degrees; or

(2) Willfully provided false, misleading, or incomplete information to the commission or council.

(h) The commission and council each shall compile the information collected pursuant to subsections (e), (f) and (g) of this section and submit a report on the information to the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability annually beginning December 1, 2012. The commission and council each shall make the information and report available to the public in a form and manner that is accessible to the general public, including, but not limited to, posting on its website.

§18B-4-8. West Virginia Anatomical Board; powers and duties relating to anatomical gifts; requisition of bodies; autopsies; transportation of bodies; expenses of preservation.

(a) The West Virginia Anatomical Board, previously created herein, is hereby reestablished under the authority of the Higher Education Policy Commission and shall consist of the following four members, or their designee:

(1) The Dean of the Marshall University School of Medicine;

(2) The Dean of the West Virginia University School of Medicine;

(3) The Dean of the West Virginia University School of Dentistry; and

(4) The Dean of the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine.

(b) For purposes of this section:

(1) “Board” means the West Virginia Anatomical Board; and

(2) “Commission” means the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission.

(c) The responsibilities of the board shall include:

(1) Making requisition for, receiving and making disposition of dead human bodies for the scientific and educational uses and purposes of higher education institutions within the state and elsewhere; and

(2) Keeping a full and complete record of its transactions, showing, among other things, every dead human body coming under its authority, giving name, sex, age, date of death, place from which received and when and from whom received, which record shall be open at all times for the inspection of the Attorney General and any prosecuting attorney in the state.

(d) The commission may promulgate legislative rules pursuant to article three-a, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code in order to effectuate the provisions of this section.

(e) Members of the board shall not be entitled to, or receive, any compensation for services rendered in their capacity as members of the board.  

(f) The board shall operate in compliance with the Revised Anatomical Gift Act under article nineteen, chapter sixteen of this code.

§18B-4-9. Development of services and facilities for student veterans.

(a) Legislative findings. -- The Legislature finds that veterans of the Armed Forces of the United States that attend institutions of higher education in this state have many unique needs, issues and concerns that most traditional students do not have. Many of these veterans have had or will be subject to multiple deployments to active duty, including overseas deployment, resulting in challenges to their pursuit of higher education.

(b) Legislative intent. -- It is the intent of the Legislature that state institutions of higher education provide adequate services and facilities for student veterans in order to better serve their unique needs and to make West Virginia's state institutions of higher education veteran-friendly.

(c) The commission, council and each state institution of higher education shall establish and implement measures to assure that veterans enrolled in the institutions receive services and are provided facilities appropriate for their needs, that student veterans complete programs of study and earn degrees, and that the institutions become veteran-friendly by actively and effectively providing academic and social support and assistance to student veterans. The measures shall include, but are not limited to, the following:

(1) Establishing veteran-friendly community and technical college degree programs which recognize and award academic credit toward degrees for various types of technical and vocational military training and experience;

(2) Developing policies for each state institution of higher education to grant academic credit for Armed Forces experiences;

(3) Developing programs to encourage student veterans to share their specialized experience and knowledge gained through military service by making presentations in class, public school programs and local community organizations;

(4) Establishing and sponsoring an organization for student veterans on campus and encouraging other veteran-friendly organizations;

(5) Appointing and training specific faculty within each degree program or major as liaisons and contacts for student veterans;

(6) Providing information about programs that grant credit for prior learning to student veterans and potential student veterans;

(7) Coordinating existing disability services on campus with veteran disability services available from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, other federal and state agencies, and private resources;

(8) Designating individuals to provide financial and psychological counseling services on each campus who are trained to effectively respond to the needs of veterans and to provide services or referrals to services to fulfill these needs for student veterans, and to the extent practicable, providing those services and programs in one location;

(9) Developing training materials on responding to student veteran needs to be available for continued professional development of counselors to student veterans;

(10) Facilitating regular statewide meetings for all personnel at state institutions of higher education who regularly provide specific services to student veterans to discuss and develop best practices, exchange ideas and experiences, and hear presentations by individuals with generally accepted expertise in areas of the various needs of student veterans;

(11) Gathering data on the status of student veterans, including their graduation rates, comparing that rate with the graduation rate of other students in the institution, and reporting those results to appropriate state and federal agencies, including the West Virginia Legislature;

(12) Establishing a program to create a collaborative relationship between student veterans and alumni of the institution, and with prospective employers to facilitate and provide employment as well as social opportunities to graduating student veterans;

(13) Developing and facilitating communications between state institutions of higher education and various veteran organizations in the state to advance veteran causes that benefit student veterans; and

(14) Coordinating among all relevant departments within each state institution of higher education including but not limited to admissions, the registrar, the bursar, the veterans advocate and financial aid to ensure that relevant deadlines or time-lines are met for certifying veterans' enrollment as early as practicable to ensure that assistance is received from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) in a timely fashion. Measures to achieve greater coordination shall include but are not limited to:

(A) Identifying applicants who are veterans as early as possible;

(B) Taking affirmative steps to reach out to veteran applicants to inform them of relevant policies, time-lines or deadlines for receiving veterans assistance;

(C) Developing a communications plan between departments, applicants and students to ensure that deadlines or time-lines are being met;

(D) Developing plans to assist students when U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs benefits are not received in a timely fashion. Such plans could include forbearance of payment deadlines, short-term loans, grants, or a revolving fund.

(E) Making every effort to provide sufficient class sections to meet the needs of students for classes which are required for graduation, including where appropriate, giving student veterans priority registration.

(d) Veterans Advocates. -- Each state institution of higher education shall appoint or designate and train a person, preferably a veteran, to serve as a veterans advocate on its campus. The commission and council shall also provide training for veterans advocates at each of the institutions under their respective jurisdictions. The veterans advocate shall serve as the primary point of contact and campus advocate for current and prospective students who are veterans of the Armed Forces of the United States or are current members of the Armed Forces of the United States, including reserve components of the National Guard of this state or any other state. The duties and responsibilities of the veterans advocate include, but are not limited to the following:

(1) Assist and facilitate student veterans in utilizing services, resources and facilities available at the institution; and

(2) To the extent resources are available for such purposes, provide services, programs and assistance to current and prospective student veterans designed to encourage, promote and facilitate the recruitment, retention and academic success of such students.

(e) The commission and council jointly shall submit a report to the Legislature on September 1, annually, on the progress toward implementing this section.

§18B-4-10. Course completion for students called to military duty; rule required.

(a) As used in this section, "called to military duty" means called or ordered to state or federal active service, inactive-duty training or annual training in any active duty or reserve component of the Armed Forces of the United States or of the National Guard of this state or any other state.

(b) In accordance with the provisions of article three-a, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code, the commission and council jointly shall propose and implement a rule providing for uniform course completion for students who are enrolled at the state institutions of higher education under their respective jurisdictions when those students are called to military duty.

(1) The rule shall be as uniform among the institutions as is practicable and shall take into consideration the unique conditions or circumstances of each institution.

(2) The intent of the rule is to ensure that enrolled students who are called to military duty are afforded a fair and efficient procedure of withdrawing from classes, completing course work or securing a leave of absence from course attendance, when feasible. The rule also shall provide for maintaining the academic integrity of the course work in a manner that is reasonably accommodating to the student under the circumstances.

(3) The commission and council shall consider and include the following elements when developing the rule:

(A) Discipline appropriate options which allow a student to withdraw from courses without penalty; earn credit for work completed in a course; receive an incomplete grade and make up the course work at a later time; or secure a leave of absence from course attendance;

(B) For students who withdraw from classes during an academic term and who do not receive full credit for completing classes in which they are enrolled, provision for obtaining a full or partial refund of tuition, fees and room and board fees paid to the institution; and

(C) Other measures as the commission and council consider necessary or effective to support, accommodate and encourage the students to continue and successfully complete their education programs.

(c) The rule required by this section is superceded by and may not conflict in any way with the following provisions:

(1) Educational leave of absence for active duty National Guard or other reserve components of the Armed Forces as set forth in section one-a, article one-f, chapter fifteen of this code for students who are subject to these provisions; and

(2) Applicable federal laws, rules or regulations.

§18B-5-1.

Repealed.

Acts, 2000 Reg. Sess., Ch. 100.

§18B-5-2.

Repealed.

Acts, 2000 Reg. Sess., Ch. 100.

§18B-5-2a

Repealed

Acts, 2017 Reg. Sess., Ch. 122.

§18B-5-2b.

Repealed.

Acts, 2000 Reg. Sess., Ch. 100.

§18B-5-2c.

Repealed.

Acts, 2000 Reg. Sess., Ch. 100.

§18B-5-2d.

Repealed.

Acts, 2005 Reg. Sess., Ch. 86.

§18B-5-3. Authority to contract for programs, services and facilities.

(a) The governing boards, the commission, and the council are authorized and empowered to enter into contracts and expend funds for programs, services and facilities provided by public and private education institutions, associations, boards, agencies, consortia, corporations, partnerships, individuals and local, state and federal governmental bodies within and outside of West Virginia in order that maximum higher education opportunities of high quality may be provided to the citizens of the state in the most economical manner. In no event may a contract for such services and facilities be entered into unless the commission, the council, or the governing boards have determined that such services and facilities are necessary and would be at a savings to the state.

(b) When a governing board, the commission, or the council determines that a contract for financial services is necessary and proper, it may enter into such a contract with an affiliated nonprofit corporation under such financial terms as the governing board, commission, or council determines are reasonable and proper in the sound administration of their financial responsibilities to the state. In so doing, the affiliated nonprofit corporation shall be deemed a sole source in respect to any applicable law or regulation relating to expenditures of public funds.

(c) As used in this section, "affiliated nonprofit corporation" means a West Virginia nonprofit, nonstock corporation which:

(1) Is organized as for charitable, educational, and scientific purposes, or for similar purposes;

(2) Is recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as a Section 501(c)3, or successor provision of federal law, tax-exempt organization;

(3) Is organized solely to support and contribute to the respective institution of higher education, or to the commission, or to the council, as applicable; and

(4) Has annually independently audited financial statements, which have been included and presented, for at least the preceding five fiscal years, in the audited financial statements of the respective governing board, or of the respective institution of higher education under the authority of a governing board, or of the commission or council.

§18B-5-4. Purchase or acquisition of materials, supplies, equipment, services, and printing.

(a) The council, commission, and each governing board shall purchase or acquire all materials, supplies, equipment, services, and printing required for their respective needs: Provided, That the governing boards under the jurisdiction of the commission, including the exempted schools, are subject to §18B-5-4(d) of this code.

(b) The commission and council jointly shall adopt rules governing and controlling acquisitions and purchases in accordance with this section: Provided, That these rules do not apply to the exempted schools and the governing boards of the exempted schools shall adopt their own rules consistent with this section: Provided, however, That the joint rules shall provide for appropriate deference to the value judgments of governing boards under the jurisdiction of the commission. The rules shall ensure that the following procedures are followed:

(1) No person is precluded from participating and making sales thereof to the council, commission, or governing board except as otherwise provided in §18B-5-5 of this code. Providing consulting services such as strategic planning services does not preclude or inhibit the governing boards, council, or commission from considering a qualified bid or response for delivery of a product or a commodity from the individual providing the services;

(2) Specifications are established and prescribed for materials, supplies, equipment, services, and printing to be purchased;

(3) Purchase order, requisition, or other forms as may be required are adopted and prescribed;

(4) Purchases and acquisitions in such quantities, at such times and under contract, are negotiated for and made in the open market or through other accepted methods of governmental purchasing as may be practicable in accordance with general law;

(5) Bids are advertised on all purchases exceeding $50,000 and made by means of sealed or electronically submitted bids and competitive bidding or advantageous purchases effected through other accepted governmental methods and practices. Competitive bids are not required for purchases of $50,000 or less;

(6) Notices for acquisitions and purchases for which competitive bids are being solicited are posted either in the purchasing office of the specified institution involved in the purchase or by electronic means available to the public at least five days prior to making the purchases. The rules shall ensure that the notice is available to the public during business hours;

(7) Purchases are made in the open market;

(8) Vendors are notified of bid solicitation and emergency purchasing; and

(9) No fewer than three bids are obtained when bidding is required, except if fewer than three bids are submitted, an award may be made from among those received.

(c) When a state institution of higher education submits a contract, agreement, or other document to the Attorney General for approval as to form as required by this chapter, the following conditions apply:

(1) “Form” means compliance with the Constitution and statutes of the State of West Virginia;

(2) The Attorney General does not have the authority to reject a contract, agreement, or other document based on the substantive provisions in the contract, agreement, or document or any extrinsic matter as long as it complies with the Constitution and statutes of this state;

(3) Within 15 days of receipt, the Attorney General shall notify the appropriate state institution of higher education in writing that the contract, agreement, or other document is approved or disapproved as to form. If the contract, agreement, or other document is disapproved as to form, the notice of disapproval shall identify each defect that supports the disapproval; and

(4) If the state institution elects to challenge the disapproval by filing a writ of mandamus or other action and prevails, then the Attorney General shall pay reasonable attorney fees and costs incurred.

(d) Pursuant to this subsection, the governing boards under the jurisdiction of the commission, including the exempted schools, respectively, may carry out the following actions:

(1) Purchase or acquire all materials, supplies, equipment, services, and printing required for the governing board without approval from the commission or the Vice Chancellor for Administration and may issue checks in advance to cover postage as provided in §18B-5-4(f) of this code;

(2) Purchase from cooperative buying groups, consortia, the federal government or from federal government contracts, or from West Virginia public institution of higher education contracts, if the materials, supplies, services, equipment, or printing to be purchased is available from these groups and if this would be the most financially advantageous manner of making the purchase;

(3) Select and acquire by contract or lease all grounds, buildings, office space, or other space, and capital improvements, including equipment, if the rental is necessarily required by the governing board; and

(4) Use purchase cards.

(e) The governing boards shall adopt sufficient accounting and auditing procedures and promulgate and adopt appropriate rules subject to §18B-1-6 of this code to govern and control acquisitions, purchases, leases, and other instruments for grounds, buildings, office, or other space, and capital improvements, including equipment, or lease-purchase agreements.

(f) The council, commission, or each governing board may issue a check in advance to a company supplying postage meters for postage used by that board, the council, or commission and by the state institutions of higher education under their jurisdiction.

(g) When a purchase is to be made by bid, any or all bids may be rejected. However, all purchases based on advertised bid requests shall be awarded to the lowest responsible bidder taking into consideration the qualities of the articles to be supplied, their conformity with specifications, their suitability to the requirements of the governing boards, council, or commission and delivery terms.

 (h) The governing boards, council, and commission shall maintain a purchase file, which shall be a public record and open for public inspection.

(1) After the award of the order or contract, the governing boards, council, and commission shall indicate upon the successful bid the following information:

(A) Designation as the successful bid;

(B) The reason any bids were rejected; and

(C) The reason for rejection, if the mathematical low vendor was not awarded the order or contract.

(2) A record in the purchase file may not be destroyed without the written consent of the Legislative Auditor. Those files in which the original documentation has been held for at least one year and in which the original documents have been reproduced and archived on microfilm or other equivalent method of duplication may be destroyed without the written consent of the Legislative Auditor.

(3) All files, no matter the storage method, shall be open for inspection by the Legislative Auditor upon request.

(i) The commission and council, also jointly, shall promulgate rules to prescribe qualifications to be met by any person who is to be employed as a buyer at a state college and university or community and technical college pursuant to this section. These rules shall require that a person may not be employed as a buyer unless that person, at the time of employment, has one of the following qualifications:

(1) Is a graduate of an accredited college or university; or

(2) Has at least four years’ experience in purchasing for any unit of government or for any business, commercial, or industrial enterprise.

(j) Any person making purchases and acquisitions pursuant to this section shall execute a bond in the penalty of $50,000, payable to the State of West Virginia, with a corporate bonding or surety company authorized to do business in this state as surety thereon, in form prescribed by the Attorney General and conditioned upon the faithful performance of all duties in accordance with this section and sections five through eight, inclusive, of this article and the rules of the governing board and the council and commission. In lieu of separate bonds for these buyers, a blanket surety bond may be obtained. The bond shall be filed with the Secretary of State and the cost of the bond shall be paid from funds appropriated to the applicable governing board or the council or commission.

(k) All purchases and acquisitions shall be made in consideration and within limits of available appropriations and funds and in accordance with applicable provisions of §5A-2-1 et seq. of this code relating to expenditure schedules and quarterly allotments of funds. Notwithstanding any other provision of this code to the contrary, only those purchases exceeding the dollar amount for competitive sealed bids in this section are required to be encumbered. Such purchases may be entered into the state’s centralized accounting system by the staff of the commission, council, or governing boards to satisfy the requirements of §5A-2-1 et seq. of this code to determine whether the amount of the purchase is within the quarterly allotment of the commission, council, or governing board, is in accordance with the approved expenditure schedule and otherwise conforms to the article: Provided, That, notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this subsection or any other provision of this code to the contrary, purchases by exempted schools are not required to be encumbered.

(l) The governing boards, council, or commission may make requisitions upon the State Auditor for a sum to be known as an advance allowance account, not to exceed five percent of the total of the appropriations for the governing board, council, or commission, and the State Auditor shall draw a warrant upon the Treasurer for those accounts. All advance allowance accounts shall be accounted for by the applicable governing board or the council or commission once every 30 days or more often if required by the State Auditor.

(m) Contracts entered into pursuant to this section shall be signed by the applicable governing board or the council or commission in the name of the state and shall be approved as to form by the Attorney General. A contract which requires approval as to form by the Attorney General is considered approved if the Attorney General has not responded within 15 days of presentation of the contract. A contract or a change order for that contract and notwithstanding any other provision of this code to the contrary, associated documents such as performance and labor/material payments, bonds, and certificates of insurance which use terms and conditions or standardized forms previously approved by the Attorney General and do not make substantive changes in the terms and conditions of the contract do not require approval as to form by the Attorney General. The Attorney General shall make a list of those changes which he or she considers to be substantive and the list, and any changes to the list, shall be published in the State Register. A contract that exceeds the dollar amount requiring competitive sealed bids in this section shall be filed with the State Auditor. If requested to do so, the governing boards, council, or commission shall make all contracts available for inspection by the State Auditor. The governing board, council, or commission, as appropriate, shall prescribe the amount of deposit or bond to be submitted with a bid or contract, if any, and the amount of deposit or bond to be given for the faithful performance of a contract.

(n) If the governing board, council, or commission purchases or contracts for materials, supplies, equipment, services, and printing contrary to §18B-5-4 through §18B-5-7 of this code or the rules pursuant to this article, the purchase or contract is void and of no effect.

(o) A governing board or the council, or commission, as appropriate, may request the director of purchasing to make available the facilities and services of that department to the governing boards, council, or commission in the purchase and acquisition of materials, supplies, equipment, services, and printing. The director of purchasing shall cooperate with that governing board, council, or commission, as appropriate, in all such purchases and acquisitions upon that request.

(p) Each governing board or the council, or commission, as appropriate, may permit affiliated organizations, state institutions of higher education, or private institutions of higher education to join as purchasers on purchase contracts for materials, supplies, services, and equipment entered into by that governing board or the council, or commission. An affiliated organization, state institution of higher education, or private institution desiring to join as purchaser on purchase contracts shall file with that governing board or the council or commission, as appropriate, an affidavit signed by the president or designee of the affiliated organization, state institution of higher education, or private institution requesting that it be authorized to join as purchaser on purchase contracts of that governing board or the council, or commission, as appropriate. The affiliated organization, state institution of higher education, or private institution shall agree that it is bound by such terms and conditions as that governing board or the council, or commission may prescribe and that it will be responsible for payment directly to the vendor under each purchase contract.

(q) Notwithstanding any other provision of this code to the contrary, the governing boards, council, and commission, as appropriate, may make purchases from cooperative buying groups, consortia, the federal government or from federal government contracts if the materials, supplies, services, equipment, or printing to be purchased is available from that source, and purchasing from that source would be the most financially advantageous manner of making the purchase.

(r) An independent performance audit of all purchasing functions and duties which are performed at any state institution of higher education shall be performed at least once in each three-year period. The Joint Committee on Government and Finance shall require a performance audit and the governing boards, council, and commission, as appropriate, are responsible for paying the cost of the audit from funds appropriated to the governing boards, council, or commission.

(1) The governing board shall provide for independent performance audits of all purchasing functions and duties on its campus at least once in each three-year period.

(2) Each audit shall be inclusive of the entire time period that has elapsed since the date of the preceding audit.

(3) Copies of all appropriate documents relating to any audit performed by a governing board shall be furnished to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance and the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability within 30 days of the date the audit report is completed.

(s) The governing boards shall require each institution under their respective jurisdictions to notify and inform every vendor doing business with that institution of §5A-3-54 of this code, also known as the Prompt Pay Act of 1990.

(t) Consultant services, such as strategic planning services, do not preclude or inhibit the governing boards, council, or commission from considering any qualified bid or response for delivery of a product or a commodity because of the rendering of those consultant services.

(u) Purchasing card use may be expanded by the council, commission, and state institutions of higher education pursuant to this subsection.

(1) The council and commission jointly shall establish procedures to be implemented by the council, commission, and any state college and university or community and technical college using purchasing cards. The governing boards of the exempted schools shall establish procedures to be implemented by their respective institutions. The procedures shall ensure that each meets the following conditions:

(A) Appropriate use of the purchasing card system;

(B) Full compliance of §12-3-1 et seq. of this code relating to the purchasing card program; and

(C) Sufficient accounting and auditing procedures for all purchasing card transactions.

(2) Notwithstanding any other provision of this code to the contrary, the council, commission, and any institution authorized pursuant to §18B-5-4(u)(3) of this code may use purchasing cards for the following purposes:

(A) Payment of travel expenses directly related to the job duties of the traveling employee, including, but not limited to, fuel and food; and

(B) Payment of any routine, regularly scheduled payment, including, but not limited to, utility payments and real property rental fees.

(3) The commission and council each shall evaluate the capacity of each state college and university and community and technical college under its jurisdiction for complying with the procedures established pursuant to §18B-5-4(u)(2) of this code. The commission and council each shall authorize expanded use of purchasing cards pursuant to that subdivision for any state college and university and community and technical college it determines has the capacity to comply.

§18B-5-4a. Construction projects.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this code to the contrary, and specifically section one, article twenty-two, chapter five of this code, a state institution of higher education is not required to solicit competitive bids or require a valid bid bond or other surety for any construction project unless the value exceeds $100,000 in total cost.

§18B-5-5. Prequalification disclosure by vendors; register of vendors; exceptions; suspension of vendors.

(a) Every person, firm or corporation selling or offering to sell to the commission or the governing boards, upon competitive bids or otherwise, any materials, equipment, services or supplies in excess of $25,000:

(1) Shall comply with the provisions of section twelve, article three, chapter five-a of this code;

(2) Shall file with the director of the Purchasing Division of the State of West Virginia the affidavit required herein; and (3) If presently in compliance with said section may not be required to requalify thereunder to be able to transact business with the commission or the governing boards.

(b) Any person, firm or corporation failing or refusing to comply with said statute as herein required shall be ineligible to sell or offer to sell materials, supplies, equipment, services or printing to the commission or the governing boards as hereinafter set forth. Any person suspended under the provisions of section thirty-two, article three, chapter five-a of this code is not eligible to sell or offer to sell materials, supplies, equipment, services or printing to the commission or the governing boards. The commission or the governing boards may suspend, for a period not to exceed one year, the right and privilege of a person to bid on purchases of the commission or the governing boards when there is reason to believe that such person has violated any of the provisions in sections four through seven of this article or the rules of the governing boards pursuant thereto. Any person whose right to bid has been so suspended shall be notified thereof by a letter posted by registered mail containing the reason for the suspension and has the right to have the action of the commission or the governing board, as applicable, reviewed in accordance with section thirty-three, article three, chapter five-a of this code. A vendor who has been debarred pursuant to the provisions of sections thirty-three-a through thirty-three-f, article three, chapter five-a of this code, may not bid on or be awarded a contract under this section.

§18B-5-6. Other code provisions relating to purchasing and design-build procurement not controlling; exceptions; criminal provisions and penalties; financial interest of governing boards, etc.; receiving anything of value from interested party and penalties therefor; application of bribery statute.

(a) The provisions of article three, chapter five-a of this code and article twenty-two-a, chapter five of this code do not control or govern design-build procurement or the purchase, acquisition or other disposition of any equipment, materials, supplies, services or printing by the commission or the governing boards, except as provided in sections four through seven, inclusive, of this article. Sections twenty-nine, thirty and thirty-one, article three, chapter five-a of this code apply to all purchasing activities of the commission and the governing boards.  

(b) Notwithstanding any provision of this code to the contrary, state institutions of higher education, through their governing boards, may enter into design-build contracts and are not subject to the provisions of article twenty-two-a, chapter five of this code and may also utilize other commonly accepted methods of procurement and contracting for construction projects: Provided, That such state institution of higher education meets the following criteria:

(1) Employs at least one Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified administrator; and

(2) Employs at least one Certified Facilities Manager (CFM) as credentialed by the International Facility Management Association, or employs at least one Project Management Professional (PMP) as certified by the Project Management Institute.

(c) Neither the commission, the governing boards, nor any employee of the commission or governing boards may be financially interested, or have any beneficial personal interest, directly or indirectly, in the purchase of any equipment, materials, supplies, services or printing, nor in any firm, partnership, corporation or association furnishing them, except as may be authorized by the provisions of chapter six-b of this code. Neither the commission, the governing boards nor any employee of the commission or governing boards may accept or receive directly or indirectly from any person, firm or corporation, known by the commission, governing boards or such employee to be interested in any bid, contract or purchase, by rebate, gift or otherwise, any money or other thing of value whatsoever or any promise, obligation or contract for future reward or compensation, except as may be authorized by the provisions of chapter six-b of this code.

A person who violates any of the provisions of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be imprisoned in jail not less than three months nor more than one year, or fined not less than $50 nor more than $1,000, or both imprisoned and fined, in the discretion of the court. Any person who violates any provisions of this section by receiving money or other thing of value under circumstances constituting the crime of bribery under the provisions of section three, article five-a, chapter sixty-one of this code shall, upon conviction of bribery, be punished as provided in section nine of said article.

§18B-5-7. Disposition of obsolete and unusable equipment, surplus supplies and other unneeded materials.

(a) The commission, the council and the governing boards shall dispose of obsolete and unusable equipment, surplus supplies and other unneeded materials, either by transfer to other governmental agencies or institutions, by exchange or trade, or by sale as junk or otherwise. The commission, the council and each governing board shall adopt rules governing and controlling the disposition of all such equipment, supplies and materials. The rules shall provide for disposition of the equipment, supplies and materials as sound business practices warrant under existing circumstances and conditions and for adequate prior notice to the public of the disposition.

(b) The commission, council or governing board, as appropriate, shall report biannually to the Legislative Auditor all sales of commodities made during the preceding biennium. The report shall include a description of the commodities sold, the name of the buyer to whom each commodity was sold, the price paid by the buyer.

(c) The proceeds of sales or transfers shall be deposited in the state treasury to the credit on a pro rata basis of the fund or funds from which the purchase of the particular commodities or expendable commodities was made. The commission, council or governing board, as appropriate, may charge and assess fees reasonably related to the costs of care and handling with respect to the transfer, warehousing, sale and distribution of state property that is disposed of or sold pursuant to the provisions of this section.

(d) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, the commission, council or a governing board may donate equipment, supplies and materials with the approval of the commission, council or governing board or their designee, as appropriate to any not for profit entity to promote public welfare.

§18B-5-8

Repealed.

Acts, 2016 Reg. Sess., Ch. 88

§18B-5-9. Higher education fiscal responsibility.

(a) The governing boards shall ensure the fiscal integrity of their operations using best business and management practices.

(1) The practices include at least the following:

(A) Complying with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles of the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GAAP); and the Generally Accepted Government Auditing Standards of the Government Accountability Office (GAGAS);

(B) Operating without material weakness in internal controls as defined by GAAP, GAGAS and, where applicable, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Uniform Guidance Audit requirements;

(C) Maintaining annual audited financial statements with an unqualified opinion;

(D) Preparing annual audited financial statements as coordinated and directed by the commission and council, respectively, and as the commission requires to complete the higher education fund audit;

(E) Maintaining quarterly financial statements certified by the chief financial officer of the institution; and

(F) Implementing best practices from Sarbanes-Oxley, or adopting the applicable tenets of Sarbanes-Oxley as best practices.

(2) Each governing board and any affiliated research corporation shall comply with the OMB Uniform Guidance Audit requirements and are exempt from section fourteen, article four, chapter twelve of this code.

(3) Within thirty days of the completion of the financial audit report, the governing boards shall furnish to the commission or council, respectively, copies of the annual audited financial statements.

(b) The commission and council, each, shall ensure the fiscal integrity of any electronic process conducted at its offices and by the governing boards under its respective jurisdiction by applying best business and management practices.

(c) To the maximum extent practicable, each higher education organization shall provide for its employees to receive their wages via electronic transfer or direct deposit.

(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this code to the contrary, a purchasing card may be used by the council, the commission or a governing board of a state institution of higher education to make any payment authorized by the Auditor, including regular routine payments and travel and emergency payments. Payments are set at an amount to be determined by the Auditor.

(1) Subject to approval of the Auditor, an emergency payment and a routine, regularly scheduled payment, including, but not limited to, utility payments, contracts and real property rental fees, may exceed this limit by an amount to be determined by the Auditor.

(2) The council, commission and a governing board of a state institution of higher education may use a purchasing card for travel expenses directly related to the job duties of the traveling employee. Where approved by the Auditor, the expenses may exceed $5,000 by an amount to be determined by the Auditor. Traveling expenses may include registration fees and airline and other transportation reservations, if approved by the president of the institution. Traveling expenses may include purchases of fuel and food.

(3) The commission, council, and governing boards each shall maintain one purchasing card for use only in a situation declared an emergency by the appropriate chancellor or the institution’s president. Emergencies may include, but are not limited to, partial or total destruction of a facility; loss of a critical component of utility infrastructure; heating, ventilation or air condition failure in an essential academic building; loss of campus road, parking lot or campus entrance; a technology breach; or a local, regional, or national emergency situation that has a direct impact on the campus.

(e) Notwithstanding section ten-f, article three, chapter twelve of this code, or any other provision of this code or law to the contrary, the Auditor shall accept any receiving report submitted in a format utilizing electronic media. The Auditor shall conduct any audit or investigation of the council, commission or governing board at its own expense and at no cost to the council, commission or governing board.

(f) The council and the commission each shall maintain a rule in accordance with article three-a, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code. The rule shall provide for governing boards individually or cooperatively to maximize their use of any of the following purchasing practices that are determined to provide a financial advantage:

(1) Bulk purchasing;

(2) Reverse bidding;

(3) Electronic marketplaces; and

(4) Electronic remitting.

(g) Each governing board may establish a consortium with at least one other governing board, in the most cost-efficient manner feasible, to consolidate the following operations and student services:

(1) Payroll operations;

(2) Human resources operations;

(3) Warehousing operations;

(4) Financial transactions;

(5) Student financial aid application, processing and disbursement;

(6) Standard and bulk purchasing; and

(7) Any other operation or service appropriate for consolidation as determined by the council or commission.

(h) A governing board may charge a fee to the governing board of each institution for which it provides a service or performs an operation. The fee rate shall be in the best interest of both the institution being served and the governing board providing the service.

(i) A governing board may provide the services authorized by this section for the benefit of any governmental body or public or private institution.

(j) Each governing board shall strive to minimize its number of low-enrollment sections of introductory courses. To the maximum extent practicable, governing boards shall use distance learning to consolidate the course sections. The council and commission shall report the progress of reductions as requested by the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability.

(k) A governing board shall use its natural resources and alternative fuel resources to the maximum extent feasible. The governing board:

(1) May supply the resources for its own use and for use by the governing board of any other institution;

(2) May supply the resources to the general public at fair market value;

(3) Shall maximize all federal or grant funds available for research regarding alternative energy sources; and

(4) May develop research parks to further the purpose of this section and to expand the economic development opportunities in the state.

(l) Any cost-savings realized or fee procured or retained by a governing board pursuant to this section is retained by the governing board.

(m) Each governing board is authorized, but not required, to implement subsections (f), (g) and (h) of this section.

If a governing board elects to implement subsection (g) of this section, the following conditions apply:

(1) The governing board makes the determination regarding any additional operation or service which is appropriate for consolidation without input from the council or commission;

(2) The governing board sets the fee charged to the governing board of the institution for which it provides a service or performs an operation. The fee rate shall be in the best interest of both the institution being served and the governing board providing the service and is not subject to approval by the council or commission; and

(3) The governing board may not implement this subdivision in a manner which supersedes the requirements established in section twelve, article three-c of this chapter.

(n) The governing boards of the exempted schools, respectively, each shall promulgate a rule on purchasing procedures in accordance with section six, article one of this chapter.

§18B-5-10. Medical professional liability insurance and risk management functions.

(a) The Legislature finds that, while recent reforms have helped to address the rising costs and limited availability of medical malpractice and risk management insurance in West Virginia, the state's doctoral-granting research universities and their medical schools continue to face significant challenges related to the cost and operation of insurance and risk management programs.

(b) The Legislature further finds that the availability of cost-efficient insurance and risk management programs is essential to the long-term financial integrity and viability of these universities and their medical and other health professional schools.

(c) It is the responsibility of the Legislature to make the best use of available resources and to assure the availability of high quality medical education to meet the needs of the citizens of the state.

(d) Therefore, to aid the medical and other health professional schools in meeting these goals and objectives, the following program is authorized:

(1) Upon the agreement of the West Virginia State Board of Risk and Insurance Management, the health professionals schools under the jurisdiction of the governing boards of Marshall University, West Virginia University and the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine, respectively, may participate, separately, in a self-insurance retention program in conjunction with the state insurance program administered by the West Virginia State Board of Risk and Insurance Management to provide medical professional liability coverage to its health care professionals and students.

(2) In administering the self-insurance retention program, each governing board has the authority to administer, manage and/or settle its own medical professional liability insurance claims.

(e) Notwithstanding the provisions of article twelve, chapter twenty-nine of this code, the West Virginia State Board of Risk and Insurance Management is hereby authorized and empowered to enter into separate agreements with the health professionals schools under the jurisdiction of the governing boards of Marshall University, West Virginia University, and the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine, respectively, to develop and implement a self-insurance retention program for medical professional liability insurance.

(f) Prior to the implementation of any self-insurance retention program, the governing boards of Marshall University, West Virginia University, and the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine, respectively, shall submit the proposed program plan to the state Insurance Commissioner for review:

(1) The review shall include, but is not limited to, claims handling procedures, investment policies, and reserving practices.

(2) A governing board may not implement a plan until it has been reviewed by the state Insurance Commissioner.

(g) The Insurance Commissioner and Board of Risk and Insurance Management each may promulgate an emergency rule as necessary pursuant to the provisions of article three, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code, to specify further the requirements of self-insurance retention programs under this section.

§18B-5-11. Energy and Water Savings Revolving Loan Program Fund.

(a) There is created in the state Treasury a special revolving loan fund known as the "Energy and Water Savings Revolving Loan Fund". The fund is administered by the commission and used to effectuate the purposes of this section. The fund consists of moneys received from the following sources:

(1) All appropriations provided by the Legislature for energy and water savings revolving loans;

(2) Repayment of loans made to state institutions of higher education pursuant to this section;

(3) Any moneys available from external sources; and

(4) All interest and other income earned from investment of moneys in the fund.

(b) The commission shall utilize moneys in the fund to provide loans to state institutions of higher education under the jurisdiction of the commission or the council to finance projects that will achieve significant reductions in campus energy and water consumption and costs.

(c) The commission shall propose a rule for legislative approval in accordance with section six, article one of this chapter and article three-a, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code to implement the provisions of this section. The rule shall provide at least the following:

(1) Project information required in a loan application;

(2) Criteria for evaluating loan applications;

(3) A method for calculating the terms of loan repayment; and

(4) Other provisions the commission considers necessary to administer the program in accordance with this section.

(d) Projects shall be considered on a competitive basis. Highest priority is given to projects guaranteeing the greatest reductions in energy and water consumption and costs and the earliest loan repayments.

(e) Any balance, including accrued interest and any other returns, in the Energy and Water Savings Revolving Loan Fund at the end of each fiscal year shall not expire to the General Revenue Fund, but shall remain in the loan fund and be expended for the purposes provided by this section. The commission may use up to four percent of the total loan amount in a fiscal year for administrative expenses incurred in that fiscal year.

(f) Fund balances may be invested with the state's consolidated investment fund. Any earnings on the investments shall be used solely for the purpose defined in subsection (b) of this section.

(g) The Legislature finds that an emergency exists and, therefore, the commission shall propose an emergency rule to implement the provisions of this section in accordance with section six, article one of this chapter and article three-a, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code by October 1, 2008. The emergency rule may not be implemented without prior approval of the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability.

§18B-6-1.

Repealed.

Acts, 2008 Reg. Sess., Ch. 87.

§18B-6-1a. Definitions.

For the purposes of this article, the following words have the meanings specified unless the context clearly indicates a different meaning:

(a) "Advisory Council of Classified Employees" or "classified council" means the state advisory organization of classified employees created pursuant to section five of this article.

(b) "Advisory Council of Faculty" or "faculty council" means the state advisory organization of faculty created pursuant to section two of this article.

(c) "Advisory Council of Students" or "student advisory council" means the state advisory organization of students created pursuant to section four of this article.

(d) "Classified employee", in the singular or plural, means any regular full-time or regular part-time employee of a governing board, the commission, the council or the West Virginia Network for Educational Telecomputing who holds a position that is assigned a particular job title and pay grade in accordance with the personnel classification system established by law.

(e) "Community and technical college" means Eastern West Virginia Community and Technical College, Marshall Community and Technical College, New River Community and Technical College, West Virginia Northern Community and Technical College, Blue Ridge Community and Technical College, Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College, West Virginia State Community and Technical College, the Community and Technical College at West Virginia University Institute of Technology, West Virginia University at Parkersburg and any other community and technical college so designated by the Legislature.

(f) "Council" means the West Virginia Council for Community and Technical College Education created pursuant to section three, article two-b of this chapter.

(g) "Institutional Classified Employee Council" or "staff council" means the advisory group of classified employees formed at a state institution of higher education pursuant to section six of this article.

(h) "Institutional faculty Senate", "faculty Senate" or "faculty assembly" means the advisory group of faculty formed at a state institution of higher education pursuant to section three of this article.

(i) "State institution of higher education", in the singular or plural, means the institutions as defined in section two, article one of this chapter and, additionally, Pierpont Community and Technical College, a division of Fairmont State University, Marshall Community and Technical College, New River Community and Technical College, Potomac State College of West Virginia University, Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Charleston Division of West Virginia University, Blue Ridge Community and Technical College, West Virginia State Community and Technical College, West Virginia University at Parkersburg, West Virginia University Institute of Technology, the Community and Technical College at West Virginia University Institute of Technology, the Higher Education Policy Commission, the West Virginia Council for Community and Technical College Education, the West Virginia Network for Educational Telecomputing and any other institution so designated by the Legislature.

§18B-6-2. State advisory council of faculty.

(a) There is continued the state advisory council of faculty.

(b) Election of members and terms of office. --

(1) During the month of April of each odd-numbered year, each president of a state institution of higher education, at the direction of the faculty council and in accordance with procedures established by the faculty council, shall convene a meeting or otherwise institute a balloting process to elect one faculty member from each institution of higher education to serve on the faculty council.

(2) Terms of the members are for two years and begin on July 1, of each odd-numbered year. Members are eligible to succeed themselves.

(3) For the year two thousand four only, each president of an administratively linked community and technical college shall consult with the faculty council during the month of July to establish procedures and convene a meeting or otherwise institute a balloting process to elect one faculty member from that institution to serve on the faculty council. Members so elected shall take office upon election and serve until the next regularly scheduled election held pursuant to this section; thereafter, faculty members elected to represent administratively linked community and technical colleges serve a regular two-year term.

(c) The faculty council shall meet at least once each quarter and may meet at such other times as called by the chairperson or by a majority of its members. One of the quarterly meetings shall be during the month of July, at which meeting the faculty council shall elect a chairperson from among its members. The chairperson may serve no more than two consecutive terms as chair. A member may not vote by proxy at the election. In the event of a tie in the last vote taken for such election, a member authorized by the faculty council shall select the chairperson by lot from the names of those persons tied. Immediately following the election of a chairperson, and in the manner prescribed by this section for the election of a chairperson, the faculty council shall elect a member to preside over meetings in the absence of the chairperson. If the chairperson vacates the position, the faculty council shall meet and elect a new chairperson to fill the unexpired term within thirty days following the vacancy.

(d) The faculty council, through its chairperson and in any appropriate manner, shall communicate to the commission or the council, as appropriate, matters of higher education in which the faculty members have an interest.

(e) The commission and council each shall meet annually between the months of October and December with the faculty council to discuss matters of higher education in which the faculty members or the commission or council may have an interest.

(f) Members of the faculty council serve without compensation. Members are entitled to reimbursement for actual and necessary expenses, including travel expenses, incurred in the performance of their official duties. Expenses are paid from funds allocated to the state institution of higher education which the member serves.

(g) The faculty council shall prepare minutes of its meetings, which minutes shall be available, upon request, to any faculty member of a state institution of higher education represented on the faculty council.

§18B-6-2a.

Repealed.

Acts, 2004 Reg. Sess., Ch. 92.

§18B-6-3. Institutional faculty Senate.

(a) Effective July 1, 2004, a faculty Senate is established at each institution of higher education, except for those institutions which choose to establish a faculty assembly. In the latter case, all faculty participate in the faculty assembly and the requirements of subsections (b) and (c) of this section do not apply. Members and officers of an organized, campus-level advisory group of faculty who are serving prior to the effective date of this section may continue to serve with all the rights, privileges and responsibilities prescribed herein until the time that members elected as set forth in subsection (b) of this section assume office.

(b) Members of each faculty Senate are elected as follows:

(1) During the month of April of each even-numbered year, each president of a state institution of higher education, at the direction of the faculty and in accordance with procedures established by the faculty, shall convene a meeting or otherwise institute a balloting process to elect the members of the faculty Senates, except that for 2004 only, the election shall take place in July.

(2) Selection procedures shall provide for appropriate representation of all academic units within the institution.

(3) The faculty member who is elected to serve on the faculty council is an ex officio, voting member of the faculty Senate and reports to the faculty Senate on meetings of the faculty council and the board of Governors.

(c) Members serve a term of two years, which term begins on July 1, of each even-numbered year, except for the year 2004 when terms begin upon election. Members of the faculty Senate are eligible to succeed themselves.

(d) Each faculty Senate shall elect a chairperson from among its members. The chairperson serves a term of two years, and may serve no more than two consecutive terms as chairperson.

(e) The faculty Senate meets quarterly and may meet at such other times as called by the chairperson or by a majority of the members. With appropriate notification to the president of the institution, the chairperson may convene a faculty Senate meeting for the purpose of sharing information and discussing issues affecting faculty and the effective and efficient management of the institution.

(f) The president of the institution shall meet at least quarterly with the faculty Senate to discuss matters affecting faculty and the effective and efficient management of the institution.

(g) The governing board of the institution shall meet at least annually with the faculty Senate to discuss matters affecting faculty and the effective and efficient management of the institution.

§18B-6-3a.

Repealed.

Acts, 2004 Reg. Sess., Ch. 92.

§18B-6-4. State advisory council of students.

(a) There is continued the state advisory council of students.

(b) During the month of April of each year, each student government organization at each institution of higher education shall elect a student to serve on the student advisory council. Terms of the members of the student advisory council are for one year and begin on September 1, of each year. A duly elected member currently serving on the advisory council of students may continue to serve until a new member from that institution is elected pursuant to the provisions of this section. Members of the student advisory council are eligible to succeed themselves.

(c) The student advisory council shall meet at least once each quarter. One of the quarterly meetings shall be during the month of September, at which meeting the student advisory council shall elect a chairperson. A member may not vote by proxy at the election. In the event of a tie in the last vote taken for the election, a member authorized by the student advisory council shall select the chairperson by lot from the names of those persons tied. Immediately following the election of a chairperson, the student advisory council shall elect, in the manner prescribed by this section for the election of a chairperson, a member of the council to preside over meetings in the absence of the chairperson. If the chairperson vacates the position, the student advisory council shall meet and elect a new chairperson to fill the unexpired term within thirty days following the vacancy.

(d) The student advisory council, through its chairperson and in any appropriate manner, shall communicate to the commission or the council, as appropriate, matters of higher education in which the student members have an interest.

(e) At the request of the chairperson of the student advisory council, the commission and council each shall meet annually, between the months of October and December, with the student advisory council to discuss matters of higher education in which the student members or the commission or council have an interest.

(f) Members of the student advisory council serve without compensation, but are entitled to reimbursement for actual and necessary expenses, including travel expenses, incurred in the performance of their official duties. Expenses are paid from funds allocated to the state institution of higher education in which the student is enrolled.

(g) The student advisory council shall prepare minutes of its meetings. The minutes shall be available, upon request, to any student of a state institution of higher education represented on the council.

§18B-6-4a.

Repealed.

Acts, 2004 Reg. Sess., Ch. 92.

§18B-6-4b.

Repealed.

Acts, 2004 Reg. Sess., Ch. 92.

§18B-6-5. State advisory councils of classified employees.

(a) There is hereby continued the state advisory council of classified employees.

(b) Election of members and terms of office. --

(1) During the month of April of each odd-numbered year, each president of a state institution of higher education, at the direction of the classified council and in accordance with procedures established by the classified council, shall convene a meeting or otherwise institute a balloting process to elect one classified employee from each institution of higher education to serve on the classified council.

(2) Terms of the members are for two years and begin on July 1, of each odd-numbered year. Members are eligible to succeed themselves.

(3) For the year two thousand four only, each president of an administratively linked community and technical college shall consult with the classified council during the month of July to establish procedures and convene a meeting or otherwise institute a balloting process to elect one classified employee from that institution to serve on the classified council. Members so elected take office upon election and serve until the next regularly scheduled election held pursuant to this section; thereafter, classified employees elected to represent administratively linked community and technical colleges serve a regular two-year term.

(c) The classified council shall meet at least once each quarter and may meet at such other times as called by the chairperson or by a majority of its members. One of the quarterly meetings shall be during the month of July, at which meeting the classified council shall elect a chairperson from among its members. The chairperson may serve no more than two consecutive terms as chairperson. A member may not vote by proxy at the election. In the event of a tie in the last vote taken for the election, a member authorized by the classified council shall select the chairperson by lot from the names of those persons tied. Immediately following the election of a chairperson, the classified council shall elect, in the manner prescribed by this section for the election of a chairperson, a member of the classified council to preside over meetings in the absence of the chairperson. If the chairperson vacates the position, the classified council shall meet and elect a new chairperson to fill the unexpired term within thirty days following the vacancy.

(d) The classified council, through its chairperson and in any appropriate manner, shall communicate to the commission or the council, as appropriate, matters of higher education in which the classified employees have an interest.

(e) The commission and council each shall meet annually, between the months of October and December, with the classified council to discuss matters of higher education in which the classified employees or the commission or council have an interest.

(f) Members of the classified council serve without compensation, but are entitled to reimbursement for actual and necessary expenses, including travel expenses, incurred in the performance of their official duties. Expenses are paid from funds allocated to the state institution of higher education which the member serves.

(g) The classified council shall prepare minutes of its meetings. The minutes shall be available, upon request, to any classified employee of a state institution of higher education represented on the classified council.

§18B-6-6. Institutional classified employee council.

(a) There is continued at each institution of higher education an institutional classified employee advisory council to be known as the staff council.

(b) During the month of April of each odd-numbered year, each president of a state institution of higher education, at the direction of the staff council and in accordance with procedures established by the staff council, shall convene a meeting or otherwise institute a balloting process to elect members of the staff council, except that for two thousand four only, the election shall take place in July. Members are elected as follows:

(1) Two classified employees from the administrative/ managerial sector;

(2) Two classified employees from the professional/nonteaching sector;

(3) Two classified employees from the paraprofessional sector;

(4) Two classified employees from the secretarial/clerical sector;

(5) Two classified employees from the physical plant/ maintenance sector;

(6) The classified employee who is elected to serve on the advisory council of classified employees serves as an ex officio, voting member of the staff council. This member shall report to the staff council on meetings of the classified council and the board of Governors; and

(7) Classified employees at Marshall university and West Virginia University may elect five classified employees from each of the five sectors to serve on the staff council.

(c) Members serve a term of two years, which term begins on July 1, of each odd-numbered year. Members of the staff council are eligible to succeed themselves.

(d) Classified employees shall select one of their members to serve as chairperson. All classified employees at the institution are eligible to vote for the chairperson by any method approved by a majority of their members. The chairperson is eligible to succeed himself or herself.

(e) The staff council shall meet at least monthly or at the call of the chairperson. With appropriate notification to the president of the institution, the chairperson may convene staff council meetings for the purpose of sharing information and discussing issues affecting the classified employees or the efficient and effective operations of the institution.

(f) The president of the institution shall meet at least quarterly with the staff council to discuss matters affecting classified employees.

(g) The governing board of the institution shall meet at least annually with the staff council to discuss matters affecting classified employees and the effective and efficient management of the institution.

§18B-7-1. Legislative intent and purpose.

(a) The intent of the Legislature in enacting this article and articles eight, nine and nine-a of this chapter is to establish basic human resources policies applicable to public higher education capable of, but not limited to, assisting the governing boards in meeting the following objectives:

(1) Implementing contemporary programs and practices to reward and incentivize performance and enhance employee engagement;

(2) Providing benefits to the citizens of the State of West Virginia by supporting the public policy agenda as articulated by state policymakers;

(3) Assuring fiscal responsibility by making the best use of scarce resources;

(4) Promoting fairness, accountability, credibility, and transparency in personnel decision making;

(5) Providing for job requirements and performance standards for classified staff positions with annual job performance evaluations for classified staff, and provisions for job performance counseling when appropriate.

 (6) Reducing or, wherever possible, eliminating arbitrary and capricious decisions affecting employees of higher education organizations as defined in section two, article nine-a of this chapter;

 (7) Creating stable, self-regulating human resources policies capable of evolving to meet changing needs;

 (8) Providing for institutional flexibility with meaningful accountability;

 (9) Adhering to federal and state laws;

 (10) Adhering to duly promulgated and adopted rules; and

 (11) Enhancing the sharing of best practices throughout the state higher education system.

 (12) Providing current, reliable data to governing boards, the commission, the council, the Governor and the Legislature to inform the decision-making process of these policymakers.

(b) To accomplish these goals, the Legislature encourages organizations to pursue a human resources strategy which provides monetary and nonmonetary returns to employees in exchange for their time, talents and efforts to meet articulated goals, objectives and priorities of the state, the commission and council, and the organization. The system should maximize the recruitment, motivation and retention of highly qualified employees, promote satisfaction and engagement of employees with their jobs, promote job performance and achieve desired results.

(c) It is the intent of the Legislature to establish a human resources strategy that is fair, accountable, credible, and transparent. In recognition of the importance of these qualities, the human resources strategy outlined in this article, together with articles eight and nine-a of this chapter, is designated and may be cited as “ FACT for Higher Education”.

(d) It is the intent of the Legislature to require each higher education organization to achieve full funding of the minimum salary levels for classified employees established in section six, article nine-a of this chapter.

§18B-7-2. Definitions.

For the purposes of this article and articles eight, nine and nine-a of this chapter, the following words have the meanings ascribed to them unless the context clearly indicates a different meaning:

(1) “Benefits” means programs that an employer uses to supplement the cash compensation of employees and includes health and welfare plans, retirement plans, pay for time not worked and other employee prerequisites.

(2) “Compensation” means cash provided by an employer to an employee for services rendered.

(3) “Compensatory time” and “compensatory time off” mean hours during which the employee is not working, which are not counted as hours worked during the applicable work week or other work period for purposes of overtime compensation and for which the employee is compensated at the employee’s regular rate of pay.

(4) “Employee classification” or “employee class” means those employees designated as classified employees; nonclassified employees, including presidents, chief executives and administrators and faculty, as these terms are defined in this article and articles eight, nine and nine-a of this chapter.

(5) “Full-time” means a regular employee whose employment, if continued, accumulates to a minimum total of one thousand forty hours during a calendar year and extends over at least nine months of a calendar year

(6) “Health and welfare benefit plan” means an arrangement which provides any of the following: Medical, dental, visual, psychiatric or long-term health care, life insurance, accidental death or dismemberment benefits, disability benefits or comparable benefits.

(7) “More senior employees” means an employee who has greater longevity with the institution than another employee who is also subject to layoff as part of a reduction in force.

§18B-7-3. Reducing workforce.

(a) Definitions for terms used in this section have the meanings ascribed to them in section two, article one of this chapter and section two, article nine of this chapter, except that, unless clearly noted otherwise, this section applies only to a regular employee who is classified and whose employment, if continued, accumulates to a minimum total of one thousand forty hours during a calendar year and extends over at least nine months of a calendar year.

(b) All decisions by an organization or its agents concerning reductions in workforce of full-time classified employees shall be made in accordance with this section and pursuant to a rule adopted by the applicable governing board of an organization, after consultation with and providing 30 days written notice to the applicable staff council of an organization.

(1) For layoffs for reason of lack of funds or work, or abolition of position or material changes in duties or organization, the institution may layoff the incumbent in the position being eliminated.  In the case of elimination of some but not all of the positions of the same job title, consideration shall be given to an employee’s documented quality of work performance as demonstrated in performance evaluations of record (including, but not limited to, disciplinary records), skills, seniority as measured by years of service, or other factors, as determined by the board.

(2) If the organization desires to lay off a more senior employee, the organization may offer to the more senior employee a severance package, the value of which shall not exceed the more senior employee’s salary for one year.

§18B-7-4. Supplemental health and welfare benefit plans.

(a) An organization may contract for supplemental health and welfare benefit plans for any or all of its employees in addition to the benefits the employees otherwise receive.

(b) An organization may make additional periodic deductions from the salary payments due employees in the amount they are required to contribute for any supplemental health and welfare plan.

§18B-7-5. Supplemental and additional retirement plans for employees; payroll deductions; authority to match employee contributions; retroactive curative and technical corrective action.

(a) Any reference in this code to the "additional retirement plan" relating to state higher education employees, means the "higher education retirement plan" provided in this section. Any state higher education employee participating in a retirement plan upon the effective date of this section continues to participate in that plan and may not elect to participate in any other state retirement plan. Any retirement plan continues to be governed by the provisions of law applicable on the effective date of this section.

(b) The commission, on behalf of the council, governing boards and itself, shall contract for a retirement plan for their employees, to be known as the "Higher Education Retirement Plan". The commission, council and governing boards shall make periodic deductions from the salary payments due employees in the amount they are required to contribute to the Higher Education Retirement Plan, which deductions shall be six percent.

(c) The commission, council and governing boards may contract for supplemental retirement plans for any or all of their employees to supplement the benefits employees otherwise receive. The commission, council and governing boards may make additional periodic deductions from the salary payments due the employees in the amount they are required to contribute for the supplemental retirement plan.

(d) An organization, by way of additional compensation to their employees, shall pay an amount, which, at a minimum, equals the contributions of the employees into the higher education retirement plan from funds appropriated to the commission, council or governing board for personal services.

(e) As part of an overall compensation plan, the commission, council or a governing board, each at its sole discretion, may increase its contributions to any employee retirement plan to an amount that exceeds the contributions of employees.

(f) Each participating employee has a full and immediate vested interest in the retirement and death benefits accrued from all the moneys paid into the Higher Education Retirement Plan or a supplemental retirement plan for his or her benefit. Upon proper requisition of a governing board, the commission or council, the Auditor periodically shall issue a warrant, payable as specified in the requisition, for the total contributions so withheld from the salaries of all participating employees and for the matching funds of the commission, council or governing board.

(g) Any person whose employment commences on or after July 1, 1991, and who is eligible to participate in the Higher Education Retirement Plan, shall participate in that plan and is not eligible to participate in any other state retirement system: Provided, That the foregoing provision does not apply to a person designated as a 21st Century Learner Fellow pursuant to section eleven, article three, chapter eighteen-a of this code. The additional retirement plan contracted for by the governing boards prior to July 1, 1991, remains in effect unless changed by the commission. Nothing in this section considers employees of the council or governing boards as employees of the commission, nor is the commission responsible or liable for retirement benefits contracted by, or on behalf of, the council or governing boards.

§18B-7-6. Continuing education and professional development.

(a) Each higher education organization shall establish and operate an employee continuing education and development program under a joint rule or rules promulgated by the governing board. Funds allocated or made available for employee continuing education and development may be used to compensate and pay expenses for any employees pursuing additional academic study or training to equip themselves better for their duties.

The rules shall encourage continuing education and staff development and shall require that employees be selected on a nonpartisan basis using fair and meaningful criteria which afford all employees opportunities to enhance their skills and productivity in the workforce of the organization. These rules also may include reasonable provisions for the continuation or return of any employee receiving the benefits of the education or training, or for reimbursement by the state for expenditures incurred on behalf of the employee.

(b) Subject to legislative appropriation therefor, the commission and council shall promote and facilitate additional, regular, training and professional development for employees engaged in human resources-related activities at all organizations. The training and professional development:

(1) Shall be developed with emphasis on distance learning, in consideration to limiting travel demands on employees; and

(2) Shall be in addition to and may not supplant the training and professional development regularly provided to any class of employees by each organization prior to the effective date of this section.

§18B-7-7. Employment practices.

(a) Each governing board, with the advice and assistance of the staff council, shall promulgate and adopt a rule regarding the role of part-time classified employees. The rule shall discourage the hiring of part-time employees solely to avoid the payment of benefits or in lieu of full-time employees and shall provide all qualified classified employees who hold nine-month or ten-month contracts with the opportunity to accept part-time or full-time summer employment before new persons are hired for the part-time or full-time employment.

(b) Each governing board, with the advice and assistance of the staff councils and other groups representing classified employees, shall promulgate and adopt a rule in accordance with section six, article one of this chapter that discourages temporary, nonemergency, institutionally-imposed changes in an employee's work schedule; that maintains reasonable continuity in working schedules and conditions for employees; and that requires institutions to consider feasible and innovative ways to use the institution's classified employees most efficiently. These innovations may include, but are not limited to, flexibility in employee scheduling, job-sharing and four-day work weeks.

§18B-7-8.

Repealed

Acts, 2019 Reg. Sess., Ch. 136.

§18B-7-9

Repealed

Acts, 2017 Reg. Sess., Ch. 123.

§18B-7-10. Compensatory time off in lieu of overtime; written agreement; other conditions.

(a) Notwithstanding any provision of this code to the contrary, in lieu of overtime compensation, employees of higher education organizations may receive compensatory time off at a rate not less than one and one-half hours for each hour of employment. Employees may receive compensatory time only under the following conditions:

(1) The time is awarded pursuant to a written agreement between the employer and the employee arrived at before the work is performed. A written agreement may be modified at the request of the employer or employee, but under no circumstances may changes in the agreement deny an employee compensatory time already acquired;

(2) The time is recorded in the employer's record of hours worked; and

(3) The employee has not accrued compensatory time in excess of the prescribed limits.

(b) An employee may accrue up to four hundred eighty hours of compensatory time if the employee's work is a public safety activity, an emergency response activity or a seasonal activity. An employee engaged in other work may accrue up to two hundred forty hours of compensatory time. An employee who has accrued four hundred eighty or two hundred forty hours of compensatory time, as the case may be, shall be paid overtime compensation for additional hours of work. If compensation is paid to an employee for accrued compensatory time, the compensation shall be paid at the regular rate earned by the employee at the time the employee received the payment.

(c) If employment is terminated, an employee who has accrued compensatory time pursuant to this section, shall be paid for the unused compensatory time at a rate of compensation not less than the higher amount calculated using one of the following formulas:

(1) The average regular rate received by the employee during the first three years of the employee's employment; or

(2) The final regular rate received by the employee.

(d) An employee who has accrued compensatory time as authorized by this section, and who has requested the use of compensatory time, shall be permitted by the employer to use this time within a reasonable period after making the request if the use of the compensatory time does not unduly disrupt the operation of the employing agency. Compensatory time must be used within one year from the time it is accrued.

§18B-7-11

Repealed

Acts, 2017 Reg. Sess., Ch. 123.

§18B-7-12

Repealed

Acts, 2017 Reg. Sess., Ch. 123.

§18B-7-13. Probationary employment period; evaluation.

Each full-time classified employee hired by an organization shall serve an initial probationary period of six months. At the end of the probationary period, the employee shall receive a written evaluation of his or her performance. The employee's supervisor shall meet with the employee and explain the contents of the evaluation and whether the employee is being offered regular employment.

§18B-7-14. Higher education employees' catastrophic leave bank and leave transfer.

(a) For the purposes of this section, "employee" means either of the following:

(1) A classified or nonclassified employee who is employed by a higher education governing board, by the commission or by the council; or

(2) A faculty member, as defined in section one, article eight of this chapter, who is eligible to accrue sick leave.

(b) An employee may donate sick and annual leave to a leave bank established and operated in accordance with subsection (d) of this section or directly to another employee in accordance with subsection (e) of this section. No employee may be compelled to donate sick or annual leave. Any leave donated by an employee pursuant to this section shall be used only for the purpose of catastrophic illness or injury as defined in subsection (c) of this section and shall reduce, to the extent of such donation, the number of days of annual or sick leave to which the employee is entitled.

(c) For the purpose of this section, a catastrophic illness or injury is one that is expected to incapacitate the employee and create a financial hardship because the employee has exhausted all sick and annual leave and other paid time off. Catastrophic illness or injury also includes an incapacitated immediate family member as defined by a governing board, the commission or the council, as appropriate, if this results in the employee being required to take time off from work for an extended period of time to care for the family member and if the employee has exhausted all sick and annual leave and other paid time off.

(d) A leave bank or banks may be established at each state institution of higher education, the commission or the council to which employees may donate either sick or annual leave. The bank or banks may be established jointly by the policy commission and the governing boards or may be established for the commission, the council, and each of the governing boards. Sick or annual leave may be deposited in the leave bank, and shall be reflected as a day-for-day deduction from the sick or annual leave balance of the depositing employee.

Donated leave may be withdrawn by any employee experiencing a catastrophic illness or injury when the following conditions are met:

(1) The president of the institution or the chancellor of the commission or the council, as appropriate, verifies that the employee is unable to work due to the catastrophic illness or injury; and

(2) The president of the institution or a chancellor, as appropriate, approves the withdrawal and provides written notice to the personnel office.

The withdrawal shall be reflected as a day-for-day addition to the leave balance of the withdrawing employee.

(e) Sick or annual leave may be donated to an employee experiencing a catastrophic illness or injury. The leave shall be donated at the request of the employee after appropriate verification that the employee is unable to work due to the catastrophic illness or injury as determined by the president of the institution or the appropriate chancellor. When transfer of sick or annual leave is approved by the president of the institution or the appropriate chancellor, any employee may donate sick or annual leave in one-day increments by providing written notice to the personnel office. Donations shall be reflected as a day-for-day deduction from the sick or annual leave balance of the donating employee. An employee receiving the donated sick or annual leave shall have any time which is donated credited to his or her account in one-day increments and reflected as a day-for-day addition to the leave balance of the receiving employee.

(f) Use of donated credits may not exceed a maximum of twelve continuous calendar months for any one catastrophic illness or injury.

(1) The total amount of sick or annual leave withdrawn or received may not exceed an amount sufficient to ensure the continuance of regular compensation and may not be used to extend insurance coverage pursuant to section thirteen, article sixteen, chapter five of this code.

(2) An employee withdrawing or receiving donations of sick or annual leave pursuant to this section shall use any leave personally accrued on a monthly basis prior to receiving additional donated sick or annual leave.

(g) Donated sick or annual leave deposited in an institutional leave bank or transferred under subsection (d) of this section may be inter-institutional in accordance with the policies of the appropriate governing board. Each institution, the commission or the council is responsible for the administration of the sick or annual leave deposits, withdrawals and transfers of its employees. Rules implementing the provisions of this section may be adopted jointly or separately by the governing boards, the commission or the council in accordance with section six, article one of this chapter and, in the case of the commission and council, in accordance with article three-a, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code.

§18B-7-15. Merit increases.

Higher education organizations may grant merit increases which are in accordance with this article and articles eight, nine and nine-a of this chapter and with duly promulgated rules of the commission and council.

§18B-7-16. Study of employment practices.

(a) The commission and council shall study the following issues relating to employment practices:

(1) Developing a fair and rational policy based upon best human resources practices for covering reductions in force, furloughs and other issues relating to seniority, including determining how employees shall be treated whose salaries are derived from funds other than state appropriations;

(2) Determining the advantages and disadvantages of maintaining the internal preferences for hiring, promoting and transferring classified employees;

(3) Determining the appropriate definition of a "nonclassified" position, recommending a best practice criteria for designating positions as nonclassified and recommending the appropriate number or ratio of nonclassified positions for commission and council organizations.

(4) Recommending a rational, uniform policy to determine the status of employees whose positions are funded, in whole or in part, by an external grant or contract from a federal, state or local government or a private entity.

(b) The commission and council shall complete the work and report their findings, conclusions and recommendations, together with drafts of any legislation necessary to effectuate the recommendations, to the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability upon completion, but no later than January 1, 2018.

§18B-8-1. Definitions.

As used in this article:

(a) "Academic rank", "rank" or "faculty rank" means the position held by a faculty member as determined by the president, consistent with a rule promulgated and adopted by the governing board, and includes the positions of professor, associate professor, assistant professor and instructor. All other ranks are excluded from the provisions of this article.

(b) "Salary" means the total nine-month or ten-month salary paid from state funds to a full-time faculty member, or if the employment period is other than nine or ten months, the total salary adjusted to a nine-month base salary;

(c) "Full-time faculty" means a faculty member so designated by the president, consistent with the duly promulgated and adopted rule of the appropriate governing board, and those persons with faculty rank who have research or administrative responsibilities.

§18B-8-2. Faculty salary rules; salary increase upon promotion in rank.

(a) Each governing board shall promulgate and adopt a faculty salary rule in accordance with section six, article one of this chapter which furthers the goals of attracting, retaining and rewarding high quality faculty. Faculty salary increases shall be distributed within each organization in accordance with the faculty salary rule.

(b) The salary of a full-time faculty member may not be reduced by the provisions of this article.

(c) The faculty salary rule shall pursue the following goals:

(1) The salary of each full-time faculty member within a discipline group is competitive with those in similar disciplines at peer institutions;

(2) Faculty are recognized for outstanding performance;

(3) Equity among salaries is maintained; and

(4) The faculty at each institution are involved effectively in the administration of the faculty salary rule.

(d) Each faculty member shall receive a salary increase of at least ten percent when he or she is promoted in rank.

§18B-8-3. Authority to grant sabbatical leave.

A governing board may grant sabbatical leave to a faculty member at the state institution of higher education under its jurisdiction for the purpose of permitting him or her to engage in graduate study, research or other activities calculated to improve teaching ability. A governing board may grant a request for sabbatical leave only in accordance with the uniform rule it has promulgated and adopted. A governing board may not adopt a rule which provides for granting sabbatical leave to a faculty member who has served fewer than six years at the institution where presently employed, nor which provides for leave for more than one half the contract period at full pay or for a full contract period at half pay. A faculty member receiving a sabbatical leave is required to return and serve the institution granting the leave for at least one year or to repay to the institution the compensation received during leave. A faculty member returning from leave shall be reinstated at the academic rank held immediately prior to taking sabbatical leave unless he or she is promoted to a higher rank and is entitled to the salary and any salary increases appropriate to his or her rank and years of experience. The compensation for a faculty member on sabbatical leave is paid by the institution where employed from its regular personal services appropriations.

§18B-8-3a.

Repealed.

Acts, 2011 Reg. Sess., Ch. 79.

§18B-8-4. Effect of leave of absence on academic tenure, rank, etc.

(a) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, a tenured professional at a state institution of higher education who is absent from duties at the institution to accept employment in a nonelected governmental capacity is afforded the benefits of academic tenure, rank and position as if he or she had remained continuously in the position retained and held at the institution immediately preceding the absence if the following conditions are met:

(1) The absence is approved by the president of the state institution of higher education by which the professional is employed;

(2) The leave of absence does not exceed two years; or

(3) If the leave of absence extends for more than two years, the president requests approval from the governing board for the absence in writing each year and the board approves each request up to eight full years.

(b) An individual who remains in governmental employment with leave granted in accordance with this section forfeits all rights to academic tenure, rank and position formerly held at the employing institution at the end of the eighth year of government employment.

§18B-8-5. Notice to probationary faculty members of retention or nonretention; hearing.

(a) For the purposes of this section, "Probationary faculty member" means the definition adopted in a joint rule promulgated by the commission and council. The rights provided to probationary faculty members by this section are in addition to, and not in lieu of, other rights afforded to them by other rules and other provisions of law.

(b) The president of each state institution of higher education shall give written notice concerning retention or nonretention for the ensuing academic year to a probationary faculty member not later than March 1.

(c) If a probationary faculty member who is not retained so requests, the president or his or her designee shall inform the probationary faculty member by certified mail within ten days of the reasons for nonretention. A probationary faculty member who desires to appeal the decision may proceed to level three of the grievance procedure established in article two, chapter six-c of this code. If the administrative law judge decides that the reasons for nonretention are arbitrary, capricious or without a factual basis, the faculty member shall be retained for the ensuing academic year.

§18B-8-6. Faculty employment practices; campus administrators required to teach or perform research.

Each governing board, with the advice and assistance of the faculty senate, shall promulgate and adopt a rule in accordance with section six, article one of this chapter addressing the following issues:

(a) Defining an appropriate balance between full-time and adjunct faculty members and the appropriate role of adjunct faculty; and

(b) Requiring each administrator on each campus who holds faculty rank to teach at least one course during each eighteen-month employment period or to perform on-going research in lieu of teaching.

§18B-8-7. Authority of Governing Boards relating to faculty.

Consistent with this article, and after consulting with and providing 30 days written notice to the faculty senate, a governing board may adopt a rule relating to the faculty. The provisions of any rule adopted by a governing board preempt any conflicting rule adopted by the commission or the council.

§18B-9-1

Repealed

Acts, 2017 Reg. Sess., Ch. 123.

§18B-9-2

Repealed

Acts, 2017 Reg. Sess., Ch. 123.

§18B-9-2a.

Repealed.

Acts, 2011 Reg. Sess., Ch. 79.

§18B-9-3

Repealed

Acts, 2017 Reg. Sess., Ch. 123.

§18B-9-4

Repealed

Acts, 2017 Reg. Sess., Ch. 123.

§18B-9-5.

Repealed.

Acts, 2011 Reg. Sess., Ch. 79.

§18B-9-6.

Repealed.

Acts, 2001 Reg. Sess., Ch. 110.

§18B-9-7.

Repealed.

Acts, 2011 Reg. Sess., Ch. 79.

§18B-9-8.

Repealed.

Acts, 2011 Reg. Sess., Ch. 79.

§18B-9-9.

Repealed.

Acts, 2011 Reg. Sess., Ch. 79.

§18B-9-10.

Repealed.

Acts, 2011 Reg. Sess., Ch. 79.

§18B-9-11.

Repealed.

Acts, 2001 Reg. Sess., Ch. 110.

§18B-9-12.

Repealed.

Acts, 2011 Reg. Sess., Ch. 79.

§18B-9A-1. Legislative intent and purpose.

(a) The intent of the Legislature in enacting this article is to establish the classification and compensation system for certain employees of higher education organizations and apply recognized best human resources practices in order to use available resources in the most effective and efficient manner for the benefit of the citizens of West Virginia.

(b) In furtherance of the principles described in subsection (a) of this section, the chief purposes of the classified classification and compensation system are to accomplish the following objectives:

(1) Develop and implement a classification and compensation system that is fair, transparent, understandable, simple to administer, self-regulating and adaptable to meet future goals and priorities;

(2) Compensate employees within an organization fairly in relation to one another;

(3) Compensate employees across organizations who are performing similar work at similar wage rates;

(4) Compensate employees at levels that are competitive with appropriate external markets and are fiscally responsible; and

(5) Improve the process for evaluating jobs, including, but not limited to, mandating training and development in best human resources practices and directing that key terms, job titles and evaluation forms are consistent across organizations.

(c) It is further the intent of the Legislature to ensure that regular compensation analyses are performed to determine how organization compensation for all classes of employees compares to compensation in relevant external markets.

§18B-9A-2.  Definitions.

As used in this article and articles seven, eight and nine of this chapter, the following words have the meanings ascribed to them unless the context clearly indicates a different meaning:

(1) “Classification system” means the process by which jobs, job titles, career ladders and assignment to pay grades are determined.

(2) “Classified employee” or “employee” means a regular full-time or regular part-time employee of an organization who: (i) does not meet the duties test for exempt status under the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act; and (ii) is not otherwise a nonclassified employee designated pursuant to subdivision (11) of this section:  Provided, That any employee of an organization who was a classified employee as of January 1, 2017, retains that status unless otherwise deemed a nonclassified employee pursuant to the provisions of subparts (A) through (D) of subdivision (11) of this section.

(3) “Job” means the total collection of tasks, duties and responsibilities assigned to one or more individuals whose work is of the same nature and level.

(4) “Job description” or “position description” means a summary of the most important features of a job, including the general nature and level of the work performed.

(5) “Job evaluation” means a systematic way of determining the value/worth of a job in relation to other jobs in an organization by analyzing weighted compensable factors resulting in the assignment of a job title and pay grade to a position described by a position information questionnaire.

(6) “Job family” means a group of jobs having the same nature of work, but requiring different levels of skill, effort, responsibility or working conditions.

(7) “Job specification” means the generic description of a group of jobs assigned a common job title in the classification system. The job specification contains a brief summary of the purpose of the job; the most common duties and responsibilities performed by positions holding the title; knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to perform the work; and minimum qualifications required for positions assigned the title.

(8) “Job title” means the descriptive name for the total collection of tasks, duties and responsibilities assigned to one or more individuals whose positions have the same nature of work performed at the same level.

(9) “Job worth hierarchy” means the perceived internal value of jobs in relation to each other within an organization.

(10) “Midpoint differential” means the difference in wage rates paid in the midpoints of two adjacent pay grades. A midpoint differential is calculated by taking the difference between the two adjacent midpoints as a percentage of the lower of the midpoints.

(11) “Nonclassified employee” means, an employee of an organization who meets one or more of the following criteria:

(A) Holds a direct policy-making position at the department or organization level;

(B) Reports directly to the president or chief executive officer of the organization;

(C) Is in a position considered by the president or designee to be critical to the institution pursuant to policies or decisions adopted by the governing board;

(D) Is in an information technology-related position;

(E) Is hired after July 1, 2017, and meets the duties test for exempt status under the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act at the time of hire or anytime thereafter; or

(F) Was in a nonclassified position as of January 1, 2017.

Unless otherwise established by action of the institution where employed, a nonclassified employee serves at the will and pleasure of the organization, which authority may be delegated by act of the board.

(12) “Organization” means the commission, the council, an agency or entity under the respective jurisdiction of the commission or the council or a state institution of higher education as defined in section two, article one of this chapter.

(13) “Pay grade” means the level to which a job is assigned within a job worth hierarchy as a result of job evaluation.

(14) “Point factor methodology” means a quantitative job evaluation process in which elements of a job are given a factor value and each factor is weighted according to its importance.

(15) “Position information questionnaire” or “PIQ” means a tool used to gather specific job information for a specific position held by an individual, and used for the purposes of evaluating the position for determination of job title and pay grade. The PIQ is used to gather information used to assess the compensable factors of knowledge, experience, complexity and problem solving, freedom of action, scope and effect, breadth of responsibility, intra-systems contacts, external contacts, direct supervision of personnel, indirect supervision of personnel and health, safety and physical considerations.

(16) “Pay range spread” means the difference in the minimum and maximum rate of pay for a pay grade expressed as a percentage.

§18B-9A-3

Repealed

Acts, 2017 Reg. Sess., Ch. 123.

§18B-9A-4. Job classification system; job classification committee established; membership; meetings; powers and duties.

(a) The commission and council jointly shall maintain a uniform system for classifying jobs and positions of organization classified employees.

(b) Pursuant to the rule authorized in section seven of this article, the commission and council jointly shall establish and maintain a job classification committee.

The rule shall contain the following provisions related to the job classification committee:

(1) A systematic method for appointing committee members who are representative of all the higher education organizations and affected constituent groups, including specifically providing for membership selections to be made from nominations from these higher education organizations and affected constituent groups;

(2) A requirement that an organization may have no more than two members serving on the committee at any time and the combined membership representing various groups or divisions within or affiliated with an organization in total may not constitute a majority of the membership; and

(3) A requirement that committee members serve staggered terms. One third of the initial appointments shall be for two years, one third for three years and one third for four years. Thereafter, the term is four years. A member may not serve more than four years consecutively.

(c) Powers and duties of the committee include, but are not limited to, the following:

(1) Modifying and deleting jobs and assigning job titles;

(2) Reviewing and revising job titles to make them consistent among organizations, including adopting consistent title abbreviations;

(3) Establishing job worth hierarchies and data lines for each job title;

(4) Classifying jobs, establishing proper pay grades and placing jobs in pay grades consistent with the job evaluation plan;

(5) Determining when new job titles are needed and creating new job titles within the system;

(6) Recommending base pay enhancements for jobs for which the application of point factor methodology produces significantly lower salaries than external market pricing. The committee may exercise this authority only if it reevaluates each job annually to make a determination whether the enhancement should be continued;

(7) Recommending a procedure for performing job family reviews;

(8) Determining appropriate career ladders within the classification system and establishing criteria for career progression; and

(9) Hearing job classification appeals prior to commencement of the formal grievance process pursuant to commission and council rule.

(d) The committee shall meet monthly if there is business to conduct and also may meet more frequently at the call of the chair. A majority of the voting members serving on the committee at a given time constitutes a quorum for the purpose of conducting business.

(e) The commission and council shall use an appropriate methodology to classify jobs. The commission and council jointly may adjust the job evaluation plan, including the factors used to classify jobs and their relative values, at any time.

(f) No later than July 1, 2012, the commission and council shall have in place an up-to-date job description for every classified job.

(g) The commission and council shall develop a position information questionnaire to be used by all organizations to gather data necessary for classification of positions within the job worth hierarchy.

§18B-9A-5. Compensation planning and review committee established; membership; meetings; powers and duties.

(a) Pursuant to the rule authorized in section seven of this article, the commission and council jointly shall establish and maintain a compensation planning and review committee.

(b) Within the guidelines established in this article and articles seven, eight and nine of this chapter, the committee shall manage all aspects of compensation planning and review that the commission and council jointly delegate to it.

The rule shall contain the following requirements related to the compensation planning and review committee:

(1) A systematic method for appointing committee members who are representative of all the higher education organizations and affected constituent groups, including specifically providing for membership selections to be made from nominations from these higher education organizations and affected constituent groups; and

(2) A requirement that an organization may have no more than two members serving on the committee at any time and the combined membership representing various groups or divisions within or affiliated with an organization in total may not constitute a majority of the membership; and

(3) A requirement that committee members serve staggered terms. One third of the initial appointments shall be for two years, one third for three years and one third for four years. Thereafter, the term is four years. A member may not serve more than four years consecutively.

(c) The committee shall meet at least quarterly and at other times at the call of the chair. A majority of the voting members serving on the committee at a given time constitutes a quorum for the purpose of conducting business.

(d) An institution may not have a majority of the committee members, and the combined membership representing various groups or divisions within or affiliated with an organization in total may not constitute a majority of the membership.

(e) The Compensation Planning and Review Committee has powers and duties related to classified employee compensation programs which include, but are not limited to, the following:

(1) Making annual recommendations for revisions in the system classified compensation plan, based on existing economic, budgetary and fiscal conditions or on market study data.

(2) Overseeing the annual internal market review;

(3) Meeting at least annually with the Job Classification Committee to discuss benchmark jobs to be included in salary surveys, market “hot jobs” that may require a temporary salary adjustment, results of job family reviews and assessment of current job titles within the classification system for market matches and other issues as the, Chancellor or chancellor’s designee, in consultation with the chancellors, determines to be appropriate; and

(4) Performing other duties as assigned by the commission and council or as necessary or expedient to maintain an effective classification and compensation system.

(f) The commission and council may allow the committee to collapse the three lowest pay grades into a single pay grade and provide for employees to be paid at rates appropriate to the highest of the three lowest pay grades.

§18B-9A-5a. Restriction on duties of job classification committee and compensation planning and review committee.

The commission and council may not delegate any of the following duties to the Compensation Planning and Review Committee or the Job Classification Committee:

(1) Approval of a classification and compensation rule;

(2) Approval of the job evaluation plan; and

(3) Approval of the annual classified salary schedule.

§18B-9A-6. Salary structure and salary schedules.

(a) The commission and council shall develop and maintain a classified salary schedule and ensure that all organizations under their respective jurisdictions adhere to state and federal laws and duly promulgated and adopted organization rules.

(b) The classified salary schedule serves as the basis for the following activities:

(1) Evaluating compensation of classified employees in relation to appropriate external markets; and

(2) Developing the minimum salary per pay grade to be adopted by the commission and council.

(c) The classified salary schedule shall meet the following criteria:

(1) Sets forth the number of pay grades to be included in the structure;

(2) Includes a midpoint value for each pay grade which represents the average market rate of pay for jobs in that pay grade. The commission and council may choose a midpoint value that is not based exclusively on market salary data; and

(3) Includes minimum and maximum pay range values based on an established range spread.

(d) The commission and council jointly shall use workforce compensation data provided by Workforce West Virginia and other compensation data as is readily available from national recognized sources, including compensation data of CUPA-HR, to establish the appropriate external market conditions of classified positions. The commission and council, in consultation with the Compensation Planning and Review Committee, may take any combination of the following actions:

(1) Adjust the number of pay grades and the point values necessary to validate the result of the classification system and the job worth hierarchy with the market;

(2) Adjust the midpoint differentials between pay grades better to reflect market conditions; or

(3) Adjust the range spread for any pay grade.

(e) The commission and council jointly may perform an annual review of market salary data to determine how salaries have changed in the external market. Based on data collected, the commission and council jointly, in consultation with the Compensation Planning and Review Committee, shall adjust the classified salary schedule if changes are supported by the data.

(f) Annually, the commission and council may approve a minimum salary amount that sets forth a compensation level for each pay grade below which no organization employee may be paid, subject to available funds.

(1) The minimum salary amount for each pay grade on the classified salary schedule is determined by applying a percentage determined after analysis of the market and existing compensation levels to the annual market salary data. The commission and council may take into consideration other factors they consider appropriate.

(2) The salary of an employee working fewer than thirty-seven and one-half hours per week shall be prorated.

(g) The organization rule promulgated pursuant to subsection (c), section seven of this article may provide for differential pay for certain employees who work different shifts, weekends or holidays.

§18B-9A-7. Classification and compensation rules required.

(a) Notwithstanding any provision of law or rule to the contrary, the commission and council jointly shall design, develop, implement and administer the classified personnel system of classification and compensation pursuant to this article and articles seven, eight and nine of this chapter.

(b) System rule. —

The commission and council shall propose a joint rule or rules for legislative approval in accordance with article three-a, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code to implement the provisions of this article and articles seven, eight and nine of this chapter. The rule shall establish a classified employee classification and compensation system that incorporates best human resources practices.

(1) Organization accountability. —

The commission and council shall propose a joint system rule that provides a procedure for correcting deficiencies identified in the human resources reviews conducted pursuant to section nine, article seven of this chapter. The procedure shall include, but is not limited to, the following components:

(A) Specifying a reasonable time for organizations to correct deficiencies uncovered by a review;

(B) Applying sanctions when major deficiencies are not corrected within the allotted time:

(i) For purposes of this subsection, a major deficiency means an organization has failed to comply with applicable personnel rules of the commission and council.

(ii) When a major deficiency is identified, the commission or council, as appropriate, shall notify the governing board of the institution in writing, giving particulars of the deficiency and outlining steps the governing board is required to take to correct the deficiency.

(iii) The governing board shall correct the major deficiency within four months or longer provided the length of time is agreed upon by the governing board and the commission or council as applicable, and shall notify the commission or council, as appropriate, when the deficiency has been corrected.

(iv) If the governing boards fail to correct the major deficiency or fail to notify the commission or council, as appropriate, that the deficiency has been corrected within the agreed upon period, the commission or council may apply sanctions.

Sanctions may include, but are not limited to, prohibiting compensation increases for key administrators who have authority over the areas of major deficiency until the identified deficiencies are corrected.

(2) Classified employee classification and compensation. — The classified employee classification and compensation system rule shall establish a classification and compensation system to accomplish the following objectives:

(A) Allowing for performance and other objective, measurable factors such as technical expertise, education, years of experience in higher education and experience above position requirements to be considered in compensation decisions;

(B) Achieving and maintaining appropriate levels of employee dispersion through a pay range;

(C) The rule shall provide that the salary of a current employee may not be reduced by a job reclassification, a modification of the market salary schedule or other conditions that the commission and the council consider appropriate and reasonable;

(D) Establishing a job worth hierarchy and identifying the factors to be used to classify jobs and their relative values and determining the number of points that are necessary to assign a job to a particular pay grade;

(E) Establishing an objective standard to be used in determining when a job description or a position description is up-to-date;

(F) Providing a procedure whereby a classified employee or a supervisor who believes that changes in the job duties and responsibilities of the employee justify a position review may request that a review be done at any time;

(G) Specifying that the acceptable period that may elapse between the time when an employee files a formal request for a position review and the time when the review is completed may not exceed forty-five days. An organization that fails to complete a review within the specified time shall provide the employee back pay from the date the request for review was received if the review, when completed, produces a reclassification of the position into a job in a higher pay grade;

(H) Providing a procedure by which employees may file appeals of job classification decisions for review by the Job Classification Committee prior to filing a formal grievance. The committee shall render a decision within sixty days of the date the appeal is filed with the commission or the council;

(I) Providing for recommendations from the Compensation Planning and Review Committee and the Job Classification Committee to be considered by the commission and the council and to be included in the legislative reporting process pursuant to section eight, article seven of this chapter; and

(J) Establishing and maintaining the job classification committee mandated in section four of this article.

(3) Performance evaluations. — The system rule shall provide for developing and implementing a consistent, objective performance evaluation model and shall mandate that training in conducting performance evaluations be provided for all organization personnel who hold supervisory positions.

(c) Organization rules. —

(1) Each organization shall promulgate and adopt a rule or rules in accordance with the provisions of section six, article one of this chapter to implement requirements contained in the classification and compensation system rule or rules of the commission and council. The commission and council shall provide a model personnel rule for the organizations under their jurisdiction and shall provide technical assistance in rulemaking as requested.

(2) The initial organization rule shall be adopted not later than six months following the date on which the commission and council receive approval to implement the emergency rule promulgated pursuant to this section. Additionally, each organization shall amend its rule to comply with mandated changes not later than six months after the effective date of any change in statute or rules, unless a different compliance date is specified within the statute or rule containing the requirements or mandate.

(3) An organization may not adopt a rule under this section until it has consulted with the appropriate employee class affected by the rule’s provisions.

(4) If an organization fails to adopt a rule or rules as mandated by this subsection, the commission and council may prohibit it from exercising any flexibility or implementing any discretionary provision relating to human resources contained in statute or in a commission or council rule until the organization’s rule requirements have been met.

(5) Additional flexibility or areas of operational discretion identified in the system rule or rules may be exercised only by an organization which meets the following requirements:

(A) Receives certification from the commission or council, as appropriate, that the organization has achieved full funding of the temporary salary schedule or is making appropriate progress toward achieving full funding pursuant to section three, article nine of this chapter;

(B) Promulgates a comprehensive classification and compensation rule as required by this section;

(C) Receives approval for the classification and compensation rule from the appropriate chancellor in accordance with this section; and

(D) Adopts the rule by vote of the organization’s governing board.

§18B-9A-8

Repealed

Acts, 2017 Reg. Sess., Ch. 123.

§18B-9B-1. Flexibility to adopt personnel rules; emergency rule authorized.

(a) West Virginia University; Marshall University; West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine; or any other organization that provides notice to the commission or council, as appropriate; may, after consultation with staff council of the applicable organization, file a rule or rules to implement articles seven and eight of this chapter, and upon the adoption any rules promulgated by the commission or council under articles seven and eight of this chapter are inapplicable to the organization.

(b) West Virginia University; Marshall University; West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine; or any other organization that provides notice to the commission or council, as appropriate, may establish a classification and compensation rule, after consultation with and providing 30 days written notice to the staff council of the applicable organization, that incorporates best human resources practices and addresses the areas of organization accountability, employee classification and compensation, performance evaluation, reductions in force, and development of organization policies, and upon the adoption the provisions of article nine-a of this chapter and any rule promulgated by the commission or the council thereto, is inapplicable to the extent it conflicts with the rule promulgated by the organization:  Provided, That any rule adopted by an organization shall use the definitions of classified and nonclassified employees established in section two of article nine-a of this chapter.

(c) Any rule adopted by an organization pursuant to subsection (b) of this section shall address the following:

(1) Employee classification and compensation. — The rule proposed pursuant to this policy shall establish a classification and compensation system to accomplish the following objectives, including best practices consistent with those objectives:

(A) Providing opportunities for employee advancement based on performance and other objective, measurable factors including education, years of experience, technical expertise, and experience above position requirements;

(B) Identifying the factors to be used to classify jobs and their relative values or comparable best practice and determining the requirements that are necessary to assign a job to a particular salary level; and

(C) Establishing an objective standard to be used in determining when a job description or a position description is up-to-date.

(2) Performance evaluations. — The rule shall provide for developing and implementing a consistent, objective performance evaluation model and shall mandate that training in conducting performance evaluations be provided for all organization personnel who hold supervisory positions.

(3) Management shall meet at least quarterly with representatives of staff council to discuss the implementation and effectiveness of any rule adopted by an organization pursuant to articles seven, eight, nine-a and nine-b of this chapter and may make recommendations to the president or board of Governors of an organization to address any concerns or issues identified by staff council;

(4) The rule may provide for differential pay for certain employees who work different shifts, weekends or holidays and for differential treatment for employees; and

(5) The rule shall provide for an external review of human resource practices at the organization at least once every five years, relating to compliance with the applicable provisions of article seven, eight, nine-a and nine-b of this chapter, including provisions that the staff council have an opportunity to speak with the external Auditors before the start of the audit and after its completion.

§18B-10-1. Enrollment, tuition and other fees at education institutions; refund of fees.

(a) Each governing board shall fix tuition and other fees for each academic term for the different classes or categories of students enrolling at the state institution of higher education under its jurisdiction, including the fixing of different tuition and fees for online course delivery, and may include among the tuition and fees any one or more of the following as defined in section one-b of this article:

(1) Tuition and required educational and general fees;

(2) Auxiliary and auxiliary capital fees; and

(3) Required educational and general capital fees.

(b) A governing board may establish a single special revenue account for each or all of the following classifications of fees:

(1) All tuition and required educational and general fees collected;

(2) All auxiliary and auxiliary capital fees collected; and

(3) All required educational and general capital fees collected to support existing systemwide and institutional debt service and future systemwide and institutional debt service, capital projects and campus renewal for educational and general facilities.

(4) Subject to any covenants or restrictions imposed with respect to revenue bonds payable from the accounts, a governing board may expend funds from each special revenue account for any purpose for which funds were collected within that account regardless of the original purpose for which the funds were collected.

(5)  If a governing board of an Exempted School establishes a single special revenue account for all the foregoing classifications of fees in this subsection, the governing board must account for each classification of fee separately in their internal accounting system.

(c) The purposes for which tuition and fees may be expended include, but are not limited to, health services, student activities, recreational, athletic and extracurricular activities. Additionally, tuition and fees may be used to finance a student’s attorney to perform legal services for students in civil matters at the institutions. The legal services are limited to those types of cases, programs or services approved by the president of the institution where the legal services are to be performed.

(d) By October 1, 2011, the commission and council each shall propose a rule for legislative approval in accordance with article three-a, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code to govern the fixing, collection and expenditure of tuition and other fees by the governing boards under their respective jurisdictions.

(e) The schedule of all tuition and fees, and any changes in the schedule, shall be entered in the minutes of the meeting of the appropriate governing board and the board shall file with the commission or council, or both, as appropriate, and the Legislative Auditor a certified copy of the schedule and changes.

(f) The governing boards shall establish the rates to be charged full-time students, as defined in section one-b of this article, who are enrolled during a regular academic term. A governing board shall require by rule all fees be due not later than the end of the academic term, and shall provide for appropriate measures to provide for collections of fees past due.

(1) Undergraduate students taking fewer than twelve credit hours in a regular term shall have their fees reduced pro rata based upon one twelfth of the full-time rate per credit hour and graduate students taking fewer than nine credit hours in a regular term shall have their fees reduced pro rata based upon one ninth of the full-time rate per credit hour.

(2) Fees for students enrolled in summer terms or other nontraditional time periods shall be prorated based upon the number of credit hours for which the student enrolls in accordance with this subsection.

(3)  The governing boards may establish rates applicable to tuition and fees for online course delivery without regard to the limitations contained in this subsection.

(g) All fees are due and payable by the student upon enrollment and registration for classes except as provided in this subsection:

(1) The governing boards shall permit fee payments to be made in installments over the course of the academic term.

(2) The governing boards also shall authorize the acceptance of credit cards or other payment methods which may be generally available to students for the payment of fees. The governing boards may charge the students for the reasonable and customary charges incurred in accepting credit cards and other methods of payment.

(3) If a governing board determines that a student’s finances are affected adversely by a legal work stoppage, it may allow the student an additional six months to pay the fees for any academic term. The governing board shall determine on a case-by-case basis whether the finances of a student are affected adversely.

(4) A governing board may charge interest or fees for any deferred or installment payment plans.

(h) In addition to the other fees provided in this section, each governing board may impose, collect and distribute a fee to be used to finance a nonprofit, student-controlled public interest research group if the students at the institution demonstrate support for the increased fee in a manner and method established by that institution’s elected student government. The fee may not be used to finance litigation against the institution.

(i) Governing boards shall retain tuition and fee revenues not pledged for bonded indebtedness or other purposes in accordance with the tuition rules proposed by the commission and council pursuant to this section. The tuition rules shall address the following areas:

(1) Providing a basis for establishing nonresident tuition and fees;

(2) Allowing governing boards to charge different tuition and fees for different programs;

(3) Authorizing a governing board to propose to the commission, council or both, as appropriate, a mandatory auxiliary fee under the following conditions: Provided, That the governing boards for the exempted schools may authorize a mandatory auxiliary fee without seeking approval of the commission:

(A) The fee shall be approved by the commission, council or both, as appropriate, and either the students below the senior level at the institution or the Legislature before becoming effective;

(B) Increases may not exceed previous state subsidies by more than ten percent;

(C) The fee may be used only to replace existing state funds subsidizing auxiliary services such as athletics or bookstores;

(D) If the fee is approved, the amount of the state subsidy shall be reduced annually by the amount of money generated for the institution by the fees. All state subsidies for the auxiliary services shall cease five years from the date the mandatory auxiliary fee is implemented;

(4) Establishing methodology, where applicable, to ensure that, within the appropriate time period under the compact, community and technical college tuition rates for students in all community and technical colleges will be commensurate with the tuition and fees charged by their peer institutions.

(j) A penalty may not be imposed by the commission or council upon any governing board based upon the number of nonresidents who attend the institution unless the commission or council determines that admission of nonresidents to any institution or program of study within the institution is impeding unreasonably the ability of resident students to attend the institution or participate in the programs of the institution. The governing boards shall report annually to the commission or council on the numbers of nonresidents and any other enrollment information the commission or council may request.

(k) Tuition and fee increases of the governing boards, except the exempted schools, are subject to rules adopted by the commission and council pursuant to this section and in accordance with article three-a, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code. The commission or council, as appropriate, shall examine individually each request from a governing board, including the exempted schools, for an increase and make its determinations as follows:

(1) A tuition and fee increase for resident students proposed by a governing board requires the approval of the commission or council, as appropriate, for any tuition and fee increase greater than ten percent in any one year or where the increase would be more than seven percent per year, averaged over a rolling three year period calculated by averaging the proposed increase with the increase for the immediate two previous years;

(2) In determining whether to approve or deny a governing board’s request for a tuition and/or fee increase for resident students greater than the increases granted pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection, the commission or council shall determine the progress the governing board has made toward meeting the conditions outlined in this subsection and shall make this determination the predominate factor in its decision. The commission or council shall consider the degree to which each governing board has met the following conditions:

(A) Maximizes resources available through nonresident tuition and fee charges to the satisfaction of the commission or council;

(B) Consistently achieves the benchmarks established in the compact pursuant to article one-d of this chapter or the master plan for exempted schools in article two-a of this chapter, including the provisions of article one-d required in the master plan;

(C) Continuously pursues the statewide goals for post-secondary education;

(D) Demonstrates to the satisfaction of the commission or council that an increase will be used to maintain high-quality programs at the institution;

(E) Demonstrates to the satisfaction of the commission or council that the governing board is making adequate progress toward achieving the goals for education established by the Southern Regional Education Board;

(F) Demonstrates to the satisfaction of the commission or council that the governing board has considered the average per capita income of West Virginia families and their ability to pay for any increases; and

(G) Demonstrates to the satisfaction of the commission or council that base appropriation increases have not kept pace with recognized nationwide inflationary benchmarks.

(3) This section does not require equal increases among governing boards nor does it require any level of increase by a governing board.

(4) The commission and council shall report to the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability regarding the basis for approving or denying each request as determined using the criteria established in this subsection.

§18B-10-1a. Resident tuition rates for members or veterans of the National Guard, reserves, armed forces, and their spouses and dependents.

(a) Notwithstanding any provision of this code to the contrary, the following persons shall be charged in-state tuition rates at the state’s institutions of higher education regardless of domicile:

(1) Members of the National Guard or reserves who are not residents of West Virginia but who are active members of a National Guard or reserve unit in West Virginia;

(2) Current members of the United States armed forces who reside in or move to West Virginia;

(3) Veterans of the National Guard, a reserve unit, or the armed forces of the United States who reside in or move to West Virginia for the purpose of attending a state institution of higher education; and

(4) Spouses or dependents of a member or veteran of the National Guard, a reserve unit, or the armed forces of the United States who reside in or move to West Virginia with such member or veteran.

(b) The requirements of this section may not be construed to deny to a person eligible for in-state tuition rates under this section any waiver of tuition rates otherwise available to that person under any other provision of this code.

(c) The provisions of this section apply at the beginning of the semester or term immediately following the effective date of this section.

§18B-10-1b. Special equity fee; purpose; exemptions.

In addition to the other fees provided in this article, each governing board has the authority to impose, collect and expend the proceeds of a special equity fee under the following conditions:

(a) The fee shall be used solely for the purpose of complying with the athletic provisions of 20 U.S.C. 1681, et seq., known as Title IX of the Education Amendment of 1972;

(b) The fee is exempt from limitations on fee increases set forth in this article for three years from the effective date of this section;

(c) The fee may not be used by an institution to advance its classification of participation in its athletics governing body; and

(d) The fee may not be imposed upon part-time students or students enrolled in an administratively linked community and technical college.

§18B-10-1c. Definitions.

For the purposes of this article, the following words have the meanings specified unless the context clearly indicates a different meaning:

(a) “Auxiliary capital fees” means charges levied on students to support debt service, information technology projects, capital projects and campus maintenance and renewal for the auxiliary facilities and information technology systems of the institutions;

(b) “Auxiliary fees” means charges levied on all students to support auxiliary enterprises or optional charges levied only on students using the auxiliary service. Auxiliary fees include sales and service revenue from entities that exist predominately to furnish goods or services to students, faculty or staff such as residence halls, faculty and staff housing, food services, intercollegiate athletics, student unions, bookstores, parking and other service centers;

(c) “Full-time graduate student” means a graduate student who is enrolled for nine or more credit hours in a regular term;

(d) “Full-time undergraduate student” means an undergraduate student who is enrolled for 12 or more credit hours in a regular term;

(e) “Required educational and general capital fees” means:

(1) Charges levied on all students to support debt service of systemwide bond issues; and

(2) Charges levied on all students to support debt service, information technology projects, capital projects and campus maintenance and renewal for an institution’s educational and general educational facilities, and information systems.

(f) “Tuition and required educational and general fees” means:

(1) Charges levied on all students of that class or category to support educational and general program services and to support debt service, information technology projects, capital projects and campus maintenance, and renewal for an institution’s educational and general educational facilities, auxiliary facilities and information technology systems; and

(2) Optional charges levied for education and general services collected only from students using the service or from students for whom the services are made available.

§18B-10-2. Higher education resource assessment.

(a) Pursuant to the authority granted by section four, article one-b of this chapter, and section six, article two-b of this chapter, the commission and council jointly shall establish a higher education resource assessment per student for each state institution of higher education under their respective jurisdictions. Community and technical colleges shall transfer all funds collected pursuant to this section to the council. All other institutions shall transfer all funds collected pursuant to this section to the commission. Any reference in this code to higher education resource fee means this higher education resource assessment.

(b) The commission and council jointly shall fix the assessment for the various institutions and classes of students and may periodically change these assessments. The amount of the assessment for each institution shall be prorated for part-time students.

(c) Each institution shall maintain a level of support for libraries and library supplies, including books, periodicals, subscriptions and audiovisual materials, instructional equipment and materials; and for the improvement in quality and scope of student services comparable to that level supported by the higher education resource fee previously authorized by this section.

(d) The assessment shall be expended or allocated by the commission or council to meet its general operating expenses or to fund statewide programs. To the maximum extent practicable, the commission and council shall offset the impact, if any, on financially needy students of any potential assessment increase under this section by allocating an appropriate amount of the revenue to the state scholarship program to be expended in accordance with the provisions of article five, chapter eighteen-c of this code.

§18B-10-3.

Repealed.

Acts, 2004 Reg. Sess., Ch. 13.

§18B-10-4. Medical education.

The commission shall determine an appropriate portion of all tuition and fees paid by medical students enrolled for credit at the West Virginia University school of medicine, Marshall university school of medicine and the West Virginia school of osteopathic medicine to be used to support the health education student loan fund. The portion determined by the commission for this purpose shall be deposited into the health education student loan fund account in accordance with the provisions of article three, chapter eighteen-c of this code.

§18B-10-4a.

Repealed.

Acts, 2004 Reg. Sess., Ch. 13.

§18B-10-4b. Additional fee waivers for health sciences and technology academy programs.

(a) In addition to the number of fee waivers permitted in sections five and six of this article for undergraduate, graduate and professional schools, each state institution of higher education may waive all fees or any part thereof for students who are residents of West Virginia and who successfully complete the health sciences and technology academy affiliated programs.

(b) For purposes of this section, "Health Sciences and Technology Academy Programs" means those programs in the health sciences designed to assist junior high and high school students in conjunction with their parents and teachers, to enhance their knowledge and abilities in subject matters which will further a career in the field of health sciences.

§18B-10-5. Fee waivers -- Undergraduate schools.

Each governing board periodically may establish fee waivers for students in undergraduate studies at institutions under its jurisdiction entitling recipients to waiver of tuition, capital and other fees subject to the following conditions and limitations:

(a) Undergraduate fee waivers established by the governing boards of Marshall University and West Virginia University, respectively, for the state institutions of higher education known as Marshall University and West Virginia University, are subject to the provisions of section six-a of this article;

(b) For the governing boards of state institutions of higher education other than the state institutions of higher education known as Marshall University and West Virginia University, the following conditions apply:

(1) An institution may not have in effect at any time undergraduate fee waivers totaling more in value than five percent of the tuition and required fees assessed for all full-time equivalent undergraduate students registered during the fall semester of the immediately preceding academic year.

(2) Each undergraduate fee waiver entitles the recipient of the waiver to attend a designated state institution of higher education without payment of the tuition, capital and other fees as may be prescribed by the governing board and is for a period of time not to exceed eight semesters of undergraduate study.

(3) The governing board shall make rules pursuant to the provisions of section six, article one of this chapter governing the award of undergraduate fee waivers; the issuance and cancellation of certificates entitling the recipients to the benefits of the waiver; the use of the fee waivers by the recipients; and the rights and duties of the recipients with respect to the fee waivers. These rules may not be inconsistent with the provisions of this section.

(4) The awarding of undergraduate fee waivers shall be entered in the minutes of the meetings of the governing board.

(5) Students enrolled in an administratively linked community and technical college shall be awarded a proportionate share of the total number of undergraduate fee waivers awarded by a governing board. The number to be awarded to students of the community and technical college is based upon the full-time equivalent enrollment of that institution.

(6) An institution may grant fee waivers to its employees, their spouses and dependents and these waivers are not counted when determining the maximum percentage of waivers permitted by this section.

(7) Any fee waivers mandated by this article or by section three, article nineteen, chapter eighteen of this code are not counted when determining the maximum percentage of waivers permitted by this section.

§18B-10-6. Fee waivers -- Professional and graduate schools.

In addition to the fee waivers authorized for undergraduate study by the provisions of section five of this article, each governing board periodically may establish fee waivers for study in graduate and professional schools under its jurisdiction, including medicine and dentistry, entitling the recipients to waiver of tuition, capital and other fees subject to the following conditions and limitations:

(a) Graduate and professional fee waivers established by the governing boards of Marshall University and West Virginia University, respectively, are subject to the provisions of section six-a of this article;

(b) For the governing boards of state institutions of higher education other than the state institutions of higher education known as Marshall University and West Virginia University, the following conditions apply:

(1) An institution may not have in effect at any time graduate and professional school fee waivers totaling more in value than five percent of the tuition and required fees assessed for all full-time equivalent graduate and professional students registered during the corresponding fall semester, spring semester and summer term of the immediately preceding academic year. In addition to the five percent in this subdivision, all graduate assistants employed by these institutions shall be granted a fee waiver.

(2) Each graduate or professional school fee waiver entitles the recipient to waiver of the tuition, capital and other fees as may be prescribed by the governing boards and is for a period of time not to exceed the number of semesters normally required in the recipient's academic discipline.

(3) The governing boards shall make rules pursuant to the provisions of section six, article one of this chapter governing the award of graduate and professional school fee waivers; the issuance and cancellation of certificates entitling the recipients to the benefits of the waivers; the use of the fee waivers by the recipients; and the rights and duties of the recipients with respect to the fee waivers. These rules may not be inconsistent with the provisions of this section.

(4) The awarding of graduate and professional school fee waivers shall be entered in the minutes of the meeting of each governing board.

(5) An institution may grant fee waivers to its employees, their spouses and dependents, and these waivers are not counted when determining the maximum percentage of waivers permitted by this section.

(6) Any fee waivers mandated by this article or by section three, article nineteen, chapter eighteen of this code are not counted when determining the maximum percentage of waivers permitted by this section.

§18B-10-6a. Undergraduate, graduate and professional fee waivers – Marshall University and West Virginia University.

(a) Undergraduate fee waivers. -–

(1) The governing boards of Marshall University and West Virginia University, respectively, may establish fee waivers for students in undergraduate studies at institutions under their jurisdiction which entitle recipients to waiver of tuition, capital and other fees, in whole or in part.

(2) Each undergraduate fee waiver is for a period of time not to exceed eight semesters of undergraduate study.

(3) Each governing board shall promulgate rules pursuant to the provisions of section six, article one of this chapter to govern the award of undergraduate fee waivers; the issuance and cancellation of certificates entitling the recipients to the benefits thereof; the use of the fee waivers by the recipients; and the rights and duties of the recipients with respect to the fee waivers. These rules may not be inconsistent with the provisions of this section.

(4) The awarding of undergraduate fee waivers shall be entered in the minutes of the meetings of the governing board.

(5) Students enrolled in an administratively linked community and technical college shall be awarded a proportionate share of the total number of undergraduate fee waivers awarded by a governing board. The number to be awarded to students of the community and technical college is based upon the full-time equivalent enrollment of that institution.

(b) Graduate and professional school fee waivers. -–

(1) In addition to the fee waivers authorized for undergraduate study by subsection (a) of this section, the governing boards of Marshall University and West Virginia University, respectively, each may establish fee waivers for study in the graduate and professional schools under its jurisdiction, including medicine and dentistry, which entitle the recipients to waiver of tuition, capital and other fees, in whole or in part.

(2) Each graduate or professional school fee waiver entitles the recipient to waiver of the tuition, capital and other fees, in whole or in part, as may be prescribed by the governing board and is for a period of time not to exceed the number of semesters normally required in the recipient's academic discipline.

(3) The governing boards each shall promulgate a rule pursuant to the provisions of section six, article one of this chapter, governing the award of graduate and professional school fee waivers; the issuance and cancellation of certificates entitling the recipients to the benefits thereof; the use of the fee waivers by the recipients; and the rights and duties of the recipients with respect to the fee waivers. These rules may not be inconsistent with the provisions of this section.

(4) The awarding of graduate and professional school fee waivers shall be entered in the minutes of the meeting of each governing board.

§18B-10-7. Tuition and fee waivers for children and spouses of officers, firefighters, National Guard personnel, reserve personnel and active military duty personnel killed in the line of duty.

(a) Each state institution of higher education shall waive tuition and fees for any person who is the child or spouse of an individual who:

(1) Was employed or serving as:

(A) A law-enforcement officer as defined in section one, article twenty-nine, chapter thirty of this code;

(B) A correctional officer at a state penal institution;

(C) A parole officer;

(D) A probation officer;

(E) A natural resources police officer; or

(F) A registered firefighter; and

(2) Was killed in the line of duty while:

(A) Employed by the state or any political subdivision of the state; or

(B) A member of a volunteer fire department serving a political subdivision of this state.

(b) Each state institution of higher education shall waive tuition and fees for any person who is the child or spouse of:

(1) A National Guard member or a member of a reserve component of the Armed Forces of the United States who is a resident of this state and is killed in the line of duty. The member is considered to have been killed in the line of duty if death resulted from performing a duty required by his or her orders or commander while in an official duty status, other than on federal active duty, authorized under federal or state law; or

(2) A person on federal or state active military duty who is a resident of this state and is killed in the line of duty. The person is considered to have been killed in the line of duty if death resulted from performance of a duty required by his or her orders or commander while in an official duty status.

(c) Any waiver granted pursuant to this section is subject to the following:

(1) The recipient may attend any undergraduate course if classroom space is available;

(2) The recipient has applied and been admitted to the institution;

(3) The recipient has applied for and submitted the Free Application for Federal Student Aid;

(4) The recipient has exhausted all other sources of student financial assistance dedicated solely to tuition and fees that exceed other grant assistance that are available to him or her, excluding student loans;

(5) Waiver renewal is contingent upon the recipient continuing to meet the academic progress standards established by the institution.

(d) The state institution of higher education may require the person to pay:

(1) Special fees, including any laboratory fees, if the fees are required of all other students taking a single course or that particular course; and

(2) Parking fees.

(e) The governing boards may promulgate rules:

(1) For determining the availability of classroom space;

(2) As each considers necessary to implement this section; and

(3) Regarding requirements for attendance, which may not exceed the requirements for other students.

(f) The governing boards may extend to persons attending courses and classes under this section any rights, privileges or benefits extended to other students which it considers appropriate.

§18B-10-7a. Tuition and fee waivers or adjustments for residents at least sixty-five years old.

(a) Each governing board shall promulgate a rule establishing a reduced tuition and fee program for senior citizens. The rule shall include at least the following:

(1) One option for individuals who attend undergraduate and graduate courses without receiving credit and one option for those who attend undergraduate and graduate courses for credit;

(2) A requirement that the following conditions be met under either option of the program:

(A) The participant is a resident of West Virginia;

(B) The participant is sixty-five years of age or older; and

(C) Classroom space is available;

(3) A method of establishing priority for allowing a participant to attend a class or course;

(4) A determination of whether to require participants to pay special fees, including laboratory fees, if the fees are required of all other students;

(5) A determination of whether to require participants to pay for parking;

(6) Requirements for participants in the program under the no credit option:

(A) A grade or credit may not be given; and

(B) The total tuition and fees charged for each course or class, excluding laboratory and parking fees, may not exceed $50 After July 1, 2004, the governing boards may change the maximum fee; and

(7) A requirement for participants in the program under the for credit option that tuition and fee rates may not exceed fifty percent of the normal rates charged to state residents by the institution.

(b) The provisions of this section apply to both classroom-based courses, electronic and Internet-based courses, and all other distance education delivery.

§18B-10-7b. Tuition waivers for high school graduates in foster care.

The governing boards shall make provision for institutions under their respective jurisdictions to award a tuition and fee waiver for undergraduate courses at state institutions of higher education for any student, beginning with incoming freshmen in the fall, two thousand, semester or term, who graduate from high school or pass the GED examination while in the legal custody of the state Department of Human Services. The student must be in foster care or other residential care for at least one year prior to the waiver award. If the foster care or other residential care is provided in another state, the student must first be returned to this state for waiver award eligibility.

To be eligible for a waiver award, a student must first: (1) Apply to and be accepted at the institution; and (2) apply for other student financial assistance, other than student loans, in compliance with federal financial aid rules, including the federal Pell grant.

Waiver renewal is contingent upon the student continuing to meet the academic progress standards established by the institution.

The waiver provided by this section for each eligible student may be used for no more than four years of undergraduate study. An initial waiver must be granted within two years of graduation from high school or passing the GED examination.

The waiver may only be used after other sources of financial aid that are dedicated solely to tuition and fees are exhausted.

Any award under this section is in addition to the number of fee waivers permitted in sections five and six of this article for undergraduate, graduate and professional schools.

No student who is enrolled in an institution of higher education as of the effective date of this section is eligible for a waiver award under the provisions of this section.

The governing boards may establish any limitations on the provisions of this section as they consider proper.

§18B-10-7c. Tuition and fee waivers for certain veterans receiving federal educational assistance benefits.

(a) The Legislature finds that:

(1) The United States Congress, in enacting the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008, 38 U.S.C. §3301, et seq., has established a program within the United States Department of Veterans Affairs known as the "Yellow Ribbon G.I. Education Enhancement Program";

(2) Under the Act, certain individuals who served or are serving on active duty in the United States Armed Forces after September 11, 2001, are eligible to receive educational assistance benefits equal to the cost of undergraduate resident tuition and mandatory fees charged by a state institution of higher education; and

(3) The Program provides additional educational assistance benefits above the cost of undergraduate resident tuition and mandatory fees to veterans receiving benefits under the Act.

(b) The purpose of this section is to require state institutions of higher education to participate in the Program and encourage private institutions of higher education located in the state to participate.

(c) As soon as practicable after the effective date of this section, the governing board of each state institution of higher education shall enter into an agreement with the United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs to participate in the Program. For every eligible veteran who is enrolled or will be enrolled as an undergraduate student, the agreement shall provide for a waiver of the cost of tuition and mandatory fees not otherwise covered under 38 U.S.C. §3313(c)(1)(A) at a percentage equal to the maximum contribution available for match by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. The agreement also may provide for a waiver of the cost of tuition and mandatory fees not otherwise covered under 38 U.S.C. §3313(c)(1)(A) at a percentage equal to the maximum contribution available for match by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs for every eligible veteran who is or will be enrolled in a graduate or professional program.

(d) For the purposes of the limitation on the amount of fee waivers permitted at state institutions of higher education set forth in sections five and six of this article, any waiver granted by a state institution of higher education in connection with the Program is not counted toward the amount of undergraduate, graduate or professional fee waivers permitted at that institution.

(e) The Legislature encourages every private institution of higher education located in the state to participate in the Program.

(f) For the purposes of this section:

(1) "The Act" means the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008, 38 U.S.C. §3301, et seq.;

(2) "The Program" means the Yellow Ribbon G.I. Education Enhancement Program, 38 U.S.C. §3317; and

(3) "Eligible veteran" means any individual who is eligible to participate in the Program.

§18B-10-8. Collection; disposition and use of capital and auxiliary capital fees; creation of special capital and auxiliary capital improvements funds; revenue bonds.

(a) This section and any rules adopted by the commission, council, or both, in accordance with this section and §29A-3a-1 et seq. of this code, govern the collection, disposition, and use of the capital and auxiliary capital fees authorized by §18B-10-1 of this code. The statutory provisions governing collection and disposition of capital funds in place prior to the enactment of this section remain in effect.

(b) Fees for full-time students. — The governing boards shall fix capital and auxiliary capital fees for full-time students at each state institution of higher education per semester. For institutions under its jurisdiction, a governing board may fix the fees at higher rates for students who are not residents of this state.

(c) Fees for part-time students. — For all part-time students and for all summer school students, the governing boards shall impose and collect the fees in proportion to, but not exceeding, the fees paid by full-time students. Refunds of the fees may be made in the same manner as any other fee collected at state institutions of higher education.

(d) There is continued in the State Treasury a special capital improvements fund and special auxiliary capital improvements fund for each state institution of higher education and the commission into which shall be paid all proceeds, respectively, of the following:

(1) The capital and auxiliary capital fees collected from students at all state institutions of higher education pursuant to this section; and

(2) The fees collected from the students pursuant to section one of this article. The fees shall be expended by the commission and governing boards for the payment of the principal of or interest on any revenue bonds issued by the board of regents or the succeeding governing boards for which the fees were pledged prior to the enactment of this section.

(e) The governing boards may make expenditures from any of the special capital improvements funds or special auxiliary capital improvement funds established in this section, and up to 50 percent of its gross tuition revenues to finance or fund on a cash basis, in whole or in part, in combination with any federal, state or other grants or contributions, for any one or more of the following projects:

(1) The acquisition of land or any rights or interest in land;

(2) The construction or acquisition of new buildings;

(3) The renovation or construction of additions to existing buildings;

(4) The acquisition of furnishings and equipment for the buildings;

(5) The costs of information technology projects, including, but not limited to, costs associated with planning, designing, implementing, upgrading, modifying and replacing new and existing enterprise resource planning, data, student, critical, or foundational technology systems, without regard to whether such costs are capitalizable, and which may include costs relating to the improvement of business practices to maximize the use of such systems, design, development, infrastructure, software licenses and subscriptions, testing, training, data transfers and relevant labor costs and consultant costs; and

(6) The construction or acquisition of any other capital improvements or capital education facilities at the state institutions of higher education, including any roads, utilities or other properties, real or personal, or for other purposes necessary, appurtenant or incidental to the construction, acquisition, financing, and placing in operation of the buildings, capital improvements, or capital education facilities, including student unions, dormitories, housing facilities, food service facilities, motor vehicle parking facilities, and athletic facilities.

(f) The commission, when singly or jointly requested by the council or governing boards, periodically may issue revenue bonds of the state as provided in this section to finance all or part of the purposes and pledge all or any part of the moneys in the special funds for the payment of the principal of and interest on the revenue bonds, and for reserves for the revenue bonds. Any pledge of the special funds for the revenue bonds shall be a prior and superior charge on the special funds over the use of any of the moneys in the funds to pay for the cost of any of the purposes on a cash basis. Any expenditures from the special funds, other than for the retirement of revenue bonds, may be made by the commission or governing boards only to meet the cost of a predetermined capital improvements program for one or more of the state institutions of higher education, in the order of priority agreed upon by the governing board or boards and the commission and for which the aggregate revenue collections projected are presented to the Governor for inclusion in the annual budget bill, and are approved by the Legislature for expenditure. Any expenditure made pursuant to subsection (e) of this section shall be part of the 10-year campus development plan approved by the governing board pursuant to §18B-19-3 of this chapter.

(g) The revenue bonds periodically may be authorized and issued by the commission or governing boards to finance, in whole or in part, the purposes provided in this section in an aggregate principal amount not exceeding the amount which the commission determines can be paid as to both principal and interest and reasonable margins for a reserve therefor from the moneys in the special funds.

(h) The issuance of the revenue bonds by schools other than the exempted schools shall be authorized by a resolution adopted by the governing board receiving the proceeds and the commission, and the revenue bonds shall bear the date or dates; mature at such time or times not exceeding 40 years from their respective dates; be in such form either coupon or registered, with such exchangeability and interchangeability privileges; be payable in such medium of payment and at such place or places, within or without the state; be subject to such terms of prior redemption at such prices not exceeding 105 percent of the principal amount thereof; and have the other terms and provisions determined by the governing board receiving the proceeds and by the commission. The revenue bonds issued by schools other than the exempted schools shall be signed by the Governor and by the chancellor of the commission or the chair of the governing boards authorizing the issuance of the revenue bonds, under the Great Seal of the state, attested by the Secretary of State, and the coupons attached to the revenue bonds shall bear the facsimile signature of the chancellor of the commission or the chair of the appropriate governing boards. The revenue bonds shall be sold in the manner the commission or governing board determines is in the best interests of the state.

(i) The issuance of the revenue bonds by exempted schools shall be authorized by a resolution adopted by the governing board receiving the proceeds, and the revenue bonds shall bear the date or dates; mature at such time or times not exceeding 100 years from their respective dates; be in such form either coupon or registered, with such exchangeability and interchangeability privileges; be payable in such medium of payment and at such place or places, within or without the state; be subject to such terms of prior redemption at such prices not exceeding 105 percent of the principal amount thereof; and have the other terms and provisions determined by the governing board receiving the proceeds. The revenue bonds shall be signed by the Governor and the chair of the governing boards authorizing the issuance of the revenue bonds, under the Great Seal of the state, attested by the Secretary of State, and the coupons attached to the revenue bonds shall bear the facsimile signature of the chair of the appropriate governing boards. The revenue bonds shall be sold in the manner the governing board determines is in the best interests of the state.

(j) The commission or governing boards may enter into trust agreements with banks or trust companies, within or without the state, and in the trust agreements or the resolutions authorizing the issuance of the bonds may enter into valid and legally binding covenants with the holders of the revenue bonds as to the custody, safeguarding and disposition of the proceeds of the revenue bonds, the moneys in the special funds, sinking funds, reserve funds, or any other moneys or funds; as to the rank and priority, if any, of different issues of revenue bonds by the commission or governing boards under this section; as to the maintenance or revision of the amounts of the fees; as to the extent to which swap agreements, as defined in §13-2G-2 of this code shall be used in connection with the revenue bonds, including such provisions as payment, term, security, default, and remedy provisions as the commission considers necessary or desirable, if any, under which the fees may be reduced; and as to any other matters or provisions which are considered necessary and advisable by the commission or governing boards in the best interests of the state and to enhance the marketability of the revenue bonds.

(k) After the issuance of any revenue bonds, the fees at the state institutions of higher education pledged to the payment of the revenue bonds may not be reduced as long as any of the revenue bonds are outstanding and unpaid except under the terms, provisions and conditions contained in the resolution, trust agreement or other proceedings under which the revenue bonds were issued. The revenue bonds are and constitute negotiable instruments under the Uniform Commercial Code of this state; together with the interest thereon, be exempt from all taxation by the State of West Virginia, or by any county, school district, municipality, or political subdivision thereof; and the revenue bonds may not be considered to be obligations or debts of the state and the credit or taxing power of the state may not be pledged therefor, but the revenue bonds shall be payable only from the revenue pledged therefor as provided in this section.

(l) Additional revenue bonds may be issued by the commission or governing boards pursuant to this section and financed by additional revenues or funds dedicated from other sources. The special revenue fund in the State Treasury known as the Community and Technical College Capital Improvement Fund into which shall be deposited the amounts specified in §29-22-18(j) of this code is continued. All amounts deposited in the fund shall be pledged to the repayment of the principal, interest and redemption premium, if any, on any revenue bonds or refunding revenue bonds authorized by the commission for community and technical college capital improvements or used by the council on a cash basis as provided under §29-22-18(j)(4) of this code for community and technical college capital improvements or capital projects.

(m) Funding of systemwide and campus-specific revenue bonds under any other section of this code is continued and authorized pursuant to the terms of this section. Revenues of any state institution of higher education pledged to the repayment of any revenue bonds issued pursuant to this code shall remain pledged.

(n) Any revenue bonds for state institutions of higher education proposed to be issued under this section or other sections of this code first must be approved by the Governor and:

(1) Approved by the governing board for revenue bonds issued by the exempted schools;

(2) Confirmed by the commission, for revenue bonds issued by institutions under the jurisdiction of the commission, or

(3) Approved by the council and the commission, for revenue bonds issued by institutions under the jurisdiction of the council.

(o) Revenue bonds issued pursuant to this code may be issued by the commission or governing boards, either singly or jointly.

(p) Fees pledged for repayment of revenue bonds issued under this section or §18-12B-1 et seq. of this code prior to or after the effective date of this section shall be transferred to the commission in a manner prescribed by the commission. The commission may transfer funds from the accounts of institutions pledged for the repayment of revenue bonds issued prior to the effective date of this section or issued subsequently by the commission upon the request of institutions, if an institution fails to transfer the pledged revenues to the commission in a timely manner.

(q) Effective July 1, 2004, the capital and auxiliary capital fees authorized by this section and §18B-10-1 of this code are in lieu of any other fees set out in this code for capital and auxiliary capital projects to benefit public higher education institutions. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this code to the contrary, in the event any capital, tuition, registration, or auxiliary fees are pledged to the payment of any revenue bonds issued pursuant to any general bond resolutions of the commission, any of its predecessors or any institution, adopted prior to the effective date of this section, the fees shall remain in effect in amounts not less than the amounts in effect as of that date, until the revenue bonds payable from any of the fees have been paid or the pledge of the fees is otherwise legally discharged.

§18B-10-9. Authority to excuse students in certain educational programs from payment of enrollment fees.

Whenever the cost of any institute, workshop, special course, or other educational program is wholly financed by a grant from any federal, state or local agency or from any foundation, corporation or other association or person, except for indirect costs of administration and other overhead expenses, such as the cost of providing classrooms and other facilities, the governing board of the state institution of higher education administering the program has the authority to excuse all students enrolled in such program from the payment of tuition and other fees.

§18B-10-10. The Medal of Honor and Andrew J. Trail Purple Heart Recipient Tuition Waiver.

(a) This section is known as the Medal of Honor and Andrew J. Trail Purple Heart Recipient Tuition Waiver.

(b) A state institution of higher education shall waive undergraduate tuition and mandatory fee charges for a state resident that has been honorably discharged from any branch of the United States Armed Forces if that resident:

(1) Has received the Medal of Honor or a Purple Heart Medal. The waiver pursuant to this subdivision is for the amount of tuition and mandatory fee charges that exceeds the total amount of any state and federal education benefits, grants or scholarships received by the resident;

(2) Has received the Medal of Honor or a Purple Heart Medal and sustained wounds during military combat that resulted in either a permanent disability or a loss of limb. The waiver pursuant to this subdivision is for the amount of tuition and mandatory fee charges that exceeds state and federal education benefits, grants or scholarships received by the resident that are designated solely for tuition and mandatory fees.

(c) Tuition and mandatory fee waivers provided pursuant to this section are not counted when determining the maximum number of waivers permitted at an institution by section five of this article.

(d) A tuition and mandatory fee waiver is available pursuant to this section for a maximum of eight semesters.

§18B-10-11. Fees and money derived from athletic contests.

The governing board of a state institution of higher education may fix and charge admission fees to athletic contests at institutions under its jurisdiction. The governing board may enter into contracts and spend and receive money under such contracts for the student athletic teams of the institutions to contest with other athletic teams inside or outside the state. All money received from such fees and contracts shall be deposited in the auxiliary operating account of the institution and expended for any purpose considered necessary and proper by the governing board.

§18B-10-12. Student activities.

(a) The governing board of a state institution of higher education may make funds available from tuition and fees to support extracurricular activities of the students as considered necessary. (b) Each institution shall maintain a level of support for extracurricular activities of the students comparable to that level supported by student activities fees previously authorized by this section.

§18B-10-13. Fees from operation of dormitories, faculty homes, dining halls and cafeterias.

The appropriate governing board of each state institution of higher education shall fix the fees to be charged students and faculty members for rooms, board and meals at the dormitories, faculty homes, dining halls and cafeterias operated by such board at the institution. Such fees shall be commensurate with the complete cost of such services.

All fees collected for such services shall be used first to meet interest, principal and sinking fund requirements due on any outstanding revenue bonds for which the receipts may have been pledged as security and to pay the operating and maintenance costs of the dormitories, faculty homes, dining halls and cafeterias. Any such receipts not needed for these purposes may be expended by the appropriate governing board for any other auxiliary enterprise or educational and general instructional costs.

§18B-10-14. Bookstores.

(a) Definitions: The following words when used in this section have the meanings ascribed to them unless the context clearly indicates a different meaning:

(1) “Digital Courseware” means a system of educational content and software designed to support the delivery of all or part of a particular course. The term does not include a learning management platform or any other software system designed to provide support for courses generally;

(2) “Course material” means a textbook, supplemental material, or open educational resource; and

(3) “Open Education Resource Materials” has the meaning assigned in §10-1-14a of this code.

(b) Each governing board may establish and operate a bookstore at the institutions under its jurisdiction to sell course materials, educational materials, books, stationery, and other school and office supplies generally carried in college bookstores. Institutions may work with booksellers, publishers, or other third parties to offer a courseware and book fee at a lump sum or per credit hour amount, provided that an opt out option is offered to students in advance of the start of each academic term.

(c) The prices to be charged may not be less than the prices fixed by any fair trade agreements and shall, in all cases, include in addition to the purchase price paid by the bookstore, a sufficient handling charge to cover all expenses incurred for personal and other services, supplies and equipment, storage, and other operating expenses.

(d) Each governing board shall establish, or if already established, continue, an educational materials affordability committee consisting of faculty, students, administrators and bookstore representatives and the committee shall make recommendations to the governing board to:

(1) Encourage bookstores operated at institutions under its jurisdiction minimize the costs to students of purchasing educational materials;

(2) Encourage course instructors to select appropriate, high quality course educational materials;

(3) Encourage the use of previous or older versions of basic educational materials to the extent those older versions are available and less costly to students and remain relevant, high quality educational materials with up-to-date information and content;

(4) Require the repurchase and resale of educational materials on an institutional basis;

(5) Encourage the use of certain basic educational materials for a reasonable number of years;

(6) Encourage the use of emerging technologies, such as electronic textbooks, online textbooks, print-on-demand services, and other open resource materials; and

(7) Prohibit employees from profiteering by requiring the purchase of one-time use materials (such as worksheets) or receiving payment or other consideration as an inducement to require students to purchase course materials.

(e) An employee of a governing board:

(1) May not:

(A) Receive a payment, loan, subscription, advance, deposit of money, service, benefit or thing of value, present or promised, as an inducement for requiring students to purchase a specific course material for coursework or instruction; or

(B) Require for any course a course material that includes his or her own writing or work if the course material incorporates either detachable worksheets or workbook-style pages intended to be written on or removed from the course material. This provision does not prohibit an employee from requiring as a supplement to course materials any workbook or similar material which is published independently from the course material; and

(2) May receive:

(A) Sample copies, instructor’s copies and instructional material which are not to be sold; and

(B) Royalties or other compensation from sales of course materials that include the employee’s own writing or work.

(f) A governing board shall provide to students a listing of course materials required or assigned for any course offered at the institution.

(1) The listing shall be prominently posted:

(A) In a central location at the institution;

(B) In any campus bookstore; and

(C) On the institution’s website.

(2) The list shall include for each textbook the International Standard Book Number (ISBN), the edition number and any other relevant information.

(3) The list shall include whether the course material is an open educational resource material, and whether all educational materials required for the course or course section are generally available at no cost and without limitation to all students enrolled in the course or course section.

(4) The list shall include any associated fee or charge, such as a technology cost, library use cost, or printing or publication fee.

(5) If the student will be charged for the course material or for access to digital courseware for a course by the institution or another entity on the student’s enrollment in a course, course section, or program or in the institution for the applicable semester or term, the list shall include the disclosures required under subsections (g)-(j) of this section.

(6) An institution shall post a course material to the listing when the adoption process is complete and, for course materials that comes at a cost to the student, when the course material is designated for order by the bookstore.

(g) An institution shall disclose to a student enrolled at the institution as provided by this section any charges for course materials or access to digital courseware assessed by the institution or another entity to the student on the student’s enrollment in a course, course section, or program or in the institution for the applicable semester or term, regardless of how the charge is assessed on an opt-in, opt-out, or compulsory basis. This subsection does not apply to a charge assessed for a purchase initiated by the student separately from the enrollment process at the institution, such as the purchase of course materials at a bookstore that may be charged to the student’s account at the institution.

(h) If the required course materials or digital courseware have not been selected prior to a student’s enrollment in a course or course section such that the requirements of subsection (g) are not met, and if that selection would cause an increased charge to the student, the institution shall no later than 30 days prior to the start of the course or course section:

(1) Provide individual notice to each student affected of the new or increased charges, including all of the information required under subsection (g);

(2) Provide each student affected with the opportunity to withdraw from the course or course section, or change to a different course or course section, without penalty; and

(3) Only assess the new or increased charge to a student if the institution has a policy under which the student may opt out of the way the institution provides for the student to obtain or purchase the course materials and receive a full refund for any charges already incurred for course materials for that specific course or course section.

(i) For a charge described by subsection (g) that is assessed based on the cost of required or recommended course materials or access to digital courseware for a certain course or course section in which the student is enrolled, the institution shall:

(1) In the listing required under subsection (f), state or provide an internet website link to:

(A) The full amount of the charge;

(B) If the charge is for a course material in a primarily electronic format or for access to digital courseware, the terms under which the publisher of the course material or digital courseware collects and uses student data obtained through a student’s use of the course material or digital courseware; and

(C) Any provision that allows the student to opt in or opt out of the charge or the collection or use of the student’s data; and

(2) Itemize the charge separately from any other charges assessed for the course or course section in the institution’s billing to the student.

(j) For a charge described by subsection (g) that is assessed on the basis of the number of semester credit hours or the equivalent or the number of courses in which the student is enrolled or on any other basis not described by subsection (i), the institution shall:

(1) Include the amount of the charge in the institution’s tuition or fees under §18B-10-1 of this code;

(2)  In a prominent location in any written or electronic agreement authorizing the charge, disclose:

(A)  If the charge is for course materials in a primarily electronic format or for access to digital courseware, the terms under which the publisher of the course material or digital courseware collects and uses student data obtained through a student’s use of the course material or digital courseware; and

(B)  Any provision that allows the student to opt in or opt out of the charge or the collection or use of the student’s data; and

(3) Not assess the charge to a student for a course or course section for which all required educational materials are generally available at no cost in at least one form to the student, such as:

(A) An open educational resource material;

(B) Digital materials available at no cost through a multi-user license held by the institution’s library; or

(C) Other lawfully made materials available to the public at no cost and without limitation to all students enrolled in the course or course section.

(k)  An institution may enter into an agreement between the institution and an entity under which the institution assesses on the entity’s behalf or allows the entity to assess a charge described by subsection (g) to students enrolled at the institution only if:

(1) The institution’s educational materials affordability committee established under subsection (d) determines the agreement to be consistent with the goals enumerated in subsection (d);

(2) The governing board of the institution adopts a policy that provides that:

(A) The institution’s refund policy would apply with respect to the charges assessed to a student if the student withdraws from the course or course section; and

(B) A student may opt out of the charge at any time during a period beginning no later than when the student enrolls in the course or course section or takes any other action triggering the assessment of the charge, and ending no earlier than the last day to withdraw from the course without penalty;

(3) The agreement does not provide for a penalty or charge added to price of materials provided under the agreement based on failing to meet a target or quota for a number or percentage of:

(A)  Students to whom the charge is assessed; or

(B)  Courses or course sections for which the charge is assessed; and

(4)  The agreement prohibits the entity from engaging in, or authorizing third parties to engage in, the sale, disclosure, licensing, use, retention, or other exploitation of any data collected under the agreement, including but not limited to personally identifiable information, location data, anonymized data, and any materials derived therefrom, except as permitted by the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (20 U.S.C. § 1232g and 34 CFR Part 99) or other applicable law. Provided, that this subsection shall not apply to: 

(A) The disclosure of information to a government entity or scholarship entity in order to be reimbursed for the distribution of course materials to a student using financial aid subsidies for course materials; 

(B)  The use of student data for research and development of course materials or the entity’s educational sites, services, or applications, and to demonstrate the effectiveness of the entity’s services;

(C) The use of de-identified student data for adaptive learning purposes and customized student learning;

(D) Disclosures made to a service provider, provided the entity: 

(i) Prohibits the service provider from using any student data for any purpose other than providing the contracted service to, or on behalf of, the entity, 

(ii) Prohibits the service provider from disclosing any student data provided by the entity with subsequent third parties without explicit permission from the entity, and 

(iii) Requires the service provider to implement and maintain reasonable security procedures and practices to protect the student data; 

(E) Use, disclosure, or retention of student data to ensure legal and regulatory compliance or to respond or to or participate in judicial process; 

(F) Use, disclosure, or retention of student data to protect the safety of users or others or security of entity’s sites, services, or applications; and 

(G) When the student or guardian, as applicable, has granted prior written consent for the sale, disclosure, licensing, use, or retention of student data.

(l) An agreement authorized under subsection (k) is a public record under chapter 29B of this code.

 (m) All moneys derived from the operation of the bookstore shall be paid into a special revenue fund as provided in §12-2-2 of this code. Subject to the approval of the Governor, each governing board periodically shall change the amount of the revolving fund necessary for the proper and efficient operation of each bookstore.

 (n) Moneys derived from the operation of the bookstore shall be used first to replenish the stock of goods and to pay the costs of operating and maintaining the bookstore. Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, any institution that has contracted with a private entity for bookstore operation shall deposit into an appropriate account all revenue generated by the operation and enuring to the benefit of the institution. The institution shall use the funds for nonathletic scholarships.

 (o) Each governing board shall promulgate a rule in accordance with the provisions of §18B-1-6 of this code to implement the provisions of this section.

 (p) This section applies to course material sales and bookstores supported by an institution’s auxiliary services and those operated by a private contractor.

(q) This section may not be construed to affect any authority granted to a faculty member by an institution to select course materials for courses taught by the faculty member.

§18B-10-15. Authority of educational institutions to provide special services and programs; collection and disposition of fees therefor.

(a) The governing board of each state institution of higher education may provide special services and special programs at such institutions and may fix and collect special fees or charges therefor. Such special services and special programs include, but are not limited to, any of the following:

(1) The conduct of music camps and band, orchestra or voice clinics for secondary school students or other youth groups; summer tutoring programs for primary and secondary school students; speech therapy clinics and services; educational and psychological testing programs; student guidance programs; and statistical studies and calculations by an electronic computer service.

(2) Rental of lockers or other storage facilities and the maintenance and operation of parking facilities for use by students, faculty, staff and visitors.

(3) Rental of musical recordings, educational films, slides and other audiovisual aids.

(4) Microfilming or other mechanical reproduction of records and noncopyrighted library reference materials.

(5) Institutes, conferences, workshops, postgraduate and refresher noncredit courses and any other special program or special service customarily provided by institutions of higher education.

(6) Motor pools consisting of motor vehicles for the use of their employees when carrying on the business and affairs of the institutions.

(b) All fees or charges collected for any such special services or programs shall cover the total cost of the service or program.

§18B-10-16. Disposition of funds in State Treasury.

Except as may be provided for in any bond resolution in effect, funds in the State Treasury heretofore collected from any of the sources defined in the foregoing sections shall remain in the State Treasury for use by the institution where collected. Any interest revenue generated by a special student fee account shall only be expended at or for the institution where such fee was collected.  Exempted schools may transfer and deposit all fees and funds collected under this article into a single special revenue account: Provided, That if the governing board of an exempted school does transfer and deposit all such fees and funds into a single special revenue account, the governing board shall account for each classification of fees and funds separately in their internal accounting system.

§18B-11-1. Center for regional progress created; director powers; mission and purpose.

(a) There is hereby created an economic development entity known as the "center for regional progress" at Marshall University. The center shall be under the control and supervision of a director, which position is to be filled by an individual qualified by experience and education. The director shall be appointed by the president of Marshall University. The director may employ such staff as is necessary to accomplish the center's mission and purpose. The director shall have administrative control and supervision of the center. The center shall emphasize the creation of new jobs and the retention of existing jobs as the foundation necessary for the economic development of West Virginia. The center shall provide basic and applied research and technical assistance; counseling and referral service; graduate research and cooperative education programs; management and marketing assistance; continuing education, seminars, workshops; courses to meet both employer and employee educational needs; and such other activities as are necessary to carry out the provisions of this article. The center shall provide research and technical assistance to meet the economic and community development needs of local, municipal, county and state governments.

(b) The center shall upon request respond to public policy needs of the Legislature and the executive; and apply for and obtain grants or funds from all available sources, private and public, state, federal, and otherwise. The center shall maintain a roster of faculty and staff at Marshall University and other institutions of higher education from which specific expertise may be drawn.

§18B-11-2. Institute for public affairs; creation and purposes.

(a) There is hereby created as an independent entity the institute for public affairs, to be located and operated at West Virginia University. The institute shall be under the control and supervision of a director, which position is to be filled by an individual whose credentials include accomplishments in the interdisciplinary academic fields and government. The director shall be appointed by the president of West Virginia University. The institute shall engage faculty from institutions of higher education throughout the state and shall cooperatively develop a program with other such institutions. The terms of such participation may be by contract, loan, part-time basis or other such arrangement.

(b) The institute is directed to conduct independent research and propose strategies and options on public issues and policies upon its own initiative or as may be requested by the executive or the Legislature.

(c) The institute is directed to seek all other funds, grants, and other sources of assistance from other agencies of government as well as the private sector.

(d) The director shall have administrative control and supervision of the institute.

§18B-11-3. Institute for international trade development; creation and purpose.

There is hereby created as an independent entity the institute for international trade development, to be located and operated at Marshall University. The institute is established to facilitate faculty involvement in the formation and continuation of international market entry and development strategy, to provide assistance to state businesses in exporting and attracting foreign investment, and to engage in other activities designed to promote, develop and stimulate export expansion and foreign direct investment. The institute shall be under the control and supervision of a director, who shall be appointed from among the faculty by the president of Marshall University. The institute shall engage faculty from institutions of higher education throughout the state and shall cooperatively develop an export program with the other such institutions. The terms of such participation may be by contract, loan, part-time basis, or other such arrangement. The institute shall develop with the board of trustees and the Governor a program of student internships in international business to place qualified students for academic credit with businesses in West Virginia to help develop export awareness and potential. The institute shall further provide research and analysis on matters of international trade upon request of the executive or the Legislature; initiate partnership grants, and proposals in the area of international trade in accordance with the provisions of article two-a, chapter five-b of this code; and apply for and obtain grants or funds from all available sources, private and public.

§18B-11-4

Repealed

Acts, 2018 Reg. Sess., Ch. 105.

§18B-11-5.

Repealed.

Acts, 2008 Reg. Sess., Ch. 72.

§18B-11-6

Repealed

Acts, 2018 Reg. Sess., Ch. 105.

§18B-11-7. Regional Brownfield Assistance Centers.

(a) For the purposes of this section, "eligible entities" means government entities as defined by the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, as amended, at 42 U.S.C. §9604 or nonprofit organizations as defined by the federal Financial Assistance Management Improvement Act at 31 U.S.C. §6101.

(b) Marshall University and West Virginia University each shall establish a nonprofit Regional Brownfield Assistance Center through the corporations set out in article twelve of this chapter for the purposes of expediting the redevelopment of Brownfield sites. The Centers shall provide assistance to eligible entities on state and federal Brownfield programs, secure state and federal funding for Brownfield redevelopment and acquire property eligible for state and federal Brownfield assistance.

(c) The Center established by Marshall University serves the following counties:

(1) McDowell, Mercer, Monroe, Raleigh, Summers and Wyoming;

(2) Cabell, Lincoln, Logan, Mason, Mingo and Wayne;

(3) Boone, Clay, Kanawha and Putnam; and

(4) Braxton, Fayette, Greenbrier, Nicholas, Pocahontas and Webster.

(d) The Center established by West Virginia University serves the following counties:

(1) Calhoun, Jackson, Pleasants, Ritchie, Roane, Tyler, Wirt and Wood;

(2) Brooke, Hancock, Marshall, Ohio and Wetzel;

(3) Barbour, Doddridge, Gilmer, Harrison, Lewis, Marion, Monongalia, Preston, Randolph, Taylor, Tucker and Upshur; and

(4) Berkeley, Grant, Hampshire, Hardy, Jefferson, Mineral, Morgan and Pendleton.

(e) To accomplish the purposes of this section, the Regional Brownfield Assistance Centers each have powers and duties including, but not limited to, the following:

(1) Acquiring property that is eligible for state and federal Brownfield assistance pursuant to the Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act (Public Law No. 107-118, 185 stat. 2356) and the West Virginia Voluntary Remediation and Redevelopment Act established in article twenty-two, chapter twenty-two of this code;

(2) Serving as the developer of property or entering into partnerships, agreements or other contractual arrangements with other public or private entities for the purposes of managing and coordinating remediation and redevelopment activities;

(3) Preparing an inventory of Brownfield sites within their respective geographic regions by July 1, 2006, and updating the inventory of sites annually;

(4) Promoting and coordinating the development of Brownfield property by providing training and technical assistance on Brownfield development, grant writing, site assessments, remediation, community involvement and site preparation to eligible entities;

(5) Administering federal Brownfield Job Training Grants, the Brownfields Revolving Fund, and other federal Brownfield financial assistance programs to assist eligible entities in their Brownfield development efforts;

(6) Coordinating efforts to secure federal Brownfield funding by establishing priority rankings and by other necessary measures to maximize federal financial assistance and eliminate overlapping competition for federal dollars;

(7) Coordinating the development and publication by July 1, 2006, of a website to provide education and appropriate information on Brownfields development in West Virginia; and

(8) Coordinating with the West Virginia Development Office and the Department of Environmental Protection to establish and track key Brownfield economic statistics and conduct Brownfield conferences, as appropriate.

§18B-11A-1. Purpose.

The purpose of the Legislature in the enactment of this article is to establish and develop an autism training center in the State of West Virginia with a highly skilled, interdisciplinary, appropriately experienced staff which will train teachers, parents, guardians and others important to the autistic person's education and training. The center is established and operated by the Marshall university board of Governors or its designees.

§18B-11A-2. Definitions.

For the purposes of this article:

(a) "Board" means the Marshall university board of Governors;

(b) "Center" means the autism training center;

(c) "Client" means a person with the primary diagnosis of autism or autistic-like behavior; and

(d) "Expenses" means those reasonable and customary expenditures related to training and treatment of eligible clients as defined in the rules and regulations promulgated by the center.

§18B-11A-3. Powers and duties of board of Governors and state autism center.

The board of Governors is authorized to operate a state autism training center, including either the acquisition by purchase, lease, gift or otherwise, of necessary lands, and the construction of necessary buildings; the expansion, remodeling, altering or equipping of necessary buildings; and the making of contracts by the board of trustees with any state, county or municipal agency, or nonprofit institution, providing for the equipment, expenses, compensation of personnel, operation and maintenance of any facility of such agency or institution utilized for the purposes of this article. The board or its designees may make and enter into all contracts and agreements necessary and incidental to the performance of its powers and duties under this section, and may cooperate with other agencies of the state, county and federal governments.

§18B-11A-4. Responsibilities of center.

The center shall, through appropriate identification, evaluation, education, individual training and treatment programs for clients, offer appropriate education and training for professional personnel and family members or guardians.

§18B-11A-5. Rules and regulations.

The board, after consultation with the center, shall make and adopt rules, regulations and standards for the establishment, operation, cost reimbursement, fees for services, maintenance and government control of the center established pursuant to this article, including such rules, regulations and standards as may be necessary for cooperation under and compliance with any existing or future federal statutes pertaining to grants-in-aid for client training or facilities and such other rules and regulations as may be necessary to effectuate the purposes of this article.

§18B-11A-6. Advisory board.

The board of Governors shall appoint a board of West Virginia citizens to advise the center director on matters of policy. The advisory board shall be composed of fifty percent parents or guardians of clients eligible for the center's program; forty percent persons from professional fields related to autism, such as special education, psychology, hearing and speech, neurology and pediatrics; and ten percent knowledgeable lay citizens such as legislators or other lay community leaders. The director of the center shall be an ex officio nonvoting member of the advisory board.

§18B-11A-7. Trainee team; expense.

The primary method of providing services through the center is by the use of trainee teams. A trainee team shall consist of an eligible client, a professional chosen by the primary local service agency and the client's parent or parents or guardian.

The center may charge agencies such fees and reimburse trainee team or client expenses as provided by rules and regulations. The center may also provide for reasonable and customary expenses in excess of fees charged sending agencies for each trainee team or otherwise eligible client, including child care for other children of attending parents and others as specified in rules and regulations.

§18B-11B-1. Intent.

The Legislature hereby finds that the current level of scientific information regarding the chemicals, hazardous and noxious substances, biochemical agents, toxic household products and various combinations of them that lead to human poisoning with the added risks associated with criminal activity and clandestine terrorism involving toxic materials and agents requires the immediate availability of accurate information, resources and services to assess toxic threats to the public, prevent human poisoning and assist the general public, the police, firefighters, public health officials, emergency service workers, health care providers and other first responding emergency personnel.

It is the intent of the Legislature that poison control services be provided throughout the state on a consistent and prompt basis by any and all electronic means as well as by a toll free telephone network in order that illness or death that may result from the exposure of an individual to poisonous substances may be avoided. The Legislature also finds that the West Virginia Poison Center located at the Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center, West Virginia University, Charleston Division and operated by West Virginia University meets these criteria and is hereby continued as the West Virginia Poison Center.

The Legislature further finds that effective poison control, not only saves lives and protects the public welfare but also reduces emergency medical costs and is considered an essential emergency service.

§18B-11B-2. West Virginia Poison Center continued; certification.

(a) The West Virginia Poison Center (hereinafter referred to as "the Center") currently a part of and located at the Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center, West Virginia University, Charleston Division and operated by West Virginia University, is hereby continued as a special service under West Virginia University.

(b) The center shall be certified by the American Association of Poison Centers or other similar organization with the same or higher certification standards, and shall have a director who is a board certified toxicologist.

(c) The West Virginia Poison Center is exempt from temporary budget hiring freezes that may apply to colleges and universities under the Higher Education Policy Commission.

§18B-11B-3. Advisory Board.

There is hereby created the West Virginia Poison Center Advisory Board (hereinafter referred to as the board). The board shall be composed of eight members. The members include: The Chancellor of the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission or his or her designee; the Secretary of the Department of Military Affairs and Public Safety or his or her designee; the Commissioner of the Bureau for Public Health or his or her designee; the Associate Vice President of West Virginia University, Health Sciences Center, West Virginia University, Charleston, West Virginia, who shall be chairman of the board; the president of the West Virginia Hospital Association or his or her designee; two members appointed by the Director of the Poison Center who shall represent professional health care organizations in this state with extensive experience in public health education, research or administration; and one member appointed by the Director of the Poison Center to represent the general public. All appointed members shall serve terms of four years and may be reappointed. Appointed members of the advisory board shall serve without compensation, but may be reimbursed for any necessary and reasonable expenses incurred in attending meetings on the same basis as members of the Legislature are reimbursed for expenses.

The board shall provide advice and assistance to the director of the center in providing services as set out in this article. The board shall meet not less than two times each year on the call of the chair. Not later than July 1, of each year, the board shall prepare an annual report for the calendar year for submission to the Governor and the Legislature. The report shall include an analysis of the activities of the center and any recommendations for improvement the board may deem necessary or appropriate.

§18B-11B-4. Center responsibilities.

The center shall provide:

(1) Twenty-four hour, seven days a week emergency telephone management and treatment referral of victims of poisoning to include determining whether treatment can be accomplished at the scene of the incident or transport to an emergency treatment or other facility is required and carrying out telephone follow-up to families and other individuals to assure that adequate care is provided;

(2) Emergency telephone treatment recommendations for all types of poisonings, chemical exposures, drug overdoses and exposure to weapons of mass destruction. This information shall be provided to medical and nonmedical providers;

(3) Telephone follow-up for hospitalized and nonhospitalized patients to assess progress and recommend additional treatment as necessary;

(4) Surveillance of human poison exposures. This includes those related chemicals, drugs, biologicals and weapons of mass destruction;

(5) Community education in poison prevention; and

(6) Education in the recognition and management of poisonings for health care providers.

§18B-11B-5. Powers and responsibilities of the director.

The Director of the West Virginia Poison Center:

(1) Shall ensure that the center is certified by the American Association of Poison Control Centers and remains in good standing with that organization;

(2) Is authorized to enter into agreements with other state agencies or departments, with public or private colleges or universities, schools of medicine or hospitals for the use of laboratories, personnel, equipment and other fixtures, facilities or services;

(3) May accept federal funds granted by the United States Congress or by executive order of the President of the United States as well as gifts, grants, endowments and donations from individuals and private organizations or foundations for all or any of the functions of the center;

(4) Develop and advocate for an annual budget for the center;

(5) Maintain a central office at the current location of the center; and

(6) Employ adequate professional and technical employees to meet the requirements of this article.

§18B-11B-6. Immunity of center and staff.

Neither the director nor any employee of the center staff shall be considered a member of any patient treatment team, or acting in concert with any responsible treating entity, including emergency personnel, hospital or clinic employees, or private medical practitioners of any health care treatment team.

The center and its employees are immune from any and all liability arising from the good faith provision of services provided under the provisions of this article. The immunity granted by this section is in addition to any other immunity now existing or granted under any other provision of this code or by common law.

§18B-12-1. Definitions.

The following words used in this article shall, unless the context clearly indicates a different meaning, be construed as follows:

(a) "Agreement" means any agreement being entered into between a governing board and a corporation pursuant to section four of this article.

(b) "Corporation" means a nonstock, not-for-profit corporation established under the general corporation laws of the state which meets the description presented by section three of this article.

(c) "Corporate directors" means the board of directors of a corporation.

§18B-12-2. Legislative findings and purpose.

(a) The Legislature finds and determines that the future economic development in the state will depend in part upon research developed at the state institutions of higher education, and enhanced research opportunities for state institutions of higher education will promote the general economic welfare of the citizens of the state. In order to enhance the competitive position of state institutions of higher education in the current environment for research and development, expenditures for equipment and material for research projects must be handled in an expeditious fashion, and the acquisition and utilization of research grants can be simplified and expedited through the utilization of private corporations.

(b) The interest of the citizens of the state will be best met by agreements entered into and carried out by the governing boards and corporations to provide research assistance for state institutions of higher education. Therefore, in order to facilitate research and development grants and opportunities for state institutions of higher education, it is appropriate to authorize the governing boards to contract with private corporations organized for the purpose of providing such services to state institutions of higher education.

§18B-12-3. Boards authorized to contract with corporations; characteristics of corporations.

Each governing board for a state institution of higher education may enter into agreements and any other contractual relationships with one or more corporations formed with respect to such state institution of higher education, but only if each such corporation meets the following descriptions:

(1) The president and the president's appointees from the institution shall constitute a majority of the voting corporate directors.

(2) The corporation shall be organized as a nonprofit, nonstock corporation under the general corporation laws of the state exclusively for charitable, educational or scientific purposes within the meaning of section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, to foster and support research and economic development efforts at the respective state institution of higher education and to provide evaluation, development, patenting, management and marketing services for inventions of the faculty, staff and students of such state institution of higher education.

(3) The meetings of the corporate directors shall be subject to §6-9A-3 of this code.

(4) Upon dissolution of the corporation, the assets of the corporation shall be transferred to such entity as the appropriate governing board shall designate for the benefit of the state institution of higher education: Provided, That such recipient shall be an organization operated exclusively for charitable, educational, or scientific purposes as shall at such time qualify as an exempt organization under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

§18B-12-4. Agreement; required provisions.

(a) Notwithstanding §12-3-10 of this code or any other provision of law to the contrary, each governing board is hereby authorized to enter into an agreement with one or more private corporations, which agreement shall be for the benefit of the state institution of higher education and contain the following provisions, subject to further specification as is mutually agreed upon by the governing board and the corporation:

(1) On the effective date of the agreement, the corporation is charged with the responsibility of serving as fiscal agent for sponsored projects conducted by the faculty, staff and students of the state institution of higher education, and grants shall be accepted by the corporation on behalf of the institution and assigned to the corporation for fiscal management.

(2) The corporation shall provide evaluation, development, patenting, licensing, management, and marketing services for inventions, processes, trademarks, except institutional trademarks an institution's governing board elects to retain, copyrights or any other intellectual property developed by faculty, staff, and students of any state institution of higher education.

(3) The corporation may determine the application of the proceeds from any invention, process, trademark, except institutional trademarks an institution's governing board elects to retain, copyright or any other intellectual property developed by the faculty, staff, or students of an institution among the corporation, the inventor or developer, and the institution.

(4) The corporation may receive, purchase, hold, lease, use, sell, and dispose of real and personal property of all classes subject to the provisions of section ten of this article.

(5) The corporation has such additional responsibilities related to the administration of research and development at the institution or the fostering of economic development as are necessary or desirable.

(b) Upon termination of the agreement, the funds or grants paid or held by the corporation, and all other property held by the corporation, shall be transferred to the institution or its designee as the governing board directs.

(c) A corporation may utilize both corporation employees and personnel of the institution. The corporation may pay the costs incurred by the institution including personnel funded on grants and contracts, fringe benefits of personnel funded on grants and contracts, administrative support costs and other costs which may require reimbursement. The corporation may include as costs any applicable overhead and fringe benefit assessments necessary to recover the costs expended by the institution, pursuant to the terms of the agreement, and that a board may be reimbursed for expenses incurred by it pursuant to the agreement.

§18B-12-5. Audit.

The operations of the corporation shall be subject to an audit by an independent Auditor.

§18B-12-6. Conflicts of interest.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this code to the contrary, officers and employees of a governing board and the affected state institution of higher education may hold appointments to offices of the corporation and be corporate directors or officers or employees of other entities contracting with either the corporation or a governing board of a state institution of higher education. The executive director of the corporation shall have dual appointment with the state institution of higher education. The governing board of a state institution of higher education and the corporate directors must be informed of such appointments annually.

§18B-12-7. No waiver of sovereign immunity.

Nothing contained in this article shall be deemed or construed to waive or abrogate in any way the sovereign immunity of the state or to deprive a governing board of a state institution of higher education, a state institution of higher education or any officer or employee thereof of sovereign immunity.

§18B-12-8. Not obligation of the state.

Obligations of a corporation shall not constitute debts or obligations of a state institution of higher education, the governing board thereof or the state.

§18B-12-9. Sections and provisions severable.

The sections of this article, and the provisions and parts of said sections, are severable, and it is the intention to enact the whole or any part of the powers provided for in this article, and, if any of said sections, or the provisions or parts of any said sections, or the application thereof to any person or circumstance, are for any reason held unconstitutional or invalid, it is the intention that the remaining sections of this article, and the remaining provisions or parts of any said sections, shall remain in full force and effect.

§18B-12-10. Assignment or transfer of property to certain corporations.

(a) Institutional boards of governors may provide and transfer funding and property, both real and personal, to corporations as defined in section one of this article, and with which the institution under its jurisdiction has contracted pursuant to the provisions of this article. Any deed that transfers real property under the provisions of this section to a corporation, as defined in §18B-12-1 of this code, for either: (i) Research and development; (ii) economic development projects resulting in the creation of employment by the corporation and the state institution of higher education; or (iii) both; under this section shall include provisions requiring that the real property revert to the institution under the following circumstances:

(1) For a period of two years, the property is not used for at least one of the purposes for which it may be conveyed;

(2) The corporation to which the real property is transferred is dissolved; or

(3) The corporation files a petition in bankruptcy.

(b) Any corporation, as that term is defined in §18B-12-1 of this code, may provide and transfer funding and property, both real and personal, to another person, firm or corporation for: (i) Research and development; (ii) economic development projects resulting in the creation of employment by the corporation and the state institution of higher education; or (iii) both. Any deed that transfers real property to a person, firm or corporation shall include provisions requiring that the real property revert to the corporation, as defined in §18B-12-1 of this code, under the following circumstances:

(1) For a period of six months, the property is not used for at least one of the purposes for which it may be conveyed;

(2) The corporation to which the real property is transferred is dissolved; or

(3) The corporation files a petition in bankruptcy.

(c) The person, firm or corporation that receives real property from the corporation, as defined in §18B-12-1 of this code, may not transfer the property to another party without the written permission of the corporation, as defined in §18B-12-1 of this code. The corporation, as defined in section one of this article, may not grant any such request unless the corporation determines that covenants in the deed or lease agreement provide adequate assurance that the terms of subsections (a) and (b) of this section are preserved.

(d) At least 20 days before the transfer of any property pursuant to the provisions of this section, the institutional board of governors or the corporation, as defined in §18B-12-1 of this code, whichever is appropriate, shall give public notice of the transfer through a Class II legal advertisement in accordance with the provisions of §59-3-1 et seq. of this code.

§18B-12A-1. Legislative findings and purpose.

(a) The Legislature finds that economic development in West Virginia depends in part on the effective and efficient management of research grants and opportunities at doctoral institutions of higher education, on collaborations developed between doctoral institutions and businesses and industry and on the advancement and commercialization of new and evolving technologies. It is in the best interests of citizens of the state to develop programs which promote these goals and contribute to the general economic welfare of citizens. In order to enhance the competitive position of doctoral institutions in the current environment for research and economic development, expenditures for equipment and material for research projects must be handled efficiently and effectively and the acquisition and use of grant funds should be simplified and expedited through the use of centers for economic development and technology advancement.

(b) The purpose of this article is to provide a mechanism for doctoral institutions to enter into agreements with centers for economic development and technology advancement to provide research assistance; to provide maximum flexibility as to the form of organization of centers so as to encourage and facilitate private sector participation in and support of research and economic development grants and opportunities in collaboration with doctoral institutions; to expedite the acquisition, administration and management of research and development grants and opportunities; to provide technical assistance in the commercialization of research opportunities; and to authorize doctoral institutions to contract with centers organized for the purpose of providing these services.

§18B-12A-2. Definitions.

The following words used in this article have the meaning ascribed to them in this section unless the context clearly indicates a different meaning:

(a) "Agreement" means any agreement or contractual relationship being entered into between a doctoral institution and a center pursuant to the provisions of this article.

(b) "Center" means a center for economic development and technology advancement created pursuant to section three of this article.

(c) "Governing body" means the governing body of a center created pursuant to the provisions of this article.

(d) "President" means the chief executive officer of a center employed pursuant to section five of this article.

(e) "Doctoral institution" means a state institution of higher education as defined in subsection (d), section one, article eight of this chapter.

§18B-12A-3. Establishment of centers for economic development and technology advancement; doctoral institutions authorized to enter into agreements.

There is authorized the establishment of independent entities to be known as centers for economic development and technology advancement. Each center shall be formed with respect to a specific doctoral institution and each center shall meet the following conditions:

(1) Representatives from private sector business and industry constitute a majority of the voting members of the governing body of each center;

(2) The president of the appropriate doctoral institution or a senior member of the doctoral institution's administrative staff is a member of the appropriate governing body.

(3) Each center shall be organized as one of the following:

(A) A nonprofit, nonstock corporation under the general corporation laws of the state exclusively for charitable, educational or scientific purposes within the meaning of section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended; or

(B) A corporation, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company or other form of entity authorized to be formed under this code.

§18B-12A-4. Powers and duties of governing bodies and centers.

The primary responsibility of each center is to foster and support economic development and the advancement and commercialization of new and emerging technologies through collaboration agreements between business-industry and the respective doctoral institution. To that end, the governing body of each center has the following powers and duties:

(a) To adopt and amend, from time to time, a statement of purpose and scope of operations. When the governing body amends the purpose or scope of a center, the governing body shall advise the appropriate doctoral institution of the changes;

(b) To employ a president subject to the provisions of section five of this article;

(c) To approve employment of other staff recommended by the president as being necessary and appropriate to carry out the purpose and scope of the center;

(d) To serve as fiscal agent and provide additional services, including, but not limited to, evaluation of technology, verification and assessment of market applications, grant administration and human resource management for any entity associated with the doctoral institution if the entity is engaged in business-industry collaborations, technology advancement and commercialization activities and research into new areas of economic development;

(e) To meet as a governing body: Provided, That centers created under this article are exempt from the provisions of section three, article nine-a, chapter six of this code and from the provisions of article one, chapter twenty-nine-b of this code;

(f) To receive, purchase, hold, lease, use, sell and dispose of real and personal property of all classes, including all kinds of intellectual property, subject to the provisions of section ten of this article;

(g) To receive and accept from any public or private agency, corporation, association, person, partnership, company or any other organization or entity of any nature whatsoever grants to be expended in accomplishing the objectives of this article and to receive and accept from the state, from any municipality, county or other political subdivision of the state and from any other source, aid or contributions of either money, property or other things of value to be held, used and applied only for the purposes for which the grants and contributions may be made;

(h) To accept and expend any gift, grant, contribution, bequest, endowment or other money for the purposes of this article and to make a maximum effort to encourage external support for the center's programs. Any transfer of endowment or other assets by the doctoral institution to a center or by the center to the doctoral institution for management or investment shall be formalized in a memorandum of agreement to assure, at a minimum, that any restrictions governing the future disposition of funds are preserved;

(i) To make, amend and repeal bylaws and rules consistent with the provisions of this article to carry into effect the purpose and scope of the center and, subject to such directions and limitations as may be contained in its governing documents, to delegate the exercise of any of its powers to the president except for the power to approve budgets; to make, amend or repeal its governing documents; or to alter the purpose or scope of the center;

(j) In addition to the powers and duties provided for in this section and any other powers and duties that may be assigned to it by law or agreement, each center has such other powers and duties as may be necessary or expedient to accomplish the objectives of this article or as provided by law.

§18B-12A-5. Appointment of president; qualifications.

(a) The governing body of each center shall employ a president who shall be the chief executive officer of the center and who shall serve at the will and pleasure of the governing body;

(b) The center shall be under the control and supervision of the president who, with the approval of the governing body, may employ staff as is necessary to carry out the center's purpose and scope;

(c) The governing body shall set the qualifications for the position of president and shall conduct a thorough search for qualified candidates. A qualified candidate is one who meets at least the following criteria:

(1) Possesses a broad understanding of the relationship between public and private sector research, the advancement and commercialization of new and emerging technologies and economic development and has significant experience and an established professional reputation in these fields;

(2) Holds, at a minimum, a bachelor's degree in a field related to the duties and responsibilities of the position of president;

(3) Demonstrates specifically that he or she has developed effective and successful grant management skills, as well as skill in fostering collaborations between business-industry and doctoral institutions;

(4) Demonstrates strong communication skills and the ability to work with all types of businesses and industry, government agencies and higher education institutions; and

(5) Possesses other skills, qualifications or attributes as the governing body may consider appropriate or desirable.

§18B-12A-6. Agreements; required provisions.

(a) Notwithstanding section ten, article three, chapter twelve of this code or any other provision of law to the contrary, each doctoral institution is hereby authorized to enter into agreements with one or more centers: Provided, That each center is formed with respect to that specific doctoral institution and meets the conditions set forth either in paragraph (A) or paragraph (B), subdivision (2), section three of this article.

(b) Any agreement with a center shall benefit the doctoral institution or one or more of its schools, departments or institutes whose purpose is to further economic development, training, education and technology research and development in its region.

(c) On the effective date of the agreement, the center is charged with the responsibility of serving as fiscal agent for specified sponsored projects conducted by the faculty, staff and students of the doctoral institution pursuant to terms of the agreement and grants shall be accepted by the center on behalf of the doctoral institution and assigned to the center for fiscal management.

(d) If an agreement is terminated, the funds, contributions or grants paid or held by the center and not encumbered or committed prior to termination shall be distributed as provided for in the agreement.

(e) If part of the agreement, a center may utilize both center employees and personnel of the doctoral institution. The center may pay the costs incurred by the doctoral institution, including personnel funded on grants and contracts, fringe benefits of personnel funded on grants and contracts, administrative support costs and other costs which may require reimbursement. The center may include as costs any applicable overhead and fringe benefit assessments necessary to recover the costs expended by the doctoral institution, pursuant to the terms of the agreement, and the doctoral institution may be reimbursed for expenses incurred by it pursuant to the agreement.

§18B-12A-7. Audit.

The operations of the center are subject to an audit by an independent Auditor.

§18B-12A-8. Conflicts of interest.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this code to the contrary, officers and employees of a governing board and the affected doctoral institution may hold appointments to offices of the center and be members of its governing body or officers or employees of other entities contracting with either the center or a governing board of a doctoral institution. The governing body shall make an annual report of these appointments to the doctoral institution.

§18B-12A-9. No waiver of sovereign immunity.

Nothing contained in this article may be construed to waive or abrogate in any way the sovereign immunity of the state or to deprive the governing board of a doctoral institution, a doctoral institution or any officer or employee of a doctoral institution of sovereign immunity.

§18B-12A-10. Not obligation of the state.

Obligations of a governing body or its center do not constitute debts or obligations of a doctoral institution, the governing board of a doctoral institution or the state.

§18B-13-1. Legislative findings; intent; definition.

(a) Legislative findings. -- The Legislature finds that a pressing need exists for collaborative research and development between institutions of higher education and industry. This need also extends to assisting companies to develop and adapt to new technology. A commitment by the state to support cooperative partnerships between higher education and industry preserves existing jobs and creates new jobs; promotes development of business enterprises and helps them become competitive; and enables West Virginia to achieve the goals of economic growth and full employment by revitalizing and diversifying the economy. Focused research and technical assistance efforts related to West Virginia industry advances such development, improves technology transfer, assists companies in becoming growth leaders and links basic research and technological developments to economic advancement.

(b) Legislative intent. -- It is the intent of the Legislature to adopt the following as state goals to be reached through applied science and technology and partnership programs:

(1) Moving West Virginia into the forefront of science and technology;

(2) Attracting business, federal contracts and industry; and

(3) Creating jobs for the people of this state.

(c) Definition. –- As used in this article, "Qualified business" means a business registered to do business in this state which is engaged in science and technology related "manufacturing" (as defined in section three, article thirteen-s, chapter eleven of this code) or science and technology related "research and development" (as defined in section three, article thirteen-q, or section three, article thirteen-r, chapter eleven of this code) within a research zone, park or technology center.

§18B-13-2. Higher education-industry collaboration and technical assistance.

Each governing board of a state institution of higher education shall develop a plan to engage in collaborative projects designed to assist business to adapt or develop new technology under this article.

§18B-13-3. Powers and duties.

(a) The West Virginia Development Office, in consultation with the Commission, is hereby authorized and directed to develop a strategic comprehensive plan and grant program to attract new science and high technology industries, to retain and expand current state industries through technology and other processes and to increase research grants, contracts, matching funds and procurement arrangements from the federal government, private industry and other agencies. The initial strategic comprehensive plan and each annual plan update shall be developed and filed with the Governor and Legislature.

(b) The West Virginia Development Office, in consultation with the Commission, shall review the work and projects undertaken by the Center of Regional Progress, the Center for Economic Research, the Institute for International Trade Development and the West Virginia Foundation for Science and Technology.

§18B-13-4. High-Tech research zones, parks and technology centers; tax incentives.

(a) For the purposes of this subsection, a "qualified state institution of higher education" is a state institution of higher education meeting the qualifications to be established by the West Virginia Development Office. The West Virginia Development Office shall work with the county commissions, municipalities and local development authorities where qualified state institutions of higher education are located and shall develop a plan and grant program for the establishment and operation of qualifying High-Tech research zones, parks and technology centers on or near the campuses of qualified state institutions of higher education to attract business and industry engaged in science and technology related research and development. The plan and grant program shall include qualifications that are to be met in order to receive approval by the West Virginia Development Office as a research zone, park or technology center or as a qualified business. Those qualifications shall require a minimum partnership commitment from one or more qualified businesses in the private sector in the construction, operation or location of the research zone, park or technology center. The West Virginia Development Office shall designate the particular geographic area comprising the research zone, park or technology center.

The West Virginia Economic Development Authority is authorized to enter into agreements with state institutions of higher education, private developers or other interested businesses or persons to acquire, finance, construct, operate, own, lease or otherwise manage any research zone, park or technology center and to collect rentals or other forms of payment for the operation of research zones, parks or technology centers. The West Virginia Economic Development Authority is authorized either singly or in conjunction with any county commission, municipality or local development authority, to issue special bonds for the purpose of this section, including, but not limited to, special project revenue bonds and special user bonds limited to the actual cost of construction and start-up of any qualifying and approved research zones, parks or technology centers, and improvements necessary thereto, pursuant to article twelve-b, chapter eighteen of this code.

(b) For taxable years beginning on and after January 1, 2005, any qualified business approved by the West Virginia Development Office on or after January 1, 2004, and located in a geographic area designated as a High-Tech research zone, park or technology center, shall be considered to be:

(1) A business eligible for economic opportunity tax credit entitlement pursuant to section nineteen, article thirteen-q, chapter eleven of the code, and entitled to the twenty percent new jobs percentage under section nine of that article, if it creates at least three new jobs in a research zone, park or technology center;

(2) An eligible taxpayer for purposes of the strategic research and development credit provided under article thirteen-r, chapter eleven of the code;

(3) An industrial taxpayer for purposes of the manufacturing investment tax credit provided under article thirteen-s, chapter eleven of the code if it is primarily engaged in manufacturing related to research and development; and

(4) Entitled to priority for approval of refundable credit for the small qualified research and development company credit under section six, article thirteen-r, chapter eleven of the code ahead of eligible taxpayers that are not qualified businesses under section one of this article: Provided, That the qualified business otherwise meets the requirements for those credits.

(c) Notwithstanding any other provision herein to the contrary, the amount of total credits and deferrals allowable under this section, shall not exceed two and one-half million dollars in any one fiscal year for all eligible businesses: Provided, That, except for the credit allowed under subdivision (4), subsection (b) of this section, the credits allowed by this section are nonrefundable so that a taxpayer shall not claim a total credit amount that reduces the taxpayer's tax liability to less than zero.

§18B-13-5. Use of state property and equipment; faculty.

(a) The governing boards are authorized to provide for the low cost and economical use and sharing of state property and equipment, including computers, research labs and other scientific and necessary equipment to assist any qualified business within an approved research park or zone or technology center. The commission shall approve a schedule of nominal or reduced-cost reimbursements to the state for such use.

(b) The governing boards shall develop and provide for a program of release time, sabbaticals or other forms of faculty involvement or participation with any qualifying business.

(c) The Legislature finds that cooperation, communication and coordination are integral components of higher education’s involvement in economic development. In order to proceed in a manner that is cost effective and time efficient, it is the duty of the commission to review and coordinate such aspects of the programs administered by the governing boards. The review and coordination may not operate to affect adversely sources of funding or any statutory characterization of any program as an independent entity.

§18B-13-6.

Repealed.

Acts, 1993 Reg. Sess., Ch. 47.

§18B-13-7.

Repealed.

Acts, 1993 Reg. Sess., Ch. 47.

§18B-13-8.

Repealed.

Acts, 1993 Reg. Sess., Ch. 47.

§18B-13-9.

Repealed.

Acts, 1993 Reg. Sess., Ch. 47.

§18B-13-10.

Repealed.

Acts, 1993 Reg. Sess., Ch. 47.

§18B-13-11.

Repealed.

Acts, 1993 Reg. Sess., Ch. 47.

§18B-13-12.

Repealed.

Acts, 1993 Reg. Sess., Ch. 47.

§18B-14-1. Select committee on outcomes-based funding models in higher education.

(a) The Legislature makes the following findings regarding public higher education:

(1) It is in the best interest of the citizens to have an effective and comprehensive system for the delivery of public higher education services. In order to achieve desired goals of economic growth and societal well being, it is critical that more citizens have some level of education beyond high school.

(2) In Senate Bill 595 (Vision 2020), enacted in 2008 regular session, state policymakers established detailed goals and objectives that state institutions are expected to work toward achieving by the year 2020. Vision 2020 also provides mechanisms for measuring success and for holding the state systems of higher education accountable. It establishes clear-cut connections between the budget cycle, the goals and objectives and both positive and negative consequences.

(3) A variety of policy tools are available to influence and direct public higher education behavior, including organizing institutions into functional systems, creating governance structures and mechanisms designed to ensure that these systems and individual institutions focus on the public policy agenda and establishing outcomes-based goals, accountability measures and regulatory devices.

(4) While these policy tools are useful, they are not sufficient to influence institutions, students and employers to behave in ways consistent with achieving the goals and objectives of Vision 2020 the public policy agenda. Resources appropriated to public higher education are used most effectively and efficiently when the attention of state colleges and universities is focused on meeting established priorities. This focus is developed and sustained only when the state financing policy contains a direct connection between the Legislature's power to appropriate money and desired institutional outcomes. Unlike rules which can be bent; law can be creatively interpreted; accountability requirements which can lose their effectiveness as they are filtered through layers of bureaucracy; and responsibility for implementation which is divided among agencies and, ultimately, is totally dependent upon institutional discretion, a financing policy that ties the flow of funds directly to progress on achieving established state goals and objectives commands immediate attention.

(b) It is the constitutional responsibility of the Legislature to determine how to make the best use of available resources to meet state needs and established goals; therefore, the Joint Committee on Government and Finance shall create a select committee for the two-fold purpose of making a specific and detailed analysis of outcomes-based funding models used in higher education and providing recommendations to the Legislature on incorporating one or more of these models as an effective piece of the state's financing policy.

(c) The select committee consists of the following members:

(1) The President of the Senate or designee;

(2) The Speaker of the House of Delegates or designee;

(3) The chairs of the Senate and House of Delegates Committees on Education, who shall cochair the committee;

(4) The vice chairs of the Senate and House of Delegates Committees on Education;

(5) The chairs of the Senate and House of Delegates Committees on Finance or their designees;

(6) The cochairs of the Joint Commission on Economic Development or their designees;

(7) Two members each from the Senate Committees on Finance and Education appointed by the President of the Senate; and

(8) Two members each from the House Committees on Finance and Education appointed by the Speaker of the House.

(d) The select committee shall develop a report with recommendations on implementing a state-level financing plan which includes, but is not limited to, the following items:

(1) A review of existing outcomes-based funding models for institutions and systems of higher education;

(2) Identification of the top three to five public policy objectives that are to be the focus of the financing policy;

(3) A review of outcomes-based funding models implemented in other states, including an evaluation of the degree to which these policies have succeeded in influencing institutional and system behavior;

(4) Recommendations on methods to balance the inherent need of institutions for stability with the demands of the state for services as identified in Vision 2020 and the public policy agenda;

(5) Recommendations on methods to develop a workable balance between addressing the well-being of institutions and the success of students; and

(6) An analysis of the impact of different models on institutions with widely-differing missions, including recommendations on selecting and implementing the appropriate model for each type of institution specifically noting the impact of selected models on community and technical colleges, baccalaureate colleges and regional universities, and research universities.

(e) The committee shall commence its work before May 15, 2012, and shall deliver its report and recommendations, together with draft legislation to implement the recommendations, to the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability and the Joint Committee on Government and Finance by December 1, 2012.

§18B-14-2. Transfer of credit for courses completed.

(a) The Legislature finds that:

(1) The state has an increasing need for individuals with a post-secondary credential or degree;

(2) Post-secondary education institutions offering programs primarily below the baccalaureate level often are a more affordable option for students; and

(3) Implementing a seamless education system with uniform transfer of credits among post-secondary institutions in the state would greatly benefit students.

(b) The commission and council jointly shall develop recommendations for implementing course credit transfer among private and public higher education institutions in the state. When developing policy regarding transfer affecting private institutions, the commission and council shall consult with at least two representatives from the private higher education institutions. The commission and council shall report the recommendations on public higher education institutions to the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability by December 1, 2015. The commission and council shall report the recommendations on private higher education instututions to the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability by December 1, 2017. The recommendations shall address the following:

(1) Providing a uniform method for transferring credit between institutions for a course successfully completed by a student if:

(A) The course curriculum of the sending institution is at least seventy percent the same or similar to that of the receiving institution;

(B) The sending institution validates that the student successfully competed the course for which credit will be transferred; and

(C) The sending institution is accredited by a regional, national, programmatic or other accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education under the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended;

(2) Establishing a uniform method for each institution to provide clear and specific details of course content for each course it offers in a manner that allows a sending institution to determine:

(A) Whether its course is at least seventy percent the same or similar to the receiving institution; and if not,

(B) What changes to its course curriculum is needed to achieve the seventy percent level;

(3) Providing to the student and sending institution clear and specific details regarding:

(A) Reasons that a receiving institution denies course credit transfer; and

(B) Additional information or actions, if any, necessary to permit the transfer; and

(4) Allowing a student to resubmit a course credit transfer request following denial.

§18B-14-3. College credit authorized for learning English as second language.

State Institutions of higher education are authorized to offer college credit hours for English learned as a second language and may accept English learned as a second language to satisfy an institution’s foreign language requirement. To obtain college credit the student must be enrolled in the institution granting credit and be certified as having reached a satisfactory score on the test of English as a foreign language.

The Higher Education Policy Commission and the Council for Community and Technical College Education shall jointly propose rules to set and identify scores required on the test of English as a foreign language for course credit being offered.

§18B-14-4. Dual enrollment pilot program established; definitions; funding; annual reporting.

(a) Definitions. – As used in this section, unless used in a context that clearly requires a different meaning, the term:

"Dual credit course" means a credit-bearing college-level course offered by an eligible institution to secondary school students in which the students receive credit at both the secondary and post-secondary levels.

"Dual enrollment" means the registration of an eligible secondary student in a post-secondary course creditable toward high school completion and a career technical certificate, associate degree, or baccalaureate degree. A student who is enrolled in post-secondary instruction that is not creditable toward a high school diploma may not be classified as a dual enrollment student.

"Eligible course" means any class or program of instruction offered at an eligible institution for which the student receives credit toward both high school completion and a post-secondary certificate or degree. Applied academics for adult education instruction, developmental education, physical education courses, and recreation and leisure studies courses are not eligible courses for dual enrollment purposes.

"Eligible institution" means a state institution of higher education as that term is defined in §18B-1-2 of this code.

"Eligible student" means any secondary school student, including a homeschool, charter school, microschool, learning pod, or private school student, who meets minimum criteria established by the state school board and the commission or the council, as appropriate, for the purpose of enrolling in a dual credit course.

(b) Dual enrollment pilot program established. – In conjunction with the state board and under the supervision of the commission and the council, the chancellor and the state superintendent shall establish a four-year pilot program whereby eligible institutions shall offer dual enrollment courses that will comprise individualized pathways for career and post-secondary educational opportunities for the state’s secondary school students. These students shall be enrolled in eligible courses leading to careers in certain designated career pathways, namely direct care health professions; information technology; science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields; education; advanced manufacturing; welding and fabrication; construction; agriculture; and any other program that meets a workforce need in the state as determined by the Department of Commerce.

(c) Funding. – From appropriations to the commission and the council for the purposes of implementing and administering the dual enrollment pilot program established in this section, the commission or the council, as appropriate, shall pay directly to the eligible institutions from such appropriations the cost of the tuition and academic fees incurred by eligible students taking dual credit courses in accordance with the dual enrollment pilot program established in this section.

(d) Rulemaking. – In consultation with the state board, the commission and council may propose legislative and emergency rules pursuant to §29A-3A-1 et seq. of this code to implement the provisions of this section.

(e) Annual reports. – By December 1, 2024, and annually thereafter for the duration of the pilot program, the chancellor shall report to the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability on:

(1) The number of students participating in the program;

(2) The number and type of credits and certifications or credentials earned by students who have participated in the program;

(3) The dollar amount expended associated with this program;

(4) Projected growth in the program and funding needs for the next year;

(5) The job status of students who have participated in the program;

(6) Any issues with the program reported by students, parents, secondary schools, and institutions of higher education; how these issues are being addressed; and whether the issues require legislative action; and

(7) A recommendation from the chancellor and the state superintendent on whether the program should continue beyond its four-year pilot period.

§18B-14-5.

Repealed.

Acts, 2010 Reg. Sess., Ch. 56.

§18B-14-5a.

Repealed.

Acts, 2010 Reg. Sess., Ch. 56.

§18B-14-6.

Repealed.

Acts, 2010 Reg. Sess., Ch. 56.

§18B-14-7.

Repealed.

Acts, 2010 Reg. Sess., Ch. 56.

§18B-14-8.

Repealed.

Acts, 2008 Reg. Sess., Ch. 87.

§18B-14-9. Legislative findings; establishment of study committee; membership; recommendations on higher education facilities.

(a) The Legislature finds that it is in the best interest of the state to have an effective and comprehensive system for the delivery of public higher education programs. West Virginia is one of the very few states in the nation which does not address higher education capital project and facilities maintenance needs through a statewide plan. State institutions of higher education vary widely in their ability to incur debt for capital projects and the conditions of their facilities infrastructure. Some institutions have incurred substantial amounts of debt to address capital needs, while other institutions have not.

The Legislature further finds that average tuition and fees for current and former administratively linked community and technical colleges rank well above the national average primarily because of the capital fees that students at those institutions have to pay. The large amount of capital fees that students must pay at the institution level contributes significantly to the poor grade the state receives each year in the category of "Affordability" on "Measuring Up: The National Report Card on Higher Education". Net college costs for state students who come from families in the lowest forty percent of the population in terms of income to attend community and technical colleges and four-year colleges and universities in West Virginia represent about forty-five percent of their family's annual income and there are few low-cost college opportunities.

The Legislature further finds that the high cost of capital fees contributes directly to the amount of debt incurred by students during their college years. The debt load, in turn, severely limits students' career choices and often dictates their place of residence after graduation.

(b) It is the responsibility of the Legislature to determine how to make the best use of available resources and how best to address the problems outlined in subsection (a) of this section. Therefore, the Joint Committee on Government and Finance shall create a committee for the purposes of making a specific and detailed analysis of higher education capital project and facilities maintenance needs and providing recommendations to the Legislature.

(c) The committee consists of the following members:

(1) The President of the Senate or designee;

(2) The Speaker of the House of Delegates or designee;

(3) The chairs of the Senate and House of Delegates Committees on Education, who shall cochair the committee;

(4) The vice chairs of the Senate and House of Delegates Committees on Education;

(5) The chairs of the Senate and House of Delegates Committees on Finance or their designees;

(6) The cochairs of the Joint Commission on Economic Development or their designees;

(7) Two members each from the Senate Committees on Finance and Education appointed by the President of the Senate; and

(8) Two members each from the House Committees on Finance and Education appointed by the Speaker of the House.

(d) The committee shall develop and recommend a state-level facilities plan which includes, but is not limited to, the following:

(1) A review of capital project and facilities maintenance needs of all state institutions of higher education and recommendations for addressing those needs;

(2) Recommendations concerning the appropriate capital debt load that reasonably should be maintained by the commission, council and state institutions of higher education;

(3) Recommendations for a funding mechanism to reduce the obligation of students and parents to bear the cost of higher education capital projects and facilities maintenance;

(4) Recommendations for maximizing changes in bonding capacity that will occur in 2012;

(5) Development of a uniform definition of deferred maintenance;

(6) Recommendations for an appropriate mechanism to target a percentage of state capital contributions to address deferred maintenance needs; and

(7) Recommendations for a transparent methodology to set priorities for funding capital projects.

(e) The committee shall commence its work on or before May 15, 2008, and shall deliver its recommendations, together with draft legislation to implement the recommendations, to the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability and the Joint Committee on Government and Finance by December 1, 2008.

§18B-14-10. Credit card solicitation on college campuses; regulation of credit card marketing.

(a) Definitions. -– For the purposes of this section, the following terms have the following meanings:

(1) "College campus" includes the premises and grounds of an institution of higher education;

(2) "Credit card debt education brochure" means the information developed by a college or university, by a registered nonprofit corporation or by other sources as identified and approved by the institution of higher education, that details the appropriate use, benefits and risks of incurring debt through the use of credit cards;

(3) "Credit card marketer" includes a person, corporation, financial institution or business entity that promotes, offers or accepts applications for a credit card;

(4) "Institution of higher education" means any of the following:

(i) A community college or technical college as defined in subsection (e), section two, article one of this chapter; and

(ii) Bluefield state college, Concord college, Glenville state college, Fairmont state college, Marshall university, West Virginia northern community college, West Liberty state college, Potomac state college of West Virginia University, Shepherd college, West Virginia University institute of technology, southern West Virginia community institute of technology, West Virginia University at Parkersburg, West Virginia school of osteopathic medicine, West Virginia state college, West Virginia University and all branch campuses of these institutions of higher education; and

(5) "Student" means a person who is at least eighteen years of age and who attends an institution of higher education whether on a full-time or part-time basis.

(b) The governing boards of each institution shall propose rules in accordance with the rule adopted by the Higher Education Policy Commission pursuant to the provisions of section six, article one of this chapter no later than July 1, 2003, to regulate the marketing practices used on campuses by credit card companies. In proposing these rules, the governing boards shall consider the following requirements:

(1) Registering on-campus credit card marketers;

(2) Limiting credit card marketers to specific institutional campus sites designated by the president or administrative head of the institution or his or her designee;

(3) Prohibiting credit card marketers from offering tangible gifts to students in exchange for completing a credit card application;

(4) Requiring that no application for the extension of debt through a credit card may be made available to a student unless the application is accompanied by a credit card debt education brochure;

(5) Whether or not to use or the appropriate use of student lists for the purpose of soliciting applications for credit cards; and

(6) Developing a credit card debt education presentation to be incorporated into orientation programs offered to new students.

(c) Unless a student's parent or guardian has agreed in writing to be liable as a cosigner for credit card debts of the student, no person may initiate a debt collection action against the parent or guardian regarding any credit card debt incurred by the student.

§18B-14-11.

Repealed.

Acts, 2015 Reg. Sess., Ch. 53.

§18B-15-1. Severability.

Pursuant to section ten, article two, chapter two of this code, if any provision of this chapter or the application thereof to any person or circumstance is held unconstitutional or invalid, such unconstitutionality or invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications of the chapter, and to this end the provisions of this chapter are declared to be severable.

§18B-16-1. Short title.

This article shall be known and may be cited as "The Rural Health Initiative Act of 1991."

§18B-16-2. Legislative findings and declarations.

(a) The Legislature hereby finds and declares that the health of the citizens of West Virginia is of paramount importance; that the education of health care professionals must be reshaped; that the delivery of health care services must be improved; that refocusing health sciences education will aid in the recruitment of health care professionals and their retention in the state; that the educational process should incorporate clinical experience in rural areas and provide improved availability of health care services throughout the state, especially in rural areas; and that the state investment in such education and services must be contained within reasonable limits.

(b) The Legislature further hereby finds and declares that the vice chancellor for health sciences shall provide an integral link among the advisory panel created in section six of this article, the health sciences programs at the state institutions of higher education, the governing boards of the state's institutions of higher education and the joint commission for vocational-technical-occupational education to assure cooperation and the coordination of efforts to effectuate the goals set forth in section four of this article.

(c) It is the further finding of the Legislature that the appropriations pursuant to section eight of this article are made with the understanding that the educational and clinical programs existing at the schools of medicine on the effective date of this section, as well as the goals of this article, will be met without requests for increases in the annual appropriations through the fiscal year beginning on July 1, 1995, with the exception of requested increases in appropriations for the purpose of meeting any increases in the salaries of personnel as may be given to other employees at state institutions of higher education under the board of trustees.

(d) The Legislature further finds that there is a serious need throughout the state for a greater number of primary care physicians and allied health care professionals and a serious need for improved accessibility to adequate health care throughout the state, especially in rural areas; that the state's medical schools are finding it difficult to satisfy the ever increasing demand for qualified persons to deliver these health care services; and that the state's institutions of higher education and rural health care facilities existing throughout the state are a major educational resource for training students in these health care services, as well as a major resource for providing health care to underserved citizens of this state.

(e) The Legislature further finds that in order to provide adequate health care in rural communities there must be a cooperative initiative among educators, physicians, mid-level providers, allied health care providers and the rural communities.

(f) The Legislature further finds that the rural health initiative and the Kellogg program have together implemented a nationally acclaimed, highly successful effort to enable the health professions schools to serve the rural and primary care health needs of the state and should be continued as a single program within the office of the vice chancellor for health sciences.

§18B-16-3. Definitions.

For purposes of this article, and in addition to the definitions set forth in section two, article one of this chapter, the terms used in this article have the following definitions ascribed to them:

(a) "Advisory panel" or "panel" means the West Virginia rural health advisory panel created under section six of this article.

(b) "Allied health care" means health care other than that provided by physicians, nurses, dentists and mid-level providers and includes, but is not limited to, care provided by clinical laboratory personnel, physical therapists, occupational therapists, respiratory therapists, medical records personnel, dietetic personnel, radiologic personnel, speech-language-hearing personnel and dental hygienists.

(c) "Mid-level provider" includes, but is not limited to, advanced nurse practitioners, nurse-midwives and physician assistants.

(d) "Office of community and rural health services" means that agency, staff or office within the Department of Health which has as its primary focus the delivery of rural health care.

(e) "Primary care" means basic or general health care which emphasizes the point when the patient first seeks assistance from the medical care system and the care of the simpler and more common illnesses. This type of care is generally rendered by family practice physicians, general practice physicians, general internists, obstetricians, pediatricians, psychiatrists and mid-level providers.

(f) "Primary health care education sites" or "sites", whether the term is used in the plural or singular, means those rural health care facilities established for the provision of educational and clinical experiences pursuant to section seven of this article.

 (g) "Rural health care facilities" or "facilities", whether the term is used in the plural or singular, means nonprofit, free-standing primary care clinics in medically underserved or health professional shortage areas and nonprofit rural hospitals with one hundred or less licensed acute care beds located in a nonstandard metropolitan statistical area.

 (h) "Schools of medicine" means the West Virginia University school of medicine, which is the school of health sciences; the Marshall school of medicine, which is the Marshall medical school; and the West Virginia school of osteopathic medicine.

(i) "Vice chancellor" means the vice chancellor for health sciences provided for under section six, article two of this chapter.

§18B-16-4. Establishment of rural health initiative; goals of rural health initiative.

There is hereby established a rural health initiative under the auspices of the board of trustees and under the direction and administration of the vice chancellor. This initiative shall combine the efforts of the rural health initiative as created by this article in the year one thousand nine hundred ninety-one, and the Kellogg program as administered by the vice chancellor before the effective date of this section. The goals of the rural health initiative include, but are not limited to:

(a) The development of at least six primary health care education sites;

(b) The establishment of satellite programs from the primary health care education sites to provide additional opportunities for students and medical residents to serve under role models in rural areas;

(c) The provision of training to all medical students under the direction of primary care physicians practicing in rural areas;

(d) The provision of admission preferences for qualified students entering primary care in needed specialties in underserved areas;

(e) The creation of medical residency rotations in hospitals and clinics in rural areas and the provision of incentives to medical residents to accept the residencies at these hospitals and clinics;

(f) The placement of mid-level providers in rural communities and the provision of support to the mid-level providers;

(g) The extension of rural hospital physician respite loan programs to rural primary health care clinics;

(h) The development of innovative programs which enhance student interest in rural health care opportunities;

(i) The increased placement of primary care physicians in underserved areas;

(j) The increased retention of obstetrical providers and the availability of prenatal care;

(k) The increased use of underserved areas of the state in the educational process;

(l) An increase in the number of support services provided to rural practitioners;

(m) An increase in the retention rate of graduates from West Virginia medical schools, nursing schools and allied health care education programs;

(n) The development of effective health promotion and disease prevention programs to enhance wellness; and

(o) The establishment of primary health care education sites which complement existing community health care resources and which do not relocate the fundamental responsibility for health care from the community to the board of trustees.

§18B-16-5. Powers and duties of the vice chancellor.

In addition to all other duties assigned to the vice chancellor by the Higher Education Policy Commission, the vice chancellor shall:

(a) Provide assistance to communities in planning an educational and clinical component for the primary health care education sites;

(b) Coordinate and approve the provision of faculty members, students, interns and residents at the education sites;

(c) Report directly to the Higher Education Policy Commission regarding the rural health initiative;

(d) Oversee the administration of the Kellogg foundation grant;

(e) Coordinate the rural health initiative with the allied health care education programs within the state college and community college systems;

(f) Prepare the budget for the rural health initiative and submit the budget to the Higher Education Policy Commission for their approval;

(g) Distribute the funds which were appropriated to the Higher Education Policy Commission for the rural health initiative;

(h) Mediate any disputes between the institutions of higher education regarding the rural health initiative;

(i) Consult with the Council for Community and Technical College Education established under §18B-2B-3 of this code on the coordination of the education of student practical nurses with the rural health initiative; and

(j) Perform such other duties as may be prescribed by this article or as may be necessary to effectuate the provisions of this article.

§18B-16-6. Nursing Education and Workforce Development Programs.

(a) There is hereby created within the commission an office of nursing education and workforce development for the purpose of addressing the issues of education, recruitment, and retention of nurses in West Virginia. The commission is the state’s designated nursing workforce center.

(b) The duties of the office shall include, but are not limited to:

(1) Promoting and coordinating, through the schools of nursing in the state’s institutions of higher education, opportunities for nurses prepared at the certificate, associate degree, and bachelor degree levels to obtain higher degrees;

(2) Supporting initiatives for expansion of nursing programs;

(3) Administering the nursing scholarship program designed to benefit nurses who practice or teach in state nursing programs as provided in §18C-3-4 of this code;

(4) Gathering, quantifying, and disseminating dependable data on current nursing educational programs and workforce capacities; and

(5) Performing other activities necessary or expedient to accomplish the purposes and implement the provisions of this section and §18C-3-4 of this code.

§18B-16-6b.

Repealed.

Acts, 2010 Reg. Sess., Ch. 32.

§18B-16-7. Establishment and operation of primary health care education sites.

(a) In addition to the authority granted elsewhere in this chapter, the board of trustees is authorized and directed to establish at least six primary health care education sites at existing rural health care facilities at which students, interns and residents in health sciences and allied health care education programs may be provided educational and clinical experiences. The board of trustees shall establish at least six sites prior to January 1, 1994. The vice chancellor shall, where practicable, and based upon recommendations of the joint commission on vocational-technical-occupational education established in section one, article three-a of this chapter, allow for the provision of educational experience to student practical nurses at the primary health care education sites.

(b) The advisory panel and the vice chancellor shall carefully analyze prospective sites so that the selection of the primary health care education sites and their satellites meet the ultimate goals of expanding rural health care without adversely impacting on existing health care providers or facilities.

(c) The advisory panel and the vice chancellor shall employ an open and competitive process in selecting locations for primary health care education sites and shall observe as criteria the following factors: (1) The degree of community interest, support and involvement in seeking award of the site; (2) qualification as a medically underserved or health professional shortage area; (3) the financial need of the community; (4) statewide geographic dispersion; (5) the amount of local financial support available to initiate and continue the site, including the possibility of the site's being financially self-sufficient within a reasonable period of time; (6) the adequacy of facilities available to accommodate the health sciences and allied health care education program; (7) consistency with planning efforts of the office of rural health and the health care planning commission; (8) the amount and manner in which health care needs unique to West Virginia are addressed and will be addressed; (9) the degree to which state institutions of higher education cooperate in the health care education site; (10) the number of patients and patient encounters; (11) the number of existing health care providers in the area and the degree to which the rural health care facility will work with and impact on those health care providers; and (12) the level of networking among local health care providers serving the area.

(d) The vice chancellor shall select the primary health care education sites from the list of recommendations made by the advisory panel in accordance with section six of this article. The vice chancellor shall communicate his or her selection to the board of trustees for final approval by the board. The vice chancellor shall notify the advisory panel and the board of trustees regarding the extent to which the panel's recommendations were adopted by the vice chancellor and his or her reasons for rejecting any recommendations of the panel.

(e) The board of trustees may enter into a contractual relationship with each primary health care education site, which shall be in accordance with such laws as may apply to publicly funded partnerships with private, nonprofit entities and the provisions of section three, article five of this chapter.

§18B-16-8. Allocation of appropriations.

(a) The primary health care education sites established under this article shall be supported financially in part from line item appropriations to the university of West Virginia health sciences account. Funds shall be distributed to the state’s schools of medicine upon consideration of the recommendations of the vice chancellor. Appropriations to the university of West Virginia health sciences account to support the rural health initiative shall be by line item, with at least one line item designated for primary health education program support at the schools of medicine and at least one line item designated for rural health initiative site support.

 (b) The vice chancellor shall require each school of medicine to submit a detailed proposal which shall state, with specificity, how each school of medicine will be working to further the goals and meet the criteria set forth in this article and the amount of appropriation which would be needed by each school to implement the proposal.

The vice chancellor shall, giving consideration to the proposals, prepare a comprehensive plan to be presented to the board of trustees, which plan shall include a recommendation for allocations of moneys appropriated for program support and a recommendation for the allocation of moneys designated for support of the primary health care education sites commensurate with each school’s level of participation in such sites.

(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of §12-3-12 of this code, any funds appropriated to the Higher Education Policy Commission in accordance with the provisions of this section that remain unallocated or unexpended at the end of any fiscal year shall not expire, shall remain in the line item to which they were originally appropriated and shall be available in the next fiscal year to the board of trustees or a school of medicine for allocation or expenditure for the purposes of this article.

(d) Additional financial support shall come from fees generated by services, from grants and contracts, and from community resources. Any fees so generated shall be paid to and expended by the facility established as a primary health care education site unless an alternative fee arrangement is mutually agreed upon by the chief administrator of the site and the vice chancellor for health sciences.

§18B-16-9. Accountability; reports and audit required.

(a) The vice chancellor, with the assistance of the advisory panel, shall report in detail to the board of trustees on the expenditure and planned expenditure of public funds to the schools of medicine under section eight of this article. The board of trustees shall report to the Governor, the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Delegates annually prior to December 1, as a part of the higher education report cards required by section eight-a, article one of this chapter.

(b) The vice chancellor, with the guidance and recommendations of the advisory panel, shall develop additional performance indicators, including, but not limited to: (1) An analysis of the health care needs of the targeted areas; (2) the number of persons served and the nature of the services provided; (3) the number of full-time and part-time faculty, students, interns and residents, by discipline, participating in the health science and allied health care education programs; (4) the number of health providers in each community served by primary health care education sites; (5) the financial, social and health status changes in each community served by primary health care education sites; and (6) the extent to which the plans and policies of the office of rural health and the health care planning commission are being effectuated. The vice chancellor shall provide information on the performance indicators to the board of trustees for inclusion in the higher education accountability report card for health sciences provided for in section eight-a, article one of this chapter.

(c) The advisory panel shall report at least annually to the joint Legislative Oversight commission on education accountability created under section eleven, article three-a, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code and to the area health education centers subcommittee of the Joint Committee on Government and Finance regarding the status of the rural health care initiative, paying particular attention to the role of the communities.

(d) The vice chancellor shall report at least annually to the joint Legislative Oversight commission on education accountability created under section eleven, article three-a, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code and to the area health education centers subcommittee of the Joint Committee on Government and Finance regarding the status of the rural health care initiative, paying particular attention to the role of the schools of medicine.

(e) The board of trustees shall facilitate a meeting at least quarterly for the chief administrators of each primary health care education site established pursuant to this article and each chief administrator at other rural health care facilities providing educational and clinical experiences to students, interns and residents at the state's schools of medicine. The meetings shall commence no later than July 1, 1992, and shall be for the purpose of discussing the status, efficiency and effectiveness of the various programs and their operation and recommending any changes to the board of trustees, which may include statutory recommendations to be made to the Legislature.

In addition to the reports otherwise required and commencing with a report for the fiscal year beginning on July 1, 1991, the chief administrators shall submit to the board of trustees an annual evaluation of the extent to which the goals set forth in section four of this article and other goals relating to collaborative efforts between the schools of medicine and rural health care facilities are being attained. Such report shall be forwarded annually in its entirety to the Governor, the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Delegates no later than January 15, .

(f) The Legislative Auditor, at the direction of the Joint Committee on Government and Finance, shall perform on an ongoing basis a fiscal audit of the medical education components within the university of West Virginia system, the state college system and the rural health initiative for periodic review by the Legislature.

§18B-17-1. Legislative authorization; effective date of rules; technical deficiencies waived.

(a) Under the provisions of article three-a, chapter twenty-nine-a of the Code of West Virginia, the Legislature expressly authorizes the promulgation of the rules described in this article, subject only to the limitations set forth with respect to each rule in the section or sections of this chapter authorizing its promulgation. The Legislature further declares that all rules now or hereafter authorized in this article are within the legislative intent of the statute which the rule is intended to implement, extend, apply or interpret.

(b) The effective date of the legislative rules authorized in this article is governed by the provisions of section fourteen, article three-a, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code unless the governing board promulgating the rules establishes an effective date which is earlier than that provided by that section, in which case the effective date established by the governing board shall control, unless the Legislature, in the bill authorizing the rules, establishes an effective date for the rules, in which case the effective date established by the Legislature controls.

(c) The Legislature further declares each legislative rule now or hereafter authorized under this article to have been validly promulgated, notwithstanding any failure to comply with any requirement of article three-a, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code relating to the promulgation of rules at any stage of the promulgation process prior to authorization by the Legislature in this article.

§18B-17-2. Authorizing rules of Higher Education Policy Commission.

(a) The legislative rule filed in the State Register on October 15, 2004, relating to the Higher Education Policy Commission (Underwood-Smith Teacher Scholarship Program rule), is authorized.

(b) The legislative rule filed in the State Register on October 15, 2004, relating to the Higher Education Policy Commission (West Virginia Engineering, Science, and Technology Scholarship Program rule), is authorized.

(c) The legislative rule filed in the State Register on October 15, 2004, relating to the Higher Education Policy Commission (Medical Education Fee and Medical Student Loan Program rule), is authorized.

(d) The legislative rule filed in the State Register on October 27, 2005, relating to the Higher Education Policy Commission (authorization of degree-granting institutions), is authorized.

(e) The legislative rule filed in the State Register on August 23, 2006, relating to the Higher Education Policy Commission (West Virginia Higher Education Grant Program), is authorized.

(f) The legislative rule filed in the State Register on January 4, 2008, relating to the Higher Education Policy Commission (Providing Real Opportunities for Maximizing In-state Student Excellence - PROMISE), is authorized.

(g) The legislative rule filed in the State Register on August 25, 2008, relating to the Higher Education Policy Commission (Research Trust Program), is authorized.

(h) The legislative rule filed in the State Register on January 8, 2009, relating to the Higher Education Policy Commission (Guidelines for Governing Boards in Employing and Evaluating Presidents), is authorized.

(i) The legislative rule filed in the State Register on September 10, 2008, relating to the Higher Education Policy Commission (Medical Student Loan Program), is authorized, with the following amendment:

On page two, subsection 5.1, following the words "financial aid office" by inserting a new subdivision 5.1.3 to read as follows: "United States citizenship or legal immigrant status while actively pursuing United States citizenship.".

(j) The legislative rule filed in the State Register on December 1, 2008, relating to the Higher Education Policy Commission (West Virginia Higher Education Grant Program), is authorized.

(k) The legislative rule filed in the State Register on January 26, 2009, relating to the Higher Education Policy Commission (Accountability System), is authorized.

(l) The legislative rule filed in the State Register on May 20, 2009, relating to the Higher Education Policy Commission (Energy and Water Savings Revolving Loan Fund Program), is authorized.

(m) The legislative rule filed in the State Register on January 27, 2010, relating to the Higher Education Policy Commission (Providing Real Opportunities for Maximizing In-state Student Excellence - PROMISE), is authorized.

(n) The legislative rule filed in the State Register on December 8, 2010, relating to the Higher Education Policy Commission (authorization of degree-granting institutions), is authorized, with the following amendment:

On page 28, subsection 9.1.b, following the words "Good cause shall consist of" by inserting the words "any one or more of the following".

(o) The legislative rule filed in the State Register on December 12, 2011, relating to the Higher Education Policy Commission (Tuition and Fee Policy), is authorized.

(p) The legislative rule filed in the State Register on August 10, 2012, relating to the Higher Education Policy Commission (authorization of degree-granting institutions), is authorized.

(q) The legislative rule filed in the State Register on August 10, 2012, relating to the Higher Education Policy Commission (annual reauthorization of degree-granting institutions), is authorized.

(r) The legislative rule filed in the State Register on March 20, 2013, relating to the Higher Education Policy Commission (Human Resources Administration), is authorized.

(s) The legislative rule filed in the State Register on January 24, 2014, relating to the Higher Education Policy Commission (Capital Project Management), is authorized.

(t) The legislative rule filed in the State Register on April 4, 2014, relating to the Higher Education Policy Commission (Underwood-Smith Teacher Scholarship Program), is authorized.

(u) The legislative rule filed in the State Register on August 4, 2014, relating to the Higher Education Policy Commission (Nursing Scholarship Program), is authorized.

(v) The legislative rule filed in the State Register on October 28, 2015, relating to the Higher Education Policy Commission (Underwood-Smith Teacher Scholarship Program), is authorized.

(w) The legislative rule filed in the State Register on October 28, 2015, relating to the Higher Education Policy Commission (Nursing Scholarship Program), is authorized.

(x) The legislative rule filed in the State Register on December 20, 2016, relating to the Higher Education Policy Commission (West Virginia Higher Education Grant Program), is authorized.

(y) The legislative rule filed in the State Register on December 20, 2016, relating to the Higher Education Policy Commission (Providing Real Opportunities for Maximizing In-state Student Excellence - PROMISE), is authorized.

(z) The legislative rule filed in the State Register on December 20, 2016, relating to the Higher Education Policy Commission (Research Trust Fund Program), is authorized.

(aa) The legislative rule filed in the State Register on December 20, 2016, relating to the Higher Education Policy Commission (annual reauthorization of degree-granting institutions), is authorized.

(bb) The legislative rule filed in the State Register on January 16, 2018, relating to the Higher Education Policy Commission (Tuition and Fee Policy), is authorized.

(cc) The legislative rule filed in the State Register on January 16, 2018, relating to the Higher Education Policy Commission (Human Resources Administration), is authorized.

(dd) The legislative rule filed in the State Register on January 22, 2018, relating to the Higher Education Policy Commission (Capital Project Management), is authorized, with the following amendments:

On page one, subsection 2.1, by striking out all of subdivision 2.1.d. and inserting in lieu thereof a new subdivision 2.1.d., to read as follows: "Efficient use of existing classroom and other space by institutions, while maintaining an appropriate deference to the value judgments of the institutional governing boards".;

On page seven, subsection 4.2, by striking out all of subdivision 4.2.d.5. and inserting in lieu thereof a new subdivision 4.2.d.5., to read as follows: "Funding will be prioritized for each institution in accordance with institutional plans confirmed by the Commission or approved by the Council.";

On page seven, subsection 4.2, by striking out all of subdivision 4.2.d.6. and inserting in lieu thereof a new subdivision 4.2.d.6., to read as follows: "Facility utilization rates will be an important factor in prioritizing capital projects across the systems.";

On page seven, subsection 4.2, by striking out all of subdivision 4.2.d.7. and inserting in lieu thereof a new subdivision 4.2.d.7., to read as follows: "Institutions with overall net asset values and capacity utilization rates that exceed or equal thresholds set annually by the Commission and Council are the presumptive priority for new facilities. If these projects do not replace an existing facility, they would be included in the Program Improvement category."; and

On pages 10-11, section 5, by striking out all of subdivision 5.6. and inserting in lieu thereof a new subdivision 5.6., to read as follows: "A governing board may not implement a campus development plan or plan update that has not been confirmed by the Commission or approved by the Council, as appropriate. The purchase of any property for the construction of a facility that is not included in the campus development plan creates an update to the campus development plan that must be confirmed by the Commission or approved by the Council, as appropriate, prior to its purchase. In the case of institutions governed by the Council, this provision applies equally to property acquired by any means, whether by purchase or otherwise.".

(ee) The legislative rule filed in the State Register on January 22, 2019, relating to the Higher Education Policy Commission (Acceptance of Advanced Placement Credit), is repealed.

(ff) The legislative rule filed in the State Register on January 22, 2019, relating to the Higher Education Policy Commission (Human Resources Administration), is repealed.

(gg) The legislative rule filed in the State Register on August 28, 2018, relating to the Higher Education Policy Commission (Guidelines for Governing Boards in Employing and Evaluating Presidents), is authorized.

(hh) The legislative rule filed in the State Register on August 7, 2018, relating to the Higher Education Policy Commission (Providing Real Opportunities for Maximizing In-state Student Excellence (PROMISE) Scholarship Program), is authorized, with the following amendments:

On page one, subsection 2.1, by striking out all of subdivision 2.1.a. and inserting in lieu thereof a new subdivision 2.1.a., to read as follows: "Must complete high school graduation requirements at a West Virginia public, private or home school unless he or she qualified as a military dependent under Section 5 of this rule, or has commuted to an out-of-state school pursuant to Section 6 of this rule; and";

On page one, subsection 2.1, by striking out all of subdivision 2.1.b. and inserting in lieu thereof a new subdivision 2.1.b., to read as follows: "Must complete at least one half of the credits required for high school graduation through attendance at a public, private or home school in this state, unless he or she qualified as a military dependent under Section 5 of this rule, or has commuted to an out-of-state school pursuant to Section 6 of this rule; and";

On page one, subdivision 2.1.c., by striking out the words "Section 5" and inserting in lieu thereof the words "Section 4";

On page one, subsection 2.1, by striking out all of subdivision 2.1.d. and inserting in lieu thereof a new subdivision 2.1.d., to read as follows: "Must have attained a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, based on county board grading policies, in both core courses and overall coursework required for graduation by the State Board of Education, while enrolled in a public or private high school. If home-schooled pursuant to the exemption allowed by W.Va. Code §18-8-1 as documented by the county school board system, the applicant must have completed in both the 11th and 12th grades the required core and elective coursework necessary to prepare students for success in postsecondary education at the associate and baccalaureate levels by attaining a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 grading scale in both core courses and overall coursework as determined by the Commission; and";

On page one, subsection 2.1, subdivision 2.1.f., preceding the words "have resided in West Virginia", by striking out the word "Must" and inserting in lieu thereof the words "The applicant and his or her parent or legal guardian must" ;

On page one, subdivision 2.1.f., by striking out the words "Section 5" and inserting in lieu thereof the words "Section 4";

On page one, subdivision 2.1.f., by striking out the words "Section 6" and inserting in lieu thereof the words "Section 5";

On page two, subsection 2.4., by striking out the words "Section 10.7 or 10.8" and inserting in lieu thereof the words "Section 9.7 or 9.8";

On page two, subsection 2.5, by striking out the words "Section 8" and inserting in lieu thereof the words "Section 7";

On page two, subsection 2.5, by striking out the words "Section 10" and inserting in lieu thereof the words "Section 9";

On page two, by striking out all of section 3 and renumbering the remaining sections accordingly;

On page three, subsection 4.4, by striking out the words "Section 14" and inserting in lieu thereof the words "Section 13";

On page five-six, subsection 10.6, by striking out the words "Section 10.3" and inserting in lieu thereof the words "Section 9.3";

On page six, subsection 10.6, by striking out the words "Section 10.2" and inserting in lieu thereof the words "Section 9.2";

On page six, subsection 10.9.c., by striking out the words "Section 5" and inserting in lieu thereof the words "Section 4"; and

On page eight, subsection 15.1.b, by striking out the words "Section 11.1" and inserting in lieu thereof the words "Section 10.1".

(ii) The legislative rule filed in the State Register on September 30, 2019, relating to the Higher Education Policy Commission (Higher Education Accountability System) is authorized.

(jj) The legislative rule filed in the State Register on November 5, 2019, relating to the Higher Education Policy Commission (Underwood-Smith Teaching Scholars Program and Teacher Education Loan Repayment Program) is authorized.

(kk) The legislative rule filed in the State Register on October 4, 2019, relating to the Higher Education Policy Commission (Accountability System) is repealed.

(ll) The legislative rule filed in the State Register on July 29, 2020, relating to the Higher Education Policy Commission (Mental Health Loan Repayment Program) is authorized, with the following amendments:

On page one, subdivision 3.1.b., after the words "family therapist," by inserting the words "psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner,";

On page two, subsection 6.1., by striking out the words "at least" and inserting in lieu thereof the words "up to"; and

On page three, subsection 9.1., after the words "family therapists" by inserting the words "psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners,".

(mm) The legislative rule filed in the State Register on March 11, 2021, relating to the Higher Education Policy Commission (Administrative Exemption) is authorized.

(nn) The legislative rule filed in the State Register on May 5, 2021, relating to the Higher Education Policy Commission (Research Trust Fund Program) is authorized.

(oo) The legislative rule filed in the State Register on May 5, 2021, relating to the Higher Education Policy Commission (Annual Reauthorization of Degree-Granting Institutions) is authorized.

(pp) The legislative rule filed in the State Register on July 29, 2022, relating to the Higher Education Policy Commission (Performance-Based Funding Formula) is authorized.

(qq) The legislative rule filed in the State Register on June 14, 2022, relating to the Higher Education Policy Commission (Capital Project Management) is authorized.

(rr) The legislative rule filed in the State Register on July 29, 2022, relating to the Higher Education Policy Commission (Tuition and Fee Policy) is authorized.

(ss) The legislative rule filed in the State Register on June 14, 2022, relating to the Higher Education Policy Commission (Higher Education Grant Program) is authorized.

(tt) The legislative rule filed in the State Register on July 29, 2022, relating to the Higher Education Policy Commission (Annual Reauthorization of Degree-Granting Institutions) is authorized.

(uu) The legislative rule filed in the State Register on June 14, 2022, relating to the Higher Education Policy Commission (Human Resources Administration) is authorized.

(vv) The legislative rule filed in the State Register on July 25, 2023, relating to the Higher Education Policy Commission (Guidelines for Employing and Evaluating Presidents) is authorized.

(ww) The legislative rule filed in the State Register on September 12, 2023, relating to the Higher Education Policy Commission (Higher Education Adult Part-Time Student (HEAPS) Grant Program).

(xx) The legislative rule filed in the State Register on July 26, 2023, relating to the Higher Education Policy Commission (West Virginia Providing Real Opportunities for Maximizing In-State Student Excellence (PROMISE) Scholarship Program) is authorized.

(yy) The legislative rule filed in the State Register on July 28, 2023, relating to the Higher Education Policy Commission (Dual Enrollment Pilot Program) is authorized.

(zz) The legislative rule filed in the State Register on July 24, 2023, relating to the Higher Education Policy Commission (West Virginia Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) Scholarship Program) is authorized.

(aaa) The legislative rule filed in the State Register on July 24, 2023, relating to the Higher Education Policy Commission (West Virginia Higher Education Grant Program) is authorized.

(bbb) The legislative rule filed in the State Register on July 24, 2023, relating to the Higher Education Policy Commission (Nursing Scholarship Program) is authorized.

§18B-17-3. Authorizing rules of the Council for Community and Technical College Education.

(a) The legislative rule filed in the State Register on September 29, 2004, relating to the West Virginia Council for Community and Technical College Education (performance indicators), is authorized.

(b) The legislative rule filed in the State Register on October 13, 2005, relating to the West Virginia Council for Community and Technical College Education (authorization of degree-granting institutions), is authorized.

(c) The legislative rule filed in the State Register on October 30, 2006, relating to the West Virginia Council for Community and Technical College Education (Workforce Development Initiative Program), is authorized.

(d) The legislative rule filed in the State Register on December 4, 2008, relating to the West Virginia Council for Community and Technical College Education (Employing and Evaluating Presidents), is authorized.

(e) The legislative rule filed in the State Register on December 23, 2008, relating to the West Virginia Council for Community and Technical College Education (performance indicators), is authorized.

(f) The legislative rule filed in the State Register on February 5, 2009, relating to the West Virginia Council for Community and Technical College Education (finance), is authorized.

(g) The legislative rule filed in the State Register on February 5, 2009, relating to the West Virginia Council for Community and Technical College Education (Accountability System), is authorized.

(h) The legislative rule filed in the State Register on June 15, 2011, relating to the West Virginia Council for Community and Technical College Education (Workforce Development Initiative Program), is authorized.

(i) The legislative rule filed in the State Register on October 26, 2011, relating to the West Virginia Council for Community and Technical College Education (Tuition and Fees), is authorized.

(j) The legislative rule filed in the State Register on October 17, 2012, relating to the West Virginia Council for Community and Technical College Education (authorization of degree-granting institutions), is authorized.

(k) The legislative rule filed in the State Register on October 17, 2012, relating to the West Virginia Council for Community and Technical College Education (annual reauthorization of degree-granting institutions), is authorized.

(l) The legislative rule filed in the State Register on March 21, 2013, relating to the West Virginia Council for Community and Technical College Education (Human Resources Administration), is authorized.

(m) The legislative rule filed in the State Register on August 21, 2012, relating to the West Virginia Council for Community and Technical College Education (West Virginia EDGE Program), is authorized.

(n) The legislative rule filed in the State Register on January 28, 2014, relating to the West Virginia Council for Community and Technical College Education (Capital Project Management), is authorized.

(o) The legislative rule filed in the State Register on January 18, 2017, relating to the West Virginia Council for Community and Technical College Education (annual reauthorization of degree-granting institutions), is authorized.

(p) The legislative rule filed in the State Register on January 18, 2017, relating to the West Virginia Council for Community and Technical College Education (Business, Occupational, and Trade Schools), is authorized.

(q) The legislative rule filed in the State Register on January 26, 2018, relating to the West Virginia Council for Community and Technical College Education (Human Resources Administration), is authorized.

(r) The legislative rule filed in the State Register on January 26, 2018, relating to the West Virginia Council for Community and Technical College Education (Capital Project Management), is authorized, with the following amendments:

On page one, subsection 2.1, by striking out all of subdivision 2.1.d. and inserting in lieu thereof a new subdivision 2.1.d., to read as follows: "Efficient use of existing classroom and other space by institutions, while maintaining an appropriate deference to the value judgments of the institutional governing boards.";

On page seven, subsection 4.2, by striking out all of subdivision 4.2.d.5. and inserting in lieu thereof a new subdivision 4.2.d.5., to read as follows: "Funding will be prioritized for each institution in accordance with institutional plans confirmed by the Commission or approved by the Council.";

On page seven, subsection 4.2, by striking out all of subdivision 4.2.d.6. and inserting in lieu thereof a new subdivision 4.2.d.6., to read as follows: "Facility utilization rates will be an important factor in prioritizing capital projects across the systems.";

On page seven, subsection 4.2, by striking out all of subdivision 4.2.d.7. and inserting in lieu thereof a new subdivision 4.2.d.7., to read as follows: "Institutions with overall net asset values and capacity utilization rates that exceed or equal thresholds set annually by the Commission and Council are the presumptive priority for new facilities. If these projects do not replace an existing facility, they would be included in the Program Improvement category."; and

On pages 10-11, section 5, by striking out all of subdivision 5.6. and inserting in lieu thereof a new subdivision 5.6., to read as follows: "A governing board may not implement a campus development plan or plan update that has not been confirmed by the Commission or approved by the Council, as appropriate. The purchase of any property for the construction of a facility that is not included in the campus development plan creates an update to the campus development plan that must be confirmed by the Commission or approved by the Council, as appropriate, prior to its purchase. In the case of institutions governed by the Council, this provision applies equally to property acquired by any means, whether by purchase or otherwise.".

(s) The legislative rule filed in the State Register on July 2, 2018, relating to the West Virginia Council for Community and Technical College Education (Tuition and Fees), is authorized.

(t) The legislative rule filed in the State Register on September 26, 2018, relating to the West Virginia Council for Community and Technical College Education (Acceptance of Advanced Placement Credit), is repealed.

(u) The legislative rule filed in the State Register on November 20, 2018, relating to the West Virginia Council for Community and Technical College Education (initial authorization of degree-granting institutions), is authorized.

(v) The legislative rule filed in the State Register on November 20, 2018, relating to the West Virginia Council for Community and Technical College Education (Workforce Development: Learn and Earn, Technical Program Development, and West Virginia Advance Rapid Response Grants), is authorized.

(w) The legislative rule filed in the State Register on January 25, 2019, relating to the West Virginia Council for Community and Technical College Education (Human Resources Administration), is repealed.

(x) The legislative rule filed in the State Register on June 3, 2019, relating to the West Virginia Council for Community and Technical College Education (West Virginia Invests Grant Program) is authorized.

(y) The legislative rule filed in the State Register on April 27, 2021 (Business, Occupational, and Trade Schools) is authorized.

(z) The legislative rule filed in the State Register on April 27, 2021 (Annual Reauthorization of Degree-Granting Institutions) is authorized.

(aa) The legislative rule filed in the State Register on November 10, 2021 (West Virginia Invests Grant Program) is authorized.

(bb) The legislative rule filed in the State Register on July 22, 2022 (Performance-Based Funding Formula) is authorized.

(cc) The legislative rule filed in the State Register on June 13, 2022 (Capital Project Management) is authorized.

(dd) The legislative rule filed in the State Register on July 21, 2022 (Workforce Development Initiative Grant Programs) is authorized.

(ee) The legislative rule filed in the State Register on July 21, 2022 (Annual Reauthorization of Degree-Granting Institutions) is authorized, with the following amendment:

On page 13 by adding a new subsection designated 12.23 to read as follows: Nothing in this rule in any way affects or limits the due process protections or other protections afforded to proprietary schools under either W. Va. Code § 18B-2B-9 or 135 C.S.R. 35, Business, Occupational, and Trade Schools.

(ff) The legislative rule filed in the State Register on June 13, 2022 (Human Resources Administration) is authorized.

(gg) The legislative rule filed in the State Register on July 26, 2023, relating to the Council for Community and Technical College Education (Higher Education Accountability System) is authorized.

(hh) The legislative rule filed in the State Register on September 14, 2023, relating to the Council for Community and Technical College Education (Dual Enrollment Pilot Program) is authorized.

(ii) The legislative rule filed in the State Register on July 26, 2023, relating to the Council for Community and Technical College Education (Initial Authorization of Degree-Granting Institutions) is authorized.

(jj) The legislative rule filed in the State Register on July 26, 2023, relating to the Council for Community and Technical College Education (Tuition and Fees) is authorized.

(kk) The legislative rule filed in the State Register on July 26, 2023, relating to the Council for Community and Technical College Education (Accountability System) is repealed.

§18B-17-4. Higher education policy commission.

(a) The legislative rule filed in the state register on February 2, 2001, and modified and refiled on April 3, 2001, relating to the Higher Education Policy Commission (higher education finance policy), is authorized.

(b) The legislative rule filed in the state register on November 20, 2001, relating to the Higher Education Policy Commission (higher education report card rule), is authorized.

(c) The legislative rule filed in the state register on January 4, 2002, relating to the Higher Education Policy Commission (performance indicators rule), is authorized.

§18B-17-5. Authorizing West Virginia providing real opportunities for maximizing in-state student excellence scholarship program (PROMISE).

The legislative rule filed in the state register on January 4, 2002, and modified and refiled on January 18, 2002, relating to the Higher Education Policy Commission (West Virginia providing real opportunities for maximizing in-state student excellence scholarship program -- PROMISE -- rule), is authorized.

§18B-17-6. Authorizing rules of Higher Education Policy Commission.

(a) The legislative rule filed in the state register on the August 25, 2003, relating to the Higher Education Policy Commission (higher education adult part-time student grant program -- HEAPS -- rule), is authorized.

(b) The legislative rule filed in the state register on the October 22, 2003, relating to the Higher Education Policy Commission (purchasing efficiencies rule), is authorized.

§18B-18-1. Legislative findings.

(a) The Legislature hereby finds that the essence of excellence in education is the attraction and retention of outstanding faculty; and that, however necessary modern facilities and efficient and effective administration may be, the faculty provides the catalyst by which all the elements of higher education combine to offer a quality education. The Legislature further finds that the attraction and retention of outstanding faculty at all state colleges and universities, particularly those who have attained distinction as scholars, teachers and researchers, requires a long-term and permanent commitment from both public and private sources. Private support will help strengthen the commitment of citizens and organizations to the promotion of excellence in higher education and will provide moneys for salaries competitive with those paid to faculty of similar eminence working for this country's leading colleges and universities.

(b) The Legislature further finds that the appropriation of public moneys to attract and retain outstanding faculty and to encourage the commitment of private moneys with a view toward the accumulation of moneys in trust funds for these purposes is a proper annual expense of the state. Therefore, the establishment of an eminent scholars endowment trust fund at each state institution of higher education is a proper means of providing for the advancement of public higher education in this state.

§18B-18-2. Definition.

Whenever the following term is used in this article, it has the meaning described below:

"Board of Governors" or "board" means the institutional boards of Governors, individually or collectively, created pursuant to subsection (b), section one, article two-a of this chapter.

§18B-18-3. Establishment of funds.

There is hereby established at each state institution of higher education an eminent scholars endowment trust fund.

§18B-18-4. Powers and duties of governing boards.

(a) Each board of Governors is hereby expressly authorized to receive private or public grants, gifts or bequests restricted by the donor to the programs set out in this article. The board may hold, invest or reinvest such moneys and expend the income from the moneys as provided in section five of this article.

(b) Each board is exempt from liability for any loss or decrease in value of the assets or income of the fund, except as losses or decreases in value are shown to be the result of bad faith, gross negligence or intentional misconduct.

(c) For the purpose of valuing assets, a board may use any commonly accepted techniques of appraisal or commonly accepted principles of accounting. No agency of government nor any person, natural or corporate, may charge or collect any fee or receive any part of the principal or income from any appropriation, grant, gift or bequest as a fee for the acquisition or administration of the appropriation, grant, gift or bequest.

(d) A board shall at all times adhere to the terms and limitations of any appropriation, grant, gift or bequest received. However, a board may refuse to receive any grant, gift or bequest which incorporates terms and limitations which it considers to be unacceptable.

(e) A board may, in its sole discretion, borrow money when necessary in order to avoid the untimely sale of assets. At no time, however, may the board incur any debt obligation for such purpose which exceeds twelve months in duration.

§18B-18-5. Administration of fund.

(a) Each eminent scholars endowment trust fund established at a state institution of higher education pursuant to section three of this article is to be administered by the appropriate board of Governors. The fund at each institution shall consist of new gifts or bequests of private moneys specifically restricted and designated for the uses set out in this article.

(b) Gifts and bequests received after July 1, 2002, and restricted by the donor for use consistent with the purposes of this article constitute the principal in these accounts. The principal in each account may not be expended for any purpose. Each board of Governors shall adopt a spending policy to protect the principal and the purchasing power of the original gift.

(c) Investment earnings accruing in each account during the previous fiscal year may be expended for the purposes set out in this article.

(d) The investment earnings accrued and any matching funds appropriated by the Legislature shall be used solely to supplement the base salaries of faculty who are appointed as eminent scholars after July 1, 2002, and who are selected as set out in this article.

(e) Gifts and bequests constituting the principal in these accounts may not consist of institutional funds or funds or assets received from the institution's affiliated foundation.

(f) For the purpose of encouraging the donation of private moneys to the fund, each board may designate specific chairs or specific areas of academic study or research as subjects of challenge grants. A specific chair, or a chair in a designated academic or research area, shall be established whenever the total amount of principal and accumulated investment earnings dedicated to it reaches an amount considered sufficient by the board to support the anticipated salary supplement for the chair.

(g) Salary supplements awarded under this article shall be in addition to the base contract salary of the faculty member. The base contract salary of the faculty member shall be consistent with that of other similarly situated faculty at the institution with the same rank, experience and field of study and shall be paid from funds other than those constituting the endowment accounts established pursuant to this article, investment earnings authorized for expenditure by the institutions spending policy, or the state appropriation to match the eligible investment earnings.

(h) Nothing in this article may be construed to require any specific level of funding by the Legislature.

§18B-18-6. Duties of Higher Education Policy Commission.

The Higher Education Policy Commission shall:

(a) Establish documentation standards and review procedures to determine the eligibility of donor gifts to participate in the eminent scholars program when the gift is initially received or whenever the terms are significantly changed;

(b) Require that each participating institution report on total gifts received, investment earnings realized and anticipated expenditures in its annual operating budget request;

(c) Annually develop and submit a consolidated budget request for the eminent scholars program to the Governor for the fiscal year beginning on July 1, 2003. The budget request shall include a request for an appropriation by the Legislature to each institutional account each fiscal year in an amount equal to the investment earnings in the previous fiscal year which are intended for use in the fiscal year to supplement the salaries of eminent scholars;

(d) Allocate any funds appropriated by the Legislature among the participating institutions in equal installments at the beginning of each quarter.

§18B-18-7. Process for preparation of executive budget.

(a) The Governor shall consider for inclusion in the appropriate account the budget request of the policy commission for the eminent scholars program.

(b) Whether or not the Governor includes the budget request of the policy commission as described in subsection (a) of this section, the Legislature may include an appropriation in the appropriate account.

(c) Nothing in this section shall be construed to require any specific level of funding by the Legislature.

§18B-18-8. Selection of eminent scholars.

(a) Each institution shall establish criteria for the selection of persons to be appointed as eminent scholars pursuant to this article. The criteria shall include, but not be limited to:

(1) The prospective appointees' record of distinguished academic or professional work in an appropriate field as judged in national terms and verified by the department or college benefitting from the salary supplement;

(2) The prospective appointees' record of increasing the quality and reputation of academic programs and economic development through new research centers; and

(3) The relevance of prospective appointees' academic or professional work to the economic development goals of the state as defined by the West Virginia council for community and economic development.

(b) Appointees shall submit to peer review at the department or college and any other review procedures that are established by the institution.

§18B-18-9. Authorization to solicit private moneys; terms of grants; reports; handling of moneys.

Each institution, and each dean and department chair within each institution, may solicit moneys for the endowment of eminent scholars pursuant to this article. All persons and institutions engaged in soliciting moneys shall apprise the board of their actions and provide periodic reports, at least once each fiscal year, regarding the amounts secured and, upon receipt of any moneys, shall forward them immediately to the board for deposit.

§18B-18-10. Other funds.

Effective July 1, 2002, all funds existing in accounts established in the eminent scholars endowment trust fund act and the distinguished professors endowment trust fund act as previously set out in articles twenty-two-a and twenty-two-e, respectively, of chapter eighteen of this code are hereby transferred to the institution for which they were previously designated. Moneys used to fund chairs or professorships established under these two articles shall continue to be used for the purposes and in the manner previously designated. Funds accrued under these two articles may not be transferred to the trust funds established by this article.

§18B-18A-1. Legislative findings; purpose; and intent.

(a) The Legislature finds that the continued expansion of the nation's economy is dependent upon the ability of its institutions of higher education to increase the quality, quantity and productivity of its citizens who are engaged in scientific and technical fields of study. Failure of the United States to compete in these areas may lead to lower standards of living, dependence upon foreign intellectual capital and international insecurity. The economic future of West Virginia is equally dependent upon the ability of Marshall University and West Virginia University, the state's two doctoral-granting, public research universities, as well as its other higher education institutions to promote, educate and train researchers and research support staff in these diverse fields of study.

The Legislature further finds that a recent emphasis on the creation of innovative curricula and the receipt of significant private donations by Marshall University and West Virginia University has led to major expansions in certain areas of study, including energy, national security technology, environmental sciences, health and biomedical sciences, biometrics, biotechnology and nanotechnology. Despite these expansions, the additional investment of both private donations and state moneys is critical to recruiting world-class scientists, researchers, research staff, technicians and professional degree graduates, as well as providing funding for laboratories and scientific equipment.

(b) The purpose of the Legislature in enacting this article is to establish a state fund to be administered by the Higher Education Policy Commission to address the findings outlined in subsection (a) of this section. The fund will make public moneys available to the state's two doctoral-granting public research universities, Marshall University and West Virginia University, and a state land grant higher education institution, West Virginia State University, to match qualified private donations and qualified private donation pledges; thereby creating an incentive for donors to support certain priority areas of study consistent with each participating institution's long-range strategic plan for research. Creation of this fund promotes strategic private donations targeted to specific areas of research and creates a sustainable source of funding for research initiatives that are critical to achieving long-term goals including, but not limited to, the following:

(1) Research-based economic development and economic diversification; and

(2) Increased potential for patenting, licensing and related technology transfer and commercialization of scientific and technological research in the state.

§18B-18A-2. Definitions.

(a) General. – For the purposes of this article, terms have the meaning ascribed to them in section two, article one of this chapter, unless the context in which the term is used clearly requires a different meaning or a specific definition is provided in this section.

(b) Definitions. – Solely for the purposes of this article, the following words and phrases have the meanings ascribed to them.

(1) "Directed research endowment" or "research endowment" means an account established at or administered by a participating institution or its affiliated research corporation or foundation in accordance with the provisions of section four of this article;

(2) "Directed research endowment plan" or "research plan" means the strategies and procedures formally approved and adopted by a governing board of a participating institution pursuant to section seven of this article outlining how a participating institution proposes to use directed research endowment proceeds to meet established goals and objectives;

(3) "Directed research endowment proceeds" or "endowment proceeds" means those investment earnings accruing to a participating institution's directed research endowment and available for expenditure by a participating institution or its affiliated research corporation in accordance with the provisions of section four of this article;

(4) "Trust fund" means the special account designated as the West Virginia Research Trust Fund established in section three of this article;

(5) "Participating institution" means Marshall University, West Virginia University or West Virginia State University;

(6) "Qualified private donation" or "qualified donation" means a private donation, gift or bequest to a directed research endowment that meets the criteria set forth in section five of this article;

(7) "Qualified private donation pledge" or "qualified pledge" means a pledge, commitment or other agreement to give a private donation to a directed research endowment that is made pursuant to a written agreement between the donor and the institution or its affiliated research corporation or foundation and that meets the criteria set forth in section five of this article;

(8) "Foundation" means a corporation created, organized and located in West Virginia that meets the following conditions:

(A) Is organized and operated for educational purposes in support of one or more state institutions of higher education;

(B) Is designated by the board of governors of one or more state institutions of higher education to receive charitable contributions for educational purposes on behalf of the institution or institutions;

(C) Does not have any part of its earnings inuring to the benefit of a private shareholder or individual;

(D) Is not disqualified from tax exemption under 26 U.S.C. §501(c)(3) for any reason; and

(E) Does not participate or intervene in, on behalf of or in opposition to any political campaigns for public office;

(9) "Research corporation" means an organization created pursuant to the provisions of article twelve of this chapter; and

(10) "State college" means the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine, Bluefield State College, Concord University, Fairmont State University, Glenville State College, Shepherd University or West Liberty University.

§18B-18A-3. West Virginia Research Trust Fund; use of investment earnings.

(a) There is continued in the State Treasury a special fund to be known as the West Virginia Research Trust Fund which shall consist of appropriations of moneys to the fund made by the Legislature, all earnings from investment of the fund and any unmatched portion of state moneys returned by a state institution of higher education.

(b) Expenditures from the trust fund shall be made for the purposes set forth in this article and are not subject to separate appropriation by the Legislature. Any balance in the trust fund at the end of each fiscal year, including accrued investment earnings on any unmatched portion of state moneys returned by a state institution of higher education, does not expire to the General Revenue Fund, but remains in the trust fund to be expended as provided by this article.

(c) In accordance with and subject to the provisions of section eight of this article, the commission shall make available moneys in this account to match qualified donations and qualified pledges as follows:

(1) Sixty-five percent to West Virginia University;

(2) Thirty percent to Marshall University; and

(3) Five percent to West Virginia State University.

(d) Investment earnings accruing in the account may be expended by the commission to provide matching research funds to state colleges in accordance with the provisions of section ten of this article.

§18B-18A-4. Directed research endowments.

(a) The governing board of each participating institution may create and administer or enter into an agreement with its research corporation and/or foundation to administer one or more directed research endowments to receive qualified donations and matching state moneys allocated for distribution to that institution.

(b) A research endowment consists of qualified donations and

matching moneys distributed by the commission from the trust fund in accordance with the provisions of section eight of this article.

(c) Subject to the following conditions, the governing board of a participating institution or its research corporation may invest moneys deposited into the research endowment either directly or through a foundation subject to the following conditions:

(1) Any interest or other investment earnings on the moneys invested are retained by the participating institution to be used for the purposes set forth in this article;

(2) Any investments authorized by this subsection are made in accordance with and subject to the provisions of the Uniform Prudent Investor Act codified as article six-c, chapter forty-four of this code; and

(3) Any investments authorized by this subsection are not subject to the provisions of section twelve-d, article one, chapter twelve of this code.

(d) Investment earnings accruing to a participating institution's research endowment, hereinafter referred to as endowment proceeds, may be expended by the governing board of the participating institution or its research corporation, subject to the provisions of section six of this article and the following conditions:

(1) Endowment proceeds may be expended only for the eligible uses designated; and

(2) The principal of a research endowment may not be expended for any purpose.

(e) The governing board of a participating institution is exempt from liability for any loss or decrease in value of the assets or income of a directed research endowment, except as losses or decreases in value are shown to be the result of bad faith, gross negligence or intentional misconduct.

(f) The governing board of each participating institution shall promulgate a rule or rules for the administration of research endowments that fulfills the purposes and requirements of this article and section six, article one of this chapter.

§18B-18A-5. Qualified private donations.

(a) Private donations and pledges to a research endowment meet the criteria for designation as a qualified donation or qualified pledge under the following conditions:

(1) The donation or pledge is expressly and specifically restricted by the donor for one or more of the eligible uses designated in section six of this article; however, nothing in this subdivision prohibits a participating institution from designating unrestricted gifts or bequests, or any portion thereof, for use as a qualified donation;

(2) The individual donation or pledge is a minimum of $50,000 or is bundled with other qualified donations or qualified pledges to meet the $50,000 threshold; and

(3) Donations or pledges may be accepted from individuals, partnerships, associations, public and private for-profit and nonprofit corporations and nongovernmental foundations.

(b) The following may not be included as a qualified donation or a qualified pledge:

(1) Any donation or pledge received by a participating institution or its affiliated research corporation or foundation prior to the effective date of this article;

(2) Educational and general fees, auxiliary fees or other student fees generated by the participating institution;

(3) Proceeds from promissory notes, bonds, loans or other instruments evidencing an indebtedness or any other obligation of repayment by the governing board to the maker of the instrument;

(4) Any moneys or assets, other than qualified donations or qualified pledges, received from the participating institution's affiliated research corporation or foundation; or

(5) Any other moneys received from the state or federal government.

(c) The president of each participating institution or his or her designee shall make the initial determination of whether a donation or pledge meets the criteria for qualified donations or qualified pledges as set forth in this section. The president shall also provide a report to the governing board at least once each fiscal year regarding the amount of qualified donations and qualified pledges the participating institution has received.

§18B-18A-6. Eligible uses of directed research endowment proceeds.

(a) Endowment proceeds may be expended by a participating institution or its affiliated research corporation for any of the following designated uses:

(1) To pay the base salaries of newly endowed department chairs, new professorship positions, new research scientists and new research staff positions, including, but not limited to, research technicians and support personnel, and to fund affiliated graduate or undergraduate student research fellowships.

All positions or fellowships shall be engaged primarily in one of the following areas of research:

(A) Energy and environmental sciences;

(B) Nanotechnology and materials science;

(C) Biological, biotechnological and biomedical sciences;

(D) Transportation technology and logistics;

(E) Biometrics, security, sensing and related identification technologies; or

(F) Gerontology; or

(2) To purchase basic infrastructure directly related to an area of research identified in subdivision (1) of this subsection, including, but not limited to, laboratory and scientific equipment, and other essential equipment and materials.

(b) Eligibility criteria regarding the expenditure of directed endowment proceeds to pay the base salaries of personnel, to fund student fellowships and to purchase basic infrastructure shall be established by rules of the commission promulgated pursuant to section eleven of this article.

§18B-18A-7. Directed research endowment plans.

(a) To facilitate the goals of this article and to ensure the prudent expenditure of state moneys, the governing board of each participating institution shall submit to the commission a directed research endowment plan.

(b) The research plan shall include, but is not limited to, the following:

(1) An assessment of the participating institution's current research initiatives, including any initiatives falling within an area of research identified in section six of this article;

(2) An analysis of possible strategies to enhance current research initiatives;

(3) An outline of the participating institution's proposed uses of endowment proceeds, including identification of any specific disciplinary hires, collaborations or acquisitions currently under consideration;

(4) A list of proposed uses contained in the research plan including the anticipated costs associated with each proposed use;

(5) An analysis of the anticipated costs compared to the expected endowment proceeds available to the institution;

(6) An evaluation of how the research plan furthers the purposes of this article and addresses the research needs of the institution;

(7) Identification of the proposed uses for which alternative funding sources may be sought to enhance the comprehensive research initiatives contemplated by the participating institution. Alternative funding sources exclude qualified donations, matching moneys from the trust fund and the endowment proceeds generated from the trust fund; and

(8) Notation of the amount allocated for distribution to the participating institution pursuant to section three of this article.

(c) The governing board of each participating institution shall submit its research plan to the commission prior to submitting its first request for a distribution of matching moneys from the trust fund.

§18B-18A-8. Distributions from West Virginia Research Trust Fund.

(a) A participating institution seeking a distribution of matching moneys from the trust fund first shall obtain qualified donations, qualified pledges, or both, in an amount equal to the amount of matching moneys requested for distribution and shall submit a request to the commission setting forth the following:

(1) The amount of qualified donations, qualified pledges, or both, designated for use in requesting the distribution of matching moneys from the trust fund and the amount of any previous distributions of matching moneys from the trust fund;

(2) The amount requested for distribution to the participating institution pursuant to section three of this article;

(3) An explanation of how the proposed use satisfies the criteria for the eligible uses of endowment proceeds set forth in section six of this article;

(4) An explanation of how the proposed use of the endowment proceeds furthers the purposes of this article and addresses the research needs of the institution as identified in the research plan; and

(5) A designation of the applicable research endowment into which the requested matching moneys are to be deposited.

(b) The commission shall review each request for distribution of matching moneys from the trust fund for compliance with the provisions of this article and the rule promulgated pursuant to section eleven of this article.

(c) Once the commission approves the request of a participating institution, it shall distribute matching moneys from those allocated to the institution in the trust fund to the applicable research endowment in an amount equal to the amount of qualified donations, qualified pledges, or both.

§18B-18A-9. Reallocation of matching moneys.

(a) No later than seven years from the July 1, 2014, each participating institution shall have deposited into its research endowments an amount of qualified donations equal to or greater than the total amount of moneys allocated for distribution to the institution pursuant to the provisions of subsection (c), section three of this article.

(1) If one of the participating institutions fails to have deposited into its research endowments the requisite amount of qualified donations by the end of the seven-year period, then any portion of the moneys allocated to the institution that has not been distributed shall be reallocated for distribution to the other participating institutions pursuant to the terms of this article.

(2) To be eligible to receive a distribution of reallocated moneys pursuant to this subsection, another participating institution shall have qualified donations in excess of the amount required by subsection (a) of this section deposited into its research endowment(s) in an amount equal to or greater than the amount of reallocated moneys.

(3) If another participating institution does not have excess qualified donations on deposit, the reallocated moneys shall be made available for distribution by the commission to state colleges in accordance with the provisions of section ten of this article.

(b) If any pledge previously used by a participating institution to obtain a distribution of matching moneys from the trust fund has not been paid in full within seven years from July 1, 2014, then the institution shall return the unmatched portion of state moneys to the trust fund. These moneys shall be reallocated for distribution to the other participating institutions or to the state colleges pursuant to the terms of this section and section ten of this article as applicable.

(c) If all participating institutions fail to have deposited into their respective research endowments the requisite amount of qualified donations within seven years from July 1, 2014, then any moneys remaining in the trust fund that have not been distributed shall be made available for distribution by the commission to state colleges in accordance with the provisions of this article.

§18B-18A-10. Distributions to state colleges.

(a) The commission may use a portion of those moneys derived from investment earnings accruing to the trust fund in accordance with the provisions of section three of this article, as well as moneys that are not distributed to participating institutions in accordance with the provisions of section nine of this article, to distribute state matching moneys to state colleges, as that term is defined in section two of this article.

(b) In the rules required by section eleven of this article, the commission shall establish procedures for the competitive application and review of requests from state colleges and criteria for the eligible use of moneys distributed pursuant to this section.

(c) To qualify for a distribution of state matching moneys pursuant to this section, a state college shall meet the following conditions:

(1) Obtain qualified donations in an amount equal to or greater than the amount of matching moneys requested for distribution from the trust fund; and

(2) Deposit the qualified donations and any matching moneys distributed from the trust fund into the accounts of the institution or its affiliated research corporation or foundation.

(d) State matching moneys may be expended only for a research-oriented initiative approved by the commission.

§18B-18A-11. Higher Education Policy Commission rule.

(a) The commission's legislative rule to implement the provisions and purposes of this article which is in effect on July 1, 2014, continues in effect unless repealed or amended in accordance with the provisions of section six, article one of this chapter and article three-a, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code. The rule shall be interpreted to include West Virginia State University as a participating institution as provided in this article.

(b) The rule shall include the following:

(1) Documentation standards and review procedures to determine whether a donation or pledge meets the criteria of a qualified donation or qualified pledge when initially received or when the terms of a qualified donation or a qualified pledge are materially altered;

(2) Eligibility criteria in accordance with the provisions of section six of this article for the expenditure of endowment proceeds to pay the base salaries of personnel, to fund research fellowships and to purchase basic infrastructure;

(3) Procedures to ensure that endowment proceeds are expended in compliance with the provisions of this article;

(4) A requirement for each participating institution to report on the total amount of qualified donations received, the investment earnings realized and any anticipated expenditures of the research endowment proceeds in its annual operating budget; and

(5) Procedures for the competitive application and review of requests from state colleges and criteria for the eligible use of moneys distributed pursuant to section ten of this article.

§18B-18A-12. Annual report.

By January 1, 2010, and annually thereafter, the commission shall submit a report to the Governor, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Delegates and the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability detailing implementation of the research endowments at each participating institution, the amount of qualified donations received by each participating institution in the preceding fiscal year, the amount of any distributions made from the trust fund and a description of the research and outcomes supported by those moneys.

§18B-18B-1. Science and Research Council established; purposes.

(a) The Science and Research Council is hereby established. For the purposes of this article only, “council” means the Science and Research Council established herein.

(b) The purposes of the council include, but are not limited to, the following:

(1) Increasing the capacity of the state and state institutions of higher education to attract, implement, and use cutting-edge, competitive research funds and infrastructure;

(2) Providing expertise and policy guidance in science and research to the state, its agencies and state institutions of higher education regarding federal programs such as the Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (“EPSCoR”) and similar state programs such as the West Virginia Research Trust Fund established in §18B-18A-1 et seq. of this code and the Research Challenge Fund established in §18B-1B-12 of this code;

(3) Encouraging research collaboration among public and private institutions of higher education and the private sector, both within and outside the state;

(4) Promoting education at all levels in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics; and

(5) Providing recommendations to the commission and state policymakers, including the Governor and Legislature, regarding science and research initiatives and effective programmatic activities, budgets, and investments to implement those initiatives.

(c) The council replaces the EPSCoR State Advisory Council and consists of fifteen members as follows:

(1) The vice presidents in charge of research at Marshall University and West Virginia University;

(2) A representative of health sciences at Marshall University and a representative of health sciences at West Virginia University, appointed by the deans of the respective schools of medicine;

(3) The State Superintendent of Schools or designee;

(4) The Secretary of Commerce or designee;

(5) The Vice Chancellor for Science and Research of the Commission;

(6) The Chancellor of the Commission who chairs the council;

(7) One member engaged in applied research at Marshall University and one member engaged in applied research at West Virginia University, appointed by the provosts of the respective universities; and

(8) Five members, appointed by the Governor, who have demonstrated interest, knowledge, skill, and experience in academic research and scientific innovation and who possess recognized credentials and expertise in one or more of the following areas:

(A) Science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (“STEM”) fields;

(B) Cyberinfrastructure, information technology, or computer science;

(C) Research and development;

(D) Technology based economic development or industry; or

(E) Undergraduate research or science education.

At least two of the members appointed by the Governor shall be representatives of business or industry.

(d) Of the initial appointments made by the Governor, one member shall be appointed to a one-year term; one member shall be appointed to a two-year term; one member shall be appointed to a three-year term; and one member shall be appointed to a four-year term. Of the initial appointments made by the deans of schools of medicine, the member appointed by the dean of the Marshall University School of Medicine shall be appointed to a two-year term, and the member appointed by the dean of the West Virginia University School of Medicine shall be appointed to a three-year term. Of the initial appointments made by the provosts, the member appointed by the West Virginia University provost shall be appointed to a two-year term, and the member appointed by the Marshall University provost shall be appointed to a four-year term.

(e) After the initial appointments, all members serve terms of four years. Each appointed member who qualifies under the provisions of this section may serve for no more than two successive terms. An appointment to fill a vacancy on the council or reappointment of a member who is eligible to serve an additional term is made in accordance with the provisions of this section.

(f) Members of the council serve without compensation, but are entitled to reimbursement by the commission for expenses, including travel expenses, actually incurred by the member in the official conduct of the business of the council.

§18B-18B-2. Strategic plan; reports.

(a) The council shall develop a strategic state plan for science and technology research that establishes a collaborative process to engage all scientific research resources, both public and private, in a comprehensive, strategic network. The council's strategic state plan serves as the state plan for science and technology research.

(b) At a minimum, the strategic plan shall address science and technology research resources and their relation to the following areas of research:

(1) Human and physical infrastructure;

(2) Policy development;

(3) Education and outreach;

(4) Research innovation; and

(5) Economic development.

(c) Periodically, the council shall reassess the strategic state plan and update it as needed. Any new or updated strategic state plan shall be approved by the commission prior to becoming effective.

(d) The EPSCoR Advisory Council's current "Vision 2015: The West Virginia Science and Technology Strategic Plan" serves as the state plan for science and technology research until a plan is approved by the council.

(e) The council shall report to the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability by July 1, 2010, and annually thereafter, on progress in implementing the strategic state plan, as well as any updates to the plan.

§18B-19-1. Legislative findings and intent.

(a) The Legislature makes the following findings:

(1) State institutions of higher education vary widely in the conditions of their facilities infrastructure.

(2) State institutions of higher education vary widely in their ability to incur debt for capital improvements. It is nearly impossible for community and technical colleges and some smaller baccalaureate institutions to fund significant capital improvements in the absence of state funding.

(3) A student enrolled at a community and technical college that previously was administratively linked to another state institution of higher education pays substantially higher tuition and mandatory fees than a student enrolled at a freestanding community and technical college. This cost discrepancy is due in large part to the significantly higher capital fees charged to these students to pay debt service for capital improvements.

(4) The substantial amount of capital fees that students must pay at the institution level contributes significantly to the poor grade the state receives in the category of “Affordability” in Measuring Up: The National Report Card on Higher Education.

(5) It is beneficial for the state to provide additional ongoing capital funding to reduce the obligation of students and parents to bear the cost of higher education capital improvements and facilities maintenance.

(6) West Virginia is one of only a few states that does not address higher education capital improvements and facilities maintenance needs through a statewide plan.

(7) State funding for capital improvements should align with state and system higher education goals, objectives and priorities as set forth in article one-d of this chapter.

(8) State capital funding should focus primarily on educational and general capital improvements, not auxiliary capital improvements.

(9) Renovations of existing buildings sometimes deserve greater consideration for state funding than new construction. However, new construction may deserve greater consideration than renovation when a state or system goal, objective or priority is implicated, as well as when renovation would be financially inefficient.

(10) As the Legislature increases funding for new educational and general capital improvements and major renovations, and supplants existing educational and general debt, institutions should target funds for maintenance and deferred maintenance needs.

(11) If community and technical colleges are to keep the cost of education affordable, they cannot be expected to fund maintenance obligations entirely from student capital fees.

(12) The commission and council should scrutinize carefully all requests from institutions to incur additional debt in order to determine their effect on institution debt capacity and the impact that incurring additional debt will have on students.

(13) State institutions of higher education ultimately should target adequate state capital contributions and capital fees to address maintenance and deferred maintenance needs.

(14) Until institutions are able to generate sufficient revenue to address maintenance and deferred maintenance needs, the Legislature should provide periodic funding to assist institutions in addressing these needs. Funding priority should be given to projects that address building code requirements and critical maintenance needs.

(15) In supporting future high priority capital needs, the Legislature, commission and council should not reward institutions with state funding if they neglect to address facilities maintenance needs or do not prudently manage their capital resources.

(16) Once an institution’s capital development plan has been approved by the governing board and confirmed by the commission or approved by the council, as appropriate, project priorities should not change significantly from year to year.

(17) Commission and council staff should participate in managing capital projects at smaller institutions if the smaller institution lacks the expertise necessary to plan, design and complete projects at or under budget.

(b) The intent of the Legislature relating to this article includes, but is not limited to, the following:

(1) Dedicated state funding sources shall be designated to finance construction and renovation of educational and general facilities at state institutions of higher education from time to time;

(2) Capital project lists submitted by institutions to the commission or council, as appropriate, and capital project lists submitted by the commission and council to the state budget office, Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability, and Joint Committee on Government and Finance for consideration for state funding shall be reasonable requests that align with state and system goals, objectives and priorities and ones which reasonably could be funded if approved;

(3) As the Legislature increases its responsibility for financing new educational and general facilities and major renovations, the commission, council and institutions shall ensure that sufficient capital revenues are available for maintenance and that the facilities are maintained adequately;

(4) Ongoing state funding shall be dedicated to supplement capital fees available for maintenance at community and technical colleges; and

(5) Once a system capital plan is in place, institutions shall set aside adequate funding annually to ensure that ongoing facilities maintenance needs are met.

§18B-19-2. Definitions.

As used in this article, the following terms have the meanings ascribed to them.

(a) "ADA" means the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, 42 U.S.C. §12101, et seq.

(b) "Auxiliary enterprise" means an entity that exists to furnish goods or services to students, faculty, staff or others; charges a fee directly related to, although not necessarily equal to, the cost of the goods or services; and is managed as essentially self-supporting.

(c) "Auxiliary facility" means a building or structure that is used for an auxiliary enterprise including, but not limited to, residence halls, food services, parking, intercollegiate athletics, faculty and staff housing, student unions, bookstores and other service centers.

(d) "Auxiliary fees" means funds derived from, but not limited to, the following sources:

(1) Parking fees received from any source;

(2) Revenues received from athletic events, including ticket sales, television revenues and skybox fees;

(3) Bookstore revenues;

(4) Student union vendor and user fees;

(5) Donations or grants from any external source;

(6) Facility rental fees; and

(7) Fees assessed to students to support auxiliary enterprises.

(e) "Capital planning" means a purposeful activity that focuses attention on long term physical plant objectives which should be accomplished in a logical sequence over time as opportunities arise and resources become available.

(f) "Capital project management" means planning, designing, bidding and providing construction administration and oversight of architectural, engineering and construction contracts and projects.

(g) "Deferred maintenance" means repair, maintenance and renewal of capital facilities which should be part of normal maintenance management, but which have been postponed to a future budget cycle or until funds become available.

(h) "Educational and general capital fees" means the fees collected from students to pay debt service for capital improvement bonds issued by the commission and governing boards for educational and general facilities, for the maintenance of those facilities and to fund capital improvements in those facilities on a cash basis.

(i) "Educational and general facility" means a building or structure used for instruction and instructional support purposes, and includes classroom, laboratory, library, computer laboratory, faculty and administrative office and other academic support spaces.

(j) "Extraordinary circumstance" or "extraordinary circumstances" means, a situation involving life-safety issues, issues that would result in extensive damage to a facility if not addressed immediately, any unforeseen opportunity to use external funds and any other situation the commission or council determines should warrant special consideration.

(k) "Life-safety" means a condition existing on a campus that, if not corrected immediately, would jeopardize the safety and property of students, faculty, staff and the visiting public.

(l) "Maintenance" means the work necessary within a budget cycle to realize the originally anticipated life of a fixed asset, including buildings, fixed equipment and infrastructure.

(m) "Governing board", "state institution of higher education" and "institution under the jurisdiction of the commission" means all state institutions of higher education including Marshall University and West Virginia University and their respective governing boards.

§18B-19-3. System capital development planning.

(a) By December 31, 2017, the commission and council, jointly or separately, shall develop a system capital development oversight policy for approval by the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability. At a minimum the initial oversight policy shall include the following:

(1) System goals for capital development;

(2) An explanation of how system capital development goals align with state goals, objectives and priorities established in articles one and one-d of this chapter and with system master plans;

(3) A description of how the commission and council will prioritize their recommendations for capital projects for state funding based on their ability to further state goals, objectives and priorities and system capital development goals;

(4) A building renewal formula to calculate a dollar benchmark that shall be collected annually and invested in facilities to minimize deferred maintenance and to provide the commission and council objective information to determine if the investments in maintenance are occurring;

(5) A process for governing boards to follow in developing and submitting campus development plans to the commission or council, as appropriate, for approval by the council or for confirmation by the commission, as appropriate; and

(6) A process for governing boards to follow to ensure that sufficient revenue is generated for and applied toward facilities maintenance.

 (b) The system capital development plan shall be developed in consultation with governing boards and appropriate institution staff. Before approving the capital development plan, the commission and council shall afford interested parties an opportunity to comment on the plan through a notice-and-comment period of at least thirty days.

(c) The commission and council shall update its system capital development plan at least once in each ten-year period.

§18B-19-4. Campus development plans.

(a) Each governing board shall update its current campus development plan and submit the updated plan to the commission or council, as appropriate. The submission of a plan or updated plan to the council is for approval. A campus development plan shall be adopted by each governing board for a 10-year period and shall align with criteria specified in the following sources:

(1) The system capital development oversight policy;

(2) The institution’s approved master plan; and

(3) The current campus development plan objectives.

(b) Campus development plans are intended to be aspirational; however, an institution’s plan shall be appropriate to its size, mission, and enrollment and to the fiscal constraints within which the institution operates. At a minimum the campus development plan shall include the following:

(1) The governing board’s development strategy;

(2) An assessment of the general condition and suitability of buildings and facilities, including deferred maintenance, life-safety and building code issues, ADA requirements, and energy efficiency;

(3) An assessment of the impact of projected enrollment and demographic changes on building and facility needs;

(4) A comprehensive list of major deferred maintenance projects, individually exceeding $75,000 in cost, that need to be addressed for each campus by building or facility including an estimated cost for each;

(5) An analysis as to all buildings and facilities as to the need for renovations, additions, demolition, or any combination thereof;

(6) A list of major site improvements that are needed, including vehicular and pedestrian circulation, parking, and landscaping;

(7) An analysis of telecommunications, utilities, and other infrastructure improvements that are needed;

(8) A delineation of clear property acquisition boundaries that are reasonably appropriate for campus expansion;

(9) A list of proposed new facilities and building sites;

(10) A list of capital projects in priority order;

(11) Estimates of the timing, phasing, and projected costs associated with individual projects;

(12) If an institution has multiple campuses in close proximity, a delineation of how the campuses should interact and support each other to minimize duplication of facilities, improve efficiency and be aesthetically compatible;

(13) A statement of the impact of the plan upon the local community and the input afforded local and regional government entities and the public with respect to its implementation; and

(14) Any other requirement established by the commission and council in the rules required by §18B-19-17 of this code.

(c) Campus development plans shall incorporate all current and proposed facilities, including educational and general and auxiliary facilities.

(d) Not later than the next regularly scheduled meeting of the commission or council, as applicable, following the fifth anniversary date after the commission receives or council approves, as appropriate, the development plan of a governing board the governing board shall report on the progress made in the first five years to implement the campus development plan for each campus under its jurisdiction. In addition, the governing board shall report on its plans to implement the remaining five-year period of its campus development plan.

(e) Each governing board shall update its campus development plan at least once during each 10-year period and any update shall be submitted to the commission or council, as appropriate and those submitted to the council are subject to the approval of the council.

(f) A governing board may not implement a campus development plan or plan update that has not been submitted to the commission or submitted to and approved by the council, as appropriate.

§18B-19-5. Capital appropriation requests.

(a) The commission and council each shall submit a prioritized capital appropriation request annually to the state budget office as required by article two, chapter eleven-b of this code consisting of major capital projects and maintenance projects.

(b) The commission and council each shall develop a process for governing boards to follow in submitting a list of major educational and general capital projects so that a prioritized major capital project list, prepared by the commission or council, as appropriate, may be submitted to the state budget office by the applicable deadline.

(1) The governing board’s major capital project list shall include the following items:

(A) Projects identified in the governing board’s campus development plan or plans. A project may not be included which is not contained in the plan confirmed by the commission or approved by the council, as appropriate, except when extraordinary circumstances otherwise warrant;

(B) A current estimate of each project’s estimated cost accounting for inflation since completion of the campus development plan. The size and scope of the project may not change unless the campus development plan has been updated and approved by the council or confirmed by the commission, as appropriate, as provided in section three of this article; and

(C) Any additional information required to be provided by the commission, council or state budget office.

(2) The commission and council each shall rank the major capital projects submitted by the governing boards according to priority consistent with the criteria outlined in the system capital development plan. The council and commission may not submit to the state budget office a request for an institution which the commission or council determines reasonably could not secure funding through the appropriation process during the following fiscal year.

(c) The commission and council each shall develop a process for governing boards to follow in submitting a list of major maintenance projects so that a prioritized maintenance project list, prepared by the commission or council, as appropriate, may be submitted to the state budget office by the applicable deadline.

(1) Annually, the commission and council, as appropriate, shall provide each governing board a recommended building renewal calculation that identifies the funds that should be collected and invested in its buildings and facilities during the next fiscal year to maintain them and minimize deferred maintenance.

(2) As soon as it receives the building renewal calculation, each governing board shall make realistic revenue estimates of the funds available for maintenance projects from educational and general capital fees, from auxiliary and auxiliary capital fees and from any other revenue that may be used for maintenance projects, as well as any anticipated reserves. The governing boards then shall identify and submit proposed major maintenance projects, consistent with its campus development plan or plans, to be funded from these revenues.

(3) The commission and council each shall report to the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability on the revenue available to governing boards for educational and general and auxiliary maintenance projects, as well as any shortfalls based on building renewal formula calculation, and major maintenance projects that institutions propose to undertake during the upcoming fiscal year.

(4) The commission shall work with institutions under its jurisdiction to ensure that adequate funds are generated to fund maintenance and build adequate reserves from educational and general and auxiliary capital fees and other revenue consistent with the building renewal formula. The Legislature recognizes that it may take several years for this to be accomplished fully.

(5) The council shall work with the Legislature and institutions under its jurisdiction to ensure that a combination of appropriated and nonappropriated revenue is available to fund maintenance and build adequate reserves at community and technical colleges consistent with the building renewal formula.

§18B-19-6. Capital project financing.

(a) The commission and governing boards, jointly or singly, may issue revenue bonds for capital project financing in accordance with section eight, article ten of this chapter.

(b) A governing board may seek funding for and initiate construction or renovation work for major projects only if contained in a campus development plan approved by the council or confirmed by the Commission: Provided, That this subsection (b) shall not apply to the governing boards of the exempted schools.

(c) A governing board may fund capital improvements on a cash basis, through bonding or through notes or another financing method that is approved by the commission and by the council, if appropriate. Provided, That the exempted schools shall not be required to get the approval of the commission.

(1) If the cost of an improvement project for any institution under the jurisdiction of the council, exceeds $1 million, the governing board first shall obtain the approval of the council, as appropriate. If the cost of an improvement project at an institution under the jurisdiction of the commission, other than the exempted schools, exceeds $3 million, the governing board shall first obtain the approval of the commission.

(2) Prior to approving bonding or any alternative financing method for any institution other than the exempted schools, the commission, and council if appropriate, shall evaluate the following issues:

(A) The institution’s debt capacity and ability to meet the debt service payments for the full term of the financing;

(B) The institution’s capacity to generate revenue sufficient to complete the project;

(C) The institution’s ability to fund ongoing operations and maintenance;

(D) The impact of the financing arrangement on students; and

(E) Any other factor considered appropriate.

(d) A governing board shall notify the Joint Committee on Government and Finance at least thirty days before beginning construction or renovation work on any capital project in excess of $1 million.

(e) The commission may pledge all or part of the fees of any or all state institutions of higher education as part of a system bond issue.

(f) Any fee or revenue source pledged prior to the effective date of this section for payment of any outstanding debt remains in effect until the debt is fully repaid or refunded.

§18B-19-7. Capital project management.

(a) The commission, council and governing boards, as responsibility is otherwise assigned herein, shall ensure that capital funds are spent appropriately and that capital projects are managed effectively. Project management shall be conducted in all respects according to sound business practices and applicable laws, and rules.

(b) The commission shall employ a sufficient number of competent facilities staff experienced in capital project development and management that is suitable for the number, size and complexity of the capital projects being managed. By December 31, 2011, and continuing thereafter, at least one employee shall be Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified.

(c) A governing board under the jurisdiction of the commission is exempt from the provisions of subsections (e) and (f) of this section seven of this article, and its capital projects management shall be governed by the provisions of subsection (d) of this section regardless of the rolling five year construction expenditures, if it meets each of the following criteria:

(1) Employs at least one Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified administrator; and

(2) Employs at least one Certified Facilities Manager (CFM) as credentialed by the International Facility Management Association or employs at least one Project Management Professional (PMP) as certified by the Project Management Institute.

  (d)  An institution that has entered into construction contracts averaging more than $50 million over the most recent rolling five-year period is responsible for capital project management at that institution if it meets the following additional conditions:

(1) The governing board shall employ a facilities staff experienced in capital project development and management that is suitable for the number, size and complexity of the capital projects being managed and, by December 31, 2011, and continuing thereafter, at least one of these employees shall be Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified;

(2) The governing board shall promulgate and adopt a capital project management rule in accordance with section six, article one of this chapter. The capital project management rule shall include at least the following items:

(A) Delineation of the governing board’s responsibilities with respect to capital project management and the responsibilities delegated to the institution’s president;

(B) A requirement for the use of standard contract documents for architectural, engineering, construction, construction management and design-build services as appropriate to a particular project;

(C) The governing board’s requirements for the following procedures:

(i) Monitoring and approving project designs to ensure conformance with the state and system goals, objectives and priorities and the governing board’s master plan, compact and campus development plan;

(ii) Approving project budgets, including a reasonable contingency reserve for unknown or unexpected expenses and for bidding;

(iii) Approving architectural, engineering and construction contracts exceeding an amount to be determined by the governing board;

(iv) Approving contract modifications and construction change orders; and

(v) Providing a method for project closeout and final acceptance of the project by the governing board.

(3) The institutional capital project management rule shall be filed with the commission no later than one hundred eighty days following the effective date of the rule required of the commission and council in section seventeen of this article.

(4) The commission may review or audit projects greater than $5 million periodically to ascertain that appropriate capital project management practices are being employed.

(e) For institutions that have entered into construction contracts averaging at least $20 million, but not more than $50 million, over the most recent rolling five-year period:

(1) The governing board, with assistance as requested from the commission, shall manage all capital projects if the governing board meets the following conditions:

(A) Employs at least one individual experienced in capital project development and management; and

(B) Promulgates and adopts a capital project management rule in accordance with section six, article one of this chapter that is approved by the commission. The capital project management rule may be amended at the discretion of the governing board, but amendments shall be submitted to the commission for review and approval before becoming effective.

(2) The capital project management rule of the governing board shall include at least the following items:

(A) Delineation of the governing board’s responsibilities with respect to capital project management and the responsibilities delegated to the institution’s president;

(B) A requirement for the use of the state’s standard contract documents for architectural, engineering, construction, construction management and design-build services as appropriate to a particular project; and

(C) The governing board’s requirements for the following procedures:

(i) Monitoring and approving project designs to ensure conformance with the state and system goals, objectives and priorities and the governing board’s master plan, compact and campus development plan;

(ii) Approving project budgets, including a reasonable contingency reserve for unknown or unexpected expenses and for bidding;

(iii) Approving architectural, engineering, construction and other capital contracts exceeding an amount to be determined by the governing board;

(iv) Approving contract modifications and construction change orders; and

(v) Providing a method for project closeout and final acceptance of the project by the governing board.

(3) If an institution does not meet the provisions of this subsection, the commission shall manage all capital projects exceeding $1 million.

(4) The commission staff shall review and audit periodically all projects greater than $1 million to ascertain that appropriate project management practices are being employed. If serious deficiencies are identified and not addressed sufficiently within ninety days, commission staff may assume management of all projects.

(f) For institutions that have entered into construction contracts averaging less than $20 million over the most recent rolling five-year period and for all community and technical colleges, the commission and council shall manage capital projects exceeding $1 million. In the rule required by section seventeen of this article, the commission and council, as appropriate, shall adopt procedures to afford participation by the governing boards and staff in the planning, development and execution of capital projects.

§18B-19-8. Maintenance.

(a) Each governing board shall ensure that facilities under its jurisdiction are maintained and that a listing of any major deferred maintenance projects is provided annually to the commission or council, as appropriate.

(b) Each governing board shall strive to invest annually an amount for maintenance that is consistent with the building renewal formula developed and approved by the commission and council and to generate a reserve sufficient to address unexpected maintenance needs.

(c) The commission and council shall determine whether a governing board is devoting sufficient resources for maintenance based on the following criteria:

(1) The amount of maintenance expenditures compared to building renewal formula estimates of appropriate expenditures; and

(2) Periodic evaluations of the conditions of facilities at the institution and its performance and effectiveness in maintaining its facilities.

§18B-19-9. Higher education facilities information system.

(a) The commission and council jointly shall develop and maintain a higher education facilities information system, except for the exempt schools. The higher education facilities information system shall serve as a vehicle for carrying out the following functions:

(1) Acquisition of statewide data;

(2) Analysis of space use and classification based on nationally recognized standards and measurements to facilitate comparisons among post-secondary education institutions within the state and in the region and nation; and

(3) Other purposes as determined by the commission and council consistent with facilitating policy analysis without burdening or interfering unnecessarily with the governance responsibilities which are placed upon the governing boards.

(b) At a minimum the higher education facilities information system shall serve the following purposes:

(1) Develop and maintain a statewide inventory of higher education facilities, including those acquired by long-term lease, lease-purchase or other arrangement whereby the institution has long-term beneficial use. The inventory shall include, but is not limited to, the institution and campus location of the facility, the construction date, the original cost, square footage, floor plans, type of construction, ownership status, the purposes for which it is used, the current replacement cost and any other data the commission and council consider appropriate, consistent with the provisions of the foregoing subsection (a);

(2) Develop and maintain an inventory of all rooms within each facility, which includes, but is not limited to, the room number, the square footage, room usage, number of student stations and any other data the commission and council consider appropriate, consistent with the provisions of the foregoing subsection (a);

(3) Provide a vehicle for institutions to submit capital appropriation requests to the commission and council;

(4) Provide information on major institutional capital projects, including major maintenance and deferred maintenance projects; and

(5) Provide information on facilities needed to calculate the building renewal formula.

(c) The commission and council shall establish benchmarks for classroom and class laboratory use including an analysis of utilization for the fall and spring semesters of each academic year. The efficient use of classrooms and class laboratories is a factor in determining whether an institution needs additional classroom and laboratory facilities.

(d) Each governing board and any institution under its jurisdiction shall participate and cooperate with the commission and council in all respects in the development and maintenance of the higher education facilities information system.

(e) The higher education facilities information system may be used for other purposes set forth by the commission and council in the rules required by section seventeen of this article, consistent with the provisions of the foregoing subsection (a).

§18B-19-10. Authorization to sell and transfer property; use of proceeds.

(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law or this code to the contrary, the commission, council and governing boards each may sell, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or part of any real property that it owns, either by contract or at public auction, and shall retain the proceeds of the transaction.

The commission, council and governing boards may not sell, convey or otherwise dispose of any real property without first performing the following steps:

(1) Providing for property appraisal by two independent licensed appraisers. The property may not be sold for less than the average of the two appraisals;

(2) Providing notice to the public in the county in which the real property is located by a Class II legal advertisement pursuant to section two, article three, chapter fifty-nine of this code;

(3) Holding a public hearing on the issue in the county in which the real property is located;

(4) For real property with a proposed sale price of $50,000 or greater, ten days prior to the placement of the Class II legal advertisement, providing written notice to the county commission and municipalities in the county in which the real estate property is located and all members of the Legislature, and

(5) In the case of the commission, notifying the Joint Committee on Government and Finance.

(b) The commission, council or a governing board may not lease real property for an annual amount of greater than $50,000 without satisfying the obligations of subdivisions (2) to (4) of subsection (a) of this section.

(c) The commission, council or a governing board shall deposit the net proceeds from the sale, conveyance or other disposal of real property into a special revenue account in the State Treasury to the credit of the commission, council, or governing board that sold, conveyed or otherwise disposed of the real property.

§18B-19-11. Authorization to lease-purchase.

(a) The commission or council may enter into lease-purchase agreements for capital improvements, including equipment, on behalf of, or for the benefit of, a state institution of higher education, the commission or council.

(b) After the commission or council, as appropriate, has granted approval for a lease-purchase agreement by a governing board, the board may enter into a lease-purchase agreement for capital improvements, including equipment.

(c) The governing boards of the exempted schools may enter into lease-purchase agreements without seeking the approval of the commission. The governing boards, subject to the jurisdiction of the commission, may enter into lease-purchase agreements of less than $1.5 million, without obtaining approval of the commission.

(d) A lease-purchase agreement constitutes a special obligation of the State of West Virginia. The obligation may be met from any funds legally available to the commission, council or the institution and shall be cancelable at the option of the commission, council, or governing board at the end of any fiscal year. The obligation, or any assignment or securitization of the obligation, never constitutes an indebtedness of the State of West Virginia or any department, agency or political subdivision of the state, within the meaning of any constitutional provision or statutory limitation, and may not be a charge against the general credit or taxing powers of the state or any political subdivision of the state. The facts shall be plainly stated in any lease-purchase agreement.

(e) A lease-purchase agreement shall prohibit assignment or securitization without consent of the lessee and the approval of the agreement as to form by the Attorney General. Proposals for any agreement shall be requested in accordance with the requirements of this section and rules of the commission and council. In addition, any lease-purchase agreement that exceeds $100,000 total shall be approved as to form by the Attorney General.

(f) The interest component of any lease-purchase obligation is exempt from all taxation of the State of West Virginia, except inheritance, estate and transfer taxes. It is the intent of the Legislature that if the requirements set forth in the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and any regulations promulgated pursuant thereto are met, the interest component of any lease-purchase obligation also is exempt from the gross income of the recipient for purposes of federal income taxation and may be designated by the governing board or the president of the institution as a bank-qualified obligation.

§18B-19-12. Authorization to lease.

(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this code to the contrary, the commission, council and governing boards may lease, or offer to lease, as lessee, any grounds, buildings, office or other space in the name of the state.

(b) The commission, council and governing boards have sole authority to select and to acquire by contract or lease all grounds, buildings, office space or other space, the rental of which is required necessarily by the commission, council or institutions.

(c) Before executing any rental contract or lease, the commission, council or a governing board shall determine the fair market value for the rental of the requested grounds, buildings, office space or other space, in the condition in which they exist, and shall contract for or lease the premises at a price not to exceed the fair market value.

(d) The commission, council and each governing board may enter into long-term agreements for buildings land and space for periods longer than one fiscal year but not to exceed forty years.

(e) Any lease shall contain, in substance, all the following provisions:

(1) The commission, council or governing board, as lessee, has the right to cancel the lease without further obligation on the part of the lessee upon giving thirty days' written notice to the lessor at least thirty days prior to the last day of the succeeding month;

(2) The lease is considered canceled without further obligation on the part of the lessee if the Legislature or the federal government fails to appropriate sufficient funds for the lease or otherwise acts to impair the lease or cause it to be canceled; and

(3) The lease is considered renewed for each ensuing fiscal year during the term of the lease unless it is canceled by the commission, council or governing board before the end of the then-current fiscal year.

(f) The commission, council or institution that is granted any grounds, buildings, office space or other space leased in accordance with this section may not order or make permanent changes of any type thereto, unless the commission, council or governing board, as appropriate, has first determined that the change is necessary for the proper, efficient and economically sound operation of the institution. For purposes of this section, a "permanent change" means any addition, alteration, improvement, remodeling, repair or other change involving the expenditure of state funds for the installation of any tangible thing that cannot be economically removed from the grounds, buildings, office space or other space when vacated by the institution.

(g) Leases and other instruments for grounds, buildings, office or other space, once approved by the commission, council or governing board, may be signed by the chief executive officer, or designee, of the commission, council or institution.

(h) Any lease or instrument exceeding $100,000 annually shall be approved as to form by the Attorney General. A lease or other instrument for grounds, buildings, office or other space that contains a term, including any options, of more than six months for its fulfillment shall be filed with the State Auditor.

§18B-19-13. Real property contracts and agreements.

(a) In addition to the requirements otherwise provided in this article, any purchase of real estate, any lease-purchase agreement and any construction of new buildings or other acquisition of buildings, office space or grounds resulting from these transactions, shall be approved by the commission or council, as appropriate, and provided to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance for prior review, if the transaction exceeds $1 million: Provided, That the exempted schools shall not be required to get the approval of the commission.

(b) Notwithstanding any provision of this code to the contrary, any acquisition, bequest, donation or construction of new buildings, office space or grounds exceeding $1 million in appraised value or requiring $1 million in repairs and renovation or lease payments over the lifetime of the lease, made or accepted by an institution’s research corporation established by article twelve of this chapter or an affiliated foundation of an institution under the jurisdiction of the council, shall be approved by the council.

(c) The commission, council and each governing board shall provide the following to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance:

(1) A copy of any contract or agreement to which it is a party for real property if the contract or agreement exceeds $1 million; and

(2) A report setting forth a detailed summary of the terms of the contract or agreement, including the name of the property owner and the agent involved in the sale.

(d) The copy and report required by subsection (b) of this section shall be provided at least thirty days before any sale, exchange, transfer, purchase, lease-purchase, lease or rental of real property, refundings of lease-purchases, leases or rental agreements, construction of new buildings, and any other acquisition or lease of buildings, office space or grounds.

(e) A contract or agreement that is for the lease purchase, lease or rental of real property, where the costs of real property acquisition and improvements are to be financed, in whole or in part, with bond proceeds, may contain a preliminary schedule of rents and leases for purposes of review by the committee.

(f) For renewals of contracts or agreements required by this section to be reported, the commission, council or governing board shall provide a report setting forth a detailed summary of the terms of the contract or agreement, including the name of the property owner.

(g) The Joint Committee on Government and Finance shall meet and review any contract, agreement or report within thirty days of receipt.

(h) Each governing board shall provide to the commission or council, as appropriate, a copy of any contract or agreement submitted to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance pursuant to this section.

§18B-19-14. Authorization for sale lease-back.

(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this code to the contrary, a governing board may sell any building that is on unencumbered real property to which the board holds title and may lease back the same building if the governing board obtains approval of the council or confirmation by the commission, as appropriate, before incurring any obligation: Provided, That the exempted schools shall not be required to obtain such approval or confirmation of the commission. The board shall deposit the net proceeds of the transaction into a special revenue account in the State Treasury to be appropriated by the Legislature for the use of the institution at which the real property is located. Prior to such action, the board shall take the following steps:

(1) Provide for the property to be appraised by two licensed appraisers. The board may not sell the property for less than the average of the two appraisals;

(2) Providing notice to the public in the county in which the real property is located by a Class II legal advertisement pursuant to section two, article three, chapter fifty-nine of this code;

(3) Holding a public hearing on the issue in the county in which the real property is located;

(4) For real property with a proposed sale price of $50,000 or greater, ten days prior to the placement of the Class II legal advertisement, providing written notice to the county commission and municipalities in the county in which the real estate property is located and all members of the Legislature, and

(5) Retain independent financial and legal services to examine fully all aspects of the transaction.

(b) The sale may be made only to a special purpose entity that exists primarily for the purpose of supporting the institution at which the building is located.

§18B-19-15. Construction and operation of auxiliary facilities; fees for auxiliary enterprises.

(a) A governing board may provide, construct, erect, improve, equip, maintain and operate auxiliary facilities, as defined in section two of this article, for students, employees and visitors on land it owns or leases.

(b) The cost of construction, erection, improvement or equipment may be paid with the proceeds of revenue bonds authorized by this code or by any other financing method provided in this article.

(c) A governing board may engage experts in engineering, architecture and construction and other experts as it considers necessary and may specify the payment and contract terms which are included in the cost of the project.

(d) A governing board may promulgate and adopt rules and charge fees for use of its facilities. The fees charged shall be structured so as to generate funds sufficient for the following purposes:

(1) To maintain payment of the principal of and interest on any revenue bonds, and for reserves for the revenue bonds;

(2) To operate the auxiliary enterprise;

(3) To satisfy annual building renewal formula requirements; and

(4) To build a reserve for major renovation or replacement.

(e) All moneys collected for the use of auxiliary facilities shall be paid to the credit of and expended by the governing board of that institution in accordance with section thirteen, article ten of this chapter.

§18B-19-16. Condemnation generally.

(a) The commission, council and governing boards each may acquire land or buildings by condemnation for the use and benefit of any state institution under its jurisdiction. A condemnation proceeding conducted pursuant to this section is governed by chapter fifty-four of this code.

(b) The commission, council and governing boards each may condemn any interest, right or privilege, land or improvement, which in its opinion is necessary, in the manner provided by law for the acquisition by this state of property for public purposes. The state is under no obligation to accept and pay for any property condemned and may pay for the property only from the funds provided for that purpose.

(c) In any proceeding to condemn, the order shall be made by the court having jurisdiction of the suit, action or proceedings. A bond or other security may be required by the court securing the property owner against any loss or damage to be sustained by reason of the state's failure to accept and pay for the property. The bond or security may not impose liability or debt on or of the state as contemplated by the Constitution of the State in relation to state debt.

§18B-19-17. Legislative rule.

The commission and council jointly shall propose a rule or rules for legislative approval in accordance with article three-a, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code, to implement this article.

§18B-19-18. Reporting.

(a) By July 1, 2013, and annually thereafter, the commission and council shall provide a general status report to the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability on the progress being made in implementing the state-wide capital development plan and on the progress of the governing boards in implementing the objectives of institutions' campus development plans.

(b) The process required by the commission and council for reporting by the governing boards shall be included in the rules required by section seventeen of this article.

§18B-19-19. Applicability to certain institutions.

The governing boards of the exempted schools each may, without obtaining approval of the commission, take any action described or set forth in this article that otherwise would require the approval or confirmation of the commission. The respective governing board shall provide notice of the action to the commission. If the commission requests additional information relevant to the action from the respective governing board, the governing board shall provide information regarding the action to the commission.

§18B-3C-16. Encouragement of collaborative agreements between community and technical colleges and federally registered apprenticeship programs.

(a) The Legislature finds that apprenticeship programs provide a valuable educational opportunity that can be enhanced by community and technical colleges that offer associate degrees. Accordingly, the Legislature hereby encourages, but is not requiring, community and technical colleges that offer associate degrees to enter into collaborative agreements with federally registered apprenticeship programs that are registered with the United States Department of Labor.

(b) On or before January 1 of each year, the council shall provide to the Legislature and the Governor a report regarding the collaborative agreements between community and technical colleges and federally registered apprenticeships programs. The report should identify those community and technical colleges that have entered into a collaborative agreement with federally registered apprenticeship programs, the number of students participating in such apprenticeship programs, and the number of community and technical colleges credits earned by students in such apprenticeship programs, and, if available, information on the number of students employed, and the average hours they worked in a relevant field, during such apprenticeship programs.

§18B-1-1f. State college and university exemption status.

(a) The Legislature finds that:

(1) Efficiencies, entrepreneurialism, and the effectiveness of governing boards in fulfilling certain goals can be incentivized through the accountability and autonomy associated with exemption status for state colleges and universities based on meeting certain criteria; and

(2) Leading higher education authorities in the nation identify common, key performance indicators as an important measure of institutional effectiveness, including, but not limited to, enrollment benchmarks, fiscal benchmarks, and student success benchmarks.

(b) The following definitions apply to terms used in this section:

(1) “Administratively exempted schools” means state colleges and universities:

(A) That achieve and maintain three out of five of the following:

(i) Graduation rates: A three-year average graduation rate of not less than 45 percent;

(ii) Retention rates: A three-year average retention rate of not less than 60 percent; and

(iii) Credit head count enrollment: A three-year credit head count enrollment increase, or a decrease of not more than five percent over the same period;

(iv) Days of cash reserved: A three-year average of not less than 50 days cash reserved; and

(v) Composite Financial Index: A Composite Financial Index of not less than one as reported in the college and university’s audited financial statements; or

(B) Whose governing board requests a review by the chancellor of any special circumstances and the commission grants administratively exempted status based on those special circumstances as verified by the chancellor after his or her review.

(2) “Composite Financial Index” means the benchmarking tool used by the Higher Learning Commission as a financial indicator and developed specifically for the higher education industry and is a combination of several different ratios, each of which is comprised of data that, when analyzed further, can provide insight into an institution’s financial health and inform decision-making processes;

(3) “Credit headcount enrollment” means the total number of unique students, but not counting dual-enrolled high school students, who enrolled in credit-bearing classes during the fall, spring, and summer terms in a given academic year at a specific institution;

(4) “Days of cash reserved” means the audited end of fiscal year cash balance, multiplied by 365, and then divided by the audited total expenses less depreciation, and less other post employment benefit and pension liability expenses;

(5) “Graduation rates” means the proportion of first time in college students who obtain a bachelor’s degree within six years, as further defined by and reported to the commission;

(6) “Retention rates” means the proportion of first-time, fall term, full-time freshmen students who are in continuing enrollment in the fall term of the next succeeding year; and

(7) “State college and university” shall have the same meaning as provided in §18B-1-2 of this code.

(c) Any state college and university may apply to the commission for designation as an administratively exempted school. The commission shall make its determination as to whether to grant or deny exemption designation based on the definition of administratively exempted school. The commission shall propose rules for legislative approval pursuant to §29A-3A-1 et seq. of this code to implement the provisions of this section and that addresses loss of an administratively exempted designation. The rule shall at least include the following:

(1) After the first year an administratively exempted school fails to meet three of the five criteria under the definition of administratively exempted schools, the commission may advise the institution on strategies that may be implemented in order to meet three of the five criteria before the following year;

(2) An institution may not lose its designation as an administratively exempted school until it has failed to meet three of the five criteria under the definition of administratively exempted schools for two consecutive years;

(3) If an institution is administratively exempt based on special circumstances, the commission may revoke the administratively exempted status of a state college and university if it determines that the special circumstance that the state college and university’s administratively exempted status is based on no longer exists; and

(4) The commission shall provide notice to the institution at least 30 days before revoking the institution’s administratively exempted status.

(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this code to the contrary:

(1) West Virginia University, including West Virginia University Potomac State College and West Virginia University Institute of Technology; Marshall University; and the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine, which are statutorily exempted schools under §18B-1-2 of this code, are institutions of unique characteristics and their continuing inclusion as a statutorily exempted school is confirmed; and

(2) No other state institution of higher education maintains exempted school status pursuant to any other provision of this code except any exempted school status designated by the commission pursuant to this section: Provided, That notwithstanding any provision of this section to the contrary, any college or university shall be exempt from the requirement that the commission approve the establishment of new four-year programs on their own campuses for programs incentivized within the funding formula established in §18B-1B-4 of this code if the state appropriation to that school is less than 40 percent of their operating expenses for three consecutive years.

(e) Notwithstanding any other provision of this code to the contrary, any state college and university that applies and is designated by the commission as an administratively exempted school is exempt from the following:

(1) The required approval of capital projects to ensure that capital projects and facility needs are managed effectively pursuant to §18B-1B-4(a)(10) of this code;

(2) The development and approval of institutional mission definitions pursuant to §18B-1B-4(a)(34) of this code;

(3) The program approval required pursuant to §18B-1B-4(a)(35) of this code;

(4) The rules providing guidance to the governing boards in filling vacancies in the office of the president pursuant to §18B-1B-6(d) of this code;

(5) The commission’s rule governing and controlling acquisitions and purchases pursuant to §18B-5-4 of this code, upon adoption by the board of governors of said school of its own rule governing and controlling acquisitions and purchases pursuant to §18B-5-4 of this code, following the procedures for adoption of rules provided for in this code;

(6) The required approval of capital improvement projects exceeding $3 million pursuant to §18B-19-6 of this code;

(7) The required approval of lease-purchase agreements for capital improvements and equipment of $1.5 million or greater pursuant to §18B-19-11 of this code; and

(8) The required approval of real estate transactions, lease purchase, and new building construction exceeding $1 million pursuant to §18B-19-13 of this code.

(g) Not later than the January interims of each year, the commission shall submit a report to the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability relating to the administratively exempted schools eligibility criteria established by this section, providing the data for each of the three preceding years, as available, and the three-year average thereof, for each of the state institutions of higher education under its jurisdiction. The commission shall share the report with the institutions.

§18B-1D-11. State Advisory Council on Postsecondary Attainment Goals.

(a) There is hereby created the State Advisory Council on Postsecondary Attainment Goals. The council’s purpose is to ensure that students are provided opportunities to learn and earn the most relevant industry-demanded knowledge, skills, and credentials to prepare students for the challenges of college, careers, and life, while helping the state and its employers attain economic growth through collaboration with K-12 education leaders, employers and industry leaders, state agency leaders, the Higher Education Policy Commission, and the Council for Community and Technical College Education to identify high-value and in-demand postsecondary credentials, and to develop a plan to assist the state in achieving its postsecondary attainment goal of having 60 percent of West Virginians between the ages of 25 and 64 hold a degree, certificate, or other postsecondary workforce credential of value in the workplace by 2030.

(b) The State Advisory Council on Postsecondary Attainment Goals shall consist of the following members:

(1) The Chancellor of the Higher Education Policy Commission, or his or her designee;

(2) The State Superintendent of Schools, or his or her designee;

(3) The Secretary of the Department of Commerce, or his or her designee;

(4) The Director of WorkForce West Virginia, or his or her designee;

(5) Two presidents representing the state’s four-year institutions of higher education, at least one of which shall be the president of a regional institution, appointed jointly by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Delegates;

(6) Two presidents representing the state’s community and technical colleges appointed jointly by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Delegates;

(7) Representatives from at least two employers, industry associations, or chambers of commerce, appointed jointly by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Delegates;

(8) Representatives from at least two regional economic development and workforce investment boards, appointed jointly by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House Delegates;

(9) The chair of the Senate Committee on Education as an ex officio nonvoting member;

(10) The chair of the House Committee on Education as an ex officio nonvoting member; and

(11) Any other individuals deemed appropriate and appointed jointly by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House Delegates.

(c) The council shall be chaired by the Chancellor of the Higher Education Policy Commission. The council shall meet at least quarterly and at the call of the chair. Quorum shall be a simple majority of the council. The administrative functions of the council are the responsibility of the joint staff of the Higher Education Policy Commission and the Council for Community and Technical Education.

(d) The council shall consult with and advise the Legislature on matters related to the progress toward achieving the state’s postsecondary attainment goal as established in subsection (a) of this section, including identifying high-value and in-demand postsecondary credentials. The council may:

(1) Make recommendations to the Legislature as required by this section;

(2) Provide guidance to the Legislature on potential statutory solutions relative to achievement of the state’s postsecondary attainment goal;

(3) Establish workgroups or subcommittees as the council considers necessary to address pertinent issues related to achievement of the state’s postsecondary attainment goal, and to provide consistency in the development of further regulation, if further regulation is determined to be necessary by the council;

(4) Consult with entities and persons with expertise in the areas being studied by the council as the council considers necessary in the fulfillment of its duties, including public and private sector partnerships; and

(5) Provide a forum for a full and fair discussion of issues relating to achievement of the state’s postsecondary attainment goal.

(e) The council shall provide leadership, strategic direction, and evaluation of the state’s investments in, and progress toward, implementing high-quality career and technical education programs that are accessible to all students and improves the career readiness of the state’s workforce by conducting an annual review of career and technical education offerings in K-12 and the state’s community college and technical education system to determine the alignment of existing offerings with employer demand, postsecondary degree or certificate programs, and professional industry certifications. The review shall identify career and technical education offerings that are linked to occupations that are in high-demand by employers, require high-level skills, and provide middle- and high-level wages. The review shall include analyses of:

(1) Participating students and their outcomes, including the following:

(A) Academic achievement;

(B) Attainment of industry certifications;

(C) Program completion;

(D) Applied learning experiences;

(E) College credit attainment through the career and technical education program, including dual enrollment or articulation;

(F) Postsecondary enrollment and credential attainment, including enrollment in four-year degree programs for state college system students; and

(G) Employment outcomes, including wages;

(2) Demographics of participating students by pathway and credential attainment;

(3) Educational settings of the courses;

(4) Alignment with high-growth, high-demand, and high-wage employment opportunities;

(5) Current and projected economic, labor, and wage data on the needs of the state, regional, and global economy and workforce;

(6) Alignment with certificate or degree programs offered at the postsecondary level or professional industry certifications;

(7) Employment outcomes, including wages, by career and technical education program offerings;

(8) Apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship offerings;

(9) Qualifications and specialized knowledge and expertise of instructors and the opportunities for these educators to upskill in the latest in-demand skills of employers; and

(10) Extent to which federal, state, and local funding is used to foster career and technical education program success and program efficiency.

(f) The council shall report its findings to the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability and the Joint Committee on Government and Finance by December 31, 2024, and annually thereafter until the council terminates, pursuant to the provisions of this section. The report shall include, at a minimum, the following:

(1) Conclusions and recommendations about the means to achieve the state’s postsecondary attainment goal;

(2) Recommendations for statutory and regulatory modifications, if the council determines that such modifications are necessary;

(3) Identification of any action that the Legislature may take to better foster awareness of the actions being taken to achieve the state’s postsecondary attainment goal; and

(4) Any other ancillary issues relative to achievement of the state’s postsecondary attainment goal.

(g) The State Board of Education, the Superintendent of Schools, the Department of Commerce, WorkForce West Virginia, the presidents of the state’s public institutions of higher education, and all other entities of state government shall cooperate with the council in the exchange of data, information, and expertise, if so requested by the council, including, but not limited to:

(1) Providing the entity’s plans to assist in achievement of the state’s postsecondary attainment goal;

(2) Identifying equity gaps among certain high-risk populations, including, but not limited to, returning adults, academically underprepared students, the economically disadvantaged, and underrepresented racial or ethnic minorities;

(3) Sharing information on the economic impact of achievement of the state’s postsecondary goal on the State of West Virginia;

(4) Providing an assessment of the benefits of implemented programs and activities aimed at achieving the state’s postsecondary attainment goal;

(5) Assisting in the development or revision of detailed action plans to achieve the state’s postsecondary attainment goal; and

(6) Providing resources required to implement the plan to achieve the state’s postsecondary attainment goal.

(h) The council and all provisions of this section shall terminate and no longer be in effect on December 31, 2027.

§18B-20-1. Definitions.

As used in this article:

 (1) “Campus community” includes students, administrators, faculty, and staff at the institution of higher education, and their invited guests.

(2) “Harassment” means an expression that is unwelcome, so severe, pervasive, and subjectively and objectively offensive that a student is effectively denied equal access to educational opportunities or benefits provided by the state institution of higher education or sexual harassment as defined by federal law and federal regulations applicable to state institutions of higher education.

(3) “Materially and substantially disrupts” means an occurrence where a person or group significantly hinders another person’s or group’s expressive activity, prevents the communication of the message, prevents the transaction of the business of a lawful meeting, gathering, or procession, or interferes with or prevents the operations and functions of a state institution of higher education by:

(A) Engaging in fighting, violent, or other unlawful behavior;

(B) Physically blocking or using threats of violence to prevent any person from attending, listening to, viewing, or otherwise participating in an expressive activity;

(C) Using sound to drown out or muffle expressive activity; or

(D) Violating a state institution of higher education’s reasonable time, place, and manner restrictions.

(E) Conduct that “materially and substantially disrupts” shall not include conduct that is protected under the First Amendment to the United States Constitution or West Virginia Constitution. The protected conduct includes, but is not limited to, lawful protests in the outdoor areas of campus generally accessible to the members of the public (except during times when those areas have been reserved in advance for other events), or minor, brief, or fleeting nonviolent disruptions of events that are isolated and short in duration.

(4) “Outdoor areas of campus” means the generally accessible outside areas of campus where members of the campus community are commonly allowed, such as grassy areas, walkways, or other similar common areas and does not include outdoor areas where access is restricted from a majority of the campus community.

(5) “State institution of higher education” means any university, college, or community and technical college under the jurisdiction of a governing board as defined in §18B-1-2 of this code.

(6) “Student” means any person who is enrolled on a full-time or part-time basis in a state institution of higher education.

(7) “Student organization” means an officially recognized group at a state institution of higher education, or a group seeking official recognition, comprised of admitted students that receive, or are seeking to receive, benefits through the institution of higher education as defined in this section.

§18B-20-2. Protected expressive activities.

Expressive activities protected under the provisions of §18-1-1 et seq. of this code include, but are not limited to, any lawful verbal and nonverbal speech. This may include lawful and protected forms of peaceful assembly, protests, speeches and guest speakers, distribution of literature, carrying signs, and circulating petitions.

§18B-20-3. Public forums; establishment of “free speech zones” prohibited.

The outdoor areas of campuses of state institutions of higher education shall be considered public forums for the campus community, and state institutions of higher education shall not limit free speech by creating “free speech zones” or other designated areas of campus outside of which expressive activities are prohibited. Nothing in this section shall be interpreted as limiting the right of student expression elsewhere on campus.

§18B-20-4. Time, place, and manner restrictions.

(a) Any person who wishes to engage in protected and lawful expressive activity on campus shall be permitted to do so freely, as long as the person’s conduct is not unlawful, and does not materially and substantially disrupt the functioning of the state institution of higher education.

(b) To enable the state institutions of higher education to function in a safe and secure manner and to advance their missions and objectives, the state institutions of higher education may enact reasonable time, place, and manner restrictions which are content neutral and narrowly tailored to serve a significant state institution of higher education or other governmental interest.  A state institution of higher education may deny, cancel, or postpone a reservation, or immediately terminate any ongoing activity that represents a violation of its time, place, and manner restrictions. A state institution of higher education shall endeavor to allow members of the campus community to spontaneously and contemporaneously engage in protected expressive activities.

(c) Nothing in this article shall be interpreted as preventing state institutions of higher education from prohibiting, limiting, or restricting expression not protected by the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States such as true threats, expression designed to provoke imminent lawless actions and likely to produce it or prohibiting harassment as defined in §18B-20-2 of this code, or sexual harassment as prohibited by federal law and defined by federal regulations applicable to state institutions of higher education.

 (d) Nothing in this article shall be construed to authorize a person or group to intentionally, materially, and substantially disrupt another person or group’s expressive activity if that activity is occurring in a campus space reserved for that activity under the exclusive use or control of a particular group.

§18B-20-5. Freedom of association and nondiscrimination against students and student organizations.

A state institution of higher education may not deny a religious, political, or ideological student organization any benefit or privilege generally available to other student organizations, or otherwise discriminate against the organization based on a requirement of the organization that its leaders and members:

(1) Affirm and adhere to the organization’s sincerely held beliefs;

(2) Comply with the organization’s standards of conduct; and

(3) Further the organization’s mission, expression, or purpose.

§18B-20-6. Development of policies and procedures.

State institutions of higher education shall develop materials to educate the campus community on the institution’s free speech policies.

§18B-20-7. Accountability to the public.

(a) Each state institution of higher education shall publicly post on its website any policies it has enacted regarding protected expressive activity under the First Amendment to the United States Constitution.

(b) Each campus shall report to the Higher Education Policy Commission or the Council for Community and Technical College Education, as applicable, a description of any barriers to, or incidents of disruption of, free expression occurring on campus, including, but not limited to, attempts to block or prohibit speakers and investigations into students or student organizations for their speech. The description shall include the nature of each barrier or incident, as well as what disciplinary action, if any, was taken against members of the campus community determined to be responsible for those specific barriers or incidents involving students and shall be reported without revealing those students’ personally identifiable information. Annually, by August 1, the commission and council shall report to the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability any barriers or incidents reported to them pursuant to this subsection.

§18B-20-8. Remedies.

Any person or student organization aggrieved by a violation of this article may bring an action against the state institution of higher education and its employees acting in their official capacities, alleged to be responsible for the alleged violation. The aggrieved person or student organization may seek injunctive relief and actual damages, as well as reasonable attorney’s fees, and court costs if the person or student organization substantially prevails.

§18B-20-9. Statute of limitations.

Any action brought pursuant to this article shall be commenced not later than one year after the day the cause of action accrues.

§18B-10-7d. Tuition waivers for national service volunteers serving in West Virginia.

(a) The governing boards shall make provision for institutions under their respective jurisdictions to award tuition and fee waivers for undergraduate and graduate courses at state institutions of higher education beginning in the 2022 fall semester or term for any student who has completed service in West Virginia as a participant in an AmeriCorps State, National, VISTA, or Senior Corps program in accordance with the following:

(1) The student has applied and been accepted at the institution;

(2) The student has filed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid and has accepted all offers of state and federal financial assistance for which he or she is eligible: Provided, That the student is not required to accept offers of student loan or work study assistance;

(3) The student has accepted the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award;

(4) The student has successfully completed his or her term of service as defined by the AmeriCorps program and consistent with regulations of the Corporation for National and Community Service, the service was completed in West Virginia, and the Certification of Service Letter is provided to the state institution of higher education as documentation of the completion of service;

(5) The student shall be awarded a tuition and fee waiver for one semester if the student successfully completed a term of service consisting of at least 600 hours of service, or if the student successfully completed multiple terms of service that in the aggregate consist of at least 600 hours of service. The student shall be awarded a tuition and fee waiver for two semesters if the student successfully completed a term of service consisting of at least 1,200 hours of service, or if the student successfully completed multiple terms of service that in the aggregate consist of at least 1,200 hours. The hours of service used to qualify for an award may not be again used to qualify for another award;

(6) A student may successfully complete additional terms of service while enrolled at a state institution of higher education or between semesters and provide the documentation specified in subdivision (4) of this subsection to the state institution for waivers of tuition and fees in accordance with this section;

(7) The total number of tuition and fee waivers that may be granted to a student pursuant to this section is limited to eight semesters of enrollment at the undergraduate or graduate levels combined;

(8) The nominal value of a tuition and fee waiver is the remaining cost of tuition and fees after the state and federal financial assistance accepted by the student in accordance with subdivision (2) of this subsection has been applied: Provided, That if the subsequent application of the student’s Segal AmeriCorps Education Award causes the total of the student’s financial assistance, waivers, and grants to exceed the student’s cost of attendance, the nominal value of the tuition and fee waiver may be further reduced to reach the cost of attendance; and

(9) The award of a tuition and fee waiver is contingent upon the student meeting the academic progress standards established by the institution.

(b) The award of tuition and fee waivers granted pursuant to this section is in addition to the tuition and fee waivers otherwise permitted in this article.

(c) The governing boards may establish any limitations on the provisions of this section as they consider proper.

(d) The commission and the council may propose rules for legislative approval, pursuant to the provisions of §29A-3A-1 et seq. of this code, if necessary, to provide for uniformity in the administration and tracking of awards made pursuant to this section.

§18B-4-5b. Concealed carry on higher education campuses; exceptions.

(a) Subject to the provisions of subsection (b) of this section, a person holding a current and valid license to carry a concealed deadly weapon may carry a concealed pistol or revolver on the campus and in the buildings of a state institution of higher education. This subsection only applies to areas of the campus and buildings of a state institution of higher education under the custodial possession of the state institution of higher education and does not include areas rented, leased, or under an exclusive agreement for the full-time occupancy and use of a private entity.

(b) The provisions of subsection (a) of this section do not limit the authority of a state institution of higher education to regulate possession of a concealed pistol or revolver by a person holding a current and valid license to carry a concealed deadly weapon in the following locations when in compliance with §61-7-14 of this code:

(1) At an organized event taking place at a stadium or arena with a capacity of more than 1,000 spectators;

(2) At a daycare facility located on the property of the state institution of higher education;

(3) In the secure area of any building used by a law-enforcement agency on the property of the state institution for higher education;

(4) In an area of the property of the state institution of higher education that has adequate security measures in place to ensure that pistols or revolvers are not carried by the public into the area. As used in this section, "adequate security measures" means the use of electronic equipment and armed personnel at public entrances to detect and restrict the carrying of any pistols or revolvers into the area, including, but not limited to, metal detectors, metal detector wands, or any other equipment used for similar purposes to ensure that pistols or revolvers are not carried in those areas by members of the public;

(5) In an on-campus room or rooms in which a student or employee disciplinary proceeding is being held;

(6) In sole occupancy offices on the campus and in the buildings of the state institution of higher education. "Sole occupancy office" means a room with at least one door and walls that extend to the ceiling that is assigned to a single person as his or her workspace. This subdivision does not authorize a state institution of higher education to prohibit, regulate, or restrict faculty or staff members who hold a current and valid license to carry a concealed deadly weapon from carrying a concealed pistol or revolver in his or her assigned office;

(7) At a primary or secondary education school-sponsored function being held in a specific location on the property of the state institution of higher education that is rented, leased, or under the exclusive use of the West Virginia Department of Education, the West Virginia Secondary Schools Activities Commission, a county school board, or local public school for the actual period of time the function is occurring;

(8) At a private function that is being held in a specific location on the property of the state institution of higher education that is rented, leased, or under the exclusive use of an entity that is not affiliated with the state institution of higher education for the actual period of time the function is occurring;

(9) In any area on the property of the state institution of higher education where possession of a firearm is prohibited by state or federal law;

(10) In specifically designated areas in which patient-care or mental health counseling is being provided;

(11) In high hazardous and animal laboratories, defined as laboratories with:

(A) Greater than 55 gallons of Class I flammable liquids and/or significant quantities of acids, bases, organics, pyrophorics, peroxides, bio-hazardous materials, extremely toxic materials, or pyrophoric or toxic gases classified NFPA 704 Category 3 or higher;

(B) Hazardous gases with K-size or larger cylinders containing corrosive, reactive, flammable, toxic, and/or oxidizer gases classified NFPA 704 Category 2 or higher;

(C) MRI and/or NMR equipment capable of generating significant magnetic fields with field strength of at least 5 gauss is measured outside the equipment or 5 gauss line typically at least 3 feet and as much as 20 feet from equipment;

(D) Large cylinders of acetylene; or

(E) Animal research laboratory spaces in locations not accessible to the public or generally accessible to students and staff, or

(12) In on-campus residence halls, except common areas such as lounges, dining areas, and study areas.

(c) An employee whose employment responsibilities require him or her to be in an on-campus residence hall and who holds a current and valid license to carry a concealed deadly weapon is permitted to carry a concealed revolver or pistol on or about his or her person while present in on-campus residence halls for purposes of his or her employment.

(d) Institutions of higher education shall provide either: (1) A secure location for the storage of a pistol or revolver in at least one of the institution's on-campus residence halls; or (2) make available an appropriate safe that may be installed in a resident's room in any of the institution's on-campus residence halls. If an institution chooses to make a storage room available to on-campus residents at an on-campus residence hall, the institution shall develop a policy that reserves an appropriate amount of rooms in the on-campus residence hall where the storage room is located for on-campus residents with a current and valid license to carry a concealed deadly weapon. The institution shall make the storage room available at all times during which the on-campus residence hall is open and fully operational for use by its residents. If West Virginia University chooses to provide secure locations instead of making safes available to students, it shall provide a secure location in at least two on-campus residence halls at its Morgantown campus and one at each of its Beckley and Keyser campuses.

(e) An institution of higher education may charge a reasonable fee for the use of the secure storage location or a safe.

(f) The provisions of subsection (a) of this section do not limit the authority of a state institution of higher education from taking disciplinary action against a student or employee with a valid license to carry a concealed deadly weapon who is convicted of a violation of §61-7-14 of this code related to carrying a firearm in a location listed in subsection (b) of this section.

(g) Notwithstanding any provision of subsection (a) of this section to the contrary, while on the campus or in the buildings of a state institution of higher education, a holder of a license to carry a concealed deadly weapon or any other person not expressly authorized to do so by the state institution of higher education, may not carry a pistol or revolver which is partially or wholly visible, or intentionally or knowingly display a firearm in plain view of another person in a way or manner to cause, or threaten, a breach of the peace, regardless of whether the firearm is holstered. A holder of a license to carry a concealed deadly weapon who violates this subsection may, in addition to any applicable criminal charges, be subject to discipline the state institution of higher education considers appropriate.

(h) It is the intent of the Legislature to establish, by this act, conditions under which persons with a current and valid license to carry a concealed deadly weapon may carry a concealed pistol or revolver at a state institution of higher education. When a person exercises the rights granted by this section, neither the carrying of a concealed pistol or revolver, nor any other conduct of person involving a concealed pistol or revolver, shall be construed to be an act of the state institution of higher education nor of the state, and no liability for any such actions of such person shall be imputed to the state institution of higher education, its officers, agents, or employees, unless the state institution of higher education has expressly requested or directed such person to carry a concealed pistol or revolver: Provided, That the failure to provide adequate security measures at any building or location at a state institution of higher education where the carrying of a concealed pistol or revolver is not permitted shall not give rise to a cause action or any liability whatsoever related to or arising from the carrying of a concealed pistol or revolver by any person.

(i) For the purposes of this section, a "license to carry a concealed deadly weapon" refers to a current and valid license, lawfully issued by the State of West Virginia pursuant to §61-7-4 or §61-7-4a of this code, or a current and valid license or permit recognized under §61-7-6a of this code.

(j) These amendments to this section enacted during the regular session of the Legislature, 2023, may be cited as the Campus Self-defense Act.

(k) The provisions of this section apply on or after July 1, 2024.

§18B-21-1. Short title.

This article may be cited and known as the Student Journalist Press Freedom Protection Act.

§18B-21-2. Legislative findings.

(a) The Legislature finds that:

(1) Freedom of expression through high school, college, and university sponsored media is protected by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution and Article III, section 7 of the West Virginia Constitution;

(2) A high school, college, and university student press can contribute to the continuing development of informed and civic-minded citizens; and

(3) Instructors and administrators who defend their students’ freedom of expression may sometimes do so at professional risk.

(b) It is the intent of the Legislature to protect freedom of expression in school-sponsored media at public high schools and institutions of higher education in this state, and to protect the instructors and administrators who support that right, in order to encourage students to become educated, informed, and responsible members of society.

§18B-21-3. Definitions.

As used in this article:

“School-sponsored media” means any material that is prepared, substantially written, published, or broadcast, in any media, by a student journalist at a public high school, college, or university under the supervision of a student media adviser and distributed or generally made available to members of the student body. School-sponsored media does not include media intended for distribution or transmission for classroom purposes only.

“Student journalist” means a public high school, college, or university student who writes, edits, photographs, records, or prepares information for inclusion in school-sponsored media.

“Student media adviser” means an individual employed, appointed, or designated by a public high school, college, or university to supervise or provide instruction relating to school-sponsored media.

§18B-21-4. Student journalists’ freedom of expression.

(a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, a student journalist has the right to freedom of speech and of the press in school-sponsored media regardless of whether the media is supported financially by the school, uses the facilities of the school, or is produced in conjunction with a course or class in which the student is enrolled. Subject to subsection (b) of this section, a student journalist is responsible for determining the news, opinion, feature, and other news reporting content of school-sponsored media. A student journalist is entitled to the protections set forth in §57-3-10 of this code.

(b) This section does not authorize or protect expression by a student that:

(1) Is libelous or slanderous;

(2) Constitutes an actionable invasion of privacy;

(3) Is obscene, vulgar, pornographic, or of sensual or illicit sexual content;

(4) Violates federal or state law; or

(5) Expressly incites students to engage in the commission of an unlawful act or acts, or violate a lawful school policy, or is likely to cause the material and substantial disruption of the operation of the school. Administrators must base a forecast of material and substantial disruption on specific facts, including past experience in the school and current events influencing student behavior, and not on undifferentiated fear or apprehension.

(c) There shall be no prior restraint of material prepared for official school publications except insofar as the material violates the standards of subsection (b) of this section. School officials have the burden of showing prior justification for their limitation of student journalists expression under this section and shall afford students a timely opportunity for appeal.

(d) Nothing in this section shall be construed as authorizing the publication of an advertisement in school-sponsored media that promotes the purchase of a product or service that is unlawful for purchase or use by minors.

(e) A student journalist is not subject to discipline for acting in accordance with this section.

(f) A student media adviser may not be dismissed, suspended, disciplined, reassigned, transferred, or otherwise retaliated against for acting in conformity with this article.

(g)(1) Each county board of education, public college, and public university shall adopt a written policy for the exercise of the right of student journalists to freedom of speech and the press in school-sponsored media in accordance with this section.

(2) The policy shall include a provision allowing for the timely appeal of school administration decisions made regarding behavior protected by this section. A student journalist or student media advisor who believes a violation of this section has occurred must exhaust school administrative review procedures prior to availing himself or herself of the relief authorized by subsection (i) of this section.

(h) A statement or position made or taken by students in the exercise of free speech or free press rights shall not be considered to be an expression of school policy, and school officials shall not be held responsible in any civil or criminal action for any expression made or published by students in conformity with this section.

(i) Any student or student media adviser may institute proceedings for injunctive or declaratory relief in any court of competent jurisdiction to enforce the rights provided in this section. Nothing in this section shall be construed to create any private cause of action on behalf of a student other than for injunctive relief allowing the publication of the speech in question. A court may award reasonable attorneys’ fees to a plaintiff who substantially prevails.

(j) This article does not apply to students attending private high schools, colleges or universities.

§18B-4-7a. Choice of accreditors.

(a) The Legislature finds and declares that:

(1) The United States Department of Education promulgated new regulations on November 1, 2019, that revise the criteria used by the department to recognize accrediting agencies to allow competition (84 Fed. Reg. 58834);

(2) The council, commission, and governing boards of the exempted schools must take advantage of the new regulations in order to improve education quality through competition among accreditors by amending their own regulations;

(3) Regulatory references to accreditation involving the North Central Association are out of date because it was dissolved in 2014; and

(4) Seventeen accreditors are currently recognized by the United States Department of Education (seven traditionally "regional" accreditors and 10 traditionally "national" accreditors).

(b) Competition. —

(1) By December 31, 2023, the council, commission, and governing boards of the exempted schools must amend their regulations regarding accreditation to ensure that every postsecondary institution in the state may freely choose to pursue accreditation by any accreditor recognized by the United States Department of Education for the kinds of programs offered by the institution; and

(2) To the extent that such regulations imply or state that institutions default to, or normally would, should, or must be accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and/or the now-defunct North Central Association, such regulations are incorrect and must be amended.

§18B-3D-7. STAND - Registered apprenticeship to associate in applied science degree program established; definitions; funding; annual reporting.

(a) Purpose and Intent. – The purpose of this section is to create a comprehensive registered apprenticeship to associate of applied science degree program to be known as the Skilled Trades Apprenticeship Nontraditional Degree (STAND) program to provide apprentices or journeyworkers with the opportunity to obtain associate degrees in applied science while gaining practical skills and on-the-job training through federally recognized apprenticeship programs. The registered apprenticeship to associate of applied science degree program aims to bridge the gap between postsecondary education and the apprenticeship learning experience, fostering a skilled workforce that meets the demands of varied and evolving industries.

(b) Definitions. – As used in this section, unless used in a context that clearly requires a different meaning, the term:

"Apprenticeship" or "apprenticeship program" means an apprenticeship program registered under the federal National Apprenticeship Act, 29 U.S.C. 50, et seq., or another federal apprenticeship program administered by the United States Department of Labor’s Office of Apprenticeship.

"Associate of applied science degree" means an associate-level college degree with a focus on a particular applied science or technical skill designed for students planning to enter the workforce upon degree completion.

"Eligible course" means any class or program of instruction offered at a public community and technical college for which the eligible student receives credit toward the general education requirements that lead to an associate of applied science degree. Applied academics for adult education instruction, developmental education, physical education courses, and recreation and leisure studies courses are not eligible courses for purposes of this program.

"Eligible student" means any person who has graduated from high school or has obtained a general equivalency diploma or other approved equivalency-based test, is 18 years of age or older, and is an apprentice or participating in an apprenticeship program as verified by the registered apprenticeship program who registers to participate in the program. "Eligible student" also includes journeyworkers who have received a certificate recognized by the United States Department of Labor.

"Student-apprentice" means a student who has been accepted into and is participating in the program created in this section.

(c) Apprenticeship to associate of applied science degree program established. – Under the supervision of the council, the chancellor shall establish the STAND program whereby the state’s public community and technical colleges may offer general education courses to eligible students in a manner and on a timeline that will allow the eligible student to earn at least 15 credit hours of general education courses toward an associate of applied science degree.

(1) To be eligible for the STAND program, an individual must be enrolled in an apprenticeship program recognized by the United States Department of Labor’s Office of Apprenticeship or must have received a United States Department of Labor Certificate of Completion of Apprenticeship.

(2) An apprentice or journeyworker may apply for enrollment in the STAND program at the next available program offering.

(3) Student-apprentices shall complete and pass all general education coursework within six years from the initial date of enrollment in the STAND program or within two years after completing the apprentice program, whichever is longer. Journeyworkers shall complete and pass all general education coursework within six years from the initial date of enrollment.

(d) Funding. – From appropriations to the council for the purposes of implementing and administering the STAND program established in this section, the council shall pay directly to the participating public community and technical colleges the cost of the tuition and academic fees incurred by eligible students taking courses through the STAND program. This funding may not be used to pay for any of the costs associated with the apprenticeship program or otherwise incurred by the apprenticeship program in conducting such training.

(e) Rulemaking. – The council may propose emergency and legislative rules pursuant to §29A-3A-1 et seq. of this code to implement the provisions of this section.

(f) Annual reports. – By December 1, 2025, and annually thereafter, the chancellor shall report to the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability on any STAND programs created. The report shall contain, at a minimum, the following information: the number of student-apprentices and journeyworkers participating in the STAND program; the number of associate of applied science degrees earned by students who have participated in the STAND program; projected growth in the STAND program and funding needs for the next year; and any issues with the STAND program reported by students, the registered apprenticeship program, and the community and technical colleges, how these issues are being addressed, and whether the issues require legislative action.