{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/23.1-215.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/23.1-215.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/23.1-215.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/23.1-215.html"}],"law_id":60133,"edition_id":1,"section_id":60133,"structure_id":15696,"section_number":"23.1-215","catch_line":"Authority of the Council; regulations; standards for postsecondary schools; delegation of authority to Executive Director","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7 23-268; 1980, c. 658; 1996, cc. 691, 832; 2002, c. 178, \u00a7 23-276.3; 2004, c. 991; 2005, c. 447; 2016, c. 588; 2025, c. 144.","full_text":"A\n\nThe Council shall adopt, pursuant to the Administrative Process Act (§ 2.2-4000 et seq.), such regulations as may be necessary to implement the provisions of this article, including (i) procedures by which a postsecondary school may apply for Council approval to confer degrees in the Commonwealth; (ii) measures designed to ensure that all postsecondary schools that are subject to the provisions of this article meet the minimal standards established pursuant to subsection B; (iii) protections for students pursuing postsecondary education opportunities in postsecondary schools subject to the provisions of this article; and (iv) information to assist persons who rely on postsecondary degrees or certificates to judge the competence of individuals in receipt of such degrees or certificates.B\n\nThe Council shall establish minimal standards for postsecondary schools that include standards for faculty preparation and experience, educational programs, physical plants, additional locations, finances, guaranty instruments, advertising and publications, maintenance of student records, personnel qualifications, student services, the method for collecting and refunding tuition and fees, library resources and services, organization and administration, changes of ownership or control, procedures for student admission and graduation, agent or solicitor requirements, consistency of a postsecondary school’s stated purpose with the proposed offerings, reporting requirements, and any other relevant standards or requirements adopted by an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.C\n\nThe Council shall prescribe the manner, conditions, and language to be used by a postsecondary school or agent of such school to disclose or advertise that the postsecondary school has received certification from the Council to offer postsecondary programs in the Commonwealth.D\n\nThe Council may establish separate certification criteria for various postsecondary school classifications.E\n\nThe Council may grant to its Executive Director the authority to take specific actions on its behalf in furtherance of the provisions of this article.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":220032,"text":"The Council shall adopt, pursuant to the Administrative Process Act (§ 2.2-4000 et seq.), such regulations as may be necessary to implement the provisions of this article, including (i) procedures by which a postsecondary school may apply for Council approval to confer degrees in the Commonwealth; (ii) measures designed to ensure that all postsecondary schools that are subject to the provisions of this article meet the minimal standards established pursuant to subsection B; (iii) protections for students pursuing postsecondary education opportunities in postsecondary schools subject to the provisions of this article; and (iv) information to assist persons who rely on postsecondary degrees or certificates to judge the competence of individuals in receipt of such degrees or certificates.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":220033,"text":"The Council shall establish minimal standards for postsecondary schools that include standards for faculty preparation and experience, educational programs, physical plants, additional locations, finances, guaranty instruments, advertising and publications, maintenance of student records, personnel qualifications, student services, the method for collecting and refunding tuition and fees, library resources and services, organization and administration, changes of ownership or control, procedures for student admission and graduation, agent or solicitor requirements, consistency of a postsecondary school’s stated purpose with the proposed offerings, reporting requirements, and any other relevant standards or requirements adopted by an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":220034,"text":"The Council shall prescribe the manner, conditions, and language to be used by a postsecondary school or agent of such school to disclose or advertise that the postsecondary school has received certification from the Council to offer postsecondary programs in the Commonwealth.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"D"},"3":{"id":220035,"text":"The Council may establish separate certification criteria for various postsecondary school classifications.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C","next_prefix":"E"},"4":{"id":220036,"text":"The Council may grant to its Executive Director the authority to take specific actions on its behalf in furtherance of the provisions of this article.","type":"section","prefixes":["E"],"prefix":"E","entire_prefix":"E","prefix_anchor":"E","level":1,"prior_prefix":"D"}},"ancestry":[{"id":15696,"edition_id":1,"name":"Regulation of Certain Private and Out-of-State Institutions of Higher Education","identifier":"3","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":1,"parent_id":14064,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:58:03","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:58:03","permalink":{"id":184705,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":15696,"identifier":"3","token":"23.1\/I\/2\/3","url":"\/23.1\/I\/2\/3\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":14064,"edition_id":1,"name":"State Council of Higher Education for Virginia","identifier":"2","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13393,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:46:45","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:46:45","permalink":{"id":184639,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14064,"identifier":"2","token":"23.1\/I\/2","url":"\/23.1\/I\/2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13393,"edition_id":1,"name":"General Provisions","identifier":"I","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13111,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:47","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:47","permalink":{"id":184583,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13393,"identifier":"I","token":"23.1\/I","url":"\/23.1\/I\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13111,"edition_id":1,"name":"Institutions of Higher Education; Other Educational and Cultural Institutions","identifier":"23.1","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:18","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:18","permalink":{"id":184581,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13111,"identifier":"23.1","token":"23.1","url":"\/23.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":71294,"structure_id":15696,"section_number":"23.1-213","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/23.1-213\/","token":"23.1\/I\/2\/3\/23.1-213","metadata":false},{"id":61081,"structure_id":15696,"section_number":"23.1-214","catch_line":"Certified mail; subsequent mail or notices may be sent by regular mail","url":"\/23.1-214\/","token":"23.1\/I\/2\/3\/23.1-214","metadata":false},{"id":60133,"structure_id":15696,"section_number":"23.1-215","catch_line":"Authority of the Council; regulations; standards for postsecondary schools; delegation of authority to Executive Director","url":"\/23.1-215\/","token":"23.1\/I\/2\/3\/23.1-215","metadata":false},{"id":64447,"structure_id":15696,"section_number":"23.1-216","catch_line":"Career College Advisory Board established","url":"\/23.1-216\/","token":"23.1\/I\/2\/3\/23.1-216","metadata":false},{"id":66073,"structure_id":15696,"section_number":"23.1-217","catch_line":"Certification required","url":"\/23.1-217\/","token":"23.1\/I\/2\/3\/23.1-217","metadata":false},{"id":61720,"structure_id":15696,"section_number":"23.1-218","catch_line":"List of postsecondary schools holding valid certification","url":"\/23.1-218\/","token":"23.1\/I\/2\/3\/23.1-218","metadata":false},{"id":74209,"structure_id":15696,"section_number":"23.1-219","catch_line":"Council certification; requirements and prohibitions","url":"\/23.1-219\/","token":"23.1\/I\/2\/3\/23.1-219","metadata":false},{"id":73720,"structure_id":15696,"section_number":"23.1-220","catch_line":"Approval procedures","url":"\/23.1-220\/","token":"23.1\/I\/2\/3\/23.1-220","metadata":false},{"id":84806,"structure_id":15696,"section_number":"23.1-221","catch_line":"Refusal, suspension, and revocation of approval or certification","url":"\/23.1-221\/","token":"23.1\/I\/2\/3\/23.1-221","metadata":false},{"id":77929,"structure_id":15696,"section_number":"23.1-222","catch_line":"Emergency actions","url":"\/23.1-222\/","token":"23.1\/I\/2\/3\/23.1-222","metadata":false},{"id":83508,"structure_id":15696,"section_number":"23.1-223","catch_line":"Preservation of students' records","url":"\/23.1-223\/","token":"23.1\/I\/2\/3\/23.1-223","metadata":false},{"id":84204,"structure_id":15696,"section_number":"23.1-224","catch_line":"Fees","url":"\/23.1-224\/","token":"23.1\/I\/2\/3\/23.1-224","metadata":false},{"id":61964,"structure_id":15696,"section_number":"23.1-225","catch_line":"Prohibited acts","url":"\/23.1-225\/","token":"23.1\/I\/2\/3\/23.1-225","metadata":false},{"id":74161,"structure_id":15696,"section_number":"23.1-226","catch_line":"Exemptions","url":"\/23.1-226\/","token":"23.1\/I\/2\/3\/23.1-226","metadata":false},{"id":64724,"structure_id":15696,"section_number":"23.1-227","catch_line":"Laws of the Commonwealth to apply to contracts","url":"\/23.1-227\/","token":"23.1\/I\/2\/3\/23.1-227","metadata":false},{"id":76711,"structure_id":15696,"section_number":"23.1-228","catch_line":"Violations; penalties; remedies","url":"\/23.1-228\/","token":"23.1\/I\/2\/3\/23.1-228","metadata":false},{"id":71518,"structure_id":15696,"section_number":"23.1-229","catch_line":"Postsecondary school closure procedures","url":"\/23.1-229\/","token":"23.1\/I\/2\/3\/23.1-229","metadata":false},{"id":86216,"structure_id":15696,"section_number":"23.1-230","catch_line":"Enrollment agreements required","url":"\/23.1-230\/","token":"23.1\/I\/2\/3\/23.1-230","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":61081,"structure_id":15696,"section_number":"23.1-214","catch_line":"Certified mail; subsequent mail or notices may be sent by regular mail","url":"\/23.1-214\/","token":"23.1\/I\/2\/3\/23.1-214","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":64447,"structure_id":15696,"section_number":"23.1-216","catch_line":"Career College Advisory Board established","url":"\/23.1-216\/","token":"23.1\/I\/2\/3\/23.1-216","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/23.1-215\/","history_text":"

The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 7 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1980, chapter 658; in 1996, chapters 691<\/a> and 832<\/a>; in 2002, chapter 178<\/a>; in 2004, chapter 991<\/a>; in 2005, chapter 447<\/a>; in 2016, chapter 588<\/a>; in 2025, chapter 144<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":73720,"section_number":"23.1-220","catch_line":"Approval procedures","order_by":null,"url":"\/23.1-220\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":86911,"section_number":"2.2-4000","catch_line":"Short title; purpose","order_by":null,"url":"\/2.2-4000\/"}],"permalink":{"id":184715,"object_type":"law","relational_id":60133,"identifier":"23.1-215","token":"23.1\/I\/2\/3\/23.1-215","url":"\/23.1-215\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/23.1-215\/","token":"23.1\/I\/2\/3\/23.1-215","dublin_core":{"Title":"Authority of the Council; regulations; standards for postsecondary schools; delegation of authority to Executive Director","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 23.1-215","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> The Council<\/span> shall adopt, pursuant to the Administrative Process Act (§ 2.2-4000<\/a> et seq.), such regulations as may be necessary to implement the provisions of this article, including (i) procedures by which a postsecondary school<\/span> may apply for Council<\/span> approval to confer degrees<\/span> in the Commonwealth; (ii) measures designed to ensure that all postsecondary schools<\/span> that are subject to the provisions of this article meet the minimal standards established pursuant to subsection B; (iii) protections for students pursuing postsecondary education opportunities in postsecondary schools<\/span> subject to the provisions of this article; and (iv) information to assist persons who rely on postsecondary degrees<\/span> or certificates<\/span> to judge<\/span> the competence of individuals in receipt of such degrees<\/span> or certificates<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> The Council<\/span> shall establish minimal standards for postsecondary schools<\/span> that include standards for faculty preparation and experience, educational programs<\/span>, physical plants, additional locations, finances, guaranty instruments, advertising and publications, maintenance of student records, personnel qualifications, student services, the method for collecting and refunding tuition and fees, library resources and services, organization and administration, changes of ownership or control, procedures for student admission and graduation, agent<\/span> or solicitor requirements, consistency of a postsecondary school<\/span>’s stated purpose with the proposed offerings, reporting requirements, and any other relevant standards or requirements adopted by an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> The Council<\/span> shall prescribe the manner, conditions, and language to be used by a postsecondary school<\/span> or agent<\/span> of such school to disclose or advertise that the postsecondary school<\/span> has received certification from the Council<\/span> to offer postsecondary programs<\/span> in the Commonwealth. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> The Council<\/span> may establish separate certification criteria for various postsecondary school<\/span> classifications. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

E.<\/span> The Council<\/span> may grant to its Executive Director the authority to take specific actions on its behalf in furtherance of the provisions of this article. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nAUTHORITY OF THE COUNCIL; REGULATIONS; STANDARDS FOR POSTSECONDARY SCHOOLS;\nDELEGATION OF AUTHORITY TO EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR (\u00a7 23.1-215)\n\nA. The Council shall adopt, pursuant to the Administrative Process Act (§\n2.2-4000 et seq.), such regulations as may be necessary to implement the\nprovisions of this article, including (i) procedures by which a postsecondary\nschool may apply for Council approval to confer degrees in the Commonwealth;\n(ii) measures designed to ensure that all postsecondary schools that are subject\nto the provisions of this article meet the minimal standards established\npursuant to subsection B; (iii) protections for students pursuing postsecondary\neducation opportunities in postsecondary schools subject to the provisions of\nthis article; and (iv) information to assist persons who rely on postsecondary\ndegrees or certificates to judge the competence of individuals in receipt of\nsuch degrees or certificates.\n\nB. The Council shall establish minimal standards for postsecondary schools that\ninclude standards for faculty preparation and experience, educational programs,\nphysical plants, additional locations, finances, guaranty instruments,\nadvertising and publications, maintenance of student records, personnel\nqualifications, student services, the method for collecting and refunding\ntuition and fees, library resources and services, organization and\nadministration, changes of ownership or control, procedures for student\nadmission and graduation, agent or solicitor requirements, consistency of a\npostsecondary school’s stated purpose with the proposed offerings,\nreporting requirements, and any other relevant standards or requirements adopted\nby an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.\n\nC. The Council shall prescribe the manner, conditions, and language to be used\nby a postsecondary school or agent of such school to disclose or advertise that\nthe postsecondary school has received certification from the Council to offer\npostsecondary programs in the Commonwealth.\n\nD. The Council may establish separate certification criteria for various\npostsecondary school classifications.\n\nE. The Council may grant to its Executive Director the authority to take\nspecific actions on its behalf in furtherance of the provisions of this article.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7 23-268; 1980, c. 658; 1996, cc. 691, 832; 2002, c. 178,\n\u00a7 23-276.3; 2004, c. 991; 2005, c. 447; 2016, c. 588; 2025, c. 144.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}