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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>59984</law_id><section_number>23.1-100</section_number><catch_line>Definitions</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>2.2-2831</reference><reference>22.1-237.1</reference><reference>23.1-1100</reference><reference>23.1-1200</reference><reference>23.1-1239</reference><reference>23.1-226</reference><reference>23.1-2904</reference><reference>23.1-700</reference><reference>23.1-819</reference><reference>24.2-416.3</reference><reference>30-133.1</reference><reference>58.1-3660</reference><reference>58.1-439.25</reference><reference>58.1-439.6:1</reference><reference>59.1-575</reference><reference>62.1-44.19:3</reference><reference>9.1-400</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="23.1">Institutions of Higher Education; Other Educational and Cultural Institutions</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="I">General Provisions</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="1">Definitions and General Provisions</unit><unit label="article" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="1">Definitions</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>As used in this title, unless the context requires a different meaning:
		&#x201C;Associate-degree-granting&#x201D; means that an associate degree is the most advanced degree that is granted.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Associate-degree-granting <span class="dictionary">public institution of higher education</span></span>&#x201D; includes Richard Bland College and each <span class="dictionary">comprehensive community college</span>.
		&#x201C;Baccalaureate&#x201D; means that bachelor&#x2019;s degrees or more advanced degrees, or both, are granted.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Baccalaureate <span class="dictionary">public institution of higher education</span></span>&#x201D; includes Christopher Newport University, George Mason University, James Madison University, Longwood University, the University of Mary Washington, Norfolk State University, Old Dominion University, Radford University, the University of Virginia, the University of Virginia&#x2019;s College at Wise as a division of the University of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University, Virginia Military Institute, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Virginia State University, and The College of William and Mary in Virginia.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Chief executive officer</span>&#x201D; includes the Chancellor of the Virginia Community College <span class="dictionary">System</span>, the Chancellor of the University of Virginia&#x2019;s College at Wise, the Superintendent of Virginia Military Institute, and the president of each other <span class="dictionary">public institution of higher education</span>.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Comprehensive community college</span>&#x201D; means an <span class="dictionary">associate-degree-granting <span class="dictionary">public institution of higher education</span></span> governed by the <span class="dictionary">State Board</span> that offers instruction in one or more of the following fields:</p></section>
						<section id="1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> Freshman and sophomore courses in arts and sciences acceptable for transfer to baccalaureate degree programs; <a id="paragraph-219638" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/23.1-100/#1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="2"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> Diversified technical curricula, including programs leading to an associate degree; <a id="paragraph-219639" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/23.1-100/#2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="3"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> Career and technical education leading directly to employment; <a id="paragraph-219640" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/23.1-100/#3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="4"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> Courses in general and continuing education for adults in the fields set out in subdivisions 1, 2, and 3; or <a id="paragraph-219641" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/23.1-100/#4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="5"><p><span class="prefix-number">5.</span> Noncredit training and retraining courses and programs of varying lengths to meet the needs of business and industry in the Commonwealth.
			&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Council</span>&#x201D; means the State <span class="dictionary">Council</span> of Higher Education for Virginia.
			&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Dual enrollment</span>&#x201D; means the enrollment of a qualified high school student in a postsecondary course that is creditable toward high school completion and a career certificate or an associate or baccalaureate degree at a <span class="dictionary">public institution of higher education</span>. &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Dual enrollment</span>&#x201D; does not include the enrollment of a qualified high school student in a postsecondary course that is not creditable toward high school completion.
			&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Governing board</span>&#x201D; includes the <span class="dictionary">State Board</span> and the board of visitors of each <span class="dictionary">baccalaureate <span class="dictionary">public institution of higher education</span></span>. &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Governing board</span>&#x201D; does not include <span class="dictionary">local community college boards</span>.
			&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Local community college board</span>&#x201D; means the board established to act in an advisory capacity to the <span class="dictionary">State Board</span> and perform such duties with respect to the operation of a single <span class="dictionary">comprehensive community college</span> as may be delegated to it by the <span class="dictionary">State Board</span>.
			&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Nonprofit <span class="dictionary">private institution of higher education</span></span>&#x201D; means any postsecondary school, as that term is defined in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Definitions" href="/23.1-213/">23.1-213</a>, in the Commonwealth that is exempt from paying federal income taxes under &#xA7; 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and is certified by the <span class="dictionary">Council</span> to offer degrees or exempt from such certification pursuant to Article 3 (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Definitions" href="/23.1-213/">23.1-213</a> et seq.) of Chapter 2.
			&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Non-<span class="dictionary">Virginia student</span></span>&#x201D; means any student who has not established domicile in the Commonwealth pursuant to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Eligibility for in-state tuition charges; domicile; domiciliary intent" href="/23.1-502/">23.1-502</a>.
			&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Private institution of higher education</span>&#x201D; includes each <span class="dictionary">nonprofit <span class="dictionary">private institution of higher education</span></span> and <span class="dictionary">proprietary <span class="dictionary">private institution of higher education</span></span> in the Commonwealth.
			&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Proprietary <span class="dictionary">private institution of higher education</span></span>&#x201D; means any postsecondary school, as that term is defined in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Definitions" href="/23.1-213/">23.1-213</a>, in the Commonwealth that is privately owned, privately managed, and obligated to pay federal income taxes in the Commonwealth and is certified by the <span class="dictionary">Council</span> to offer degrees or exempt from such certification pursuant to Article 3 (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Definitions" href="/23.1-213/">23.1-213</a> et seq.) of Chapter 2.
			&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Public institution of higher education</span>&#x201D; includes the <span class="dictionary">System</span> as a whole and each associate-degree-granting and <span class="dictionary">baccalaureate <span class="dictionary">public institution of higher education</span></span> in the Commonwealth.
			&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">State Board</span>&#x201D; means the <span class="dictionary">State Board</span> for Community Colleges.
			&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">System</span>&#x201D; means the Virginia Community College <span class="dictionary">System</span>.
			&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Virginia student</span>&#x201D; means any student who has established domicile in the Commonwealth pursuant to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Eligibility for in-state tuition charges; domicile; domiciliary intent" href="/23.1-502/">23.1-502</a>. <a id="paragraph-219642" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/23.1-100/#5"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>2016, c. 588; 2024, cc. 647, 684.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
