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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>84806</law_id><section_number>23.1-221</section_number><catch_line>Refusal, suspension, and revocation of approval or certification</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>23.1-226</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="2">State Council of Higher Education for Virginia</unit><unit label="article" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="3">Regulation of Certain Private and Out-of-State Institutions of Higher Education</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> The <span class="dictionary">Council</span> may refuse to grant a certification, may revoke or suspend a prior approval or certification, including any approval or authorization issued prior to July 1, 1980, and may add conditions to any approval or certification on such grounds as may be provided in its regulations or if the <span class="dictionary">postsecondary school</span>: <a id="paragraph-303861" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/23.1-221/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> Submits or has submitted any false or misleading information to the <span class="dictionary">Council</span> in connection with its approval; <a id="paragraph-303862" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/23.1-221/#A1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> Fails to meet or to maintain compliance with the <span class="dictionary">Council</span>&#x2019;s regulations at any of its locations; <a id="paragraph-303863" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/23.1-221/#A2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> Publicly makes or causes to be made any false or misleading representation that it has complied with any requirement of this article or the <span class="dictionary">Council</span>&#x2019;s regulations; <a id="paragraph-303864" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/23.1-221/#A3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A4" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> Violates any provision of this article or the <span class="dictionary">Council</span>&#x2019;s regulations; or <a id="paragraph-303865" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/23.1-221/#A4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A5" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">5.</span> Fails or refuses to furnish the <span class="dictionary">Council</span> with any requested information or records required by this article or the <span class="dictionary">Council</span>&#x2019;s regulations. <a id="paragraph-303866" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/23.1-221/#A5"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> The <span class="dictionary">Council</span> may refuse to grant an approval or may place conditions on an approval for a request to use a name that incorporates terms deemed by the <span class="dictionary">Council</span> to be misleading to consumers, students, or the general public regarding the <span class="dictionary">postsecondary school</span>&#x2019;s affiliation or association with any <span class="dictionary">public <span class="dictionary">institution of higher education</span></span> but shall not add conditions to, revoke, or suspend a prior approval of a name. The <span class="dictionary">Council</span> shall, by regulation, designate the terms deemed to be misleading, which shall include &#x201C;public <span class="dictionary">university</span>,&#x201D; &#x201C;public <span class="dictionary">college</span>,&#x201D; and &#x201C;community <span class="dictionary">college</span>.&#x201D; <a id="paragraph-303867" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/23.1-221/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> The <span class="dictionary">Council</span> shall notify a <span class="dictionary">postsecondary school</span> by certified mail, return receipt requested, of its intention to deny an application, suspend or revoke a prior approval or certification, or add conditions to an approval or certification and state in writing the reasons for the denial, suspension, <span class="dictionary">revocation</span>, or conditions. The <span class="dictionary">postsecondary school</span> may, within 10 days of receipt of the certified mail notice, submit a written request for a proceeding before the <span class="dictionary">Council</span> pursuant to Article 3 (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Exemptions from operation of Article 3" href="/2.2-4018/">2.2-4018</a> et seq.) of Chapter 40 of Title 2.2. <a id="paragraph-303868" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/23.1-221/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> The <span class="dictionary">Council</span> may <span class="dictionary">issue</span> <span class="dictionary">orders</span> to comply with its regulations or the provisions of this article; unless an emergency exists, such <span class="dictionary">orders</span> shall only be issued after a proceeding pursuant to Article 3 (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Exemptions from operation of Article 3" href="/2.2-4018/">2.2-4018</a> et seq.) of Chapter 40 of Title 2.2. <a id="paragraph-303869" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/23.1-221/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="E"><p><span class="prefix-number">E.</span> In accordance with Article 3 (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Exemptions from operation of Article 3" href="/2.2-4018/">2.2-4018</a> et seq.) of Chapter 40 of Title 2.2, any <span class="dictionary">postsecondary school</span> aggrieved by (i) a decision of the <span class="dictionary">Council</span> to deny an application, suspend or revoke a prior approval or certification, or add conditions to an approval or certification or (ii) any <span class="dictionary">order</span> to comply with this article or the <span class="dictionary">Council</span>&#x2019;s regulations may <span class="dictionary">appeal</span> such decision. The <span class="dictionary">Council</span> shall make a final administrative decision on such <span class="dictionary">appeal</span> in accordance with the Administrative Process Act (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Short title; purpose" href="/2.2-4000/">2.2-4000</a> et seq.). <a id="paragraph-303870" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/23.1-221/#E"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="F"><p><span class="prefix-number">F.</span> In <span class="dictionary">order</span> to regain approval, a <span class="dictionary">postsecondary school</span> that has had its approval or certification revoked or suspended by the <span class="dictionary">Council</span> shall file a new application for certification and provide clear and convincing <span class="dictionary">evidence</span> that the conditions resulting in the suspension or <span class="dictionary">revocation</span> have been remedied and the <span class="dictionary">postsecondary school</span> is in compliance with this article and the <span class="dictionary">Council</span>&#x2019;s regulations. <a id="paragraph-303871" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/23.1-221/#F"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7; 23-271; 1980, c. 658; 1996, cc. 691, 832; 2002, c. 178, &#xA7; 23-276.6; 2003, c. 461; 2004, c. 991; 2005, c. 447; 2016, c. 588.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
