                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

GOVERNING BOARDS; ADDITIONAL DUTIES; EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS (§ 23.1-1304)

A. From such funds as are appropriated for such purpose, the Council shall
develop, in consultation with public institutions of higher education and
members of their governing boards, and annually deliver educational programs for
the governing boards of such institutions. New members of such governing boards
shall participate, at least once during their first two years of membership, in
the programs, which shall be designed to address the role, duties, and
responsibilities of the governing boards and may include in-service programs on
current issues in higher education. In developing such programs, the Council may
consider similar educational programs for institutional governing boards in
other states. In addition, the Council shall develop educational materials for
board members with more than two years of service on the governing board. Each
such board member shall participate in further training on board governance at
least once every two years, and the Council shall develop criteria by which such
board members shall demonstrate compliance with this requirement.

B. Educational programs for the governing boards of public institutions of
higher education shall include presentations relating to:

   1. Board members&#8217; primary duty to the citizens of the Commonwealth;

   2. Governing board committee structure and function;

   3. The duties of the executive committee set forth in &#xA7; 23.1-1306;

   4. Professional accounting and reporting standards;

   5. Methods for meeting the statutory, regulatory, and fiduciary obligations of
   the board;

   6. The requirements of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (&#xA7;
   2.2-3700 et seq.), developed and delivered in conjunction with the Freedom of
   Information Advisory Council;

   7. Institutional ethics and conflicts of interest;

   8. Creating and implementing regulations and institution policies;

   9. Business operations, administration, budgeting, financing, financial
   reporting, and financial reserves, including a segment on endowment
   management;

   10. Fixing student tuition, mandatory fees, and other necessary charges,
   including a review of student debt trends;

   11. Overseeing planning, construction, maintenance, expansion, and renovation
   projects that affect the institution&#8217;s consolidated infrastructure,
   physical facilities, and natural environment, including its lands,
   improvements, and capital equipment;

   12. Workforce planning, strategy, and investment;

   13. Institutional advancement, including philanthropic giving, fundraising
   initiatives, alumni programming, communications and media, government and
   public relations, and community affairs;

   14. Student welfare issues, including academic studies; curriculum; residence
   life; student governance and activities; and the general physical and
   psychological well-being of undergraduate and graduate students;

   15. Current national and state issues in higher education;

   16. Future national and state issues in higher education;

   17. Relations between the governing board and the chief executive officer of
   the institution, including perspectives from chief executive officers of
   public institutions of higher education;

   18. Best practices for board governance, including perspectives from current
   board members; and

   19. Any other topics that the Council, public institutions of higher
   education, and members of their governing boards deem necessary or
   appropriate.

C. The Council shall submit to the General Assembly and the Governor an annual
executive summary of the interim activity and work of the Council pursuant to
this section no later than the first day of each regular session of the General
Assembly. The executive summary shall be submitted as provided in the procedures
of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of
legislative documents and reports and shall be posted on the General
Assembly&#8217;s website.

HISTORY: 1996, cc. 868, 992, § 23-9.14:1; 2013, c. 577; 2014, c. 644; 2016, c.
588; 2019, cc. 642, 643; 2020, cc. 155, 156.