                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

(EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2026) STATE COUNCIL OF HIGHER EDUCATION FOR VIRGINIA
ESTABLISHED; PURPOSE; MEMBERSHIP; TERMS; OFFICERS (§ 23.1-200)

A. The State Council of Higher Education for Virginia is established to advocate
for and promote the development and operation of an educationally and
economically sound, vigorous, progressive, and coordinated system of higher
education in the Commonwealth and lead state-level strategic planning and policy
development and implementation based on research and analysis and in accordance
with &#xA7; 23.1-301 and subsection A of &#xA7; 23.1-1002. The Council shall
seek to facilitate collaboration among institutions of higher education that
will enhance quality and create operational efficiencies and work with
institutions of higher education and their governing boards on board
development.

B. The Council shall be composed of individuals selected from the Commonwealth
at large without regard to political affiliation but with due consideration of
geographical representation. Nonlegislative citizen members shall have
demonstrated experience, knowledge, and understanding of higher education and
workforce needs. Nonlegislative citizen members shall be selected for their
ability and all appointments shall be of such nature as to aid the work of the
Council and inspire the highest degree of cooperation and confidence. No
officer, employee, trustee, or member of the governing board of any institution
of higher education, employee of the Commonwealth, member of the General
Assembly, or member of the Board of Education is eligible for appointment to the
Council except as specified in this section. All members of the Council are
members at large who shall serve the best interests of the whole Commonwealth.
No member shall act as the representative of any particular region or of any
particular institution of higher education.

C. The Council shall consist of 13 members: 12 nonlegislative citizen members
appointed by the Governor and one ex officio member. At least one nonlegislative
citizen member shall have served as a chief executive officer of a public
institution of higher education. At least one nonlegislative citizen member
shall have served as a chief executive officer of an accredited nonprofit
private institution of higher education whose primary purpose is to provide
collegiate, graduate, or professional education and not to provide religious
training or theological education. At least one nonlegislative citizen member
shall have served as a chief executive officer of one of the
Commonwealth&#8217;s historically black colleges or universities as defined in
&#xA7; 2.2-1604. At least one nonlegislative citizen member shall be a division
superintendent or the Superintendent of Public Instruction. The President of the
Virginia Economic Development Partnership Authority shall serve ex officio with
voting privileges.

D. All terms shall begin July 1.

E. Nonlegislative citizen members shall serve for terms of four years. Vacancies
occurring other than by expiration of a term shall be filled for the unexpired
term. No nonlegislative citizen member shall serve for more than two consecutive
terms; however, a nonlegislative citizen member appointed to serve an unexpired
term is eligible to serve two consecutive four-year terms. No nonlegislative
citizen member who has served two consecutive four-year terms is eligible to
serve on the Council until at least two years have passed since the end of his
second consecutive four-year term. All appointments are subject to confirmation
by the General Assembly. Nonlegislative citizen members shall continue to hold
office until their successors have been appointed and qualified. Ex officio
members shall serve terms coincident with their terms of office.

F. The Council shall elect a chairman and a vice-chairman from its membership.
The Council shall appoint a secretary and such other officers as it deems
necessary and prescribe their duties and terms of office.

G. At each meeting, the Council shall involve the chief executive officer of
each public institution of higher education in its agenda. The chief executive
officers shall present information and comment on issues of common interest and
choose presenters to the Council from among themselves who reflect the diversity
of the institutions.

H. At each meeting, the Council may involve other groups, including the
presidents of private institutions of higher education, in its agenda.

I. As used in this section, &#8220;chief executive officer&#8221; includes the
president of any accredited nonprofit private institution of higher education
whose primary purpose is to provide collegiate, graduate, or professional
education and not to provide religious training or theological education.

HISTORY: 1956, c. 311, § 23-9.3; 1964, c. 597; 1970, c. 117; 1972, c. 210;
1974, c. 544; 1980, c. 728; 1991, c. 590; 2013, c. 605; 2016, c. 588; 2017, c.
314; 2018, c. 202; 2024, cc. 3, 59, 195.