                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

DUTIES OF THE AUTHORITY (§ 23.1-3137)

The Authority shall:

1. Expand access to affordable higher education in the Commonwealth by
establishing the Online Virginia Network (the Network) for the purpose of
coordinating the online delivery of courses that facilitate the completion of
degrees at George Mason University, Old Dominion University, James Madison
University, and comprehensive community colleges;

2. Encourage each public institution of higher education and each consortium of
public institutions of higher education that offers online courses, online
degree programs, or online credential programs to offer any such course, degree
program, or credential program through the Network;

3. Oversee a process of approval for public institutions of higher education and
consortia of such institutions to participate in the Network, with such funds as
are appropriated for such purpose and made available to it;

4. Serve as a resource for residents of the Commonwealth and disseminate
information regarding the opportunities for online learning offered by
institutions and consortia that participate in the Network;

5. Coordinate the maintenance of an online portal through which potential
students may examine and enroll seamlessly in Network offerings;

6. Collaborate with institutions and consortia that participate in the Network
to ensure that the needs of enrolled students are met before, during, and after
enrollment through online student support systems;

7. To the extent practicable, ensure that courses and degree programs offered
through the Network (i) are accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by
the U.S. Department of Education or authorized by the Council, as applicable;
(ii) expand access to underserved populations based on income, race, geography,
and age; (iii) are responsive to the employment demands of the Commonwealth;
(iv) employ learning and delivery technologies, which may include
competency-based and experiential learning, in an efficient and cost-effective
manner to promote flexibility for each student to pursue online courses and
programs at his own pace and in his own location throughout the year; (v)
minimize student expenses and reduce time-to-degree or time-to-credential; and
(vi) are offered in collaboration with existing public and private providers of
online courses;

8. Promote the refinement and implementation of articulation agreements to
ensure that credits earned through the Network are transferable to each other
public institution of higher education and contribute to on-time degree
completion at each such institution;

9. Assist in developing processes to help institutions and consortia that
participate in the Network to expand their online offerings;

10. Ensure that the Passport Program and the Uniform Certificate of General
Studies Program, established pursuant to &#xA7; 23.1-907, be made available
through the Network;

11. Develop specific goals for meeting the demand in the Commonwealth for
affordable and accessible higher education through online learning;

12. Review and report annually to the Governor and the General Assembly on the
cost structure of funds allocated to the establishment, maintenance, and
expansion of the Network. In addition, the Authority shall examine ways to
reduce the cost of online education and develop a budget that incorporates
estimated expected tuition revenue from online students and its use in
supporting the Network and assumes that any financial aid will come from
existing financial aid programs; and

13. Accept, administer, and account for any state, federal, or private moneys
that it may receive. Any moneys, including interest thereon, that have not been
expended by the Authority by the end of each fiscal year shall not revert to the
general fund but shall remain in the accounts of the Authority.

HISTORY: 2017, c. 686; 2018, cc. 199, 200, 832, 845; 2020, cc. 174, 340.