State Board for Community Colleges

Membership 

The State Board shall consist of fifteen members appointed by the Governor subject to confirmation by the General Assembly if in session, and if not, at its next succeeding session.  The first appointments shall be four members for one year, four members for two years, four members for three years, and three members for four years, and thereafter all such appointments shall be made for terms of four years each, except that appointments to fill vacancies shall be for the unexpired terms.  No person having served on the State Board for two successive four-year terms shall be eligible for reappointment to the State Board for four years thereafter.  The State Board shall be composed of persons selected from the state at large.  No officer, employee, or member of the governing board of any public institution of higher education, or of any school subject to the control of the State Board, or any member of the General Assembly, or any member of the State Board of Education, shall be eligible for appointment to the Board.  All members of the Board shall be deemed members at large charged with the responsibility of serving the best interests of the whole state.  No member shall act as the representative of any particular region or of any particular institution of higher education. 

Procedures

1. The State Board shall select a chairman from its membership, and under rules adopted by itself may elect one of its members as vice chairman. 

2. The members of the State Board shall receive no salaries.  Section 2.2-2813 of the Code of Virginia provides however, that members of boards, commissions, committees, councils and other collegial bodies, who are appointed at the state level, shall be compensated at the rate of $50 per day, unless a different rate of compensation is specified by statute for such members, plus expenses for each day or portion thereof in which the member is engaged in the business of that body. “Business of that body” is defined as “assemblage of as many as three members of the constituent membership at one of the regularly scheduled two-day meetings of the State Board for Community Colleges, or when authorized by the State Board Chairman, additional special meetings exceeding one hour in duration.”  State Board members shall be reimbursed for expenses related to travel, meals, and hotels for attendance at State Board meetings and transportation to and from college board meetings as State Board liaisons.  Approval of the Chairman of the State Board must be obtained in advance for board members to be reimbursed for reasonable and customary expenses for special meetings and events related to Virginia Community College System business.  State Travel Regulations issued by the Office of the State Comptroller shall govern the reimbursement of expenses incurred by State Board members.

3. Before entering upon the discharge of their duties, members of the State Board shall take an oath that they will faithfully and honestly execute the duties of their office during their continuance therein.  

   The State Board shall meet at least four times annually, and on call of the Chairman when in his opinion additional meetings are expedient or necessary. 

4. Eight members of the State Board shall constitute a quorum for all purposes.  

5. The main office of the State Board shall be in the Commonwealth of Virginia. 

6. The State Board is empowered to promulgate necessary rules and regulations for carrying out the purposes of this chapter.  The State Board and each community college reserve the right and prerogative at all times to repeal, revise or adopt policy.  Unless otherwise stated, policy shall take effect upon adoption and remain in effect until revised or repealed.  

7. The State Board shall organize itself in the designation of its officers and committee assignments at the meeting in May or as soon thereafter as the Board meets. 

8. For purposes of carrying out its duties, members of the State Board may be assigned to the following committees which shall have such powers to make recommendations or to take action on behalf of the full State Board as the full membership of the State Board shall determine from time to time:  Executive Committee, Facilities Committee, Academic and Student Affairs Committee, Personnel Committee, and Budget and Finance Committee.  The Executive Committee shall have authority to act upon emergency matters as the State Board shall determine. 

Responsibilities 

For purposes of carrying out its duties, members of the State Board may be assigned to the following committees which shall have such powers to make recommendations or to take action on behalf of the full State Board as the full membership of the State Board shall determine from time to time:  Executive Committee, Facilities Committee, Academic, Student Affairs and Workforce Development Committee, Personnel Committee, Audit Committee, and Budget and Finance Committee.  The Executive Committee shall have authority to act upon emergency matters as the State Board shall determine. 

1. The State Board is responsible for the preparation and administration of a plan providing standards and policies for the establishment, development, administration and supervision of comprehensive community colleges under its authority.  It shall determine the need for comprehensive community colleges, develop a Statewide plan for their location and a time schedule for their establishment.  In the development of such a plan, a principal objective shall be to provide and maintain a system of comprehensive community colleges through which appropriate educational opportunities and programs shall be made available throughout the state.  In providing these offerings, the State Board shall recognize the need for excellence in all curricula and shall endeavor to establish and maintain standards appropriate to the various purposes the respective programs are designed to serve.  

2. The State Board is responsible for the control and expenditure of funds appropriated by law, and the establishment of tuition fees and charges.  The State Board may exercise the powers conferred by law to any other educational institution. 

3. The State Board is authorized, with the approval of the Governor, to accept from any government or governmental department or agency or any public or private body or from any other source, grants or contributions of money or property which the Board may use for or in aid of any of its purposes. 
   
   The Board shall establish policies to coordinate apprenticeship-related instruction delivered by state and local public education agencies.  The Chancellor, with the approval of the State Board for Community Colleges, shall provide for the administration and supervision of related and supplemental instruction for apprentices. 

4. The State Board shall have the right to confer diplomas, certificates, and associate degrees. 

5. The State Board shall establish policies providing for the creation of a community college board for each institution established under the Chapter and the procedures and regulations under which such college boards shall operate.  The local community college board shall assist in ascertaining educational needs, enlisting community involvement and support, and shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the State Board. 

6. The State Board, after official action, has the responsibility to communicate with the Governor, the General Assembly, the Secretary of Education and/or officials of other agencies and higher education organizations about any issues which affect the mission, policies, programs, and funding of the Virginia Community College System.