Opinion ID: 1260328
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: The Relief Awarded

Text: Writs of mandamus will be awarded directed to the Comptroller requiring him to issue warrants upon the State Treasury for the payment of such amounts as may be authorized by vouchers of the State Council of Higher Education for development and administration of the programs of financial aid authorized under the provisions of Chapters 2 and 106 of the Acts of Assembly of 1973, as limited by Part I of this opinion. Writs awarded. APPENDIX Constitution of Virginia, Art. VIII, || 10 and 11 Section 10. State appropriations prohibited to schools or institutions of learning not owned or exclusively controlled by the State or some subdivision thereof; exceptions to rule. -- No appropriation of public funds shall be made to any school or institution of learning not owned or exclusively controlled by the State or some political subdivision thereof; provided, first, that the General Assembly may, and the governing bodies of the several counties, cities and towns may, subject to such limitations as may be imposed by the General Assembly, appropriate funds for educational purposes which may be expended in furtherance of elementary, secondary, collegiate or graduate education of Virginia students in public and nonsectarian private schools and institutions of learning, in addition to those owned or exclusively controlled by the State or any such county, city or town; second, that the General Assembly may appropriate funds to an agency, or to a school or institution of learning owned or controlled by an agency created and established by two or more States under a joint agreement to which this State is a party for the purpose of providing educational facilities for the citizens of the several States joining in such agreement; third, that counties, cities, towns and districts may make appropriations to nonsectarian schools of manual, industrial or technical training and also to any school or institution of learning owned or exclusively controlled by such county, city, town or school district. Section 11. Aid to nonpublic higher education. -- The General Assembly may provide for loans to students attending non-profit institutions of higher education in the Commonwealth those primary purpose is to provide collegiate or graduate education and not to provide religious training or theological education. The General Assembly may also provide for a State agency or authority to assist in borrowing money for construction of educational facilities at such institutions, provided that the Commonwealth shall not be liable for any debt created by such borrowing. Code of Virginia, Title 23, Chapters 4.1 and 4.4 CHAPTER 4.1 TUITION ASSISTANCE LOAN ACT. | 23-38.11. Short title. -- This chapter may be cited as the Tuition Assistance Loan Act. (1972, c. 18.) | 23-38.12. Program of tuition assistance established. -- There is hereby established, from funds provided by law, a program of tuition assistance in the form of loans, as hereinafter provided, to bona fide residents of Virginia who attend private, accredited and nonprofit institutions of collegiate education in the Commonwealth whose primary purpose is to provide collegiate or graduate education and not to provide religious training or theological education. Unless otherwise indicated, as used in this chapter accredited means any institution approved to confer degrees pursuant to | 23-9 of the Code of Virginia. (1972, c.18; 1973, c.2.) | 23-38.13. State Council of Higher Education designated as administering agency; power to define certain terms. -- The State Council of Higher Education is hereby designated as the administering agency for the program established by this chapter, and authorized to promulgate regulations consistent therewith and appropriate to the administration of the program. The administering agency shall have the power to define by regulation such terms as, but not limited to, full-time undergraduate student, successful academic year, financial aid, meritorious extenuating circumstances, and incapacity as used in this chapter. (1972, c. 18; 1973, c.2.) | 23-38.14. Maximum amount of tuition assistance per student. -- The amount of tuition assistance, in the form of a loan pursuant to this chapter, which shall be available annually to a bona fide resident of Virginia attending a qualified private institution, as described in | 23-38.12, shall not exceed in amount the annual average appropriation per full-time equivalent student for the previous year from the general fund of the State treasury for operating costs at two and four year public institutions of collegiate education in Virginia. (1972, c.18.) | 23-38.15. To whom loans made; how repaid; interest. -- (a) Under this program, loans shall be made to eligible Virginia residents for the academic year for which they enroll and are obligated to pay tuition as full-time undergraduate students at a qualified private institution, as described in | 23-38.12, and shall be repayable in money, or by actions beneficial to, or of service to, the Commonwealth as provided hereafter. (b), (c) [Repealed.] (c1) Where repayment is made in money it shall be in accordance with a schedule established by the administering agency, such schedule to provide that full payment will be made in an orderly fashion over a period of time commencing on the date the recipient ceases to be a full-time undergraduate student in the institution or becomes ineligible to repay in accordance with | 23-38.15 (c2) and extending over a period of years equal to twice the number of years for which tuition assistance was received, provided, however, that such period of time shall be extended by such number of years as the recipient may spend in additional full-time undergraduate or graduate study in a regionally accredited institution of higher education, such time of extension not to exceed six years. (c2) Where repayment is made by actions beneficial to, or of service to, the Commonwealth, the recipient may make repayment for each successfully completed academic year in which a tuition loan was received by complying with any one of, or combination of, the following actions: (1) Reside and be domiciled in Virginia and be employed by the Commonwealth of Virginia or any of its political subdivisions including all State and local agencies and authorities for a period of one year for each year a tuition assistance loan was received, provided that for teachers and those similarly situated employment for an academic year constitutes a full year; (2) Reside and be domiciled in Virginia and be employed by an organization or activity, organized and operated exclusively for religious, charitable, scientific, testing for public safety, literary or educational purposes, or for the prevention of cruelty to children or animals, no part of the net earnings of which inures to the benefit of any private shareholder or individual, no substantial part of the activities of which is carrying on propaganda, or otherwise attempting, to influence legislation and which does not participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or distributing of statements), any political campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office for a period of one year for each year a tuition assistance loan was received, provided that for teachers and those similarly situated employment for an academic year constitutes a full year; (3) Reside and be domiciled in Virginia and be gainfully employed in or out of State other than as enumerated in | 23-38.15(c1) [(c2)] (1) and (2) hereof for a period of one and one-half years for each year a tuition assistance loan was received, provided that for teachers and those similarly situated an academic year constitutes a full year; (4) Reside and be domiciled in Virginia for a period of two years for each year a tuition assistance loan was received; (5) Serve on active duty anywhere as a member of the armed services of the United States for a period of one year for each year a tuition loan was received. (c3) When the recipient leaves the Commonwealth of Virginia to reside elsewhere, except for that reason for which extensions of time for a maximum period of six years is authorized in | 23-38.15(c1), the balance of the loan or loans not previously repaid as authorized in | 23-38.15(c2) above shall become due forthwith and repayable in money in accordance with the schedule authorized in | 23-38.15(c1) hereof. (c4) Should a recipient of a tuition loan leave the institution for other than meritorious reason during the academic year for which the loan was granted, said loan for said year shall be due forthwith and repayable in money as required in | 23-38.15(c1) hereof. (d) Whether a recipient, who is compelled to withdraw from an institution during the academic year, in order to perform military service, or for other meritorious reasons, shall be obligated to repay the loan for said year in full or in part and whether by the method set forth in | 23-38.15(c1) or (c2) hereof shall be determined by the administering agency on a basis consistent with the principles applied by the public institutions described in | 23-38.14 in making tuition refunds on comparable cases of withdrawal. (e) Simple interest at three per centum per annum shall accrue on the unpaid balance of each tuition assistance loan from the date on which the recipient ceases to be a full-time, undergraduate student in the institution, provided, however, that no interest shall accrue during periods when the recipient is pursuing full-time undergraduate or graduate studies in a regionally accredited institution of higher education or is on active duty with the armed services of the United States as set forth in | 23-38.15(c1) hereof. (1972), c.18; 1973, c.2.) | 23-38.16. Duration of eligibility; loans to be used only for undergraduate work. -- A student's eligibility for tuition assistance under this program shall be limited to a total of four academic years. Tuition loans under this program shall be used only for undergraduate collegiate work in educational programs other than those providing religious training or theological education of an indoctrinating nature. (1972, c.18; 1973, c.2.) | 23-38.17. Receipt by student of other financial aid. -- Tuition assistance received by a student under this program shall not be reduced by the receipt by such student of other financial aid from any source, provided, however, that in no case shall a student receive a loan pursuant to this chapter which when added to said other financial aid, would enable the student to receive total assistance in excess of the estimated cost to the student of attending the institution in which he is enrolled. (1972, c.18; 1973, c.2.) | 23-38.18. Determination of bona fide residence. -- For the purposes of this chapter, whether a student is a bona fide resident of Virginia shall be determined by the administering agency on a basis consistent with the principles set forth in | 23-7 of the Code of Virginia. (1972, c.18; 1973, c.2.) | 23-38.19: Not set out. (This is a severability clause.) CHAPTER 4.4 COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP ASSISTANCE ACT. | 23-38.45. Program created; to be administered by State Council of Higher Education. -- There is hereby created a scholarship assistance program to be administered by the State Council of Higher Education. The program shall consist of grants and loans to certain students attending public colleges in Virginia and of loans to certain students attending certain private colleges in Virginia. (1973, cc.24, 106.) | 23-38.46. Council to develop program; what students eligible. -- (a) The State Council of Higher Education shall develop and administer a statewide program of financial aid to eligible undergraduate students at eligible institutions of higher education in Virginia. Such aid shall be made in the form of grants, or loans to students who wish to enroll, or are enrolled, at any accredited, degree-granting public institution of higher education in Virginia, and in the form of loans for students who wish to enroll, or are enrolled, in any accredited, degree-granting, private, non-profit, institution of higher education in Virginia, excepting those institutions whose primary purpose is to provide religious training or theological education. (b) Only students who are bona fide domiciliaries of Virginia as defined by | 23-7 of the Code of Virginia and who are full-time, undergraduate students shall be eligible to receive such grants or loans. (c) Grants or loans shall be made for one year, but may be renewed annually by the State Council of Higher Education for no more than three subsequent years of study in an undergraduate degree program. (1973, cc.24, 106.) | 23-38.47. Criteria for making grants and loans. -- All grants and loans made pursuant to this chapter shall be based on such criteria as shall be established by the State Council of Higher Education, which criteria shall include the student's financial need. Need is defined as the difference between (i) the amount required to meet the student's actual cost of attendance at the institution of his choice, and (ii) the amount computed by the State Council of Higher Education to be available to such student from his own resources and those of his family for meeting such expenses. In determining the amount a student and his family can contribute to his education, the State Council of Higher Education shall take into consideration factors such as family income; any unusual circumstances or extraordinary expenses of the student or his family, including family size and number of students attending college; any assets which may be available to the student or his family to help defray the cost of his attendance; and any other nationally accepted criteria for determination of financial need. (1973, cc.24, 106.) | 23-38.48. Amount of grants and loans. -- The State Council of Higher Education shall determine the amount of the grant or loan to be awarded each qualified applicant based on criteria established pursuant to | 23-38.47, but no grant or loan shall exceed one thousand dollars for each full-time academic year. (1973, cc.24, 106.) | 23-38.49. Terms and conditions of grants and loans; repayment of loans; interest. -- (a) The State Council of Higher Education shall make grants and loans to eligible students attending public institutions in Virginia on the basis of such terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the provisions of this chapter, as the State Council of Higher Education deems appropriate. (b) Loans made to eligible students attending eligible private institutions shall be repayable in money or by actions beneficial to or by service to the Commonwealth as provided hereafter. (c) Where repayment is made in money pursuant to | 23-38.49(b), it shall be in accordance with a schedule established by the State Council of Higher Education, such schedule to provide that full payment will be made in an orderly fashion over a period of time commencing on the date the recipient ceases to be a full-time, undergraduate student in the institution or becomes ineligible to repay in accordance with | 23-38.49(d) and extending over a period of years equal to twice the number of years for which the loan was received; provided, however, that such period of time shall be extended by such number of years as the recipient may spend in additional full-time, undergraduate or graduate study in a regionally accredited institution of higher education, such time of extension not to exceed six years. (d) Where repayment is made by actions beneficial to, or of service to, the Commonwealth pursuant to | 23-38.49(b), the recipient may make repayment for each successfully completed academic year in which a loan was received by complying with any one of, or combination of, the following actions: (1) Reside and be domiciled in Virginia and be employed by the Commonwealth of Virginia or any of its political subdivisions including all State and local agencies and authorities for a period of one year for each year a loan was received, provided that for teachers and those similarly situated employment for an academic year constitutes a full year; (2) Reside and be domiciled in Virginia and be employed by an organization or activity, organized and operated exclusively for religious, charitable, scientific, testing for public safety, literary, or educational purposes, or for the prevention of cruelty to children or animals, no part of the net earnings of which inures to the benefit of any private shareholder or individual, no substantial part of the activities of which is carrying on propaganda, or otherwise attempting, to influence legislation, and which does not participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or distributing of statements), any political campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office for a period of one year for each year a tuition assistance loan was received, provided that for teachers and those similarly situated employment for an academic year constitutes a full year; (3) Reside and be domiciled in Virginia and be gainfully employed in or out of State other than as enumerated in | 23-38.49(d)(1) and (2) hereof for a period of one and one-half years for each year a tuition assistance loan was received, provided that for teachers and those similarly situated an academic year constitutes a full year; (4) Reside and be domiciled in Virginia for a period of two years for each year a tuition assistance loan was received; (5) Serve on active duty anywhere as a member of the armed services of the United States for a period of one year for each year a tuition loan was received. (e) When the recipient leaves the Commonwealth of Virginia to reside elsewhere, except for that reason for which extensions of time for a maximum period of six years are authorized in | 23-38.49(c), the balance of the loan or loans not previously repaid as authorized in | 23-38.49(d) above shall become due forthwith and repayable in money in accordance with the schedule authorized in | 23-38.49(c) hereof. (f) Should a recipient of a loan leave the institution for other than meritorious reasons during the academic year for which the loan was granted, said loan for said year shall be due forthwith and repayable in money as required in | 23-38.49(c) hereof. (g) Whether a recipient, who is compelled to withdraw from an institution during the academic year, in order to perform military service, or for other meritorious reasons, shall be obligated to repay the loan for said year in full or in part and whether by the method set forth in | 23-38.49(c) or (d) hereof shall be determined by the State Council of Higher Education on a basis consistent with the principles applied by the public institutions of higher education of the Commonwealth in making tuition refunds on comparable cases of withdrawal. (h) Simple interest at three per centum per annum shall accrue on the unpaid balance of each loan from the date on which the recipient ceases to be a full-time, undergraduate student in the institution; provided, however, that no interest shall accrue during periods when the recipient is pursuing full-time, undergraduate or graduate studies in a regionally accredited institution of higher education. (1973, cc.24, 106.) | 23-38.50. Use of grants and loans. -- The full amount of each grant or loan awarded to each applicant shall be used only for payment of charges for tuition, fees, room, board or other educational expenditures approved by the State Council of Higher Education which the applicant is obligated to pay for the academic year for which the grant or loan is awarded. (1973, cc.24, 106.) | 23-38.51. Rules and regulations. -- The State Council of Higher Education shall promulgate such rules and regulations as it deems necessary to effectuate the program established by this chapter. (1973, cc.24, 106.) | 23-38.52. Employment of staff; acceptance of gifts. -- The State Council of Higher Education is authorized, subject to the provisions of chapter 10 (| 2.1-110 et seq.) of Title 2.1 of the Code of Virginia, to employ such staff members as it may deem necessary to supervise and administer this program and is further authorized to accept and expend gifts and donations from public and private sources to enable it better to carry out this program and its objectives. (1973, cc. 24, 106.) | 23-38.53: Not set out. (This is a severability clause.) Writs awarded.