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BOV-019: GUIDELINES FOR UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA PUBLIC COMMENT SESSION ON TUITION/FEE INCREASES

Date: 09/13/2019 Status: Final
Last Revised: 11/08/2021
Policy Type: Board of Visitors
Oversight Executive: Secretary to the Board of Visitors
Applies To:

Academic Division and the College at Wise.

Table of Contents:
Reason for Policy:

The University of Virginia has established guidelines in order to comply with the Code of Virginia, §23.1-307(D), (E), and (F) which state:

D. No governing board of any public institution of higher education shall approve an increase in undergraduate tuition or mandatory fees without providing students and the public a projected range of the planned increase, an explanation of the need for the increase, and notice of (i) the date, time, and location of the meeting at which public comment is permitted pursuant to subsection E on the institution's website and through any other standard means of communication utilized by the institution with students at least 10 days prior to such meeting and (ii) the date and location of any vote on such increase at least 30 days prior to such vote.

E. Prior to any vote referenced in subsection D, the governing board of each public institution of higher education shall permit public comment on the proposed increase at a meeting, as that term is defined in § 2.2-3701, of the governing board. Each such governing board shall establish policies for such public comment, which may include reasonable time limitations.

F. At any meeting at which the governing board of a public institution of higher education approves an increase in undergraduate tuition and mandatory fees, the governing board shall provide an explanation of any deviation from the projected range provided pursuant to subsection D.

Definition of Terms in Statement:
  • Terms:There are no terms that require definition.
Policy Statement:

The University of Virginia will hold a workshop for the public followed by a public comment session whenever any type of undergraduate tuition and/or fee increase is proposed. Public notice for these meetings will be given at least 10 days prior to the meetings.

  • All Board of Visitors members will be encouraged to attend the workshop and public comment session. At a minimum, five Board members shall be present for the public comment session.

  • The workshop will begin with a presentation delivered by the University administration that reviews the factors considered in developing the proposed tuition and fees range and will be followed by a public comment session.

  • When increases are proposed to undergraduate tuition and fees for the University of Virginia’s College at Wise, a workshop and public comment session will be held, either through electronic means allowing members of the College at Wise community to participate in the meeting in Charlottesville, or through a separate meeting at the College at Wise.
Procedures:

PUBLIC COMMENT SESSION:

  • In-person participation is on a first-come, first-served basis with sign-up available from the date of public notice of the meeting until the beginning of the scheduled public comment meeting. For those meetings that include remote participation, all remote participants must register no later than 5:00 p.m. eastern time the day prior to the public comment meeting. Instructions for signing up to speak will be provided in the public notice of the meeting. Each speaker will be asked to specify their affiliation with the university and/or the community. Each speaker may speak for a maximum time of three minutes.

  • Each speaker will be requested to limit their comments to changes in tuition and fees as specified in the public notice, or the intended uses of those revenues. Speakers wishing to have their comments entered in the public record must provide their name and a written transcript of their comments to the Secretary to the Board of Visitors.

  • Written comments will also be accepted from the date that the public notice is issued and may be submitted via email or by hard copy (for an in-person meeting) at the workshop session. Instructions for doing so will be included in the public notice.

  • Following the session, all members of the Board of Visitors will have access to the minutes of the workshop and public comment session and all written comments submitted to the Secretary to the Board of Visitors.

  • The Board of Visitors reserves the authority to review these guidelines and modify them as appropriate.
Major Category:
Board of Visitors
Next Scheduled Review:
11/08/2024
Approved By, Date:
Board of Visitors, 09/13/2019
Revision History:

Revised Procedures, 1st bullet 11/8/21; Updated 1/27/21.