Institutional pursuits involving either: 1) a current student who is physically located in a U.S. state or territory outside of Virginia; or 2) an academic or business activity, or learning placement that is undertaken, entirely or in part, in a U.S. state or territory outside of Virginia. When either criterion is met, the activity may require host state authorization and mandatory federal and state reporting.

• Academic Activity: Instruction or other educational engagement which is undertaken in a U.S. state or territory outside of Virginia, including but not limited to:

  • Full-term course (course offered during an established academic term, i.e., Fall Term, J-Term, Spring Term, Summer Sessions) involving 3 or more physical class meetings, or any number of meetings totaling over 6 hours.
  • Short course or seminar involving more than 20 classroom hours in one 6-month period.
  • Field trip of more than 1 night (e.g., conference travel, scholarly visits, post-graduate placements).
  • Field study or field research located at a field station, research station, or other physical site, at which a faculty member (or other institutional employee or contractor) supervises or otherwise directs 2 or more students in an activity that is offered for credit or required as part of the student’s program of study and requires more than 20 contact hours in one 6-month period.

  The thresholds above apply (are calculated) by individual state/territory. As an example, a short course that meets for 15 hours in Maryland and 15 hours in Washington, D.C. (total of 30 hours outside the Commonwealth) does not meet the ‘more than 20 classroom hours’ threshold because the course does not exceed 20 hours in either state.

• Business Activity: Activity undertaken in a U.S. state or territory outside of Virginia in support of an academic program, including but not limited to establishing or maintaining:

  • A physical location for students to receive synchronous or asynchronous instruction, whether leased, rented, donated, or owned.
  • An administrative office or office space for instructional or other staff.
  • A mailing address or phone exchange.

• Learning Placement: A student learning experience undertaken, entirely or in part, in a U.S. state or territory outside of Virginia, which is comprised primarily of the practical application of previously studied theories and skills, and which meets any one of the following criteria:

  • Offered for academic credit;
  • Requires a fee payable to the institution;
  • Required as part of a program of study;
  • Required for professional certification or licensure.

  Examples include clinical placements/rotations, internships, externships, labs, practica, student teaching, workshops, full-scale residency programs such as a summer session at a field station, and similar. Independent off-campus study by an individual student is exempt, e.g., thesis or dissertation research. Placements of more than 10 students at a single site may require prior authorization (see II. Roles and Responsibilities below).