HB 502

Baccalaureate public institutions of higher education; fixed in-state tuition rates. Requires the governing board of each baccalaureate public institution of higher education in the Commonwealth to annually establish a fixed in-state tuition rate for each incoming first year or transfer undergraduate Virginia student and declares eligible for such rate (i) each incoming first year student enrolled in a four-year baccalaureate degree program for four academic years or any portion or term thereof and (ii) each incoming transfer student enrolled in a four-year baccalaureate degree program for the remainder of the academic years, or any portion or term thereof, during which he makes satisfactory progress toward completing such degree program, provided that any such first year or transfer student maintains continuous enrollment. The bill permits such governing boards to grant (a) an exception to the requirement for continuous enrollment on a case-by-case basis to students whose enrollment is substantially disrupted or (b) any other exception to the foregoing requirements that the governing board deems appropriate, including an exception for eligible students who are enrolled in baccalaureate degree programs that require five academic years to complete.