{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-json\/23.1-228.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-text\/23.1-228.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-xml\/23.1-228.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-html\/23.1-228.html"}],"law_id":355248,"edition_id":2,"section_id":355248,"structure_id":50813,"section_number":"23.1-228","catch_line":"Violations; penalties; remedies","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7 23-273; 1980, c. 658; 2002, c. 178, \u00a7 23-276.12; 2006, c. 48; 2008, c. 856; 2016, c. 588.","full_text":"A\n\nViolations of this article or the Council’s implementing regulations are punishable as a Class 1 misdemeanor. Each degree, certificate, program, academic transcript, or course of study offered, conferred, or used in violation of this article or the Council’s regulations shall constitute a separate offense.\n\nB\n\nIf no criminal prosecution is instituted against such postsecondary school pursuant to subsection A, the Council may recover a civil penalty of at least $200 but not more than $1,000 per separate offense set forth in subsection A. In no event shall the civil penalties against any one person, corporation, or other entity exceed $25,000 per year.\n\nC\n\nThe Council may institute a proceeding in equity to enjoin any violation of this article or its implementing regulations and upon substantially prevailing on the merits of the case and unless special circumstances would render such an award unjust, the Council is entitled to an award of reasonable attorney fees and costs in any such action.\n\n","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":1322927,"text":"Violations of this article or the Council’s implementing regulations are punishable as a Class 1 misdemeanor. Each degree, certificate, program, academic transcript, or course of study offered, conferred, or used in violation of this article or the Council’s regulations shall constitute a separate offense.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":1322928,"text":"If no criminal prosecution is instituted against such postsecondary school pursuant to subsection A, the Council may recover a civil penalty of at least $200 but not more than $1,000 per separate offense set forth in subsection A. In no event shall the civil penalties against any one person, corporation, or other entity exceed $25,000 per year.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":1322929,"text":"The Council may institute a proceeding in equity to enjoin any violation of this article or its implementing regulations and upon substantially prevailing on the merits of the case and unless special circumstances would render such an award unjust, the Council is entitled to an award of reasonable attorney fees and costs in any such action.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B"}},"ancestry":[{"id":50813,"edition_id":2,"name":"Regulation of Certain Private and Out-of-State Institutions of Higher Education","identifier":"3","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":4,"parent_id":50807,"metadata":{"child_laws":18,"child_structures":0},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:33:37","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:31:14","permalink":{"id":1411707,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":50813,"identifier":"3","token":"23.1\/I\/2\/3","url":"\/23.1\/I\/2\/3\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":50807,"edition_id":2,"name":"State Council of Higher Education for Virginia","identifier":"2","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":2,"parent_id":50783,"metadata":{"child_laws":38,"child_structures":4},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:33:33","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:31:13","permalink":{"id":1411641,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":50807,"identifier":"2","token":"23.1\/I\/2","url":"\/23.1\/I\/2\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":50783,"edition_id":2,"name":"General Provisions","identifier":"I","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":50782,"metadata":{"child_laws":61,"child_structures":9},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:33:18","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:31:13","permalink":{"id":1411585,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":50783,"identifier":"I","token":"23.1\/I","url":"\/23.1\/I\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":50782,"edition_id":2,"name":"Institutions of Higher Education; Other Educational and Cultural Institutions","identifier":"23.1","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":62,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{"child_laws":594,"child_structures":95},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:33:18","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:31:13","permalink":{"id":1411583,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":50782,"identifier":"23.1","token":"23.1","url":"\/23.1\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":355211,"structure_id":50813,"section_number":"23.1-213","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/23.1-213\/","token":"23.1\/I\/2\/3\/23.1-213","metadata":false},{"id":355212,"structure_id":50813,"section_number":"23.1-214","catch_line":"Certified mail; subsequent mail or notices may be sent by regular mail","url":"\/23.1-214\/","token":"23.1\/I\/2\/3\/23.1-214","metadata":false},{"id":355213,"structure_id":50813,"section_number":"23.1-215","catch_line":"Authority of the Council; regulations; standards for postsecondary schools; delegation of authority to Executive Director","url":"\/23.1-215\/","token":"23.1\/I\/2\/3\/23.1-215","metadata":false},{"id":355214,"structure_id":50813,"section_number":"23.1-216","catch_line":"Career College Advisory Board established","url":"\/23.1-216\/","token":"23.1\/I\/2\/3\/23.1-216","metadata":false},{"id":355215,"structure_id":50813,"section_number":"23.1-217","catch_line":"Certification required","url":"\/23.1-217\/","token":"23.1\/I\/2\/3\/23.1-217","metadata":{"court_decisions":""}},{"id":355216,"structure_id":50813,"section_number":"23.1-218","catch_line":"List of postsecondary schools holding valid certification","url":"\/23.1-218\/","token":"23.1\/I\/2\/3\/23.1-218","metadata":false},{"id":355217,"structure_id":50813,"section_number":"23.1-219","catch_line":"Council certification; requirements and prohibitions","url":"\/23.1-219\/","token":"23.1\/I\/2\/3\/23.1-219","metadata":false},{"id":355218,"structure_id":50813,"section_number":"23.1-220","catch_line":"Approval procedures","url":"\/23.1-220\/","token":"23.1\/I\/2\/3\/23.1-220","metadata":{"court_decisions":""}},{"id":355229,"structure_id":50813,"section_number":"23.1-221","catch_line":"Refusal, suspension, and revocation of approval or certification","url":"\/23.1-221\/","token":"23.1\/I\/2\/3\/23.1-221","metadata":false},{"id":355240,"structure_id":50813,"section_number":"23.1-222","catch_line":"Emergency actions","url":"\/23.1-222\/","token":"23.1\/I\/2\/3\/23.1-222","metadata":false},{"id":355243,"structure_id":50813,"section_number":"23.1-223","catch_line":"Preservation of students' records","url":"\/23.1-223\/","token":"23.1\/I\/2\/3\/23.1-223","metadata":false},{"id":355244,"structure_id":50813,"section_number":"23.1-224","catch_line":"Fees","url":"\/23.1-224\/","token":"23.1\/I\/2\/3\/23.1-224","metadata":false},{"id":355245,"structure_id":50813,"section_number":"23.1-225","catch_line":"Prohibited acts","url":"\/23.1-225\/","token":"23.1\/I\/2\/3\/23.1-225","metadata":false},{"id":355246,"structure_id":50813,"section_number":"23.1-226","catch_line":"Exemptions","url":"\/23.1-226\/","token":"23.1\/I\/2\/3\/23.1-226","metadata":false},{"id":355247,"structure_id":50813,"section_number":"23.1-227","catch_line":"Laws of the Commonwealth to apply to contracts","url":"\/23.1-227\/","token":"23.1\/I\/2\/3\/23.1-227","metadata":{"court_decisions":""}},{"id":355248,"structure_id":50813,"section_number":"23.1-228","catch_line":"Violations; penalties; remedies","url":"\/23.1-228\/","token":"23.1\/I\/2\/3\/23.1-228","metadata":false},{"id":355249,"structure_id":50813,"section_number":"23.1-229","catch_line":"Postsecondary school closure procedures","url":"\/23.1-229\/","token":"23.1\/I\/2\/3\/23.1-229","metadata":{"court_decisions":""}},{"id":355250,"structure_id":50813,"section_number":"23.1-230","catch_line":"Enrollment agreements required","url":"\/23.1-230\/","token":"23.1\/I\/2\/3\/23.1-230","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":355247,"structure_id":50813,"section_number":"23.1-227","catch_line":"Laws of the Commonwealth to apply to contracts","url":"\/23.1-227\/","token":"23.1\/I\/2\/3\/23.1-227","metadata":{"court_decisions":""}},"next_section":{"id":355249,"structure_id":50813,"section_number":"23.1-229","catch_line":"Postsecondary school closure procedures","url":"\/23.1-229\/","token":"23.1\/I\/2\/3\/23.1-229","metadata":{"court_decisions":""}},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/23.1-228\/","history_text":"

The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 5 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1980, chapter 658; in 2002, chapter 178<\/a>; in 2006, chapter 48<\/a>; in 2008, chapter 856<\/a>; in 2016, chapter 588<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":1411769,"object_type":"law","relational_id":355248,"identifier":"23.1-228","token":"23.1\/I\/2\/3\/23.1-228","url":"\/23.1-228\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/23.1-228\/","token":"23.1\/I\/2\/3\/23.1-228","dublin_core":{"Title":"Violations; penalties; remedies","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 23.1-228","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> Violations of this article or the Council<\/span>’s implementing regulations are punishable as a Class 1 misdemeanor<\/span>. Each degree<\/span>, certificate<\/span>, program<\/span>, academic transcript<\/span>, or course of study offered, conferred, or used in violation of this article or the Council<\/span>’s regulations shall constitute a separate offense<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> If no criminal prosecution<\/span> is instituted against such postsecondary school<\/span> pursuant to subsection A, the Council<\/span> may recover a civil penalty<\/span> of at least $200 but not more than $1,000 per separate offense<\/span> set forth in subsection A. In no event shall the civil penalties against any one person, corporation, or other entity exceed $25,000 per year. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> The Council<\/span> may institute a proceeding in equity<\/span> to enjoin any violation of this article or its implementing regulations and upon substantially prevailing on the merits of the case and unless special circumstances would render such an award unjust, the Council<\/span> is entitled to an award of reasonable attorney fees and costs in any such action. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nVIOLATIONS; PENALTIES; REMEDIES (\u00a7 23.1-228)\n\nA. Violations of this article or the Council’s implementing regulations\nare punishable as a Class 1 misdemeanor. Each degree, certificate, program,\nacademic transcript, or course of study offered, conferred, or used in violation\nof this article or the Council’s regulations shall constitute a separate\noffense.\n\nB. If no criminal prosecution is instituted against such postsecondary school\npursuant to subsection A, the Council may recover a civil penalty of at least\n$200 but not more than $1,000 per separate offense set forth in subsection A. In\nno event shall the civil penalties against any one person, corporation, or other\nentity exceed $25,000 per year.\n\nC. The Council may institute a proceeding in equity to enjoin any violation of\nthis article or its implementing regulations and upon substantially prevailing\non the merits of the case and unless special circumstances would render such an\naward unjust, the Council is entitled to an award of reasonable attorney fees\nand costs in any such action.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7 23-273; 1980, c. 658; 2002, c. 178, \u00a7 23-276.12; 2006,\nc. 48; 2008, c. 856; 2016, c. 588.","edition":{"id":2,"name":"2026","slug":"2026","date_created":"2026-07-16 18:40:23","date_modified":"2026-08-02 15:14:36","current":1,"order_by":2,"last_import":"2026-08-02 12:37:30"}}