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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>355249</law_id><section_number>23.1-229</section_number><catch_line>Postsecondary school closure procedures</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2026/" slug="2026" current="TRUE" last_updated="2026-08-02">2026</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="62" identifier="23.1">Institutions of Higher Education; Other Educational and Cultural Institutions</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="I">General Provisions</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="2" identifier="2">State Council of Higher Education for Virginia</unit><unit label="article" level="4" order_by="4" identifier="3">Regulation of Certain Private and Out-of-State Institutions of Higher Education</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> Each <span class="dictionary">postsecondary school</span> shall notify the <span class="dictionary">Council</span> of its intention to close at least 30 days prior to the closure. The notice shall be accompanied by a comprehensive plan for closure and a <span class="dictionary">teachout plan</span> that makes provision for presently enrolled students to complete the <span class="dictionary">program</span> of instruction for which they have enrolled, either at such <span class="dictionary">postsecondary school</span> or at another <span class="dictionary">postsecondary school</span> certified by the <span class="dictionary">Council</span> or authorized to operate in the Commonwealth. Each closing <span class="dictionary">postsecondary school</span> shall obtain the <span class="dictionary">Council</span>&#x2019;s approval of the <span class="dictionary">teachout plan</span> prior to implementation. <a id="paragraph-1322930" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/23.1-229/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> Each closing <span class="dictionary">postsecondary school</span> shall notify the <span class="dictionary">Council</span>, in writing, if there is no comparable <span class="dictionary">program</span> for the purposes of developing a <span class="dictionary">teachout plan</span> within 50 miles of the closing <span class="dictionary">postsecondary school</span> or if the closing <span class="dictionary">postsecondary school</span> is unable to enter a teachout agreement with another <span class="dictionary">postsecondary school</span>. This information shall be provided at the time the closing <span class="dictionary">postsecondary school</span> notifies the <span class="dictionary">Council</span> of its intention to close. <a id="paragraph-1322931" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/23.1-229/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> Owners or senior administrators of a <span class="dictionary">postsecondary school</span> that closes without providing (i) an adequate <span class="dictionary">teachout plan</span> or refunds of unearned tuition and (ii) appropriate preservation of records shall be denied certification to operate another <span class="dictionary">postsecondary school</span> in the Commonwealth. <a id="paragraph-1322932" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/23.1-229/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>2013, c. 229, &#xA7; 23-276.16; 2016, c. 588.</history><metadata><court_decisions></court_decisions></metadata></law>
