Section 20. Council or council staff responsibilities

The council or its staff shall conduct the following activities as part of the council's or its staff's responsibilities:

1. Administer the program. The council or its staff is responsible for the overall administration of the program to ensure alignment with the goals and purpose set forth in Article 4.1 (§ 23.1-627.1 et seq.) of Chapter 6 of Title 23.1 of the Code of Virginia.

2. Conduct periodic program assessments. The council staff is responsible for conducting periodic assessments of the overall success of the program and recommending modifications, interventions, and other actions based on such assessments. These assessments shall include a review for both adherence to the regulations and legislative intent of the program and the overall success of the program. These assessments may include an onsite review of records related to the program, interviews with individuals responsible for the administration of the program, surveys of students and staff, and analysis of data.

Upon completion of such assessments, the council staff shall issue a report that provides a summary of findings, recommendations, and appropriate actions to improve the success of the program. Institutions shall be asked to submit a corrective action plan within 30 days of receipt of report for any findings that do not comply with existing regulations and recommendations to improve the program. The corrective action plan shall describe actions the institution shall take and shall include expected completion dates. If an institution does not complete the proposed actions within an agreed upon time period or is found to be noncompliant with a similar finding in a subsequent review, then the council staff may take action to reduce or eliminate funding to a noncredit workforce training program or the institution.

3. Allocate and disburse funds. On a monthly basis or agreed upon time with council staff, eligible institutions shall submit student record data based on the requirements set forth in 8VAC40-160-70. Upon verification of the data by council staff, funds shall be:

a. Allocated to an eligible institution based on the total number of students enrolled in and the total cost of the noncredit workforce training program. The maximum amount of allocated funds shall be two-thirds of the cost of the noncredit workforce training program but shall not exceed $3,000.

(1) The allocated funds shall be retained by the council until institutions submit data to validate that the students have completed the noncredit workforce training program and provided satisfactory proof of completion of a workforce credential as described in subdivisions (2) and (3) of this subdivision 3 a.

(2) Funds shall be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis as eligible institutions enroll and approve applications of students.

(3) If moneys in the fund are expected to be expended prior to the end of the fiscal year, council staff shall notify eligible institutions through regular reporting of the remaining amounts in the fund and shall work with eligible institutions to manage the remaining disbursements of funds through the end of the fiscal year. In addition, institutions should provide expected enrollments and cost data when available to allow adequate planning and notification to institutions and students when funds are limited.

b. Reimbursed for students who complete the noncredit workforce training program. Council staff shall reimburse eligible institutions for one-third of the cost of the noncredit workforce training program not to exceed $1,500 per noncredit workforce training program per student.

c. Reimbursed for students who complete the workforce credential. Council staff shall reimburse eligible institutions for the remaining one-third of the cost of the noncredit workforce training program not to exceed $1,500 per noncredit workforce training program per student.

d. Reduced from the initial allocation based on those students who do not complete the noncredit workforce training program or the workforce training credential. Allocated funds shall be reduced by one-third, not to exceed $1,500 per student, for those students who do not successfully complete the noncredit workforce training program. Allocated funds shall be reduced by one-third of the cost of the noncredit workforce training program, not to exceed $1,500 per student, for those students who do not complete the workforce training credential and who do not provide satisfactory proof of completion of a workforce credential. These recovered funds shall be allocated to other eligible students under subdivision a (1) of this subdivision 3.

Council staff shall not disburse more than one-quarter of the money in the fund to any one eligible institution in a fiscal year.

4. Administer an appeals process. The council staff shall make final decisions on any dispute between eligible institutions and grant recipients related to the administration of the program.

Historical Notes

Derived from Volume 33, Issue 07, eff. November 17, 2016.

Statutory Authority

§ 23.1-627.3 of the Code of Virginia.