Chap. 420.—An ACT to establish and to provide for the maintenance and opera-
tion, under the management, direction and control of the authorities of the
Virginia Polytechnic Institute, of a nautical school for merchant marine train-
ing, te confer certain express powers and duties upon the said authorities with
respect to such school, to permit them to accept gifts and loans and other aid
in the maintenance of the said school, and to provide for the practical training
of the students attending the same. [S B 201]

Approved March 31, 1932

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That there
shall be organized, established and maintained under the management.
direction and control of the board of visitors and faculty of the Vir-
ginia Agricultural and Mechanical College and Polytechnic Institute,
hereinafter referred to as the Virginia Polytechnic Institute, a nautical
school for instruction in the science and practice of navigation, seaman-
ship and engineering and any such other subjects, to be prescribed by
the proper authorities of the said Virginia Polytechnic Institute, as
may be necessary for proper training for the position of deck or engine-
room officers of the merchant marine. The said school shall be open
to male residents of the several counties and cities of this State, but
the authorities of the said Virginia Polytechnic Institute shall have the
right to limit the number of students attending the said nautical school
and to prescribe the necessary physical and educational entrance re-
quirements and standards of admission therefor, and the government
and discipline thereof, and to fix the terms and conditions upon which
students shall be received and instructed in the said school and be
graduated, discharged and suspended therefrom, and to make all neces-
sary requirements for its management. The students admitted to the
said nautical school shall have the privilege of attending the same
without charge for tuition, use of laboratories or public buildings, but
the cost to such students in said school for board, room, medical care
and other necessary expenses shall be the same as the cost to students
in the engineering departments of the said college. The authorities of
the said Virginia Polytechnic Institute shall provide the necessary books,
charts, instruments, apparatus and supplies required in the work of
the said school or they may accept gifts or loans of the same, and shall
appoint and may remove a commander and all necessary instructors and
fix their duties and compensation, but no part of the expense of these
shall be borne by the State or they may appoint as commander or as
instructors therein such officers of the United States navy as may be
designated or detailed for that purpose. The said authorities shall like-
wise accept from the federal government such aid in the maintenance
and conduct of the said school as may be offered and which may be for
the best interest of the said school, including a suitable vessel with
her apparel, charts, books and instruments of navigation, and may
receive from other proper sources such funds, properties, donations
and/or endowments as may be given, subscribed, loaned or bequeathed
for the support and maintenance of the said nautical school, and all
moneys so appropriated or donated, subscribed or bequeathed shall be
used or expended in accordance with the provisions governing the
same, provided such use or expenditures shall further the purpose of
the said school and promote its usefulness and service. The authorities
of the said Virginia Polytechnic Institute shall, moreover, make provi-
sion for the necessary practical training aboard a ship or ships of stu-
dents attending the said nautical school in the science of navigation,
seamanship and engineering and such other subjects as may be pre-
scribed, and no student shall be received in said school until such
provision has been made, nor shall any student be graduated from the
said school who has not had such practical training in these and in
such other subjects as may be prescribed.