H259 - 2023 Appropriations Act. (SL 2023-134)

Overview: Section 8A.1 of S.L. 2023-134 establishes the Washington Center Internship Scholarship Program (Program). The State Education Assistance Authority (SEAA) must award scholarship grants to students who are residents of North Carolina and are enrolled in their second year or higher in a constituent institution of The University of North Carolina to attend a semester term internship, summer term internship, or a one- to four-week public policy and career readiness seminar program at The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars (Washington Center) located in Washington, D.C. SEAA must administer the Program pursuant to guidelines and procedures that it establishes consistent with its practices for administering State-funded financial aid. The guidelines and procedures must include an application process and schedule, notification and disbursement procedures, standards for reporting, and standards for return of funds when a student withdraws from the Program. A student who meets the eligibility criteria of the Washington Center can apply for a grant to cover costs related to the semester term internship (up to $10,000), summer term internship (up to $8,000), or shortened public policy and career readiness program (up to $4,000).

If an eligible student also receives a scholarship or other grant covering the cost of attendance for the Program, then the amount of the State grant must be reduced by an appropriate amount determined by the SEAA so that the sum of all grants and scholarship aid covering the cost of attendance does not exceed the cost of attendance, including Program fees, housing, and incidental costs. SEAA must establish the cost of attendance in accordance with information provided to the SEAA by the Washington Center.

A student participating in the Program must do the following:

• Intern four days a week with a nonprofit corporation, private company, federal agency, or a member of the United States Congress.
• Take an academic class taught by the Washington Center's faculty.
• Participate in career readiness training programs.
• Be responsible for a final portfolio project outlining work completed during the Program.

By December 1, 2023, the Board of Governors of The University of North Carolina must develop and communicate guidance to constituent institutions on a process for awarding up to three academic credit hours for participation in an internship.

Any funds that are unencumbered for the Program at the end of each fiscal year do not revert to the General Fund but remain available for the Program. SEAA can use up to 1% of the funds appropriated per year for administrative costs.

By September 1, 2024, and each year thereafter in which grants are received, SEAA, in consultation with the Washington Center, must report to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee and the Fiscal Research Division on the implementation of the Program, including the number of participating students and the award amount for each semester or summer term or shortened seminar program by constituent institution.

This section became effective July 1, 2023, and applies beginning with the award of scholarship grants for the 2023-2024 academic year.