GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1991

S	1 

SENATE BILL 59

Short Title:  Public Higher Ed. Access.	(Public)
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Sponsors: Senator Block; and Carpenter.
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Referred to:  Higher Education.
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February 12, 1991

AN ACT TO ENSURE ACCESS TO PUBLIC HIGHER EDUCATION FOR NORTH CAROLINIANS WITH PROVEN ABILITY TO LEARN.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  Chapter 116 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new Article to read:
“ARTICLE 5B.
"Access to Public Higher Education.
"§ 116-174.9.  Tuition, fees; guarantee; eligibility; administration.
(a)	The tuition and fees at any constituent institution of The University of North Carolina shall be paid by the State on behalf of any student who enrolls in such an institution to pursue a baccalaureate degree, who applies therefor, and who meets all of the following qualifications:
(1)	Is a resident for tuition purposes pursuant to G.S. 116-143.1.
(2)	Has a parent or guardian who is a resident of North Carolina.
(3)	Has graduated from high school within the two years preceding the application with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.5 calculated on a 4.0 scale.
(4)	Has successfully completed 16 units of high school coursework (ninth grade level or higher), which constitutes a core curriculum and meets standards for admission to the desired college or university.  The core curriculum shall be defined as follows:
a.	Four course units in college preparatory English,
b.	Three course units in mathematics, including geometry, Algebra I, and II,
c.	Three course units in science, including at least one unit in life science or biology, at least one unit in physical science, and at least one laboratory course,
d.	Two course units in social studies, including one in government and economics and one in United States history,
e.	Two course units in a single foreign language,
f.	Two course units elected from sub-subdivisions a. through e. of this subdivision.
(5)	Has a composite score on the Scholastic Aptitude Test of at least 900.
(6)	Has no criminal record.
(7)	Is found to be in financial need.
(b)	In each academic year, a constituent institution may provide payment of tuition and fees as provided in this Article for students who meet at least two of the requirements enumerated in subdivisions (3) through (5) of subsection (a) of this section and fail to meet eligibility for the third by an amount equal to ten percent (10%) or less.  The total number of these students shall not exceed ten percent (10%) of the total number of students admitted the previous year who received tuition and fees as provided in this Article.
(c)	To continue to receive State payment of tuition and fees once enrolled in a constituent institution, a student shall meet all of the following:
(1)	Make steady academic progress toward a degree, earning not less than the minimum number of hours of credit required for full time standing in each academic period requiring this enrollment.
(2)	Maintain full-time enrollment standing for not less than two semesters or three quarters in any academic year.
(3)	Rank in the upper fifty percent (50%) of the total number of his classmates in the college in which he is enrolled or the division, if he is not enrolled in a college, within the constituent institution.
(4)	Have no criminal record.
(d)	The provisions of this Article shall be administered by the State Education Assistance Authority, in cooperation with the Board of Governors of The University of North Carolina, or its successor.  The State Education Assistance Authority, in cooperation with the Board of Governors of The University of North Carolina, shall adopt rules to administer this Article.  These rules shall include:
(1)	A mechanism for informing all students of the availability of the assistance provided pursuant to this section early enough in their schooling that a salutary motivational effect is possible.
(2)	Applications, forms, financial audit procedures, eligibility and other program audit procedures, and other matters related to efficient operation.
(e)	An applicant shall be found to be in financial need if:
(1)	The applicant's custodial parent or guardian has one dependent child under the age of 21 and the four-year average adjusted gross income of the family is less than thirty thousand dollars ($30,000).
(2)	The applicant's custodial parent or guardian has two dependent children under the age of 21 and the four-year average annual adjusted gross income of the family is less than thirty-five thousand dollars ($35,000).
(3)	The applicant's custodial parent or guardian has three or more dependent children under the age of 21 and the four-year average annual adjusted gross income of the family is less than forty thousand dollars ($40,000).
		The four-year average annual adjusted gross income of the family shall be verified by Internal Revenue Service returns.
(f)	An appropriation of funds may annually be made to the Board of Governors sufficient to cover, in addition to any other available funds, the costs of tuition and fees required to be paid, both initial and continuing, for the coming academic year.  All these payments shall be made directly to the institution to which the tuition is due after notice to the institution that the State shall pay the tuition of a student and after notice from the institution that the student has actually enrolled.
(g)	The Board of Governors may seek, accept, and expend funds from any source, including private business, industry, foundations, and other groups as well as any federal or other governmental funding available for this purpose.
(h)	No student shall receive a grant pursuant to this Article in an amount greater than the tuition and fees charged by the institution.  The student shall apply for a federal grant prior to receiving State funds."
Sec. 2.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the State Education Assistance Authority the sum of $100,000 for the 1991-92 fiscal year to implement this act.
Sec. 3.  This act becomes effective July 1, 1991, and applies to payments made for academic years beginning with the 1992-93 academic year.