GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1993

H	1 

HOUSE BILL 1603*

Short Title:  UNC Am. Ind. Scholarship Funds.	(Public)
─────────────────────────────────────── 
Sponsors: Representatives Sutton; Beall, Hensley, and Warner.
─────────────────────────────────────── 
Referred to:  Appropriations.
─────────────────────────────────────── 

May 25, 1994

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS TO THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA TO ESTABLISH AN INCENTIVE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM FOR NATIVE AMERICANS WHO ARE RESIDENTS OF NORTH CAROLINA.
Whereas, disproportionately low percentages of Native American graduates from high schools in North Carolina who are qualified for higher education apply for admission to and enroll in the constituent institutions of The University of North Carolina; and 
Whereas, past State policies that created educational institutions especially designed to accommodate Native American students continue to influence the perceptions of Native Americans about the accessibility of other public institutions of higher education; and 
Whereas, the absence of representative numbers of Native American students within the constituent institutions of The University of North Carolina detracts from the natural and wholesome cultural and ethnic diversity that should obtain within the student populations at such institutions; and 
Whereas, augmenting scholarship resources available to Native Americans who need financial assistance to attend constituent institutions of The University of North Carolina will increase their participation throughout the public system of higher education in North Carolina; Now, therefore,
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  The Board of Governors of The University of North Carolina shall establish the Incentive Scholarship Program for Native Americans to provide opportunities for Native Americans who are residents of North Carolina to attend constituent institutions of The University of North Carolina under rules adopted by the Board of Governors.  Scholarships awarded under the program shall carry a maximum value of three thousand dollars ($3,000) per recipient per academic year, reduced by any amount of need-based aid that the recipient may receive from Pell Grants, North Carolina Student Incentive Grants, Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants, or the American Indian Student Legislative Grant Program.  To be eligible for such a scholarship, a student shall be a Native American, defined as an individual who maintains cultural identification as a Native American through membership in an Indian tribe recognized by the United States or by the State of North Carolina or through other tribal affiliation or community recognition.
Sec. 2.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Board of Governors of The University of North Carolina the sum of three hundred thirty-three thousand dollars ($333,000) for the 1994-95 fiscal year to underwrite the cost of awarding these scholarships, under the provisions of  Section 1 of this act, for the benefit of students enrolled in the 1994-95 academic year.  It is the intent of this act that the funds required to fund fully the program shall be included in the continuation budget in subsequent fiscal years.
Sec. 3.  This act becomes effective July 1, 1994.