AN ACT to Direct the University of north carolina to implement the undergraduate degree completion improvement plan; TO DIRECT THE STATE BOARD OF COMMUNITY COLLEGES AND THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT A SYSTEMWIDE ARTICULATION AGREEMENT FOR THE TRANSFER OF CREDIT FROM A COMMUNITY COLLEGE EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION PROGRAM TO A UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA CONSTITUENT INSTITUTION; TO DIRECT THE PRESIDENT, OR THE PRESIDENT'S DESIGNEE, AND THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA TO CONSIDER AND EVALUATE THE FEASIBILITY OF APPLYING FOR AND IMPLEMENTING THE UTEACH PROGRAM AS PART OF THE CURRICULA OFFERED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA SYSTEM; to authorize the board of governors of the university of north carolina to set the expenditure benchmark for the president of the university of north carolina at an amount consistent with the maximum benchmark set for constituent institutions; and to change the date by which the board of governors of the university of north carolina shall begin reporting annually the number of students who graduated from early college high school and applied for admission to a constituent institution.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

PART I. UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE COMPLETION
SECTION 1.(a)  The President of The University of North Carolina shall implement the University of North Carolina Undergraduate Degree Completion Improvement Plan, developed in accordance with Section 11.7 of S.L. 2015‑241, as amended by Section 11.2 of S.L. 2016‑94, and presented to the General Assembly on December 31, 2016, effective beginning with the 2017‑2018 academic year.
SECTION 1.(b)  This section is effective when it becomes law.

PART II. EARLY EDUCATION ARTICULATION AGREEMENT
SECTION 2.(a)  By March 1, 2018, the Board of Governors of The University of North Carolina and the State Board of Community Colleges shall develop an articulation agreement for the transfer of credits earned for an associate degree in an early childhood education program at a community college toward a baccalaureate degree in an early childhood education program at a constituent institution for the purposes of the student obtaining teacher licensure in the area of Birth through Kindergarten. The articulation agreement shall apply to all community college campuses and constituent institutions with early childhood education programs. The articulation agreement may include that the community college student transferring credit and enrolling in the constituent institution has a minimum grade point average and a minimum Praxis I score.
SECTION 2.(b)  By April 15, 2018, the Board of Governors of The University of North Carolina and the State Board of Community Colleges shall report to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee on the development of the articulation agreement and the plan for implementation of the articulation agreement at all community college campuses and constituent institutions with early childhood education programs. The systemwide articulation agreement for early childhood education programs entered into between The University of North Carolina and the Community College System shall apply beginning with the 2018‑2019 academic year.
SECTION 2.(c)  This section is effective when it becomes law.

PART III. UNC/UTEACH PROGRAM
SECTION 3.(a)  The President, or the President's designee, and the Board of Governors of The University of North Carolina shall jointly consider and evaluate the feasibility of applying for and implementing the UTEACH program as part of the curricula offered by the University of North Carolina System.
UTEACH is a model program originally developed by the University of Texas at Austin. It is designed as a secondary STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) teacher preparation program with the goal of attracting high‑caliber students, experienced and successful master teachers, and tenure‑track faculty who are interested in STEM education. The UTEACH program is a course of study that combines the requirements for rigorous STEM degrees and for secondary teaching certification without adding time or cost to four‑year degrees.
SECTION 3.(b)  In their evaluation of the UTEACH program, the President, or the President's designee, and the Board of Governors may consider the following:
(1)	How the UTEACH program would match up with the curricula currently offered through the University of North Carolina System and what adjustments, if any, would be required for implementation of the UTEACH program.
(2)	Which constituent institutions and which departments and programs at those institutions would participate and collaborate in the UTEACH program if it was implemented.
(3)	The application process and time frame required to develop a UTEACH program tailored to fit within the curricula of the University of North Carolina System.
(4)	The cost of implementing and maintaining a UTEACH program and the alternatives for financing the program.
(5)	Any statutory amendments or other legislative action that would be needed for the implementation of a UTEACH program.
(6)	Any other issues the President, or the President's designee, and the Board of Governors deem relevant in their evaluation of the UTEACH program.
SECTION 3.(c)  The President, or the President's designee, and the Board of Governors of The University of North Carolina shall report to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee by April 1, 2018, their findings and recommendations regarding the feasibility of applying for and implementing the UTEACH program as part of the curricula offered through the University of North Carolina System.
SECTION 3.(d)  This section is effective when it becomes law.

PART IV. UNC EXPENDITURE BENCHMARKS
SECTION 4.(a)  G.S. 116‑31.10 reads as rewritten:
"§ 116‑31.10.  Powers of Board regarding certain purchasing contracts.
(a)	Notwithstanding G.S. 143‑53.1 or G.S. 143‑53(a)(2), the expenditure benchmark for the President of The University of North Carolina or a special responsibility constituent institution with regard to competitive bid procedures and the bid value benchmark shall be an amount not greater than five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000). The Board shall set the benchmark for the President and each institution from time to time. In setting the benchmark for the President or an institution in accordance with this section, the Board shall consider the overall capabilities including staff resources, purchasing compliance reviews, and audit reports of the President's administrative staff or the institution. The Board shall also consult with the Director of the Division of Purchase and Contract and the Director of the Budget prior to setting the benchmark.
(b)	If the President or a constituent institution has an expenditure benchmark greater than two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000), the President or constituent institution shall comply with this subsection for any purchase greater than the President's or institution's benchmark set by the Board but not greater than five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000). The President or institution shall submit to the Division of Purchase and Contract for that Division's approval or other action deemed necessary by the Division a copy of all offers received and the President's or institution's recommendation of award or other action. Notice of the Division's decision shall be sent to the President or the institution. The President or institution shall then proceed with the award of contract or other action recommended by the Division."
SECTION 4.(b)  G.S. 143‑53.1 reads as rewritten:
"§ 143‑53.1.  Setting of benchmarks; increase by Secretary.
(a)	On and after July 1, 2014, the procedures prescribed by G.S. 143‑52 with respect to competitive bids and the bid value benchmark authorized by G.S. 143‑53(a)(2) with respect to rule making by the Secretary of Administration for competitive bidding shall promote compliance with the principles of procurement efficiency, transparency, and fair competition to obtain the State's business. For the President of The University of North Carolina or a special responsibility constituent institution of The University of North Carolina, the benchmark prescribed in this section is as provided in G.S. 116‑31.10. For community colleges, the benchmark prescribed in this section is as provided in G.S. 115D‑58.14.
…."
SECTION 4.(c)  This section is effective when it becomes law.

PART V. REPORTING DATE CHANGE
SECTION 5.(a)  Section 11.16 of S.L. 2015‑241 reads as rewritten:
"EARLY COLLEGE GRADUATES/UNC ADMISSION POLICY
…
"SECTION 11.16.(b)  Beginning September 30, 2017, the Board of Governors shall report annually to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee regarding the number of students who graduated from a cooperative innovative high school program with an associate degree and which option was chosen by those students when applying for admission to a constituent institution.
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SECTION 5.(b)  This section is effective when it becomes law.

PART VI. EFFECTIVE DATE
SECTION 6.  This act is effective when it becomes law.
In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 22nd day of June, 2017.

	s/	 Daniel J. Forest
	 President of the Senate

	s/	 Tim Moore
	 Speaker of the House of Representatives

	_____________________________________
		 Roy Cooper
	 Governor

Approved __________.m. this ______________ day of ___________________, 201