A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to direct the board of governors of the university of north carolina to study the equal opportunity policies adopted by, and services offered by, each constituent institution and how the constituent institutions may become more effective and efficient through possible consolidations of the equal opportunity services offered by each campus.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  The General Assembly finds that The University of North Carolina provides important educational opportunities to citizens of the State and to others so that they may improve life for themselves, their families, and their communities. It is therefore important that The University of North Carolina provide equal opportunity to all without discrimination based upon race, creed, color, sex, national origin, political affiliation, or any other improper characteristic. The General Assembly also finds that, while university officials throughout the State and nation have established numerous positions to promote equal opportunity and inclusiveness, there is not sufficient transparency, coordination, or accountability to assure the public that such positions are in fact advancing equality. Further, the General Assembly finds that the expenditure of State funds for student groups should reflect the goal of equal opportunity and nondiscrimination to ensure access to all.
SECTION 2.  The Board of Governors of The University of North Carolina shall study the equal opportunity policies, which include the policies related to diversity and nondiscrimination, adopted by each constituent institution, the implementation of those policies on each campus, and the services provided on each campus. In conducting the study, the Board of Governors shall review and evaluate the equal opportunity policies with a particular focus on transparency and effectiveness of the policies.
As part of the study, the Board of Governors shall direct each constituent institution to identify all staff positions on campus that include as part of the job duties any responsibility for the implementation, administration, or enforcement of policies intended to promote equal opportunity, diversity, or inclusiveness; indicate how those staff positions and the services offered through those positions fit within the organizational structure of the constituent institution; and indicate the direct and indirect costs related to those staff positions and services provided by those staff positions. This information shall include the number of part‑time and full‑time employees in these staff positions by each individual campus, descriptions of job duties of each of these employees, and the total costs of the positions.
The study shall also consider the feasibility of developing equal opportunity plans at each constituent institution that consolidate all equal opportunity services offered at each constituent institution into a single office headed by an equal employment officer designated by the Chancellor in order to promote effectiveness and efficiency.
SECTION 3.  The Board of Governors of The University of North Carolina shall submit the report, including its findings and recommendations and policy changes, to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee by January 1, 2018. The Board of Governors shall approve the report prior to the submission to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee.
SECTION 4.  This act is effective when it becomes law.