A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO IMPLEMENT VARIOUS POLICY CHANGES to IMPROVE STUDENT OUTCOMES, INCLUDING REDUCING TIME TO DEGREE AT PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION, AND to RECOGNIZe THE NEED FOR AND VALUE OF NON‑DEGREE WORKFORCE CERTIFICATIONS, as recommended by the state board of community colleges and the board of governors of the university of north carolina.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

part I. enhanced student success through affordable education year‑round
SECTION 1.1.  Enrollment funds for summer courses. – There is appropriated from the General Fund to the reserve account in the Office of State Budget and Management for enrollment adjustments for The University of North Carolina the sum of forty‑three million five hundred seventy‑eight thousand two hundred twenty‑three dollars ($43,578,223) in additional recurring funds for the 2019‑2020 fiscal year to increase graduation rates and reduce time to degree by expanding the number of and enrollment in on‑campus undergraduate summer courses offered on campus at constituent institutions. For subsequent fiscal years, the annual enrollment growth request from The University of North Carolina shall reflect incremental changes in the actual credit hours completed in the fall, spring, and summer terms.
SECTION 1.2.(a)  Scholarships for summer courses. – Article 23 of Chapter 116 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new Part to read:
"Part 5. NC College Completes Scholarship.
"§ 116‑209.80.  Summer course scholarship program.
Within the funds available for the program, a student enrolled in a constituent institution of The University of North Carolina or a community college as defined in G.S. 115D‑2(2) may apply for scholarship funds to enroll in a summer course. The Authority shall give priority in the award of scholarships to students (i) with financial need and (ii) who can use summer courses to earn 30 credits in the academic year or accelerate their path to a degree. The Board of Governors and the President of The University of North Carolina shall establish guidance for the Authority for the award of the scholarships for students enrolled in constituent institutions. The State Board of Community Colleges and the President of the Community College System shall establish guidance for the Authority on the award of the scholarships for students enrolled in community colleges. Except as otherwise provided by this section, the Authority shall administer the scholarships pursuant to guidelines and procedures established by the Authority consistent with its practices for administering State‑funded financial aid."
SECTION 1.2.(b)  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Board of Governors of The University of North Carolina the sum of ten million dollars ($10,000,000) in recurring funds for the 2019‑2020 fiscal year to allocate to the North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority (Authority) for the purpose of providing summer scholarships to enable and encourage students enrolled in a constituent institution of The University of North Carolina or a North Carolina community college to enroll in a summer course as provided in G.S. 116‑209.80, as enacted by this act. The funds appropriated pursuant to this section for each fiscal year shall be provided for scholarships as follows:
(1)	The sum of up to seven million dollars ($7,000,000) in recurring funds shall be used to provide scholarships to students enrolled in constituent institutions.
(2)	The sum of up to three million dollars ($3,000,000) in recurring funds shall be used to provide scholarships to students enrolled in community colleges.
SECTION 1.3.  Section 1.2 of this act applies beginning with the 2020 summer term.

Part II. ENHANCED PATHWAYS FOR North Carolina COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM GRADUATES AND MILITARY PERSONNEL
SECTION 2.1.(a)  Scholarships for community college transfer students. – Part 5 of Article 23 of Chapter 116 of the General Statutes, as enacted by this act, is amended by adding a new section to read:
"§ 116‑209.85.  Transfer credit scholarship program.
Within the funds available for the program, a student who (i) receives an eligible college transfer associate degree from a community college as defined in G.S. 115D‑2(2) and (ii) transfers to a constituent institution of The University of North Carolina within 12 months of receiving the degree may apply for a one‑time scholarship award in an amount of up to one thousand dollars ($1,000). For purposes of this section, an "eligible college transfer associate degree" is a degree covered by an articulation agreement entered into by the Board of Governors of The University of North Carolina and the State Board of Community Colleges. The Board of Governors and the President of The University of North Carolina shall establish eligibility criteria for students, including students that participate in co‑admission or dual enrollment programs, or dual admission programs between constituent institutions and community colleges, provided the students meet other eligibility requirements. Except as otherwise provided by this section, the Authority shall administer the scholarships pursuant to guidelines and procedures established by the Authority consistent with its practices for administering State‑funded financial aid."
SECTION 2.1.(b)  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Board of Governors of The University of North Carolina the sum of four million dollars ($4,000,000) in recurring funds for the 2019‑2020 fiscal year to allocate to the North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority to establish a scholarship program for students who receive an eligible college transfer associate degree from a North Carolina community college and transfer to a constituent institution of The University of North Carolina within 12 months of receiving the degree as provided in G.S. 116‑209.85, as enacted by this act.
SECTION 2.2.  TAC/MCAC career pathways. – For the 2019‑2020 fiscal year, there is appropriated from the General Fund to the Board of Governors of The University of North Carolina the sum of one hundred fifty thousand dollars ($150,000) in recurring funds and two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000) in nonrecurring funds to support the work of the Transfer Advisory Committee (TAC) and the Military Credit Advisory Council (MCAC). The funds shall be used to accelerate efforts of TAC and MCAC to create new pathways programs, engage in site reviews, evaluate additional military occupations and courses for credits, and build a searchable database of military credit equivalencies.
SECTION 2.3.  Open educational resources materials. – There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Board of Governors of The University of North Carolina the sum of three hundred thousand dollars ($300,000) in recurring funds for the 2019‑2020 fiscal year to reduce student textbook costs through the curation and adoption by The University of North Carolina System Office of high‑quality open educational resources materials for the most commonly taught courses across constituent institutions and community colleges. In curating and adopting high‑quality open educational resources materials, the UNC System Office shall give priority to those courses that universally transfer under the Comprehensive Articulation Agreement entered into by the Board of Governors and the State Board of Community Colleges.
SECTION 2.4.  Section 2.1 of this act applies beginning with the award of scholarship funds for the 2019‑2020 academic year.

Part Iii. Increasing Attainment through workforce training
SECTION 3.1.  Short‑term workforce training parity. – There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Community Colleges System Office the sum of eleven million five hundred twenty thousand four hundred forty‑nine dollars ($11,520,449) in additional recurring funds for the 2019‑2020 fiscal year for short‑term workforce training continuing education programs that lead to a State‑ or industry‑recognized credential. These funds shall be used to eliminate the full‑time equivalent (FTE) determination disparity between short‑term workforce training programs and curriculum programs.
SECTION 3.2.  Workforce development online registration. – For the 2019‑2020 fiscal year, there is appropriated from the General Fund to the Community Colleges System Office the sum of five million dollars ($5,000,000) in recurring funds and the sum of one million five hundred thousand dollars ($1,500,000) in nonrecurring funds for the purchase of an online registration system for continuing education courses.
SECTION 3.3.(a)  Workforce development multicampus locations. – There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Community Colleges System Office the sum of five hundred sixty‑six thousand five hundred eighty‑seven dollars ($566,587) in recurring funds for the 2019‑2020 fiscal year for the operation of the Forsyth Technical Community College Transportation Technology Center.
SECTION 3.3.(b)  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Community Colleges System Office the sum of five hundred sixty‑six thousand five hundred eighty‑seven dollars ($566,587) in recurring funds for the 2019‑2020 fiscal year for the operation of the Guilford Technical Community College Aviation Campus.
SECTION 3.3.(c)  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Community Colleges System Office the sum of five hundred sixty‑six thousand five hundred eighty‑seven dollars ($566,587) in recurring funds for the 2019‑2020 fiscal year for the operation of the Richmond Community College Scotland County Campus.
SECTION 3.3.(d)  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Community Colleges System Office the sum of five hundred sixty‑six thousand five hundred eighty‑seven dollars ($566,587) in recurring funds for the 2019‑2020 fiscal year for the operation of the Wake Technical Community College Research Triangle Park Campus.

Part iV. Modify Career Coach Program
SECTION 4.1.  G.S. 115D‑21.5(c) reads as rewritten:
"(c)	Application for NC Career Coach Program Funding. – The board of trustees of a community college and a local board of education of a local school administrative unit within the service area of the community college jointly may apply for available funds for NC Career Coach Program funding from the State Board of Community Colleges. The State Board of Community Colleges shall establish a process for award of funds as follows:
(1)	Advisory committee. – Establishment of an advisory committee, which shall include representatives from the NC Community College System, the Department of Public Instruction, the Department of Commerce, and at least three representatives of the business community, to review applications and make recommendations for funding awards to the State Board.
(2)	Application submission requirements. – The State Board of Community Colleges shall require at least the following:
a.	Evidence of a signed memorandum of understanding that meets, at a minimum, the requirements of this section.
b.	Evidence that the funding request will be matched with local funds in accordance with the following:
1.	Matching funds may come from public or private sources.
2.	The match amount shall be determined based on the location of a community college's main campus as follows:
I.	If located in a tier one county as defined in G.S. 143B‑437.08, no local match shall be required.
II.	If located in a tier two county as defined in G.S. 143B‑437.08, one dollar ($1.00) of local funds for every two dollars ($2.00) in State funds shall be required.
III.	If located in a tier three county as defined in G.S. 143B‑437.08, one dollar ($1.00) of local funds for every one dollar ($1.00) in State funds shall be required.
(3)	Awards criteria. – The State Board of Community Colleges shall develop criteria for consideration in determining the award of funds that shall include the following:
a.	Consideration of the workforce needs of business and industry in the region.
b.	Targeting of resources to enhance ongoing economic activity within the community college service area and surrounding counties.
c.	Geographic diversity of awards."
SECTION 4.2.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Community Colleges System Office the sum of two million eight hundred thousand dollars ($2,800,000) in recurring funds for the 2019‑2020 fiscal year to support the NC Career Coach Program. These funds shall be used to place additional community college career coaches in public high schools.
SECTION 4.3.  This Part applies beginning with the 2019‑2020 school year.

Part V. Effective date
SECTION 5.  Except as otherwise provided, this act becomes effective July 1, 2019.