GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 2015

H                                                                                                                                                   2

HOUSE BILL 657

Committee Substitute Favorable 4/21/15

Short Title:        Study UNC‑Fixed Tuition.	(Public)
Sponsors:
Referred to:

April 14, 2015

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT to direct the board of governors of The university of north carolina to study the establishment of a fixed tuition program as a payment option at the constituent institutions of the university of north carolina.

Whereas, over the 30‑year period from 1984‑1985 to 2014‑2015, across the United States, the average increase for tuition and fees for in‑state students at public four‑year universities was 225%; and

Whereas, approximately 320 colleges and universities throughout the United States offered tuition guarantees during the 2012‑2013 school year which provide that students would pay a single rate for a set amount of time; and

Whereas, both private and public universities are offering such tuition guarantee programs including George Washington University, the University of Kansas, and Ohio University; and

Whereas, the citizens of North Carolina would benefit greatly by such tuition program guarantees at the constituent institutions of The University of North Carolina; Now, therefore,

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  The Board of Governors of The University of North Carolina shall study the development and implementation of fixed tuition payment programs for the constituent institutions of The University of North Carolina. The study shall consider at least the following issues:

(1)        How to make such a fixed tuition payment program available at every constituent institution.

(2)        How long the period for the fixed tuition payment programs shall be in terms of number of semesters and whether summer sessions should be included. Issues of tolling the period for students under certain circumstances shall also be considered.

(3)        Qualifications and eligibility for students to enroll in the fixed tuition programs and stay enrolled.

(4)        Whether fees may also be part of the fixed tuition program so that they are also constant for the same time period as the tuition.

(5)        The fiscal impact of the fixed tuition payment programs at each constituent institution and how that impact would be managed.

(6)        The time line and implementation process of the fixed tuition payment programs at each constituent institution.

SECTION 2.  The Board of Governors of The University of North Carolina shall report on its findings and recommendations to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee by February 15, 2016.

SECTION 3.  This act is effective when it becomes law.