Senate amendment to the 2nd edition makes the following changes.
Amends GS 116-201(b)(8) by amending the definition of private institution to require the religious institution offering post-high school education be accredited by a regional accrediting agency or the Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools (was, by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools or the same agency that is the accrediting agency for at least one UNC constituent institution).
Amends GS 116-280, concerning need-based scholarships for students attending private institutions of higher education, by amending the definition of an eligible private postsecondary institution to require it to be accredited by a regional accrediting agency or the Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools (was, by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACSCOC) or the New England Association of Schools and Colleges), or was accredited by SACSCOC on January 2021, and beginning January 1, 2021, was a member of the Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools.
REVISE HIGHER ED ACCREDITATION PROCESSES.
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| View NCGA Bill Details | 2023-2024 Session |
AN ACT TO REVISE THE ACCREDITATION PROCESS FOR CONSTITUENT INSTITUTIONS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AND COMMUNITY COLLEGES, TO CREATE A CAUSE OF ACTION FOR POSTSECONDARY INSTITUTIONS DAMAGED BY FALSE STATEMENTS MADE TO ACCREDITING AGENCIES, TO ESTABLISH A COMMISSION TO STUDY ACCREDITATION, AND TO MAKE CERTAIN CONFORMING CHANGES.Intro. by Lee, Galey, Berger.
Status: Ref To Com On Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House (House action) (May 4 2023)
Bill History:
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Thu, 6 Apr 2023 Senate: Filed
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Mon, 10 Apr 2023 Senate: Passed 1st Reading
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Mon, 1 May 2023 Senate: Reptd Fav Com Substitute
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Mon, 1 May 2023 Senate: Com Substitute Adopted
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Mon, 1 May 2023 Senate: Re-ref Com On Rules and Operations of the Senate
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Tue, 2 May 2023 Senate: Reptd Fav
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Wed, 3 May 2023 Senate: Amend Adopted A1
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Wed, 3 May 2023 Senate: Passed 2nd Reading
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Wed, 3 May 2023 Senate: Passed 3rd Reading
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Wed, 3 May 2023 Senate: Engrossed
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Thu, 4 May 2023 Senate: Special Message Sent To House
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Thu, 4 May 2023 House: Special Message Received From Senate
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Thu, 4 May 2023 House: Passed 1st Reading
S 680
Bill Summaries:
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Bill S 680 (2023-2024)Summary date: May 3 2023 - View Summary
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Bill S 680 (2023-2024)Summary date: May 1 2023 - View Summary
Senate committee substitute to the 1st edition makes the following changes.
Amends GS 116-11.4 governing the accreditation process for UNC constituent universities, and GS 115D-6.2 (was, GS 115D-6.1) governing the accreditation process for community colleges, as follows. Removes the terms referred accrediting agency and recognized accrediting agency. Adds and defines regional accrediting agency as one of the six specified entities. Removes the requirement that the UNC Board of Governors (BOG) and State Board of Community Colleges (State Board) consult with each other to identify and determine all accrediting agencies or associations that are best suited to serve as an accreditor for their institutions; makes conforming deletions. Prohibits accreditation by an accrediting agency for consecutive accreditation cycles (was, prohibited receiving accreditation by the same agency for consecutive accreditation cycles). Now requires an institution or college that pursues accreditation with a different accrediting agency in accordance with this section to pursue accreditation with a regional accrediting agency. If the constituent institution or college is not granted candidacy status by any regional accrediting agency that is different from its current accrediting agency at least three years prior to the expiration of its current accreditation, it may remain with its current accrediting agency for an additional accreditation cycle.
Requires the BOG to establish a Commission to study alternatives to the current process by which institutions of higher education are accredited and invite stakeholders, including those from other states, to participate. Requires an interim report on efforts to recruit stakeholders to participate to the specified NCGA committee by September 1, 2023. Requires a report on any findings the BOG develops to the same committee by September 1, 2024.
Makes conforming changes to GS 90-631(b) (concerning accreditation of a massage and bodywork therapy program operated by a North Carolina community college); GS 93A-4(a2) (concerning fees paid by a certified real estate education provider); GS 93A-38.5(e) (concerning fees paid by private real estate education providers); GS 93E-1-7(b2) (concerning continuing education fees); GS 93E-1-8 (concerning fees for real estate and appraiser courses); and GS 130A-309.28 (concerning research projects on hazardous waste). Also makes conforming changes to previously amended GS 116-201(b)(8) and GS 116-280(3).
Amends the act's long title.
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Bill S 680 (2023-2024)Summary date: Apr 13 2023 - View Summary
Enacts GS 116-11.4 governing the accreditation process for UNC constituent universities, and GS 115D-6.1 governing the accreditation process for community colleges, providing as follows. Requires the UNC Board of Governors (BOG) and State Board of Community Colleges (State Board) to consult with each other to identify and determine all accrediting agencies or associations that are best suited to serve as an accreditor for their institutions. Requires the BOG/State Board to make its determination from among the database of recognized accrediting agencies created and maintained by the US Department of Education. Requires publication of the list of preferred accrediting agencies to the constituent institutions/community colleges and maintaining the list. Prohibits a constituent institution or community college (as applicable) from receiving accreditation by the same agency for consecutive accreditation cycles except as follows. Requires initially pursuing accreditation with a preferred accrediting agency when pursuing accreditation with a different agency. If each preferred agency refuses to grant candidacy status to the constituent institution/community college, the entity must seek accreditation from any recognized accrediting agency that is different from its current one. If the entity is not granted candidacy status by any recognizing accrediting agency at least three years before the expiration of its current accreditation, the entity may remain with its current agency for an additional accreditation cycle. Sets out programs that are exempt from these requirements.
Allows a constituent institution or community college to bring a civil action against any person who makes a false statement to the accrediting agency if all of the following criteria are met: (1) the statement, if true, would mean the constituent institution/community college is out of compliance with its accreditation standards; (2) the person made the statement with knowledge that the statement was false or with reckless disregard as to whether it was false; (3) the accreditation agency conducted a review of the constituent institution/community college as a proximate result of the statement; and (4) the review caused the constituent institution/community college to incur costs. Sets out amounts that can be recovered by a prevailing constituent institution/community college, including costs related to the review conducted by the accrediting agency.
Requires the development and publishing of the list of preferred accrediting agencies by September 1, 2023.
Amends GS 116-11 and GS 115D-5 to require the adoption of policies requiring constituent institutions/community colleges to be accredited according to GS 116-11.4/GS 115D-6.1, as applicable.
Amends GS 116-201, GS 116-280, and GS 115D-5 by making conforming changes.
View: All Summaries for Bill
Committee substitute to the 1st edition changed the long title. Original long title was AN ACT TO REVISE THE ACCREDITATION PROCESS FOR CONSTITUENT INSTITUTIONS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AND COMMUNITY COLLEGES, TO CREATE A CAUSE OF ACTION FOR POSTSECONDARY INSTITUTIONS DAMAGED BY FALSE STATEMENTS MADE TO ACCREDITING AGENCIES, AND TO MAKE CERTAIN CONFORMING CHANGES.