S315 - Make Various Changes Regarding Higher Education. (SL 2017-68)

Overview: S.L. 2017-68 does the following:

• Directs the President of The University of North Carolina (President) to implement The University of North Carolina Undergraduate Degree Completion Improvement Plan that was submitted to the General Assembly in December 2016.
• Requires development of an articulation agreement between The University of North Carolina (UNC) and the North Carolina Community College System in early childhood education programs. By April 15, 2018, the Board of Governors of The University of North Carolina (BOG) and the State Board of Community Colleges must report to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee on the development of the articulation agreement and the plan for implementation at all community college campuses and constituent institutions with early childhood education programs. The systemwide articulation agreement must apply beginning with the 2018-2019 academic year.
• Directs the President, or the President's designee, and the BOG to consider and evaluate the feasibility of applying for and implementing the UTEACH program, a model program originally developed by the University of Texas at Austin, as part of the curricula offered by The UNC system. The President and the BOG must report their findings and recommendations regarding the feasibility of applying for and implementing the UTEACH program to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee by April 1, 2018.
• Allows the BOG to set the expenditure benchmark for certain purchasing contracts for the President to be the same as the maximum allowed for the constituent institutions.
• Changes a reporting date for data on graduates of cooperative innovative high schools from March to September.

This act became effective June 28, 2017.

PART I: UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE COMPLETION