2005 North Carolina Code - General Statutes Article 3 - Financial Support.

Article 3.

Financial Support.

§ 115D ‑31.� State financial support of institutions.

(a)������ The State Board of Community Colleges shall be responsible for providing, from sources available to the State Board, funds to meet the financial needs of institutions, as determined by policies and regulations of the State Board, for the following budget items:

(1)������ Plant Fund. � Furniture and equipment for administrative and instructional purposes, library books, and other items of capital outlay approved by the State Board. Provided, the State Board may, on an equal matching‑fund basis from appropriations made by the State for the purpose, grant funds to individual institutions for the purchase of land, construction and remodeling of institutional buildings determined by the State Board to be necessary for the instructional programs or administration of such institutions. For the purpose of determining amount of matching State funds, local funds shall include expenditures made prior to the enactment of this Chapter or prior to an institution becoming a community college pursuant to the provisions of this Chapter, when such expenditures were made for the purchase of land, construction, and remodeling of institutional buildings subsequently determined by the State Board to be necessary as herein specified, and provided such local expenditures have not previously been used as the basis for obtaining matching State funds under the provisions of this Chapter or any other laws of the State. Notwithstanding the provisions of this subdivision, G.S. 116‑53(b), or G.S. 143‑31.4, appropriations by the State of North Carolina for capital or permanent improvements for community colleges may be matched with any prior expenditure of non‑State funds for capital construction or land acquisition not already used for matching purposes.

(2)������ Current Operating Expenses:

a.�������� General administration. � Salaries and other costs as determined by the State Board necessary to carry out the functions of general administration.

b.�������� Instructional services. � Salaries and other costs as determined by the State Board necessary to carry out the functions of instructional services.

c.�������� Support services. � Salaries and other costs as determined by the State Board necessary to carry out the functions of support services.

(3)������ Additional Support for Regional Institutions as Defined in G.S. 115D‑2(4). � Matching funds to be used with local funds to meet the financial needs of the regional institutions for the items set out in G.S. 115D‑32(a)(2)a. Amount of matching funds to be provided by the State under this section shall be determined as follows: The population of the administrative area in which the regional institution is located shall be called the "local factor," the combined populations of all other counties served by the institution shall be called the "State factor." When the budget for the items listed in G.S. 115D‑32(a)(2)a has been approved under the procedures set out in G.S. 115D‑45, the administrative area in which the regional institution is located shall provide a percentage to be determined by dividing the local factor by the sum of the local factor and the State factor. The State shall provide a percentage of the necessary funds to meet this budget, the percentage to be determined by dividing the State factor by the sum of the local factor and the State factor. If the local administrative area provides less than its proportionate share, the amount of State funds provided shall be reduced by the same proportion as were the administrative area funds.

Wherever the word "population" is used in this subdivision, it shall mean the population of the particular area in accordance with the latest United States census.

(b)������ The State Board is authorized to accept, receive, use, or reallocate to the institutions any federal funds or aids that have been or may be appropriated by the government of the United States for the encouragement and improvement of any phase of the programs of the institutions.

(c)������ State funds appropriated to the State Board of Community Colleges for equipment and library books, except for funds appropriated to the Equipment Reserve Fund, shall revert to the General Fund 12 months after the close of the fiscal year for which they were appropriated. Encumbered balances outstanding at the end of each period shall be handled in accordance with existing State budget policies. The System Office shall identify to the Office of State Budget and Management the funds that revert at the end of the 12 months after the close of the fiscal year.

(d)������ State funds appropriated to the State Board of Community Colleges for the Equipment Reserve Fund shall be allocated to institutions in accordance with the equipment allocation formula for the fiscal period. An institution to which these funds are allocated shall spend the funds only in accordance with an equipment acquisition plan developed by the institution and approved by the State Board.

These funds shall not revert and shall remain available until expended in accordance with an approved plan.

(e)������ If receipts for community college tuition and fees exceed the amount certified in General Fund Codes at the end of a fiscal year, the State Board of Community Colleges shall transfer the amount of receipts and fees above those budgeted to the Equipment Reserve Fund.(1963, c. 448, s. 23; 1973, c. 590, ss. 2, 3; c. 637, s. 1; 1979, c. 462, s. 2; c. 896, s. 13; c. 946, s. 1; 1979, 2nd Sess., c. 1130, s. 1; 1981, c. 157, s. 2; 1985, c. 757, s. 146; 1987, c. 564, ss. 9, 12; 1995, c. 324, s. 16; 1998‑212, s. 10.2(a); 1999‑84, s. 11; 1999‑237, s. 9.3(a); 2000‑140, s. 93.1(a); 2001‑424, s. 12.2(b).)

 

§ 115D‑31.1.� Liability insurance.

Notwithstanding the provisions of G.S. 115D‑32(a)(2)b2 and any other provision of the law to the contrary, boards of trustees of all institutions in this Chapter may use State funds to pay the lawful premiums of liability insurance as provided in this section. (1983, c. 761, s. 105.)

 

§ 115D‑31.2.� Maintenance of plant.

Notwithstanding any provisions of law to the contrary, any community college that has an out‑of‑county student head count served on the main campus of the college in excess of fifty percent (50%) of the total student head count as defined by the State Board of Community Colleges, shall be provided funds for the purpose of "operations of plant". Each college that qualifies for these funds shall receive a pro rata amount of the funds that are appropriated for this purpose. (1993, c. 321, s. 110; 2001‑424, s. 30.13.)

 

§ 115D‑31.3.� Performance budgeting.

(a)������ Creation of Accountability Measures and Performance Standards. � The State Board of Community Colleges shall create new accountability measures and performance standards to be used for performance budgeting for the Community College System. Survey results shall be used as a performance standard only if the survey is statistically valid. The State Board of Community Colleges shall review annually the accountability measures and performance standards to ensure that they are appropriate for use in performance budgeting.

(b)������ through (d) Repealed by Session Laws 2000‑67, s. 9.7.

(e)������ Mandatory Performance Measures. � The State Board of Community Colleges shall evaluate each college on the following 12 performance standards:

(1)������ Progress of basic skills students,

(2)������ Passing rate for licensure and certification examinations,

(3)������ The proportion of those who complete their goal,

(4)������ Employment status of graduates,

(5)������ Performance of students who transfer to the university system,

(6)������ Passing rates in developmental courses,

(7)������ Success rates of developmental students in subsequent college�level courses,

(8)������ The level of satisfaction of students who complete programs and those who do not complete programs,

(9)������ Curriculum student retention and graduation,

(10)���� Employer satisfaction with graduates,

(11)���� Client satisfaction with customized training, and

(12)���� Program enrollment.

(f)������� Publication of Performance Ratings. � Each college shall publish its performance on the 12 measures set out in subsection (e) of this section (i) annually in its electronic catalog or on the Internet and (ii) in its printed catalog each time the catalog is reprinted.

The Community Colleges System Office shall publish the performance of all colleges on all 12 measures in its annual Critical Success Factors Report.

(g)������ Performance Budgeting; Recognition for Successful Performance. � For the purpose of performance budgeting, the State Board of Community Colleges shall evaluate each college on six performance measures. These six shall be the five set out in subdivisions (1) through (5) of subsection (e) of this section and one selected by the college from the remainder set out in subdivisions (6) through (11). For each of these six performance measures on which a college performs successfully or attains the standard of significant improvement, the college may retain and carry forward into the next fiscal year one‑third of one percent (1/3 of 1%) of its final fiscal year General Fund appropriations.

(h)������ Performance Budgeting; Recognition for Superior Performance. � Funds not allocated to colleges in accordance with subsection (g) of this section shall be used to reward superior performance. After all State aid budget obligations have been met, the State Board of Community Colleges shall distribute the remainder of these funds equally to colleges that perform successfully on at least five of the six performance measures.

(i)������� Permissible Uses of Funds. � Funds retained by colleges or distributed to colleges pursuant to this section shall be used for the purchase of equipment, initial program start‑up costs including faculty salaries for the first year of a program, and one‑time faculty and staff bonuses. These funds shall not be used for continuing salary increases or for other obligations beyond the fiscal year into which they were carried forward. These funds shall be encumbered within 12 months of the fiscal year into which they were carried forward. (1999‑237, s. 9.2(a); 2000‑67, s. 9.7; 2001‑186, s. 1.)

 

§ 115D‑32.� Local financial support of institutions.

(a)������ The tax‑levying authority of each institution shall be responsible for providing, in accordance with the provisions of G.S. 115D‑33 or 115D‑34, as appropriate, adequate funds to meet the financial needs of the institutions for the following budget items:

(1)������ Plant Fund: Acquisition of land; erection of all buildings; alterations and additions to buildings; purchase of automobiles, buses, trucks, and other motor vehicles; purchase or rental of all equipment necessary for the maintenance of buildings and grounds and operation of plants; and purchase of all furniture and equipment not provided for administrative and instructional purposes.

(2)������ Current expenses:

a.�������� Plant operation and maintenance:

1.�������� Salaries of janitors, maids, watchmen, maintenance and repair employees.

2.�������� Cost of fuel, water, power, and telephone services.

3.�������� Cost of janitorial supplies and materials.

4.�������� Cost of operation of motor vehicles.

5.�������� Cost of maintenance and repairs of buildings and grounds.

6.�������� Maintenance and replacement of furniture and equipment provided from local funds.

7.�������� Maintenance of plant heating, electrical, and plumbing equipment.

8.�������� Maintenance of all other equipment, including motor vehicles, provided by local funds.

9.�������� Rental of land and buildings.

10.������ Any other expenses necessary for plant operation and maintenance.

b.�������� Support services:

1.�������� Cost of insurance for buildings, contents, motor vehicles, workers' compensation for institutional employees paid from local funds, and other necessary insurance.

2.�������� Any tort claims awarded against the institution due to the negligence of the institutional employees.

3.�������� Cost of bonding institutional employees for the protection of local funds and property.

4.�������� Cost of elections held in accordance with G.S. 115D‑33 and 115D‑35.

5.�������� Legal fees incurred in connection with local administration and operation of the institution.

(b)������ The board of trustees of each institution may apply local public funds provided in accordance with G.S. 115D‑33(a), as appropriate, or private funds, or both, to the supplementation of items of the current expense budget financed from State funds, provided a budget is submitted in accordance with G.S. 115D‑54.

(c)������ The board of trustees of each institution may apply institutional funds provided in accordance with G.S. 115D‑54(b)(3) for such purposes as may be determined by the board of trustees of the institution.

(d)������ The counties that agree to have satellite campuses of community colleges located in them accept the maintenance and utility costs of these satellite campuses. (1963, c. 448, s. 23; 1979, c. 462, s. 2; 1981, c. 157, s. 3; 1985, c. 757, s. 148(a); 1987, c. 564, s. 11; 1995, c. 509, s. 64; 1999‑84, s. 5.)

 

§ 115D‑33.� Providing local public funds for institutions established under this Chapter; elections.

(a)������ Except as provided in G.S. 115D‑34, the tax‑levying authority of an institution may provide for local financial support of the institution as follows:

(1)������ By appropriations from nontax revenues in a manner consistent with the Local Government Budget and Fiscal Control Act, provided the continuing authority to make such appropriations shall have been approved by a majority of the qualified voters of the administrative area who shall vote on the question in an election held for such purpose, or

(2)������ By a special annual levy of taxes within a maximum annual rate which maximum rate shall have been approved by a majority of the qualified voters of the administrative area who shall vote on the question of establishing or increasing the maximum annual rate in an election held for such purpose or both, and

(3)������ By issuance of bonds, in the case of capital outlay funds, provided that each issuance of bonds shall be approved by a majority of the qualified voters of each county of the administrative area who shall vote on the question in an election held for that purpose. All bonds shall be subject to the Local Government Finance Act (Chapter 159) and shall be issued pursuant to Subchapter IV, Long‑Term Financing, (§ 159‑ 43 et seq.) of Chapter 159 of the General Statutes.

(b)������ At the election on the question of approving authority of the board of commissioners of each county in an administrative area (the tax‑levying authority) to appropriate funds from nontax revenues or a special annual levy of taxes or both, the ballot furnished the qualified voters in each county may be worded substantially as follows: "For the authority of the board of commissioners to appropriate funds either from nontax revenues or from a special annual levy of taxes not to exceed an annual rate of ______ cents per one hundred dollars ($100.00) of assessed property valuation, or both, for the financial support of ______ (name of the institution)" plus any other pertinent information and "Against the authority of the board of commissioners, etc.," with a square before each proposition, in which the voter may make a cross mark (X), but any other form of ballot containing adequate information and properly stating the question to be voted upon shall be construed as being in compliance with this section.

(c)������ The question of approving authority to appropriate funds, to levy special taxes and the question of approving an issue of bonds, when approval of each or both shall be necessary for the establishment or conversion of an institution, shall be submitted at the same election.

(d)������ All elections shall be held in the same manner as elections held under Article 4, Chapter 159, of the General Statutes, the Local Government Bond Act, and may be held at any time fixed by the tax‑levying authority of the administrative area or proposed administrative area of the institution for which such election is to be held.

(e)������ The State Board of Community Colleges shall ascertain that authority to provide adequate funds for the establishment and operation of an institution has been approved by the voters of a proposed administrative area before favorably recommending approval of the establishment of an institution.

(f)������� Notwithstanding any present provisions of this Chapter, the tax‑levying authority of each institution may at its discretion and upon its own motion provide by appropriations of nontax revenue, tax revenue, or both, funds for the support of institutional purposes as set forth in G.S. 115D‑32; but nothing herein shall be construed to authorize the issuance of bonds without a vote of the people. (1963, c. 448, s. 23; 1971, c. 402; 1979, c. 462, s. 2; c. 896, s. 13; 1979, 2nd Sess., c. 1130, s. 1; 1983, c. 717, s. 27.3.)

 

§ 115D‑34.� Providing local public funds for institutions previously established.

 

(a)������ For counties in which, immediately prior to the enactment of this Chapter, there was in operation or authorized a public community college or industrial education center which hereafter shall be operated pursuant to the provisions of this Chapter, the following provisions shall apply in providing local financial support for each such institution:

(1)������ Community colleges: The board of commissioners of a county in which is located a public community college heretofore operated or authorized to operate pursuant to Article 3, Chapter 116, of the General Statutes of North Carolina, may continue to levy special taxes annually for the local financial support of the institution as a community college as provided in G.S. 115D‑32, to the maximum rate last approved by the voters of the county in accordance with the above Article. The board of commissioners may also provide all or part of such funds by appropriations, in a manner consistent with the Local Government Budget and Fiscal Control Act, from nontax revenues. The question of increasing the maximum annual rate of a special tax may be submitted at an election held in accordance with the provisions of G.S. 115D‑33(d) and the appropriate provisions of G.S. 115D‑35.

(2)������ Industrial education centers: The board of commissioners of a county in which is located an industrial education center heretofore operated or authorized to operate as part of the public school system and which hereafter shall be operated as a community college as defined in this Chapter may levy special taxes annually at a rate sufficient to provide funds for the financial support of the institute or college as required by G.S. 115D‑32(a). The board of commissioners may also provide all or part of such funds by appropriations, in a manner consistent with the Local Government Budget and Fiscal Control Act, from nontax revenues. The board of commissioners is authorized to provide additional funds, either by special tax levies or by appropriations from nontax revenues, or both, to an amount equal to that required to be provided above, for the purpose �of supplementing the current expense budget of the institute or college financed from State funds.

(b)������ The board of commissioners of a county in which is located one of the above public community colleges or industrial education centers may provide funds for capital outlay for such institution by the issuance of bonds. All bonds shall be issued in accordance with the appropriate provisions of G.S. 115D‑33 and 115D‑35.

(c)������ Public funds provided a community college or industrial education center prior to its becoming subject to the provisions of this Chapter and which remain to the credit of the institution upon its becoming subject to these provisions shall be expended only for the purposes prescribed by law when such funds were provided the institution. (1963, c. 448, s. 23; 1965, c. 842, s. 1; 1979, c. 462, s. 2; 1987, c. 564, ss. 20, 34.)

 

§ 115D‑35.� Requests for elections to provide funds for institutions.

(a)������ Formal requests for elections on the question of authority to appropriate nontax revenues or levy special taxes, or both, and to issue bonds, when such elections are to be held for the purpose of establishing an institution, shall be originated and submitted only in the following manner:

(1)������ Proposed multiple‑county administrative areas: Formal requests for elections may be submitted jointly by all county boards of education in the proposed administrative area, or by petition of fifteen percent (15%) of the number of qualified voters of the proposed area who voted in the last preceding election for Governor, to the boards of commissioners of all counties in the proposed area, who may fix the time for such election by joint resolution which shall be entered in the minutes of each board.

(2)������ Proposed single‑county administrative area: Formal requests shall be submitted by the board of education of any public school administrative unit within the county of the proposed administrative area or by petition of fifteen percent (15%) of the number of qualified voters of the county who voted in the last preceding election for Governor, to the board of commissioners of the county of the proposed administrative area, who may fix the time for such election by resolution which shall be entered in the minutes of the board.

(b)������ Formal requests for elections on any of the questions specified in (a) above, or on the question of increasing the maximum annual rate of special taxes for the financial support of an institution with a properly established board of trustees, may be submitted to the tax‑levying authority only by such board of trustees.

(c)������ All formal requests for elections regarding the levy of special taxes shall state the maximum annual rate for which approval is to be sought in an election.

(d)������ Nothing in this section shall be construed to deny or limit the power of the tax‑levying authority of an institution to hold elections, of its own motion, on any or all the questions provided in this section, subject to the provisions of this Article. (1963, c. 448, s. 23; 1979, c. 462, s. 2.)

 

§ 115D‑36.� Elections on question of the addition of a college transfer program at an institution and issuance of bonds therefor.

 

Whenever the board of trustees of an institution requests the State Board of Community Colleges to authorize the addition of a college transfer program, the Board shall require, as a prerequisite to such addition:

(1)������ The authorization by the voters of the administrative area of an annual levy of taxes within a specified maximum annual rate sufficient to provide the required local financial support for the institution after the addition of the college transfer program, in an election held in accordance with the appropriate provisions of G.S. 115D‑33 and 115D‑35.

(2)������ The approval by the voters of the administrative area of the issuance of bonds for capital outlay necessary for the institution after the addition of the college transfer program, in an election held in accordance with the appropriate provisions of G.S. 115D‑33 and 115D‑35. (1968, c. 443, s. 23; 1979, c. 462, s. 2; c. 896, s. 13; 1979, 2nd Sess., c. 1130, s. 1; 1987, c. 564, s. 5.)

 

§ 115D‑37.� Payment of expenses of special elections under Chapter.

The cost of special elections held under the authority of this Chapter in connection with the establishment of an institution shall be paid out of the general fund of the county or counties which shall conduct such elections. All special elections held on behalf of a duly established institution shall be paid by such institution and the expenses may be included in the annual institutional budgets. (1963, c. 448, s. 23; 1979, c. 462, s. 2.)

 

§ 115D‑38.� Authority to issue bonds and notes, to levy taxes and to appropriate nontax revenues.

Counties are authorized to issue bonds and notes and to levy special taxes to meet payments of principal and interest on such bonds or notes and to levy special taxes for the special purpose of providing local financial support of an institution and otherwise to appropriate nontax revenues for the financial support of an institution, in the manner and for the purposes provided in this Chapter.

Taxes authorized by this section are declared to be for a special purpose and may be levied notwithstanding any constitutional limitation or limitations imposed by any general or special law. (1963, c. 448, s. 23; 1979, c. 462, s. 2.)

 

§ 115D‑39.� Student tuition and fees.

(a)������ The State Board of Community Colleges shall fix and regulate all tuition and fees charged to students for applying to or attending any institution pursuant to this Chapter.

The receipts from all student tuition and fees, other than student activity fees, shall be State funds and shall be deposited as provided by regulations of the State Board of Community Colleges.

The legal resident limitation with respect to tuition, set forth in G.S. 116‑143.1 and G.S. 116‑143.3, shall apply to students attending institutions operating pursuant to this Chapter; provided, however, that when an employer other than the armed services, as that term is defined in G.S. 116‑143.3, pays tuition for an employee to attend an institution operating pursuant to this Chapter and when the employee works at a North Carolina business location, the employer shall be charged the in‑State tuition rate; provided further, however, a community college may charge in‑State tuition to up to one percent (1%) of its out‑of‑state students, rounded up to the next whole number, to accommodate the families transferred by business, the families transferred by industry, or the civilian families transferred by the military, consistent with the provisions of G.S. 116‑143.3, into the State. Notwithstanding these requirements, a refugee who lawfully entered the United States and who is living in this State shall be deemed to qualify as a domiciliary of this State under G.S. 116‑143.1(a)(1) and as a State resident for community college tuition purposes as defined in G.S. 116‑143.1(a)(2). Also, a nonresident of the United States who has resided in North Carolina for a 12‑month qualifying period and has filed an immigrant petition with the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service shall be considered a State resident for community college tuition purposes.

(b)������ In addition, any person lawfully admitted to the United States who satisfied the qualifications for assignment to a public school set out under G.S. 115C‑366 and graduated from the public school to which the student was assigned shall also be eligible for the State resident community college tuition rate. This subsection does not make a person a resident of North Carolina for any other purpose.

(c)������ In addition, a person sponsored under this subsection who is lawfully admitted to the United States is eligible for the State resident community college tuition rate. For purposes of this subsection, a North Carolina nonprofit entity is a charitable or religious corporation as defined in G.S. 55A‑1‑40 that is incorporated in North Carolina and that is exempt from taxation under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or a civic league incorporated in North Carolina under Chapter 55A of the General Statutes that is exempt from taxation under section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code. A nonresident of the United States is sponsored by a North Carolina nonprofit entity if the student resides in North Carolina while attending the community college and the North Carolina nonprofit entity provides a signed affidavit to the community college verifying that the entity accepts financial responsibility for the student's tuition and any other required educational fees. Any North Carolina nonprofit entity that sponsors a nonresident of the United States under this subsection may sponsor no more than five nonresident students annually under this subsection. This subsection does not make a person a resident of North Carolina for any other purpose. (1963, c. 448, s. 23; 1979, c. 462, s. 2; c. 896, s. 13; 1979, 2nd Sess., c. 1130, s. 1; 1981, c. 157, s. 4; 1983 (Reg. Sess., 1984), c. 1034, s. 58; 1989, c. 752, s. 85; 1991 (Reg. Sess., 1992), c. 1044, s. 25(a); 1993, c. 561, s. 50(a); 1996, 2nd Ex. Sess., c. 18, s. 17.1(a); 2000‑67, s. 9.8; 2003‑284, ss. 8.16(b), 8.16A(a).)

 

§ 115D‑40.� Repealed by Session Laws 1999‑237, s.9.4(c).

 

§ 115D‑40.1.� Financial Assistance for Community College Students.

(a)������ Need‑Based Assistance Program. � It is the intent of the General Assembly that the Community College System make these financial aid funds available to the neediest students who are not eligible for other financial aid programs that fully cover the required educational expenses of these students. The State Board may use some of these funds as short‑term loans to students who anticipate receiving the federal HOPE or Lifetime Learning Tax Credits.

(b)������ Targeted Assistance. � Notwithstanding subsection (a) of this section, the State Board may allocate no more than ten percent (10%) of the funds appropriated for Financial Assistance for Community College Students to:

(1)������ Students who do not qualify for need‑based assistance but who enroll in low‑enrollment programs that prepare students for high‑demand occupations, and

(2)������ Students with disabilities who have been referred by the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation and are enrolled in a community college.

(c)������ Administration of Program. � The State Board shall adopt rules and policies for the disbursement of the financial assistance provided in this section. Degree, diploma, and certificate students must complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to be eligible for financial assistance. The State Board may contract with the State Education Assistance Authority for administration of these financial assistance funds. These funds shall not revert at the end of each fiscal year but shall remain available until expended for need‑based financial assistance.

The State Board shall ensure that at least one counselor is available at each college to inform students about federal programs and funds available to assist community college students including, but not limited to, Pell Grants and HOPE and Lifetime Learning Tax Credits and to actively encourage students to utilize these federal programs and funds. (1999‑237, ss. 9.4(a), 9.4(b); 2001‑229, ss. 1, 2; 2003‑52, s. 1; 2003‑385, s. 1.)

 

§ 115D‑41.� Restrictions � Contracts with local school administrative units.

Community college contracts with local school administrative units shall not be used by these agencies to supplant funding for a public school high school teacher providing courses offered pursuant to G.S. 115D‑20(4) who is already employed by the local school administrative unit.� However, if a community college contracts with a local school administrative unit for a public high school teacher to teach a college level course, the community college shall not generate budget FTE for that course.� Its reimbursement in this case shall be limited to the direct instructional costs contained in the contract, plus fifteen percent (15%) for administrative costs.� In no event shall a community college contract with a local school administrative unit to provide high school level courses. (1991 (Reg. Sess., 1992), c. 900, s. 82(a).)

 

§ 115D‑42.� North Carolina Community Colleges Instructional Trust Fund.

(a)������ There is established the North Carolina Community Colleges Instructional Trust Fund. The purpose of this Trust Fund is to supplement the funds raised by community college foundations to enhance the academic missions of community colleges.

(b)������ The State Board of Community Colleges is authorized to allocate funds from the Instructional Trust Fund to the community colleges and to adopt rules to implement the provisions of this section.

(c)������ State funds from the Trust Fund and matching funds raised by foundations shall be used by the board of trustees of a community college only to enhance the academic mission of the college. State funds shall be used only for scholarships or financial aid for needy students.

Expenditures of the matching funds raised by foundations shall directly relate to education and shall be used only for:

(1)������ Resource center materials;

(2)������ Professional development of instructional faculty and staff in cases in which (i) professional development will improve the quality of performance provided by the employee and (ii) the employee makes a commitment to remain at the college for a prescribed period of time;

(3)������ Professional development of instructional faculty and staff in cases in which professional development is necessary to enhance the employee's ability to meet newly mandated instructional or performance requirements; and

(4)������ Other purposes authorized by the State Board of Community Colleges that are consistent with the college's mission.

(d)������ Every two dollars ($2.00) raised by the community college foundations for the Trust Fund during the 2003‑2004 fiscal year shall be matched with one dollar ($1.00) of State funds. The maximum matching contribution from the State shall not exceed twenty‑five thousand dollars ($25,000) for each of the 58 community colleges. These funds shall be reserved for each community college and held in escrow in the Trust Fund. A community college foundation may apply for matching funds after it raises twenty‑five thousand dollars ($25,000). The chairperson of each community college foundation shall certify to the North Carolina Community College System Office that (i) new funds have been raised by the community college foundation to match the amount of funds held in escrow in the Trust Fund, (ii) the amount raised by the community college foundation has not been used previously for matching purposes, (iii) the amount raised by the college shall be used only as provided in subsection (c) of this section, and (iv) matching State funds shall be used only for scholarships or financial aid for needy students.

(e)������ The State Board of Community Colleges may request an audit of the State funds expended under this section from any community college foundation. (2003‑284, s. 8.14(a).)

 

§§ 115D‑43 through 115D‑44.� Reserved for future codification purposes.