Chapter 115D

The purposes of this Chapter are to provide for the establishment, organization, and administration of a system of educational institutions throughout the State offering courses of instruction in one or more of the general areas of two-year college parallel, technical, vocational…

State Board actions affecting a local board of trustees or a person elected as a president or chief administrative officer of an institution under any of the following statutes are not subject to judicial review: (1) G.S. 115D-6. (2) G.S. 115D-6.5. (3) G.S. 115D-19. (2023-134, s.…

(a) The State Board of Community Colleges may approve the addition of the college transfer program to a community college. If addition of the college transfer program to an institution would require a substantial increase in funds, State Board approval shall be subject to appropr…

Community colleges shall assist in the preemployment and in-service training of employees in industry, business, agriculture, health occupation, and governmental agencies. Such training shall include instruction on worker safety and health standards and practices applicable to th…

(a) There is created within the North Carolina Community College System the Customized Training Program. The Customized Training Program shall offer programs and training services to assist new and existing business and industry to remain productive, profitable, and within the St…

(a) Program Established. - There is established the North Carolina Community College Short-Term Workforce Development Grant Program (Program) to be administered by the State Board of Community Colleges. The State Board shall adopt rules for the disbursement of the grants pursuant…

(a) The State Board of Community Colleges shall establish a community college training program for up to 15 community colleges. The program shall provide opportunities for micro-credentials or other credentials that lead to increased employment outcomes for individuals with intel…

(a) The General Assembly urges all community colleges serving the coastal area of the State to offer classes on commercial fishing and aquaculture. (b) The North Carolina Community Colleges System Office shall provide technical assistance to these colleges on offering such classe…

(a) Approval. - No course of instruction shall be offered by any community college at State expense or partial State expense to any captive or co-opted group of students, as defined by the State Board of Community Colleges, without prior approval of the State Board. All course of…

The North Carolina Community College System may offer courses, in accordance with Article 17D of Subchapter V of Chapter 115C of the General Statutes, to individuals who choose to enter the teaching profession through residency licensure. (2025-56, s. 1(a).)

The State Board of Community Colleges shall develop curriculum and continuing education standards for courses of instruction in American Sign Language and shall encourage community colleges to offer courses in American Sign Language as a modern foreign language. (2025-56, s. 1(a)…

The State Board of Community Colleges may establish, retain, and budget fees charged to students taking an adult high school equivalency diploma test, including fees for retesting. Fees collected for this purpose shall be used only to (i) offset the costs of the test, including t…

(a) New Programs and Terminations of Programs. - A community college may not offer a new program without the approval of the State Board of Community Colleges except that approval shall not be required if the tuition for the program will fully cover the cost of the program. If at…

(a) There is created a Motorcycle Safety Instruction Program for the purpose of establishing statewide motorcycle safety instruction to be delivered through the Community Colleges System Office. The Program may be administered by a motorcycle safety coordinator who shall be respo…

(a) For purposes of this section, the term "accreditation" shall include certification or any other similar approval process. (b) The State Board of Community Colleges shall adopt a policy that prohibits any community college from soliciting or using information regarding the acc…

(a) The State Board of Community Colleges shall adopt the following rules to assist community colleges in their administration of procedures necessary to implement G.S. 20-11 and G.S. 20-13.2: (1) To establish the procedures a person who is or was enrolled in a community college …

The State Board of Community Colleges shall direct each community college to adopt a policy that authorizes a minimum of two excused absences each academic year for religious observances required by the faith of a student. The policy may require that the student provide written n…

The State Board of Community Colleges shall adopt a policy to be applied uniformly throughout the Community College System to provide that any student enrolled in a community college who is a National Guard service member placed onto State active duty status during an academic te…

(a) Definitions. - The following definitions apply in this section: (1) Dependent. - As defined in section 152 of the federal Internal Revenue Code of 1986. (2) Education records. - As defined in 34 C.F.R. § 99.3. (3) FERPA. - Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, 20 U.S.C. …

The term "apprentice" means a person at least 16 years of age who is covered by a written apprenticeship agreement approved for the Apprenticeship Council by the Director. The apprenticeship agreement shall provide for a term of apprenticeship measured by a time-based, competency…

Every apprentice agreement entered into under this Article shall contain: (1) The names of the contracting parties. (2) The date of birth of the apprentice. (3) A statement of the trade, craft, or business which the apprentice is to be taught, and the time at which the apprentice…

No apprentice agreement under this Article shall be effective until approved by the Director. Every apprentice agreement shall be signed by the employer, or by an association of employers or an organization of employees as provided in G.S. 115D-11.13, and by the apprentice, and i…

For the purpose of providing greater diversity of training or continuity of employment, any apprentice agreement made under this Article may in the discretion of the Director of ApprenticeshipNC be signed by an association of employers or an organization of employees instead of b…

Nothing in this Article or in any apprentice agreement approved under this Article shall invalidate any apprenticeship provision in any collective agreement between employers and employees that sets up higher apprenticeship standards. None of the terms or provisions of this Artic…

The purposes of this Article are to open to young people the opportunity to obtain training that will equip them for profitable employment and citizenship; to set up, as a means to this end, a program of voluntary apprenticeship under approved apprentice agreements providing faci…

The State Board of Community Colleges shall appoint an Apprenticeship Council composed of four representatives each from employer and employee organizations respectively and three representatives from the public at large. One State official designated by the Department of Public …

The State Board of Community Colleges is hereby directed to appoint a Director of ApprenticeshipNC, which appointment shall be subject to the confirmation of the State Apprenticeship Council by a majority vote. Upon the recommendation of the Director, the State Board of Community…

The Director, under the supervision of the President of the North Carolina Community College System or the President's designee and with the advice and guidance of the Apprenticeship Council, is authorized to administer the provisions of this Article; in cooperation with the Appr…

(a) As used in this Article: (1) "Apprenticeship agreement" means a written agreement between an apprentice and either his or her employer or an apprenticeship committee or sponsor acting as agent for employers, which agreement satisfies the requirements of G.S. 115D-11.11. (2) "…

(a) Each community college established or operated pursuant to this Chapter shall be governed by a board of trustees composed as follows: (1) Eight trustees appointed by the General Assembly under G.S. 120-121. The General Assembly shall appoint two members annually. One member s…

(a) The regular terms of trustees appointed in 1981 and trustees appointed in 1987 shall be extended for one year. The term of one or more trustees, as appropriate, elected pursuant to G.S. 115D-12 may be extended for one year so that these terms will be staggered, unless they ar…

The board of trustees of each institution shall be a body corporate with powers to enable it to acquire, hold, and transfer real and personal property, to enter into contracts, to institute and defend legal actions and suits, and to exercise such other rights and privileges as ma…

(a) The board of trustees of any institution organized under this Chapter may, with the prior approval of the North Carolina Community Colleges System Office, convey a right-of-way or easement for highway construction or for utility installations or modifications. When in the opi…

(a) Disposition. - Notwithstanding the provisions of G.S. 115D-14, 115D-15, and 160A-274, the board of trustees of a community college may, in connection with additions, improvements, renovations, or repairs to all or part of its property, lease, sell, or otherwise dispose of any…

The office of trustee of any institution established or operated pursuant to this Chapter is hereby declared to be an office which may be held by the holder of any elective office, as defined in G.S. 128-1.1(d), in addition to and concurrently with those offices permitted by G.S.…

Trustees shall receive no compensation for their services but shall receive reimbursement, according to regulations adopted by the State Board of Community Colleges, for cost of travel, meals, and lodging while performing their official duties. The reimbursement of the trustees f…

At the first meeting held on or after July 1, each board of trustees shall elect from its membership a chair, who shall preside at all board meetings, and a vice-chair, who shall preside in the absence of the chair. The trustees shall also elect a secretary, who may be a trustee,…

(a) Should the State Board of Community Colleges have sufficient evidence that any member of the board of trustees of an institution is not capable of discharging, or is not discharging, the duties of his office as required by law or lawful regulation, or is guilty of immoral or …

As used in this Chapter: (1) The "administrative area" of an institution comprises the county or counties directly responsible for the local financial support and local administration of such institution as provided in this Chapter. (2) The term "community college" is defined as …

(a) The State Board of Community Colleges is established. (b) The State Board of Community Colleges shall consist of 22 members, as follows: (1) The Lieutenant Governor or the Lieutenant Governor's designee shall be a member ex officio. (2) The Treasurer of North Carolina or the …

The trustees of each institution shall constitute the local administrative board of such institution, with such powers and duties as are provided in this Chapter and as are delegated to it by the State Board of Community Colleges. The powers and duties of trustees shall include t…

(a) As used in this section: (1) "Tobacco product" includes cigarettes, cigars, blunts, bidis, pipes, chewing tobacco, snus, snuff, and any other items containing or reasonably resembling tobacco or tobacco products. (2) "Tobacco use" includes smoking, chewing, dipping, or any ot…

(a) No community college that grants recognition to any student organization shall deny recognition to a student organization or deny to a student organization access to programs, funding, facilities, or other privileges associated with official recognition otherwise available to…

(a) All of the provisions of Chapter 20 of the General Statutes relating to the use of highways of the State of North Carolina and the operation of motor vehicles thereon shall apply to the streets, roads, alleys and driveways on the campuses of all institutions in the North Caro…

(a) The board of trustees of any community college may establish a campus law enforcement agency and employ campus police officers. These officers shall meet the requirements of Article 1 of Chapter 17C of the General Statutes, shall take the oath of office prescribed by Article …

Community colleges may teach curriculum courses at any time during the year, including the summer term. Student membership hours from these courses shall be counted when computing full-time equivalent students (FTE) for use in budget funding formulas at the State level. (2025-56,…

(a) Definitions. - The following definitions apply in this section: (1) Accreditation cycle. - The period of time during which a community college is accredited. (2) Accrediting agency. - An agency or association that accredits institutions of higher education. (2a) Institutional…

Solely for the purpose of applying the provisions of Chapter 135 of the General Statutes of North Carolina, "Retirement System for Teachers and State Employees, Social Security," the institutions of this Chapter are included within the definition of the term "public school," and …

The provisions of Chapter 97 of the General Statutes of North Carolina, the Workers' Compensation Act, shall apply to all institutional employees. The State Board of Community Colleges shall make the necessary arrangements to carry out those provisions of Chapter 97 which are app…

The board of trustees of any institution, by obtaining liability insurance as provided in G.S. 115D-53, is authorized to waive its governmental immunity from liability for the death or injury of person or for property damage caused by the negligence or tort of any agent or employ…