A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to provide that the board of governors of the university of north carolina may, in its discretion, fix a discounted tuition rate for nonresident students who enroll at the university of north carolina at pembroke.
Whereas, the University of North Carolina at Pembroke has worked diligently to establish itself as a university of choice; and
Whereas, the University of North Carolina at Pembroke offers a college experience unlike that of any other constituent university, with an extraordinarily high rate of diversity—both racial and otherwise—and an entirely unique history as a Native American‑serving institution; and
Whereas, the University of North Carolina at Pembroke has redefined its brand over the last five years, serves a distinct region, appeals to a particular audience, and offers courses of study that are specific to this area; and
Whereas, truly, the University of North Carolina at Pembroke cannot be compared with or considered alongside any other institution—either in the State of North Carolina or beyond; Now, therefore,
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  G.S. 116‑144 reads as rewritten:
"§ 116‑144.  Higher tuition to be charged nonresidents; discounted tuition for certain nonresidents.
(a)	The Board of Governors shall fix the tuition and required fees charged nonresidents of North Carolina who attend the institutions enumerated in G.S. 116‑4 at rates higher than the rates charged residents of North Carolina and comparable to the rates charged nonresident students by comparable public institutions nationwide, except as provided otherwise by this section.
(b)	A person who serves as a graduate teaching assistant or graduate research assistant or in a similar instructional or research assignment and is at the same time enrolled as a graduate student in the same institution may, in the discretion of the Board of Governors, be charged a lower rate fixed by the Board, provided the rate is not lower than the North Carolina resident rate.
(c)	The Board of Governors may, in its discretion, fix a lower tuition rate for a person who is a nonresident of North Carolina who enrolls as an undergraduate at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke, provided the rate is not lower than the North Carolina resident rate, and the person satisfies all of the following criteria:
(1)	The person resides in a county that is adjacent to the border of North Carolina.
(2)	The person resides within a certain distance of the University of North Carolina at Pembroke, as determined by the Board of Governors."
SECTION 2.  This act is effective when it becomes law and applies to a person enrolling in the 2015‑2016 Fall academic semester and any subsequent academic semester.