{"data":{"id":"us-nc/n.c.-gen.-stat.-115d-21.2","jurisdiction":"us-nc","citation":"N.C. Gen. Stat. § 115D-21.2","heading":"Accreditation.","body":"(a)\tDefinitions. - The following definitions apply in this section:\n(1)\tAccreditation cycle. - The period of time during which a community college is accredited.\n(2)\tAccrediting agency. - An agency or association that accredits institutions of higher education.\n(2a)\tInstitutional accrediting agency. - An accrediting agency that is recognized as an institutional accrediting agency by the United States Department of Education pursuant to 20 U.S.C. § 1099b.\n(3)\tPreferred accrediting agency. - An accrediting agency that meets all of the following criteria:\na.\tIs an institutional accrediting agency.\nb.\tIs one of the following accrediting agencies:\n1.\tCommission for Public Higher Education.\n2.\tHigher Learning Commission.\n3.\tMiddle States Commission on Higher Education.\n4.\tNew England Commission on Higher Education.\n5.\tNorthwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.\n6.\tSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.\n7.\tWestern Association of Schools and Colleges Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges.\n(b)\tRepealed by Session Laws 2025-92, s. 2.11(b), effective September 30, 2025.\n(b1)\tApproved Accreditation Required. - A community college shall maintain accreditation from a preferred accrediting agency. A community college may also receive accreditation from an accrediting agency that is not a preferred accrediting agency as long as the community college continues to maintain its accreditation from a preferred accrediting agency.\n(c)\tRepealed by Session Laws 2025-92, s. 2.11(b), effective September 30, 2025.\n(d)\tCertain Programs Exempt. - The requirements of this section do not apply to professional, departmental, or certificate programs at community colleges that have specific accreditation requirements or best practices, as identified by the State Board of Community Colleges.\n(e)\tCause of Action. - A community college may bring a civil action, as follows:\n(1)\tAgainst any person who makes a false statement to the accrediting agency of the community college, if all of the following criteria are met:\na.\tThe statement, if true, would mean the community college is out of compliance with its accreditation standards.\nb.\tThe person made the statement with knowledge that the statement was false or with reckless disregard as to whether it was false.\nc.\tThe accrediting agency conducted a review of the community college as a proximate result of the statement.\nd.\tThe review caused the community college to incur costs.\n(2)\tA community college that prevails on a cause of action initiated pursuant to this subsection shall be entitled to the following:\na.\tCosts related to the review conducted by the accrediting agency, including for the following:\n1.\tAdditional hours worked by community college personnel.\n2.\tContracted services, including outside legal counsel.\n3.\tTravel, lodging, and food expenses.\n4.\tFees required by the agency.\nb.\tReasonable attorneys' fees.\nc.\tCourt costs. (2025-56, s. 1(c); 2025-92, s. 2.11(b).)","path":["Chapter 115D. Community Colleges.","Article 2. Local Administration."],"source_url":"https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/BySection/Chapter_115D/GS_115D-21.2.html","current_through":"S.L. 2026-30","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-08-27T18:17:47Z","sha256":"79f6c051fcfe8b51c1124e73d5fcafe37d958c5c6ef84feaf262d8e89f7950da","source_id":"us-nc","stale":false,"prev":"us-nc/n.c.-gen.-stat.-115d-21.1","next":"us-nc/n.c.-gen.-stat.-115d-21.5"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}