NC H129

Creates the High Achieving Tuition Scholarship Program to provide scholarships to high-performing high school graduates attending North Carolina community colleges, beginning with the 2016-2017 school year.

Eligibility requires a minimum 3.5 unweighted GPA from a North Carolina high school, U.S. citizenship or eligible noncitizen status, state residency for tuition purposes, and no felony drug convictions.

Scholarships cover up to 16 credit hours per semester for a maximum of four semesters, with renewal requiring a 3.0 GPA and completion of at least 30 semester credit hours annually; scholarships are revoked if students drop below 12 credit hours or default on financial aid.

Appropriates $50,000 for fiscal year 2015-2016 and $2,000,000 for fiscal year 2016-2017, with up to 5% allowable for administrative costs and unexpended funds remaining available for future scholarship awards.

Requires the University of North Carolina to permit recipients to defer admission for two years while completing an associate degree, and mandates reports on program implementation and survey results regarding student interest in the scholarship program.