S680 Summary

• UNC constituent institutions cannot receive accreditation from the same accrediting agency for consecutive accreditation cycles, unless they cannot obtain candidacy status from a different regional accrediting agency within three years before their current accreditation expires.

• Community colleges are subject to the same accreditation rotation requirement as UNC institutions, with identical exceptions for failure to obtain candidacy status from alternative regional accrediting agencies.

• Constituent institutions and community colleges may bring civil lawsuits against persons making false statements to accrediting agencies if the statement would indicate non-compliance, was made with knowledge of falsity or reckless disregard, triggered an agency review, and caused costs; prevailing institutions recover review costs, attorney fees, and court costs.

• Professional, graduate, departmental, and certificate programs (including law, pharmacy, and engineering) are exempt from the accreditation rotation requirements.

• Board of Governors must establish a Commission to study alternatives to current higher education accreditation processes and report findings to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee by September 1, 2024.