Senate Bill 891 Summary

• Establishes a Completion Assistance Program at eight UNC constituent institutions (Elizabeth City State University, Fayetteville State University, NC A&T, NC Central University, UNC Asheville, UNC Greensboro, UNC Pembroke, and Winston-Salem State University) providing up to $5,000 per academic year to eligible students who need financial assistance to graduate on time, with $8.5 million in recurring funding appropriated for 2024-2025.

• Appropriates $15.1 million in nonrecurring funds for 2024-2025 for infrastructure improvements at Winston-Salem State University ($15.1 million), Fayetteville State University ($9 million), Elizabeth City State University ($7.44 million), NC A&T ($5.35 million), and NC Central University ($4 million).

• Expands the Cheatham-White Scholarship program to include Winston-Salem State University alongside NC A&T and NC Central University, allowing up to 50 merit-based scholarships per institution annually, with $8 million in recurring funds appropriated for 2024-2025.

• Appropriates $66 million in nonrecurring funds for Elizabeth City State University to expand its aviation science program and $10 million total to five independent historically black colleges and universities (Bennett College, Johnson C. Smith University, Livingstone College, Shaw University, and St. Augustine's University) for facility repairs and renovations.

• Appropriates $5 million in recurring funds for need-based scholarships for students attending private institutions of higher education through the State Education Assistance Authority for 2024-2025.