§ 115D-90 — License required; application for license; school bulletins; requirements for issuance of license; license restricted to courses indicated; supplementary applications

(a) No person shall operate, conduct or maintain or offer to operate in this State a proprietary school unless a license is first secured from the State Board of Community Colleges granted in accordance with the provisions of this Article and the rules adopted by the Board under the authority of G.S. 115D-89. The license, when issued, shall constitute the formal acceptance by the Board of the educational programs and facilities of each school approved.
(b) Application for a license shall be filed in the manner and upon the forms prescribed and furnished by the State Board of Proprietary Schools for that purpose. Such application shall be signed by the applicant and properly verified and shall contain such of the following information as may apply to the particular school for which a license is sought:
(1) The title or name of the school or classes, together with the name and address of the owners and of the controlling officers thereof.
(2) The general field of instruction.
(3) The place or places where such instruction will be given.
(4) A specific listing of the equipment available for instruction in each field.
(5) The qualifications of instructors and supervisors.
(6) Financial resources available to equip and to maintain the school or classes.
(7) Such additional information as the State Board, acting by and through the State Board of Proprietary Schools, may deem necessary to enable it to determine the adequacy of the program of instruction and matters pertaining thereto. Each application shall be accompanied by a copy of the current bulletin or catalog of the school which shall be in published form and certified by an authorized official of the school as being current, true, and correct in content and policy. The school bulletin shall contain the following information:
a. Identifying data, such as volume number and date of publication.
b. Names of the institution and its governing body, officials and faculty.
c. A calendar of the institution showing legal holidays, beginning and ending date of each quarter, term or semester, and other important dates.
d. Institution's policy and regulations relative to leave, absences, class cuts, make-up work, tardiness and interruptions for unsatisfactory attendance.
e. Institution's policy and regulations on enrollment with respect to enrollment dates and specific entrance requirements for each course.
f. Institution's policy and regulations relative to standards of progress required of the student by the institution. This policy will define the grading system of the institution; the minimum grades considered satisfactory; conditions for interruption for unsatisfactory grades or progress and description of the probationary period, if any, allowed by the institution; and conditions of reentrance for those students dismissed for unsatisfactory progress. A statement will be made regarding progress records kept by the institution and furnished the student.
g. Institution's policy and regulations relating to student conduct and conditions for dismissal for unsatisfactory conduct.
h. Detailed schedule for fees, charges for tuition, books, supplies, tools, student activities, laboratory fees, service charges, rentals, deposits, and all other charges.
i. (Effective until July 1, 2025) Policy and regulations of the institution relative to the refund of the unused portion of tuition, fees and other charges in the event the student does not enter the course or withdraws or is discontinued therefrom. The policy and regulations shall provide for, at a minimum, a full refund if a student withdraws before the first day of class or the school cancels the class and a seventy-five percent (75%) refund if the student withdraws within the first twenty-five percent (25%) of the period of enrollment for which the student was charged.
i. (Effective July 1, 2025) Policy and regulations of the institution relative to the refund of the unused portion of tuition, fees and other charges in the event the student does not enter the course or withdraws or is discontinued therefrom. For institutions receiving federal funds, the policy and regulations shall require the institution to comply with federal law requirements for refunds. For all other institutions, the policy and regulations shall provide for, at a minimum, the following provisions:
1. If any of the following occur prior to the first day of class, a student shall receive a one hundred percent (100%) refund, including nonrefundable fees already paid:
I. The student withdraws.
II. The student is caused to withdraw by the school.
III. The school cancels the class.
2. If the student withdraws or is caused to withdraw by the school on or before completing twenty-five percent (25%) of the period of enrollment for which the student was charged, the student shall receive a refund of seventy-five percent (75%), excluding any disclosed nonrefundable fees.
j. A description of the available space, facilities and equipment.
k. A course outline for each course for which approval is requested, showing:
1. Subjects or units in the course,
2. Type of skill to be learned, and
3. Approximate (i) time; (ii) clock hours, and (iii) credit hours or credit hours equivalent, as appropriate, to be spent on each subject or unit.
l. Policy and regulations of the institution relative to granting credit for previous educational training.
(c) After due investigation and consideration on the part of the State Board, acting by and through the State Board of Proprietary Schools, as provided herein, a license shall be granted to the applicant when it is shown to the satisfaction of the State Board that said applicant, school, programs of study or courses are found to have met the following criteria:
(1) The courses, curriculum and instruction are consistent in quality, content and length with similar courses in public schools and other private schools in the State, with recognized accepted standards.
(2) There is in the institution adequate space, equipment, instructional material and instructor personnel to provide training of good quality.
(3) Education and experience qualifications of director, administrators and instructors are adequate.
(4) The institution maintains a written record of the previous education and training of the student.
(5) A copy of the course outline, schedule of tuition, fees and other charges, regulations pertaining to absences, grading policy and rules of operation and conduct will be furnished the student upon enrollment.
(6) Upon completion of training, the student is given a certificate or diploma by the institution indicating the approved course or subjects and indicating that training was satisfactorily completed.
(7) Adequate records as prescribed by the State Board of Community Colleges, acting by and through the State Board of Proprietary Schools, are kept to show attendance and progress or grades and satisfactory standards relating to attendance, progress and conduct are enforced.
(8) The school complies with all local, city, county, municipal, State and federal regulations, such as fire codes, building and sanitation codes. The State Board of Community Colleges may require such evidence of compliance as is deemed necessary.
(9) The school is financially sound and capable of fulfilling its commitments for training.
(10) The school does not exceed its enrollment limitation as established by the State Board of Community Colleges.
(11) The school does not utilize advertising of any type which is erroneous or misleading, either by actual statement, omission or intimation.
(12) The school's administrators, directors, owners and instructors are of good reputation and character.
(13) Such additional criteria as may be deemed necessary by the State Board of Community Colleges.
(d) Any license issued shall be restricted to the programs of instruction or courses or subjects specifically indicated in the application for a license. The holder of a license shall present a supplementary application as may be directed by the State Board of Proprietary Schools for approval of additional programs of instruction, courses, or subjects, in which it is desired to offer instruction during the effective period of the license. (1955, c. 1372, art. 30, ss. 3, 4; 1957, c. 1000; 1961, c. 1175, s. 4; 1981, c. 423, s. 1; 1987, c. 442, ss. 1, 2; 1989 (Reg. Sess., 1990), c. 877, s. 4; 1991, c. 636, s. 11; 2011-21, ss. 4, 5; 2011-308, s. 4; 2024-57, s. 3J.18(b).)