AN ACT to require at least three credit hours of instruction in american history or american government in order to graduate from a constituent institution of the university of north carolina with a baccalaureate degree or a community college with an associate degree.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

part i. title

SECTION 1.  This act shall be known and may be cited as the North Carolina Reclaiming College Education on America's Constitutional Heritage Act or the NC REACH Act.

part ii. require three credit hours of instruction in american history or american government at constituent institutions of the university of north carolina

SECTION 2.(a)  G.S. 116‑11 is amended by adding a new subdivision to read:

(15)    The Board of Governors shall adopt a policy requiring each constituent institution of The University of North Carolina to require at least three credit hours of instruction in American history or American government, in accordance with G.S. 116‑11.5, in order to graduate from the institution with a baccalaureate degree.

SECTION 2.(b)  Article 1 of Chapter 116 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:

§ 116‑11.5.  American history or American government instruction required for graduation with a baccalaureate degree.

(a)        Each constituent institution of The University of North Carolina that offers a baccalaureate degree shall require as a condition of graduation with a baccalaureate degree that all students complete at least three credit hours of instruction in American history or American government that provides a comprehensive overview of the major events and turning points of American history and government. A course required pursuant to this section shall meet the following criteria:

(1)        Require each student to read at least the following documents in their entirety:

a.         The Constitution of the United States of America.

b.         The Declaration of Independence.

c.         The Emancipation Proclamation.

d.         At least five essays from the Federalist Papers, as determined by the instructor.

e.         Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s letter from Birmingham Jail.

f.          The Gettysburg Address.

(2)        Include a cumulative final exam on the principles in the documents listed in subdivision (1) of this subsection. The final exam shall meet the following criteria:

a.         Comprise at least twenty percent (20%) of the student's total course grade.

b.         Focus substantially on the provisions and principles of the documents listed in subdivision (1) of this subsection, the perspectives of the authors of the documents, and the relevant historic contexts at the time the documents were written.

(b)        The chancellor of each constituent institution, or his or her designee, may exempt a student from the requirements of this section if the student has successfully completed at least three credit hours of instruction, or their equivalent, in a postsecondary‑level course provided outside the constituent institution that satisfies the requirements of this section, including an Advanced Placement course with a passing score on an Advanced Placement exam, an International Baccalaureate course, and a dual enrollment course.

(c)        The Board of Governors and the board of trustees of each constituent institution shall ensure that the requirements of this section are incorporated into the degree requirements of all baccalaureate programs and do not do any of the following:

(1)        Add to the total number of credit hours required for a degree.

(2)        Conflict with the accreditation process for any constituent institution.

(d)       The Board of Governors shall ensure that each constituent institution complies with the requirements of this section. No later than November 15, 2024, and annually thereafter, the Board shall report to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee on compliance with this section by each constituent institution. The report shall include, at a minimum, a copy of the syllabus for each course that is offered to comply with this section.

(e)        The Board of Governors, in its discretion, may remove the chancellor of a constituent institution for willful neglect or failure to comply with this section over more than one academic year.

part iii. require three credit hours of instruction in american history or american government at north carolina community colleges

SECTION 3.(a)  G.S. 115D‑5 is amended by adding a new subsection to read:

(z)      The State Board of Community Colleges shall adopt a policy requiring each community college to require at least three credit hours of instruction in American history or American government, in accordance with G.S. 115D‑10, in order to graduate from the community college with an associate degree.

SECTION 3.(b)  Article 1 of Chapter 115D of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:

§ 115D‑10.  American history or American government instruction required for graduation with an associate degree.

(a)        Each community college shall require as a condition of graduation with an associate degree that all students complete at least three credit hours of instruction in American history or American government that provides a comprehensive overview of the major events and turning points of American history and government. A course required pursuant to this section shall meet the following criteria:

(1)        Require each student to read at least the following documents in their entirety:

a.         The Constitution of the United States of America.

b.         The Declaration of Independence.

c.         The Emancipation Proclamation.

d.         At least five essays from the Federalist Papers, as determined by the instructor.

e.         Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s letter from Birmingham Jail.

f.          The Gettysburg Address.

(2)        Include a cumulative final exam on the principles in the documents listed in subdivision (1) of this subsection. The final exam shall meet the following criteria:

a.         Comprise at least twenty percent (20%) of the student's total course grade.

b.         Focus substantially on the provisions and principles of the documents listed in subdivision (1) of this subsection, the perspectives of the authors of the documents, and the relevant historic contexts at the time the documents were written.

(b)        The president of each institution, or his or her designee, may exempt a student from the requirements of this section if the student has successfully completed at least three credit hours of instruction, or their equivalent, in a postsecondary‑level course provided outside the constituent institution that satisfies the requirements of this section, including an Advanced Placement course with a passing score on an Advanced Placement exam, an International Baccalaureate course, and a dual enrollment course.

(c)        The State Board of Community Colleges and the board of trustees of each institution shall ensure that the requirements of this section are incorporated into the degree requirements of all associate degree programs and do not do either of the following:

(1)        Add to the total number of credit hours required for a degree.

(2)        Conflict with the accreditation process for any institution.

(d)       The State Board of Community Colleges shall ensure that each community college complies with the requirements of this section. No later than November 15, 2024, and annually thereafter, the Board shall report to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee on compliance with this section by each community college. The report shall include, at a minimum, a copy of the syllabus for each course that is offered to comply with this section.

(e)        The State Board of Community Colleges, in its discretion, may remove the chancellor of a constituent institution for failure to comply with this section over more than one academic year.

part iv. effective date

SECTION 4.  This act is effective when it becomes law and applies beginning in the 2024‑2025 academic year to students accepted for initial enrollment in a baccalaureate program at a constituent institution or initial enrollment in an associate degree program at a community college.