UNC Policy Manual

1000.1.2.1[R]

Adopted 05/04/26

Regulation on Student Fees

1.                  Purpose. Section 1000.1.2 of the UNC Policy Manual, Policy on Student Fees, provides that fees will be charged only for limited, dedicated purposes and shall not be used to defray the costs of general academic and administrative operations of campuses, including academic programs and faculty and general administrative salaries and benefits. Revenues from General Fees are institutional resources, to be allocated at the discretion of the chancellor pursuant to applicable budget development processes. Personnel expenses for personnel who support the purpose of a fee are allowable. This regulation defines certain student fees, the General Fee, and the authorized uses of General Fee revenue.

2.                 Definition of General Fees. General Fees are fees generally applicable to all students and shall be established by the Board of Governors.  Six general fees are authorized: athletics, association of student governments, health services, student activities, educational and technology, and campus security.

3.               Authorized use of General Fee Revenue. Revenue from General Fees shall be used only in a manner as authorized herein. The chancellor is responsible for ensuring that General Fee revenues are expended in accordance with their intended purpose and the parameters of this regulation:

1.                Athletics: Provides funds to support intercollegiate athletic programs, including personnel expenses. No General Fee revenue shall be utilized to compensate student athletes as part of institutional revenue sharing or through any third-party collective or Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) payment(s); this prohibition does not apply to financial aid and scholarships, including Alston awards, provided to student athletes up to the full cost of attendance.

2.                Association of Student Governments: Provides funds for the University of North Carolina Association of Student Governments to fulfill its purposes under Section 700.3.1 of the UNC Policy Manual, Policy on the University of North Carolina Association of Student Governments.

3.                Health Services: Provides funds to support the provision of student health and wellness services, including but not limited to:

1.                   Outpatient medical care and preventive services;

2.                 Mental health services, including individual and group counseling, psychiatric services, and crisis intervention;

3.               Health promotion and wellness education programs (e.g., nutrition, sleep, stress management);

4.               Immunization clinics, disease prevention, and public health initiatives; and

5.                 Personnel expenses for qualified clinical and support personnel; and

6.               Support for health center operations, and compliance with public health mandates.

General Fees shall not be used to subsidize health services provided to individuals other than enrolled students, including any employee, faculty, staff, or student family members.

4.                Student Activities: Provides funds to support broad-based programs and services that promote student life, engagement, success, and well-being. Priority shall be given to the operations and programming of student centers and unions, fitness and wellness facilities, intramural and recreational programs, and performing and fine arts activities, including university bands and choirs. Personnel expenses for personnel hired to support student activities are allowable.

1.                   No more than five percent of annual student activities fee revenue may be collectively allocated to student-run organizations without written justification and approval by the chancellor or their designee. In no case shall such allocations exceed the higher of 10 percent of the annual student activities fee revenue or the dollar amount expended by student-run organizations in FY 2026. Student-run organizations are recognized organizations that are initiated, governed, and primarily operated by currently enrolled students, in which students exercise primary control over governance, programming, and operations, subject to applicable University policy and oversight requirements. Student governments and student governance bodies are included in this definition. University governed and operated programs, such as university bands, student union programming, and other staff-directed programs, are excluded.  Allocations by the constituent institution to student-run organizations shall be made using content and viewpoint-neutral criteria and shall not be based on the ideological, political, religious, or philosophical beliefs of the organization or its members, in accordance with First Amendment protections and applicable case law. Any student-run organization allocated student activities fee revenue must be officially recognized by the constituent institution. All recognized student-run organizations, regardless of receipt of fee revenues, shall have an advisor who is either employed by or receiving a graduate student assistantship from the constituent institution. Student-run organizations receiving fee allocations must adhere to university financial policies, including the use of university-managed accounts, documented expenditures, and compliance with all applicable purchasing and audit requirements. While student-run organizations can maintain their own bank accounts, any student activities fee revenues received by the student-run organization must remain in a university-owned bank account until expended on goods or services or disbursed to the student-run organization on a reimbursement basis.  The president or designee may waive this requirement if he or she determines an institution with alternative procedures has adequate internal controls.

ii.  Prohibited uses: Student activities fee revenue shall not be used to fund activities, programs, or services that are not generally accessible to the entire student body. Specifically, expenditures are prohibited for the following:

1.                 Charitable Donations: No direct contributions may be made from student activities fees for charities, not-for-profit organizations, or local governments and their units. Nothing in the foregoing shall prohibit a student association or student-run organizations from engaging in fund raising activities to benefit these entities.

2.                Student Scholarships or Financial Aid: Student activities fee revenue may not be used to fund scholarships, grants, or any form of direct financial assistance to individual students. Stipends for student-run organization officers or students representing the constituent institution in an official capacity are allowable if approved as reasonable by the chancellor or their designee. Personnel expenses for student personnel hired to support student activities allowable.

3.                 Legal Services: Student activities fee revenue may not be used to provide or subsidize legal advice, counsel, or representation to individual students where the representation, advice, or counsel is or could reasonably be considered to be adverse to the State of North Carolina, the University of North Carolina or any University of North Carolina affiliated or associated entity, any local, state, or federal governmental entity, or another University of North Carolina student, including a student from a different constituent institution. Legal services may not be provided to any non-students, including family members of students. Examples of appropriate legal matter may include private landlord/tenant matters, student-run organization advising, traffic citations, wills and estates, and notary services. Notwithstanding the aforementioned prohibition on representing or advising students on matters that are adverse to the State of North Carolina, legal services and advice may be provided for minor criminal defense representation and advice, provided the representation is limited to criminal record expungements and charges that are classified as a Class 3 misdemeanor or below.

5.                 Educational and Technology: Provides funds for the provision of specialized instructional supplies and services for scientific, academic, and training equipment, data processing equipment, network infrastructure, and computer labs, academic labs, simulation labs, general classroom technology, networking, cybersecurity, enterprise software and licensing, library information systems, specialized scientific software packages, and other resources that are generally available to students. Personnel expenses for personnel hired to provide information technology services and support are allowable. Fees may not support general capital construction or renovation projects, except where directly tied to the installation or improvement of instructional technology infrastructure or equipment.

6.                 Campus Security: Provides funds to offset the cost of campus safety and security-related needs, including the following:

1.                   Personnel expenses for campus public safety departments;

2.                 Highly qualified and trained investigators and hearing officers for reports of serious offenses, such as sexual violence;

3.               Title IX and Clery Act compliance coordination;

4.               Substance abuse counseling services, or other counseling services that can address issues associated with interpersonal violence;

5.                 Suicide counseling, prevention, intervention, and crisis response; and

6.               Safety and security resources, training, coordination, and audit functions.

4.              Other Matters.

1.                Effective Date. The requirements of this regulation shall be effective beginning the fall 2026 academic year. 

2.                Relation to State Laws. The foregoing regulation as adopted by the president is meant to supplement, and does not purport to supplant or modify, those statutory enactments which may govern or relate to the subject matter of this regulation.