The UNC Policy Manual
1000.4.1
Adopted
05/24/18
I. Purpose. N.C. Gen. Stat. §
115B-2.2 (hereinafter G.S.), requires that the University of North Carolina
Board of Governors adopt a policy permitting any person who is at least 65
years old to audit courses offered without payment of any required registration
fee or tuition.
II. Eligibility Requirements
A.
A senior auditor is any person
who is:
1.
At least 65 years old as of
the start of the applicable term; and
2. A North Carolina resident, as
determined by the institution, may audit courses at any University of
North Carolina constituent institution.
B.
Senior auditors must be in
good standing with the institution of higher education[1] and must not have any
financial holds on any institutional accounts.
C.
The constituent
institutions may require senior auditors to provide documentation necessary to
prove eligibility, for example, proof of age and residence through a driver’s
license, state identification card, or other government-issued document.
While senior auditors must have domicile in North Carolina, they do not
need to be “residents for tuition purposes” as defined in G.S. 116-143.1(b),
and do not need to seek a determination through the Residency Determination
Service (RDS).
D.
A constituent institution
may prohibit a senior auditor from auditing courses if it determines that the auditor
poses a threat to the health and safety of the campus community. In
making such a determination, constituent institutions may make reasonable and
appropriate inquiries into the senior auditor’s criminal and school disciplinary
background. Such inquiries may include a criminal background check, with
the senior auditor’s consent.
III. Course Availability.
Senior auditors shall be allowed to audit courses only if there is space
available after regularly enrolled students are placed. Audit requests will be accepted according to
the institutional calendar of registration dates and will be processed after
the institution can confirm space will be available in the requested course.
Registration will be held until such time as space available can be
determined by the institution.
IV. Course Standards. Senior
auditors
must comply with all current constituent institution course audit policies. Senior auditors shall be held to the same performance standards set by
the institution and instructor for similarly classified students, including
meeting course prerequisites and other applicable course restrictions.
V. Types of Courses Covered and Exempted. Auditing of courses under this policy is
permitted only in lecture-based courses and not in courses that require
laboratories, studios, or performances. Auditing is not permitted in
online distance education courses, independent studies courses, internships,
special topics, or other special courses as outlined in institutional policies.
VI. Academic and Conduct Requirements. Senior auditors are expected to comply with
the institution’s academic and student conduct policies, rules
and regulations. Failure to adhere to these rules and regulations may
lead to dismissal from the audited course(s) or other sanctions, including
prohibition from campus.
VII. Fees. Constituent institutions may not charge senior auditors application or registration fees. Senior auditors will be required to pay for all associated course material fees and books. Several student-fee generated services, such as use of an institution’s student recreation center, could be limited or require an additional cost.
VIII. Funding. Senior auditors shall not be counted in the calculation of enrollment for funding purposes.
IX. North Carolina Immunization Requirements. Senior auditors will need to comply with the
immunization requirements required under G.S. 130A-155.1, as well as any
applicable institutional immunization policy requirements.
X. Other Matters
A. Effective Date. The requirements of this policy shall be effective on the date of its adoption by the Board of Governors.
B. Relation to Federal and State Laws. The foregoing policy as adopted by the Board of Governors 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 policy.
C. Regulations and Guidelines. This policy shall be implemented and applied in accordance with such regulations and guidelines as may be adopted from time to time by the president.
[1]This policy does not apply to courses offered at the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics or through the high school program at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts.