The information in this section comes from three sources: (1) North Carolina General Statutes Section 115B-1 et seq., (2) University of North Carolina Administrative Memorandum No. 377 dated November 17, 1997, and (3) University of North Carolina Administrative Memorandum No. 385 dated August 6, 1998

Certain family members of emergency workers killed or permanently disabled in the line of duty may become eligible for tuition-free enrollment.

The statute sets out the following requirements that must be met before the waiver can be obtained:

1. the deceased or disabled emergency worker (firefighter, volunteer firefighter, law enforcement officer, or rescue squad member) must have been a North Carolina legal resident (domiciliary), in active service or training for active service at the time of death or disability occurring in the line of duty;
2. the emergency worker's death or disability must have occurred on or after October 1, 1997;
3. the emergency worker must have been employed by the State of North Carolina or any of its departments, agencies, or institutions, OR a county, city, town or other political subdivision of the State of North Carolina;
4. the applicant for the tuition waiver must be either a child or unremarried widow or widower of a deceased emergency worker killed in the line of duty, OR a spouse or a child (at least age 17, but not yet 23) of an emergency worker who became permanently and totally disabled as a result of a traumatic injury sustained in the line of duty as an emergency worker;
5. the applicant must qualify academically for admission to UNC-Pembroke, must meet all the requirements of the statute and implementing University regulations, and there must be space available in the course(s) for which he or she intends to register; and
6. the completed application, with all supporting documents, must be submitted to the Classification Officer no later than the first day of class of the term for which the waiver is sought. If the applicant is under 18 years of age, a parent must also sign.

The following documents are required as proof of eligibility for this tuition waiver:

1. To prove permanent and total disability of an emergency worker: Documentation of the permanent and total disability from the N.C. Industrial Commission
2. To prove cause of death of an emergency worker: Certification of the cause of death from The Department of State Treasurer; or The appropriate city or county law enforcement agency that employed the deceased;
   
   or
   
   The administrative agency for the fire department or fire protection district funded under the Department of State Auditor;
   
   or
   
   The administrative agency having jurisdiction over any paid firefighters of all counties and cities.
3. To prove the parent/child relationship: applicant's birth certificate or legal adoption papers
4. To prove the marital relationship: applicant's marriage certificate

Copies of the applicable law and implementing University regulations are on reserve in the Sampson Livermore Library. Applications can be acquired at the proper admissions office.

Appeals of Eligibility Determinations of Classification Officer must be in writing and signed by the applicant and must be filed by the applicant with that officer within fifteen working days after the applicant receives notice of the eligibility determination. The appeal is submitted to the Residence Status Committee by that officer, who does not vote in that

committee on the disposition of such appeal. The applicant is notified of the date set for consideration of the appeal, and, on request by the applicant, is afforded an opportunity to appear and be heard by the committee.

Any applicant desiring to appeal a determination of the Residence Status Committee must give written notice of that fact to the chairman of the Residence Status Committee within ten days of receipt of the committee's decision. The chairman will promptly process the appeal for transmittal to the State Residence Committee.