RALEIGH, N.C.  _ North Carolina's community college system voted Friday to admit undocumented immigrants at its campuses next year, a move unlikely to bring an immediate surge in undocumented students given a requirement that they pay higher tuition.

The State Board of Community Colleges approved the rules, which according to proponents will provide clarity after four previous policy changes on the topic since 2001.

A no-admission policy, with some rare exceptions, has been in place since May 2008, but Friday's vote will open more opportunities for Latino residents to succeed, an advocate said.

``We are thrilled with the decision,'' said Marco Zarate, president of the North Carolina Society of Hispanic Professionals. ``We believe that education is something that is probably one of the few things that once you have it, nobody can take it away from you.''

The changes are designed to focus on children who entered the country illegally with their parents and didn't make the decision to come to America, said Stuart Fountain, chairman of the policy committee that recommended the policy change to the full board.

``These children cannot be held in limbo while the federal government decides what to do with immigration,'' Fountain said. ``While in high school they have adopted American culture and they've learned to speak English.''