(RALEIGH) -- The North Carolina Community College Board unanimously voted Friday morning to bar students who pose a significant health or safety risk. Board member Stuart Fountain said schools need to balance the existing open-door policy with maintaining campus safety.

Local colleges will determine the specifics of exactly what should warrant a denial of admission. The board's decision comes nearly two weeks following the deadly shooting in Arizona involving Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. However, state community college officials point out that the new policy had already been in the works for nearly a year.