Regents (Board Of), Administration

Rule R765-604

New Century Scholarship

Notice of Proposed Rule

(Amendment)

DAR File No.: 33461
Filed: 03/15/2010 02:09:57 PM

RULE ANALYSIS

Purpose of the rule or reason for the change:

This rule needs amending to meet legislated adjustments to qualifying standards for the New Century Scholarship, including a reduction in the limit from $7,500 to $5,000.

Summary of the rule or change:

The following changes are made by this amendment: 1) requirement of a 3.0 grade point average or completion of a rigorous math and science curriculum approved by the State Board of Regents with a 3.0 GPA; 2) application deadline of January 8; and 3) full-time enrollment required.

State statutory or constitutional authorization for this rule:

• Section 53B-8-105

Anticipated cost or savings to:

the state budget:

This amendment does not affect the state budget but rather state budget constraints require this amendment.

local governments:

This rule does not affect any local government and therefore has no cost or savings associated with local governments.

small businesses:

This rule does not affect any business and thus there are no costs or savings associated with any business.

persons other than small businesses, businesses, or local governmental entities:

This rule amendment affects the the potential number of applicants that could qualify for the New Century Scholarship. There is a $2,500 reduction in the maximum dollar amount an individual could receive but this rule does not impose costs on anyone.

Compliance costs for affected persons:

There are no compliance costs for individuals as this is a scholarship program that is earned through completion of high school graduation requirements under the qualifying criteria for the scholarship.

Comments by the department head on the fiscal impact the rule may have on businesses:

There are no fiscal impacts on businesses.

William Sederburg, Commissioner

The full text of this rule may be inspected, during regular business hours, at the Division of Administrative Rules, or at:

Regents (Board Of)
Administration
60 SOUTH 400 WEST
SALT LAKE CITY, UT 84101-1284

Direct questions regarding this rule to:

• Ronell Crossley at the above address, by phone at 801-321-7291, by FAX at 801-321-7299, or by Internet E-mail at rcrossley@utahsbr.edu

Interested persons may present their views on this rule by submitting written comments to the address above no later than 5:00 p.m. on:

05/03/2010

This rule may become effective on:

05/10/2010

Authorized by:

William Sederburg, Commissioner

R765. Regents (Board of), Administration.

R765-604. New Century Scholarship.

R765-604-1. Purpose.

To provide policy and procedures for the administration of the New Century Scholarship which will be awarded to high school graduates who [have accelerated their education process and have completed]either complete the requirements for an associate degree with at least a 3.0 grade point average prior to September 1 of the same year they would normally graduate with their high school class[.], or who complete a rigorous math and science curriculum approved by the State Board of Regents with a 3.0 grade point average.

 

R765-604-3. Definitions.

3.1. "Program" - New Century Scholarship program .

3.2. "Awards" - New Century Scholarship funds which provide payment [up to 75% of recipient's tuition costs]as provided in this rule.

3.3. "SBR" - State Board of Regents .

3.4. "Reasonable progress" - A recipient must [complete at least six semester credit hours]be enrolled at least full-time (12 credit hours) during any semester for which he or she receives an award. Effective for new 2010 recipients and continuing students starting Summer Semester 2010.

3.5. "Recipient" - A Utah resident who [has accelerated his or her education process and]either: (1) completes the requirements for an associate degree with at least a 3.0 grade point average either prior to September 1 of the year he or she graduates from a Utah high school, or, if he or she graduates early or is home schooled, prior to the September 1 of the year in which he or she normally would have graduated with his or her class[.]; or (2) completes the rigorous math and science curriculum approved by the State Board of Regents with at least a 3.0 grade point average.

3.6. "High school graduation date" - The date when an applicant or recipient graduates from high school with his or her class, or if he or she graduates early or is home schooled, the date on which he or she normally would have graduated from high school with his or her class.

3.7. "Associate Degree" - An Associate of Arts, Associate of Science, or Associate of Applied Science degree, or equivalent academic requirements, as received from or verified by a regionally accredited Utah public college or university, provided that if the college or university does not offer the associate degree, the requirement can be met if the institution's registrar verifies that the student has completed academic requirements equivalent to an associate degree prior to the September 1 deadline.

3.8 "Math and Science Curriculum" - The rigorous math and science curriculum developed and approved by the State Board of Regents which, if completed, qualifies a high school student for a New Century Scholarship.

 

R765-604-4. Conditions of the Scholarship.

4.1. Program Terms - The program scholarship may be used at any 4-year public or private not-for-profit higher education institution in the state accredited by the Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges that offers baccalaureate programs.[ Depending on available funding, if used at an institution within the state system of higher education, the scholarship awards under this program are up to 75% of the actual tuition costs. If used at an institution not within the state system of higher education, the scholarship is up to 75% of the tuition costs at the institution, not to exceed 75% of the average tuition costs at the state system baccalaureate granting institutions. Each scholarship is valid for up to two years of full-time equivalent enrollment (60 semester credit hours) or until the requirements of a baccalaureate degree has been met, whichever is shorter. A student who has not used the award in its entirety within five years after his or her high school graduation date is ineligible to receive a program award.]

4.2. Applicant Qualification - To qualify for the award, an applicant must have either: (1) completed the requirements for an associate degree with at least a 3.0 college grade point average by September 1 of the year of his or her high school graduation date[.]; or (2) completed the approved math and science curriculum with at least a 3.0 grade point average by September 1 of the year of his or her high school graduation date.

4.3. Accredited College or University - The associate degree must be received from, or the approved math and science curriculum must be completed through, [verification of completion of equivalent academic requirements must be received from ]a regionally accredited Utah public institution, provided the institution's academic on-campus residency requirements, if any, will not affect a student's eligibility for the scholarship if the institution's registrar's office verifies that the student has completed the necessary class credits for an associate degree or completed the approved math and science curriculum.

4.4. Eligible Institutions - The award may be used at any 4-year public or private not-for-profit higher education institution in the state accredited by the Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges that offers baccalaureate programs.

4.5. [Dual ]Enrollment at More Than One Institution - The award may be used at more than one of Utah's eligible institutions within the same semester.

4.6. Student Transfer - The award may be transferred to a different eligible Utah institution upon the request of the student.

 

R765-604-5. Application Procedures.

5.1. Application Contact - Qualifying students may apply for the award through the SBR office.

5.2. Support Documentation - Applicants must provide an official high school transcript[documentation] verifying their [recipient's]high school graduation date and ACT score where applicable, an official [copy of their] college transcript, and if the student is enrolled at an institution which does not offer an associate degree or an institution that will not award the associate degree until the academic on-campus residency requirement has been met, the registrar must verify that the applicant has completed the equivalent academic requirements prior to September 1 of the year of the recipient's graduation date.

5.3. Application Deadlines - [Applications and all support documentation must be received by the SBR office no later than thirty days prior to the date the applicant wishes the award to be forwarded to the applicant's eligible institution.]Beginning on or after January 1, 2010, applicants shall meet the following deadlines to qualify for an award:

5.3.1. An application shall be submitted on or before January 8 of the applicant's high school graduation year. A priority deadline may be established each year. Students who meet the priority deadline may be given first priority of consideration for awards.

5.3.2. All support documentation shall be submitted on or before October 15 following the applicant's high school graduation.

5.4. Incomplete Documentation - Applications or other submissions that have missing information or missing documents are considered incomplete, will not be considered, and may result in failure to meet a deadline.

 

R765-604-6. Amount of Awards and Distribution of Award Funds.

6.1. Amount of Awards -

6.1.1. For a student who graduates from high school in the 2009-10 school year:

6.1.1.1. If used at an institution within the state system of higher education, the amount of the [scholarship]award, depending on available funding, will be up to 75% of the [gross ]total cost of tuition based on the number of hours the student is enrolled[.]; or

6.1.1.2. If used at an institution not within the state system of higher education, the [scholarship]award, depending on available funding, will be up to 75% of the tuition costs at the institution, not to exceed 75% of the average tuition costs at the baccalaureate degree granting institutions within the state system of higher education.[ Tuition waivers, financial aid, or other scholarships will not affect the total award amount.]

6.1.2. For a student who graduates from high school in or after the 2010-11 school year, the total award is up to $5,000, allocated semester-by-semester throughout whichever of the following time periods is the shortest:

6.1.2.1. Two years of full-time equivalent enrollment;

6.1.2.2. 60 credit hours; or

6.1.2.3. Until the student meets the requirements for a baccalaureate degree.

6.1.3. Tuition waivers, financial aid, or other scholarships will not affect the total award amount.

6.2. Tuition Documentation - The award recipient shall submit to SBR a copy of [the tuition invoice or]a class schedule verifying the number of hours enrolled. SBR will calculate the amount of the award based on the published tuition costs at the enrolled institution(s) and the availability of program funding.

6.3. Award Payable to Institution - The scholarship award will be made payable to the institution. The institution shall pay over to the recipient any excess award funds not required for tuition payments. Award funds should be used for higher education expenses including tuition, fees, books, supplies and equipment required for courses of instruction.

6.4. Added Hours after Award - The award will be increased up to 75% of the tuition costs of any hours added in the semester after the initial award has been made, depending on available funding. Recipient shall submit to SBR a copy of the tuition invoice or class schedule verifying the added hours before a supplemental award is made.

6.5. Dropped Hours after Award - If a student drops hours which were included in calculating the award amount, either the subsequent semester award will be reduced accordingly, or the student shall repay the excess award amount to SBR. If a recipient fails to complete a minimum of [six]twelve semester hours, [no award will be made for that semester, and a grade earned in a class completed in that semester, if any, will not be considered in evaluating the recipient's reasonable progress.]the scholarship may be revoked (see 7.1) unless the student needs fewer than twelve hours for completion of a degree. No award will be made for that semester, and a grade earned in a class completed in that semester, if any, will not be considered in evaluating the recipient's reasonable progress.

6.6. Funding Constraints of Awards - The SBR may limit or reduce awards, depending on the annual legislative appropriations and the number of qualified applicants.

 

R765-604-7. Time Constraints and Continuing Eligibility.

7.1. Reasonable Progress toward Degree Completion - [The SBR may cancel the scholarship if]In order to renew and award, the [student]recipient must [fails to ]maintain reasonable progress toward degree completion by achieving a ["b average"]3.0 GPA each [for two consecutive] semester[s] [for which he or she has received award funds; or fails to make reasonable progress toward the completion of a baccalaureate degree.]and enrolling full-time (12 credit hours) each semester. If the recipient fails to maintain a 3.0 GPA or fails to enroll full-time, the award may be revoked.

7.1.1. Each semester, the recipient must submit to SBR a copy of his or her grades to verify that he or she is meeting the [the ]required grade point average and is [making reasonable progress toward the completion of a baccalaureate degree]completing a minimum of twelve semester hours. These documents must be submitted by the following dates effective for new 2010 recipients and continuing students starting Summer Semester 2010.

7.1.1.1. Proof of enrollment for Fall Semester and proof of completion of the previous semester must be submitted by September 30.

7.1.1.2. Proof of enrollment for Spring Semester and proof of completion of the previous semester must be submitted by February 15.

7.1.1.3. Proof of enrollment for Summer Semester and proof of completion of the previous semester must be submitted by June 30.

7.1.1.4. Proof of enrollment if you are attending Brigham Young University during Winter Semester and proof of completion of the previous semester must be submitted by February 15.

7.1.1.5. Proof of enrollment if you are attending Brigham Young University during Spring Term and proof of completion of the previous semester must be submitted by May 30.

7.1.1.6. Proof of enrollment if you are attending Brigham Young University during Summer Term and proof of completion of the previous semester or term must be submitted by July 30.

7.1.2. If a recipient earns less than a 3.0 GPA in any single semester, the recipient must earn a 3.0 GPA or better the following semester to maintain eligibility for the award.

7.1.3. A recipient will not be required to enroll full-time if the recipient can complete the degree program with fewer credits.

7.2. No Awards after Five Years - The SBR will not make an award to a recipient for an academic term that begins more than five years after the recipient's high school graduation date.

7.3. No Guarantee of Degree Completion - A New Century Scholarship award does not guarantee that the recipient will complete his or her baccalaureate program within the recipient's scholarship eligibility period.

7.4. Awards Initiated Within Twelve Months of High School Graduation - An award recipient must enroll full-time at an eligible institution of higher education within twelve months of the recipient's high school graduation unless the recipient seeks and obtains an approved deferral or leave of absence from the SBR.

 

R765-604-8. Deferral or Leave of Absence.

8.1. Does Not Extend Time - A deferral or leave of absence will not extend the time limits of the scholarship.[ The scholarship may only be used for academic terms which begin within five years after the recipient's high school graduation date.]

8.2. Deferrals or leaves of absence may be granted, at the discretion of the SBR, for military service, humanitarian/religious service, documented medical reasons, and other exigent reasons.

 

KEY: higher education, secondary education, scholarships

Date of Enactment or Last Substantive Amendment: [March 22, 2005] 2010

Notice of Continuation: December 21, 2009

Authorizing, and Implemented or Interpreted Law: 53B-8-105