15-1855. Private postsecondary education grant program; fund; program termination

A. The commission for postsecondary education shall establish and administer a private postsecondary education grant program.

B. Grants issued under the private postsecondary education program are subject to legislative appropriation and may be used to pay for any of the following:

1. Tuition charged at a school that qualifies under this section.

2. The cost of books required for classes at a school that qualifies under this section.

3. Fees charged at a school that qualifies under this section.

C. To be eligible for a grant under this section, a student applicant must provide proof that the student has met all of the following criteria:

1. Either:

(a) Is currently a resident of this state and has been a resident of this state for at least the past twelve months.

(b) Is a member of the military service of the United States and is stationed in this state or is the spouse or a dependent of a member of the military service of the United States who is stationed in this state.

2. Registers for enrollment as a student in a certificated or degreed science, technology, engineering or math field, or a related field, as defined by the commission in consultation with the governor's workforce council, office of economic opportunity and other economic and workforce development organizations in either:

(a) A baccalaureate program at a nationally or regionally accredited private postsecondary educational institution in this state.

(b) A certificate program at a nationally or regionally accredited private postsecondary educational institution in this state that awards associate degrees.

3. Provides either proof of successfully completing one academic year of college-level academic coursework or both of the following:

(a) A high school transcript that demonstrates proof of graduation from a public or private high school in this state. If high school records no longer exist for the student or if every reasonable effort has been made to obtain official records, the student may submit a letter certified by the high school from which the student graduated or the original high school diploma.

(b) A high school transcript that demonstrates proof that the student meets either of the following:

(i) For a student enrolling in a baccalaureate program, a minimum grade point average of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale, or the equivalent.

(ii) For a student enrolling in an associate degree program, a minimum grade point average of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale, or the equivalent.

4. For students enrolling in an associate degree program, submits a letter of support from the student's vocational counselor, current or former teachers, or current or former employers.

5. Completes and submits a free application for federal student aid and meets the eligibility criteria for the federal pell grant.

6. Provides proof that the enrolling institution or affiliated entity, such as a foundation or an alumni association, has awarded the student applicant a matching grant or scholarship, or both.

D. A student attending a four-year program who fails to receive a baccalaureate degree within the seven-year period after the receipt of a grant pursuant to this section or a student attending a two-year program who fails to receive an associate degree within the four-year period after the receipt of a grant pursuant to this section shall reimburse the private postsecondary education grant fund for all grant monies received under this section. On receipt of supporting documentation from the student and for good cause shown, the commission may provide extensions beyond the four-year and seven-year periods prescribed in this subsection.

E. If the grant revenues are not exhausted in a grant cycle for students in the science, technology, engineering or math fields, or related fields, as described in this section, the commission may distribute grants to students enrolled in other certificate or degree programs.

F. If the commission is notified by a school that a student who received a private postsecondary education grant pursuant to this section is no longer in good academic standing at the school, the commission shall immediately discontinue the grant and the student shall reimburse the private postsecondary education grant fund for any unused portion or any unlawfully used portion of the grant monies received.

G. The private postsecondary education grant fund is established consisting of legislative appropriations and grants, gifts, devises and donations from any public or private source. The commission shall administer the fund. Monies in the fund are continuously appropriated and are exempt from the provisions of section 35-190 relating to lapsing of appropriations. The commission shall make awards for payment of tuition at schools that qualify under this section to students who are selected to receive a grant under this section.

H. The program established pursuant to this section ends on July 1, 2027 pursuant to section 41-3102.