(a) (1) (A) A recipient who meets continuing eligibility criteria under this subchapter shall receive a scholarship for one (1) academic year renewable annually until the recipient has earned one hundred twenty (120) semester credit hours.

(B) A recipient may continue to receive a scholarship after he or she has earned one hundred twenty (120) semester credit hours, but not more than one hundred thirty (130) semester credit hours, if the student is enrolled in a baccalaureate degree program that requires more than one hundred twenty (120) semester credit hours as provided under § 6-61-232.

(2) A semester in which a student withdraws or fails to complete the number of credit hours for which the student first enrolled is counted toward the maximum number of semesters for which the student may receive a scholarship award under this subchapter.

(3) The maximums under this subsection apply to any degree program, regardless of whether or not the degree program requires additional semesters.

(4) A recipient may attend summer terms at the student's own expense to earn credit hours necessary to maintain eligibility for a scholarship under this subchapter.

(b) To maintain eligibility for an Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship under this subchapter, a recipient shall meet the following requirements:

(1) A recipient shall continue to meet the eligibility requirements of this subchapter while a recipient of a scholarship under this subchapter;

(2) (A) (i) A recipient shall meet the satisfactory academic progress standards required to receive other financial aid at the approved institution of higher education where the recipient is enrolled, as determined by the Department of Higher Education in conjunction with the institution of higher education where the recipient is enrolled.

(ii)

(a) A recipient who does not successfully complete any credit hours toward degree completion in a semester in which he or she received a scholarship under this subchapter immediately forfeits the remainder of the scholarship award for that academic year.

(b) The department shall notify the recipient of the loss of eligibility under this subdivision (b)(2)(A)(ii).

(iii) By accepting scholarship funds under this subchapter, the receiving institution certifies that students will be enrolled in courses that will meet satisfactory academic progress standards leading toward a certificate, an associate degree, a nursing diploma, a baccalaureate degree, or a graduate-level or professional degree.

(B) The department may approve a leave of absence for a reason that includes without limitation:

(i) A medical condition of the student or a member of the student's immediate family that, on the basis of a physician's good-faith judgment, necessitates the student or the student's immediate family member to be hospitalized or receive outpatient or home-based medical care or recuperation until released by the attending physician;

(ii) A personal or family emergency that requires the student to:

(a) Attend the funeral of an immediate family member; or

(b) Visit a relative of the student if the relative has a medical condition in which death is possible or imminent;

(iii) Military service under § 6-61-112;

(iv)

(a) A commitment for twelve (12) to twenty-four (24) months of service in a national or international humanitarian project sponsored by a nonprofit corporation organized with a charitable or educational purpose.

(b) The student's commitment shall be expressed in a written agreement with the nonprofit organization including the terms of completion for the student's service on the related project.

(c) The department shall release a scholarship hold if the department determines that the student did not complete the commitment under the written agreement; or

(v) Any other reason approved by the department;

(3) A recipient who enrolls in one (1) or more remedial courses shall complete all remedial courses required by the approved institution of higher education by the time the student completes the first thirty (30) semester hours attempted after receiving the scholarship;

(4) A recipient shall earn a postsecondary grade point average of 2.5 or higher at an approved institution of higher education;

(5) A recipient shall enroll in courses that lead toward a baccalaureate degree or graduate-level or professional degree after attempting the lesser of:

(A) Five (5) semesters; or

(B) The completion of an associate degree program; and

(6) A recipient shall meet any other continuing eligibility criteria established by the department.

(c)

(1) A traditional student recipient who loses eligibility for a scholarship may apply as a first-time nontraditional student.

(2) A recipient under subdivision (c)(1) of this section who loses eligibility for the nontraditional student scholarship is not eligible to apply for a scholarship under any eligibility provision of this subchapter.

(d) If a recipient is subject to losing a scholarship under subsection (c) of this section due to a catastrophic event experienced by the recipient or a family member of the recipient, the department may waive the requirements of this section and determine the appropriate requirements for the recipient to either retain or regain the scholarship.