Sec. 9. (a) A higher education award for a student in a program leading to a baccalaureate degree may be renewed for a total of three (3) undergraduate academic years following the academic year of the first award or until an earlier time as the student receives a degree normally obtained in four (4) undergraduate academic years. A higher education award for a student in a program leading to a technical certificate or an undergraduate associate degree may be renewed for the number of academic years normally required to obtain a certificate or degree in the student's program. The commission may grant a renewal only upon application and only upon its finding that:

(1) the applicant has successfully completed the work of a preceding year;

(2) the applicant remains domiciled in Indiana;

(3) the recipient's financial situation continues to warrant an award, based on the financial requirements set forth in section (1)(a)(3) of this chapter;

(4) the applicant is eligible under section 2 of this chapter;

(5) the student maintains satisfactory academic progress, as determined by the eligible institution; and

(6) beginning in an academic year beginning after August 31, 2017, the student successfully completes:

(A) at least twenty-four (24) credit hours or the equivalent during the last academic year in which the student received state financial aid; or

(B) at least twenty-four (24) credit hours or the equivalent during the last academic year in which the student was enrolled in a postsecondary educational institution.

(b) In determining eligibility under subsection (a)(6), the commission shall apply all the following types of credits regardless of whether the credits were completed during the last academic year described in subsection (a)(6)(A) or (a)(6)(B):

(1) Credits earned from dual credit, advanced placement, Cambridge International, and international baccalaureate courses.

(2) College credits earned during high school.

(3) Credits earned exceeding thirty (30) credit hours during a previous academic year in which a student received state financial aid.

[Pre-2007 Higher Education Recodification Citation: 20-12-21-7(b).]

As added by P.L.2-2007, SEC.253. Amended by P.L.125-2008, SEC.3; P.L.169-2011, SEC.3; P.L.281-2013, SEC.9; P.L.165-2016, SEC.7; P.L.191-2018, SEC.22; P.L.10-2019, SEC.92.