A. No person shall be eligible to participate in the Oklahoma State Regents' Academic Scholars Program unless the person:

1. Has complied with all of the rules promulgated by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education pursuant to the provisions of the Oklahoma State Regents' Academic Scholars Act, Section 2401 et seq. of this title, for the award, regulation, and administration of scholarships; and

2. Qualifies as one of the following:

a.an Individual Applicant Qualified Student, which shall mean a student who is a resident of the State of Oklahoma whose American College Testing Program score or whose Scholastic Aptitude Test score falls within the 99.5 to 100.0 percentile levels as administered in the State of Oklahoma and whose grade point average and/or class rank is exceptional, as determined by the State Regents,

b.a Presidential Scholar, which shall mean a student selected by the Commission on Presidential Scholars administered by the United States Department of Education,

c.a National Merit Scholar, which shall mean a student designated as a National Merit Scholar by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation,

d.a National Merit Finalist, which shall mean a student designated as a National Merit Finalist by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation, or

e.after October 1, 1999, an Institutional Nominee, which shall mean a student nominated by an institution in The Oklahoma State System of Higher Education:

(1)whose American College Testing Program or Scholastic Aptitude Test score falls within the 95.0 to 99.49 percentile levels, or

(2)who shows exceptional academic achievement as evidenced by factors, including, but not limited to, grade point average, class rank, national awards, scholastic achievements, honors, and who shows exceptional promise based on documentation that may include, but not be limited to, teacher recommendations, extracurricular activities, and evidence of overcoming economic and social obstacles as determined by the State Regents. The State Regents shall ensure that standards of high academic ability are documented. Scholarship awards to Institutional Nominees shall become effective when appropriate documentation is verified by the State Regents.

B. No person shall be eligible to receive a scholarship pursuant to the provisions of the Oklahoma State Regents' Academic Scholars Program unless the person is enrolled as a full-time student at a public or private accredited institution of higher education in Oklahoma.

C. The Oklahoma State Regents' Academic Scholars Program shall provide a scholarship in an amount not to exceed the average costs of all enrollment fees, tuition and other fees, room and board, and all required textbooks or materials for up to five (5) years of undergraduate and/or graduate study at an accredited public or private institution of higher education in Oklahoma as provided in subsection E of this section. The State Regents may establish separate scholarship award levels for each qualifying category.

D. If a person identifies himself or herself as a student with a disability and requests consideration for a scholarship under the Academic Scholars Program by means other than standard testing procedures, the State Regents shall determine what means of assessment are appropriate and upon the basis of said assessment results, determine what level of award, if any, shall be made.

E. 1. If the student is attending an institution of The Oklahoma State System of Higher Education, the total funding for the scholarship provided in this section, exclusive of any internships, shall not exceed the costs for items specified in subsection C of this section at the institution attended as determined annually by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education.

2. If the student is attending a private institution of higher education, the total funding for the scholarship provided in this section, exclusive of any internships, shall not exceed the costs for items specified in subsection C of this section at an institution of The Oklahoma State System of Higher Education of comparable type which has the highest general enrollment fees of its type institution in The Oklahoma State System of Higher Education as determined annually by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education.

Added by Laws 1989, c. 375, § 6, emerg. eff. June 6, 1989. Amended by Laws 1991, c. 310, § 1, emerg. eff. June 4, 1991; Laws 1992, c. 324, § 23, eff. July 1, 1992; Laws 1999, c. 241, § 2, eff. June 1, 1999; Laws 2002, c. 99, § 4, eff. July 1, 2002.