(a) "Community college" means a community college operated under ORS chapter 341.

(b) "Good standing" means the qualified student has a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or higher at Oregon Health and Science University or the community college, public university listed in ORS 352.002 or qualifying private institution at which the student is enrolled.

(c) "Qualified student" means a student who:

(A) Has not achieved a baccalaureate or higher degree from any post-secondary institution;

(B) Is enrolled and in good standing in:

(i) An associate degree granting program at a community college;

(ii) An undergraduate baccalaureate degree granting program at a public university listed in ORS 352.002;

(iii) An undergraduate baccalaureate degree granting program at a qualifying private institution;

(iv) An undergraduate baccalaureate degree granting program at Oregon Health and Science University; or

(v) A program or curriculum designed to lead to a certificate of completion, as defined by the Higher Education Coordinating Commission by rule, at a community college, a public university listed in ORS 352.002, Oregon Health and Science University or a qualifying private institution;

(C) Is a member of the Oregon National Guard;

(D) Has completed basic training with the Oregon National Guard or a National Guard of any other state or territory;

(E) Has completed and submitted the Free Application for Federal Student Aid for each academic year, if eligible to file the application; and

(F) Has accepted all state and federal aid grants available to the student, including but not limited to federal grants offered by the United States Department of Education and the United States Department of Defense.

(d) "Qualifying private institution" means a private post-secondary institution that meets the criteria set forth in ORS 348.597 (2).

(2) A qualified student shall receive a grant under this section in an amount that equals, after the amount of resident tuition is reduced by any amounts received by the qualified student in state and federal aid grants:

(a) The resident tuition charges at the community college at which the qualified student is enrolled;

(b) The resident tuition charges at the public university listed in ORS 352.002 at which the qualified student is enrolled;

(c) The average resident tuition charges to attend a public university listed in ORS 352.002 if the qualified student is enrolled at a qualifying private institution; or

(d) The resident tuition charges at Oregon Health and Science University if the qualified student is enrolled at Oregon Health and Science University.

(3) Grants provided under this section shall be awarded to a qualified student for up to:

(a) 90 credit hours at a community college;

(b) 180 credit hours at a public university listed in ORS 352.002;

(c) 180 credit hours at a qualifying private institution; or

(d) 180 credit hours at Oregon Health and Science University.

(4) The Higher Education Coordinating Commission shall adopt any rules necessary for the administration of this section, including but not limited to any requirements related to:

(a) Specifying the form and timelines for submitting an application for a grant under this section;

(b) Determining whether a person is eligible for a grant under this section; and

(c) Prescribing grant calculations for qualified students dually enrolled at a community college, a public university, Oregon Health and Science University or a qualifying private institution. [2018 c.53 §2; 2019 c.656 §1]

Note: The amendments to 348.268 by section 1, chapter 656, Oregon Laws 2019, first apply to tuition assistance provided for the 2020-2021 academic year. See section 2, chapter 656, Oregon Laws 2019. The text that applies prior to the 2020-2021 academic year is set forth for the user’s convenience. (1) As used in this section:

(a) "Community college" means a community college operated under ORS chapter 341.

(b) "Good standing" means the qualified student has a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or higher at the community college or public university listed in ORS 352.002 at which the student is enrolled.

(c) "Qualified student" means a student who:

(A) Has not achieved a baccalaureate or higher degree from any post-secondary institution;

(B) Is enrolled and in good standing in an:

(i) Associate degree granting program at a community college; or

(ii) Undergraduate baccalaureate degree granting program at a public university listed in ORS 352.002;

(C) Is a member of the Oregon National Guard;

(D) Has completed basic training with the Oregon National Guard or a National Guard of any other state or territory;

(E) Has completed and submitted the Free Application for Federal Student Aid for each academic year, if eligible to file the application; and

(F) Has accepted all state and federal aid grants available to the student, including but not limited to federal grants offered by the United States Department of Education and the United States Department of Defense.

(2) A qualified student shall receive a grant under this section in an amount that equals the resident tuition charges at the community college or public university listed in ORS 352.002 at which the qualified student is enrolled, after the amount of resident tuition is reduced by any amounts received by the qualified student in state and federal aid grants. Grants provided under this section shall be awarded to a qualified student for up to:

(a) 90 credit hours at a community college; or

(b) 180 credit hours at a public university listed in ORS 352.002.

(3) The Higher Education Coordinating Commission shall adopt any rules necessary for the administration of this section, including but not limited to any requirements related to:

(a) Specifying the form and timelines for submitting an application for a grant under this section;

(b) Determining whether a person is eligible for a grant under this section; and

(c) Prescribing grant calculations for qualified students dually enrolled in a community college and a public university.

Note: 348.268 was added to and made a part of ORS chapter 348 by legislative action but was not added to any smaller series therein. See Preface to Oregon Revised Statutes for further explanation.