Hathaway scholarship program.

WORKING DRAFT

ORIGINAL HOUSE

BILL

NO.
0099

ENROLLED ACT NO. 67, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

FIFTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING
2007 GENERAL SESSION

AN ACT relating to education; expanding the Hathaway scholarship program to graduate and professional degrees; clarifying provisions regarding students attending multiple institutions under the Hathaway scholarship program; extending time for attending post secondary institutions under the Hathaway program as specified; requiring a report on recommendations for program expansion; and providing for an effective date.

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:

Section 1
. W.S. 21
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1301(a)(vi), 21
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1303(d) and by creating a new subsection (f), 21
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1304(c)(i) and (ii), 21
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1305(b)(i) and (ii) and 21
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1308(a)(iv), (v) and (c)(intro) are amended to read:

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1301.

Definitions.

(a)

As used in this article:

(vi)

"Degree" means a baccalaureate
,

or
an associate degree other than a certificate
and a graduate or professional degree
;

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1303.

Hathaway scholarship program; eligibility requirements.

(d)

No student shall be eligible for a scholarship under this article for more than the equivalent of eight (8) full-time semesters.
Except as provided by subsection (f) of this section, n
o student shall be eligible for a scholarship under this article for any semesters commencing after six (6) academic years following the student's initial eligibility. For purposes of this subsection a student's initial eligibility shall be deemed to commence with the first semester in which the state is obligated to reimburse an eligible institution for the student's scholarship under this article. The department shall by rule and regulation establish exceptions to this subsection for military service, religious service and other good cause shown.

(f)

Students meeting the requirements of this subsection shall not be subject to the six (6) academic year limitation on scholarships under this article, the satisfactory academic progress requirements of W.S. 21
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1304(c)(i) and 21
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1305(b)(i) or the continuous enrollment requirements of W.S. 21
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1304(c)(ii) and 21
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1305(b)(ii), but shall be subject to the following:

(i)

Have been initially eligible for and received a Hathaway scholarship;

(ii)

Have received an associate of applied science degree from an eligible institution;

(iii)

Have engaged in a vocation related to the associate of applied science degree after initially receiving a Hathaway scholarship;

(iv)

Within the earlier of eight (8) years of initial Hathaway scholarship eligibility or four (4) years of last attending an eligible institution while receiving a Hathaway scholarship, have enrolled at the University of Wyoming to complete a baccalaureate of applied science degree and have applied for reinstatement of the student's Hathaway scholarship;

(v)

Upon application for reinstatement of the Hathaway scholarship, be subject to the maintenance grade point average and other eligibility requirements under this article;

(vi)

Upon reinstatement of eligibility, be subject to the satisfactory academic progress requirements of W.S. 21
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1304(c)(i) and 21
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1305(b)(i) and the continuous enrollment requirements of W.S. 21
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1304(c)(ii) and 21
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1305(b)(ii);

(vii)

Not have received a Hathaway scholarship for more than the equivalent of four (4) full-time semesters; and

(viii)

Not be eligible for a scholarship under this article:

(A)

For more than a total of the equivalent of eight (8) full-time semesters; nor

(B)

For any semesters commencing after ten (10) academic years following the student's initial eligibility.

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1304.

Hathaway opportunity, performance and honor scholarships.

(c)

To remain eligible for the scholarship under this section, the student shall:

(i)

Except as provided in W.S. 21
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1303(f), m
ake satisfactory academic progress toward a degree. If a student fails to make satisfactory academic progress or maintain the cumulative grade point average required for continuation in the program as provided in this subsection, the student shall become ineligible for the scholarship in subsequent semesters unless granted an exception for cause by the department or except as otherwise provided in this subsection. The department may delegate to any eligible institution the department's authority to grant an exception for cause, but shall only do so in accordance with department rules establishing procedures and criteria for granting an exception and any eligible institution acting pursuant to such delegation shall grant exceptions only in accordance with those rules. The scholarship under this article which is lost for failing to maintain the requisite grade point average shall be reinstated for the subsequent semester following attainment of the cumulative grade point average required of the applicable scholarship under paragraph (iii) of this subsection, provided that the student is otherwise eligible and neither the applicable maximum number of full-time equivalent semesters nor the maximum scholarship eligibility time period specified under subsection (b) of this section and W.S. 21
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1303(d), including semesters for which a scholarship was not received, has been reached;

(ii)

Except as provided in W.S. 21
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1303(f), m
aintain continuous enrollment for not less than two (2) semesters in each successive academic year. The department shall by rule and regulation establish exceptions to the requirement of this paragraph for military service, religious service and other good cause shown; and

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1305.

Hathaway career scholarships.

(b)

To remain eligible for the scholarship award under this section, the student shall:

(i)

Except as provided by W.S. 21
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1303(f), m
ake satisfactory academic progress toward a certificate or degree. If a student fails to make satisfactory academic progress or maintain the cumulative grade point average required for continuation in the program provided in paragraph (iii) of this subsection, the student shall become ineligible for the scholarship in subsequent semesters unless granted an exception for cause by the department or except as otherwise provided in this subsection. The department may delegate to any eligible institution the department's authority to grant an exception for cause, but shall only do so in accordance with department rules establishing procedures and criteria for granting an exception and any eligible institution acting pursuant to such delegation shall grant exceptions only in accordance with those rules. The scholarship under this article which is lost for failing to maintain the requisite grade point average shall be reinstated for the subsequent semester following attainment of the cumulative grade point average required under paragraph (iii) of this subsection provided that the student is otherwise eligible and that neither the maximum number of full-time equivalent semesters nor the maximum scholarship eligibility time period specified under subsection (a) of this section and W.S. 21
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1303(d), including semesters for which a scholarship was not received, has not been reached;

(ii)

Except as provided by W.S. 21
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1303(f), m
aintain continuous enrollment for not less than two (2) semesters in each successive academic year. The department shall by rule and regulation establish exceptions to the requirement of this paragraph for military service, religious service and other good cause shown; and

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1308.

Administration; rules and regulations.

(a)

This article shall be administered by the department in accordance with the following:

(iv)

Each eligible institution receiving an application from a student applying for a Hathaway scholarship shall preliminarily determine the student's eligibility for the scholarship. For students initially applying for a scholarship, unless the student's complete academic record is available, the GPA used to preliminarily determine eligibility shall be based upon the student's official high school transcript after either the end of the first semester of a student's senior year or the second semester of a student's junior year, at the sole discretion of the eligible institution. For students graduating prior to their senior year the GPA used to preliminarily determine eligibility shall be based upon the student's official high school transcript as of the end of the semester immediately prior to the last semester before the student's graduation. High school GPAs for final eligibility determinations for students initially applying for a scholarship under this article shall be based upon the student's complete high school academic record. Upon final determination of scholarship eligibility, each community college shall certify to the community college commission not later than thirty (30) days after the semester commences, a list of students enrolled at the institution who qualify for a scholarship under this article, including the amount of each scholarship. The university shall certify to the department within forty-five (45) days after the semester commences a like list for students enrolled at the university. The director of the community college commission shall verify within ten (10) days after receiving all lists from community colleges
that
whether
there is
no
any
duplication of students on the community college lists, shall provide the lists to the department and shall certify to the department the amount each college is to receive under this article
. Students attending more than one (1) eligible institution shall enter into a consortium agreement with the multiple institutions whereby the student shall designate a home institution to be paid the entire Hathaway scholarship amount for which the student qualifies
;

(v)

The department shall determine and certify to the state treasurer the amount which is equal to seventy-five percent (75%) of the total amount the eligible institution received during the preceding semester under this subsection. Not later than September 1 for the fall semester and not later than January 15 for the spring semester, the state treasurer shall pay from the scholarship expenditure account the amount certified by the department. The department shall review the lists provided under paragraph (iv) of this subsection, determine
whether
there is
no
any
duplication of students, and determine and certify to the state treasurer the balance of the amount due under this article to each institution for the semester.
For any duplication, the department shall determine whether the student is attending more than one (1) eligible institution. If the student is attending multiple eligible institutions payment of the Hathaway scholarship for which the student qualifies shall be made only to the institution designated as the home institution by the student.
The state treasurer shall pay from the scholarship expenditure account the balance of the amount due. Payments of the balance due under this paragraph shall be made not later than seventy-five (75) days after the institution's semester has commenced. Payments to the university shall be made directly to the university. Payments to the community colleges shall be made directly to each college and be reported by the state treasurer to the community college commission. Should a prepayment under this paragraph exceed the amount actually due the institution for any semester, the excess amount shall be calculated by the department and deducted from the next payment made. For purposes of this subsection, payments due for summer terms shall be included within the calculations and payments for the subsequent fall semester.

(c)

The department shall establish annual reporting procedures for purposes of policy analysis and program evaluation and providing accurate data to the legislature and governor relative to the program's impact on the state and on students. In developing the annual reporting procedure the department shall consult with the University of Wyoming and community college financial aid officers and registrars or their designees. It is the intention of the legislature that the reporting system and the requirements thereof shall be applicable to all recipients of scholarships under this article. Compliance with this section shall be made a condition of receiving a scholarship under this article.
For any student attending more than one (1) eligible institution, the home institution shall be responsible for data reporting for that student, and any other eligible institution shall cooperate as necessary with the home institution to fulfill that duty.
The reporting system shall include the following information:

Section 2.

The department of education, in consultation with the University of Wyoming and the community colleges, shall conduct an analysis of the administrative and fiscal feasibility of expanding student scholarships under the Hathaway scholarship program to include private in-state institutions and student scholarship enhancement based upon meritorious academic performance. The department, together with the university and colleges, shall report findings of the analysis and subsequent recommendations to the joint appropriations interim committee and the joint education interim committee on or before November 1, 2007.

Section 3.
This act is effective immediately upon co
m
pletion of all acts necessary for a bill to become law as provided by Article 4, Section 8 of the Wyoming Constit
u
tion.

(END)

Speaker of the House

President of the Senate

Governor

TIME APPROVED: _________

DATE APPROVED: _________

I hereby certify that this act originated in the House.

Chief Clerk

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