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26LSO-0094
2026
STATE OF WYOMING
26LSO-0094
Numbered
2.0
SENATE FILE NO. SF0036
Hathaway lump sum merit scholarship.
Sponsored by: Joint Education Interim Committee
A BILL
for
AN ACT relating to the Hathaway scholarship program; amending award timing for the Hathaway scholarship program; amending eligibility requirements as specified; eliminating satisfactory academic progress requirements; eliminating continuous enrollment requirements; eliminating minimum credit hour requirements; amending the calculation of scholarship amounts; deleting obsolete language; making conforming amendments; specifying applicability; repealing provisions; 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)(i), (ii) and by creating new paragraphs (xxi) and (xxii), 21
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1303(d), 21
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1304(a)(i)(intro), (ii)(intro), (iii)(intro) and (h)(intro), 21
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1305(a)(i)(intro) and (e)(intro), 21
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1306 by creating a new subsection (c), 21
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1307(b)(intro), (d)(intro) and (e)(intro), 21
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1308(c)(ii), 21
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1309(a) and by creating a new subsection (c), 21
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1312(c) and 21
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18
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404 are amended to read:
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1301.
Definitions.
(a)
As used in this article:
(i)
"Academic term" means the fall semester or term
,
or
the spring semester or term
or other term offered by an eligible institution
.
In this article, "term" and "semester" have the same meaning
;
except that recipients may elect to use the scholarship during summer school, which except as provided by W.S. 21
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1304(h) and 21
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1305(e), counts toward the maximum number of terms for which the student is eligible but does not count toward computation of an academic year;
(ii)
"Academic year" means two (2) consecutive
fall and spring
semesters
.
or terms and is the period of time a full
‑
time student is expected to complete the equivalent of at least two (2) semesters of
Unless otherwise excluded under this article,
academic
work
year may also include summer term or other terms
;
(xxi)
"Remaining scholarship amount" means the student's total scholarship amount less amounts previously paid on behalf of the student from scholarships under W.S. 21
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1304 or 21
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1305;
(xxii)
"Total scholarship amount" means the dollar amount specified under W.S. 21
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1304 or 21
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1305 for the scholarship the student is first awarded under W.S. 21
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1304 or 21
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16
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1305.
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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, no 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.
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1304.
Hathaway opportunity, performance and honor scholarships.
(a)
Any student who meets the criteria under W.S. 21
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1303 is eligible to receive a scholarship to pursue a degree or certificate as follows:
(i)
With a minimum cumulative high school GPA of 2.50 and a score equal to or greater than the 2015
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2016 national percentile rank of forty
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three (43) on a college entrance examination administered throughout the United States and relied upon by institutions of higher education to determine acceptance of students for attendance, a Hathaway opportunity scholarship
for:
in a total scholarship amount of six thousand seven hundred twenty dollars ($6,720.00).
(ii)
With a minimum cumulative high school GPA of 3.0 and a score equal to or greater than the 2015
‑
2016 national percentile rank of fifty
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six (56) on a college entrance examination administered throughout the United States and relied upon by institutions of higher education to determine acceptance of students for attendance, a Hathaway performance scholarship
for:
in a total scholarship amount of ten thousand eighty dollars ($10,080.00).
(iii)
With a minimum cumulative high school GPA of 3.5 and a score equal to or greater than the 2015
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2016 national percentile rank of seventy
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nine (79) on an examination administered throughout the United States and relied upon by institutions of higher education to determine acceptance of students for attendance, a Hathaway honor scholarship
for:
in a total scholarship amount of thirteen thousand four hundred forty dollars ($13,440.00).
(h)
Notwithstanding subparagraphs (a)(i)(B), (ii)(B) and (iii)(B) of this section,
T
he applicable scholarship amount awarded to any eligible student
under this section
may be available to that student
, upon election,
for enrollment
in up to six (6) semester hours
during any summer academic term or other academic term offered by an eligible institution outside of the regular fall or spring semester
.
, subject to the following:
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1305.
Hathaway provisional opportunity scholarships.
(a)
Any student who meets the criteria under W.S. 21
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1303 is eligible to receive a Hathaway provisional opportunity scholarship to pursue a certificate or degree as follows:
(i)
With a minimum cumulative high school GPA of 2.50 and either a score equal to or greater than the 2015
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2016 national percentile rank of thirty (30) on a college entrance examination administered throughout the United States and relied upon by institutions of higher education to determine acceptance of students for attendance or a qualifying cumulative score on a career
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technical aptitude test as determined by the department, a scholarship
for:
in a total scholarship amount of three thousand three hundred sixty dollars ($3,360.00).
(e)
Notwithstanding subparagraph (a)(i)(B) of this section,
T
he scholarship amount awarded to any eligible student
under this section
may be available to that student
, upon election,
for enrollment
in up to six (6) semester hours
during any summer academic term or other academic term offered by an eligible institution outside of the regular fall or spring semester
.
, subject to the following:
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1306.
Need based scholarships.
(c)
Except as provided in this subsection, no student shall be required by the eligible institution to elect to use a greater portion of a scholarship awarded under W.S. 21
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1304 or 21
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1305 in order to decrease the student's unmet financial need. For scholarships awarded under W.S. 21
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1304 and 21
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1305 the calculation of unmet financial need shall be in accordance with the following:
(i)
For students receiving the Hathaway honors scholarship, the scholarship amount used to calculate unmet financial need shall be:
(A)
One thousand six hundred eighty dollars ($1,680.00) per semester; or
(B)
The amount provided under subparagraph (A) of this paragraph times a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of hours for which the student is enrolled per semester and the denominator is twelve (12), if the student enrolled at an eligible institution for at least six (6) and less than twelve (12) semester hours.
(ii)
For students receiving the Hathaway performance scholarship, the scholarship amount used to calculate unmet financial need shall be the lesser of:
(A)
The scholarship amount actually used by the student in the semester; or
(B)
One thousand two hundred sixty dollars ($1,260.00) per semester.
(iii)
For students receiving the Hathaway opportunity scholarship, the scholarship amount to calculate unmet financial need shall be the lesser of:
(A)
The scholarship amount actually used by the student in the semester; or
(B)
Eight hundred forty dollars ($840.00) per semester.
(iv)
For students receiving the Hathaway provisional opportunity scholarship, the scholarship amount used to calculate unmet financial need shall be the lesser of:
(A)
The scholarship amount actually used by the student in the semester; or
(B)
Eight hundred forty dollars ($840.00) per semester.
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1307.
Success curriculum; test standards.
(b)
Except as otherwise provided for by law, the success curriculum required to qualify for honor or performance scholarship eligibility under this article
for students graduating from high school in the 2019
‑
2020 school year and each school year thereafter
shall be as follows:
(d)
The success curriculum required to qualify for opportunity scholarship eligibility under this article
for students graduating from high school in the 2010
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2011 school year and each school year thereafter
shall be as follows:
(e)
The success curriculum required to qualify for provisional opportunity scholarship eligibility under this article
for students graduating from high school in the 2010
‑
2011 school year and each school year thereafter
shall be the curriculum required for high school graduation under W.S. 21
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2
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304(a)(iii) subject to the following:
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1308.
Administration; rules and regulations.
(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:
(ii)
Scholarships by students as they progress from semester to semester or other equivalent periods of time as may be applicable once enrolled at an eligible institution.
The data shall be reported by institution attended, by the instructional program, and by scholarship category and shall include
the percent of students losing scholarship eligibility due to not earning the minimum number of credit hours, the percent of students losing scholarship eligibility due to not having the required cumulative grade point average, the percent of students losing scholarship eligibility for failing to make satisfactory academic progress and
the percentage of students losing scholarship eligibility for failing to enroll. The same information shall also be reported by categories showing those students qualifying through career
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technical aptitude assessment scores and scores on high school equivalency certification, and by the group of students who attended a home
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based educational program and did not graduate from an eligible high school;
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1309.
Scholarship amounts.
(a)
Except the needs based scholarship awarded pursuant to W.S. 21
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1306, t
o the extent a scholarship under this article would, when combined with any grant or scholarship from a student financial aid program administered through the state or any state institution, in any semester exceed the cost of
attendance
tuition and mandatory fees
at the eligible institution, the scholarship under this article shall be reduced by the amount necessary to not exceed that cost of
attendance
tuition and mandatory fees
.
(c)
Any student receiving a scholarship under W.S 21
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1304 or 21
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1305 may elect to receive all or a portion of the remaining scholarship amount in any semester in which the student is enrolled at an eligible institution. The election shall be submitted to the eligible institution at the time of enrollment for an academic term. The eligible institution shall calculate the student's remaining scholarship amount in accordance with W.S. 21
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1301(a)(xxi) and shall include the amount, as limited in this subsection, in its certification of students under W.S. 21
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1308(a)(iv). The department shall review the amount certified for each student and include the amount it determines to be in compliance with this article in its certification to the state treasurer of balances due to each institution under W.S. 21
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1308(a)(v). Crediting of a student's remaining scholarship amount under this subsection shall be limited so that the remaining scholarship amount to be credited does not exceed the cost of the student's tuition and mandatory fees for the semester.
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1312.
Hathaway expand Wyoming scholarship; eligibility requirements and conditions; selection.
(c)
A Hathaway expand Wyoming scholarship shall be for the student's cost of
attendance
tuition and mandatory fees
at an eligible institution, but not to exceed the maximum dollar amount provided to students receiving a trustee scholarship at the University of Wyoming and subject to reduction in accordance with W.S. 21
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1309(a). No student shall be eligible for a Hathaway expand Wyoming scholarship for more than the equivalent of eight (8) full
‑
time semesters.
Minimum continuing eligibility and reinstatement eligibility requirements for a Hathaway expand Wyoming scholarship shall be the same as requirements for a Hathaway honors scholarship.
These minimum requirements may be increased by rule of the department to requirements no more stringent than those imposed by the University of Wyoming for recipients of a trustee scholarship.
Hathaway expand Wyoming scholarships may be reduced in the same manner and to lower levels as provided for Hathaway honor scholarships for failure to meet continuing eligibility requirements.
To remain eligible for the scholarship under this section, the student shall:
(i)
Maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.25;
(ii)
Enroll in at least twelve (12) semester hours for each spring and fall semester for the duration of the scholarship;
(iii)
Successfully complete at least twenty
‑
four (24) semester hours each academic year.
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404.
Student grants; amounts.
There shall be made available student grants under the Wyoming works program.
The grant amount shall not exceed
the amount provided for two (2) semesters under the Hathaway provisional opportunity scholarship pursuant to W.S. 21
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1305(a)(i)(A),
one thousand six hundred eighty dollars ($1,680.00)
in any one (1) academic year, unless the credential program is in an economic sector determined by the commission to fulfill a critical workforce need.
For credential programs in such economic sectors, the grant amount shall not exceed
the amount provided for two (2) semesters under the Hathaway honor scholarship pursuant to W.S. 21
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1304(a)(iii)(A)
three thousand three hundred sixty dollars ($3,360.00)
in any one (1) academic year.
One
‑
half (1/2) of the annual award shall be provided to the student at each fall and spring academic term of qualification, unless the credential program or course is for a defined period of less than a full semester or the student elects to reserve any portion of the annual award for attendance at a subsequent summer school term.
For credential programs of one (1) term or less, cost of attendance and unmet financial need shall be calculated on a projected annual basis, but the annual award amount shall be provided in full in the term of attendance, on a prorated basis.
Section 2
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W.S. 21
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1301(a)(xiv), 21
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1303(f), 21‑16‑1304(a)(i)(A) through (C), (ii)(A) through (C), (iii)(A) through (C), (b) through (g) and (h)(i) through (v) and 21
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1305(a)(i)(A) through (C), (ii), (iii), (b) through (d) and (e)(i) through (v) are repealed.
Section 3.
For any student who received a Hathaway honors, performance, opportunity, provisional opportunity or need based scholarship before the effective date of this act and who continues to have eligibility for the scholarship, the student shall continue to receive the scholarship pursuant to title 21, chapter 16, article 13 of the Wyoming Statutes as in effect on June 30, 2026.
Section 4
.
This act is effective July 1, 2026
.
(END)
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SF0036