R604 - New Century Scholarship

R604, New Century Scholarship

R604-1. Purpose

To provide policy and procedures for the administration of the New Century Scholarship which will be awarded to Utah high school graduates who either complete the requirements for an associate degree with at least a "B" (3.0) grade point average prior to September 1 of the same year they would normally graduate with their high school class, or who complete a rigorous math and science curriculum approved by the State Board of Regents with a "B" (3.0) grade point average.

R604-2. References

2.1. Utah Code Annotated § 53B-8-105 (2006)

R604-3. Definitions

3.1. "Program" - New Century Scholarship program

3.2. "Awards" - New Century Scholarship funds which provide payment up to 75% of recipient's tuition costs

3.3. "SBR" - State Board of Regents

3.4. "Reasonable progress" - A recipient must complete at least six semester credit hours during any semester for which he or she receives an award.

3.5. "Recipient" - A Utah resident who either: (1) completes the requirements for an associate degree with at least a "B" (3.0) grade point average either prior to September 1 of the year he or she graduates from a Utah high school, or, if he or she graduates early or is home schooled, prior to the September 1 of the year in which he or she normally would have graduated with his or her class; or (2) completes the rigorous math and science curriculum approved by the State Board of Regents with at least a "B" (3.0) grade point average .

3.6. "High school graduation date" - The date when an applicant or recipient graduates from high school with his or her class, or if he or she graduates early or is home schooled, the date on which he or she normally would have graduated from high school with his or her class.

3.7. "Associate Degree" - An Associate of Arts, Associate of Science, or Associate of Applied Science degree, or equivalent academic requirements, as received from or verified by a regionally accredited Utah public college or university, provided that if the college or university does not offer the associate degree, the requirement can be met if the institution's registrar verifies that the student has completed academic requirements equivalent to an associate degree prior to the September 1 deadline.

3.8. "Math and Science Curriculum" - The rigorous math and science curriculum developed and approved by the State Board of Regents which, if completed, qualifies a high school student for a New Century Scholarship.

R604-4. Conditions of the Scholarship

4.1. Program Terms - The program scholarship may be used at any higher education institution in the state accredited by the Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges that offers baccalaureate programs. Depending on available funding, if used at an institution within the state system of higher education, the scholarship awards under this program are up to 75% of the actual tuition costs. If used at an institution not within the state system of higher education, the scholarship is up to 75% of the tuition costs at the institution, not to exceed 75% of the average tuition costs at the state system baccalaureate granting institutions. Each scholarship is valid for up to two years of full-time equivalent enrollment (60 semester credit hours) or until the requirements of a baccalaureate degree have been met, whichever is shorter. A student who has not used the award in its entirety within five years after his or her high school graduation date is ineligible to receive a program award.

4.2. Applicant Qualification - To qualify for the award, an applicant must have either (1): completed the requirements for an associate degree with at least a "B" (3.0) grade point average by September 1 of the year of his or her high school graduation date; or (2) completed the approved math and science curriculum with at least a "B" (3.0) grade point average by September 1 of the year of his or her high school graduation date.

4.3. Accredited College or University - The associate degree must be received from, or the approved math and science curriculum must be completed through, a regionally accredited Utah public institution, provided the institution's academic on-campus residency requirements, if any, will not affect a student's eligibility for the scholarship if the institution's registrar's office verifies that the student has completed the necessary class credits for an associate degree or completed the approved math and science curriculum.

4.4. Eligible Institutions - The award may be used at any higher education institution in the state accredited by the Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges that offers baccalaureate programs.

4.5. Enrollment at More than One Institution - The award may be used at more than one of Utah’s eligible institutions within the same semester.

4.6. Student Transfer - The award may be transferred to a different eligible Utah institution upon the request of the student.

R604-5. Application Procedures

5.1. Application Contact - Qualifying students may apply for the award through the SBR office.

5.2. Support Documentation - Applicants must provide documentation verifying their graduation date, a copy of their college transcript, and if the student is enrolled at an institution which does not offer an associate degree or an institution that will not award the associate degree until the academic on-campus residency requirement has been met, the registrar must verify that the applicant has completed the equivalent academic requirements prior to September 1 of the year of the recipient's graduation date.

R604-6. Distribution of Award Funds

6.1. Amount of Award - If used at an institution within the state system of higher education, the amount of the scholarship, depending on available funding, will be up to 75% of the gross total cost of tuition based on the number of hours the student is enrolled. If used at an institution not within the state system of higher education, the scholarship, depending on available funding, will be up to 75% of the tuition costs at the institution, not to exceed 75% of the average tuition costs at the baccalaureate degree granting institutions within the state system of higher education. Tuition waivers, financial aid, or other scholarships will not affect the total award amount.

6.2. Tuition Documentation - The award recipient shall submit to SBR a copy of the tuition invoice or class schedule verifying the number of hours enrolled. SBR will calculate the amount of the award based on the published tuition costs at the enrolled institution(s) and the availability of program funding.

6.3. Award Payable to Institution - The scholarship award will be made payable to the institution. The institution shall pay over to the recipient any excess award funds not required for tuition payments. Award funds should be used for higher education expenses including tuition, fees, books, supplies and equipment required for courses of instruction.

6.4. Added Hours after Award - The award will be increased up to 75% of the tuition costs of any hours added in the semester after the initial award has been made, depending on available funding. Recipient shall submit to SBR a copy of the tuition invoice or class schedule verifying the added hours before a supplemental award is made.

6.5. Dropped Hours after Award - If a student drops hours which were included in calculating the award amount, either the subsequent semester award will be reduced accordingly, or the student shall repay the excess award amount to SBR. If a recipient fails to complete a minimum of six semester hours, no award will be made for that semester, and a grade earned in a class completed in that semester, if any, will not be considered in evaluating the recipient's reasonable progress.

R604-7. Continuing Eligibility

7.1. Reasonable Progress toward Degree Completion - The SBR may cancel the scholarship if the student fails to maintain a "B average" for two consecutive semesters for which he or she has received award funds; or fails to make reasonable progress toward the completion of a baccalaureate degree. Each semester, the recipient must submit to SBR a copy of his or her grades to verify that he or she is meeting the required grade point average and is making reasonable progress toward the completion of a baccalaureate degree. If a student earns less than a "B" (3.0) GPA in any single semester, the student must earn a "B" (3.0) GPA or better the following semester to maintain eligibility for the scholarship

7.2. No Awards after Five Years - The SBR will not make an award to a recipient for an academic term that begins more than five years after the recipient's high school graduation date.

7.3. No Guarantee of Degree Completion - A New Century Scholarship award does not guarantee that the recipient will complete his or her baccalaureate program within the recipient's scholarship eligibility period.

R604-8. Leave of Absence

8.1. Does Not Extend Time - A leave of absence will not extend the time limits of the scholarship. The scholarship may only be used for academic terms which begin within five years after the recipient's high school graduation date.

(Adopted June 4, 1999, amended July 12, 1999, April 20, 2001, May 31, 2002 and September 15, 2006.)