MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2000 Regular Session

To: Education; Appropriations

By: Representative Smith (35th)

AN ACT TO ESTABLISH THE MISSISSIPPI COMMUNITY AND JUNIOR COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM FOR STUDENTS MAINTAINING A 3.00 GRADE POINT AVERAGE; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. (1) There is established the Mississippi Community and Junior College Scholarship Program for eligible students enrolled in the state-supported community and junior colleges of this state.

(2) The tuition of any full-time student who is enrolled in a state-supported community or junior college in the State of Mississippi who has a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.00 calculated on a 4.00 scale upon completion of no less than twelve (12) semester hours during the student's first semester shall be paid by the state on behalf of the student. The maximum award that may be made under this scholarship program may not exceed the cost of tuition at the community or junior college in which the student is enrolled. Students may receive awards for a maximum of three (3) semesters. However, a student may not receive awards under this program for greater than sixty-three (63) semester hours, and any student who has completed an associate or baccalaureate degree is not eligible to participate in the program. Scholarships awarded to nonresidents of the state may not include any out-of-state tuition assessed by the community or junior college. For purposes of this section, "tuition" means the semester charges and all required fees imposed by a community or junior college as a condition of enrollment.

(3) As a condition for renewal of a scholarship, a student must maintain continuous enrollment in a community or junior college and must make steady academic progress toward a certificate or associate degree, as certified by the community or junior college's registrar. However, the State Board for Community and Junior Colleges may grant an exception to the requirement for continuous enrollment in order to allow a student to participate in a cooperative, internship or foreign study program. Scholarship recipients must maintain a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.00 calculated on a 4.00 scale on all coursework completed. Eligibility for renewal of a scholarship shall be evaluated at the end of each semester.

(4) The State Board for Community and Junior Colleges shall be the administering agency of this scholarship program and shall promulgate rules and regulations necessary to carry out the purposes and intent of this section.

(5) Scholarship payments under the Mississippi Community and Junior College Scholarship Program shall be payable to the recipient and the community or junior college in which the student is enrolled and shall be mailed directly to the community or junior college.

(6) It is the intent of the Legislature to fully fund scholarships to eligible students under this program. If funds are insufficient to fully fund scholarships to all eligible applicants, the board shall award the scholarships to first-time students on a first-come, first-served basis; however, priority consideration must be given to persons previously receiving awards under the program who are making steady academic progress toward completion of a certificate program or associate degree.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2000.