MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2007 Regular Session
To: Universities and Colleges; Appropriations
By: Senator(s) Harden
AN ACT TO ASSIST ELIGIBLE STUDENTS TO TRANSFER FROM TWO-YEAR PUBLIC COLLEGES TO FOUR-YEAR PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES; TO PROVIDE ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS AND CONDITIONS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. (1) There is created the Mississippi Community/Junior College Transfer Scholarship Fund. The purpose of this fund is to assist eligible students to transfer from a two-year Mississippi public community or junior college to a public four-year Mississippi public institution of higher learning. The fund shall consist of all monies appropriated to the fund by the Legislature and any gifts, grants or donations that may be received from any source, public or private. Monies in the fund may be used solely for the purpose of awarding scholarships under this section. Interest earned on the investment of monies in the fund must be returned and deposited to the credit of the fund.
(2) This subsection addresses eligibility requirements for those students who are transferring from a two-year Mississippi public community or junior college to a four-year Mississippi public institution of higher learning. When making initial application for the scholarship, the students must meet the following requirements:
(a) Be a United States citizen or eligible noncitizen and registered with the Selective Service, if required.
(b) Have actually resided in Mississippi during the twelve (12) months preceding enrollment at any four-year Mississippi public institution of higher learning.
(c) Have a custodial parent or guardian who is a resident of Mississippi (if considered a dependent).
(d) Have no criminal record.
(e) Must not have previously attended a four-year institution of higher learning.
(f) Must have earned at a minimum sixty (60) transferable hours from a Mississippi public community/junior college with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.00 calculated on a 4.0 scale.
(g) Be enrolling or accepted for enrollment as a full-time undergraduate student at an eligible four-year Mississippi public institution of higher learning pursuing a first baccalaureate degree.
(h) File the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
(i) Be Pell eligible.
(j) Be in compliance with the terms of both federal and state-aid programs.
(k) Total award package will not exceed the institution's cost of attendance or some other limitation established by the institution which may be less than the cost of attendance when the scholarship is added to the award package. If an over award occurs, the scholarship will be reduced.
(l) Be in compliance with the terms of both federal and state-aid programs.
(3) To maintain continued eligibility for the scholarship once enrolled in college, a student must meet all of the following requirements:
(a) Make academic progress toward a degree, earning not less than the minimum number of hours of credit required for full-time standing each semester or trimester requiring such enrollment.
(b) Maintain continuous enrollment at the same four-year Mississippi public institution of higher learning as a full-time undergraduate student (excluding summer sessions) for not less than two (2) semesters in each successive academic year, unless granted an approval for transfer of award or in the case of withdrawal from school, granted an exception for cause by the Mississippi Office of State Student Financial Aid.
(c) Have a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.00 calculated on a 4.0 scale at the end of each academic year.
(d) Have no criminal record, except for misdemeanor traffic violations.
(e) File the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) annually.
(f) Be Pell eligible.
(g) Continue to maintain Mississippi residency.
(h) Be in compliance with the terms of federal and other state-aid programs.
(4) Failure to maintain academic eligibility and/or full-time enrollment (other than withdrawal) will result in permanent cancellation of the recipient's eligibility for the scholarship. Withdrawal from school will result in cancellation of the recipient's eligibility for the scholarship; however, the student may file an appeal for reconsideration with the Mississippi Office of State Student Financial Aid and may be granted an exception for cause.
(5) All applicants for funding are notified whether eligible or not. If an applicant must provide additional information, he/she should respond in writing by the specified deadline.
(6) Universities and community/junior colleges will report certain data about applicants/recipients, including, but not limited to:
(a) Confirmation that award recipients are enrolled full time each semester.
(b) Confirmation of the continuing eligibility of award recipients at the completion of each academic year (ending after each spring semester or trimester), including the following:
(i) Total number of hours earned during the specific academic year (excluding summer).
(ii) Cumulative grade point average.
(iii) Notify the Office of State Student Financial Aid if an award recipient fails to enroll or subsequently withdraws.
(3) To prevent the student's total financial assistance awards from exceeding the institution's cost of attendance or some other limitation established by the institution which may be less than the cost of attendance, the institution may reduce the amount paid by the scholarship and refund the amount to the Mississippi Office of Student Financial Aid.
(7) The maximum annual award that may be made under the scholarship program shall be Three Thousand Dollars ($3,000.00). Students classified as juniors may receive a maximum of two (2) annual awards or, in those instances when a degree program requires five (5) years for completion, three (3) annual awards.
(8) The Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning shall promulgate rules and regulations necessary to carry out the purposes and intent of this section. The Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning shall be the administering agency of the program.
(9) 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 students working toward their first degree on a first-come, first-served basis; however, priority consideration must be given to persons previously receiving scholarships under the program who are making steady academic progress toward completion of a baccalaureate degree.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2007.