House Bill 343

AN ACT TO CREATE THE MISSISSIPPI COMMUNITY AND JUNIOR COLLEGE TRANSFER GRANT PROGRAM; TO AUTHORIZE STUDENTS TRANSFERRING FROM A PUBLIC COMMUNITY OR JUNIOR COLLEGE IN MISSISSIPPI TO A PUBLIC OR PRIVATE INSTITUTION OF HIGHER LEARNING IN MISSISSIPPI TO APPLY FOR A GRANT UNDER THE PROGRAM; TO PRESCRIBE REQUIREMENTS FOR INITIAL ELIGIBILITY AND CONTINUATION OF GRANTS; TO PROVIDE THAT THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF STATE INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING SHALL BE THE ADMINISTERING AGENCY OF THE PROGRAM; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. (1) There is created the Mississippi Community and Junior College Transfer Grant Program. The purpose of the program is to provide financial assistance to eligible students transferring from a public community or junior college in the state to a public or private institution of higher learning in Mississippi. Under the program, funds may be paid to any public or private institution of higher learning in Mississippi on behalf of students who have been awarded financial assistance under this section.

(2) Beginning with the 2010-2011 academic year, a student transferring from a public community or junior college in the state to a public or private institution of higher learning in Mississippi may apply for a grant under this section. In order to be eligible, a student initially applying for a grant must meet the following requirements:

(a) Be a United States citizen or citizen of another country legally in the United States and, if required, registered with the Selective Service;

(b) Be a legal resident of the State of Mississippi, as determined under Sections 37-103-1 through 37-103-29;

(d) Have received an associate degree from a public community or junior college in Mississippi and have maintained a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 calculated on a 4.0 scale while enrolled in the associate degree program;

(e) Be accepted for enrollment, no later than the first fall semester following the award of the associate degree, at a public or private institution of higher learning in Mississippi as a full-time undergraduate student pursuing a first baccalaureate degree in an educational program other than one providing religious training or theological education;

(f) Have filed the Free Application for Federal Student

Financial Aid (FAFSA);

(g) Be eligible for a Pell grant; and

(h) Be in compliance with the terms of federal and state aid programs.

(3) A student enrolled in an institution of higher learning in Mississippi must meet the following requirements in order to maintain continued eligibility for a grant awarded under this section:

(a) Make steady academic progress toward a

baccalaureate degree, including earning not less than the minimum number of credit hours required for full-time standing each semester or trimester at the applicable institution of higher learning;

(b) Maintain continuous enrollment at the same 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 the student is granted an approval for a transfer of award or, in the case of withdrawal from school, granted an exception for cause by the Postsecondary Education Financial Assistance Board;

(c) Have a cumulative grade point average of no less than 3.0 calculated on a 4.0 scale at the end of each academic year;

(d) Have filed the Free Application for Federal Student

Financial Aid (FAFSA) annually;

(e) Remain eligible for a Pell grant annually;

(f) Continue to maintain residency in Mississippi; and

(g) Be in compliance with the terms of federal and state aid programs.

(4) The failure of a student to maintain academic

eligibility or status as a full-time student, other than in the case of complete withdrawal, results in the permanent

discontinuation of the student's eligibility for a grant under this section. A complete withdrawal from the institution of higher learning also results in the discontinuation of a student's eligibility for a grant; however, the student may file an appeal for reconsideration with the Postsecondary Education Financial Assistance Board and may be granted an exception for cause.

(5) (a) The amount of the annual grant that may be awarded to an eligible student under this section is One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00). An additional One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) per year will be provided to those students pursuing undergraduate collegiate work in engineering, mathematics, nursing, teaching or science. Eligibility for a grant under this program shall be limited to three (3) academic years or seventy (70) credit hours.

(b) The Postsecondary Education Financial Assistance Board shall reduce an eligible student's state financial aid eligibility by the amount of any grant awarded under this section. Tuition assistance received by a student under this program may not be reduced due to the receipt of other financial aid from any source by that student. However, a student may not receive a grant under this section that, when added to other financial aid received by that student, would enable the student to receive total assistance in excess of the estimated cost to the student of attending the institution in which the student is enrolled.

(6) 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 is the administering agency of the program.

(7) It is the intent of the Legislature to fully fund grants to all eligible applicants under this program. If funds are insufficient to fully fund grants for all eligible applicants, the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning shall award grants to those students making steady academic progress toward their first baccalaureate degree on a first-come, first-served basis; however, priority consideration must be given to persons previously receiving grants under this section if those persons 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, 2010.