Sec. 10a-161a. Report on trends in attendance cost and student financial aid.
Sec. 10a-161b. Student Financial Aid Information Council.
Sec. 10a-161c. Report on institutional financial aid to undergraduate students.
Sec. 10a-164. (Formerly Sec. 10-116o). State supplemental grant program.
Sec. 10a-164a. Connecticut aid to public college students grant program.
Sec. 10a-165. (Formerly Sec. 10-116p). Work-study programs.
Sec. 10a-167. (Formerly Sec. 10-116r). Scholarships for Vietnam era veterans.
Sec. 10a-168a. Minority teacher incentive program.
Sec. 10a-168b. Minority educator loan reimbursement grant program.
Sec. 10a-169. Capitol scholarship grant program.
Sec. 10a-169a. Information technology scholarship pilot program.
Sec. 10a-169b. Information technology loan reimbursement pilot program.
Secs. 10a-170n to 10a-170q. Reserved
Sec. 10a-170w. Gear up for Connecticut futures account.
Sec. 10a-171. Transfer of functions.
Sec. 10a-172. Information re students receiving financial aid from certain grants. Report.
Sec. 10a-173. Roberta B. Willis Scholarship program.
Sec. 10a-174. Debt-free community college program.
Sec. 10a-175. Reserved
Sec. 10a-161. (Formerly Sec. 10-116l). Duties of Office of Higher Education re student financial assistance. The Office of Higher Education shall: (1) Establish state-wide policy pertaining to student financial assistance; (2) establish procedure by regulation, for the award of financial assistance under sections 10a-167 and 10a-173; (3) review and approve applications for financial assistance under sections 10a-168 and 10a-173; (4) receive and review records of all financial assistance granted pursuant to section 10a-167; (5) increase the availability of the state financial assistance programs to all segments of the state population, with significant attention to those with special needs; and (6) assist financial aid officers at institutions of higher education and secondary school guidance counselors and school counselors in becoming better informed about matters concerning student financial assistance affairs.
(P.A. 77-530, S. 2, 11; 77-573, S. 24, 30; P.A. 78-331, S. 27, 58; P.A. 81-157, S. 2, 14; 81-408, S. 2, 3; P.A. 82-218, S. 37, 46; 82-472, S. 152, 183; P.A. 84-241, S. 2, 5; P.A. 87-256, S. 2; 87-450, S. 12, 17; P.A. 88-136, S. 33, 37; P.A. 11-48, S. 285; P.A. 13-247, S. 180; P.A. 18-15, S. 9.)
History: P.A. 77-573 substituted board of higher education for commission for higher education; P.A. 78-331 made technical change in Subsec. (c)(1), substituting “and” for “or”; P.A. 81-157 deleted Subsecs. (a) and (b) re appointment of chairman and committees and re board of higher education's duties concerning financial assistance programs and transferred duties formerly held by state student financial assistance commission under former Subsec. (c) to board of higher education, adding policy-making power and provisions re appointment of five-member advisory committee; P.A. 81-408 clarified board's policy-making powers by listing specific statute sections in Subdiv. (1); P.A. 82-218 reorganized higher education system, replacing board of higher education with board of governors, effective March 1, 1983; P.A. 82-472 made no change; Sec. 10-116l transferred to Sec. 10a-161 in 1983; P.A. 84-241 added “of higher education” to board of governors' title; P.A. 87-256 added two Connecticut students to the advisory committee, one from a public institution and one from an independent institution; P.A. 87-450 deleted references to Secs. 10a-164 and 10a-165 which were repealed elsewhere in the act; P.A. 88-136 deleted references to Sec. 10a-162 which was repealed by the same act; pursuant to P.A. 11-48, “Board of Governors of Higher Education” was changed editorially by the Revisors to “Board of Regents for Higher Education”, effective July 1, 2011; P.A. 13-247 replaced reference to Board of Regents for Higher Education with reference to Office of Higher Education, deleted references to Secs. 10a-163 and 10a-167 to 10a-169, added references to Sec. 10a-173 and deleted provisions re advisory committee on student financial assistance matters, effective July 1, 2013; P.A. 18-15 amended Subdiv. (6) by adding “and school counselors”, effective July 1, 2018.
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Sec. 10a-161a. Report on trends in attendance cost and student financial aid. The president of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities and the Office of Higher Education shall report, biennially, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a, to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to higher education on state, northeast regional and national trends in (1) the cost of attendance at public and independent institutions of higher education and private career schools, and (2) the availability and utilization of all forms of student financial aid for academic and noncredit vocational courses and programs relative to economic conditions and personal income.
(P.A. 94-180, S. 9, 17; P.A. 11-48, S. 285; P.A. 12-156, S. 51; P.A. 14-225, S. 8; P.A. 16-15, S. 31; P.A. 22-123, S. 33.)
History: P.A. 94-180 effective July 1, 1994; pursuant to P.A. 11-48, “Commissioner of Higher Education” was changed editorially by the Revisors to “president of the Board of Regents for Higher Education”, effective July 1, 2011; P.A. 12-156 added “and the Office of Higher Education”, and made a technical change, effective June 15, 2012; P.A. 14-225 added provision re academic and noncredit vocational courses and programs in Subdiv. (2) and made a technical change; P.A. 16-15 replaced “president of the Board of Regents for Higher Education” with “president of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities”, effective July 1, 2016; P.A. 22-123 changed “private occupational school” to “private career school”, effective July 1, 2022.
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Sec. 10a-161b. Student Financial Aid Information Council. Section 10a-161b is repealed, effective July 1, 2013.
(P.A. 94-180, S. 10, 17; P.A. 11-48, S. 285; P.A. 13-240, S. 12; 13-299, S. 95.)
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Sec. 10a-161c. Report on institutional financial aid to undergraduate students. Not later than November 1, 2015, and annually thereafter, The University of Connecticut and the Board of Regents for Higher Education shall submit a report, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a, to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to higher education describing how institutional financial aid was awarded to its undergraduate students during the previous academic year. Such report shall include, but need not be limited to, a separate description for in-state and out-of-state students of the aggregate amount of institutional (1) financial aid funding available, (2) need-based financial aid awarded, and (3) merit-based financial aid awarded.
(P.A. 15-231, S. 1.)
History: P.A. 15-231 effective July 1, 2015.
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Sec. 10a-161d. Institutional aid for eligible students and veterans without legal immigration status. (a) As used in this section:
(1) “Eligible student without legal immigration status” means any person who (A) is entitled to classification as an in-state student for tuition purposes pursuant to subdivision (9) of section 10a-29, (B) was thirty years of age or younger on June 15, 2012, (C) was sixteen years of age or younger when he or she arrived in the United States and has continuously resided in the United States since such arrival, and (D) has not been convicted of a felony in this state or in another state;
(2) “Eligible veteran without legal immigration status” means any veteran, as defined in section 27-103, without legal immigration status, who (A) was thirty years of age or younger on June 15, 2012, (B) was fifteen years of age or younger when he or she arrived in the United States and has continuously resided in the United States since such arrival, and (C) has not been convicted of a felony in this state or in another state;
(3) “Institutional financial aid” means funds set aside from the anticipated tuition revenue of an institution of higher education for the purposes of providing tuition waivers, tuition remissions, grants for educational expenses and student employment for full-time or part-time students who are enrolled in a degree-granting program or a precollege remedial program and who demonstrate substantial financial need; and
(4) “Public institution of higher education” means those institutions of higher education identified in subdivisions (1) and (2) of section 10a-1.
(b) On and after April 27, 2018, in accordance with 8 USC 1621(d), any eligible veteran without legal immigration status who files an affidavit with an institution of higher education pursuant to subdivision (9) of section 10a-29, stating that such eligible veteran has filed an application to legalize his or her immigration status, or will file such application as soon as he or she is eligible, shall be eligible to apply for and receive, to the extent permitted by federal law, institutional financial aid to attend a public institution of higher education in the state.
(c) On January 1, 2020, or the effective date of an Act of Congress that provides a pathway to United States citizenship for an eligible student without legal immigration status, whichever is earlier, and for each semester thereafter, in accordance with 8 USC 1621(d), any eligible student without legal immigration status who files an affidavit with an institution of higher education pursuant to subdivision (9) of section 10a-29, stating that such eligible student has filed an application to legalize his or her immigration status, or will file such application as soon as he or she is eligible, shall be eligible to apply for and receive, to the extent permitted by federal law, institutional financial aid to attend a public institution of higher education in the state.
(d) Not later than July 1, 2018, the Board of Regents for Higher Education and the Board of Trustees for The University of Connecticut shall establish procedures and develop forms to enable persons who are eligible for institutional financial aid under subsections (b) and (c) of this section to apply for and receive, to the extent permitted by federal law, such institutional financial aid.
(e) Nothing in this section is intended to require or compel a public institution of higher education to match the amount of federal student financial aid a person who is eligible for institutional financial aid under subsection (a) of this section would receive if such person was eligible for such federal student financial aid.
(f) The Board of Regents for Higher Education and the Board of Trustees for The University of Connecticut may adopt policies as are necessary to carry out the purposes of this section.
(P.A. 18-2, S. 1; P.A. 21-79, S. 13.)
History: P.A. 18-2 effective April 27, 2018; P.A. 21-79 amended Subsec. (a)(2) to redefine “eligible veteran without legal immigration status”.
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Sec. 10a-162. (Formerly Sec. 10-116m). State scholarship program. Eligibility for awards after July 1, 1982; termination of program. Section 10a-162 is repealed.
(P.A. 77-530, S. 3, 11; 77-573, S. 24, 30; P.A. 78-331, S. 28, 58; P.A. 81-157, S. 3, 14; P.A. 82-218, S. 37, 46; P.A. 84-241, S. 2, 5; P.A. 88-136, S. 36, 37.)
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Sec. 10a-162a. State scholarship program for nursing education and program for the forgiveness of loans provided by the state for nursing education. The Board of Regents for Higher Education, in consultation with the State Board of Examiners for Nursing and the Commissioner of Public Health, shall administer a scholarship program for nursing education within the state and shall establish a program for the forgiveness of loans provided by the state to residents for nursing education within the state. The loans shall be forgiven if the resident remains in the nursing field in Connecticut for five years. For purposes of this section, “nursing education” includes any program of study and courses taken to enter or to advance in the profession or to upgrade knowledge and skills. The board of regents, in consultation with the State Board of Examiners for Nursing and the Commissioner of Public Health, shall adopt regulations in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54 to establish procedures to administer the scholarship program for nursing education and the program for the forgiveness of loans provided by the state to residents for nursing education.
(P.A. 88-207, S. 3; P.A. 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58; P.A. 11-48, S. 285.)
History: P.A. 93-381 replaced commissioner of health services with commissioner of public health and addiction services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995; pursuant to P.A. 11-48, “Board of Governors of Higher Education” was changed editorially by the Revisors to “Board of Regents for Higher Education”, effective July 1, 2011.
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Secs. 10a-163 (Formerly Sec. 10-116n), 10a-163a and 10a-163b. Teacher incentive loan program for training in areas of teacher shortages; eligibility requirements; loan repayment and forgiveness provisions. Teacher incentive loan program and academic scholarship loan program funds. Loan servicing and administering. Sections 10a-163 to 10a-163b, inclusive, are repealed, effective July 1, 2013.
(P.A. 77-530, S. 4, 11; P.A. 81-157, S. 5, 14; P.A. 82-218, S. 37, 46; P.A. 83-556, S. 1, 4, 5; P.A. 84-241, S. 2, 5; 84-376, S. 1, 3; P.A. 85-377, S. 4, 13; 85-479, S. 1, 6; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 86-1, S. 40, 41, 58; P.A. 87-416, S. 10, 24; P.A. 90-147, S. 14, 20; P.A. 92-262, S. 34, 42; P.A. 93-201, S. 16, 24; P.A. 94-180, S. 8, 17; P.A. 95-259, S. 25, 32; P.A. 98-252, S. 54, 80; P.A. 11-48, S. 266, 285; P.A. 12-156, S. 56, 61; P.A. 13-118, S. 18; 13-247, S. 389.)
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Sec. 10a-164. (Formerly Sec. 10-116o). State supplemental grant program. Section 10a-164 is repealed.
(P.A. 77-530, S. 5, 11; 77-573, S. 24, 30; P.A. 81-157, S. 6, 14; P.A. 82-218, S. 37, 46; P.A. 84-241, S. 2, 5; P.A. 87-450, S. 15, 17.)
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Sec. 10a-164a. Connecticut aid to public college students grant program. Section 10a-164a is repealed, effective July 1, 2013.
(P.A. 87-450, S. 1, 17; P.A. 88-252, S. 3, 6; P.A. 89-260, S. 35, 41; P.A. 90-147, S. 13, 20; P.A. 91-208, S. 9, 11; P.A. 92-126, S. 28, 48; P.A. 94-180, S. 5, 17; May 9 Sp. Sess. P.A. 02-7, S. 8; P.A. 08-55, S. 1; P.A. 09-159, S. 8; P.A. 11-48, S. 267; P.A. 12-156, S. 56; P.A. 13-247, S. 389.)
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Sec. 10a-164b. Grant program for delivery of mental health services to students on campus at public and independent institutions of higher education. (a) For the fiscal years ending June 30, 2023, to June 30, 2025, inclusive, the Office of Higher Education shall administer a grant program to provide grants to public and independent institutions of higher education, for the delivery of mental health services to students on campus.
(b) On and after January 1, 2023, applications for grants pursuant to subsection (a) of this section shall be filed with the executive director of the Office of Higher Education at such time, and in such manner, as the executive director prescribes. As part of the application, the applicant shall submit a plan for the expenditure of grant funds.
(c) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, the executive director of the Office of Higher Education may award a grant to an applicant and shall determine the amount of the grant award based on the plan submitted by such applicant pursuant to subsection (b) of this section. The executive director shall pay a grant to each grant recipient in each of the fiscal years ending June 30, 2023, to June 30, 2025, inclusive, as follows: (1) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, the amount of the grant shall be as determined by the commissioner under this subsection; (2) for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, the amount of the grant shall be the same amount as the grant awarded for the prior fiscal year; and (3) for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, the amount of the grant shall be seventy per cent of the amount of the grant awarded for the prior fiscal year.
(d) Grant recipients shall file expenditure reports with the executive director of the Office of Higher Education at such time and in such manner as the executive director prescribes. A grant recipient shall only expend grant funds received under this section in accordance with the plan submitted pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, and a grant recipient may not use such grant funds received under this section for the purpose of any operating expenses that existed prior to receipt of such grant. Grant recipients shall refund to the Office of Higher Education (1) any unexpended amounts at the close of the fiscal year in which the grant was awarded, and (2) any amounts not expended in accordance with the plan for which such grant application was approved.
(e) Each grant recipient, in collaboration with the Office of Higher Education, shall develop metrics to annually track and calculate the utilization rate of the grant program for such grant recipient in order to measure the success of the program. Such grant recipient shall annually submit such metrics and utilization rate to the office.
(f) For the purposes of carrying out the provisions of this section, the Office of Higher Education may accept funds from private sources or any other state agency, gifts, grants and donations, including, but not limited to, in-kind contributions.
(g) (1) Not later than January 1, 2024, and each January first thereafter, until and including January 1, 2026, the executive director of the Office of Higher Education shall submit a report, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a, on the utilization rate for each grant recipient calculated pursuant to subsection (e) of this section, to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to higher education.
(2) Not later than January 1, 2026, the executive director shall develop recommendations concerning (A) whether such grant program should be extended and funded for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, and each fiscal year thereafter, and (B) the amount of the grant award under the program. The executive director shall submit such recommendations, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a, to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to higher education.
(P.A. 22-47, S. 15.)
History: P.A. 22-47 effective May 23, 2022.
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Sec. 10a-165. (Formerly Sec. 10-116p). Work-study programs. Section 10a-165 is repealed.
(P.A. 77-530, S. 6, 11; P.A. 81-157, S. 7, 14; P.A. 82-218, S. 37, 46; P.A. 84-241, S. 2, 5; P.A. 87-450, S. 15, 17.)
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Sec. 10a-166. (Formerly Sec. 10-116q). Education grant to child of deceased or disabled veteran or missing in action member of armed forces. (a) Any child between the ages of sixteen and twenty-three, inclusive, of any person who served in the armed forces in time of war, as defined in subsection (a) of section 27-103, and who was killed in action or who died as a result of accident or illness sustained while performing active military duty with the armed forces of the United States or who has been rated totally and permanently disabled by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, or who is missing in action in Vietnam, if such person was a resident of this state at the time of his induction or reenlistment, shall receive, upon application to and approval of such application therefor by the Board of Regents for Higher Education, state aid for tuition, matriculation fees, board, room rent, books and supplies for such child attending any of the following-named institutions approved by said board: An educational or training institution of college grade or any other institution of higher learning or commercial training, a state college, a technical education and career school or technical institute or any accredited military preparatory school if such beneficiary is preparing to enter the United States Military Academy at West Point, the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, the United States Coast Guard Academy at New London or the United States Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs. The application submitted to the Board of Regents for Higher Education shall include an affidavit signed by the applicant which states that the applicant has not applied for and will not apply for or receive state aid from another state which is similar to that provided for in this section. Such grant may be used for the matriculation fees of any such beneficiary at any of said United States government academies. Such aid shall be based on need and shall not exceed four hundred dollars per year for each beneficiary and shall be paid to such institution on vouchers approved by the Board of Regents for Higher Education.
(b) To be eligible for a grant under this section, a child of a person missing in action in Vietnam must apply for such aid while his or her serviceman parent is still missing in action. Once the application of such child has been approved, the return of the parent of such child shall not result in the termination of such aid.
(P.A. 77-530, S. 7, 11; 77-573, S. 24, 30; P.A. 81-157, S. 8, 14; 81-273, S. 1, 2; P.A. 82-218, S. 37, 46; P.A. 83-392, S. 1, 2; P.A. 84-241, S. 2, 5; P.A. 11-48, S. 285; P.A. 12-116, S. 87; P.A. 17-237, S. 92; P.A. 18-72, S. 22.)
History: P.A. 77-573 replaced commission for higher education with board of higher education; P.A. 81-157 transferred administration of grant program from student financial assistance commission to board of higher education; P.A. 81-273 amended Subsec. (a) to require the grant be based on need; P.A. 82-218 reorganized system of higher education, replacing board of higher education with board of governors, effective March 1, 1983; Sec. 10-116q transferred to Sec. 10a-166 in 1983; P.A. 83-392 amended Subsec. (a) to expand eligibility for grant to children of veteran who was a resident of this state at time of reenlistment and to require submission of affidavit which states that applicant has not applied for and will not apply for or receive similar aid from another state; P.A. 84-241 added “of higher education” to board of governors' title; pursuant to P.A. 11-48, “Board of Governors of Higher Education” was changed editorially by the Revisors to “Board of Regents for Higher Education” in Subsec. (a), effective July 1, 2011; pursuant to P.A. 12-116, “vocational school” was changed editorially by the Revisors to “technical high school” in Subsec. (a), effective July 1, 2012; P.A. 17-237 amended Subsec. (a) by replacing “technical high school” with “technical education and career school”, effective July 1, 2017; P.A. 18-72 amended Subsec. (a) to replace reference to Veterans' Administration of the United States with reference to United States Department of Veterans Affairs.
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Sec. 10a-167. (Formerly Sec. 10-116r). Scholarships for Vietnam era veterans. A scholarship fund shall be established for Vietnam era veterans, as defined in subsection (a) of section 27-103, who have been accepted for admission on a full-time basis in a degree-granting program at any independent, nontheological college in the state, provided such veteran is a resident of the state at the time of his acceptance, as defined in sections 10a-28, 10a-29 and 10a-30. The board shall adopt, by regulation, guidelines for qualifying for scholarship funds, taking into consideration the special needs of such veterans, such as marital status, parental responsibilities and sources of support.
(P.A. 77-530, S. 8, 11; P.A. 81-157, S. 9, 14; P.A. 82-218, S. 37, 46.)
History: P.A. 81-157 transferred administration of scholarship program from student financial assistance commission to board of higher education and clarified residency requirement; P.A. 82-218 made no change in language of section; Sec. 10-116r transferred to Sec. 10a-167 pursuant to reorganization of higher education system.
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Sec. 10a-168. (Formerly Sec. 10-116s). Scholarship aid for teachers of children requiring special education. If the Office of Higher Education determines that no approved program of teacher education within the state is available for the preparation of teachers of children requiring special education as defined in part V of chapter 164, said office may provide scholarship aid for such undergraduate and graduate students as it may designate to attend approved programs in institutions in other states. The office may determine the amount of such scholarship aid in each case. In order to be eligible for such scholarship aid, any applicant shall agree to teach children requiring special education in Connecticut for at least three years.
(P.A. 77-530, S. 9, 11; 77-573, S. 24, 30; P.A. 81-157, S. 10, 14; P.A. 82-218, S. 37, 46; P.A. 84-241, S. 2, 5; P.A. 87-450, S. 13, 17; P.A. 88-136, S. 34, 37; P.A. 11-48, S. 285; P.A. 13-247, S. 181.)
History: P.A. 77-573 replaced commission for higher education with board of higher education; P.A. 81-157 transferred administration of any program awarding scholarship aid to teachers of children requiring special education from student financial assistance commission to board of higher education; P.A. 82-218 replaced board of higher education with board of governors pursuant to reorganization of higher education system, effective March 1, 1983; Sec. 10-116s transferred to Sec. 10a-168 in 1983; P.A. 84-241 added “of higher education” to board of governors' title; P.A. 87-450 deleted reference to Sec. 10a-164 which was repealed by the same act; P.A. 88-136 deleted a reference to Sec. 10a-162 which was repealed by the same act; pursuant to P.A. 11-48, “Board of Governors of Higher Education” was changed editorially by the Revisors to “Board of Regents for Higher Education”, effective July 1, 2011; P.A. 13-247 replaced references to Board of Regents for Higher Education with references to Office of Higher Education and deleted provision re limitations of Sec. 10a-169, effective July 1, 2013.
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Sec. 10a-168a. Minority teacher incentive program. (a) There is established a Connecticut minority teacher incentive program administered by the Office of Higher Education, of which the minority educator loan reimbursement grant program established pursuant to section 10a-168b shall be a component part.
(b) Within available appropriations, the program shall provide grants to minority students (1) in teacher education programs for their junior or senior year, or both such years, at any four-year institution of higher education, (2) completing the requirements of such a teacher education program as a graduate student, provided such student received a grant pursuant to this section for one year at the undergraduate level, or (3) enrolled in the alternate route to certification program administered through the Office of Higher Education or the Department of Education. No student shall receive a grant under the program for more than two years. Maximum grants shall not exceed five thousand dollars per year. The office shall ensure that at least ten per cent of the grant recipients are minority students who transfer from a Connecticut regional community-technical college.
(c) The Office of Higher Education may accept gifts, grants and donations, from any source, public or private, for the Connecticut minority teacher incentive program.
(P.A. 98-168, S. 13, 26; 98-252, S. 65, 80; P.A. 00-220, S. 37, 43; P.A. 01-173, S. 37, 67; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 01-1, S. 8, 54; P.A. 11-48, S. 268; 11-61, S. 109; P.A. 12-156, S. 56; P.A. 19-117, S. 263.)
History: P.A. 98-168 effective July 1, 1998; P.A. 98-252 removed the limitation on the program to students in “public” institutions of higher education, effective June 8, 1998; P.A. 00-220 amended Subsec. (b) to remove a cap on the number of students who may receive grants, effective July 1, 2000; P.A. 01-173 amended Subsec. (e) to extend the use of funds to the fiscal years ending June 30, 2001, and June 30, 2002, and to reduce percentage from 5% to 2%, effective July 6, 2001; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 01-1 amended Subsec. (b) to designate portions of existing provisions as Subdivs. (1) and (3), to add Subdiv. (2) re graduate students and to make technical changes, effective July 1, 2001; P.A. 11-48 amended Subsecs. (a), (b) and (e) to replace “Department of Higher Education” and “department” with “Office of Financial and Academic Affairs for Higher Education” and “office”, effective July 1, 2011; P.A. 11-61 deleted former Subsec. (e) re use of up to 2% of appropriated funds for program administration, effective July 1, 2011; pursuant to P.A. 12-156, “Office of Financial and Academic Affairs for Higher Education” was changed editorially by the Revisors to “Office of Higher Education” in Subsecs. (a) and (b), effective June 15, 2012; P.A. 19-117 amended Subsec. (a) by adding “, of which the minority educator loan reimbursement grant program established pursuant to section 10a-168b shall be a component part”, amended Subsec. (b) by adding “or the Department of Education”, deleted former Subsecs. (c) and (d) re reimbursement of educational loans and combined dollar value of grants and loans, respectively, and added new Subsec. (c) re office may accept gifts, grants and donations for program, effective July 1, 2019.
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Sec. 10a-168b. Minority educator loan reimbursement grant program. (a) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, and each fiscal year thereafter, the Office of Higher Education, in collaboration with the Minority Teacher Recruitment Policy Oversight Council, established pursuant to section 10-156bb, and the Task Force to Diversify the Educator Workforce, established pursuant to section 10-156aa, shall, within available appropriations, administer a minority educator loan reimbursement grant program for persons who meet the eligibility requirements described in subsection (b) of this section.
(b) The program shall provide student loan reimbursement grants to any person who (1) is defined as a minority pursuant to section 10-155l, (2) holds professional certification pursuant to chapter 166, and (3) is employed as an administrator or a teacher by a local or regional board of education.
(c) Any person who satisfies the eligibility requirements prescribed in subsection (b) of this section may receive an annual grant for reimbursement of federal or state educational loans (1) in an amount up to ten per cent of such person's federal or state educational loans but that does not exceed five thousand dollars in any year, and (2) for a period not to exceed ten years. Such person shall only be reimbursed for loan payments made while such person is employed by a local or regional board of education.
(d) Persons may apply to the Office of Higher Education for grants under this section at such time and in such manner as the executive director of the Office of Higher Education prescribes.
(e) Any unexpended funds appropriated for purposes of this section shall not lapse at the end of the fiscal year but shall be available for expenditure during the next fiscal year.
(f) The Office of Higher Education may accept gifts, grants and donations, from any source, public or private, for the minority educator loan reimbursement grant program.
(P.A. 19-117, S. 262; P.A. 22-80, S. 22.)
History: P.A. 19-117 effective July 1, 2019; P.A. 22-80 amended Subsec. (a) by replacing “minority teacher recruitment task force” with “Task Force to Diversify the Educator Workforce”, effective May 24, 2022.
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Sec. 10a-169. Capitol scholarship grant program. Section 10a-169 is repealed, effective July 1, 2013.
(P.A. 81-157, S. 4, 14; P.A. 82-218, S. 37, 46; P.A. 84-241, S. 2, 5; P.A. 87-450, S. 14, 17; P.A. 98-252, S. 55, 80; P.A. 05-245, S. 42; P.A. 06-196, S. 76; P.A. 11-48, S. 208, 285; P.A. 12-128, S. 1; P.A. 13-247, S. 389.)
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Sec. 10a-169a. Information technology scholarship pilot program. (a) There is established a Connecticut information technology scholarship pilot program administered by the Board of Regents for Higher Education.
(b) Within available appropriations, the program shall provide grants for students entering or enrolling in an information technology related degree or certification program at any public or independent institution of higher education in this state. The scholarship shall not exceed three thousand dollars per student per year. The scholarship shall not exceed the combined costs of tuition and fees of an institution at which a recipient is or will be enrolled. The Board of Regents for Higher Education shall develop eligibility requirements for recipients. Such requirements may include income guidelines. Students shall be eligible for such scholarships for each year they are enrolled in an information technology related degree or certification program for a total of not more than four years per student. Students may apply for such scholarships to the Board of Regents for Higher Education at such time and in such manner as the president of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities prescribes.
(c) The Board of Regents for Higher Education may accept donations for such scholarship program.
(d) The recipients of scholarships pursuant to this section for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2001, shall constitute a cohort and scholarships for succeeding years shall only be available to members of such cohort.
(e) Any unexpended funds appropriated for purposes of this section shall not lapse at the end of the fiscal year but shall be available for expenditure during the next fiscal year.
(f) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2001, the Board of Regents for Higher Education may use up to five per cent of the funds appropriated for purposes of this section for program administration, promotion, recruitment and retention activities.
(P.A. 00-187, S. 30, 75; P.A. 01-173, S. 38, 67; P.A. 11-48, S. 285; P.A. 16-15, S. 32.)
History: P.A. 00-187 effective July 1, 2000; P.A. 01-173 amended Subsec. (b) to make a technical change, effective July 1, 2001; pursuant to P.A. 11-48, “Board of Governors of Higher Education” and “Commissioner of Higher Education” were changed editorially by the Revisors to “Board of Regents for Higher Education” and “president of the Board of Regents for Higher Education”, respectively, effective July 1, 2011; P.A. 16-15 amended Subsec. (b) by replacing “president of the Board of Regents for Higher Education” with “president of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities”, effective July 1, 2016.
See Secs. 32-8a, 32-8b re duties of Commissioner of Economic and Community Development with respect to this program and cooperative internship program for students majoring in information technology fields.
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Sec. 10a-169b. Information technology loan reimbursement pilot program. (a) There is established an information technology loan reimbursement pilot program administered by the Board of Regents for Higher Education.
(b) Within available appropriations, the program shall provide a student loan reimbursement grant for persons who meet the eligibility requirements for the information technology scholarship program pursuant to section 10a-169a, and (1) attended an institution of higher education in this state, (2) majored in an information technology related field, and (3) are newly employed on or after January 1, 2001, by a company in this state in an information technology related position.
(c) Persons who qualify under subsection (b) of this section and meet any additional requirements established by the Board of Regents for Higher Education pursuant to this subsection shall be reimbursed on an annual basis for qualifying student loans. Such reimbursement shall not exceed two thousand five hundred dollars for each year of employment and for no more than a total of two years per person. A person qualifying under subsection (b) of this section shall only be reimbursed if such person is employed by a qualifying company at the time of application for loan reimbursement pursuant to this section. The Board of Regents for Higher Education may develop additional eligibility requirements for recipients. Such requirements may include income guidelines. Persons may apply for grants to the Board of Regents for Higher Education at such time and in such manner as the president of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities prescribes.
(d) The recipients of reimbursements pursuant to this section for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2002, shall constitute a cohort and reimbursements for succeeding years shall only be available for members of such cohort.
(e) Any unexpended funds appropriated for purposes of this section shall not lapse at the end of the fiscal year but shall be available for expenditure during the next fiscal year.
(f) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2001, the Board of Regents for Higher Education may use up to five per cent of the funds appropriated for purposes of this section for program administration, promotion and recruitment activities.
(P.A. 00-187, S. 31, 75; P.A. 01-173, S. 39, 67; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 01-1, S. 40, 54; P.A. 11-48, S. 285; P.A. 16-15, S. 33.)
History: P.A. 00-187 effective July 1, 2000; P.A. 01-173 amended Subsec. (b) to make a technical change, effective July 1, 2001; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 01-1 amended Subsec. (b) to apply the eligibility requirements for the information technology scholarship program pursuant to Sec. 10a-169a to the loan program, to require attendance at an institution “in this state”, to change the employment requirement by allowing employment for a company in this state in an information technology related position rather than an electronic commerce or information technology intensive company, and amended Subsec. (c) to require persons to meet any additional requirements established by the department, to eliminate limitation on reimbursement to an amount equal to the loan payments made by the person for the previous taxable year and apply only the existing cap of $2,500, to require the person to be employed by a qualifying company at the time of application, to change “shall develop eligibility requirements” to “may develop additional eligibility requirements” and to make technical changes, effective July 1, 2001; pursuant to P.A. 11-48, “Board of Governors of Higher Education” and “Commissioner of Higher Education” were changed editorially by the Revisors to “Board of Regents for Higher Education” and “president of the Board of Regents for Higher Education”, respectively, effective July 1, 2011; P.A. 16-15 amended Subsec. (c) by replacing “president of the Board of Regents for Higher Education” with “president of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities”, effective July 1, 2016.
See Secs. 32-8a, 32-8b re duties of Commissioner of Economic and Community Development with respect to this program and cooperative internship program for students majoring in information technology fields.
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Secs. 10a-170 to 10a-170m. Administrative support for capitol scholarship grant program. High technology graduate assistantship program. Eligibility requirements for high technology graduate assistantships. Award of high technology assistantships, renewal, limitations, amounts. Selection of high technology assistantship recipients; regulations. Academic scholarship loan program. Eligibility requirements for high school students. Eligibility requirements for persons other than high school students. Selection of academic scholarship loan recipients, maintenance of eligibility; distribution of loan awards. Loan repayment; loan forgiveness provisions. Interest charge on loan; legal capacity of minors. Loan deferments; loan forgiveness upon death or disability of loan recipient. Servicing and administering of loans. Adoption of regulations. Sections 10a-170 to 10a-170m, inclusive, are repealed, effective July 1, 2013.
(P.A. 81-157, S. 11, 14; P.A. 82-218, S. 37, 46; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 83-6, S. 1–4, 6; P.A. 84-241, S. 2, 5; P.A. 84-513, S. 1–10; P.A. 85-479, S. 2, 3, 6; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 86-1, S. 42–44, 58; P.A. 87-416, S. 11, 24; P.A. 88-136, S. 35, 37; P.A. 90-147, S. 15, 20; P.A. 92-262, S. 35, 42; P.A. 93-201, S. 17–21, 24; P.A. 95-250, S. 1; P.A. 96-211, S. 1, 5, 6; P.A. 00-220, S. 26, 43; P.A. 03-170, S. 3; P.A. 09-159, S. 9; P.A. 11-48, S. 269, 285; P.A. 12-156, S. 56; P.A. 13-240, S. 10, 12; 13-247, S. 389.)
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Secs. 10a-170n to 10a-170q. Reserved for future use.
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Secs. 10a-170r to 10a-170v. Academic scholarship graduate student loan program; eligibility requirements. Selection of academic scholarship graduate student loan recipients, maintenance of eligibility; amount of loan awards. Loan repayment; loan forgiveness provisions; interest charges; loan deferments. Servicing and administering of loans. Academic Scholarship Graduate Student Loan Program Fund. Sections 10a-170r to 10a-170v, inclusive, are repealed, effective July 1, 2013.
(May Sp. Sess. P.A. 86-1, S. 35–39, 58; P.A. 92-262, S. 36, 42; P.A. 94-245, S. 14, 46; P.A. 11-48, S. 285; P.A. 13-247, S. 389.)
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Sec. 10a-170w. Gear up for Connecticut futures account. (a) The Board of Regents for Higher Education may establish and administer an account to be known as the gear up for Connecticut futures account. The account shall be a separate and nonlapsing account within the General Fund. The account shall be used for scholarships pursuant to the federal GEAR UP program, 20 USC 1070a-21 et seq. The board may deposit state funds appropriated as a state match to the federally funded GEAR UP grant in the account.
(b) The Treasurer may invest in accordance with section 3-31a any moneys in the account not needed for current disbursement for scholarships. The interest derived from such investment shall be credited to the account.
(P.A. 02-88, S. 1; P.A. 11-48, S. 285.)
History: P.A. 02-88 effective July 1, 2002; pursuant to P.A. 11-48, “Board of Governors of Higher Education” was changed editorially by the Revisors to “Board of Regents for Higher Education” in Subsec. (a), effective July 1, 2011.
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Sec. 10a-171. Transfer of functions. The transfer of functions, powers, duties, obligations, including but not limited to contract obligations, the continuance of orders and regulations, the effect upon pending actions and proceedings, the completion of unfinished business and the transfer of records and property between the state Student Financial Assistance Commission as it existed prior to July 1, 1981, and the Board of Regents for Higher Education established pursuant to section 10a-1a shall be governed by the provisions of subsections (a) to (d), inclusive, and subsection (f) of section 4-38d.
(P.A. 81-157, S. 12, 14; P.A. 82-218, S. 37, 46; P.A. 84-241, S. 2, 5; P.A. 11-48, S. 285.)
History: P.A. 82-218, which reorganized system of higher education, used as authority for replacing board of higher education with board of governors, effective March 1, 1983; P.A. 84-241 added “of higher education” to board of governors' title; pursuant to P.A. 11-48, “Board of Governors of Higher Education” was changed editorially by the Revisors to “Board of Regents for Higher Education”, effective July 1, 2011.
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Sec. 10a-172. Information re students receiving financial aid from certain grants. Report. Section 10a-172 is repealed, effective July 1, 2013.
(P.A. 12-94, S. 1; 12-156, S. 56; P.A. 13-247, S. 389.)
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Sec. 10a-173. Roberta B. Willis Scholarship program. (a) For the purposes of this section:
(1) “Family contribution” means the expected family contribution for educational costs as computed from the student's Free Application for Federal Student Aid;
(2) “Full-time or part-time undergraduate student” means a student who is enrolled at an institution of higher education in a course of study leading to such student's first associate or bachelor's degree and who is carrying, for a full-time student, twelve or more semester credit hours, or, for a part-time student, between six and eleven semester credit hours at such institution of higher education;
(3) “Independent institution of higher education” means a nonprofit institution established in this state (A) that has degree-granting authority in this state; (B) that has its main campus located in this state; (C) that is not included in the Connecticut system of public higher education; and (D) whose primary function is not the preparation of students for religious vocation;
(4) “Public institution of higher education” means the constituent units of the state system of higher education identified in subdivisions (1) and (2) of section 10a-1;
(5) “Eligible educational costs” means the tuition and required fees for an individual student that are published by each institution of higher education participating in the grant program established under this section, plus a fixed amount for required books and educational supplies as determined by the Office of Higher Education.
(b) The state, acting through the Office of Higher Education, shall establish the Governor's Scholarship program to annually make need-based financial aid available for eligible educational costs for Connecticut residents enrolled at Connecticut's public and independent institutions of higher education as full-time or part-time undergraduate students beginning with new or transfer students in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2014. On and after July 1, 2016, said program shall be known as the “Roberta B. Willis Scholarship program”. Any award made to a student in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2013, under the capitol scholarship grant program, established under section 10a-169 of the general statutes, revision of 1958, revised to January 1, 2013, the Connecticut aid to public college students grant program, established under section 10a-164a of the general statutes, revision of 1958, revised to January 1, 2013, Connecticut aid to Charter Oak, established under subsection (c) of section 10a-164a of the general statutes, revision of 1958, revised to January 1, 2013, or the Connecticut independent college student grant program, established under section 10a-36 of the general statutes, revision of 1958, revised to January 1, 2013, shall be offered under the Roberta B. Willis Scholarship program and be renewable for the life of the original award, provided such student meets and continues to meet the need and academic standards established for purposes of the program under which such student received the original award.
(c) Within available appropriations, the Roberta B. Willis Scholarship program shall include a need and merit-based grant, a need-based grant and a Charter Oak grant. The need and merit-based grant shall be funded at not less than twenty per cent but not more than thirty per cent of available appropriations. The need-based grant shall be funded at up to eighty per cent of available appropriations. The Charter Oak grant shall be not less than one hundred thousand dollars of available appropriations. There shall be an administrative allowance based on one-quarter of one per cent of the available appropriations, but (1) for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, not less than three hundred fifty thousand dollars, and (2) for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, and each fiscal year thereafter, not less than one hundred thousand dollars. In addition to the amount of the annual appropriation allocated to the regional community-technical colleges under subsection (e) of this section, and to regional community-technical college students under subsection (d) of this section, not less than two and one-half per cent of the annual appropriation shall be allocated to the regional community-technical colleges to be used for financial aid purposes.
(d) The Roberta B. Willis Scholarship need and merit-based grant shall be available to any Connecticut resident who is a full-time or part-time undergraduate student at any public or independent institution of higher education. The Office of Higher Education shall determine eligibility by financial need based on family contribution and eligibility by merit based on either previous high school academic achievement or performance on standardized academic aptitude tests. The Office of Higher Education shall make awards according to a sliding scale, annually determined by said office, up to a maximum family contribution and based on available appropriations and eligible students. The Roberta B. Willis Scholarship need and merit-based grant shall be awarded in a higher amount than the need-based grant awarded pursuant to subsection (e) of this section. Recipients of the need and merit-based grant shall not be eligible to receive an additional need-based award. The order of institutions of higher education provided by a student on the student's Free Application for Federal Student Aid shall not affect the student's eligibility for an award under this subsection. The accepting institution of higher education shall disburse sums awarded under the need and merit-based grant for payment of the student's eligible educational costs.
(e) The Roberta B. Willis Scholarship need-based grant shall be available to any Connecticut resident who is a full-time or part-time undergraduate student at any public or independent institution of higher education. The amount of the annual appropriation to be allocated to each institution of higher education shall be determined by its actual full-time equivalent enrollment of undergraduate students who are Connecticut residents with a family contribution during the fall semester of the fiscal year two years prior to the grant year of an amount not greater than two hundred per cent of the maximum family contribution eligible for a federal Pell grant award for the academic year one year prior to the grant year. Not later than July first, annually, each institution of higher education shall report such enrollment data to the Office of Higher Education. Not later than October first, annually, the Office of Higher Education shall (1) publish such enrollment data on its Internet web site, and (2) notify each institution of higher education of the proportion of the annual appropriation that such institution of higher education will receive the following fiscal year and publish the proportions for each institution of higher education on its Internet web site. Participating institutions of higher education shall make awards (A) to eligible full-time students in an amount up to four thousand five hundred dollars, and (B) to eligible part-time students in an amount that is prorated according to the number of credits each student will earn for completing the course or courses in which such student is enrolled, such that a student enrolled in a course or courses earning (i) at least nine but less than twelve credits is eligible for up to seventy-five per cent of the maximum award, and (ii) at least six but less than nine credits is eligible for up to fifty per cent of the maximum award. Each participating institution of higher education shall expend all of the moneys received under the Roberta B. Willis Scholarship program as direct financial assistance only for eligible educational costs.
(f) Participating institutions of higher education shall annually provide the Office of Higher Education with data and reports on all Connecticut students who applied for financial aid, including, but not limited to, students receiving a Roberta B. Willis Scholarship grant, in a form and at a time determined by said office. If an institution of higher education fails to submit information to the Office of Higher Education as directed, such institution shall be prohibited from participating in the scholarship program in the fiscal year following the fiscal year in which such institution failed to submit such information. Each participating institution of higher education shall maintain, for a period of not less than three years, records substantiating the reported number of Connecticut students and documentation utilized by the institution of higher education in determining eligibility of the student grant recipients. Such records shall be subject to audit or review. Funds not obligated by an institution of higher education shall be returned by May first in the fiscal year the grant was made to the Office of Higher Education for reallocation. Financial aid provided to Connecticut residents under this program shall be designated as a grant from the Roberta B. Willis Scholarship program.
(g) The Roberta B. Willis Scholarship Charter Oak grant shall be available to any full-time or part-time undergraduate student enrolled in Charter Oak State College. The Office of Higher Education shall allocate any appropriation to Charter Oak State College to be used to provide grants for eligible educational costs to residents of this state who demonstrate substantial financial need and who are matriculated in a degree program at Charter Oak State College. Individual awards shall not exceed a student's calculated eligible educational costs. Financial aid provided to Connecticut residents under this program shall be designated as a grant from the Roberta B. Willis Scholarship program.
(h) In administering the Roberta B. Willis Scholarship program, the Office of Higher Education shall develop and utilize fiscal procedures designed to ensure accountability of the public funds expended. Such procedures shall include provisions for compliance reviews that shall be conducted by the Office of Higher Education on any institution of higher education that participates in the program. Commencing with the fiscal year ending June 30, 2015, and biennially thereafter, each such institution of higher education shall submit the results of an audit done by an independent certified public accountant for each year of participation in the program. Any institution of higher education determined by the Office of Higher Education not to be in substantial compliance with the provisions of the Roberta B. Willis Scholarship program shall be ineligible to receive funds under the program for the fiscal year following the fiscal year in which the institution of higher education was determined not to be in substantial compliance. Funding shall be restored when the Office of Higher Education determines that the institution of higher education has returned to substantial compliance.
(P.A. 13-247, S. 182; P.A. 16-15, S. 1; 16-179, S. 1; P.A. 18-103, S. 5; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 21-2, S. 198.)
History: P.A. 13-247 effective July 1, 2013; P.A. 16-15 amended Subsecs. (a)(2) and (h) by replacing “bachelor” with “bachelor's”, effective May 6, 2016; P.A. 16-179 renamed “Governor's Scholarship program” as “Roberta B. Willis Scholarship program”, amended Subsec. (c) by deleting reference to performance incentive pool, adding provision re need and merit-based grant funded at not more than 30 per cent of available appropriations, deleting provision re minimum allocation of annual appropriation to independent institutions of higher education for fiscal years ending June 30, 2014, and June 30, 2015, and adding provision re additional allocation to regional community-technical colleges, amended Subsec. (d) by adding provision re order of institutions provided by student on Free Application for Federal Student Aid not affecting eligibility for award, amended Subsec. (e) by deleting provisions re eligibility based on family contribution, adding provisions re determination of annual appropriation amount allocated to each institution based on enrollment of certain undergraduate students with family contribution, adding provisions re report and publishing of enrollment data and notice and publishing of proportion of annual appropriation each institution will receive, deleting provision re participating institutions making awards and adding provision re same, and deleting provision re expending moneys based on sliding scale and maximum award amounts determined by Office of Higher Education, amended Subsec. (f) by adding “or review” and replacing “February fifteenth” with “May first”, deleted former Subsec. (h) re incentive pool, redesignated existing Subsec. (i) re administering program as Subsec. (h) and amended same by replacing “audits” with “reviews”, and made technical and conforming changes, effective July 1, 2016; P.A. 18-103 amended Subsec. (a)(4) to replace reference to Sec. 10a-1(1) to (4) with reference to Sec. 10a-1(1) and (2), effective July 1, 2018; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 21-2 amended Subsec. (c) by allowing $350,000 administrative allowance for fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, effective July 1, 2021.
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Sec. 10a-174. Debt-free community college program. (a) As used in this section:
(1) “Award” means the greater of: (A) The unpaid portion, if any, of a qualifying student's eligible institutional costs after subtracting his or her financial aid, or (B) a minimum award of two hundred fifty dollars for a full-time student or one hundred fifty dollars for a part-time student;
(2) “Eligible institutional costs” means the tuition and required fees incurred each semester by an individual student that are established by the Board of Regents for Higher Education for the regional community-technical colleges;
(3) “Financial aid” means the sum of all scholarships, grants and federal, state and institutional aid received by a qualifying student. “Financial aid” does not include any federal, state or private student loans received by a qualifying student;
(4) “Qualifying student” means any person who (A) graduated from a public or nonpublic high school in the state, (B) enrolls as a full-time or part-time student for the fall semester of 2020, or any semester thereafter, for the first time at a regional community-technical college in a program leading to a degree or certificate and continues to be enrolled as a full-time or part-time student at a regional community-technical college, (C) is classified as an in-state student pursuant to section 10a-29, (D) is making satisfactory academic progress while enrolled at a regional community-technical college, (E) has completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, and (F) has accepted all available financial aid;
(5) “Full-time student” means a student who is enrolled at a regional community-technical college and (A) is carrying twelve or more credit hours in a semester, or (B) has a learning disability documented with the regional community-technical college in which he or she is enrolled and is enrolled in the maximum number of credit hours that is feasible for such student to attempt in a semester, as determined by such student's academic advisor;
(6) “Semester” means the fall or spring semester of an academic year. “Semester” does not include a summer semester or session; and
(7) “Part-time student” means a student who is enrolled at a regional community-technical college and is carrying not less than six but fewer than twelve credit hours in a semester.
(b) Not later than January 1, 2020, the Board of Regents for Higher Education shall (1) establish a debt-free community college program to make awards to qualifying students each semester, (2) adopt rules, procedures and forms necessary to implement the debt-free community college program, and (3) submit a report outlining such rules, procedures and forms, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a, to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to higher education.
(c) For the fall semester of 2020, and each semester thereafter, the Board of Regents for Higher Education shall make awards to qualifying students within available appropriations. An award shall be available to a qualifying student for the first seventy-two credit hours earned by the qualifying student during the first forty-eight months that such student is enrolled at a regional community-technical college, provided the qualifying student meets and continues to meet the requirements of this section. The board shall not use an award to supplant any financial aid, including, but not limited to, state or institutional aid, otherwise available to a qualifying student.
(d) (1) Any qualifying student who takes an administratively approved medical or personal leave of absence from a regional community-technical college may continue to qualify for the debt-free community college program upon resuming his or her enrollment as a student at a regional community-technical college, provided such student (A) continues to meet the requirements of this section upon reenrollment, and (B) the total amount of time of all approved leaves of absence does not exceed six months.
(2) Any qualifying student who is a member of the armed forces called to active duty during any semester may continue to qualify for the debt-free community college program upon resuming his or her enrollment as a student at a regional community-technical college, provided such student (A) continues to meet the requirements of this section upon reenrollment, and (B) reenrolls not later than four years after the date on which such student is released from active duty.
(e) Not later than March 1, 2021, and October 1, 2021, and each semester thereafter, the Board of Regents for Higher Education shall report, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a, to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to higher education and employment advancement and appropriations and the budgets of the state agencies regarding the debt-free community college program, including, but not limited to, (1) the number of qualifying students enrolled at the regional community-technical colleges during each semester, (2) the number of qualifying students receiving minimum awards and the number of qualifying students receiving awards for the unpaid portion of eligible institutional costs, (3) the average number of credit hours the qualifying students enrolled in each semester and the average number of credit hours the qualifying students completed each semester, (4) the average amount of the award made to qualifying students under this section for the unpaid portion of eligible institutional costs, and (5) the completion rates of qualifying students receiving awards under this section by degree or certificate program.
(P.A. 19-117, S. 362; P.A. 22-118, S. 119.)
History: P.A. 19-117 effective July 1, 2019; P.A. 22-118 redefined “award” in Subdiv. (1), “qualifying student” in Subdiv. (4), added Subdiv. (7) defining “part-time student”, amended Subsec. (c) to change 36 months to 48 months, amended Subsec. (d)(1) by removing “full-time” and designating existing provisions re continuing to meet the requirements of the section and total leaves of absence not exceeding 6 months as Subparas. (A) and (B), amended Subsec. (d)(2) by removing “full-time” and amended Subsec. (e) by adding “and the budgets of the state agencies”, effective July 1, 2022.
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Sec. 10a-174a. Debt-free community college account. Connecticut Lottery Corporation reports to Board of Regents for Higher Education. (a) There is established an account to be known as the “debt-free community college account” which shall be a separate, nonlapsing account within the General Fund. The account shall contain any moneys required by law to be deposited in the account, including, but not limited to, (1) state appropriations for the debt-free community college program established pursuant to section 10a-174, and (2) deposits from the Connecticut Lottery Corporation in accordance with subsection (d) of section 12-812. Moneys in the account shall be expended by the Board of Regents for Higher Education for the purposes of the debt-free community college program established pursuant to section 10a-174.
(b) Not later than January 1, 2023, July 1, 2023, January 1, 2024, and January first annually thereafter, the president of the Connecticut Lottery Corporation shall report to the Board of Regents for Higher Education (1) the amount of revenue received by the corporation from online lottery ticket sales, as defined in section 12-801, during the current fiscal year, and (2) an estimate of the amount that will be deposited in the debt-free community college account from such sales pursuant to subsection (d) of section 12-812 during the next fiscal year.
(June Sp. Sess. P.A. 21-2, S. 70.)
History: June Sp. Sess. P.A. 21-2 effective July 1, 2021.
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Sec. 10a-175. Reserved for future use.
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