005.29.24 Ark. Code R. 005 - Division of Higher Education Rules Governing The Arkansas Workforce Challenge Scholarship Program

1.00 DEFINITIONS

1.01 "Academic year" means a measure of the academic work to be accomplished by the recipient.

1.01.1 The academic year is defined as fall, spring, and summer semesters, in that order.

1.02 "Approved Institution of higher education" means an institution of higher education that is approved by the Division of Higher Education to participate in the Arkansas Workforce Challenge Scholarship Program and that is:

1.02.1 A state-supported two-year or four-year college or university; or

1.02.2 A private, nonprofit two-year or four-year college or university with its primary headquarters located in Arkansas and that is eligible to receive Title IV federal student aid funds.

1.03 "Certificate program" means a program that is offered or made available to a student by an approved institution of higher education that leads to the obtainment of a certification or license, including without limitation a program operated or sponsored by a third party.

1.03.1 The credit hours or contact hours awarded for a certificate program may include credit hours or contact hours that are not creditable toward an associate or a baccalaureate degree.

2.00 FUNDING

2.01 For an academic year, the following shall be used to fund Arkansas Workforce Challenge Scholarships under these rules:

2.01.1 Excess funding returned to the Office of the Arkansas Lottery under Ark. Code Ann. § 6-85-212(d)(2)(B)(i) from the previous academic year; and

2.01.2 Net proceeds remaining from the previous academic year after the Office of the Arkansas Lottery:

2.01.2.1 Transfers the funds requested by the Division of Higher Education under Ark. Code Ann. § 23-115-801(c)(2); and

2.01.2.2 Deposits the amount necessary to maintain the Scholarship Shortfall Reserve Trust Account under Ark. Code Ann. § 23115-802 in an amount equal to twenty million dollars ($20,000,000).

2.02 A scholarship under these rules shall not be awarded for an academic year if:

2.02.1 Less than two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000) is available under 2.01 of this section; or

2.02.2 The division received a loan from the Scholarship Shortfall Reserve Trust Account under Ark. Code Ann. § 23-115-802 for the Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship Program -- Part 2, Ark. Code Ann. § 6-85-201 et seq., for the previous academic year.

2.03 Any funds under 2.01 of this section that are not disbursed for scholarships under these rules shall be carried over to the next academic year to be used for scholarships under these rules.

3.00 ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

3.01 A student is eligible to receive an Arkansas Workforce Challenge Scholarship for an academic year if the student applies to the Division of Higher Education by a date determined by the division preceding the academic year and:

3.01.1 Is an Arkansas resident or, if the student is less than twenty-one (21) years of age, either a parent of the student or the student is an Arkansas resident;

3.01.2 Meets either of the following requirements:

3.01.2.1 Graduated from a:

3.01.2.1.1 Public high school in Arkansas or another state;

3.01.2.1.2 Private high school in Arkansas or another state; or

3.01.2.1.3 Home school as recognized under Ark. Code Ann. § 615-501 et seq. or recognized by another state; or

3.01.2.2 Received a high school equivalency diploma approved by the Division of Workforce Services or another state;

3.01.2.3 Is not receiving a scholarship under the Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship Program -- Part 2, Ark. Code Ann. § 685-201 et seq.;

3.01.2.4 Is accepted for admission in a program of study at an approved institution of higher education that leads to an associate degree or a certificate program in one (1) of the following high-demand fields:

3.01.2.4.1 Industry;

3.01.2.4.2 Health care; and

3.01.2.4.3 Information technology; and

3.01.2.5 Whose program of study or certificate program will result in the student's being qualified to work in an occupation identified by the Division of Workforce Services under 3.01.2.5.1 of this section.

3.01.2.5.1 The Division of Workforce Services shall provide annually to the Division of Higher Education by March 1 a list that identifies the five (5) most in-demand occupations in this state in each high-demand field under 3.01.2.4 of this section that require the completion of a program of study that leads to an associate degree or a certificate program.

3.01.2.5.2 The Division of Workforce Services shall publish on its website the list under 3.01.2.5.1 of this section and data supporting the list.

3.02 A student who received a scholarship under these rules and successfully completed a program of study or certificate program that meets the requirements under 3.01.2.4 is eligible to reapply for a scholarship under these rules if the student is accepted for admission in a different program of study or certificate program that meets the requirements under 3.01.2.4.

3.03 A student who received a scholarship under these rules and does not successfully complete the program of study or certificate program is eligible to reapply for and receive a scholarship one (1) time only.

4.00 DISTRIBUTION - AWARD AMOUNTS

4.01 If funds are available, the Division of Higher Education shall distribute Arkansas Workforce Challenge Scholarships to all students who meet the eligibility requirements.

4.02 The division shall distribute scholarships from the funds available in an equal amount to every student eligible to receive a scholarship.

4.02.1 Except as provided in 4.03 of this section, the maximum scholarship award a student may receive in an academic year shall be the lesser of:

4.02.1.1 Eight hundred dollars ($800); or

4.02.1.2 The cost of the certificate program or program of study.

4.02.1.3 The cost of a certificate program or program of study shall be limited to:

4.02.1.3.1 Tuition, fees, or other charges;

4.02.1.3.2 Textbooks or other course materials; and

4.02.1.3.3 Equipment needed for a course.

4.02.2 The scholarship awards may be used for expenses included in the cost of the certificate program or program of study.

4.02.3 A scholarship under this section shall be only for the academic year for which it is awarded, which includes the fall, spring, and summer semesters.

4.03 If the division has funds remaining after making the distributions under 4.02 of this section, the division shall distribute scholarships to students for the summer term of the academic year.

4.03.1 If funds are available under 4.03 of this section, a student shall apply for a scholarship for a summer term by a date determined by the division preceding the summer term.

4.03.2 The division shall distribute scholarships for a summer term in the same manner as under 4.02 of this section.

4.03.2.1 Scholarships for a summer term may be used in the same manner as under 4.02 of this section.

4.03.3 A student who received a scholarship under 4.02 of this section may also receive a scholarship for a summer term

4.04 The division shall disburse scholarship awards on behalf of an eligible student directly to the approved institution of higher education.

5.00 INSTITUTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

College and University Responsibilities.

5.01 Administrative agreement.

5.01.1 The chief executive officer of the eligible institution is responsible for appointing one representative from the financial aid office to act as administrator of the Arkansas Workforce Challenge Scholarship and to receive all communications, forms, etc.

5.01.1.1 This representative is responsible for verification, data and compliance with all program rules and regulations.

5.01.2 The institution must comply with all rules and regulations in order to maintain continued eligibility status.

5.02 Disbursement records.

5.02.1 The institution shall maintain information on the student indicating disbursement of scholarship funds.

5.03 Institutional Verification.

5.03.1 The institution shall provide certification of enrollment in an eligible program of study and enrollment in courses that will meet satisfactory academic progress standards, as of the eleventh day of classes, by completing a Verification Roster each semester after registration.

5.03.1.1 The Verification Roster is an alphabetical listing by institution of all persons receiving the award for a given academic term.

5.03.1.2 The certifying official is responsible for completing the verification rosters each semester or trimester.

5.03.2 The Division of Higher Education shall provide electronic Verification Rosters to the Financial Aid Administrator for each semester or trimester as needed.

5.03.2.1 The electronic Verification Rosters shall be returned to the division by November 1 for the fall term and by March 15 for the spring term.

5.03.3 The division shall also provide electronic continuing eligibility rosters to the Financial Aid Administrator before the end of the fall and spring term.

5.03.3.1 The continuing eligibility rosters shall be returned to the division no later than January 15 based on the Fall semester and June 1 based on the Spring semester to ensure that adequate time is provided to notify students of their status in the program.

5.04 Deadlines for disbursement of funds.

5.04.1 The deadline for disbursement of funds by the eligible institution is no later than ten (10) days after receipt of funds.

5.04.1.1 Any outstanding funds not disbursed by these dates must be returned to the division.

5.04.1.2 For those students whose applications are received by the division too late to allow disbursement by these dates, disbursement will be made within ten (10) working days of receipt of the verification roster and electronic transfer of funds.

5.05 Due diligence.

5.05.1 The institution will exercise due diligence in providing complete, accurate, and timely information as requested by the division on any Arkansas Workforce Challenge Scholarship recipient or former recipient.

5.05.2 In addition, the institution will exercise due diligence in complying with all the rules and regulations of the Arkansas Workforce Challenge Scholarship.

5.05.3 The division shall periodically review the institution's records concerning this program in an effort to exercise its due diligence requirements as a steward of state funds.

5.06 Agreements Between Institutions.

5.06.1 An approved institution of higher education may enter into agreements with other institutions of higher education, including without limitation technical institutes, to allow students enrolled in the approved institution of higher education under these rules to take courses at the other institutions of higher education.

Notes

005.29.24 Ark. Code R. 005

Adopted by Arkansas Register Volume 49, Number 11, Effective 10/31/2024