2006 Louisiana Laws - RS 17:3048.3 — Program information reporting system; implementation; requirements; applicability; participation by eligible institutions and others

§3048.3.  Program information reporting system; implementation; requirements; applicability; participation by eligible institutions and others

A.(1)  The Board of Regents shall formulate, develop, establish, and implement a uniform Tuition Opportunity Program for Students information reporting system for the purposes of policy analysis and program evaluation and for providing accurate data and statistics to the legislature, the governor and appropriate executive branch agencies, and the public relative to the program's impact on the state and on students.

(2)  In formulating and developing the information reporting system, the Board of Regents shall consult with and seek written recommendations from the Louisiana Student Financial Assistance Commission, each college or university eligible for participation in the Tuition Opportunity Program for Students, each of the public postsecondary education management boards, the Louisiana Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, legislators, and knowledgeable others as determined appropriate by the Board of Regents.

(3)  It is the intention of the legislature that the reporting system provided by this Section and the requirements thereof shall be applicable to all Tuition Opportunity Program for Students applicants, all award recipients regardless of eligible college or university attended, and all such eligible colleges and universities.  Effective for the 2002-2003 award year and thereafter, compliance with the requirements of the Tuition Opportunity Program for Students information reporting system shall be a condition for an eligible college or university to remain eligible to receive payments from the state on behalf of an award recipient.  Compliance determinations shall be made annually by the Board of Regents.

B.  The Tuition Opportunity Program for Students information reporting system shall include but not be limited to the following:

(1)  A report prepared as of the end of the Fall semester and again as of the end of the Spring semester or equivalent periods of time during each academic year relative to the rate of retention of program awards by students as they progress from semester to semester or other equivalent periods of time as may be applicable once enrolled at an eligible college or university.  The data shall be reported by institution attended, by the two-digit classification of instructional program, and by program award category and shall include the percent of students losing program eligibility due to not earning the minimum number of credit hours, the percent of students losing program eligibility due to not having the required cumulative grade point average, and the percent of students losing program eligibility for failing to make steady academic progress.

(2)  The persistence rates at colleges and universities of freshman, sophomore, junior, and senior students receiving a program award reported by award category and by award year.

(3)  The graduation rates or rates of completion of the chosen postsecondary education program if otherwise applicable for students receiving a program award, reported by award category and award year, including for those graduating with an academic degree at the baccalaureate level the rate for persons graduating within four years, within five years, and within six years, respectively.

(4)  The mean length of time required for a student receiving a program award to graduate with an academic degree at the baccalaureate level or to complete the chosen postsecondary education program if otherwise applicable with such information being reported by award category and by award year.

(5)  An annual report on the number of applicants as well as the percent of high school graduates by high school and by parish who apply for a program award, by award category, and the percent of those students who subsequently enroll in a college or university.

(6)  Statistical studies on the relationship between the courses taken and grades earned by a high school student and the student's score on the American College Test or the Scholastic Aptitude Test.  Relative to public high schools, such statistical studies shall use student course and grade data that is otherwise available from the schools and such studies shall be conducted at no additional cost to the governing authority of any public high school.

C.  When necessary due to limitations in existing secondary data sources and systems, the Board of Regents, consistent with the general provisions of this Section, may modify any specific requirement of this Section.  However, prior to making any such modifications the board shall report in writing to the House Committee on Education and the Senate Committee on Education on the proposed action and the board shall have received approval from each committee relative to the proposed action.

Acts 2001, No. 1202, §1, eff. June 29, 2001.