2005 West Virginia Code - §18C-1-1. — Legislative findings; purpose; administration generally.

§18C-1-1. Legislative findings; purpose; administration generally.
(a) The Legislature finds:
(1) That although enrollments in institutions of higher education in this state and throughout the nation continue to increase at a rapid pace there continues to exist an underdevelopment of the state's human talent and resources because of the inability of many able, but needy, students to finance a higher education program;
(2) That the state can achieve its full economic and social potential only when the following elements are in place:
(A) Every individual has the opportunity to contribute to the full extent of his or her capability; and
(B) The state assists in removing such financial barriers to the individual's education goals as may remain after he or she has utilized all resources and work opportunities available;
(b) The ultimate state goal in providing student financial aid is to create a culture that values education, to improve the quality of the state's workforce, and thereby to enhance the quality of life for the citizens of West Virginia.
(c) The Vice Chancellor for Administration jointly employed by the commission and the council has a ministerial duty to administer, oversee or monitor all state and federal student loan, scholarship and state aid programs which are administered at the state level in accordance with established guidelines under the direction of the commission and council and in consultation with the Higher Education Student Financial Aid Advisory Board.
(d) Such programs include, but are not limited to, the following programs pursuant to the provisions of this chapter:
(1) The Guaranteed Student Loan Program, which may be administered by a private nonprofit agency;
(2) The Medical Student Loan Program;
(3) The Underwood-Smith Teacher Scholarship Program;
(4) The Engineering, Science and Technology Scholarship Program;
(5) The West Virginia Higher Education Grant Program;
(6) The Higher Education Adult Part-time Student Grant Program;
(7) The Higher Education Student Assistance Loan Program under article twenty-two-d, chapter eighteen of this code;
(8) The West Virginia College Prepaid Tuition and Savings Program under article thirty, chapter eighteen of this code, which is administered by the State Treasurer;
(9) The state aid programs for students of optometry, pursuant to article three of this chapter;
(10) The state aid programs for students of veterinary medicine pursuant to section six-a, article eleven, chapter eighteen of this code;
(11) Any reciprocal program and contract program for student aid under sections three and four, article four, chapter eighteen-b of this code;
(12) Any other state level student aid program in this code; and
(13) Any federal grant or contract student assistance or support programs administered at the state level.