2012 North Dakota Century Code Title 15 Education Chapter 15-62.2 Student Financial Assistance and Scholars Program
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CHAPTER 15-62.2
STUDENT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AND SCHOLARS PROGRAM
15-62.2-00.1. Definitions.
As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires:
1. "Applicant" means an individual:
a. (1) Who has graduated from a high school in this state;
(2) Who has graduated from a high school in a bordering state pursuant to
chapter 15.1-29; or
(3) Who is a resident of this state for tuition purposes; and
b. Whose assessment composite scores on the test of academic achievement
administered by ACT, Inc., place the individual in at least the ninety-fifth percentile
of all students taking the test by July first of the year preceding the year in which
the individual is enrolled as a full-time resident student in an eligible institution.
2. "Eligible institution" means an accredited public or private postsecondary institution
located in this state and offering a program of instruction at least equal in length to two
academic years.
3. "Full-time resident student" means an individual who:
a. (1) Has graduated from a high school in this state;
(2) Has graduated from a high school in a bordering state pursuant to chapter
15.1-29; or
(3) Is a resident of this state for tuition purposes; and
b. Is enrolled at an eligible institution carrying a course of study which is "full time"
as defined by the eligible institution.
4. "Scholar" means a full-time resident student who is awarded a scholarship or who has
previously received a scholarship.
5. "Scholarship" means a financial award granted to a state scholar as determined by this
chapter.
15-62.2-01. Student financial assistance and scholars programs - Establishment Administrative responsibility.
1. The North Dakota student financial assistance and scholars programs are established
to provide grants or scholarships, or both, to assist the following students:
a. Resident undergraduate students pursuant to section 15-10-19.1.
b. North Dakota resident students who have attended and graduated from a high
school in a bordering state pursuant to chapter 15.1-29 and who are attending
qualified institutions of postsecondary education within North Dakota.
c. North Dakota resident students who, because of a physical or mental disability
certified by a physician, are attending postsecondary institutions out of state due
to the lack of special services or facilities necessary to meet the postsecondary
educational needs of disabled students within North Dakota.
d. Scholars who qualify and are selected for scholarships pursuant to sections
15-62.2-00.1 and 15-62.2-03.1 through 15-62.2-03.5.
2. A student must be in substantial need of financial assistance to receive grants under
the student financial assistance program. A grant must be paid directly to an eligible
institution on behalf of a student.
3. The state board of higher education shall administer the student financial assistance
program and the scholars program.
4. At least twenty-three and one-half percent of the funds appropriated for the student
financial assistance program must be allocated to students at private baccalaureate
degree-granting institutions with the remaining funds allocated to students at public
and American Indian institutions.
15-62.2-02. State board of higher education - Powers and duties.
The state board of higher education shall:
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Administer the North Dakota student financial assistance program and the North
Dakota scholars program and adopt functional rules regarding the eligibility and
selection of grant and scholarship recipients.
Determine the amount of individual grants, which may not exceed one thousand five
hundred dollars per recipient per academic year, under the North Dakota student
financial assistance program.
For the North Dakota student financial assistance program, adopt criteria for
substantial need, based upon the ability of the parents or guardian to contribute toward
the applicant's educational expenses.
Establish the appropriate procedures for fiscal control, fund accounting, and necessary
reports.
Apply for, receive, expend, and administer granted moneys from federal or private
sources.
15-62.2-03. Advisory board - Membership - Appointment - Authority.
There is hereby created and established a North Dakota student financial assistance
program advisory board, which must consist of three practicing financial aid officers, one chief
administrator of a postsecondary educational institution, one chief fiscal officer of a
postsecondary educational institution, one full-time secondary school counselor, and one
student enrolled full time at a postsecondary educational institution. All advisory board members
are to be selected from North Dakota educational institutions, except that no single institution
may provide more than one member. The advisory board members will be appointed and have
terms designated by the state board of higher education. Advisory board members must be
reimbursed for travel expenses in the same manner and amounts as other state officials and
employees. The advisory board has the responsibility to advise the state board of higher
education on all matters relating to the North Dakota student financial assistance program and
to act as a liaison between the state board of higher education and the participating institutions
of postsecondary education.
15-62.2-03.1. Administration of scholars program.
The board of higher education shall administer the scholars program and shall adopt
procedures and guidelines necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapter. The state board
of higher education shall establish appropriate procedures for fiscal control, fund accounting,
and necessary reports.
15-62.2-03.2. Reapplication eligibility - Amount of scholarships - Duration.
Scholars are eligible for scholarships for subsequent academic years provided they
maintain at least a 3.50 cumulative grade point average based upon a 4.0 grading system. The
amount of the scholarship must equal the tuition charged at the scholar's eligible institution, not
to exceed the highest resident undergraduate tuition rate in the North Dakota university system.
In addition, a state scholar may receive an annual stipend of not more than two thousand
dollars. A state scholar may receive a scholarship for not more than eight semesters or twelve
quarters of undergraduate study or until the attainment of the student's baccalaureate degree,
whichever comes first.
15-62.2-03.3. Selection of scholars.
1. All applicants must be ranked by their composite scores on the test of academic
achievement administered by ACT, Inc.
2. If two or more applicants have the same composite scores, they must be ranked by
the numeric sum of the four scale scores on the test of academic achievement
administered by ACT, Inc.
3. If two or more applicants have the same composite scores and the same numeric sum
of the four scale scores, they must be ranked by the numeric sum of their English and
mathematics scores.
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The state board of higher education may establish additional criteria to rank applicants
who have the same numeric sum of their English and mathematics scores.
Scholarships must be offered to applicants in descending order according to this
ranking until available funds have been expended or until the pool of applicants has
been exhausted.
15-62.2-03.4. Payment of scholarships.
One-half of the annual scholarship must be paid to each scholar at the beginning of the fall
semester and one-half at the beginning of the spring semester for students attending institutions
on the semester system. One-third of the scholarship must be paid to each scholar at the
beginning of each quarter for scholars attending institutions on the quarter system. Payments
must not be made until the scholar's enrollment and full-time resident student status has been
certified by the eligible institution the student is attending. Scholarship funds must be paid by
warrant-check prepared by the office of management and budget upon vouchers prepared for
this purpose.
15-62.2-03.5. Use of funds - Refund policy.
Scholarships may be used to defray costs of tuition, fees, room, board, books, supplies, and
other expenses incidental to attending an eligible institution. If a scholar discontinues
attendance before the completion of any semester or quarter for which a scholarship has been
received, any refund is governed by the published refund or repayment policy of the eligible
institution.
15-62.2-04. Funds received by the state board of higher education - Where deposited How appropriated - How expended.
Funds received by the state board of higher education must be deposited in the state
treasury in special funds to be known as the North Dakota student financial assistance fund and
the North Dakota scholarship fund and expended in accordance with legislative appropriations.
All expenditures from these funds must be paid by warrant-check prepared by the office of
management and budget upon vouchers submitted by the state board of higher education.
15-62.2-05. Annual report.
The state board of higher education shall provide to the legislative council an annual report
regarding the number of North Dakota academic scholarships and career and technical
education scholarships provided and demographic information pertaining to the recipients.
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