2005 Vermont Code - § 2856. — Educational assistance

§ 2856. Educational assistance

(a) An active member of the Vermont army national guard or the air national guard may be eligible for an interest-free loan in an academic year for financial assistance to pay for tuition and fees for courses taken at a Vermont college, university, or regional technical center. Academic year awards may be up to the in-state tuition rate at the Vermont state colleges for that year.

(b) To be eligible for an educational loan under this section, a person shall:

(1) be an active member in good standing of a federally-recognized unit of the Vermont army national guard or air national guard;

(2) have successfully completed basic training or commissioning;

(3) not hold a baccalaureate degree or higher; and

(4) be enrolled in a program that leads to a postsecondary degree, diploma or be studying for relevant continuing education purposes.

(c) A loan made under this section shall be interest free and may be partially or completely cancelled and forgiven for a person who:

(1) submits certification that the person has successfully completed the course; and

(2) submits certification that the person has completed two years of national guard service for each full academic year award. Service requirements for less than a full academic year award shall be proportionate to the amount of the award. The board shall determine the amount of loan to be cancelled for each completed year of service. The amount cancelled for each year of service shall not exceed 50 percent of the loan.

(d) The adjutant general shall provide a certificate of eligibility to each person who has been found to be eligible for educational assistance under this section. The certificate shall be valid for one academic year.

(e) A person shall not be eligible for educational assistance under this section for any courses taken after he or she has been awarded a baccalaureate degree or is no longer an active member in good standing of the Vermont army national guard or the air national guard.

(f) The board, in consultation with the office of the adjutant general, shall adopt rules necessary to implement the provisions of this section. Rules shall include definitions of "successful completion of a course," "relevant continuing education courses" and what constitutes an "academic year." Rules adopted by the Vermont state colleges under section 2183 of this title, prior to its repeal, shall remain valid under this section and shall be administered by the corporation.

(g) Annually by January 15, the adjutant general shall report to the legislature, and shall include in the report statistics and information on the following issues:

(1) the number of guardsmen and women enrolled in educational programs as a result of the funding provisions of this section;

(2) the number of guardsmen and women who applied for funding under this section but were not able to obtain such funding;

(3) the types of programs undertaken and names of institutions attended by students; and

(4) the number of guards men and women who have completed their course work.

(h) The availability of loans made under this subchapter is subject to funds appropriated to the Vermont army or air national guard for that purpose. (Added 1999, No. 62, § 61; amended 2003, No. 39, § 1; 2003, No. 86 (Adj. Sess.), § 21.)