SECTION 610:25-23-7. Payment of awards; policies and limitations

(a)   Eligible students enrolled at an institution in The Oklahoma State System of Higher Education shall have an award equivalent to their undergraduate resident nonguaranteed tuition paid to the institution on the student's behalf by an allocation from the Oklahoma Higher Learning Trust Fund [70 O.S. § 3953.1];

(b)   Eligible students enrolled in a duly accredited private Oklahoma institution of higher education [70 O.S. § 4103] shall have awards paid to the institution on the student's behalf by an allocation from the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Trust Fund in an amount equivalent to the average undergraduate resident nonguaranteed tuition if the student were enrolled in a comparable institution of The Oklahoma State System of Higher Education. Comparability of institutions shall be determined by the OSRHE;

(c)   Eligible students enrolled in a postsecondary career technology program that meets the requirements to be eligible for federal student financial aid and is offered by a technology center school supervised by the State Board of Career and Technology Education through a cooperative agreement between a public technology center and an institution of The Oklahoma State System of Higher Education shall have an award equivalent to tuition paid, not exceeding the average amount the student would have received for comparable enrollment at a two-year institution within The Oklahoma State System of Higher Education, to the school or institution on the student's behalf by an allocation from the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Trust Fund;

(d)   Funds shall be transferred by the OSRHE from the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Trust Fund to the institution in which the student is enrolled. No funds shall be paid directly to the student;

(e)   Payment will not be allowed for courses taken in excess of those required for a baccalaureate degree;

(f)   Beginning with students graduating high school in 2017-2018 and thereafter, payment will be limited to 129 semester credit hours, or the equivalent, except as provided in the following. Students enrolled in a baccalaureate degree program that requires in excess of 129 semester credit hours or the equivalent, may receive payment for the number of semester credit hours required by the degree program. Students without a baccalaureate degree who are enrolled in a first professional degree program that does not require completion of a baccalaureate degree and that requires in excess of 129 semester credit hours or the equivalent, may receive payment for the number of semester credit hours required by the degree program up to a maximum of 150 semester credit hours or the equivalent. The Chancellor may approve exceptions to the limit for extraordinary or hardship circumstances including, but not limited to, sickness and injury.

(g)   Students will be eligible for the benefits outlined in this policy for five (5) years from the first date of postsecondary enrollment. The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education may award the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program benefits for courses of postsecondary units taken more than five (5) years after the student's first semester of postsecondary enrollment only in hardship circumstances; provided, however, no Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program participant may receive benefits beyond a cumulative time period of five (5) years [70 O.S. § 2604]. Hardship circumstances may include, but are not limited to, sickness, injury, required military service, or service required by the student's religious or cultural traditions;

(h)   There will be no limit to the number of awards other than the amount of funds available or the number of eligible students. If sufficient funds are not available to provide awards for all eligible applicants, the OSRHE shall make awards on the basis of need;

(i)   Students who have previously received awards shall have priority over students applying for initial awards;

(j)   The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education shall take into consideration other grants and scholarships received by an eligible applicant when making awards [70 O.S. § 2604]. Award recipients may not receive financial aid in excess of his/her cost of attendance as determined by the institution in which the student is enrolled. The cost of attendance determined by the institution shall be consistent with regulations for federal Title IV student financial aid programs. If necessary, an award shall be reduced by an amount which makes the student's total financial aid equivalent to the student's identified cost of attendance.

(k)   Beginning with the 2018-2019 academic year, an award shall not include payment for non-credit remedial courses.

(l)   If a student withdraws from a class in which he or she has received an award from the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program, the awarded funds shall be returned to the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program. This provision shall only apply to awarded funds when the student withdraws prior to the end of the add/drop period for the session in which the student is enrolled.

[Source: Added at 13 Ok Reg 767, eff 10-24-95 (emergency); Added at 13 Ok Reg 1377, eff 5-13-96; Amended at 14 Ok Reg 164, eff 10-15-96; Amended at 14 Ok Reg 1419, eff 5-12-97; Amended at 17 Ok Reg 3062, eff 7-13-00; Amended at 18 Ok Reg 1779, eff 5-25-01; Amended at 21 Ok Reg 1428, eff 5-27-04; Amended at 23 Ok Reg 1971, eff 6-11-06; Amended at 24 Ok Reg 2718, eff 7-26-07; Amended at 25 Ok Reg 2592, eff 7-11-08; Amended at 27 Ok Reg 334, eff 11-10-09 (emergency); Amended at 27 Ok Reg 1278, eff 5-27-10; Amended at 35 Ok Reg 1981, eff 9-14-18; Amended at 36 Ok Reg 1179, eff 8-11-19]