United States Virgin Islands College Access Act of 2015

To establish a program that enables college-bound residents of the United States Virgin Islands to have greater choices among institutions of higher education, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the United States Virgin Islands College Access Act of 2015 2. Purpose It is the purpose of this Act to establish a program that enables college-bound residents of the United States Virgin Islands to have greater choices among institutions of higher education. 3. Public school grants (a) Grants (1) In general From amounts appropriated under subsection (i) (2) Maximum student amounts The amount paid on behalf of an eligible student under this section shall be— (A) not more than $10,000 for any one award year (as defined in section 481 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 20 U.S.C. 1088 (B) not more than $50,000 in the aggregate. (3) Proration The Governor shall prorate payments under this section for students who attend an eligible institution on less than a full-time basis. (b) Reduction for insufficient appropriations (1) In general If the funds appropriated pursuant to subsection (i) subsection (a) (A) first, ratably reduce the amount of the tuition and fee payment made on behalf of each eligible student who has not received funds under this section for a preceding year; and (B) after making reductions under subparagraph (A) (2) Adjustments The Governor, in consultation with the Secretary of Education, may adjust the amount of tuition and fee payments made under paragraph (1) (A) the financial need of the eligible students to avoid undue hardship to the eligible students; or (B) undue administrative burdens on the Governor. (3) Further adjustments Notwithstanding paragraphs (1) and (2), the Governor may prioritize the making or amount of tuition and fee payments under this subsection based on the income and need of eligible students. (c) Definitions In this section: (1) Eligible institution The term eligible institution (A) is a public four-year institution of higher education located in one of the several States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, or Guam; (B) is eligible to participate in the student financial assistance programs under title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 20 U.S.C. 1070 et seq. (C) enters into an agreement with the Governor containing such terms and conditions as the Governor and institution may jointly specify, including a requirement that the institution use the funds made available under this section to supplement and not supplant assistance that otherwise would be provided to eligible students from the United States Virgin Islands. (2) Eligible student The term eligible student (A) was domiciled in the United States Virgin Islands for not less than the 12 consecutive months preceding the commencement of the freshman year at an institution of higher education; (B) graduated from a secondary school in the United States Virgin Islands, or received the recognized equivalent of a secondary school diploma while domiciled in the United States Virgin Islands, on or after January 1, 2013; (C) begins the individual’s undergraduate course of study within the three calendar years (excluding any period of service on active duty in the Armed Forces, or service under the Peace Corps Act ( 22 U.S.C. 2501 et seq. 42 U.S.C. 12571 et seq. (D) is enrolled or accepted for enrollment, on at least a half-time basis, in a baccalaureate degree or other program (including a program of study abroad approved for credit by the institution at which such student is enrolled) leading to a recognized educational credential at an eligible institution; (E) if enrolled in an eligible institution, is maintaining satisfactory progress in the course of study the student is pursuing in accordance with section 484(c) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 20 U.S.C. 1091(c) (F) while enrolled in an eligible institution, maintains the United States Virgin Islands as the individual’s principal place of residence for purposes of the laws of the United States Virgin Islands; and (G) has not completed the individual’s first undergraduate baccalaureate course of study. (3) Institution of higher education The term institution of higher education Higher Education Act of 1965 20 U.S.C. 1001 (4) Governor The term Governor (5) Secondary school The term secondary school Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 20 U.S.C. 8801 (6) Secretary The term Secretary (d) Construction Nothing in this Act shall be construed to require an institution of higher education to alter the institution’s admissions policies or standards in any manner to enable an eligible student to enroll in the institution. (e) Applications Each student desiring a tuition payment under this section shall submit an application to the eligible institution at such time, in such manner, and accompanied by such information as the eligible institution may require. (f) Administration of Program (1) In general The Governor shall carry out the program under this section in consultation with the Secretary. The Governor may enter into a grant, contract, or cooperative agreement with another public or private entity to administer the program under this section if the Governor determines that doing so is a more efficient way of carrying out the program. (2) Policies and procedures The Governor, in consultation with institutions of higher education eligible for participation in the program authorized under this section, shall develop policies and procedures for the administration of the program. (3) Memorandum of agreement The Governor and the Secretary shall enter into a Memorandum of Agreement that describes— (A) the manner in which the Governor shall consult with the Secretary with respect to administering the program under this section; and (B) any technical or other assistance to be provided to the Governor by the Secretary for purposes of administering the program under this section (which may include access to the information in the common financial reporting form developed under section 483 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 20 U.S.C. 1090 (g) Governor’s Report The Governor shall report to Congress annually regarding— (1) the number of eligible students attending each eligible institution and the amount of the grant awards paid to those institutions on behalf of the eligible students; (2) the extent, if any, to which a ratable reduction was made in the amount of tuition and fee payments made on behalf of eligible students; and (3) the progress in obtaining recognized academic credentials of the cohort of eligible students for each year. (h) GAO Report Beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall monitor the effect of the program assisted under this section on educational opportunities for eligible students. The Comptroller General shall analyze whether eligible students had difficulty gaining admission to eligible institutions because of any preference afforded in-State residents by eligible institutions, and shall expeditiously report any findings regarding such difficulty to Congress and the Governor. In addition, the Comptroller General shall— (1) analyze the extent to which there are an insufficient number of eligible institutions to which United States Virgin Islands students can gain admission, including admission aided by assistance provided under this Act, due to— (A) caps on the number of out-of-State students the institution will enroll; (B) significant barriers imposed by academic entrance requirements (such as grade point average and standardized scholastic admissions tests); and (C) absence of admission programs benefitting minority students; and (2) report the findings of the analysis described in paragraph (1) (i) Authorization of Appropriations The United States Virgin Islands is authorized to appropriate to carry out this section, out of non-Federal funds of the United States Virgin Islands, $10,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2015 through 2020, and such sums as may be necessary for each of the succeeding fiscal years. Such funds shall remain available until expended. (j) Effective Date This section shall take effect with respect to payments for periods of instruction that begin on or after January 1, 2015. 4. General requirements (a) Personnel The Secretary of Education shall arrange for the assignment of an individual, pursuant to subchapter VI of chapter 33 (b) Administrative Expenses The Governor may use not more than 5 percent of the funds made available for a program under section 3 section 3 (c) Inspector General Review Each of the programs assisted under this Act shall be subject to audit and other review by the Inspector General of the Department of Education in the same manner as programs are audited and reviewed under the Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.). (d) Gifts The Governor may accept, use, and dispose of donations of services or property for purposes of carrying out this Act. (e) Maximum Student Amount Adjustments The Governor shall establish rules to adjust the maximum student amounts described in section 3(a)(2)(B) section 3(c)(2) section 3(c)(1)(A)

Summary: United States Virgin Islands College Access Act of 2015 This bill directs the U.S. Virgin Islands to use federal funds authorized by this Act to award grants to public four-year institutions of higher education (IHEs) located in the states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, or Guam to cover the difference between the in-state and out-of-state tuition and fees for students who have: (1) been domiciled in the Virgin Islands for at least the 12 months preceding their enrollment in the IHE; and (2) received on or after January 1, 2013, a secondary school diploma or its equivalent while domiciled there. The Government Accountability Office must monitor the program's effectiveness in expanding educational opportunities for such students.