South Carolina Code of Regulations › Chapter 62 - STATE COMMISSION ON HIGHER EDUCATION › Article VII - SOUTH CAROLINA ACADEMIC ENDOWMENT INCENTIVE ACT OF 1997/SOUTH CAROLINA HIGHER EDUCATION MATCHING GIFT FUND › SOUTH CAROLINA HOPE SCHOLARSHIP › Section 62-900.90 - Program Definitions

Current through Register Vol. 48, No. 6, June 28, 2024
A.
				"Academic year" is defined as the twelve month period during which a full-time
				student is expected to earn thirty credit hours. The period of time used to
				measure the academic year will consist of fall, spring, and summer terms or
				spring, summer, and fall terms (or its equivalent).
B. "Bachelor's degree program" is defined as
				a program of study leading to a bachelor's degree as defined by the U.S.
				Department of Education for participation in federally funded financial aid
				programs.
C. "Book allowance" shall
				mean funds that may be applied to the student's account for expenses towards
				the cost-of-attendance including the cost of textbooks.
D. "Cost-of-attendance" as defined by Title
				IV Regulations and may include tuition, fees, living expenses, and other costs
				such as costs related to disability or dependent care.
E. "Degree-seeking undergraduate student" is
				defined as any full-time student enrolled in a bachelor's degree program at an
				eligible institution.
F. "Eligible
				institution" shall be defined as a public or independent bachelor's level
				institution in South Carolina.
G.
				"Felonies" shall be defined as crimes that are classified under State Statute
				(Section
				16-1-10
				) and that typically require imprisonment for more than one year.
H. "Freshman year" shall mean the first
				academic year the student matriculates in an institution after high school
				graduation or completion of an approved home school program.
I. "Full-time student" shall mean a student
				who has matriculated into a bachelor's degree program and who enrolls full-time
				at the home institution, usually fifteen semester credit hours for fall and
				spring terms or twelve credit hours for fall, eight credit hours for winter,
				and twelve credit hours for spring trimester terms. In order for the student to
				be eligible for Scholarship disbursement, the student must be enrolled
				full-time as stipulated by Title IV Regulations, except that credit hours may
				not include remedial/developmental and continuing education courses.
J. "High school" is defined as a public,
				private, charter, virtual, Montessori or Magnet high school located in South
				Carolina, recognized home school association or program as defined in the State
				Statute, (Sections
				59-65-40,
				45, and 47) or a preparatory high school located outside of the state while the
				student is a dependent of a legal resident of South Carolina who has custody or
				pays child support and college expenses of the dependent high school student in
				accordance with State Statute (Section
				59-112-10
				). A "preparatory high school" (out-of-state) is defined as a school recognized
				by the state in which the school is located to offer curricula through the
				twelfth grade and prepares students for college entrance.
K. "Home institution" shall mean the
				institution where the student is currently enrolled as a degree seeking student
				and may be eligible for financial aid at the same institution.
L. "Independent institutions" are defined,
				for the purposes of the SC HOPE Scholarship Program, as those four-year
				institutions eligible to participate in the South Carolina Tuition Grants
				Program as defined in Chapter 113 of Title 59 of the 1976 Code, which
				stipulates that an "independent institution of higher learning means any
				independent eleemosynary junior or senior college in South Carolina whose major
				campus and headquarters are located within South Carolina and which is
				accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools;" or an
				independent bachelor's level institution chartered before 1962 whose major
				campus and headquarters are located within South Carolina; or an independent
				bachelor's level institution who had a major campus and headquarters located
				within South Carolina and was accredited by the Southern Association of
				Colleges and Schools as of March 17, 2004." Institutions whose sole purpose is
				religious or theological training or the granting of professional degrees do
				not meet the definition of 'independent institution' for purposes of this
				chapter. Independent two-year institutions are not eligible for participation
				in this program.
M. "Initial
				college enrollment" shall mean the first time the student matriculates into a
				postsecondary, degree-granting institution after high school graduation. The
				terms of eligibility are based upon initial college enrollment and continuous
				enrollment. This means that any break in enrollment (excluding summer) will
				count against the maximum terms of eligibility.
N. "Military mobilization" is defined as a
				situation in which the U.S. Department of Defense orders members of the United
				States Armed Forces to active duty away from their normal duty assignment
				during a time of war or national emergency.
O. "Misdemeanor offenses" shall be defined as
				crimes that are classified under State Statute (Section
				16-1-100
				), less serious than felonies, and are typically punishable by fine or
				imprisonment for less than one year. A complete listing is located in title 16
				of State Statute. Examples of alcohol and/or drug misdemeanor offenses in South
				Carolina include but are not limited to possession of alcohol under the age of
				21, possession of marijuana/illegal drugs, open-container, transfer of alcohol
				to a person under 21, providing false information as to age (fake ID),
				etc.
P. "Multi-handicapped student"
				shall be defined as a student who, in addition to being visually or hearing
				impaired, has at least one additional disabling condition that qualifies the
				student to receive specialized postsecondary education.
Q. "Public institutions" are those four-year
				bachelor's degree-granting institutions as defined in Chapter 103 of Title 59
				of the 1976 Code, which stipulates "public higher education shall mean state-
				supported education in the postsecondary field." Public two-year institutions
				and technical colleges are not eligible for participation in this
				Program.
R. "Remedial/developmental
				coursework" shall mean sub-collegiate level preparatory courses in English,
				mathematics, and reading or any other course deemed remedial by the institution
				where the course is taken.
S.
				"South Carolina resident" shall be defined as an individual who satisfies the
				requirements of residency in accordance with the State of South Carolina
				Statute for Tuition and Fees, Section
				59-112-10,
				and all related guidelines and regulations promulgated by the Commission on
				Higher Education as determined by the institutional residency officer each
				academic year. A student must be considered a South Carolina resident at the
				time of high school graduation, and at the time of initial college enrollment,
				in order to receive a S.C. HOPE Scholarship.
T. "Transfer student" shall be defined as a
				student who has changed enrollment from one institution to an eligible
				institution.
U. "General
				Educational Development (GED) Diploma" is defined as a GED high school diploma
				that was completed in South Carolina or outside of the state while the student
				was a dependent of a legal resident of South Carolina who had custody or paid
				child support and college expenses of the dependent GED diploma student. A
				student who earns a GED diploma cannot receive a SC HOPE Scholarship during
				his/her initial year (or equivalent) of college enrollment but may earn the
				LIFE Scholarship in subsequent years. The student must meet the annual credit
				hour requirement (or equivalent) and a 3.0 "LIFE GPA" at the end of the first
				academic year.
V. "Lawful Presence"
				is defined as individuals who are US citizens, permanent residents, or non-US
				citizens and non-permanent residents who are legally present in the US. When
				verifying the lawful presence of an individual, institutional personnel shall
				not attempt to independently verify the immigration status of any alien, but
				shall verify any alien's immigration status with the federal government
				pursuant to
				8
				USC Section
				1373(c).