Title
AN ACT RELATING TO AN AMENDMENT TO THE CONCURRENT ENROLLMENT SCHOLARSHIP ACT OF 2011 TO REVISE ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
Body
BE IT ENACTED BY THE CHEROKEE NATION:
Section 1. Title and Codification
This act shall be known as the 2014 Amendment to the Concurrent Enrollment Scholarship Act of 2011 and codified as Title_____________ Section ___________ ______________ of the Cherokee Nation Code Annotated.
Section 2. Purpose
The purpose of this Amendment is to revise the eligibility requirements for this scholarship program to benefit all Cherokee high school students residing in the Cherokee Nation Scholarship Program service area who are currently enrolled in an accredited public or private institution of higher learning.
Section 3. Legislative History
Legislative Act 23-11
Legislative Act 07-13
Section 4. Definitions
Concurrent Enrollment: means students who are either a high school Junior or Senior who are taking college courses through an accredited public or private institution.
Section 5. Substantive Provisions
A. Policies for this program under the Cherokee Nation College Resource Center shall be as follows:
1. Eligibility:
a. Students must be a Cherokee Nation citizen that resides in the Cherokee Nation Higher Education Non Pell Scholarship boundaries (see map attached).
b. If the student attends a Public High School, the student must submit a verification letter from their high school counselor (showing concurrent enrollment eligibility). Students must submit a current college class schedule.
c. If a student is home schooled, the student must submit verification from the individual who is providing home schooling (showing concurrent enrollment eligibility). Eligible High School or Home School Junior students will receive funding from the Cherokee Nation to supplement the tuition that Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education ordinarily pays for High School Senior tuition.
d. Student must submit a current college class schedule and verification of the costs of concurrent enrollment. Eligible High School or Home School Juniors and Seniors will receive funding for tuition, books and fees.
e. Eligible High School or Home School Junior students will receive funding from the Cherokee Nation to supplement the tuition that Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education ordinarily pays for High School Senior tuition. Each high school Junior and Senior who meets the eligibility requirements shall be entitled to receive an award to cover costs for tuition, books, and fees for up to nine (9) credit hours concurrently enrolled each semester.
f. Eligible High School or Home School Juniors and Seniors will receive funding for tuition fees and other costs so that concurrent enrollment costs will be minimal for both High School or Home School Juniors and Seniors. Student invoices will come directly from the University in which they are enrolled and the invoice must include an itemized statement with the total cost owed by the student including the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education tuition waiver.
g. Each high school Junior and Senior who meets the eligibility requirements shall be entitled to receive a tuition fee scholarship of Two Hundred Fifty Dollars ($250.00) for three (3) credit hours and Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) for six (6) credit hours concurrently enrolled each semester.
h. Each high school Junior who meets the eligibility requirements shall be entitled to receive a tuition waiver equivalent to the amount of resident tuition for a maximum of six (6) credit hours per semester at a college or university in the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education as a special student.
B. Funding for this program and scholarship awards shall be contingent upon the availability of funding.
Section 6. Provisions as cumulative
The provisions of this act shall be cumulative to existing law.
Section 7. Severability
The provisions of this act are severable and if any part of provision hereof shall be held void the decision of the court so holding shall not affect or impair any of the remaining parts or provisions of this act.
Section 8. Effective Date
After the date of the passage and approval of this act, funding under these provisions will be effective beginning in the Fall Semester of 2013.
Section 9. Self-Help Contributions
To the extent that this Act involves programs or services to citizens of the Nation or others, self-help contributions shall be required, unless specifically prohibited by the funding agency, or a waiver is granted due to physical or mental incapacity of the participant to contribute.