June 12, 2018, Introduced by Reps. Zemke, Gay-Dagnogo, Elder, Guerra, LaGrand, Peterson, Faris, Chirkun, Camilleri, Sowerby, Wittenberg, Lasinski, Geiss, Clemente, Chang, Pagan, Hammoud, Green, Greimel, Hoadley, Ellison, Yanez, Hertel, Durhal, Moss, Brinks, Cochran, Singh, Santana, Jones, Greig, Cambensy, Neeley and Rabhi and referred to the Committee on Education Reform.
A bill to establish a community college scholarship program
for certain residents of this state; to provide for the
administration of the scholarship program; and to prescribe certain
powers and duties of certain state officers, agencies, and
departments.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:
Sec. 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the
"community college opportunity scholarship act".
Sec. 2. As used in this section:
(a) "Authority" means the Michigan higher education assistance
authority created in section 1 of 1960 PA 77, MCL 390.951, or any
successor agency or authority.
(b) "Community college opportunity scholarship student" means
a student admitted to and enrolled in an eligible community college
and receiving a community college opportunity scholarship under
this act.
(c) "Continuous enrollment" means a student who is enrolled in
the fall and spring semesters of a single academic year. Enrollment
in summer semester or intersession terms is not required.
(d) "Eligible community college" means a community or junior
college described in section 7 of article VIII of the state
constitution of 1963 that limits any increase in tuition or
mandatory fees to no more than an annual adjustment for inflation
using the most comprehensive index of consumer prices available for
this state from the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the United States
Department of Labor.
(e) "Full-time student" means a student attending an eligible
community college and enrolled for at least 12 semester hours
during each semester of attendance.
(f) "Gift aid" means scholarships or grants from any source
that do not require repayment. The term does not include student
loans or work-study awards.
(g) "High school equivalency test" means the G.E.D. test
developed by the GED Testing Service, the Test Assessing Secondary
Completion (TASC) developed by CTS/McGraw-Hill, the HISET test
developed by the Education Testing Service (ETS), or another
comparable test approved by the department of talent and economic
development.
(h) "Semester" means fall, spring, or summer semester at an
eligible community college, if the college is on a semester system,
or the equivalent, if the college is on a system other than a
semester system.
Sec. 3. The authority shall administer the community college
opportunity scholarship program for residents of this state seeking
an associate degree or certificate from an eligible community
college under the following terms and conditions:
(a) To be eligible for the scholarship, a student must be
admitted to, and enrolled as a full-time student in, an eligible
community college program in the fall term immediately succeeding
graduation from a public or private high school in this state,
completion of all requirements for high school graduation as a home
school student pursuant to section 1561(3)(f) of the revised school
code, 1976 PA 451, MCL 380.1561, or, before the student reaches 19
years of age, obtaining a diploma pursuant to a high school
equivalency test. Exceptions to initial enrollment may be made for
extenuating circumstances as provided in rules promulgated by the
authority.
(b) Students applying for the scholarship must complete a
community college opportunity scholarship application for their
initial year of enrollment in accordance with a schedule determined
by the authority. Students must also complete the free application
for federal student aid (FAFSA) each academic year in which they
seek to receive the community college opportunity scholarship.
(c) To continue to receive a community college opportunity
scholarship at an eligible community college, a student must
maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 and pass
all applicable pass/fail classes.
(d) Scholarship recipients must participate in mentoring and
community service programs under rules promulgated by the
authority. The authority shall develop the selection and renewal
criteria for students and shall have the authority to work with
outside organizations to develop the most effective means for
delivering the scholarships. In selecting outside organizations for
participation in the community college opportunity scholarship
program, the authority shall give preference to locally established
entities that meet designated standards specified by the
authority's promulgated rules.
(e) The amount of a community college opportunity scholarship
award is equal to the cost of tuition and mandatory fees at the
eligible community college attended less all other gift aid. Gift
aid shall be credited first to the student's tuition and mandatory
fees.
(f) A community college opportunity scholarship student who
has an approved medical or personal leave of absence from an
eligible community college may continue to receive the scholarship
upon resuming the student's education at an eligible community
college so long as the student continues to meet all applicable
eligibility requirements. The sum of all approved leaves of absence
must not exceed 6 months.
(g) A student is eligible for the community college
opportunity scholarship until the occurrence of the first of the
following events:
(i) The student has earned a certificate or associate degree.
(ii) Over a period not to exceed 2 years after his or her
initial enrollment as a community college opportunity scholarship
student, the student has attended an eligible community college as
a community college opportunity scholarship student for 4 semesters
if the college is on a semester system, or its equivalent if the
college is on a system other than a semester system.
(h) Except for a medical or personal leave of absence, as
approved by an eligible community college, a community college
opportunity scholarship student must maintain continuous enrollment
at an eligible community college.