Amendment #542 to H3600

Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts Out-of-State Scholarship Program

Representatives Cariddi of North Adams, Farley-Bouvier of Pittsfield and Pignatelli of Lenox move to amend the bill by adding the following section:

"SECTION XXXX.  Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts Student Out-of-State Scholarship Program.

1. Eligibility.  A Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) Out-of-State Student Scholarship Award shall be made to a student who:

(a) is an out of state student, eligible for in state tuition rates under the board of higher education Alternative Non-resident Undergraduate Tuition Rates Program guidelines, and;

(b) eligible for Excelsior Scholarship Program in New York state public higher education intuitions, or another in state student tuition discount program, and;

(c) meets admission requirements for first year students or those students entering as transfer students;

(d) is matriculated in an approved academic program leading to an undergraduate degree at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA);

(e) if enrolled in

(i) a public institution of higher education, has completed at least fifteen combined credits per term, or its equivalent, applicable to his or her program or programs of study or

(ii) an institution of higher education, has completed at least fifteen combined credits per term or its equivalent, applicable to his or her program or programs of study and which were accepted upon transfer by Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA);

(f) enrolls in and completes at least fifteen combined credits per term, or its equivalent, applicable to his or her program or programs of study in regulation.  Notwithstanding, in the student’s last semester, the student may take at least one course needed to meet his or her graduation requirements and enroll in and complete at least fifteen credit hours or its equivalent;

(g) has an adjusted gross income, as defined in this subdivision, equal to or less than:

(i) one hundred thousand dollars for recipients receiving an award in the two thousand seventeen-two thousand eighteen academic year;

(ii) one hundred ten thousand dollars for recipients receiving an award in the two thousand eighteen-two thousand nineteen academic year; and

(iii) one hundred twenty-five thousand dollars for recipients receiving an award in the two thousand nineteen – two thousand twenty academic year and thereafter; and

(h) complies with the applicable provisions of this article and all requirements promulgated by the department of higher education (hereinafter, “department”) for the administration of this program.  Adjusted gross income shall be the total of the combined adjusted gross income of the applicant and the applicant’s parents or the applicant and the applicant’s spouse, if married, as reported on the federal income tax return, or as otherwise obtained by the department, for the calendar year coinciding with the tax year established by the U.S. department of education to qualify applicants for federal student financial aid programs authorized by Title IV of the Higher Education Act of nineteen hundred sixty-five, as amended, for the school year in which application for assistance is made.

2. Amount.  Awards shall be granted beginning with the two thousand seventeen – two thousand eighteen academic year and thereafter to applicants that the College has determined are eligible to receive such awards.  The College shall grant such awards in the amount of not more than three thousand ($3,000) dollars per student; provided, however,

(a) a student who received educational grants and/or scholarships that cover the student’s full cost of attendance shall not be eligible for an award under this program; and

(b) an award under this program shall be applied to full cost of attendance after the application of payments received under existing tuition assistance programs, federal Pell grant pursuant to section one thousand seventy of title twenty of the United States code, et. seq., and any other program that covers the cost of attendance.

3. Duration.  An eligible recipient shall not receive an award for more than four academic years of full-time undergraduate study or five academic years if the program of study normally requires five years.  An eligible recipient enrolled in an eligible two year program of study shall not receive an award for more than two academic years.  Notwithstanding, such duration may be extended for an allowable interruption of study.

4. Conditions. (a) has achieved the minimum grade point average necessary for successful completion of his or her coursework to receive payment under the award;

(b) has earned a total of 30 credits over the course of an academic year.

(c) An student who has a previously earned a bachelor’s degree is ineligible to receive an award pursuant to this section.

(d) A school shall certify to the department that a recipient has achieved the minimum grade point average necessary for successful completion of his or her coursework to receive payment under the award.

(e)  student must live in Massachusetts for two years after completing their undergraduate degree at MCLA, either to attend graduate school or gain employment.

5. The department is authorized to promulgate rules and regulations, and may promulgate emergency regulations, necessary for the implementation of the provisions of this section.

SECTION 2.  This act shall take effect immediately."

Additional co-sponsor(s) added to Amendment #542 to H3600

Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts Out-of-State Scholarship Program